After dropping Layla off at her house, Lucius slid back into the driver’s seat and pulled away.
His phone buzzed on the console beside him. He ignored it for the mont, keeping his eyes on the road. When the traffic light ahead turned red, he eased the car to a stop and finally picked up the call.
"Yes, Roger?"
"Boss, I’ve got sothing important to tell you," Roger said.
Lucius’s eyes narrowed. "Is it about Tsar?"
Roger blinked in surprise, glancing briefly at Varya, who was seated next to him. "Uh... yeah. But, how did you know?"
"Luca told . I’m on my way to et him now," Lucius replied.
"Boss, I’ll join you. Just tell where."
"To Bar Sereno," Lucius said without pause.
"Got it. I’ll be there soon," Roger confird before the line disconnected.
As the signal turned green, Lucius lifted his foot off the brake, and continued driving.
Lucius finally pulled up outside Bar Sereno. He stepped out of the car and handed the keys to a waiting valet with a curt nod.
"Keep it close."
As he entered the bar, a wave of llow jazz floated through the air. The place was unusually quiet, dimly lit with only a few patrons scattered at tables nursing their drinks.
From the second floor, Luca spotted him and raised a hand in greeting, motioning for him to co up.
Lucius ascended the stairs, his footsteps slow but purposeful. At the top, Luca stood from a corner booth. The two clasped hands in a firm, familiar shake.
"Layla ntioned you were in Greece," Lucius said, settling into the seat across from him just as a waiter arrived with two glasses, ice cubes clinking softly inside.
Luca offered a half-smile, already reaching for the bottle between them.
"I’m not drinking," Lucius said, his tone firm as he waved a hand lightly over the glass. "Just water."
Luca arched a brow. "Already feeling nervous?"
Lucius shook his head. "No. I’ve quit, for now, at least. Not until after Layla gives birth." His voice lowered. "I don’t like going ho with alcohol on my breath."
"That’s respectable," Luca nodded, pouring himself a glass and taking a slow sip.
After a pause, he leaned back in his seat. "I got word this morning. Tsar managed to escape that night. Seems we made a small mistake before pulling out."
Lucius exhaled sharply through his nose. "So what now? Are we going back to Russia?"
Luca shook his head. "No, not yet. I’ll handle that part. But I’m telling you because I have a feeling Tsar won’t stay quiet for long. If he’s out, his next move will be personal. Likely you... or Layla."
Lucius’s expression darkened, and he instinctively clenched his fists under the table.
"I want you on guard," Luca added. "Especially around her. And it will be better if you share the sa with her."
"I don’t want to worry Layla," Lucius said after a mont. "But I’ll still tell her. She deserves to know."
Luca swirled the liquid in his glass, thoughtful. "Is she still going to work every day? It might be better if she switched to working from ho. I know she’s stubborn, but it’s just a suggestion. As the company’s chairwoman, she only needs to show up on special occasions anyway."
"For now, she says it’s manageable," Lucius replied. "And when Layla sets her mind on sothing..." he trailed off, glancing down as his phone lit up and buzzed.
He answered without hesitation. "Just co upstairs on the second floor, corner booth," he said before ending the call.
Luca raised an eyebrow. "You called Roger?"
"He already knows," Lucius said simply. "I think Varya told him. She’s from Russia too, and they’re together now."
"Ah, I rember her," Luca nodded. "If it ca from her, then she must’ve heard it through soone she trusts. Russian underground circles don’t stay quiet for long."
Roger arrived monts later and greeted both n with a nod. He pulled out the chair beside Lucius and took a seat.
"I already told Lucius I’ll handle the Tsar situation," Luca said as he gestured toward the bottle. "Want a drink?"
"No, I’ll pass," Roger replied. "Varya confird it, Tsar is alive. The DNA from the second body didn’t match Vladimir’s. It was soone else."
Lucius’s jaw tensed.
"Varya’s offered to go to Russia herself and dig up more information," Roger added.
"I don’t think she should," Lucius said imdiately. "Tsar knows she was with us. Sending her back would be like handing her over. It’s too risky."
He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "What concerns more is that Tsar won’t co at directly, not yet. He’ll co for the people I care about. I dismantled everything he and his father built. He won’t forget that."
Luca took a slow sip. "It won’t be easy for him to rebuild his resources so quickly, especially not on foreign soil. But yes... everyone close to you needs to stay vigilant."
Then he turned to Lucius with calm resolve. "As for Layla, and you have my word. I’ll protect both of you. Even if it costs my last breath."
"That’s a heavy promise, Luca," Lucius said quietly, his gaze steady. "It carries more weight than you know. But don’t throw yourself in front of him for my sake. I can handle Tsar, he’s my brother, after all. If things get out of hand, you call without any hesitation."
Luca gave a small smile. "Of course. But right now, your focus should be on Layla and the upcoming baby. That’s where your strength is needed most."
He leaned back slightly, his eyes eting Lucius’s with quiet determination. "As for the rest... we’ll handle it. We’ll win. No matter what it takes."
He then toasted the glass in victory and chugged the content down his throat.
Paying the bills, the three of them left for their respective hos. Lucius applied the brakes outside the villa of his father and looked at the entrance. "Should I really tell Layla about Tsar?" He murmured.
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