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Family

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Chapter 2: Family (Rhys's POV)

Fuck me. 

Rolling my eyes, I bit down on my toast and held it between my teeth as my phone rang incessantly on the kitchen counter while I began preparing breakfast. A flash of annoyance surged through me when I read Damien Russo's name flashing across my screen. 

It was almost as if the man couldn't breathe without deliberating with me first. I answered it after a few rings, just when I thought he would hang up. 

"Rhys," he said almost immediately. 

"Mr. Russo," I replied dryly, turning the stove on. 

"I was hoping you could come by soon. It would be best if we discuss it today and close the last case that's been holding me back all week." 

"It's only been a week, Mr. Russo. Don't act like criminal cases are casualties. It insults my career." 

He laughed in response, "Of course not, son. God knows how much trouble I'd be in without you." 

"I would appreciate it if you paid me instead of praising me. I haven't received my paycheck yet." 

A dramatic sigh greeted me. "It takes time to process fifty thousand dollars, Rhys. Speaking of, aren't you just blatantly robbing me now?" 

A smirk tugged at my lips. "I'm keeping you out of prison, sir. I think fifty thousand is well earned on my part." 

"Touchè. Well, let's try making some progress today, the case is almost over anyway. We're having brunch today at the house, why don't you stay for that as well?" 

I contemplated it. 

Something gave Damien the impression that I had all the time in the world for him, whether it was the fact that he'd seen me grow up, the fact that I'd been working for him for the past few years, or something else entirely, I had no idea. 

"I'll be late," I said. "Alana would hate it," I added, referring to his wife. 

"That hardly matters," he chuckled, "but since you're coming, do me a favor and pick Stella up on the way, please. She's been avoiding any meals she's been invited to at the house." 

I let out an annoyed sigh, "Mr. Russo, I don't exist to keep eyes on your daughter." 

"No, but I do pay you for it." 

"I don't work for you or her."

"You work with me, son. Call it a favor." 

"You owe me one too many, I should warn you." I turned the stove back off and put my plate back, putting my toast back in my mouth and hanging up without another word as I made my way back upstairs and into my study, gathering the file and paperwork required for the meeting before heading back to my room to get showered and dressed. 

Once I was out of the shower but still only clad in a towel, I realized that to pick Damien Russo's beloved daughter, she had to know I was coming. 

I knew well from past experience that Stella didn't like surprise visits. Grabbing my phone, I called her up while taking some clothes out of my closet, finding a white button-up and black pants. All I heard in my ear was the repeated dial tone and I knew she was ignoring me. 

Stella had a habit of avoiding my calls on the rare occasions that I tried and normally, it didn't end well for her. On the third try, the little diva finally answered. "The number you have dialed is not available, Mr. Romanov," she said. 

"I'm afraid you might have to make yourself available today, Ms. Almonte," I replied, dropping my clothes on the bed. 

"What for?" 

"I hear you've been missing family meals." 

"Keeping tabs on me or just taking my father's orders?" she questioned. 

I let out a dry chuckle. "How about a bit of both, my love?" 

"Your nicknames continue to bewitch me," she said dryly, sarcasm dripping from her words. 

"I'm glad, Ms. Almonte. Have you left for work yet?" 

A slight pause came from her end. "I was on my way out if you must know." 

"Don't," I retorted, "it's time to pay your dues. You're invited to the family brunch today." 

"You are inviting me to a family brunch with my family?" 

"I'm afraid that's what it's come to. I'll be there in fifteen, get ready. I'll warn you, it doesn't sound like Daddy's very happy with you." 

"Tell Daddy I said fuck off. Spare me the fifteen minutes it will take for you to arrive and until then, don't miss me too much, hmm?" Without another word, she hung up the phone. 

The last word is always hers. 

I sighed, glancing at my phone before tossing it on the bed and losing the towel to get dressed. Once I did, I took my phone, car keys, and the files for the most recent Damien Russo case and then left, exiting my apartment building and getting into my car. 

The drive to Obsidian Apartments from my building wasn't too long and I made it to Stella's apartment in a little short of fifteen minutes before I rang her up again. She declined. 

Why am I not surprised? 

I was just about to get out and enter the building but when my gaze landed on the entrance, I spotted her strolling out like she had all the time in the world and I would spend it all waiting for her. 

Exhaling a breath, I rolled down the window to the passenger seat and rested my arm on the steering wheel, leaning forward as I pulled my sunglasses down my nose, watching her. 

I made a quick scan of her dress, taking in the black full-sleeved dress she wore that ended at about mid-thigh with sheer black stockings on her legs and a matching pair of classic black Loubitons on her heels. 

She sighed as she reached my window and leaned down, resting her elbows on the window frame as she met my gaze and lifted her brows in question. "You couldn't even wait a whole fifteen minutes, Mr. Romanov. I told you not to miss me too much," she smirked, tilting her head to one side. 

"I suppose I'm sorry to disappoint," I replied dryly. "Get in the car." 

Rolling her eyes, she drew back and opened the door before taking a seat and buckling herself in. "You disappeared at the auction last night," I stated. 

She let out a humorless laugh, "Did you notice or did my Dad tell you that?" 

"Well, it wasn't very hard to notice when the Riccis called the designer and jeweler, Stella Almonte onto the stage, and she wasn't there to take credit for her jewelry." 

"She was tired," Stella replied, "my job was to make the Ricci deal and attend that party. I showed my pretty face, why else would I linger?" 

I glanced at her for a beat before diverting my eyes back to the road. 

Stella knew how much it irked her father when she didn't show face wherever he demanded her to and I knew for certain that there were times when Stella went against his orders on purpose. It was her way of getting back at him in the smallest of ways and she did it damn fucking well. 

I had seen Damien Russo lose his mind over Stella's disappearance only to find out that she had taken a spontaneous trip to a random city somewhere in this world instead of his biggest fears coming true. 

But Stella often underestimated and turned a blind eye to the profession her father was in, she often forgot that the danger that follows her father and brother could also follow her in the worst-case scenario. The rare times it has happened, her father turns to me, and that way, Stella never finds out. 

But it was a fucking chore and Stella never made it easy for me. Stella was a little Devil and she loved to make my life difficult as much as she could purely for her own amusement. 

"Why are you the one driving me to my family's house?" she asked all of a sudden. 

"Because you refuse to drive yourself," I answered. 

"So? I don't think you'd be driving over there just for brunch with the Russos, my father doesn't pay you that much. You're going there for work." 

"Is that a question?" 

"Did it sound like one, Mr. Romanov?" She turned to look at me before staring out the window again. 

I sighed in frustration, rolling my tongue along the inside of my cheek. "I would highly recommend you keep your snappy attitude to yourself today, Dorogaya. For once, I'm not picking a fight and if you are, be prepared to take back whatever I give you." I met her gaze. "You know well by now that I'm not very kind. I don't play nice with revenge, Malyshka." 

There was a minute of silence as I slowed down the car and parked in front of the Russo household. 

"You don't play nice with revenge," she repeated after me before opening the door and nudging it open, "and you think I do?" Unbuckling herself, she got out of the car and slammed the door shut behind her as I sighed and tipped my head back against the headrest. 

God damn this woman. 

Following her, I exited my car and into the building, sliding my sunglasses off and hooking them onto my shirt as we entered the condo. 

Stella rang the doorbell instead of unlocking it herself. 

"Your keys, Ms. Almonte? Have you lost them?" I questioned. 

"This isn't my house anymore, Mr. Romanov. It's just a family brunch." She glanced up at me. "Isn't that right?"

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Chapter 2

I have so much fucking school work, someone just kill me pls

next ch: life