Hassan finally spoke, his tone hard. "I'll consider your.....offer. But if this is a trap, Russo, I will personally carve out your heart."
Russo smirked. "You won't have the chance, believe me."
The call ended abruptly. Felix exhaled sharply, closing the laptop. "Well, that went....smoothly?"
Diane and Clarice moved to the table, finally taking a seat.
"This isn't over yet." Russo huffed.
"Man must have some serious trust issues, wouldn't you agree?" Felix asked.
"Why did you agree to the deal? That was reckless" Diane spoke.
He turned to her, his gaze softened but his tone remained firm. "Reckless is sitting back and doing nothing. Are you with me or not?"
"Always."
He smiled. Then nodded to the others. "Good. Because the real game begins now. All we have to do is wait for his feedback and then, the fun part starts. You're all dismissed for now. Thank you for coming."
"Always a pleasure. Do take care, General."
"And you too, Clarice."
Felix and Clarice took their leave and Diane was the last trailing behind them. Immediately they went out the door, she casually shut it behind them. Russo was surprised to see her return back to the desk.
"Something wrong?" He asked.
"Oh I was never leaving just thought I'd be polite and help close the door."
Russo smiled, getting to his feet. He walked out of his seat and stood behind hers, both hands on her shoulder he leaned forward, bringing her lips to his and kissed her. Slowly....
"Ask, love. Ask." He whispered against her lips, pulling away.
She let out a breath, her disoriented mind recovering from the feel of his lips against hers.
"What did Hassan mean by the blood of his men being on your hands?"
"My last name." He corrected, moving to the desk. He leaned his back onto the wood, looking down at her with arms crossed.
"So your father's sin?"
Russo shrugged. "So they suspected."
"Who was he?"
"A messenger who met his fatal end."
"Who killed him?"
"Still a mystery."
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "How's that even possible?"
"I have no idea."
Diane sighed, tiredly.
"There's no need to wear a long face, honey."
"Well, there's absolutely nothing to smile about."
"Me for starters."
She swept her gaze up and down his body.
"Right."
"Rude." He smiled, faintly.
"What we're doing, this.... war against the Arabs. It's dangerous, Russo and I know this treaty is a plan of yours to take them unawares and get the Neuroveil but..."
"You worry too much, honey." He smiled.
"I'm serious. This is the time you must be cautious. Not everyone by your side, is with you."
Russo looked her, attentively. Ofcourse she knew what she was saying. A few years ago wasn't she the mole in his group? A revelation he was willing to let slide. Given that she was a different person now.
"You can't let anyone know that this treaty is a trick. Please...no one but your team should know. I fear if information gets to Hassan about our plan, we'll be the ones in for a surprise."
"You're right, love and thank you. I will be extra-cautious from now on."
"That's much better."
"Anyway. If it'll make you feel any better. Tomorrow's your big day, Diane Alvarin."
"What?" She was confused. "What happens tomorrow?"
"The Late Lieutenant Colonel Warner Alvarin, your father. It's his stature opening ceremony tomorrow at eight."
She gasped, getting to her feet. "What?"
"And you'll be the one doing the honors so get ready."
Diane clamped her hands over her mouth, overwhelmed by a thousand emotions and all he did was smile at her as he planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you so much." She said.
"What's there to thank me for?" He asked, closing in on her. Bringing his hand to her face, he held it with both hands. "It's the least I could do."
Diane smiled. "To me, It's the best you could have ever done."
The sun blazed high over the city square as a crowd gathered around the veiled statue towering in the center. Journalists swarmed like bees, cameras flashing and microphones thrust forward, their voices were a cacophony of questions and speculations.
The place was filled with military personnels all in position. Russo stood at the podium, his sharp suit tailored to perfection, commanding attention as he adjusted the microphone. Diane lingered at the edge of the platform, her arms crossed, visibly tense. It was all she could do to tame the excitement bubbling in her veins.
All of a sudden, the General's voice cut through the noise. Deep and reserved. The press immediately got into position, not wanting to miss a second of his speech.
"Today, we honor a man whose courage shaped this nation. A Nobel man. A man whose legacy reminds us of the numerous contributions and sacrifices he has made towards the military." He paused, his eyes scanning the crowd for a brief moment. "Lieutenant Colonel Warner Alvarin was more than a Soldier. He was a father, a leader and a symbol of unwavering determination. This stature stands as a testament to his sacrifices."
He glanced over at Diane and she returned with a grateful nod, smiling.
"General...." A reporter called out, getting his attention. "Why did you choose to fund this project personally?"
"Respect. He was my father's right hand man. Alvarin deserved more than words. This is my way of ensuring his memory stands eternal. It's the least I could do."
The crowd murmured in approval and at that moment, Russo stepped down from the podium, two officers keeping guard beside him. He gestured for Diane to join him and together they made way to the covered stature.
"Major Alvarin, would you do the honors?"
"Ofcourse."
He handed her the rope that kept the cover on the stature and she held onto it firmly. With one hard tug, the cloth fell away, revealing a towering gold stature of her father, his stance proud and commanding. Applause erupted, cameras flashing wildly.
"Father....." Diane whispered to herself, as she stared up at the image of a man who used to be very much alive.
A tear slipped past her eyes. He knew she was going to get emotional once she saw the stature. He saw to it that it was highly realistic and had the exact same resemblance. They were in front of so many people but his hands were still aching to pull her close to his chest and comfort her.
"Major Alvarin...." A journalist called out, approaching her. Along with several others. The press.... Diane scoffed as she wiped her tears away. Weren't they the same people that almost ruined her name back then when she was being whisked to prison?
"How do you feel about the General's gesture?"
She glanced at Russo, then back to the cameras. "I'm more than grateful and I know....my father would have appreciated it." Where-ever he is.
Russo leaned closer as soon as the press disappeared, his voice low but teasing.
"That almost sounded like an 'I love you.'"
"Don't push your luck, Fedorcenko." She glared at him.
"Never." He smiled. "Although.... I'm having a haughty feeling in my guts."
"And what exactly does your gut feeling says?"
"Drag you out of this crowd into a private space. Just the two of us."
Diane looked around, uncomfortably. A bit of red creeping up her cheeks. "Just pray, your whisper was low enough for the press's microphone."
Russo chuckled, lightly.
The event of the past few days was one to remember. Russo was more than glad that he had got that guilt off his chest and had fully appealed to her anger and hatred for him. While all that was over and done with, still, certain things were not. Certain things that required much more effort.
That morning, just as he was getting ready in his bedroom, the house butler had informed him that the captain Lewis Anickin along with Volkov Sergey, the enforcer, Director of Counterterrorism Operations were waiting for him in the living room.
Russo sent him away with a tired sigh. What now? Another lecture? He had enough back at the Grand Chamber. But Lewis was also present. That's interesting. He wondered what they had in store for him this time. He was tempted for a second to spend the next hour in his room and keep those two downstairs waiting on purpose.
Show them what arrogance really looked like. The thought brought a sadistic smile on his lips. In just a few minutes, he could be seen walking down the stairs.
"Good morning, General." Both men chorused, standing on their feet.
Russo nodded. "Take your seats, please."
"I know this is sudden but so is it for us." Lewis started.
"Go on...."
"We're here concerning the peace treaty you offered the Arabs the last time you reached out to their leader." Volkov spoke this time.
Russo adjusted comfortably on the sofa. "Well, yes."
"Has there been any feedback from Hassan since then?"
"Not yet. I believe he's still weighing the possibility of my offer turning out to be some kind of trick." Russo said.
"And is this some kind of trick?" Lewis asked.
"It's..."
"I'm serious. This is the time where you must be cautious. Not everyone by your side, is with you. You can't let anyone know that this treaty is a trick. Please...no one but your team should know. I fear if information gets to Hassan about our plan, we'll be the ones in for a surprise."
Her words from a few days before in his office rang true in his memory. These two men might be one of the closest trustees to his father but still, he had to tread with caution and besides, he wasn't his father.
"It's not" Russo spoke firmly causing Lewis and Volkov to share a surprised look. "Yes? Is something wrong?" He asked, noticing the look on both their faces.
"A peace treaty in the middle of the desert with men armed to the teeth? You clearly don't mean this. Please tell me there's some trick up your sleeve." Volkov pleaded.
"There's none. I believe I can end this amicably with Hassan and that's all there is to it."
"And if he turns against you, mid-signing?" Lewis asked.
"Let's only hope he doesn't."
The two men glanced at each other yet again.
"If that's all you have to say then, I suppose the meeting is over?" Russo asked.
"Wait a minute, General." Volkov interrupted.
"All we were going to find out is if this treaty was genuine or not and since you said it is, all we can do is pray for your survival but nonetheless, we would advise you to tread carefully with the Arabs. Their connection with your father runs deep and so is their anger for killing one of their own."
"What connection?" Russo asked with a frown. These two knew something about the deal. "My father might have been secretive with me but I know he wasn't with some of you."
"Whatever Marcov did was to protect you."
"Protect me from what exactly? I've just about enough of it that crappy line."
"Calm down, General." Lewis appealed. "In time, everything will be revealed naturally. Especially now you're meeting up with Hassan Al-Jabbar. You'll get all your answers from him."
Volkov continued the conversation with Russo as Lewis turned to his phone and began typing rapidly to someone unknown to the other two.
"I'm with the General."
"And?"
"No tricks. The treaty is real."
