Chapter # 54

Although Nathaniel intended to stay low when Bob didn't listen to his warning, he couldn't continue and went to meet De Villiers regarding some work. He continued to keep an eye on his activities to fill the gap of his questions and intrigue while uncaring, Nathaniel was with De Villiers in the cabin. 'So, that completes the arrangement to go back. We will be back in America by next month," 'Great," 'Good. I was done being here too, this country is too boring and since it used to be under Sebastian's, it feels horrible," 'True," Nathaniel was lying on the couch, whistling while twirling his dagger around his fingers, deep in pondering. De Villiers was sitting on the table, humming to himself while going through some files with a victorious smirk. 'So in the past two years, we have Italy, Germany, France, Amsterdam under us. I say we sure are taking over Sebastian's territory," To De Villiers's enunciation, they both smirked darkly, proud of their achievement which soon disappeared when Nathaniel sighed. 'The second we will leave, he will take Amsterdam back and will try to go after Italy too now that Zariah isn't there," 'What about Elton?" 'I can't let him there. You know I want his involvement least in these matters." 'You should know he won't move on, he wants to follow your footsteps, to become like you," Nathaniel frowned, 'Definitely not. He deserved better than this," 'Yeah right, and here I am, married and still stuck with you," De Viliers remarked playfully but it made him silent. His mouth closed, pressing his head harder on the armrest, staring at the ceiling when a momentary contemplation evoked. The moments of him growing up with him, staying together in his good and bad times, losing his father as well yet experiencing everything. He was there from the beginning and when this perception sank in, Nathaniel stopped whistling or toying around the dagger, calling the busy man in low tone. 'You know what, De Villiers," 'Hmmm?" He wasn't used to expressing how fortunate he felt to have a friend like him and after thirty years of friendship, it sounded odd so instead he chuckled. 'I sometimes wonder if you won't listen to my shit, who will?" 'Oh, you have your Zari now. Why need me now?" 'That's the point, now I don't have any shit in life that I want to complain about." He whined, glancing at De Villiers who showed no reaction and continued. 'Normally, a day of mine cannot pass through until I whine about something now it feels empty," Exhaling with frustration, De Villiers closed his file and furrowed his brows out of confusion. 'Here I was, relieved, that you are not worried anymore and here you are, complaining that you don't have problems anymore," 'I am just used to it," The friends chuckled slightly. 'And more used to sharing them with you." Shaking his head in disappointment, De Villiers picked another file, going through them before passing them to Nathaniel to get his signature. 'You have been stuck to me like a plague our childhood after all, you are my first and my only true friend," Nathaniel smiled, looking up at his friend expectantly after signing. Only to earn a repulsed face from De Villiers who roughly snatched the file away, rolling his eyes to hear unforeseen statements. 'Shut up. You are making me sick with these sentimental talks." 'Asshole, here I am, expressing gratitude for your companionship and you acting sour," Nathaniel hissed, throwing the pen at him which he dodged and made another disgusted face. 'I would rather hear complaints, I am used to your depression than your happiness," 'Isn't that more convenient?" De Villiers smirked ruining the two seconds of friendly and happy moment he intended to create. 'You- Hold on, Cinzel is calling. Yeah, Cinzel? How are you doing?" Bewildered at the unasked compliment on his friendship, De Villiers felt strange, he wasn't used to it nor wanted to hear praises about it. As if he had another choice too since he was also his only and first friend too… 'Really?! Cinzel, send me the video too, yeah- okay, okay, bye," 'What happened?" 'Adam is not even a year old and he took his first steps, man! Ah, here is the video, check it out," Nathaniel beamed, hastily checking the video of his nephew taking his first steps with a radiant grin. De Villiers also came to see, eyes lighting up when they saw him walking with no support. 'So adorable!" The second he saw Adam, De Villiers grinned widely, 'Soon I will experience these kinds of excitements too." 'First teeth, first solid food, sitting up, crawling, first steps. Oh, I have bought a camera to capture all the moments of my baby," He continued, showing how exhilarated he was about his first child, considering it his blessing. Taking a moment, Nathaniel sat up, staring at his friend who forgot about his work the second they mentioned a baby. 'I am going to be more busy now, I am going to be a father soon. I think I should wear glasses to look fatherly. What do you think?" Nathaniel paused, staring at De Villiers as the abrupt realization sank in. Everyone around him had families, having kids and when Zariah asked for it… he merely backed up. He knew she adored them, he knew she wanted kids hopelessly yet he didn't and for his happiness, she chose silence too. 'I think you will look good," 'Right? Also grow my beard more. One must tell from afar that I have a kid." De Villiers beamed. Faking a chuckle, he nodded, 'Ah, I will be an Uncle too," De Villiers laughed, still going on about all his preparation about being a father and acting like one and his glee unwillingly pricked him. Scratching his head, he hummed, 'Maybe me and Zari should remarry and have kids too," He cracked a joke. 'Of course, you should. You are thirty-five. When your father was thirty-five, he had you and Persphone," De Villiers remarked. And the second his life was mentioned, a grimace plastered on his face, putting his hands defensively in the air. 'Okay, okay, I will think about it. I just think a kid is too much of a responsibility," 'Oh a kid is too much responsibility but handling this messy business, being a doctor while making time for your Zari isn't?" De Villiers taunted and before the friends could start an argument, the door knocked and someone came. 'Boss," 'What?" 'We got him," 'Ah, good, send him here," Nathaniel smirked, leaning back on his seat before resting his one leg over the other, hand spread across the headrest to assert his dominance. De Villiers arched an eyebrow, leaning against the table, 'What caught your eye now?" 'That investigating officer, he is working too hard and too much for someone of his post," 'Is that why you asked me to keep low?" 'Hmm , you know I cannot bear involvement when it comes to my personal prisoners," He shrugged his shoulders, making him groan in disbelief. 'God, you are still after Zoran? Fuck him, live your life," 'Easier said than done," Two of his men dragged Bob inside, removing the cloth on his head only to be greeted by two dominant men, smirking at their prey. 'Well, well, hello Bob," 'You…" His mouth gaped, scanning the deadly place overflowing with menace and reek of death, repugnance etched on his face. 'I warned you, didn't I? To not submerge into this matter or else you will lose your way to the surface but no, you have to play good cop," Nathaniel sighed, twirling his dagger against around his fingers. 'Who are you?" Bob asked cautiously, which made De Villiers suppress a chuckle. 'Don't ask the question too heavy on your unworthy existence," 'So are you going to kill me?" 'No, no, I am a doctor, I don't kill, I cure," 'Plague Doctor, right?" Bob asked. 'What?" Nathaniel stopped, giving him a chance to redeem, sending a warning glare in his direction to choose wiser words next time. His throat dried, body stiff as he could feel the overwhelming power emerging from the duo indicating one wrong move could become his last move. 'Look, Bob, you barely have a position, no higher up will listen to you. No one knows how Plague Doctor looks like or who he is," Nathaniel reminded him to which he smirked dryly, 'Except a few," Accepting his defeat at this point but also victory that he managed to be where barely a few could. 'That is the point. You have no good place, officer, why don't you reach a major's level first and then think about taking action?" De Villiers sighed. Causing him to glance to the side only to find a familiar silver mask on the table that converted all his bafflement into horror. A shiver went down his spine, rushing a strong sense of dread as he failed to fathom this could be this serious. 'This mask… You are the underworld's deadliest sniper, his right hand, De Villiers," ‘What the fuck?! What the hell am I doing among these deadly criminals?!' 'My, my, aren't you a celebrity, De Villiers?" 'My honor, officer," The friends laughed, indulging in the terror they managed to induce by divulging their identity, frightening the man whose mind shut down for a moment. 'Now look what have you done, Bob, you have to die and I was seriously looking forward to seeing you as a rival in upcoming years, you got potential," Nathaniel smirked. Bob's features hardened, curling his hand in a powerless fist as he accepted this moment as his defeat. ‘Is this the end for me? Well, at least I know his identity, which most couldn't, heck, my upper lads don't know it,' He counted that as an achievement of his life. 'You know what? Fuck this, forget you ever come here, I am in a good mood, go." 'If you think-" Nathaniel cut him off strictly, 'Why don't you think about your family first? Who will take care of your little son? What will happen to your sister?" 'How do you…?" 'One call and you will live your whole life in humiliation and poverty and there is nothing scarier for a middle-class person than this." And returning a malevolent smirk, Nathaniel decided to pierce his weak point. Pointing the dagger at him, his tongue impishly rolled over his lips. 'What do these middle-class people have?" De Villiers scoffed, holding no cognition to them, as if they considered them inferior. 'Nothing but respect and if I steal it, your life will be indirectly over so why don't you work hard and try again? That is too early for you," Nathaniel ended his warning, switching the dagger, providing him a chance to hold and attain the treasures he could only fathom. His eyes gleaming with a strange power, waiting for his response, pushing him towards an edge only to tackle a delicious offer from De Villiers. 'If you need help to be promoted then tell us too." 'What…?" 'Yes, you will have a chance to gain higher in life, you have seen my face too. It would help," Bob collected his thoughts, glancing around the men, taking a moment to perceive the point his life had reached. After a minute of silence, deepening the men's curiosity, he exhaled loudly, taking the dagger from Nathaniel's offer, glaring at him. 'I will catch you, I am loyal to my duties." He declared. 'Good choice. Where would you like to be?" Nathaniel offered darkly. 'Major," 'Got it," Waving the dagger at him, returning the same dark smirk and turning to leave. 'Here goes a wise one who does know how to avail an opportunity." De Villiers smirked as Bob left and the smirk on features dropped. The second door closed, De Villiers groaned and turned to his friend who rose to leave. 'Now what?" 'What else? Kill him." 'Seriously?" 'He would only bother me. I am no longer interested. He is pathetic and blame it on Zoran- I mean, Keith," 'Sure," He snickered, well aware of his Boss' nature. Nathaniel picked his office bag and was about to leave but stopped. A playful smirk spread across his lips and decided to tease De Villiers before leaving. Glancing over his shoulder, he spoke in a fake mellow resonance. 'Thanks, De Villiers, for everything," 'Stop purposely giving me ick, I will throw up," He growled, making him hiss. 'You know what, asshole? You don't deserve my sweetness, go to hell," 'We all are!" Showing middle finger to each other, Nathaniel ruffled his air and left for home where his Zari was and this thought vanished all his distress. Going where a beloved would be waiting for his return to embrace him and wash away all sorrows.