Protective

Expansion

Yeremy

"Only two months and you're already coming to me with a favor?"

I smiled, holding the phone to my ear as I stood only a few feet away from the construction site that was soon to be my house, "It's less of a favor and more of a business opportunity."

"Hmm," Mikhail laughed, "So you're saying that you have other options if I say no?"

"Of course I'm not saying that," I replied, "But, you could use another source of income, especially because of this war you have with both the Callahan's and the De León's."

"True," Mikhail agreed, "But this family hasn't dealt with drugs since my wife and with good reason."

"Well, drugs are a messy business," I shrugged, "But also one of the most lucrative."

Mikhail paused, I could tell he was thinking. Truthfully he could do with or without this new stream of business. It was me who needed the favor.

I hadn't anticipated expansion this early and I hadn't spent nearly enough time in the states to make any connections aside from the Petrov's.

Getting into business with Mikhail made the most sense. I knew him, I trusted him, and he was no stranger to this kind of thing.

"Alright," Mikhail agreed, "I'll call you later to discuss details. I'm a little busy right now."

"If you were busy you could've just called me back," I said.

"Yeremy," he started, "I don't need to tell you that in this world you are alone and you may like it like that. You may want it like that, but know you are my family. So whenever you call, I will be picking up."

He didn't even let me respond before hanging up the phone, although I didn't really know what to say to that anyway. Maybe he knew that.

It was true, Mikhail, Dmitri, and Lana were the only people I had left in the world.

I didn't really think about how lonely it was to be away from them. I didn't even notice the silence, I had been so busy working.

It brought me comfort knowing that Mikhail would always be there, which I supposed was what he had intended all along.

It didn't take long for me to arrive at the airport to pick up Elijah Carter. I had gotten in contact with him to help move my drugs threw the boating docks on the West Coast.

He and Mikhail had been old friends, which is how I met him. Once I called him, he was happy to get on the next flight over to discuss business.

"Mr. Carter is a pleasure to see you again," I held out my hand and he shook it.

"Yeremy," he smiled, "I was happy to hear from you. I'm sure we'll be great business partners."

"Of course."

________
Mikhail

"Did you finish up your call?" she asked dryly, "How much are you selling me for?"

I furrowed my brows at her, "Selling you? What are you taking about?"

"Human trafficking," she said, as it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Isn't that what we're doing here?"

"No Aileen," I sat down, tucking my phone into the inner pocket of my suit, "I took you to leverage you against your father in an attempt to keep my own daughter safe."

Aileen chortled, "Let me guess. He told you he didn't care what you did to me," she laughed so comfortably that it made me a bit upset.

How much have Seamus and Irene been neglecting their daughter that she knew they wouldn't care if she lived or died? That they wouldn't sacrifice a thing for her.