“Ha! Love to see you try.”
“Just drive. All these conversations are giving me a headache.”
“As you wish, Princess.”
I turn my head to the side where it rests on the head rest and throw Jules my most hateful look as the bastard loves to goad me.
“Maybe you need to keep one eye open tonight, Jules. Don’t test me.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Thankfully that's the last of it and the rest of the journey is made in silence. Beautiful silence. I keep my eyes on the passing streets as we get closer to the docks. It's coming toward the end of fall so the air is getting cooler at night. Add on top of that my anxiety over seeing Carlos again, and I'm pretty much on the verge of suffocating.
We arrive at the dock where there are lots of guards and workmen moving around, busy at work. As we park, both of us get out of the car, but Jules lingers behind as I make my way toward Carlos’ office. I say office, it's a reused container that's depressing as shit and I assume will be like a freezer in the winter. It always surprises me that someone like Carlos who wears the best clothes, and walks around with airs and graces of royalty, that he would be satisfied with such a place to work. But I don’t really know him. It could all be a show.
A guy greets me outside of the container, Carlos’ right hand guy called Lucas who I’ve met a few times. He’s a tall guy, well built, has thick black hair and a close cut beard. Brazil certainly knows how to make hotties. However he has no personality, which I can identify with. He’s as friendly as I am.
“Is he waiting?” I ask, pointing toward the office door.
“No, but he’ll be here soon. You can wait inside.”
Oh the irony, Lev telling me to be professional when this fucker can’t even have the decency to be on time. Whatever. I stomp into the office and collapse into the chair, thankful that there is a heater in here, because how the fuck can it be colder in here than it is outside? At least he has some awareness.
Asshole.
4
CARLOS
I love it here at the docks. It's my kingdom. I love the smell of the sea air and fumes from the boats, the sounds of the harbor,
the beauty of the lights of the city in the background which reflect onto the water's surface.
Simon and Jules arrived five minutes ago, but I’ve been hanging back. Purposefully, of course. I want to annoy Simon as much as I can, and with his lack of patience and inability to be anything but bitchy, I will take any chance to get a rise out of him. Anything that will get him to notice me and keep his eyes on me.
It’s also a power move to show who has control here. I may work with the Kozlovs, but this is my turf. My rules.
I walk over to my office, where Lucas greets me by the door.
“You stay out here, I’ll shout if any issues,” I say as he frowns at me. Any meeting or handover, and Lucas is always next to me, prepared for any event.
“Are you sure?”
“He’s harmless.”
Lucas rolls his eyes, shaking his head.
“Is it wise to get involved with one of the brothers’ guards? A little close to home, don’t you think?”
“I’m only playing. Don’t worry, he won’t do anything,” I say as I walk past Lucas and open the office door and step inside, only to be hit by the tension radiating off Simon, who is sitting in one of the chairs facing away from me. If I didn’t know it was him, I would think someone had placed a mannequin in here with how rigid he is sitting. Good to know I have an effect on him.
I walk around the desk and slowly sit in my chair opposite the beautiful scowling man in front of me.
“Nice of you to finally show up,” he says, and I can’t help but smile at his outburst.
“I like to make an entrance.”
“Congratulations, mission accomplished. Shame it wasn’t on time.”