“So, when did you get married, big brother?” he asks as he’s lacing the boots up.
He’s noticed the wedding band on my left hand, just like everyone else has. I’m surprised he didn’t ask earlier, but it’s of no concern to me. “Two weeks ago.”
“Well, fuck me. My big brother, the fucking asshole he is, got married and didn’t bother to invite the only living family he has left to the wedding,” he laughs.
We may be related, but there’s only so much blood between us. He could give two shits about what I do with my life.
I feel completely the same about him.
“There hasn’t been a ceremony yet. And no, you’re not invited for when it happens. We have to wait until the baby is born first. Meredith’s ruling on that,” I say with a frown.
If I had my way, I would have made her marry me in front of everyone the moment we knew she was pregnant.
“I’m just trying to find the angle here, Simon. What leverage did you have on the poor woman?”
I would shoot him if I was allowed to right now. Family or not.
“None at all,” I say, and while that isn’t exactly true, Meredith will never leave my side now.
We’re together in this.
“Alright, whatever,” he says as he reaches up to scratch his thick beard. “I can’t wait to shave this shit off; it’s been too long since I’ve had a good razor.”
“Then you might actually look like a partial human being for once…” I say.
“Eh, fuck off. So, what’s the job?” he asks as he stares out the window.
“What do you mean?” I ask him.
“Why now? I figured I was supposed to rot in that cell for the rest of my life,” he says, turning to me.
“If it was up to me, I would have left you there.”
“I know. Love you too, big brother,” he chuckles.
“Lucifer wants you out, and we’re finally in position to call in favors large enough to get you out.”
“That’s a pretty big favor to call in, Simon. Who the fuck did you get on your payroll? The Governor? Cause that’s the… Fuck, you got your hand in the Governor’s pocket?” he asks skeptically.
“Around his throat is more like it, but yes.”
“So, what does Lucifer want?” he asks.
“Mayhem. Bedlam… The Yakuza have blown up two people. One of them was Peter from the inner circle. The Russians are fucking playing nice at the worst time possible. The Saudis are going to be starting a war soon. We’ve lost a lot of the inner circle, and we’re not replacing them as fast as we’re losing them. He wants you to do what you do best.”
“Death and destruction.”
“Absolute death and destruction. Lucifer wants the state under his control.”
Nodding his head, he leans it back into the headrest and closes his eyes. “I can do that.”
The End