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Anastasia and Liliana finally pretended to break down under duress and divulged the sensitive subject of the debate.
As expected, each man protested, claiming the title of Happiest Man In Existence for himself, each ready to duel for it. Finally the bickering escalated to jabs and shoves, among the raucous laughter of their delighted and adoring wives.
Suddenly, all the men froze. As did Ivan.
It took the women moments to realize that the men weren’t playing a collective joke on them, when they all rushed to get out their phones.
Ivan’s heart hammered so hard he jumbled his password to open the screen twice. He had the same difficulty in bringing up the latest message.
After reading it, he bit his lip, for fleeting moments wondering if this was some kind of prank, wishing it was. And knowing it couldn’t be.
Then he raised his gaze to his brothers, saw confirmation of that in their solemn eyes.
This was no prank. It was really him.
Cypher.
Their Black Castle brotherhood’s long-lost brother.
He was texting them on the line that not even their wives had access to. With a message made of only five words.
Expect a visit...soon. Cypher.
* * *
Many hours later, the reception was over and the impromptu meeting he’d had with his brothers had revealed no insights into Cypher’s message, or any projections about future developments.
Head filled with nebulous worries, Ivan now walked into their bedroom suite with Anastasia in his arms and clinging around his neck.
As he lowered her down on their bed. But as he came down half over her, started kissing her, she stopped him. And he knew why.
He’d previously explained who Cypher was, leaving out as much as he could. Which clearly hadn’t satisfied her. She had more questions. Ones he didn’t know if he ever could, or should, answer.
“Have any of you texted Cypher back?” she asked.
“If we could have we would. Cypher is the only one in our brotherhood who’s my equal in cyber powers. He hid from even me all these years. I have no idea where he’s been, what he’s been doing. Or even who he is anymore.”
“You all looked so...shaken at his message.”
“We hadn’t expected to hear from him after all these years.”
“You said it didn’t end well between you. All of you?”
“Yes.” He hated talking about this, would rather be extracting molars without anesthesia. Before Anastasia could hit him with another question he only had to evade, he stretched her arms above her head. “Now enough of this. Let me make love to my bride.”
And for a very long time, he did just that.
* * *
After he’d drowned them both in the ecstasy of their unity twice, Anastasia stirred in his arms.
He was savoring the drugged cast in her eyes and his own satisfaction when her question hit him out of left field. Damn. He’d managed to forget everything that existed outside of this room. Until now.
“Does this visit Cypher said to expect worry you?”
He rose above her, smiled reassuringly, and told her his very first, and what he intended to be his very last, barefaced lie.
“Of course not.”
