moved back from her, his dark eyes revealing nothing. Ruben watched, appraising the relationship between them. Dale had warned him but he needed to see it with his own eyes. Clayton with a 'girlfriend'? This was something entirely new.
"So what's the plan Ruben?" Dale asked him. "What do you suggest?" The good-looking older brother was gunning to take action. He hadn't said anything to Clayton but the truth was that since he had met Nadia he could really see what it was that had taken his brother about this girl. She had awakened something in him that he didn’t even know was there and he burned with the need to help her somehow. He looked at Clayton jealously but forced the feelings down - now wasn't exactly the time to think about sexual rivalries with his crazy little brother.
"As I said," Ruben continued, "unless there is something you actually want from them then just tell them…" He looked at Nadia. "… just tell them that you aren't interested."
"Sounds good to me." Dale said.
"There is something I want." Clayton said. "I want these sick individuals arrested and jailed for the rest of their natural lives. And I want Angel back so that I can deal with him myself. He may have double crossed me and put Nadia in danger, but he still doesn't deserve to die."
"Okay, so this is something we can get our teeth into." Ruben seemed to relish the thought.
"What about me? Don't I get a say in this?" Nadia put in.
"Of course Nadia." Clayton said. "We don’t do anything without input from you."
"Well what I want is information about my mother. I don’t care what it is, I'll take anything I can get, even…" She faltered. "…even a final location."
Clayton put his arm around her again and this time she didn’t push him away.
"Okay." Ruben said with a look of determination. He reached his hands out to Dale and to Clayton. "Take my hands."
The brothers looked skeptical.
"Take my hands." He said more insistently. "It begins like this. Always. Now take my fucking hands."
The brothers exchanged a glance and then reached out to take a hold. Nadia put her hand in Dale's to complete the circle.
"Close your eyes. I mean it. Everyone. Close your eyes."
As theatrical as the request seemed, it still it felt right to Nadia. She closed her eyes and the feeling of protection, love and support surrounding her on all sides almost brought her to tears.
"Okay." She said. "I'm ready."
"Good." Ruben said. "Now I want to hear it from all of you. Say this isn’t over until Boyevik is in jail."
"The cops can't know about this." Nadia said urgently.
"Don’t worry about the how, just say the words. Say it together and say it now."
The three repeated the phrase in unison.
"This isn't over until Angel is with us again.
The three duly repeated.
"This isn't over until we find Louise."
Nadia squeezed hard on the brothers' hands and they squeezed back.
They repeated the phrase.
"And last but not least, let me hear you say; we've got these assholes."
The group opened their eyes and exchanged glances. As cheesy and crazy as it was Nadia felt better than she had in days. With these three men by her side? What could possibly go wrong?
The phone rang and all four stretched for the phone but Ruben was the first to reach it. He held it next to his own handset for three rings and then handed it to Nadia.
"Only her from now on." He said. The Hargrave brothers reluctantly stood down.
Nadia took a breath and then answered on the fifth ring. Ruben prodded the screen of his own handset and then put it to his ear.
"It's me." Nadia said. "I'm ready to listen."
"Good. You are intelligent woman Nadia. I never doubt for second you would make right decision."
"Tell me what you want? Because as far as I can see I don’t have anything to give you."
Mikhail laughed softly.
"How modest of you Nadia. Don't you realize how important you were to my organization? I want you back baby." He gave a soft laugh. The use of the term of endearment sent