Code of Silence

Untitled Part 23

Felicity left to go check on Zoya as Oliver got on the phone. There was someone he needed to call. Someone that owed him a favor. That favor would be to keep his daughter safe. He smiled when he heard the gruff voice answer the phone.

"Well kid, I have to say, I didn't think I would be hearing from you this soon.", Slade said.

"It's good to talk to you Slade. Listen, I need to call in my favor. I need your help."

"What can I do?", Slade asked, his interest peaked.

"I need you to come to Star City and protect my daughter." Oliver said. Slade could hear the cold steel in his voice. Something serious must be happening for Oliver to call for his help.

"I can be on a plane tonight.", Slade said with a cold smile.

"I will send our family jet for you." Oliver paused. "Slade? Thank you!"

"No thanks necessary man. I owe you this one." Slade hung up the phone and as Oliver placed his phone down he thought back to when he had met Slade. He was being held by a rival family in Russia and had gotten caught in the cross-fire between the Bratva and that particular family. When the Bratva team had broken into the room where he was being held, he had pledged his loyalty to the brotherhood in exchange for helping them take down the men who were holding him. He was an extremely skilled fighter and had eventually been allowed to join the Bratva after taking down one other target for the brotherhood by himself. Oliver had been the one to talk Anatoli into letting him in, and he had been forever grateful.

Oliver breathed a little easier knowing that Slade would be in Star City by in the morning and he grabbed his phone, and then went to his gun drawer. He clipped his gun to the back of his pants and then headed out of his office. He had other matters to take care of with his mob contacts and it needed to be handled right away.

***

Anatoli smiled as he thought back over his date with Moira. They had a good time, and he knew he had not smiled that much in....well....in a long time. He pulled out his phone as he headed to the training room and ordered a dozen seasonal flowers to be sent to her. He asked for bright colors, the thought of the beautiful flowers making him think of her smile.

He nodded to Roy as he walked up, seeing the men already hard at work.

"How has it been with our Bratva men and the Star City enforcers?", he asked, looking at them curiously.

Roy groaned, "Like a pissing match between two pit bulls. I tell them to spar and someone inevitably ends up with a black eye or a broken nose."

Anatoli laughed. It was as he expected. He knew it would take time for the men to acclimate to each to each other and he patted Roy on the shoulder.

"Well then you had better keep that muzzle handy.", he said with a grin, and Roy glared at him in frustration as he watched Anatoli walk back upstairs.

"I need more than a muzzle!", Roy grumbled and then got back to work.

Anatoli headed to the kitchen to get some breakfast and he smiled when he saw Moira sitting regally at the table reading the paper and drinking some coffee. She gave him a soft smile when she saw him and as Raisa bustled around the kitchen making him a plate, he kissed Moira's hand.

"Good morning красивая (beautiful)!"

"Good morning Anatoli.", she said, her cheeks flushed at his nickname for her. He had told her what it meant. Beautiful! And it made her feel special when he called her that.

"May I join you for breakfast?", he asked before he took his seat.

"Of course!"

Raisa placed a plate of breakfast before him and he and Moira spent the morning talking and laughing, and Anatoli knew he had never had a more enjoyable morning. He wanted to ask her out again, and before he could stop himself he was asking her out for lunch.