NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 48- A DELIGHTED SCHOOL BOY

                      By the time Russo arrived back to his office, it was already evening. After making sure Felix kept an accurate record of the meeting of a few minutes ago, he sent him away to attend to other matters and then, he made way to his office.

                   Tired, confused and with the weight of the current situation weighing on his shoulders, he wanted nothing than to be a little boy against resting peacefully on the bosoms of his mother. Well for a few minutes before his father stepped in like he always did and pulled him out for the next training session or so.

       "Up now! You're ten minutes late. Again!"
      "Urgh, honey. Our little General is tired for now. Let him nap for just a while please."
     "Yes, papa. Let me stay a little longer with mommy."
   "What nonsense! Evva, you'll make this boy nothing but a mass of cotton candy if he keeps lazing around your arms."
    "Hahahaha. I'm a safe Haven for him afterall."
    "Enough of all this. Russo!"
   "Yes sir?"
   "Get up and come with me now."
    The boy stared up at his mother.
   "Its okay sweetie, go with your father. You can always come back to mommy okay?"
   "Ok, mom."

                   But he never came back to meet her there did he? She died that same evening in an ambush. Hired killers to be precise. The criminals were never found to this day and the memory burned his heart like it was just yesterday.

               Getting to the door of his office, he pushed open the heavy wooden door, the hinges creaking softly as he stepped into his office. He closed the door behind him, the swift clock of the latch echoing through the room. He took a deep breath and turned back to the room only to find her sitting there. Waiting. For him?

      "You're back! Tell me, how did it go? What did they say?" Diane asked, getting up and hurrying up to him.
      Russo smiled faintly. Why was she so worried?
    "What's so funny?" She asked with a frown.

                  Great way to remind him that she still had another side that wasn't pretty. The last thing he needed was her ferociousness at the moment. He needed to make her pity him more. Screw it! He just wanted to be babied at the moment. Leaning closer, Russo fell on her shoulder.....on purpose.

    "Are....are you sure you're okay?" She asked, her fingers slowly kneading the back of his head.
    "Mhmm...." He sighed, contentedly.
    "How did the meeting go?" Diane asked, yet again. Releasing her fingers from his hair only for him to put it back in place.
    "Don't stop, tiger."
    "Mm. Okay." She smiled, realizing he just needed stress relief and that seem to be working.

             If only she knew. This was the first time He was being pampered by a feminine creature ever since he lost his beloved mother at just thirteen.

     "Both hands this time." He breathed against her shoulder and she felt his hot breath fan her neck, causing instant goosebumps.
    "Is this better?"
   "Yes...mommy." He murmured, not lifting his head up her. He heard her giggle but he just wanted to forget everything that he wouldn't mind her seeing a little vulnerability.
   "Wanna talk about what happened?"
   "You really wanna hear about it, don't you?"
   "Yes."
   "I'm expected to fix the issue with the Al-Jihad by all means necessary. They want me to go with their agenda and continue with whatever deal they had with my father."
   "That's...so tangled up. What are going to do about it?"
   "What would you advise?" He asked, curious to hear her own opinion.
   "I'd say you should do what's best for the country and for you."
   "They also said the same thing. Taking that path is right for Russia."