Dmitri eyes fluttered open as the morning sunlight spilted across his face,making his red hair gleam like fire in the light.Stretching slightly he rose from the bed and glanced around realizing he wasn't in his room.
Oh yeah i slept off on Ash bed he thought while massaging his hair. At the far end of the room, he noticed Ash sleeping peacefully on the couch.
Careful not to wake him,Dmitri stepped down quietly and moved to the side of the couch, where Ash's head rested.He studied the serene expression on Ash's face, then gently brushed the stray strands of blonde hair from his eyes. The faint twitch of Ash's eyebrows in response drew a soft smile from Dmitri.
With the small moment tucked into his mind, he left the room and headed toward Nik's room ,only to find it empty. His study,too was deserted. As he stepped back at the hallway, a maid approached him,bowing her head slightly.
"Sir Dmitri", She said politely.
Dmitri returned the gesture with a gentle nod.
"Do you know where my brother might be?"
"Sir Nik left earlier this morning with Sir Alexei" She replied.
"Ah" Dmitri said, a small smile tugging at his lips "Thank you"
The maid bowed once more before retreating down the corridor. Dmitri watched her go for a moment, then turned back toward his room, ready to take a bath and start the day.
*************
Silence hung heavy in the car as Alexei drove back to the mansion, Nik sitting silently in the back seat. With all the problems the organization was already facing, now hardly the time for another complication.
Earlier this morning, two policemen had shown up at the mansion asking for Nik. Alexei had arranged a private meeting at a cafe, but neither of them had expected how it would unfold.
Afew hours earlier
Taking his seat, Nik removed his gloves with deliberate ease, placing them neatly on the table. His expression remained unfazed as the two policemen sat across from him.
"So, gentlemen...what is it that you want from me?" Nik asked calmly, lifting the coffee cup and bringing it to his lips.
The bearded officer slid a file across the table toward him. Nik raised an eyebrow slightly, curiosity, flickering in his eyes, and opened it.
What he saw made his thoughts pause
Photos
Clear, image of the compound-precisely where the drugs were being manufactured. How did they get this?
The compound was suppose to be undetectable even by satellite. No one outside the organization was supposed to know it existed. Yet here it was, laid out in front of him.
Still, Nik showed no reaction.
"And this" he said, titling his head just slightly" What is it supposed to mean?"
The officer straightened in his seat
" There's a drug circulating in the country with severe side effect"
Nik slid the file back toward them, slow
"And you came all this way to tell me?"
The men hesistated
"As far as I'm aware, I deal with casinos, clubs.."
He took another sip of his coffee.
The second officer leaned forward slightly
"We're aware of your business. We're not here to accuse you"
Nik's voice turned colder
"Calling me here and showing me this is already an accusation"
A silence stretched between them.
Then bearded officer cleared his throat
"We'll need to inspect all your casinos"
Nik let out a quiet breath-almost a laugh but without humor.
"Inspect" he repeated, as if testing the word.
He leaned forward slightly now, resting his arms on the table.
"Tell me," Nik said softly "Do you always walk into a man's business based on..pictures you can't even explain?"
Neither of them answered immediately.
Nik held their gaze a moment longer before leaning back as if he'd suddenly lost interest.
"Fine" he said at last, finishing his coffee "If that helps you sleep at night..Do what you want."
" You can contact my right-hand man once you've chosen a date," Nik said, referring to Alexei.
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the cafe, Alexei rising immediately to follow behind him.
************
Ash and Dmitri stepped out of the flower shop,both of their hands filled with neatly packed bags. The soft scents of the fresh flowers lingered around them as they made their way toward the car.
Ash had woken up this morning with Dmitri's scent still lingering faintly in the room-and an annoying ache in his back. Dmitri had immediately scolded him for sleeping on the couch when he could have just joined him in the bed. That arguments alone had cost them time, adding yet another reason for their late departure from the mansion.
By the time they reached the car, Ash let out a quiet breath, shifting the bags in his hands.
Dmitri moved ahead, opening the back door and placing hid things inside before the Ash followed setting his own bags down beside him.
As Ash closed the door and turned around, he found Dmitri already focused on his phone, his expression intent.
Without looking up, Dmitri spoke
" I have found a restaurant for us to have lunch"
He turned the screen to Ash, a hint of a excitement in his voice.
"Lunch?" Ash repeated , raising a brow.
"Yeah" Dmitri said eyes drooping back tom his phone " I'm starving"
He paused for a second before adding casaully " Not my fault someone didn't want to wake up from his beauty sleep"
Ash scoffed lightly, walking around to the driver's side
"You could've woken me up, you know"
Dmitri followed him to the passenger side, opening the door " And ruin that?" he replied glancing at him with a teasing smile " You looked too adorable. I couldn't bring myself to disturb you"
Ash inhaled slowly, turning to look at him-only to find that familiar sly smile already on Dmitri's face.
" You're impossible" Ash muttered, shaking his head as he got into the car.
Dmitri slid into the passenger seat, completely unbothered " I know," he said with a small grin. " It's one of my best qualities"
Ash let out a quiet huff as he started the engine but faint hint of smile tugged at his lips despite himself.
*************
📝Author's Note💌
Hi readers 👋
Sorry for the long pause!😔 We had a few things to sort out, but we're back now😮💨.
Welcome to all the new readers — hope you're loving the story!🤗
Stay tuned, because there's more coming🥺
Xoxo,
Quillqueens 💞