Peter looked taken back. Itwas almost amusing, the look of shock on his face. Usually this manwas raging or disgustingly full of himself.
“You’re joking, right? You,friends with the Castile family?” Frank Castile was well knownamong his industry, he was the most powerful biggest drug cartel inNew York State at one time. Everyone knew who he was in hiscircles. “You’re pulling my leg.”
He shrugged a shoulder asif it was nothing. “They also have a younger half-brother Mario,who is mentored by Nick and very capable. If you want me, I needthose two.”
“Why didn’t you tell mewhen I hired you? That would have saved me a lot ofeffort.”
“It wasn’tnecessary.”
“Necessary?” He looked atIvan. “Do you believe this guy?”
“I never believe him,” Ivananswered glaring at Ryan.
Peter waved an arm. “Ofcourse you wouldn’t.” He turned back to Ryan. “I heard Frankretired, because of political pressures. To this day, no crimeshave been linked to him. It’s unheard of.”
“That has something to dowith Nick, and if you call that number, it’s Frank Castile’spersonal cell phone number. You can’t tell me that any source youhave is as good as that.”
“How do you know they’regood?”
“Remember that hostagetaking in Beirut?”
Peter nodded.
“They were myteam.”
Peter just stared at him inawe. “Just who the fuck are you?”
Ryan’s mouth pulled up atthe corner. “Nick Castile is a human weapon. He is more skilledthan all of your men put together.” Ivan made a sound of disbeliefbut Ryan ignored him. “If you want that shipment bad enough, we’llget it for you.”
Well, Ivan certainly hadnothing to say that time.
“It’s also going to costyou. These two aren’t cheap.”
Peter found it interestingthat Ryan never let on about any of his own talents. After the pastfew weeks, he knew he was exceptionally skilled, but not inclinedto brag about anything. That alone made him know that he was morethan likely right up there with Nick Castile. “Done!” Peter agreedimmediately. “But after I make a call.”
***
When the two striking darkhaired gentlemen walked through the airport, side by side, bothdisplaying even confident strides, it didn’t matter what age,female heads turned. They were an incredible sight. What most womenwould categorize as tall, dark and handsome, the Castile brotherscarried themselves with poise and confidence. They wereimmaculately dressed in dark suits and had one small black carry-onbag each.
Nick Castile was over sixfeet, dark hair and dark brown cool eyes. His younger brother Mariowas a spitting image of the same Castile genes, but four inchesshorter at six feet, and about twenty five pounds less of muscle.He’d put on fifteen in the last two years thanks to his brother’srigorous training.
Another difference besidesage, was the smile Mario wore. Mario was excited at this newadventure his older brother brought him on. Nick rarely eversmiled. That was proven when Mario grinned at attractive women theypassed, and Nick never paid them any heed.
Fortunately, he wasn’ttainted by an abusive upbringing like his older brothers, Nick andFrank. Mario was raised by a loving mother and nurtured. He wasoutgoing, and always had a smile on his face. He always thought heannoyed Nick because he was so talkative, and Nick’s expressionalways remained unreadable, but his brother never indicated it oneway or another. Only when he offered to train him, had he realizedthat Nick cared about him. Soon after they found out they werehalf-brothers. Affection wasn’t easy for Nick, and what little heshowed him, said a lot. Now he’d take him on private jobs and itwas difficult for Mario to contain his excitement. He had a knackfor it, like Nick. Yet, he was certain he’d never attain hisbrother’s skills. Nick was a machine. He could anticipate thingsway ahead of time and was flawless in his execution. The first timehe’d seen him in action, left him in awe.
The only time Nick smiledsince they left home, wasn’t at the flirting stewardesses, or theticket sales lady, it was when he spotted Ryan Casey. They embracedin greeting and Ryan shook Mario’s hand, then slapped him on theshoulder to tell him he looked good with the muscle he’d put on. Hesaw the pride in his older brother’s eyes, not something peoplecould brag about, because he was so hard to read. He shook Ryan’shand enthusiastically. “I have a good trainer.”
“I’m sure,” Ryan agreedflicking his eyes to one of his oldest friends. “Are you sure aboutthis Nick?”
He shrugged. “I can’t gettoo soft.”
Soft? Ryan chuckled. “How’s your wife?”
“Jordan is an angel. I havea son now, too.”
“Wow, I’d never thought.She must be something to stay with you,” he joked.
“She is. I’m a sucker forredheads,” Nick answered with his same cool tone. He was teasing,but not many people would notice. Ryan did.
He chuckled. “Let’s get outof here. I have a lot to tell you.”
“How’s Frank?”
“Still the same, awomanizer, less criminal though. He’s gotten soft.”
Mario made a sound ofdisbelief causing Ryan to look at him. He knew what that meant.Nick’s version of soft would be no less than the devilhimself.
He glanced at his watch.“We have less than two hours, so I’d better brief you on the way tothe house.”
Once in Ryan’s Jeep, Nickspoke. “So what is this really about?”
“One of Peter’s henchmenkilled my brother.”
“I heard. I’m sorry Ryan. Idon’t know how I’d handle it if one of mine was taken fromme.”
Of course hedid.
“What’s her name,though?”
Ryan grinned and flickedhis friend a glance. “You never cease to amaze me.”
Nick made a sound that wasclose to a chuckle, a rare occurrence. “You wouldn’t have called mein unless you needed this as clean as possible. I know you don’tgive a damn about yourself in a situation like this, avenging yourbrother, but you need this done quick, with minor collateraldamage, so what’s her name?”
“Kayta Nickolov,” heconfessed. Nick never showed any surprise, yet he was certain hewas. It was just the way the man was. People accused him of beingemotionless, cold, but Nick had the monopoly on that. There werevery few people in the world that could read the man and he was oneof them. They trained together and formed a brotherhood at a youngage. They have matching tattoos on
