The truth About cypher ✓

Breakfast call

*Please don't forget to vote y'all*

Laila buried her head further under the blanket in the hopes of being able to block out the man's voice but it was useless. She was already awake enough to hear that her room was filled with people: loud voices and laughter, the sound of chairs being pulled out and things being slammed down on tables. Even at this hour, she could smell the unmistakable scent of cheap beer from the dining table. But regardless of this fact she didn't really want to get up, the bed wasn't really comfortable but she managed to sleep in it; at least she had managed to get into a nice position; legs tucked up in front of her and one arm folded underneath her single pillow. She was warm and snug and she would happily lie like this for a few minutes longer if she could.

"Hey kid, wakey wakey."

She mumbled something at this and managed to pull the blanket all the way over her head so that she was no longer visible under the knitted woolen shroud.

"C'mon Laila, it's breakfast time, you better hop out if you don't want Kaila dragging you by your hair."

"Kaila wouldn't do that. She adores me, said that last night."

"But I wouldn't miss the opportunity." Dimitri huffed before yanking the blanket down. Laila whined as she got out of bed. She nuzzled her nose, brushing her hair behind her head she slowly walked out towards the bathroom. A set of new toothbrushes were hung around the cabinet, she took one of them, ripping off the plastic cover.

Finally awake, she stepped out for breakfast. Dimitri had placed a chair for her between him and Kaila. The woman plated fresh eggs and toast in front of her. Brutus was already done with his breakfast, so the boy was lounging in the living room, watching the news. The happy breakfast was interrupted by Brutus's voice.

"W-We made it to the news...it's all over the news." He was cut off by Dimitri who immediately switched off the television. He glared at the boy before, plugging off the wire and dumping them on one side.

"I'll call Igor and ask him to take care of the situation. Fucking psycho should've sent more people to help you." He blurted out, taking a sip of his beer. Laila just stayed silent. She wondered who else had seen the news, maybe Mila. The girl hardly sees news but her parents report her about such incidents. Maybe Ali Raza had seen the news, or read about it or at least heard. "That would be bad", Laila muttered silently under her breath.

Kaila picked up the rest of the dishes; Brutus helped clean up a bit while Laila washed up and got ready. Dimitri finally dialed down Igor's number with a layer of anger washing down his expressions. If the man met him in person, he probably would've strangled him or something. Either way, Igor answered immediately.

"I WAS ABOUT TO CALL YOU. They're with you, right? Laila and Brutus are they safe?" he shouted from the other side of the phone, taking Dimitri by surprise.

"They sure are now, yaknow AFTER I BAILED THEM OUT OF JAIL. Honestly, what were you thinking making them operate errands toward Anthony knowing he deals with Ivan." Dimitri huffed in annoyance. Kaila walked beside him, running her palm over his back trying to calm him down. He trailed off,

"Half the country hates that man and knows how fucked up he is and-"

"Exactly..." Igor interrupted. "The Russian and East European mafia hates that man, and the pair fucked him over. Took the drugs and cash making a complete fool out of him. Kazan speaks of them Ivanov, other groups are talking about their little stunt. I've had seven calls since last night asking when I'm making them public."

Dimitri's blood boiled.

Kazan was a fucking selfish city. It keeps asking for more and more till you have nothing more to give. Then it buries you, engulfs you like a tide and you start choking once again. Laila and Brutus had taken a shower of bullets last afternoon and spent their evening in jail, yet the heads want them on display, like fucking dolls made out of gold.

He was going crazy.

"No." Dimitri said sternly.
"I'm not letting you initiate them. They're done being involved with this bullshit."

"You couldn't even get yourself out of this mess and you're just a lowly programmer." Igor smudged a smile on his face. He wasn't happy hurting his friend, he was desperate.

"I know you want to protect them, I do too. We need to get them public though, make people realize they're more precious than diamonds or rhinestones. Once they're in public, fuckers like Ivan won't mess with any of us. You want to protect the pair from the higher-ups? They're the ones who will shield our kids."

Silence washed over from both ends of the call. You could hear Dimitri's heartbeat slowly getting steady by the minute. He was scared. Fuck, he wasn't this scared when Haidar blackmailed to kill him.

He was scared for Laila, the girl was doing this to protect her Abu not even realizing she had the most to lose. She was dragged into this and he was lying to her about something she deserved to know.

He was scared for Brutus; he did not have anyone to protect him. Dimitri knew his parents were fucked up. They let him stay in jail when the boy was just eighteen to teach him a lesson rather than contemplate their actions. Dimitri knew they'd cut any ties with the boy if he messed up bad.

Dimitri was afraid for them.

He was afraid for his student's lives.

A huge sigh escaped Dimitri's mouth before he turned towards the pair, sitting in the living room, watching him with concerning eyes. Their faces were so pure, so innocent. And yet Dimitri had to ruin them, that was his only way out, that was the only way to keep them safe.

"Fine. We'll make them public, but I'm joining you. I'll be one of the escorts."

"I'll inform the higher-ups about it. You just need to dress them up pretty and get them to the address. You know where right?"

Dimitri just sighed and Igor took it as an answer, cutting the call. He threw his phone towards the couch, slumping down. His wife watched him with concerning eyes, a sense of possessiveness taking over her. Kaila loved Dimitri; she would do anything to protect him. She was loyal to him, but his loyalty was to protect his students. She accepted the bitter truth, forcefully shoving it down her throat.

If Dimitri was going to protect Laila and Brutus, she was gonna do the same.

Kaila knew about Dimitri's affiliation with Cypher. She knew it all too well, sometimes blaming herself. If only she hadn't been so selfish, maybe he wouldn't have been forced to work for Haidar.

Kaila hated Haidar to his guts.

She referred to him as rotten milk, spoiling the fridge and its contents along with itself. She suggested Dimitri increase his allies in Kazan's mafia. Dimitri had some good friends thanks to Kaila. He had another group who supported him with his research; that guy. Their power was derived from the dark web. They weren't dealers, rather advertisers, making any Mafia's image strong, bringing customers and information. They were discreet in their business so Dimitri was safe from Haidar's eyes, his men.

For Kaila, loving Dimitri was her tide.

"Loving someone who won't love you back is scary and I didn't know that, I had no idea." She quoted when she narrated their love story to Brutus. For the longest time, Kaila did not exist for Dimitri. Those were some painful days, Brutus thought to himself.

"Okay kids; tell me have you ever been to a VVIP party?"

"Loads of times, Ali Raza took me every time we went out for a business deal," Laila commented almost sounding like a brat. Brutus just stayed silent, rolling his eyes over the privileged girl.

"It's going to be something like that tonight except you're the VVIP guest and most of the guests in there have killed thousands like you. Also, a couple of them might want you dead." Dimitri spoke, his tone flat and blunt. Laila sucked a breath, her heartbeat hiking up.

Tonight she was actually going to be displayed on a platter for hyenas, trusting that they won't pound her flesh.