Endless Love

by Drake, Tabatha

  He waves a hand, brushing it off. “I appreciate the thought, Luka, but this is Petrovin business.”

  I nod with understanding.

  “Anything happen while we were gone?” Yuri asks.

  I shake my head with a glance at Lucian’s engaged face. “Business as usual,” I answer.

  “Any word from Fitzpatrick?” Nik asks.

  “Not yet,” I say. “But Sofia has a good feeling.”

  Yuri scoffs into his glass. “Who cares?”

  I look at him. “It’s a happy occasion, brother.”

  Casey smirks. “He’s just mad because he already lost.”

  We laugh as Yuri’s eyes roll.

  Casey’s grin falls slowly. His head turns, detecting the faint tap of Markov’s gait in the hallway seconds before I do. It’s moments like this when I know I made the right decision in entrusting him with my family’s safety.

  Markov appears in the doorway, his coat bound and his boots laced up. “Yuri,” he says.

  I smile at the nostalgia of it. It wasn’t too long ago when Markov used to come and get me at a moment’s notice for matters concerning the family business. A deal has gone south. A possible threat to investigate. A snake has been found.

  Now, he comes for Yuri.

  My brother bobs his head. “We’ll talk again soon, brother,” he says to me as he stands up. “Give Rosa a kiss for me.”

  “Soon,” I repeat with a bow.

  As he passes Lucian, Yuri reaches out and messes up his hair. Lucian cringes and straightens it back into its proper place.

  Markov offers me the same nostalgic smile beneath his scarred brow before following Yuri out of the room.

  Nik sloppily snatches the bottle off the table, along with his glass. “Well, I guess that’s my cue to go get some shut-eye. Is the guest room available?”

  I point toward the ceiling. “Always for you.”

  He grins. “My gratitude is forever, good sir.” As he stands, he bows at Lucian. “Master Lutrova, it’s been a pleasure.”

  Lucian smiles, looking up to him with pride the same way I used to look up to Markov when I sat in that chair.

  Nik waves goodnight to the table and walks out of the kitchen.

  I raise a brow at Lucian. “Bed,” I say. “Now.”

  He sighs, but nods. “Spokoynoy,” he mutters as he slides off his chair.

  “Spokoynoy,” I say.

  “Bye, Casey,” he adds.

  Casey tips his glass. “Bye, Luc.”

  The two of us wait until we hear Lucian’s feet ascend the stairs.

  “Go with them to Chicago,” I say to Casey.

  No disrespect to the Argento family, of course. My trust is just limited these days and I still get nervous whenever one of us travels to old Zappia territory.

  “Already packed,” Casey simply says.

  I smile. Casey Fawn is always packed.

  * * *

  I silently close the bedroom door behind me.

  Sofia still lies on our bed, clinging loosely to the sheet in the dark. I peel off my shirt before climbing in beside her, desperate to feel a little of her warm skin against mine in the middle of the cold night.

  As I touch her, she rolls toward me. I take her into my arms, cradling her gently as she rests her head against my chest.

  She sighs quietly. “They’re not letting him drink, are they?” she asks, her eyes still closed.

  I chuckle. I’d be surprised, but I’m not.

  Nina Lutrova has taught her well.

  “No,” I answer.

  Sofia turns her head up and kisses me. I cup her face, preventing her from straying too far. I kiss her again, succumbing to a powerful urge as she straddles my waist.

  “Ti amo,” I whisper for her.

  She smiles, her desires taking over. “Ya tebya lyublyu.”

  Boxcar

  The mattress sinks somewhere near my feet. I feel it with my eyes closed; a slow-moving climb from bottom to top.

  Luckily, at this stage in my life, I can only think of two people who would wake me up like this. The first is supposed to be in school and the second… should also be in school.

  Something’s not right.

  I force my eyes open. Blackout curtains prevent the Boston morning sun from coming in, but I can still make out her shape on the bed above me.

  “Good morning,” she says.

  I look her up and down as I wake up.

  Caleb.

  Her long, brown hair falls over her shoulders, just barely obscuring her very exposed breasts.

  I smile. “Well, hello there…”

  She chuckles. “Hey.”

  “What time is it?” I ask.

  “Seven-thirty-ish.”

  I glance around, slowly becoming more lucid.

  Oh, hey. Breasts.

  Very awake now.

  “Not that I’m complaining here, but what’s with the naked wake-up call?” I ask.

  Caleb leans forward, placing her warm palms on my bare chest. “Well,” she begins, sultry and smooth, “the kid is in school.”

  I nod. “Uh-huh.”

  “And my morning class was canceled, so I thought…”

  Her finger glides down my chest and connects with my happy trail.

  I raise a brow. “You’re telling me that the kid is gone, you don’t have anywhere to be, and I don’t have to get ready for work for another hour?”

  “That about covers it.”

  “And why are we still talking? Take off your pants!”

  Caleb laughs as I pull her down to kiss me. Our lips lock with the urgency of parents who haven’t had a spontaneous moment alone in a long time because, well…

  Yeah.

  I sit up, wrapping my arms around her as she positions herself on top.

  “Are you going to be available for lunch today?” she asks.

  I nod, briefly angling my hips upward so she can pull my slacks down. “Barring any horrible matters of national security, I should be there.”

  Caleb grips my shaft. I instantly stand to attention. “Can you pick up Colby?”

  She lowers herself down, sheathing me inside of her.

  I grunt in pleasure. “When?” I ask.

  She rolls her hips. “Twelve-thirty.” She pauses to moan, her wicked nails digging into my back. “My lecture doesn’t end until twelve forty-five.”

  “Right.” I slowly think through the sexual haze taking over my brain. “Um. Yes. I will pick her up. Then, Milo’s?”

  She grimaces. “Again?”

  “Why not? I thought you liked it.”

  “I do. I just think you like it too much.”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing, but I’m starting to suspect you guys are having an affair or something.”

  I laugh. “I mean, he does have very pretty eyes.”

  She quivers on me, mewling for more. “Okay. Milo’s it is, but let’s try something new next week. I’m a little burrito’d out.”

  “I’m down for that.”

  I grab her, holding her close as I turn us around and place her on her back. Caleb hooks her ankles behind my back and plants one hand on the headboard, holding on tight as I thrust.

  “Fuck, that’s good. Keep going,” she says.

  I crush my mouth on hers. Our fingers entwine as we lose ourselves in each other. Just the two of us in the throes of epic passion without a single care in the world—

  “Oh!” she says. “I talked to Fox this morning.”

  I grunt, coming close. “Oh, yeah?”

  “And we’re still in the game.”

  I nod. “Good.”

  “Sunday.” She releases a moan, her sex clenching around me. “Gonna be Sunday.”

  “Sunday,” I repeat, barely listening.

  “But, speaking of…” Caleb clears her throat. “It’s time.”

  “Time for what?”

  “Time for us to talk about it again.”

  I pause my thrust, fur
rowing my brow. “Has it been six months already?” I ask.

  Caleb nods. “Yeah.”

  “Oh. Okay. Well…” I shift into a more comfortable position for my arms. “Do you want to?” I ask her.

  “Do you want to?”

  “Honestly, Cal… I think this is a really dangerous time to ask me about this. I mean,” I gesture at our interlocking parts, “I’m pretty sure I can be talked into just about anything while I’m this deep inside of you.”

  She laughs. “That’s true.”

  “Let’s talk about it later.”

  “Agreed.”

  We kiss, igniting our passions again.

  Caleb

  “Hey, Milo.”

  Milo sticks his head out the window of the food truck and grins. “Caleb!” he greets. “What can I get you?”

  “One lemonade, please.”

  “Just you today?” he asks as he grabs a to-go cup.

  “No, they’re on their way,” I answer over the gentle hum of passing foot traffic on the street. “We’ll order once they get here.”

  “Sweet.” He snaps a lid on the cup and holds it down for me. “I’ll add this onto the ticket then. Just don’t let me forget.”

  I smile as I take it. “Will do. Thanks.”

  He gives me a wink, showing off a bit of those multi-colored eyes. I slide away to let the next customer in line move ahead and weave through the tables in the courtyard. It’s a crowded lunch hour today, but not as bad as it could be.

  I find an empty table and take a seat, quickly placing my backpack and jacket in the two remaining chairs to save them for Boxcar and the kiddo. I shouldn’t have to wait too long.

  I fetch a textbook from my bag to skim through while I sip my lemonade.

  “Hey, peanut.”

  I look up, my breath held in tight as I meet his eyes.

  Casey Fawn.

  My father.

  A few years older now but still him. He’s paler than before, making the scar on his nose appear fainted in the light. He’s grown a salt and pepper beard, too.

  It must get cold in Russia.

  “Dad,” I say, shifting forward as I abandon my book. “Hey.”

  He smiles, his expression soft and warm, as he gestures to the open seat beside me. “May I?”

  I nod, my gut twinging with dread. “Yeah. Sure.”

  As he sits down, he cautiously scans the area. A force of habit, I’d imagine. From Snake Eyes agent to mobster, he’s probably picked up all sorts of habits like that.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask.

  “I’m in the country on business,” he answers.

  “On Russian mob business?”

  He chuckles. “Yeah. We’re just passing through the east coast, so I figured I’d swing by and see you how you were doing.”

  My heart wants to believe him. Hell, my head does, too. There’s little reason to doubt him at this point, but I still feel nervous when he annually swings by like this.

  “How are Luka and Sofia?” I ask.

  “They’re good.”

  “Are they here?”

  “No, it’s just me and Yuri. And Nik Petrovin.”

  I chortle. “Is there a reunion or something?”

  “Kind of,” he says with a laugh. “How’s your mom?”

  “Uh… she’s good, too,” I say. “Great, actually. She’s getting married next spring.”

  His brow rises. “Really?”

  “A pretty nice guy, too. A veterinarian.”

  “I’m happy for her.”

  “Me, too.”

  “She deserves a… nice guy.”

  “She really does.”

  He tilts his head, studying me. “How about you?” he asks. “Is that boy keeping you happy?”

  I smile. I wonder if he’ll ever refer to Boxcar as anything but that boy.

  Probably not.

  “Yes,” I answer. “We are very happy.”

  “Good.” He eyes my book. “Have you picked a major yet?”

  “Criminal Justice.”

  His brow rises.

  “I know,” I say, chuckling. “I am aware of the irony, but it feels right going forward. It’s never too late for redemption, right?”

  He says nothing.

  “Mommy!”

  I look away, drawn toward the little girl across the courtyard. Boxcar holds onto Colby’s hand for as long as possible, but she eventually slips free and charges at us around the tables. I instinctively slip off my chair and take a knee as she rushes into my arms.

  “Hey, baby.” I scoop her up and plant her in my lap as I sit back down. “How was school?” I ask her.

  “Boring!” she says.

  “Boring?” I hug her. “Well, get used to that…”

  My father stares at her with a short smile. He’s only seen brief snippets of his granddaughter and never this close before. She’s already starting to look like me.

  Like us.

  “Who are you?” Colby asks, glaring across the table at him.

  I inhale sharply. “Col, this is, uh…”

  I pause. We’ve never told her about him. There’s too much risk involved with her accidentally announcing to people that she’s seen her grandfather — a man who’s been dead for nearly a decade.

  “I’m an old friend of your mom’s,” he answers before I can.

  “Right,” I say.

  His lips twitch. “She’s in school?”

  “It’s kind of a preschool-slash-daycare kind of thing,” I say. “Really flexible scheduling around my classes and, um…” I feel a presence lingering over my shoulder, “his job.”

  Boxcar stands tall by our table in his usual black suit and navy-blue tie. He crosses his arms, looking strong and protective, yet casual and aloof at the same time.

  “Agent Carson,” my father greets him.

  Boxcar smirks. “Agent Fawn.”

  And here we go…

  “What brings you out here?”

  “I’m just passing through town.”

  “Oh, yeah? Anything going down I should know about?”

  My father smiles. “Nope.”

  “Darn.”

  I clear my throat. “Box.”

  He looks at me, that alpha male amusement twinkling in his eyes. In just a few short years, Boxcar has managed to completely shift the balance of power between them in his favor and he never misses the opportunity to flex.

  Boxcar nods, reading my warnings to be cool. “Will you be staying for lunch?” he asks.

  My father shakes his head. “No, I have a flight to catch.”

  “Box,” I say, shifting Colby off my knees, “would you go order for us? My usual is fine.”

  He stares at Casey with a raised brow before nodding. “Sure.”

  “Colby, honey, go help your dad, please.”

  Boxcar extends his hand to her. She instantly takes it. “It was nice to see you again,” he says, though it’s hard to tell whether he truly means it or if he’s putting on a face for Colby’s sake.

  Either way, my father bobs his head. “You, too,” he says.

  I watch as Boxcar and Colby walk toward the line of food trucks. Milo pokes his head out of the window again and Boxcar lifts Colby up so she can give him a high-five.

  “She’s beautiful.”

  I turn toward my father again. “Yeah,” I say. “She is.”

  “Looks just like you at that age,” he adds.

  I nod. “That’s what Mom says, too.”

  He glances around again, this time with a smile. “Seems like you’ve got this life thing all figured out,” he says.

  I chuckle. “I don’t know if I’d go that far, but…” I shrug. “We’re doing all right.”

  “Good.”

  “You know, Dad,” I take a breath, “it’d be nice to hear from you more often. Not that these semi-annual random surprise drop-ins aren’t fun or anything…”

  “I don’t want to intrude on what you have, Caleb.”

  �
��Then, why do you come back at all?”

  He looks down.

  I smile. “You’re not intruding. Really. Box puts on a tough front, but I’m sure he’d like to get to know you better, too.” I grab a notepad from my backpack and tear off a sheet. I quickly jot down my phone number and hold it out for him to take. “We can start with this.”

  He stares at it for a moment. “You know I already have that, right?”

  “And Boxcar tracked yours down a long time ago, too,” I say, prompting a grimace on the edge of his mouth. “It’s a gesture.”

  He pockets the paper and sighs. “It’s never too late for redemption, huh?” he asks.

  “You’re welcome to try and prove me wrong.”

  He chuckles. “No, thanks. I lost that game plenty with your mom.” He stands with one last glance around. “I should get going,” he says.

  My knees move, forcing me to stand with him. He stiffens as I approach, and I feel more than a little foolish as I wrap my arms around him.

  “It was good to see you, Dad,” I say.

  He slowly relaxes as he hugs me back. “You, too, peanut,” he whispers.

  And just like that, I’m a kid again. Watching Boxcar and his baby girl over the last few years has made me realize just how much I miss having a dad. I thought mine was dead and buried, but he wasn’t. How often does that happen? Even with everything he’s done and the choices he made, I can’t bring myself to abandon the chance to have a dad again.

  And I don’t think he can abandon me again either.

  Boxcar told me what my father said to him in Paris. That the man I knew, the one who raised me, didn’t exist anymore. But if that were true, he wouldn’t have saved us.

  He wouldn’t be here now.

  “Travel safe,” I say, pulling away. “Give the Lutrovas our best.”

  My father looks over my shoulder at my family and nods. “Be seeing you,” he says.

  I release him and he turns away, quickly blending into the crowd.

  You’d think after seeing my father walk away so many times that I’d become numb to it by now, but I’m not sure I ever will. It doesn’t hurt as much this time, however.

  I’ll consider this a win.

  My family returns to the table with literal fanfare. Boxcar mimics a trumpet sound as he lays a cardboard drink carrier on the table. Colby hops up onto the chair on my right with a paper bag full of food in both hands. I watch Boxcar as he distributes our meal with his little helper pointing and smiling. He gets her settled with her drink and a few soft tacos and kisses her cheek before handing me my chicken burrito.