Vanished in Chicago (Vanished)

Once I make it back to my car, I take a deep breath and clear my head. Time for the battle of Tyrion and Tywin to come to a head. What? I love Game of Thrones.

NINETEEN

JAKUB

THE NEXT DAY

“So, what is the game plan?” Jozef and I have been combing the city looking for the missing link, but somehow, he has eluded us. I have dismissed all of our soldiers and guards hoping it lures him out. Besides, none of them can be trusted.

After dropping Chiara off with her sister, my brother came back to the house after getting our mom settled in and told me he found out Al and Morris had been killed. Both injected with some sort of fast acting poison while they were waiting for her to come out of the school. Have to give him points for originality.

Now, here we are a day later and still nothing. Hell, even my father is M.I.A. I contemplated telling my grandfather everything I know, but I don’t want to break his heart. He believes my father loves him. I instead told him what I could without mentioning how they got here. “Did you find anything in Miko’s study when you broke into it last night?”

“I found receipts for Maryland and Vegas. Typical casinos and shit, but there was a memo of sorts about moving some cargo, but it was giving them trouble.” My mind moves through the information he just gave me and instinctually, I know what it is. Fucking pig.

“I want you to reach out to Timur Federov in Atlanta and Ignazio Montagne in Baltimore. I want to know what they know of his dealings there. If he is moving things, they are either involved or have no clue the bullshit he is doing in their city, but they will be interested.'' he nods and begins dialing numbers when I remember the few connections I myself have in NY. Over the years, even without my grandfather's sanction, I was running my own organization of sorts. Well, more like my hand was in real estate. As such, I crossed paths with some powerful men. Some on the up and up and others… well you get the picture. I think it is time to call those in.

“Who are you calling?” He asks, as I take out my phone.

“Maksim Mikhailov and Eco Valladares. I need to kneel in front of Chiara’s sister with something more than just a trophy.”

“You were really serious about that? You are willing to forsake your name and join another family.”

“What has our name and this family given us, Zef? I am starting a new family and would love for you and mama to be a part of it, but either way, I will go with my wife and child.” I pull him in front of me by his shoulders forcing him to look at me. “I was also serious when I said I will understand if you do not join me. You will always be my brother. Once this is done, you are free to do as you please.”

“I know that Jakub. It is for that reason that I will never abandon you even in defection. But how do you know they will accept me as well?”

“Because it is obvious to me that family means everything to them. She will understand.” I can see there is more he wants to say. “What is it brother?”

“I will follow you, but not right away. There is…someone I need to retrieve first.” Alert hits me when he says retrieve.

“Do you want to say more?”

“Not right now.”

“Do you need my help?”

“Not yet.”

“Very well. When you do, I will be there.” Forehead to forehead I tell him. “You and mama are the blood pumping through my veins…you both gave me the heart I now use to love your future sister. Don't forget that.” he nods and walks away to make the calls as do I.

I am so fucking tense from all of the waiting and not being able to fuck that once again I am taking it out on my boxing bag. I punch, it sways, I duck. This motion over and over. Some find it tedious. For me it is reliable. One thing I can depend on to do as it should and move as it is supposed to. Bzzzz. My phone buzzes on the table. “Dziadek.”

“Jakub. I need you to come to see me tomorrow. I need to talk to you.”

“Is everything alright?”

“We will talk tomorrow.”

“Fine. Tomorrow.” I wonder if he knows his son is a piece of shit. I continue to slaughter the bag and wonder:

Does God forgive patricide?

It has been almost forty-eight hours and still nothing. I am supposed to meet my grandfather in an hour. Hopefully whatever he has to tell us helps. “Have you heard from Maksim or Escobar?”