NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 50- A RECKLESS TREATY

Russo sat in his office that morning, his broad shoulders were stiff with tension. With him were the other members of his team for mission '4XN'. Felix, Clarice and Diane. There was a large monitor on the wall that was displaying a loading symbol as Felix worked at the laptop, initiating a secure video connection.

The room was suffocating with anticipation. Diane and Agent Clarice stood just at the corner to avoid them being seen on camera when the video call went through. Felix leaned back in his chair as soon as the call connected. He turned to Russo.

"Remember, charm him first then bleed him dry."

Russo returned with a smirk, before turning his attention back to the monitor. The screen flickered to life, revealing Hassan seated in a dark room. Ofcourse, he was smarter than revealing anything that might serve as a clue to where exactly they were to his enemies. His dark eyes narrowed as they met Russo's.

"General....." Hassan began, his voice calm but laced with suspicion. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"
"Hassan, I'll get straight to the point. It's being quite of a mini coaster ride and I would want all this to end. As you must know, I'm a busy man and there are other trivial matters that demands my attention. So, let's get this one over with." Russo said.
Hassan smiled. So the threat worked. So that woman meant something to him afterall. "What do you have in mind?" He asked.
"There's being enough uncertainty and enmity. Let's discuss a peace treaty."

There was silence for a few seconds and all of a sudden it was broken by a loud and sharp, mocking laughter from Hassan. His laugh rang out for a while.

"A peace treaty? From the son of Marcov Fedorcenko? Oh don't insult me."
"I'm not my father." Russo said, evenly. "But I'm in control now and I want this to end. The choice is yours."
"You speak of peace, yet your last name drips with the blood of my men."

Hearing Hassan's statement, Diane shared a shocked glance at Russo but he was quick to look away. Well, he was going to have to do a lot of explaining later on.

"And can you boast that yours doesn't?" Russo asked, his brows furrowing with displeasure but in the next second, he was back in full composure.
"Let's cut the theatrics, Hassan Al-Jabbar and get down to business."
"I want justice for the death of my messenger, whoever it was that killed him."
"Isn't that the point of the peace treaty?"
Hassan's lips curled up into an ugly smile "Aren't you forgetting something, General?"
"And what could they be?" He shared a confused look with Felix, who shrugged, equally confused.
"The main reason I ever reached out to you. The deal the Al-Jihad had with your father still hangs on the air. It's left for you to bring it to the ground. You need to continue."

Russo thought for awhile. Not sure what to say. He needed to be careful at this point. Felix noticing his loss of words, kept his fingers hovering over the keyboard, ready to mute the call if needed but Russo's voice remained steady.

"It's all included in the peace treaty, trust me."
Hassan studied him for a moment. "What exactly are you proposing?"
"A neutral meeting ground in Oman. You, me and a few trustees. We discuss terms, no weapons, no tricks."
"Ha! No weapons?" Hassan mocked. "You must think I'm some kind of fool, General."
"I think you're a man who knows when to choose survival over pride." Russo countered. "We're holding this treaty in your territory afterall. If for anything, you have an upper advantage after us."

Meanwhile, standing at the corner of the office, Diane clenched her fists whispering to Clarice.
"He's too calm. This guy's not buying it."
"He doesn't need to." Clarice whispered back. "He doesn't need to. Russo's not actually here for peace. It's either Hassan agrees and grants us easy access to do our shit or we burst in. Either ways, Russo's plan must work."
"This Arab guy better buy his shit or he's screwed."
Clarice smiled. "We're all screwed, sweetie."