𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇

III

— XAVI —

"How nice of you to join me, Yakov. I know how busy your schedule can be."

It appears my now twenty-six year old brother hasn't changed one bit, as he greets me with a shake of the hand and ignores my taunting remark. Only, there is one very visible change in the form of a scar across his left eye, as though he has been slashed by a knife.

I don't know the story, nor do i care to at this moment. 

"How have you been, Xavi?" he asks me. "You look well."

I plaster a bitter smile onto my face when i see the bartender approaching, as does Yakov, and we wait until he has taken our orders before we continue.

"You know i'm not here to make small talk, Yakov."

He sighs, nodding in agreement.

"We're in danger, Xavi," he says. "Naturally, our livelihoods are putting us at risk. But i think there are moles within the business."

"What do you propose?" i ask him.

"That we merge and become one," he suggests. "We'll be stronger together. And that way, we can monitor everything much more easily."

I sigh, taking a sip of my Scotch as i evaluate the situation.

As much as i don't want to merge, i know i stand something to gain from it. 

Things have been tough lately. A lot of people have been letting me down, and others have simply been liabilities that i have had to deal with in order to not find myself in any legal trouble.

My brothers can at least offer the kind of protection that would mean i wouldn't get into such trouble in the first place. The operation i run is a small one, an underground one, while they at least can hide behind the facade of their business accolades.

"And Zephaniah?" i ask him. "Where does he come in?"

"He agrees with the plan," Yakov answers. "Though with him joining us, our individual status would change," he explains. "You would no longer be in control of your operation, nor would i mine. Everything would go back to the way it once was..."

I groan, my jaw clenching as i internally curse my eldest brother.

With him returning as our leader, nothing will be the same. He'll make sure of it.

Not only that, but the drama that would ensue simply isn't worth it.

"I think not!" i snarl. "I have worked extremely hard to get to where i am today. Without you and without him. We're either equals, or i'm not doing this."

Yakov's lips twitch with barely hidden amusement, as he eyes my irritated expression.

"You must know that you don't have much of a choice in the matter, Xavi," he says. "If we do not merge, you'll only be making things worse," he points out. "Zephaniah will get what he wants, either way."

I run my hand across the stress lines on my face.

"He's a cunning bastard, that brother of ours."