Michael smiled, his eyes crinkling as he said, “Not for sale, but I can give you one. Echo, if you don’t want to stick with us, I won’t stop you. But if I find Skye, where do I look for you? Plus, I’m being hunted. Sure, it’s more of a warning than an actual attempt on my life, but losing an arm or a leg counts as a warning too. You really want to leave us here? Without your skills, we might not even make it to our destination before something happens. And remember, they’re here to warn me, not Ivy. If they decide they don’t like her, they could act on it. I won’t even go into how powerful the Street Family is. Ivy’s family might be strong too, but if something happens, it happens. Life only comes once, and if it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Echo turned to him, her expression cold. “Are you threatening me?”
With a big smile, Michael shook his head. “No, I’m just sincerely inviting you to stay with me for a couple of days. Once we handle this mess, I won’t stop you from going wherever you want. You’ve already helped me twice, and the other side will think we’re on the same team. Right now, it’s really dangerous.”
Seeing Michael’s earnest expression, Echo’s resolve softened a bit, and she frowned slightly.
Ivy quickly jumped in, hugging Echo’s arm. “Echo, how could you leave me here? Michael has the support of his family, the Brown family; no one would dare touch him. I don’t have anything. I’m on edge every day with them. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Let’s stay with the Brown family for a couple of days. Just keep me company, okay? I’ll feel safer with you around.”
Hearing Ivy’s plea, Echo shot her a glare. “You were fine before me.” With that, she pressed down on the gas, speeding off in frustration. Why was trouble always finding her when she wasn’t even looking for it?
Ivy noticed that despite Echo’s harsh words, she was still driving in the direction Michael suggested, and a smile crept onto her face. Echo still cared about her, and with the situation being what it was, as Michael said, he had powerful backing. The Street Family was just trying to intimidate them. They were nothing compared to the Street Family, and if things turned violent, they would have to accept it.
Echo didn’t have any major support either, and if Ivy and the others caused problems for her, it wouldn’t sit right with them. So, bringing Echo to the Brown family was a smart move.
What Ivy didn’t know was that Echo’s backing was much larger. If the Dark Family and the Street Family openly clashed, it wouldn’t be a problem, but if they were acting nice while hiding hostility, the Street Family would have to give her some respect.
Echo ultimately agreed to go, not because she wanted protection from the Brown family, but because she was worried about Ivy’s safety. Since Ryan hadn’t sent her back yet, it made sense to escort Ivy and the others to a safe place.
The Brown family was a well-known force in the legitimate world, but their power wasn’t in the West; it lay in Russia. They controlled territory in both nations, standing tall alongside the Dark Family and the Street Family, forming a strong triad. Though not as famous as some, their influence shouldn’t be underestimated.
The current boss of the Brown family was Michael’s father, a formidable figure in Russia and China, with close ties to high-ranking officials in both countries. Their largest business was in oil.
Once at the Brown family’s place, Echo felt a sense of ease. There was no need for awkwardness; she joined Ivy and the others, happily enjoying the temporary peace.
“Echo, when did you hurt your finger? Let me see,” Ivy asked, noticing the bandages wrapped around Echo’s fingers as they were hanging out in the Brown family’s game room, playing pool.
Echo slightly grimaced and replied, “It’s nothing.” She took a shot but missed, raising an eyebrow in annoyance before stepping back to let Frank take his turn.
“Nice shot,” Michael said, walking in with a smile.
Echo felt a bit embarrassed and touched the bandages on her fingers.
“By the way, we’re having an important guest tonight. I might not be able to hang out with you guys. Just let me know if you need anything; don’t hold back,” Michael told Brook with a grin.
Brook raised an eyebrow. “Important guest? Does the Brown family even have important guests? Who is it, someone big?”
Michael shook his head. “I don’t know. My dad just said there’s a guest coming and that he’ll handle it personally. I’m just here to keep him company, and no one else is allowed in. It must be someone with some serious clout.” His tone turned serious, reflecting the weight of the situation.
Frank put down his cue and walked over. “Is it a head of state or something?”
Michael shook his head again. “If it were, it wouldn’t be this formal. I think it’s just some big player in the underworld.”
“Who?” Ivy chimed in, curious.
“If you knew, you wouldn’t have to guess,” Michael replied, raising an eyebrow with a smile, clearly unsure.
“Speaking of which, what’s going on with the Street Family?” Echo asked coolly from the side. With Ryan waiting in New York, she really didn’t have the luxury to stay here for too long.
Michael turned to her, smiling as he walked closer. “It’s just that my dad and I had a disagreement about something, and the Street Family decided to use me as leverage to warn him. But if the Brown family was willing to back down, we wouldn’t be in such a strong position today. So, sorry, but you’re stuck here for a couple of days,” he said, sitting beside her.
Echo raised an eyebrow. What could the Street Family have against the Brown family? She didn’t know much about their power, but since Michael didn’t seem too concerned, they must have some strength of their own. The urgency from the Street Family made her wonder if Ryan was starting something. After all, Ryan wasn’t the type to back down easily.
With that thought, Echo said nothing and picked up the cue to take her shot. Michael didn’t bother her anymore, engaging in casual conversation with Brook while his serious demeanor lingered in his eyes.
As night fell, Echo walked out with Ivy, Frank, and Brook, smiling after a relaxed afternoon of pool. It was rare to have such a leisurely day, and even though she’d been a bit irritated earlier, she felt genuinely happy now.
“Why is the security so tight?” Brook suddenly frowned as they stepped out of the game room and noticed the heightened alertness around them.
Echo looked up and saw that the road leading to the main house was on lockdown. All the servants stood respectfully along the sides, and the area was brightly lit, making the villa’s front yard look like it was in broad daylight.
Since the entertainment room was next to Michael’s villa, she could clearly see Michael standing at the main entrance with a man who looked older than him, both seemingly waiting for an important guest.
Echo raised an eyebrow; the scene reminded her a bit of when Ryan returned to the Dark family.
“Please come this way,” said a man who looked somewhat unkempt, bowing slightly to Echo and her group and motioning for them to follow him to another area.
As Echo took a couple of steps, she heard the sound of tires scraping against the ground, prompting her to glance over.
Everyone had their heads bowed, awaiting the arrival of the vehicles, and a line of cars slowly entered. The black vehicles looked even more imposing in the dark, but the lead Cadillac glinted with a cold metallic sheen, giving off an air of sharp prestige.
The Cadillac was Ryan’s favorite. Echo raised an eyebrow and was about to turn back when the lead Cadillac suddenly came to a stop. The window on the driver’s side rolled down slowly, and Echo felt an uneasy feeling wash over her.