Three and a Half Weeks(150)
Ian nodded. “I need more intel on the entire family before I commit to any course of action. I suppose we’ll see how today plays out. If the brothers engage us, to use your word, then we’ll see to them here and now, and worry about the others later.”
Daniel had smirked and agreed wholeheartedly. “I’ve got your back, friend. Let’s do this.”
About five feet away, Daniel extends his arm to halt Ian’s progress and they stand still while Daniel concentrates. Thirty seconds later, he opens his eyes, gives a curt nod, and lowers the barrier of his arm. They proceed further and step through the threshold of the apartment. Lucien is right there in the room, not ten feet away from them, waiting patiently for their arrival.
“Hello, Lucifer,” Daniel says, smiling. “How goes it?”
Lucien sneers when he catches sight of Daniel. Obviously he remembers him from his last visit. Ian stands adjacent, broadly grinning at his adversary and enjoying Daniel’s moniker for him.
“So? Where are your henchman protectors, Phillips?”
“They’re not here. They’re busy conspiring against you with your number-one female fan.”
“Ah. I assume you mean the poisonous Natasha Yenin?”
Lucien nods. “What do you want? I will caution you that it’s really not safe for you to be here. My henchman protectors, as you so quaintly label them, are dangerous men with little to lose—the very worst kind.”
“Oh, I disagree,” Ian counters. “Everyone has something valuable to lose, regardless of what he tells himself.”
Daniel, meantime, is pacing slowly throughout the room, arms behind his back. At a pause in the conversation, he glances up. “Is there anything you’d care to share with us, Lucifer?”
Glaring at Daniel, Lucien spits out his words. “First, if you expect me to converse politely with you, you’ll stop calling me by that name.”
Smiling, Daniel replies, “True, you’re way too much of a pussy to be equated with the prince of darkness… “ He cocks his head in a speculative stance. “Still, I like it on you.”
Lucien scowls and mutters at Daniel. “Asshole.”
Ian chimes in. “Now that’s funny… You see, we think you’re the asshole, Phillips, and we’d like the pleasure of never having to see your sniveling face again. But, alas, your friends keep getting in our faces so we’re here to lose them. Understand?”
Without answering, Lucien sits on the couch, loosely gesturing to them to join him. Daniel complies but Ian remains standing.
“Where are they now?” Ian prods.
Lucien shrugs his shoulders. “No idea. I told Natasha to leave and she took them with her.”
Daniel now interjects. “You told Natasha to leave? Why?”
“She asked me to go after Ella. I refused and told her to get out.”
“You’d better watch your back in that case, Phillips. Those brothers might be fond of you but blood is thicker than water.”
Lucien smirks. “Thanks for your concern, Blackmon. Anything else?”
“What did she ask you to do to Ella?” Daniel’s face is now devoid of humor.
“She wanted me to grab Ella and hold her as a means to get to you, Blackmon. I think she planned to let her uncles have their way with her, as well.”
Ian gets a sick look on his face at hearing that information. “Do they have anyone else working with them?”
“Not to my knowledge,” Lucien answers, “but I’m not privy to everything, either. I suggest you watch Ella carefully. If I hear anything else, I’ll inform you of it. Give me your cell number.”
Hating to do it, Ian nonetheless pulls out his cell, scrolls through his phone book, and calls Lucien’s phone, unblocking his private number. The three men listen to the phone buzz twice before Ian disconnects. “Okay, you have my number. Is there any other information you can share with us? Anything at all?”
“Nothing comes to mind.”
Daniel stands. “Do the Lithuanians have any other family, other than Natasha’s mother?”
Shaking his head, Lucien says, “I’ve never heard them speak of anyone. Then again, they’re not the forthcoming type either… but as far as I know, Natasha’s family is their only blood.”
Daniel looks sharply at the blond man. “No children for either man?”
Lucien flushes at the penetrating gaze Daniel is training on him. “Not that I’m aware of.”
Daniel continues to stare at Lucien for a long minute, green eyes blazing with light. Finally, he smiles and turns away. “Let’s go, Ian. Can’t wring blood out of a stone.” With his back to Lucien, he tosses a farewell over his shoulder, “Au revoir, Monsieur Phillips, j'espère que nous n'atteindrons pas encore,” in flawless French, taking Lucien by surprise.