Russian Roulette: Family secrets [2021 version]

Ch. 25: He can never know

Though they called it a meeting, it was not. It was a comfortable gathering at The Mansion, with no work-related topics. There were about thirty of Gareth's men there. They had eaten together and watched a game on the massive flat screen tv, enjoying a few drinks.

Ok, a lot of drinks.

Gareth and Cracker had returned from Switzerland the day before, both of them feeling confident that they had made a good impression on Niehauser. The way Niehauser and Cracker had hit it off had been entertaining for Gareth to watch. They were both numbers people and had had quite a few over-the-head jokes going all the time.

Since Mackenzie was in Italy to visit her mother, Gareth had felt no need to slow down. He had called a meeting and gotten up to speed on what had happened the week he was away.

A complete waste of time, since nobody had news to report.

Phoenix had updated him on the companies and a few minor things with permits for building ventures and different licenses for his clubs. Vasili had nothing much to tell. They had tracked Grychenko in one of Gareth's clubs, but he had left without incident and vanished like always.

All their attempts at securing a meeting with him had gone unanswered so far.

They had kept an eye on how many women had disappeared lately, and it was an alarming number, though they had no leads. Vasili and Jace worked hard with their informants, bribing them to tell anything and stay informed if they heard or saw something.

Same old, same old.

Gareth had only been out of the country for five days, and he knew he had an excellent crew. All he needed was the confirmation that they stayed on top of everything and nothing had gone down the crapper while he was away, not that he had expected them to drop the ball on anything.

A relaxing boys' night was a pleasant pastime for a Saturday evening. A few drinks and yelling at the tv. What more could he want when he could not be with Mackenzie?

He had sent her a text a day since she had left. Nothing that demanded her attention or a reply. Just a little hi and hopes that she enjoyed her time with her mother.

Gareth missed her.

Pathetic, but true.

He missed her smile and the soothing effect she had on him.

The flat had felt empty when he had returned from his business trip. That feeling he always got when he came home and the whole place smelled of her delicious food mixed with her alluring perfume had been gone. Which was why he stayed at The Mansion until she came back.

The flat was not his anymore.

It was theirs and did not feel like home without her.

"I'm guessing you're in Italy and not here with us?" Jace plonked down next to Gareth with a cheeky grin.

"Da." Gareth saw no point in lying to Jace, who knew how he felt about Mackenzie. Ok, in all fairness, probably most of his people did.

Even the ones in other cities.

So far, the information had not reached his mother. 

"You miss her?" Jace glanced at Phoenix, who talked with Oleksander, their weapons experts, across the room.

Gareth sighed. "Is it that obvious?"

"Well, yes. But you're doing well. You've not mentioned her name since dinner." Jace smiled crookedly. "It's ok to miss her."