Chapter 33 A Price To Pay
Julian didn’t wait for Vincent to process his shock as his phone started to ring. He saw the name on the screen and his expression changed.
“Fuck.” He muttered before picking the call.
His jaw tightened as he listened to the other person on the other end of the phone.
“I will be there.” He finally said- coldly, then the call ended.
Vincent ignored his heightening curiosity that had to do with just learning that the man he had been serving and been best of friends with for three years had a kid- a genius one at that, and he didn’t know.
He was now more concerned with the look on Julian’s face that signaled trouble.
“What now?” Vincent asked.
Julian exhaled through his nose, the towel dropping onto the chair beside him. “Balto Keilani wants to see me.”
Vincent’s face twisted with immediate disgust. “You’re kidding me.”
Julian didn’t respond. He was already pulling on his black shirt, buttoning it halfway while his mind was clearly miles away.
Vincent groaned. “Why the hell are you still answering that man’s calls? You told me you were done with him.”
“I said soon,” Julian replied calmly, his tone detached, but the vein at his temple pulsed faintly. “Not yet.”
Vincent stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. “He’s a goddamn snake, Jules. You know it. The earlier you stop working with him, the better.”
Julian’s lips curved into a humorless smile. “Maybe. But this time, he’s the one who feels robbed.”
Vincent frowned. “What happened?”
Julian grabbed his leather jacket and slipped his arms through the sleeves before answering. “The night we saved Phoenix, I was supposed to be on a mission for Balto. He paid me to represent him at an underground auction—to bid for an artifact he’s been obsessed with for years. He couldn’t go himself; too many people there knew his face.” He paused, his voice flattening. “I got distracted that night. I forgot. Someone else placed the winning bid. And now, Balto thinks I cost him something priceless.”
Vincent whistled lowly. “Shit. Then just send the money back to him, man. You’re not his dog.”
Julian gave a dark chuckle. “You and I both know it doesn’t work that way. In our world, a breach is a breach. Intentional or not. There’s always a price.”
Vincent watched him slip his gun into the side holster. “So what’s your plan?”
Julian buttoned his cuffs, his movements calm and sharp. “I’ll pay my price,” he said quietly. “I’m fair in my dealings.”
Vincent shook his head. “You’re insane. That man will twist fairness until it favors only him.”
Julian only smirked. “Only if I wasn’t smarter.”
As they began to head for the door, Vincent said lightly, “By the way, you still owe me an explanation on how that kid ended up being yours.”
Julian’s hand paused briefly on the doorknob. “It’s complicated.” Then he headed out.
~
Julian stood quietly at the doorway of the guest room, watching the small figure curled under the blanket. Phoenix was asleep though it wasn’t evening yet, his hand clutching the corner of the pillow as if it were something precious.
Julian stepped closer, careful not to wake him. A faint bruise still marked the boy’s wrist from the night they rescued him. He brushed it gently with his thumb — a small, hesitant motion from a man who had long forgotten tenderness.
Phoenix stirred, eyes fluttering open.
“Hey, kid” Julian flashed him a bright smile, one that he rarely showed anyone else out there.
Phoenix didn’t smile back. The boy only noticed the big aeroplane toy in Julian’s hand.
“Whose is that?”
Julian followed his gaze to his hand, then he stretched the new toy forward. “It’s yours.”
Phoenix propped himself to a sitting position now. A small smile was on his face as he grabbed the toy from him. “You got this from me?” His tiny voice sounded through the room.
Julian gave a small nod. “It flies if you press that button.”
The boy pressed it, and the tiny propellers spun with a soft whirr. He laughed — the sound light and unguarded, and Julian’s chest tightened at the unfamiliar warmth it stirred in him.
He moved closer, adjusting the boy’s grip so he wouldn’t break it. “Be careful with it. It’s not indestructible,” he said, his tone gentle despite the emotional rough edge of his voice.
“You know I love planes?” Phoenix asked. Julian nodded, smiling at him. Julian had just discovered a new hobby- keeping Phoenix’s company.
“I do. You had one with you but it spoilt.”
“I love this one better!” Phoenix said joyously as he started to play with it. “Can I go outside to play?”
Julian hesitated for a moment before he spoke again. “Very soon, my boy.” He ran his fingers through the boy’s long curly hair like his.
Phoenix glanced up again. “Have you heard from my mum? What of Maris? When will I go back to school?”
Julian’s jaw tightened. “Your mum will speak to you soon. Maris has traveled. she’s busy. You will go back to school- soon too.” Julian assured, knowing he was giving the boy false hopes.
“What about those bad boys? Why did they take me?”
Julian hated that the kid was worried about stuffs like that. He didn’t even want him to be aware that such evil existed. He hunched to level with him. “Those bad boys will never touch you again. You don’t have to worry. At all. Do you trust me?”
Phoenix’s worried face immediately morphed to a grin. “I trust you.” Julian extended his fist to the boy and they knocked hands.
“You’re leaving?”
Julian hesitated, then nodded once. “Just for a while.”
The boy’s smile dimmed. “Will you come back?”
Julian swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. He had no idea that being a father meant feeling all kinds of heavy emotions that weren’t quite understandable. He wanted, felt, and needed to hold the kid and never to let go. “Yeah. Before you even finish flying that thing. I will be back.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
He reached out, brushing his hand over Phoenix’s hair again. It was a rare, almost awkward gesture for him, yet it felt so right. He then straightened and turned toward the door. Julian lingered one last second at the doorway.
‘I won’t let them touch you again,’ he thought silently. Then he stepped out, closing the door with a quiet click.
He was going to head out, but his mind couldn’t stop drifting towards a particular person.
~
Seraphina’s door was half-open, and she rose from the couch in the room the moment Julian appeared. She looked surprised, her long hair falling loose around her shoulders.
“You’re back early,” she said. “Did you do it? Take Phoenix’s videos off the internet?”
“Yeah. There is no trace of it on the internet any more.” It was the first thing he did that morning- hacked the bloggers and sabotaged the source. He even discovered that it was a teacher from Phoenix’s school in Seattle that uploaded the video before blogs started picking it up.
He had hacked into the teacher’s phone and deleted the videos there too. Not even anyone who saved it would see it on their phone any longer. His Zenith one’s system was created for this kind of issues.
Relief flooded her face, her shoulders dropping slightly. “I almost doubted you. Thank you.”
Julian nodded once, his gaze scanning the room briefly before settling back on her. She hesitated, then folded her arms with a sigh. “You know,” she started, half teasing, half irritated, “you could at least make house arrest interesting. If you’re not going to give me my phone back, then take me somewhere nice. Dinner. A walk. Anything.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed at her. For the first time since she came here—he was seeing her as the mother of his son.
“I don’t do fancy,” he said finally, his tone flat, gaze empty.
Seraphina rolled her eyes. “Then let’s just get married and end this charade already. You give me the journal, and join hands to get revenge like we agreed on.” A hint of frustration was in her tone.
“I keep my word.” Julian replied quietly, his eyes still scanning her.
She dramatically threw her hands up. “So, what next?”
Julian straightened. “You’re free to walk around the house today,” he said. “The garden isn’t off-limits too.” With that said, he started to turn around.
“Yeah, like a tour in the prison, right?”
He paused his steps, but didn’t respond. When he continued to step out, she reached out and caught his arm. “Please,” she said softly, “just take me out. I’m going crazy in here.”
For a heartbeat, he froze. Then he half-turned, his eyes lifting to hers, something flickering there—something he quickly buried. His jaw tightened, and without a word, he turned and walked away, letting her hand fall off.
Seraphina stood still for a long moment, her pulse thudding in her ears. Julian seemed to be hiding something about his life. There was a lot she didn’t know. But if she was going to live under this person’s roof for a year, she needed to know everything about him- and that included the activities he was engaged in.
Her gaze hardened with quiet resolve as a decision slipped in. It was silly and risky, she knew. But her eagerness overshadowed her logic.
She was going to trace him out. Without thinking about it twice, she dashed to her newly stacked closet and drew out a shirt and trouser.