The Search

Chapter 34.

Day 15, Evening.

Jade

My Father paces my office back and forth worriedly playing with the bracket I made him when I was younger. 

"You still wear it." I announce trying to take his mind off of the current situation a bit so he doesn't stress himself out too much. 

He looks up at me and then back down at his hands, "when you went missin- when you ran, they reminded us who we were fighting for each day." He smiles sadly. 

I go to respond but the door opens and everyone comes in.  Nikolai pulls up a chair beside me behind my desk and puts an arm over my shoulder.

Alexander begins, "Uncle Troy is fine Pops, two of our men were injured but everything else seems to be okay.  They fought them off well, but they took instant pills if they were caught so we don't have much leverage."

"Who?" My Father asks. 

"Russians I think." Alexander clears his throat stepping back. 

"Someone needs to go back to Italy to be in charge for a while, just until Troy heals and can get back on his feet." He commands looking at his sons.

Only that's not what we agreed to, "actually none of you are allowed to go back until the month is over.  You go to Italy now, I won't be going at all."

Papa keeps his glare at the floor, I know it's meant for me but it's only fair.  They promised.

"But in the agreement I technically only said the men needed to stay." I lean back in my chair.

They are obviously confused, so I clarify.  "Sydney will be in charge of the mafia and Lena will be her right hand. Sorry Chris, I did say men."

He shrugs, "All good."

My Father swallows roughly, "I think you have lost your mind if you think I'm going to let-"

"Papa." I warn, "you finish that sentence then I will personally send you away myself. Sydney goes or you go and lose me, choose."

He clenches his jaw immediately nodding to Sydney, "Alexander needs regular updates, I want reports almost hourly, got it?" He asks.

She nods, and then turns and nods to me, "I wasn't really needed here anyway. Do you want Jackson and Tucker to stay?" She asks.

I nod, "I want them to stay in school a bit longer."

"Sounds good." She sighs, "I'll get my stuff ready, come on Lena." Lena hops up immediately heading out right after her.

My Father sits down on the couch up against the wall angrily.  "We made a deal." I say softly.

"I know." He nods, "that's why I chose you, I'll always choose you."

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Jade, Day 17

When Nikolai and everyone else gets home from the station they disperse to their bedrooms.  Nikolai changes and then comes over to the bed where Lexi and I are playing.

She stands on the bed as best as she can and waddles over to him.  She tries to climb him but there isn't much to grab onto when he's bare chested. 

When she realizes she can't she pokes one of his abs.  He fake grunts lurching forward, "you've wounded me darling." He laughs and picks her up laying down beside me. 

I give him a kiss, a longer one that Lexi doesn't like too much.  She pushes his face away from mine.  "Oh is that your Mama, I'm sorry baby." He squeezes her tightly. 

She giggles and pushes him away settling herself between us.  It is way past her bedtime but I know the storm is about to start anyway and she's going to wake up.  So I might as well comfort her to sleep rather then comfort her back to sleep. 

Just as the thought passes thunder begins to rumble above.  "I was thinking today." I begin.

Nikolai hums grabbing a strand of my hair and begins playing with it.  "Sex? Me too, we haven't had it in a while."

I raise an eyebrow at him, yeah I may have thought about it but there's no way we can find time with all the craziness going on around us. "Yes but that's not what I'm talking about, we should go to Sylvan for a couple days this weekend."

He nods, "hell yeah.  Teach the mafia men how to ice fish." He grins wickedly. 

I laugh, "that's not the best idea,"

He kisses my cheek and then begins down my neck, "please my love?"

"You're sucking up." I deadpan. 

"Yes but only to teach them a essential way of living." He kisses my collar bone, "I'll go easy on them, I won't go as hard on them as my Father did to me."

I sigh, "fine." He whoops and then kisses my lips roughly pulling me against him. Too heated for me at the moment, especially with Lexi in the room.

I push him away and lay on the side of his chest just as a knock sounds at the door.  "Come in." I call.  Ollie opens and then closes the door right after and runs towards the bed. "What's wrong baby?"

"Storm, scary." He says going down beside me and lays under the covers. 

Another knock comes from the door and just as I'm about to say 'come in' it opens, "I know Ollie is in here, I want to come in too." Colten states and strides to my side as well.  He lifts Ollie up and places him on his stomach as he lays down.

I close my eyes laying my head on Nikolai's shoulder when the door opens, again. "I'm coming in." Sophie states going to her fathers side and scoots in beside him. 

If she's in here that means Alex isn't too far behin- "I'm not going to be left alone in that dark, scary ass room."  He states with his comforter and lays down at our feet. 

With all of us snuggled in, I turn my face into Nikolai's side as a smile takes over.  God these kids.