NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 34- DEFIANCE

"Let me fucking go!"

                  Diane groaned loudly and in disapproval as Russo kept pulling her hand with him to his car parked the garage.

"I said let go off me!" She whipped her hand away from his, staring daggers at him.
"Ofcourse I could, Alvarin. I could let you go and I could also watch you throw your life away for nothing. I could watch all your father ever lived for go down the drain. Hell, I could watch you waste away thinking you're happy." He growled, upset and she couldn't tell why.
"It's none of your goddamn business." She snapped.
"Sure. None of my business. That was the same screwed up notion that made me neglect your pleas for help when your father was dying. That same notion made me not lift a damn finger even when I fucking could."

                 He noticed she froze at his words. Her fingers clenching fueled by whatever emotion was swirling in her guts.

"All I ever did was watch. But now, I'm going to act. I'm not trying to appease you, but your dead father. It's the least I can do to make amends and the last thing I'll do is watch his daughter and his biggest investment go down the fucking drain."

              Diane couldn't explain what his words made her feel. She still hated this man. She still wanted him on his knees. She wanted him to pay not make some flimsy amends.

"You can't change the past." She challenged.
"No. But I can alter the future."
"I'm no longer going to lie about this. It's better you know who you're dealing with because I still very much hate you."
"I can handle hate. I was never loved much so it's one of my best bet."
Russo said, reaching out to the door handle.
"What?" Her confused eyes flickered at his last statement.
"In." He said.
"I don't want to."
"I'm not asking. I'm telling you to. Now, get in."

              Defiantly staring him in the eyes in a silent rage but Russo wouldn't lower his lids. Not now not ever. Not for any man. Icy blue eyes meeting soft caramel ones but instead of chocolate, this one was filled to the brim with hate. That's a little disappointing. His gaze burned into hers until, she called quits on her own stubborness and broke out of the contest, causing him to let out a tiny smirk.

"Fucking fine." She muttered as she got into the car seat.

           Shutting the door after her, He went round and got into the driver's seat and set the car in motion. The last time they were in the same space, she was either in her military uniform or those inmate wears.

               But now, sitting close to him with that white floral dress with blue flower prints here and there, gave off a soft, feminine side of her that he wasn't used to. He could never take her seriously like this. Better get her back in uniform as soon as possible.

          The drive was as quiet as it was uncomfortable. She wondered if he was taking her  straight to the base but eventually with the direction he started driving, she realized they were heading to her house. He was....taking her home.

               He pulled over at her front porch and before she reached for the door, she could hear him speak.

"I need you back at the base tomorrow." Russo said.
"What if I don't want to just yet?"
"I didn't pull you out of there so you could go take another vacation. I'll see you tomorrow."

                 Left with nothing to say, Diane opened the door and got out of his car. He watched her get into her front porch, rambling through her handbag for the keys to the front door. He had a strong feeling she would be back by the next day.

                 Later that evening, Lewis could be seen walking out of the military base and approaching his car parked outside. He slipped into the driver's seat of the black sedan, the soft leather seat enveloped him like a familiar embrace.

               Russo's rejection to the urgent matter he brought before him still had him wearing a gloomy look all afternoon. What could have been more important than his name in the mud?

                     He inserted the key into the ignition and the engine purred to life. As he pulled out of the space, his phone buzzed on the console. Lewis glanced at the screen, recognizing the name too well. His gut immediately tightened , a familiar sense of unease settling in. He answered, his voice cautious.

"Yes?"

"Anickin....." Addressing him by his last name, the voice on the other end was low and grave. Cringing his insides like the sound of chalk on a blackboard. "You do know that time's ticking, don't you, man?"
"I'm aware."
"You said everything would go smoothly after the last General was left paralyzed. What now, Lewis? Having second thoughts?"
"Never!" He spat in disgust.
"Better. I was beginning to think you did. Revealing to Russo Fedorcenko that you're the mastermind behind his father condition would have landed you in a shit hole, wouldn't it?"
"There would no need for such unpleasantries. I know where my loyalties lie."
"Do you?"

            The latter asked, his voice laced with a mocking sarcasm, causing Lewis to tighten the grip on his steering in anger. He was no doubt offended.
"The boss is getting impatient, Lewis." He went on. You do know what happens when he gets like that."
Lewis swallowed the lump in his throat, nervousness creeping in. "I tried to convince him today but he didn't think there was any need. He thinks the Omans are no longer upset."
"Lay yaklakh!" He cussed harshly in Arabic. "That bloody fool."
"It's not entirely his fault. He doesn't yet know the fool story."
"It's your job to make sure he never does. Persuade the General to take off where his goddamn traitor of a father stopped or else, there will be consequences. Not just him, but the whole of Russia."