AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I shrug. “I’m not sure, but I imagine it went decently.”
“Ruslan told me I could stay here since we’re keeping Xava indoors for a couple of days while you handle the situation.”
“Mmm, I see. Xava, why don’t you head up to your room so Ambros can break down everything that happened tonight for me?” I know Nazyr is trying to give me a much-needed break, but I don’t need one. Not in the least bit.
“I’ll stay right here. There’s been enough discussed behind my back or without me.” I know I might seem rather crass right now, but I promise I’m not. There’s a reason I’m doing this. I want to be privy to these sorts of situations, especially now.
Nazyr leads the group of us into the formal living room area. Nazyr and Ambros take their seats while I prefer to stand. The front door squeaks as it opens, so I turn around and spot Rolando.
Rolando walks into the room and looks directly at me. “Is there anything you need me to do?”
“No, Rolando. Thank you. I believe everything is taken care of at the moment. Go ahead and settle in for the night. I’m not going anywhere for a couple of days, it seems,” I state.
“You got it, Xava,” Rolando replies and walks out of sight.
Now that it’s the group of us alone in the living room, Nazyr clears his throat. “I know the basics. She was shot at. Other than that, I don’t know a damn thing. Was it someone trying to send a message, or was this a premeditated attack where they were trying to take her life?” Nazyr questions Ambros. I, for one, am grateful Ambros seems to have most of the answers because I certainly don’t. Though, I think I’m still in shock from the events tonight. God, I never thought this would ever happen.
“Someone ordered a hit on Xava and hired another person. That person handed the job off to a teenager to try and complete.” As Ambros speaks, there’s an aggravation in his voice. He’s angry about the hit being ordered in the first place, but I think he’s equally as angry that a child was sent to do something an adult should have.
“You’re kidding me…” Nazyr shakes his head.
“I wish I was, but I’m not.”
“Do we know who the kid works for?” Nazyr questions, narrowing his brows at Ambros.
“Yes, Yabdullah Dudiyn.”
The moment Ambros says his name, my brother’s eyes grow dark. He knows this person, and that means the rest of my family probably does, too. I wonder what the history is between them.
“Yabdullah was selling drugs to tourists. They were laced with fentanyl, and many of them died. Ruslan has an arrangement with the local police where he handles whatever we need to be done for the family, and in turn, they keep their nose out of our business. But the police really wanted to make a spectacle out of who was responsible. Instead of Yabdullah taking the blame, he sent his brother to prison in his place. He framed his brother when he could have been a man and paid for his own actions. His brother was a good kid. He was getting ready to go out of the country to attend university. I think he was accepted at Yale over in the U.S.”
“You keep saying ‘was’. Did something happen to him?” Ambros is curious.
I never used to think the worst, but I can almost guarantee something terrible did happen.
Nazyr licks his bottom lip and nods. “Yes. Someone Yabdullah fucked over was in the same cell block as his younger brother. He was stabbed to death in the showers, yet again paying for his brother’s actions. It’s sad and unfortunate. If anyone was going to rip that family from out of the gutter, it was his brother, not Yabdullah.”
“I see. Well, Ruslan let the boy who tried to kill Xava go and gave him a task. I believe your brother is going after Yabdullah sometime in the next couple of days. He wanted it to look like Xava was actually killed. That way, the boy wouldn’t be harmed.”
Interesting… so Ruslan is prepared to do whatever he can to protect me. This is a different side to my family than I’ve ever seen before, and I’m not sure how to take it.
Nazyr nods over and over again. “I’m sure he’s coming up with some sort of plan as we speak. I need to go over and see my brother. It might be late, but no one fucks with our family and gets away with it.” Nazyr rises from his seat and walks over to the entryway into the room.
Ambros rises as well and looks me over, up and down. I’m sure he’s thinking I’m going to crack under the pressure after the events of this evening. I very well might, but it will be under the water hitting my skin.
“Ambros, you’re more than welcome to stay here. Thank you for being with Xava tonight. Who knows what would have happened if you weren’t there.”
“I would probably be dead if it wasn’t for you.” I gaze right into Ambros’ eyes. I need him to understand how thankful I am that he was there. He’s become my protector, whether he’s wanted to or not.
“I was glad to be here.”
“Xava’s room is upstairs. I’m sure she’ll show you the way,” Nazyr tells Ambros before he walks out the front door. A man in a suit follows closely behind, and the door is locked from the outside.
I lead Ambros up the first stairwell and then continue up the second until I reach my bedroom door. I twist the knob and push it open, then flick on the light switch to reveal my bedroom. It’s nothing overly fancy, but it works.
I walk across the bedroom and then come to a halt. I haven’t said a word to Ambros since we walked upstairs. “I’m going to get in the shower. I’m… I’m so sorry. I’m not trying to be rude or cold or anything of the sort. I’m overwhelmed, Ambros. Tonight… it fucked with my head so bad. I’m just… I don’t even know what I am.”
“That’s all right. If you need something, I can make sure you have it. Is there anything else you need?”
