The Only Way is Up

Part Forty Two

Chapter Forty Two

Nicole was the difference. Without her in his world he'd up and leave, abandon his life, relocate somewhere that no one knew him and start again. Instead he HAD to deal with Aleksi Guryanov, no longer could he ignore.

He realised that he hadn't heard back from Kyle in the States, so he pulled out his phone and dialled his number, aware that it was early morning and that Kyle would hate him. But if you wanted to speak to someone like him, then this was a time when you could guarantee that he'd be available.

"Shit Max man, it's like five am."

Max laughed, "that's normally the high point of your night."

The other man groaned, "not last night...but then it involved a woman and a bag of white stuff."

Max rolled his eyes, aware that the other man couldn't see that, "you need to leave that shit alone Kyle."

He laughed, "you know I love the ladies."

"Ok, you win. So the driver?"

He could hear Kyle move around, "sorry, there are things that women do not need to hear. Look I've got a visitor pass for tomorrow. But I have got a contact in Miami PD getting back to me with stuff...let's just say, they don't sound surprised at my enquiry. Do you know who might have paid him off?"

Max was silent, telling Kyle could implicate him in something SO much bigger, but by enquiring then he was already involved.

"My Russian family have a shady past; I fear this could be something big. Keep looking over your shoulder, ok?"

Kyle was silent for a moment, "are you ok Max?"

"I'm the target Kyle, you'll be fine. They won't kill me..."

Kyle sighed, "you make that sound a fate worse than..."

Max laughed, lightening the mood, "I just need to get on top of this, I'll be in touch soon. I'm overdue a little trip to the sunshine."

"My condo in South Beach is free, anytime you say man, ok? I'll call you once I've had the visit."

Max sighed, if only it was that easy, whisk Nicole off to one of the most exclusive beach communities in the world. She'd hate it, but he'd love to have her in a bikini every day, making love in the sea. The thought made him hard, and he had no place with that.

"Sounds amazing Kyle, I'll take you up on that soon. Keep me posted, yes?"

He hung up but felt no better, if anything he felt worse. If his father was willing to risk his life by staging an accident, what else would he do? And more concerning, what would he do to Nicole? She was the read worry, she was his Achilles heel, and he'd do anything to protect her. Including working with your father? He couldn't answer that.

He tried to contact Jim, the PI, but there was no answer, he hoped that wasn't bad news. He had no idea the lengths his father would go to. But he knew a man who did. Locking up the house, he jumped on his Triumph and headed across the city.

He hadn't been to Yuri's Russian Coffee house since he took Nicole there on their date what seemed like eons earlier. But he knew that the man had his finger on the pulse, he knew what was happening here in London, but also a lot of what was happening back in their Motherland.

The older man had aged it seemed, just in the last few months, but his wizened face lit up when he spotted Max enter the building.

"Maxim...it's been TOO long...again." He must have spotted the anxiety in Max's face as he immediately took his elbow and led him to a quiet booth beyond the bar. "What troubles you?"