Page 31 of Ride the Whirlwind

Fabian unwrapped his arms from around Ardan and put them on his shoulders, studying him, taking in each feature, each line and change of expression in his stepson's eyes. Cupping the younger man's face with both hands, Fabian kissed his temples and forehead, his heart filled with gratitude for the deities above who generously allowed Ardan to live for him to hug him to his chest again.

With his signature weak, shy smile playing on his lips, Ardan turned to the base of the stairs where Brodie stood like a statue, still under the impression of the scenes from earlier. He gestured for the man to come and join him, Alasdair, Fabian, and the group of people waiting for their turn to hug their friend who beat the odds again, coming back from the dead.

“Spitfire, Pater, this is Brodie, the man who helped me get on my feet after the guards savagely whipped me on my first day in that hellhole. Without his dedication and care, I wouldn't have been with you here, today,” Ardan said in a deep, thick voice. “Brodie, these are the most important men in my life, second only to my children: Fabian Bloom, my protector, advisor and role model, and Alasdair, my better half.”

“Your husband here talked my ears off about you during our stay in prison, and now I can see why.” Brodie smiled, extending his hand to the redhead, who shook it vigorously. “I've heard you are a very rich man, sir,” he turned to Fabian, “and it must be a great feeling to be surrounded by so many precious treasures.”

“It really is,” the older man replied with a radiant smile, understanding the meaning behind Brodie's words. “Watching all my children and grandchildren grow and become the best versions of themselves is a privilege I'm extremely grateful for.”

“Come here, big guy.” Elizabeth Stark grinned, dragging Ardan in the middle of the group formed of the special team members and Matthew Danvers. “When that cousin of mine who happens to be your husband told us about your alleged death, no one believed it was true. We never even considered the possibility.”

“I have no words to say how happy I am you’re alive.” Daniel hugged Ardan tightly, patting him on his back. “Mister MacGowan and that brave soul who saved your life in jail earned everyone's eternal gratitude. We'll do everything in our power to repay the kindness they showed you.”

“Speaking of, where is our host? Viggo said he sent him to announce to us your presence, and I imagined he was here with you.” Ardan lightly frowned. “Is there something wrong?”

Daniel exchanged a look with his teammates, who nodded in agreement, then turned to his cousin's husband. “Mister MacGowan is packing, getting ready to go to New York City to reunite with Doc Douglas, Fadyen, Keith...and Camlann. He left instructions for the staff to cater to our needs without being in our way. Sit down, we have a lot to talk about.”

Ardan nodded and, guided by Alasdair who joined the group, took a seat on the spacious couch in the mansion's lounge where they were gathered. In a calm voice, Daniel told him about the dangerous situation Graeme was in, insisting that it was absolutely necessary that the team found Count Borovsky's will before the person spying for FSB did.

After a brief moment of silence, Ardan told the Special Ones about the tensions inside MacGowan's organization. They both suspected that someone from his closest entourage tried to break the unity of the organization, creating small groups which were more interested in protecting their own interests than working together for the greater good.

The two of them narrowed the list to two names: Niles MacTeague and Craig Darrow. MacGowan had the crazy idea to team them up as advisor and temporary boss, respectively, during his absence from San Francisco. According to Ardan, one of them, if not both, would try to seize power for themselves.

At that point, Theodore Dunvale intervened, informing The Base's boss about MacGowan's complicated past as an assassin on the CIA's payroll and vigilante in his spare time. He also mentioned Keith's involvement in “the family business” and the danger both men were facing because they eliminated people who were corrupted to the bones but extremely useful to the secret service.

Theodore turned to Matthew, introduced him to Ardan, and asked him to tell the rest of the story. It was the moment Lance's ex-trainee dreaded since he set foot into the mansion; although he witnessed the demonstration of affection between Fabian and Ardan, the man had no idea how The Base's boss would react to his words.

“Um...there is something you should know,” Matthew hesitantly spoke, looking into those fascinating turquoise eyes. “The last name on Mister MacGowan's list Keith took down before this madness started...that man was your father, Godfrey MacNamara. He ran a child prostitution ring, and...”

“Why am I not surprised? That man is not my father, Mister Danvers. That place is reserved for the one who took me in his arms and cradled me to his chest earlier. Please, continue your story.”

Someone from CIA chose the most beautiful boys and girls, trained them to be the perfect sex slaves, implanted listening devices under their skin, and offered them to foreign, high-ranked officials to use and abuse. These men didn't censor themselves in the presence of those poor souls, and the Agency used the information they collected this way to blackmail these officials into doing what they wanted.”

“Bastards! May their rotten souls burn in the flames of Tartarus' fire for eternity,” Ardan spat, balling his hands into fists. “Don't worry, Mister Danvers, Keith and Mister MacGowan will be permanently protected at The Base. No one would get to them there.”

“Please, call me Matthew.” the ex-CIA agent smiled. “I'm convinced they will. I've heard a lot of things about you and the sanctuary you are running, all of them good. I plan to visit it one day when I go back to New York City. I intended to leave for good, but I've discovered that there are still things and people to stay there for.” He smiled, looking in Fabian's direction.

***********

“I'm going on a business trip this afternoon,” Graeme started, looking at Niles MacTeague and Craig Darrow who sat on the other side of the desk. “I don't know yet for how long I'll be gone, so I'm counting on you to keep the things running here.”

“I may not be very familiar with the organization's policy and hierarchy, but I'll do my best to honor your trust.” Darrow dipped his head, speaking in a polite, respectful tone.

“No problem, boss.” MacTeague waved his hand in an arrogant gesture. “I'll be here keeping things under control like I always have. My ancestors helped yours to build the organization, so I would have been a more suitable option for the position of temporary leader, but I know better than to question your decisions.”

“One more thing.” Graeme ignored MacTeague's comment. “A group of friends came to visit me, and they will stay at the mansion during my absence. They are free to explore my property and can go to whichever room they choose. One of the guests is the Secretary of Homeland Security, Fabian Bloom, who is also an avid reader.”

“Wow,” Darrow exclaimed, eyes wide from surprise. “Are you talking about the oldest of the Bloom siblings?” The man waited for MacGowan's confirmation, and when it came, continued in an enthusiastic voice. “They say his son, Martin-Cornelius, is a visionary who turned Bloom Enterprises into what it is today.”

“Always keeping our eyes on the money, aren't we?” MacTeague intervened in an ironic voice, casting a superiority-filled look in Darrow's direction. “Anyway, the boss is richer than all the Blooms and Starks together, so it is Fabian Bloom who should be honored...”

“Are you talking about Count Borovsky's will?” MacGowan interrupted his advisor, irritated by his arrogant behaviour towards Darrow, who technically was his superior, even for only a short time. “I think that's only a story my grandfather invented to confer an aura of mystery to our family.”

“Do you think so?” MacTeague managed to hide the delight he felt hearing those words. The poor loser is oblivious, he thought, smiling internally. “Well, it helped him a lot when it came to bringing all those small gangs under his command.”

“Well, gentlemen, I'd love to spend more time with you, but I don't want to keep the pilot waiting.” MacGowan left his seat. “Don't hesitate to call me in case of emergency or for anything else you would want to communicate.”

MacTeague and Darrow nodded in understanding, shook Graeme's hand, wished him a safe travel, then parted ways. The temporary boss drove to his good friend Timothy Fitzgerald's house, where Lawrence MacCabe, Darrow's other close friend, was also waiting for him. Together, they had important things to discuss and big decisions to make.

---