Chapter 80
“I got you two a wedding present.” He took an envelope out of the inside pocket of his leather jacket.
“You shouldn’t spend your money on us. That’s for your apartment and school,” Donal scolded.
“Don’t, Donal. I want to give a little back. Take my gift and shut up.”
Donal smiled and took the envelope. He glanced at Alexei.
“Open it,” Alexei said.
Donal opened the envelope, and a funny card with two tickets to An American in Parisfell out. “Oh my God, Julio. fifth row, orchestra seats. Even I know that that musical is sold out for months. How did you manage this?”
“I have my ways,” Julio said enigmatically, hiding a chuckle.
“Thank you. Donal will really enjoy the music and the show. Who knows, after finishing Juilliard, he may decide to write music for Broadway.” Alexei shook Julio’s hand, and then gave Donal a hug. “Katya has lunch on the table. Let’s go eat.”
They lingered over lunch. “Does Donal’s stepfather have your address?” Julio asked Alexei.
“I made sure to put it in the paper.” Alexei smiled evilly in anticipation of Arthur McConnell’s comeuppance.
“Wasn’t that dangerous?” Julio pointed at Donal. “They could have decided to come and kidnap him for money.”
“Not really. We have guards, very efficient guards.”
“What if someone decided to break in while you were gone?” Julio persisted.
“Two of my superiors sent over two guards apiece, so there was no chance of someone getting into the house without our knowledge.”
“I don’t mean to be a nag, but Donal is the little brother I never had. I worry about him.” Julio frowned.
“I swear to you, Donal is my life. Nothing will happen to him as long as he doesn’t give Grigory the slip.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Donal said in annoyance.
Katya made fried pork chops, with potato pancakes, sour cream, and applesauce. She piled the serving plate high.
“My God, we can’t finish all that,” Julio said.
Alexei chuckled. “Donal has developed quite an appetite. So how is the new apartment?”
“It’s great Mr. Davidoff…”
“Alexei, please, wine, beer, or soda?”
“Alexei then, I’ll take a soda. The best part of the new place is not to have to worry about quarters for the laundromat.” Boris poured Julio a glass of Coke and put a pitcher on the table near the glass.
“For me,” Donal said, “the best part, besides having Alexei, is being clean and not hurting.”
“My poor mouse, you’re never going to have to worry about anything like that ever again.”
“How was the wedding?” Julio asked Donal.
“It was nice. Alexei has a big family. It was a little overwhelming.”
“I’m sure they all loved you.”
“They did. He even managed to throw oil over some waves I made in the water when I first got back from Russia.” Alexei smiled softly at Donal.
Julio gave him a surprised look.
“I’ve got some phone calls to make. Donal, show Julio to the bedroom opposite ours on the third floor. Boris will bring up your bag. I’m sure Katya has some cream cakes for dessert. Look on top of my nightstand. Vasily picked up Julio’s medical insurance cards. It covers doctors, hospitals, dental, and prescriptions with no co-pay. Make sure he puts it in his wallet.” Alexei went to his study on the fourth floor.
“We can use the stairs.” Donal started to fly up the stairs.
“How did your feet get better so fast?” Julio asked, suspiciously now that they were alone.
“Dr. Artis used a laser treatment being developed by Garou. I was one of the volunteer guinea pigs. It removes excess scar tissue. Colin used to have a nasty burn scar on his cheek. Now you can barely see a line, same process.”
“How did those boys meet such powerful men? I can tell they weren’t born to money.”
“Pretty much the same way I did. They were in trouble and got rescued but those are their stories to tell.” Donal escorted Julio into the suite he would occupy on the third floor.
“I know about Kane. Mr. Martin was the one who found him,” Julio said thoughtfully. “Alexei really loves you. I thought it was some kind of a con, and he was trying to buy me off, but he is interested in helping me, isn’t he?”
“Yes, because you helped me. He does love me, an awful lot. Let’s go into my suite across the gallery. We can have Katya bring up cream cakes and eat them at the breakfast table. I’m hungry.” Donal rubbed his growling stomach.