Page 54 of My Hunger, Your Soul

I contemplate if I should message Ivan, but I don't have the energy to explain and deal with the repercussions. I can tell him later. Face to face.

My only hope for the day is that tonight goes off without any problems. But I think I’m reaching too far to hope that it will go smoothly.

Screw my life.

28

IVAN

When I get home, I go straight to the office to meet Dima, Lev and Jules. The atmosphere in here is tense as fuck, and its understandable. Its not a pleasant thing to find out your employees are fucking traitors.

I take a seat next to Lev, as Jules stands at the back of the office, leaning against the wall, and Dima sits in his spot behind his desk. He looks exhausted.

“I can’t fucking believe this. You sure it was Kane, the new guy?” Lev says, and I take out my phone and show him the picture.

“I can’t wait to get my hands on him,” Lev says, clasping his hands behind his head in an effort to hold himself back from tearing out of here to find the bastard.

“Where is he now, Jules?” Dima asks.

“I checked in with Leo’s crew and he said he was there. I told him not to send him out on any collections and to keep him there, without being obvious of course.”

“Good. I want you to get Leo and a couple of the guys to bring him over here as soon as possible so we can lock him up in the holding pen tonight while we find out what the fuck is going on. I don’t want to risk him disappearing.”

“On it,” Jules says, his phone already against his ear as he leaves the office.

“I’ve heard from Simon, he’s on campus and will contact us when he comes into contact with Callie. We need to get things moving with Tim. The sooner the better, otherwise my hair is gonna fall out with the fucking stress,” Dima says as he stands.

“Let's get ready to meet our new guest,” Dima says to me and Lev. We both rise up and follow Dima out of the office, and walk down to the holding pen, where Jules is waiting outside.

“Leo said they’ll have him here in the next thirty minutes,” Jules says.

“Okay, go wait out front for them and bring them straight down here.”

Jules nods and goes to wait at the front of the house, while we enter the holding pen. My body buzzes with electric tension, excited to be back in this room.

“I want in on this, you can’t keep him to yourself, Lev,” I say, pointing at him in warning.

“Don’t worry, you can have your turn,” he says, and we both chuckle.

“Neither of you are doing anything tonight. Save it for tomorrow. Aren’t you meeting your future brother-in-law?” Dima says.

“Are you talking to me?”

“I’m hardly gonna ask Lev that, am I?” Dima says, his tone dripping in sarcasm.

“Yeah I am. He flies in tonight and I’m meeting them at the bar.”

“Just to warn you, Aaron found out about this visit. I’m pretty sure he and Kai will be there to watch,” Lev says.

“I’m fine with that,” I say, unbothered if all of the family turn up.

“I’m not thinking about you, but the brother. Maybe you should warn Tyler,” Lev says on a big yawn.

“No, I think surprise is the best way forward. Tyler is very…expressive. I don't have the energy to work out another emotion.”

Dima cracks up laughing, and Lev sniggers.

“What? Why are you laughing?”

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