Viktor
Today’s the day that Stepan is being released from the hospital. I’ve tried to see him as often as I could throughout the last few days, especially since he was shot because of something that I did. Just as he always has been, he was resistant to any help I offered while I was there, but I know he appreciates it deep down.
I park the car in the valet area of the hospital and wait for Stepan to be wheeled out to me. It’s unusually sunny today, and somehow that makes my disposition better even though I know we’re about to engage in war with a rival gang.
Erik being a moneymaker for them doesn’t surprise me at all, but the fact that he’s become an even bigger issue in death bothers me more than I can put into words. A lot of it has to do with his previous ties to Millie. Any threat to her is a critical one in my mind.
After a few minutes, I see Stepan leaving the hospital’s entryway with a young nurse. She attempts to steady him as he walks, and he brushes her away with agitation and annoyance just as I would expect him to.
It’s good to know that he’s back to feeling like himself. His arm is in a sling, but other than that, he seems whole.
He opens the door to the car and slides into the passenger seat, maintaining that ever-present stoicism even through his obvious gratitude to me.
“How are you feeling?” I ask as I pull the car away from the hospital.
“Like shit, but I’ve felt like shit for the past twenty years. I need a damn drink,” he replies, reclining his seat almost all the way back and putting his good arm over his eyes to keep the sun away.
“Yeah, I guess I can’t deny you that. When you’re ready, we’ve got some plans we have to go over if we’re going to retaliate effectively against the guys who attacked us,” I reply.
“We’re going to make those plans right fucking now,” Stepan says. “I had my time to rest in the hospital. Now I’m ready to blow those fuckers up.”
I shrug and continue driving. I know better than to try and convince Stepan to rest or take a day off. That’s something that I’ve always appreciated about him is that he’s tenaciously committed to the cause. He’s the only person I’ve always been able to rely on.
We pull up to the new location I’ve secured for our headquarters, an old office building that’s been empty for five years. The place looks completely untouched, like it hasn’t experienced any kind of deterioration for the time it’s been left alone. It’s almost eerie in a way, being somewhere as unchanging as this place, devoid of character of any kind.
“This the new place? How do you know nobody followed us here?” Stepan asks as he steps out of the car, leveraging himself against the door.
“Yeah, I figure it isn’t the kind of place that people like us typically conduct business. It’s a better cover that way. Not as cool as an abandoned warehouse, but it might give us better cover,” I reply, leading him to the back door.
I’ve called everybody in my company here for a meeting related to the new conflict we’ve gained through Erik and his shitty business practices. Almost everyone shows up except for Nikolai, and when I text him, I don’t get a response back.
This is strange for him. Usually, he’s all over company meetings like this. It’s the closest he gets to being in the streets these days. As much as the role didn’t suit him, I know he misses it. Trauma is attractive.
Just as I’m about to begin the meeting, I receive a text from Millie. “Hey, try to get home early tonight if you can, I have a big surprise for you : )”
She usually texts me throughout the day, but this is the first time I’ve ever gotten something like this from her. Usually, I’m the one who plans events and dates for her. I’m curious to see what she’s got planned, but I can’t let that distract me now.
“Who’s that?” Stepan barks as he witnesses me replying to the message. “It’s Millie. I think she’s got some kind of surprise for me,” I reply, trying to conceal the excitement that is growing naturally from the anticipation.
“Huh,” he responds, completely robotic and without inflection at all. His dislike for Millie has become more apparent than ever recently, and it’s beginning to wear on my nerves. As much as I love him like a father, he’s given himself permission to be a complete asshole to the only woman I’ve ever really loved. I don’t know how to navigate it.
But now isn’t the time to argue with him. We have more pressing matters at hand.
I begin the meeting, perturbed by Nikolai’s absence as well as Stepan’s insistence on being unfriendly toward Millie. He’s never liked any of the women I’ve dated, especially not the American women, but he’s been particularly vicious about Millie. It might be the fact that he knows I’m serious with her now, which eliminates the possibility of me being with Katya unless something happens between Millie and me.
Either way, he needs to get the fuck over it.
“Why isn’t Nikolai here? I thought you were trying to get him more involved in the company,” Stepan interjects just as I begin speaking.
“I’m not sure why he’s not here, but it’s probably not a big deal. Try to stay focused with me, okay? We have a lot of bullshit to go over,” I reply.
Stepan is clearly not satisfied with my answer. “He should have to be here if the rest of us are. How is he going to know what to do if we get ambushed again?” Stepan continues, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms as best he can with a sling on.
“I’m not about to start giving people a hard time because they can’t always be here at a moment’s notice. He’s good at his job. I’ll be sure to catch him up when I see him later in the week. Now drop it,” I reply, my voice rigid with annoyance.
Stepan is beginning to act like a child who is jealous that his friends have other friends. It’s juvenile.
I try my best to stay engaged with the topic throughout the meeting, given how serious the subject matter is. However, I keep reverting back to thinking about Millie and what she’s got planned for me. I’ve never asked a woman to plan a date before, and quite honestly, this is something I would have to get used to.
But whatever it is, I’m dying to get home and find out.
“Are you distracted by something?” Stepan interrupts again.
“Do you want something? Why are you being so fucking obnoxious?” I bark, noticing the shift in energy as everybody focuses on Stepan.
“It just seems like you might have other things on your mind. Maybe we should discuss this another time,” he replies casually, ignoring the questioning glances of everybody else.
“Whether or not I’m preoccupied with anything is none of your fucking business, Stepan. Now sit the fuck down and listen to me,” I demand.
“I think you need to call in some of our allies,” Stepan insists.
He’s right; it would be easier to plan a counterattack if we knew we could outnumber our enemies. With the timeline we’re working with, it would make sense for me to contact them as soon as possible.
“Maybe, but that’s my call, not yours,” I reply, growing more and more impatient with Stepan’s insubordination.
“If you’re as concerned about this counterattack as you say you are, you should contact them now and make plans to meet with them tonight,” he replies, stone-faced and unwaveringly stubborn.
“Jesus, fine. As soon as we’re done here, I’ll meet with the other leaders. Okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?” I growl.
He smirks. “Yeah, something like that,” he replies, leaning back in his chair like a seventh-grader in detention.
Ridiculous. Maybe I should’ve just let that smug little asshole die after all.