CHAPTER FIVE

LORENZO GRAYSON\ KERZHAKOV ©

I stared at the mirror intently, ready to put on the life of a lecturer I fixed myself into. I picked my pair of glasses and wore them.

Every morning, I put on this same calm, controlled look, the look of a college lecturer who blends into normal life. But no matter how neat I looked, or how peaceful I tried to act, it didn’t change one truth.

I was still the son of one of the most powerful mafia syndicates in Russia.

I grabbed the car keys and started driving to college. Halfway there, my phone rang. It was Kyle. He never called this time unless it was important.

“Any updates?” I asked, eyes still on the road.

I had sent Kyle to investigate the man that was arrested by the cops. We needed to know who he worked for and whose hands were reaching into my life again.

“He doesn't even know you, he was sent to kill the man that was after you. I’m trying to track the people behind him, but he says he was blackmailed…”

I scoffed. Of course. Another pawn.

“Let him be, he's useless, they'll come for him soon.“ I told him and hung up.

“Good morning, professor.“ Students greeted me as I walked towards my office. They blushed and whispered amongst themselves while I gave them a polite smile as I walked into the office.

I sat down, opened my laptop, and pulled up the footage; the same footage I’d watched more times than I could count. My mother’s case.

The day everything changed. I rubbed my temples and tried to make sense of the shadows and blurred faces. It still wasn’t enough. I needed more. I needed the real footage, the one I can't get my hands on.

An hour passed before I even noticed and I found my way to lecture classes.

∆~∆

This is my third class. I'm lecturing without a break in each of them. I watched as Mr Walker and the other girl beside him argued. They argued under their breath, not loudly, but enough that I noticed. I paused and looked straight at them.

“Mr. Walker and…” I stopped. I didn’t know the girl’s name. They both froze and slowly turned to face me along with the rest of the class turning to them.

“Your name?“

“Avery…uhm..Avery Campbell.“ She answered.

“Would you both like to tell the class what the discussion was all about?“ I asked them and finally turned my gaze to Nick.

They kept mute before Avery apologized and nudged Nick to apologize.

He bowed his head slightly and mumbled an apology.

For some reason, his apology hit differently. Maybe because he always seemed on edge around me.

Class ended and I headed back to the office, tired and exhausted. I received a message and I clicked to open it.

Kyle:

Got my hands on a footage. Not sure if it’s useful.

I straightened and was about to watch the footage when I heard a knock on the door and the figure entered.

Not again.

He walked in nervously, head bowed.

Nick Walker.

He cleared his throat, fingers fidgeting, and I watched him silently. He always seemed uncomfortable around me, yet he kept showing up in my space without warning.

“I'm here to apologize for being rude and…for saying such words yesterday. I found out they caught the killer yesterday, I'm so sorry for uttering such a statement.“ He apologized and bowed again.

I sighed. I thought this was over. And besides, I could tell he still didn’t fully believe me.

I had no energy for this, not when I had a new lead to follow.

“Can we…”

“Use the door“ I interrupted him calmly but firmly and he blinked twice trying to process my words correctly.

“What?“ He asked, confused.

I stood up, opened the door, and gestured outward.

“I’d appreciate it if we had nothing to do with each other,” I said. “Please take your leave.”

He scoffed quietly and bit his lower lip before walking out of the office. I sighed and closed the door before heading back to my laptop to watch the footage.

After much time of watching closely, the footage wasn’t perfect, but it gave me something, a lead, a direction. A car. A plate number. Enough to dig further.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Kyle.

“Get the dashcam footage from the car with the plate number I sent to you now,” I said.

“On it,” he replied.

I watched the video again. For the first time in months, I felt closer to the truth.

∆∆

~ FIVE STAR CLUB &BAR ~

Later that night, Kyle and I came out for a smoke. We leaned against a car as he lit two cigarettes, his and mine, taking a long drag from it.

A woman walked up to us. Without hesitation, she took the cigarette from my lips, took a drag, and exhaled smoke right into my face.

“Hey, handsome,” she said with a smirk.

Kyle went inside, leaving the two of us alone. My gaze traveled over her as she handed the cigarette back and traded drags.

“Let's get something stronger to drink.“ I told her and we headed inside.

The bar was silent as always. I ordered drinks for us both while the lady rambled about her week. I downed my while wanting to know where the night would take us both.

“Restroom calls. I'll be right back,” she said and stood up. Her purse slipped, spilling her belongings across the floor.

She dropped to her knees under the table to gather them. One of her hands rested on my left thigh, fingers grazing lightly. I turned my head to avoid staring at her too closely.

But then I saw him.

Standing a few feet away, staring at us. Staring at her hand on my lap. Staring at the way she knelt between my legs.

Nick's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. His eyes shifted from her, then back to me.

Something hot and uncomfortable passed through my chest.

I was right. I couldn’t escape him.

Because somehow…he was everywhere.

And worse

I couldn’t stop noticing him.