Zephyr's Promise

21

I thought if I just tasted her I would be satisfied, only the opposite happened. One kiss led to another one. A deeper, rougher, less controlled one. Each second that passed I fell even further under her spell. My need for her only worsened with each breath she took from me. Having a little bit of Nile Hill is and will never be enough. Even now while walking down the hallway I can still feel her soft lips on mine.

"Fix your shirt." Axel hisses at me.

My only response is to roll my eyes at him. Nothing is going to ruin my stellar attitude, not today at least. All the bullshit responsibility I carry will still be on my back and shoulders tomorrow, for today I am going to enjoy the bliss I have encountered. I've come to know that joy and pleasure only last for a moment in time.

And in Axel's case this behavior of his is nothing new. When it comes to his father, Neil, he always became a big red ball of angst. Understandable since Neil could be seen as nothing but intimidating.

At well over six feet with a stocky muscular build the man is every bit overwhelming. Underneath his resting bitch face he is a big pile of mush. All the cheesy family shit we do is always his idea that our mother co-signs. Axel's issue has nothing to do with Neil's personality or expectations of his son. It is his need to prove his value that causes his worry. Not just to his father or Papa, but every high ranking member of the Bratva as well.

Repeatedly I have told him that their acceptance is worth shit when he has already accomplished all that he has. Each time I have said it I have meant it, my brother is great at what he does. In his eyes I would never understand because I was Papa's pupil and have the approval of the Brotherhood. What he fails to realize is that title afforded me as much pain as it did influence. Blood had to be spilled in order to receive glory.

It isn't necessarily his fault either. What he would have experienced I shielded him from, me and Neil both did. That part of our history is one he didn't have to know. It is too ugly, too dark for what I wish for him. Axel is a bright spot on this earth, the only thing his involvement would do is harden him and wash that light into darkness. They would break him. Our business in America is more than enough of a responsibility with prestige, one that he has handled better than half of the motherfuckers back home could have. I wish he could see that.

"Relax Axel, it's only Neil." I can feel his scowl growing even darker beside me. "Stop brooding, that's my job." I sigh.

The closer we get to the driveway the slower his footsteps become, they falter until he is fully behind me. The image is as old as time, he always reverted to following me. Hopefully up until now I have been a good lead. Papa was a good mentor, someone worthy of following. As Axel heeded my advice and followed my footsteps I tried to be the very man who had trained me. The same man who had shattered thousands of men built me up to become the very one I am today.

Life under his tutelage wasn't perfect, but he prepared me for what the world had in store. Papa is a stern man yet never cruel. That is how I have always approached my relationship with Axel.

"Neil." I say upon seeing his face. Memories of our secluded little farm come rushing back. Admittedly it has been quite a while since I have seen him or mom and Alexei. I don't doubt that's why he's here right now.

"Boys." He says with a twinkle in his brown orbs.

"Papa." Axel takes a step from behind me. His face is hardly the depiction of happiness, rather it is tight and contorted. Looks like he needs to shit. "You're in America."

"Seems so." Cryptically he responds. His brows crease into a stern look, one we are all too familiar with. "Is this how you welcome guests to your home?" His thick accent becomes even more pronounced with his chiding.