Page 59 of My Hunger, Your Soul

“Simon has sent a video,” Dima says, and puts his phone on the table to show us. It's a short clip of Callie standing in front of Si, smiling and giggling at the camera as Simon stands behind her, placing his hand around her throat with a menacing look on his face. Callie is definitely on the verge of being drunk, as she is taking this behavior as playful. Simon's face is anything but playful, but he doesn't need to do anything more to insinuate the threat.

“Timmy will lose his shit,” I say as I rub my hands together, eager for the fireworks show.

“Did you get his number from Kai?” Dima asks Jules, who nods. Jules forwards the number to Dima, who spends a few seconds typing out a message for our dear Tim before sending the footage.

“Done. I’ve messaged Si to come back too. Lets see what happens,” Dima says, and Seb walks over with a tray of drinks. Bourbons all around.

“Thanks beautiful,” Dima says to Seb as he grabs him for a quick kiss before he walks back over to the bar. Aaron is staring over at Lev and you can tell he’s dying to come over here to see what's going on. I look at Lev, who is not giving Aaron any attention.

“You’ve got a death wish,” I say to Lev, taking a sip of my delicious drink. Lev glances over at Aaron before returning his attention to me.

“He’ll live.”

“I think you should let him join us for playtime in the pen,” I say and Lev stills, daggers aimed at me from his eyes.

“What are you talking about?” Dima asks.

“I think Aaron should be allowed to join in with the interrogations from time to time. I think it would reduce his episodes. I’ve told Lev he needs an outlet. You can tell the guy is desperate to be part of it.”

“Since when are you so qualified on what Aaron needs?” Lev growls at me, but he doesn't scare me. Nobody does.

“Since he recognized who I am without trying. He has hidden monsters that need to play with the big monsters. It won’t be long until he hurts someone innocent, either here at the bar or somewhere else.”

“It makes sense. As long as he follows orders, I don’t have an issue,” Dima says.

“Its not your fucking decision,” Lev scolds.

“No, it's Aaron’s,” I say, smirking at the controlling prick. I get it, though, as I’d be the same with Tyler.

“If he gets hurt…” Lev starts to speak, but I hold my hand up to stop him.

“You know that won’t happen. Besides, you’ll be there too. It can be like a date night.”

Lev thinks that over and he just nods and continues to drink his drink as we fall into silence. The calm before the storm. Movement from the bar grabs my attention when I see Aaron jump from his seat and move over toward the entrance. I follow him until I see him greet Tyler, who is with a guy that looks so similar, apart from the hair, who I assume is Chase, his brother.

“He’s here,” I say to the boys as I stand and walk over to Tyler, who is introducing his brother to Aaron, Kai and now Seb, who has left the bar. They’re like excitable puppies with a new toy.

“Ty,” I say, and he turns to look at me and smiles. I sense nerves, and his fidgeting alerts me to his uncertainty of what to do. We’ve not really been in a public setting before, especially with a family member, but I don’t mind taking the lead. I pull him by the waist and take his mouth in a quick deep kiss, full of promises for later. When I end the kiss, he seems more relaxed.

“That's so hot,” Aaron says, but we all ignore him. Everyone is staring, including Jules, D and Lev who have now joined us.

I’m not very experienced when it comes to formalities with families. In my life and work, greeting a new person is either punching them in the face or threatening them. I don’t know what the right thing to do with Chase is.

“You must be Chase. I’m Ivan,” I say, my arm still around Tyler’s waist. Chase’s smile is so large and bright it scares me a little. Are people really that happy in life? He steps forward, holding his hand out to me.

“It's great to meet you, Ivan.” I copy his move and he shakes my hand with a steady and firm grip. That's not too bad. I like him. I don't mind Ty being around him.

“Is this the family?” Chase asks confidently, like he’s not in the bar of a bunch of psycho criminals.

I take over the introductions as Tyler is retreating into himself, pushing his body closer to mine to appear smaller. I think he’s overwhelmed.

“Chase, this is Dima and Lev. They’re brothers and my cousins. The big guy next to you is Jules, one of the guards. These three annoying shits who you met when you came in are Aaron, who is Lev’s partner. He’s crazy so be careful. Seb is Dima’s husband and works the bar here, and finally the quiet one is Kai, Jules’s husband.”

“That's a lot to remember. Nice to meet you all,” Chase says, and it shocks me with how relaxed he is. Did Tyler tell him who we are?

“Where’s your husband?” I ask, noting an absence.

“He doesn’t like people so he stayed behind at the hotel.”

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