Page 18 of Pistols and Plush Toys

“You agree to my terms, and this all goes back to how it was before. It is how it always has been. You try to change thing, but I’m will forgive. Otherwise Elliot stays with me. He is fragile, yes? A beauty.”

The sounds of Brooks's sobs were audible. Nikolai swallowed down bile. It wasn’t just Brooks—those heart-wrenching sobs were picking at old, old wounds. They made his skin crawl.

“You know of my father, you know how this goes. Your call.”

He let it film for one second longer, catching the drips of tears on Brooks's lovely face. Then he hit the stop button.

The second the filming stopped, Nikolai let out an explosive breath.Fuck.At least that was done.

He took his phone off the stand and pocketed it. Then he strode back over to Brooks. Brooks's shirt was wet with tears.

“It is done. You see?” Nikolai said as he crouched to start pulling the knot loose. The square knot came undone easily and then he unwound the rope from around Brooks. As he did so, the man quieted down, blinking with confusion at Nikolai.

“Is that… all?” Elliot said when the rope came away and Nikolai recoiled it to set it back on the table. Someone would be by later to take all the rest of the stuff away.

“Not enough?” He didn’t mean it as a threat, but Brooks still flinched. “No,” Nikolai said quickly. “We are done.” He grabbed the black bag off the table. “But you will wear this for ride back.”

Brooks was silent when Nikolai got close again and placed the bag carefully over his head, silent as Nikolai took his hands again and guided Brooks to standing. Brooks's hands were clammy with sweat and shaking. Nikolai stepped closer to employ his strength and keep Brooks upright. It was, after all, his fault that the man was quivering like a traumatized baby deer.

Together they left the building, heading back into the sunshine. Nikolai took another deep breath of fresh air, glad to be out of there, glad to be done with it. Hopefully that would be all the intimidating that Vitale required.

Nikolai had slipped into the role of intimidator too easily, like a jacket tailored just to his size.

He didn’t like it.

The car was still waiting outside, and he led Brooks back to it and inside. He put a hand on the man’s head to make sure he didn’t hit the top of the door as he helped him in.

When they were settled, Nikolai leaned forward and rapped the glass between him and Alex to signal he was ready. The car started off back toward home.

It was a short drive back, and with every mile Nikolai could feel the stress draining out of him. He’d woken this morning to a nasty message from Vitale telling himto go fuck himselfif he thought kidnapping hisbitchwas going to make Vitale kill his clubs. Nikolai had been tightly wound ever since.

Nikolai had no idea what incited him more; that Vitale wasn’t folding or how offensively he’d spoken about Brooks.

He let the anger simmer as they drove. Once this was settled, he wouldn’t have to think about Vitale anymore. It would be back to the status quo, and hopefully nobody else would get any funny ideas about expanding their business ventures.

Nikolai should be so lucky.

When they got back through the front gate of his estate, Nikolai reached over and pulled the bag off. Elliot jumpedagain, because apparently he jumped at everything, but after a quick glance out the window seemed to relax himself. Good. Nikolai would get the man settled back in his room and—

No.There were things to do before that. It was after eight, and Nikolai hadn’t eaten—and he hadn’t woken Brooks earlier to offer the man breakfast either. Food was definitely in order, especially after the high emotions of the morning. Nikolai had left snacks in the room for Brooks, but from a cursory glance this morning, the kid hadn’t touched anything. He’d probably be starving the second the adrenaline dropped.

Nikolai pulled out his phone and texted Meredith. Before the car even parked in the drive, she’d replied that she’d ordered breakfast for them and it was waiting in the kitchen.

He pocketed his phone as the car stopped. “Come,” he ordered, opening the door and getting out. Brooks meekly followed after him.

Nikolai led them back inside and to the dining room.

“Sit,” he said, pointing to one of the dining room chairs. When Brooks shakily lowered himself into a seat, Nikolai strode to the kitchen to find two bags from one of his favorite breakfast joints there waiting for him. He was grateful when he peeked inside to see there was more than enough food for two. Meredith had undoubtedly planned for feeding Brooks before it had even occurred to Nikolai to ask her to. That was why he paid her the big bucks.

He grabbed the handles of the two bags and carried them back into the dining room.

“Today is American breakfast,” Nikolai declared as he set the bags down on the table and started to pull steaming clamshells of food out. “I’m hope it will be good for you. Do you have food allergies?”

When he looked up, Brooks was staring at him blankly.

One of the clamshells was a pancake and eggs breakfast, and he tilted it toward Elliot so he could see through the clear topper. “You can eat?” He asked again.

“Uh, y-yeah,” Brooks said hesitantly.

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