E r o s

My footsteps echoed softly in the empty manor as I walked through it, everything and everyone had been removed from it at my orders. The only reason I was here now was to leave some things for Cole to help him find us.

I walked in to his room to see if there was anything I could do that would grab his attention. I needed to think of something that would blend in with his surroundings but not enough so that he wouldn't notice it.

"Hm..."

Noticing the bare nightstand next to his bed, an idea had struck me so I headed out to the backyard. Cole often liked to take walks and the garden was just outside my office window so I'd sometimes see him when he did. He'd usually sit right in front of the tulips and just gaze at them, I could never tell what he was thinking when he did. Maybe I'll ask him someday.

When I got to the garden, I picked one of the tulips and headed back to Cole's room. Placing it on the nightstand, I looked for some paper and a pen and when I found some I headed back out to the garden.

Once I made sure my message was left properly and secretly, I gave a hum in satisfaction.

My phone ringing in my pocket caught my attention so I grabbed it and checked the caller ID.

It was Jamie.

"Boss, we've got a problem" he started and I prepared myself for whatever bullshit was going to happen.

"And what is it?" I asked.

"Adler is demanding things..." he said.

"Explain it to me more in person, I'll be there in 20" I said before hanging up. It was rude but just hearing those words put me in a sour mood again after I had finally sort of gotten out of it.

Heading back to my car, I gave one last look to the manor before sighing and shaking my head. These bastards are gonna pay for making us abandon such a beautiful house...

I usually refrained from smoking in stressful situations since I'm trying to shake the habit but I could really use one right now. This is so annoying and I just wanted to bang my head on the wheel.

Maybe I was losing my shit just a bit.

I did my best to focus on the road and make it over to the condo Jamie and Harvey were held up in but I just kept thinking about this whole situation and it only made me more upset. I had a little inkling of an idea of what Adler was demanding but I didn't want to jump the gun.

Once reaching the building, I parked in the garage and headed up, swiping my key that would give me access to the higher floors.

I rung the doorbell like a decent person and waited for a few seconds for one of the two to come open the door. I could always enter the code to their door but I thought it'd be rude to walk in on the lovely "couple".

I've known for some time that Jamie was in love with Harvey but Harvey is a dumbass at heart, who knew how long it'd take for him to realize that his best friend has been crushing on him. It's kind of hilarious when you think about it, it was like the plot of some kind of teen show.

So you could say me putting them in the same condo was my way of saying fuck and get together already. Or in nicer words, I'm playing Cupid.

Now that I think about it, why am I still waiting for someone to open this door? It's taking too long so instead of ringing the doorbell again, I banged on the door this time.

"If you two are fucking just let me know-" I was cut off by Jamie who immediately opened the door and stared me down with an annoyed expression.

"How wonderful of you to come open the door" I said sarcastically and Jamie's eyebrow twitched.

"Would you keep it down?" He gritted and I just smiled.

"Nope. Now, let's talk about that shithead Adler" I said and passed him to walk in the apartment.

"Where's Harvey?" I asked and Jamie sighed.

"Finally asleep. He kept trying to go out and about as if he isn't injured" Jamie explained and I just nodded.

"You said Adler was demanding things?" I asked and Jamie nodding before pushing the laptop on the coffee table in my direction.

"He sent an email speaking of wanting to have a negotiation. He wants to video chat around an hour from now. He's works fast" Jamie explained.

"Negotiation my ass, the only deal he's looking to take is one where we're handing everything over" I said, taking a seat and reading over the email.

The asshole was basically trying to extort us, he isn't getting shit from me other than a bullet to his head. Him and his whole group, once I speak with some people that is.

I have a friend that shared a mutual dislike towards Adler, and I'm sure she'd be more than willing to help me out.

"I'll let Mikhail know" I said before pulling out my phone and texting Mikhail to come over here.

"Should I wake Harvey up?" Jamie asked and I shook my head.

"Leave him be, he needs to rest" I said.

Once Mikhail got here, I set up the video chat and sat in front of the computer.

"How much you wanna bet he's gonna ask for everything we have?" Mikhail said and Jamie rolled his eyes.

"Wouldn't go for anything lower now would he?" He said.

I shushed the two when an incoming call came up and I clicked on the green button. I was immediately greeted with two sights for sore eyes, Adler and Francis.

"Mr. Azure, I'm sure you know what this is about?" Adler said and I nodded.

"You have one of mine and you want something in exchange for him. That's all this could be" I said.

"His parents have already offered a hefty price for the boy but I'm sure you could offer something higher, no?" Adler asked and I raised a brow.

"And why do you think I'm inclined to offer you anything?" I said, and I could tell Adler didn't seem to expect that with the way he was silent for a moment.

"...you don't care about getting your husband back?"

Husband...?

Oh yeah...Cole and I have the same last name now. I didn't think that others would actually think we were husbands, more like cousins or something but this is an interesting take.

"I bet you would love that" Mikhail snickered lowly so I jabbed him in stomach as a way of telling him to shut up.

I tried not to let the surprise show on my face and just tilted my head.

"Yes...my husband. I trust he's in well conditions?" I asked, giving a faux worried look and Adler nodded.

"He's unharmed and unless you give me what I want, I can't guarantee he'll stay that way" Adler said and it took everything within me not to laugh. This man was a joke, I couldn't believe I'd been duped by him but I didn't feel too bad now that I've learned of Cole's family's interference.

They surely had to be the ones pulling the strings of this dummy.

"As you said "he say, she say" isn't enough, I want physical proof. Show me him and I'll consider listening to your demands" I stated and Adler seemed to have no problem agreeing which made me a bit uneasy.

I'd figured Cole would have already gotten out by then but maybe he's having a difficult time finding an opening...

"Bring him here" Adler said and one of the men next to him nodded before leaving the room.

"Now while they're fetching him, I'd like to talk about what exactly it is I desire. I want half of everything you have, your assets, your funds, and your men" Adler finished with a smirk but I just stared back at him.

This guy surely was off his rocker to think that one man is worth half of everything I had. Don't get me wrong, Cole is one of my favorite people on this stupid earth right now but I can't say I'd be ready to give up half of my everything for him.

Not now at least...

"What the fuck...? This guy is horrible at negotiating, how does he even still have a group?" Jamie muttered.

"That's quite a tall order you're making" I said.

"Love prevails right?" Adler asked and I held back the urge to roll my eyes.

"Uh...sir" when the man came back empty handed, I let out a mental sigh of relief. If there was one thing I loved about Cole, it was that he wasted no time doing what needs to be done.

The man whispered the news of Cole's disappearance in to Adler's ears and his face drained of color which was another telltale sign.

"Well, well, it seems you've lost your bargaining chip which means thuis conversation is over but before I go I just want to make one thing clear" I stated before coming closer to the camera and looking straight in to it.

"I will be coming to exterminate each and every one of you pests. Have a blessed day" I said and closed the laptop promptly.

"Thank god" Jamie sighed.

"It's a good thing he's out of there"  Mikhail said.

Sitting back, I closed my eyes for a brief moment. I was immensely relieved that Cole had managed to escape and an unknown feeling was picking at my heart. I wanted to see him to make sure that he was actually alright, he's surely stranded out there whenever he is and you could even say I was worried about how he'd make it here safely...

"What are you thinking of?" Mikhail asked. Jamie had since left to check on Harvey and it was just the two of us in the living room.

"The chances of Cole really becoming my husband" I said jokingly and Mikhail chuckled.

"He'd probably kill you before then" He said.

"I know" I said sourly. Cole's sense of humor didn't have a wide range outside of deadpan jokes and slightly serious threats so me jokingly asking him to marry me would probably make him want to stab me.

"I don't want to assume but something tells me you seem to be more fond of Cole than you're letting on" Mikhail said, that annoying knowing look in his eyes.

"Hm...wouldn't you like to know?" I said vaguely.

"Actually, yes I would considering you gave him the option to leave the group by the end of the year. He seemed really intent on taking that deal, you know?" He said and I sighed.

"Yes, I'm well aware" I muttered.

"Well, here's some food for thought. Do you want him to leave? Could you easily let him go when the time comes?" Mikhail said and merely left with a wink as he walked out the room and I could only stare as he left.

'How dare he make me think about feelings I've been avoiding?' I thought with a huff.

But then again it wasn't as if he was waiting for me to come to him with something because Mikhail already knew the answer.

Stupid intuitive bastard.