He just stood in the hallway like he was a fucking butler or something, but something was different about him, which James immediately noticed. He looked nothing like back at the airport, his face was different, more serious, he didn’t have a smile, nothing. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel⦿fire.net
"James, I know it is an important moment for you, can I snatch you for a quick talk?" He asked, and it just got more obvious something was wrong... even his voice was different, no accent at all.
But not just that... why the fuck would he show up, when he was the one that said to enjoy Maraci. Second, he came personally, at the embassy knowing full well that he would be with his family, and now asking for him.
"Yeah, you can." James answered him, but Erika noticed that now James was different talking with that guy in front of them. He didn’t have this attitude, this feeling around him, but he looked more like somebody who is careful, who is trying to not be the one controlling the situation, but flowing with it.
"A friend?" She asked, though pretty much knew he was ain’t no friend but another powerful figure.
"Yeah, a friend, mom." James answered. "Charlotte, I’m going to have a talk with my friend then I come back, okay?" Surprisingly she too felt that something was different. She didn’t start to scream or cry, but just stared at Darvik... like if he was a danger.
"Then let’s go to the garden." Darvik said as he turned to the left and went out of the door, but James waited to see if he was alone or not... and he was alone.
"Is he a boss too, a don, or is he with the cartel?" Erika immediately asked, though she covered Charlotte’s ears.
"No, he is worse than that." James answered as he glanced at her. "But I can deal with him, so don’t worry, he is on our side." He said as he took a big breath and followed after Darvik out to the garden to the filagoria where he was sitting idle, waiting for him.
And there was silence for a few minutes, as James wanted to hear what he had to say... but he just sat there, and that was it.
"So, do you call me for sitting around?" He finally broke the silence.
"Not really, and I know I came at the wrong time entering the reunion, but I got a call and thought it would be good to tell you."
"An important call... a very important one, James." he said as he pulled out his cigarette and lit it up. "I thought I’d tell you, and maybe you make your decision faster on the deal... like a little gift, I would say." He puffed out smoke.
"I never thought a man would need me this much." James answered him as he stared into his eyes and just got irritated by it.
He was pressing this deal too much... it felt like a trap, or worse... it felt like Darvik could do anything to get him in the deal... but then there was the call.
"Ohh, I don’t need you, James." Darvik giggled as he took a hit. "I don’t need your... aura, the face, the eyes. What I need, what Maraci needs, is the influence and mostly the money you have, more importantly the money you will make." He puffed it out the smoke staring at James.. "Tough, I can’t deny I do like you, a fan of yours I would say."
Well, at least he said it out loud and said the truth, which James knew pretty much. They don’t need him, they need what he has. That’s how deals are made, and deals are about... that’s what a gangster paradise is about.
"Yeah, well, thanks. What was the call about then, your gift?"
Again, there was an obvious change that could be clearly seen in Darvik... like he was getting frustrated or stressed about something.
"You know, James, I hate two types of people." He hit the cigarette once again, but it was a long one and even longer when he puffed it out. "I hate those who don’t have ambitions, who are little bitches, but what I hate even more is the people who want to fuck me over." He tossed the cigarette on the ground, stepped on it, but just kept eye contact with James. "Fucking me over means they fuck Maraci and the people over, not just that, but fuck up the deal and the opportunity it can bring to the people." He leaned back and immediately lit another cigarette "I love my people, deeply. We suffered together, and built up a great system to sustain ourselves. Our whales are the most important figures, but they have money by doing dangerous things, they have enemies... and you, my friend, have the potential to become the biggest whale."
Whale, huh... more like a piggy bank, James thought, but he knew Darvik didn’t mean it in a disrespectful way. No, they were money whales for them.
"Yeah, so... somebody wants to fuck over the deal between us?"
"Exactly." Darvik said as took another deep hit and puffed it out. "Not just fuck over the deal, but fuck over you." He pointed at him with the cigarette. "You know, it might be your end."
Again, he was strange, and James could see through him or more like through the shell Darvik put on, the same kind of play, acting Sophia had done back then. It wasn’t about what he said, but how he said it. Up until this point, he kept shifting, going from serious to nonchalant, back to serious.
Especially the last sentence. He said it so lightly, so calmly, but from it, James knew it wasn’t a threat. Darvik didn’t pose a threat to him, in fact, it was the opposite. He wanted to help, or maybe he wanted something first, and then help.
But help with what? What did he mean by "your end"?
Well... it was obvious. There was a chance he was going to die.