*Sephie*
Adrik, Ivan, Viktor, and Stephen paid another visit to Armando that evening. I’d needed a short nap after the morning’s festivities, but I was managing to stay awake for much longer. And my appetite was coming back slowly. I could snack periodically throughout the day without too much trouble, which was giving me more energy finally.
Misha and Andrei were both happy to stay with me in the penthouse while the others went downstairs to torture Armando.
“How do I get more details, spider monkey?” Andrei asked while they were heating up yet more broth for me.
I thought for a minute. “I’m honestly not sure how to answer that, Bubba. I haven’t always had all the details I get now come so easily. The more I practice, the more details I get. I think time is the answer. The more you use it, the clearer everything will be. Same as Misha. The more he uses his gift, the clearer it gets. I think there will come a time when he won’t need anyone else as a battery, too. I think he’ll be able to do it on his own just as well as he can with us,” I said.
“Really? You think so?” Misha asked. He was clearly surprised at the thought of not needing anyone to see his visions.
“I do. It doesn’t make sense that you would always need me or Andrei to make it work. You didn’t need me in the beginning. I just made it different. Once you master it, you should be able to do it on your own. Which I think you’re getting closer to, if you could tell the difference between me and Bubba this morning,” I said.
“Yeah, that reminds me, how did you know the difference?” Andrei asked. “And how did you know I was holding back? I didn’t even know I was holding back.”
“With Sephie, it feels like she’s showing me how to do it, even though she has no idea how it works. There’s still this calm direction from her when she helps me, but I can tell that she’s jumped in with both feet. With you, Andrei, you really have no idea what’s going on still, you’re just along for the ride. But you’re hoping you don’t die in the process,” Misha said, laughing.
“That sounds accurate,” Andrei said. He was laughing as well, not really knowing what else to say.
“This is all a little weird, if we’re being honest. It’s a lot to take in,” I said.
“Was it hard for you, spider monkey? You didn’t have anybody when you discovered you could do this, did you?” Andrei asked.
“It wasn’t hard. I did think there was something wrong with me, not gonna lie. But I’ve shown it more to you guys than I ever did to anyone else. Even my mom. Little bits here and there with her before she died, but I mostly kept to myself. It was only just starting when she was still alive. It’s gotten much stronger as I get older. Then I met you guys and I feel like I skipped ahead like ten levels. I’ve been more open with it this year than I ever have before. You can ask Adrik, too. I was petrified he would think I was crazy at first,” I said.
Misha laughed. “We saw it. When you would tell him things about the bosses, you were timid about it. But you were always right.”
“Apparently, it was all meant to happen the way it did. You guys seeing it in me helped you see it in yourselves. There’s something special about Viktor and Stephen too, but they’re still scared by it,” I said.
“Should we make bets on what it is with those two?” Andrei asked.
“Um, yeah. Of course we should,” I said, laughing.
“Before Andrei found out he was like you, I would’ve said Stephen’s superpower was his sense of humor that nobody knew existed until you came along, gazelle,” Misha said.
“Right? How funny is that dude? And how the hell does he keep a straight face literally every single time?” I asked. “And Viktor is still the father figure of the group. He just goes about his day silently making sure we’re all taken care of and have everything we need. He’s kind of the best, really.”
We were being silly in the kitchen while I had yet another snack when Adrik and the rest of the guys got back from downstairs. Adrik immediately walked to me, leaning down to kiss me. “I’m happy you’re still awake, solnishko,” he said, his handsome smile stretching across his face.
“How was Armando? Have you offered to let him jump off the roof again? Is he ready to take you up on the offer this time?” I asked. I grabbed Adrik’s hand with my one free hand, inspecting his knuckles. He laughed softly and kissed my temple. “I’m so relieved you’re finally feeling better,” he said.
“He’s definitely regretting not listening to you, Seph. I think he’s cried himself to sleep more often than not lately,” Stephen said. While his expression didn’t give away much, there was a definite air of satisfaction present.
“Why do I feel like you’re the reason for his tears?” I asked Stephen.
He cleared his throat. “I do the reading, Seph. Not the other way around,” he said, trying to look at me sternly. I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
“You’re just worried I’m going to learn your secret for your insane mastery of your facial expressions,” I said. His smile stretched across his face. “It’s one of my best tricks,” he said, grinning at me. “I could not agree more,” I said.
“Did you learn anything useful or did you just take your frustrations out on him tonight?” Misha asked.
“He confirmed the link between Ricardo and the Mexicans. He also said it was Lorenzo’s idea to go to them,” Viktor said.
“He was planning on using them instead of any of the bosses’ men. He knew there would be mass casualties so he was going to sacrifice the Mexicans first. He promised to help them overthrow Trino, but even Armando doubted that would’ve actually happened. Lorenzo knew there likely wouldn’t have been enough of them left,” Adrik said.
“Not surprising. However, it means the Mexicans are not going to stop coming for Trino until Sal and Ricardo are stopped and maybe not even then. We might not be able to wait on Henry to figure his life the fuck out,” I said, finishing up my latest snack. When I looked up, they were all looking at me, completely amused. “What?” I asked.
“Extra spicy Sephie might be my favorite version,” Misha said, laughing.
It took four more days before Trino got any more information about Martin. He finally called Adrik in the afternoon, once he’d heard the fate of Martin. Misha, Andrei, and I all felt fairly certain that he would make it out, but we also never checked on him again. We were all relieved to hear for sure that he’d made it out and was safely back in Colombia.
Trino stopped by the building that evening. Gus, Oscar, and one of his normal security guys were with him, but the rest of his men chose to stay in the lobby. “Was that your choice or theirs?” Ivan asked when Trino walked into the office, mostly unaccompanied.
“It was definitely theirs,” Oscar said, trying not to laugh. “They’re some of the baddest motherfuckers in Colombia, but they’re scared of a girl.”
“For good reason,” Trino’s security guy said quietly. It was the first time I’d ever heard him speak.
“And yet, here you are,” I said. My tone wasn’t threatening. Yet. But I was serious enough that he got tense when I addressed him. “Did the rest of them put you up to coming up here or are you just so curious that you can’t help yourself?” He looked at me, somewhat surprised. He wasn’t sure what to say. Trino stayed quiet as well. “I saved the life of your boss’s right-hand man. I’ve saved your life before as well, you just don’t know it. A little gratitude would serve you well if you’d like to keep the baddest motherfucker title,” I said, walking to the couch to sit beside Andrei. He held his arm out, helping me sit, then wrapped it around my shoulders so I could curl up next to him.
He leaned down and said, “extra spicy Sephie is my favorite version too.”
Gus looked at Trino, then looked at me. “I see now why he likes you so much,” he said.
Adrik cleared his throat, clearly done with where the conversation was headed. “Where is Martin now?” he asked.
“He’s back in Colombia, under heavily armed guards, just in case. He said he almost didn’t make it out. Instead of just leaving like I told him to, he tried to have a conversation with them. They caught on that he knew something was off and tried to keep him from leaving. He barely managed to get out, but he’s safe now.” Trino looked at me, a look of sincerity on his face. “Miha, he would’ve been killed if not for you. I suspected he would go to Mexico, but I never actually thought he was dumb enough to do it. I thought he was smarter than that. You saved his life.”
“It was a group effort,” I said, catching Misha’s eye. I felt Andrei squeeze my shoulders a little tighter. “I’d happily do it again. Just keep your weak ass security guys that clearly can’t handle the fact that I’m different away from me.”
Misha laughed, asking in Russian, “can extra spicy gazelle stay forever? She’s definitely my favorite.”