Codename: Aconite Chapter Sixty-One

Codename: Aconite Chapter Sixty-One
I tuck my sunglasses into my shirt as I stare at the modest, Brâncovanian style castle before me, its terracotta-coloured stone almost glowing in the light of the afternoon sun. The bees are buzzing as they fly from flower to flower in this charming garden that reminds me of something pulled out of Alice in Wonderland. I expect a deck of cards to pop out with cans of paint to paint the roses red.

“What do you think?” asks Silas, coming to stand beside me.

I look towards him, his face calm and serene as he looks upon his family home. Home being the keyword. The size and status of this stone structure means nothing compared to the memories he has made inside its walls. This is his home, and I can tell how happy he is to be back.

I smile, taking his hand in mine. “It’s not at all what I was expecting, but it’s absolutely beautiful.”

“I was hoping you’d like it,” he says, a giddy ere to his voice. He almost looks child-like in this moment, and although it’s a side to him I never even thought existed, it’s incredibly endearing.

He wraps his arm around me and leads me inside, placing our bags down in the foyer. I glance around taking in the sophisticated, yet charming interior of his family home feeling immediately at ease. I can’t explain it, but it feels as though I’ve come home too.

“Tată! Mamă!” Silas shouts.

“In the kitchen!” calls out a soft feminine voice.

With that giddy smile still plastered on his face, he leads me into the kitchen where I’m greeted by the smell of something so delicious it makes my mouth water.

“Silas!” I hear that same voice cheer.

I look to my left as a beautiful, 5’6” woman with long, golden blonde hair, runs at Silas, pulling him into her arms. Her smile is bright and cheerful causing lines to crease around her familiar emerald eyes and mouth emphasizing her joy. Silas wraps his arms around her hugging her tightly as he lifts her off the ground.

“I’ve missed you, Mamă,” he says as he plants a kiss on each of her cheeks.

“Don’t you ever go so long without coming home, you had me worried sick,” she says with concern as she looks him over.

I can’t believe I’m standing before the assassin known as Ajna…she is nothing like how I pictured her. Physically, she’s petite and looks like a stay-at-home-mum, one who likes to get her hands dirty in the garden based on the fact she’s in a cotton, peach button-down shirt with sleeves rolled up and high-waisted jeans that fit her like a glove. She seems so warm and loving, just radiating joy…is this really the woman who is notorious for hitting victims directly between the eyes?

“And this must be the infamous Dasha we’ve heard so much about. Or would you prefer Aconite?” announces a deep voice.

I look across the kitchen island to see an older – dare I say hunkier – version of Silas, standing with his hands in his jeans radiating equal amounts of ‘don’t fuck with me’ and ‘come fuck me’ energy. Damn! No one told me Akephaloi was so hot! But I should have assumed given Silas is his son. He’s 6’3 with wavey dark brown hair down to just above his shoulders. He has a trimmed beard that is starting to turn grey, but even under the beard, I see the cheekbones that could cut a bitch. He looks built like a brick wall in a blue V-neck shirt under an undone denim shirt with rolled-up sleeves and denim jeans. I can see the hints of tattoos which I guess is where Silas got the inspiration to get some of his own.

I feel like I’m literally staring at Silas’ future, and mama like.

“Tată,” Silas says in warning. “I’d like you to meet someone very special to me,’ he announces, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me into his side. Tată, Mamă, this is my girlfriend, Dasha. Dasha, this is my mother Talyssa and my father Titus,” he introduces.

I smile graciously at them both, “It is such an honour to meet you both. I am such a fan of your work. When Silas told me Ajna and Akephaloi were his parents, I think I had an out-of-body experience,” I chuckle.

“Probably the vapours coming off your plants,” Silas teases, earning a hip bump from me.

“Oh aren’t you sweet,” Talyssa gushes. “Silas has told us so much about you,” she says, walking over and hugging me tight.

I hug her in response, waiting for a snide whisper or threat, but it never comes. She pulls back, still beaming as she looks at the two of us.

“I always said it would take a special type of woman to tame my son, and it looks like he finally found her,” Titus muses.

“Tame? Me?” I snort with laughter, “Wrong woman. I don’t think either of us has tameable personalities. I don’t think I’d even want to tame him if I could. I like him like this,” I say, smiling up at Silas.

He grins, pinching my chin as he places a chaste kiss on my lips.

“She’s wonderful!” Talyssa gushes, “No wonder Silas is so smitten.”

“Mum,” Silas groans.

“Smitten, ey?” I say with a cheeky grin.

“There we were, listening to a call from our son about how the women he was sent to kill turned the tables on him and left him bleeding and poisoned in the streets of Russia. Titus was livid and I was worried sick, but the shocking part was, the whole time he was telling this story, the way he spoke of you was as of a man who has seen the grace of an angel. I knew right then you had to be special,” Talyssa says joyfully. “And I was right.”

“Silas speaks very highly of you, but then again your reputation also speaks for itself.” Titus walks around the kitchen island to come and stand in front of me. He places his hands on my shoulders and graces me with a warm smile that makes his greyish-blue eyes twinkle. “Welcome to the family,” he says, surprising me as he kisses both my cheeks.

“Thank you,” I say with a stunned look on my face. I think I’m even blushing. He’s welcoming me into his family? But he doesn’t even truly know me. I poisoned his son twice for fuck sake!

He lets me go and pulls Silas into a tight embrace as they clap each other on the back. “Welcome home, son.”

“It’s good to be home,” says Silas softly. He let his father go and looks towards his mother, “Is it ready yet?”

Talyssa grins, nodding with excitement. “It was finished two days ago. You can go out there now and I’ll get lunch ready, and we can all get to know each other better.”

“Can do.” Silas grins at me and takes my hand. “Close your eyes, and don’t peak.”

“You see, anywhere else that would seem like a good idea, but in a house full of assassins, I’m just not sure,” I tease.

Titus chuckles, “The woman has a point.”

“I promise you’ll love it,” he says, excitement only burning brighter in his eyes.

“Okay, okay. You’re lucky I trust you,” I say as I close my eyes.