Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Undercover Lovers ❯ Loyalty ( Chapter 71 )

 

Chapter 71: Loyalty

 

While Squall was getting ready to go and meet with Gene Caraway and his associates a knock came on the door of the suite. Seifer went into bodyguard mode and crossed the room to answer the door. Looking through the peek hole he saw that it was Tseng. Groaning silently he undid the locks, he didn't appreciate the way that the man had first treated Squall. But last night while they were having dinner going over the plans for the following day he had certainly made up for his earlier behavior.

 

Opening the door Seifer admitted the tall black haired man entry into the room, “Is he ready?” Tseng asked.

 

“I'll check.” Seifer replied and walked across the room to the door that led into the master bedroom. Damn it anyway, he was hard pressed to keep on the personification of heavy. Any other time he would have just waltzed through the door without a moment's hesitation.

 

Raising his hand he knocked and waited for permission before he entered, closing the door firmly behind him he said, “Boss, Tseng is here.”

 

“Thank you.” Squall replied as he stepped out of the bathroom where he had just finished shellacking his hair down again.

 

Seifer smiled at him and let his eyes do a slow leisurely crawl up Squall's body. Today he was dressed in black Italian loafers, slacks and a dress shirt. The only relief to the monochrome outfit was the royal blue silk jacket. He stopped at his lover's face even without the moustache with those lifeless brown eyes he still looked sinister. But he saw what was behind those cold eyes and his Squall was still beautiful, he whispered, “Damn baby you are F.I.N.E. hot!”

 

Squall wanted to preen in front of his lover but he didn't, it was time for Squall to go night-night and Michelangelo to make an appearance. Before he put that part of himself to bed he mouthed back, “You think so?” He smiled and stared at Seifer, he was dressed pretty much the same as he had been during the first meeting with Gene Caraway granted he still looked like a refugee from Miami Vice, but he could actually carry it off.

 

“No, I know so.” Seifer growled silently and stayed his step before he crossed the room and crushed his mouth against lovers. He couldn't get enough of the brunet, and it wasn't only sex it was so much more. He couldn't begin to describe how much more it was.

 

When the two men entered the living area of the suite they saw that Tseng hadn't moved away from his station by the door. He was dressed in what Squall was quickly coming identify as bodyguard chic' in black jeans and a tight black t-shirt that showed to advantage his hard muscled upper body.

 

“Mr. Valentinius your driver is waiting downstairs. Anytime that you are ready to go is fine.” Tseng said. He was once again stunned at the cold beauty of the brunet. With the moustache he had been gorgeous but without it he was the thing that wet dreams were made of. If only there was a little bit of life behind those cold brown eyes he could convince you to sell your soul to Satan and give the profits of that sale to him.

 

Squall nodded his head that he was ready and picked up the briefcase that held a printout of Hojo Odine's nefarious activities. He was planning on handing the file over to Gene Caraway to see the man's reaction on what kind of person he was associated with. If there were no tells of horror then he would know that Caraway had known all along, but if there was so much as a flinch from the older man then he had no knowledge of Odine's activities.

 

Squall had told Seifer the night before that he didn't care if it cost him his badge or not that Odine would die. Seifer hadn't argued with him on the fact and he knew that his lover agreed. He knew that the man would go to prison and be at receiving end of many ass beatings and be brutally raped time and time again. That was the fate of baby raper's once they got inside. That dark place that he held in check wanted it to happen to the sicko because of the torture that those nameless children had gone through. But he knew that no matter the abuse that would happen to Hojo it would never bring those little lives back.

 

When they arrived downstairs Squall had to bite back the sharp bark of laughter that threatened to escape his mouth. Cid had definitely come through he was standing by the back door of a limo dressed in classic chauffer attire.

 

Cid opened the backdoor and waited for the three men to take their places in the back of the car then taking his place behind the wheel he pressed the button to lower the privacy glass and asked, “Where to?”

 

Squall leaned forward and gave him the directions on how to get to Gene Caraways house then sat back and buckled his seat belt.

 

The drive to Caraway's was quiet, when they reached the gate Cid rolled down the window and said to the disembodied voice, “Mr. Valentinius to see Mr. Caraway.” And waited for the gate to swing open and allow him admittance. As he drove up the circular drive he kept one eye ahead of him while the other took in his surroundings. When he saw the gardeners he would have laughed if he had known that his thoughts had gone along the same lines that Squall and Seifer's had.

 

Pulling up in front of the house he stopped and got out of the car then went to the backdoor and opened it to allow the three men exit.

 

Squall was not surprised when Ulysses greeted at the front door and said, “Hey Mike it's good to see you again.”

 

Squall glared him into the ground and said icily, “Excuse me?”

 

Ulysses realized his mistake and audibly swallowed, “I mean Mr. Valentinius, uh…Gen…I mean Mr. Caraway is waiting for you in the den.” He didn't question the fact that the Mafia Prince had someone else with him this time, but turned and led the three men into the house. Arriving at the door to the den he opened it and stepped inside indicating that they should follow with a slight tilt of his head.

 

Gene looked across his desk and smiled then frowned slightly there was something different about Michel and it wasn't the extra flunky that trailed him into the room.

 

Squall smiled at the older man he knew that he had noticed the lack of moustache, chuckling darkly he said, “My grandmother made me shave it off, said that it ruined my baby face.”

 

Gene laughed a little himself but added, “Do you do everything your grandmother tells you to? I know I didn't.”

 

Squall replied, “That's because yours wasn't Italian.”

 

Gene laughed outright at the comment, “No she wasn't. Please sit, I'll have Marie bring in coffee if you'd like.”

 

“Thank you for your hospitality Gene.”

 

“Think nothing of it Michel. William called and he is running behind schedule I hope that won't interfere with our meeting?” Gene offered as explanation for the other mans absence.

 

“No, it doesn't. I brought something that I want you to look at.” Squall said and opened the briefcase removing the file that he had brought with him and slid it across the smooth polished surface of the oak desk to where it stopped in front of the older man.

 

Gene raised an inquisitive eyebrow, but picked up the file and started to read. The more he read the more agitated he became. What the fuck was going on here? Cold beads of sweat danced across his forehead and under his nose. Snapping the file shut he slammed it down on his desk a disgusted sneer crossed his lips and he said, “I had no knowledge of these activities Michel.”

 

Squall had watched Gene silently he had crossed his legs one ankle resting on the opposite knee giving him a casual look. Leaning further back in his chair he intertwined his long fingers forming a steeple out of the index ones which he pressed against his lips tapped them there a couple time and stared evenly across the desk at Gene Caraway, he was assessing the older man and was waiting for him to mention how it pertained to their association. He clearly gave the impression that he was the one that was in control even though he was sitting on the wrong side of the desk.

 

Gene was disturbed by the intimidating look that Michel was giving him, this look intimidated him more then the Angel of Death remark had. “I need to ask why are you bringing this to my attention? It is disgusting and has nothing to do with our business arrangement.”

 

Squall's voice was cold and even, “I will answer your question, but first I want you to answer one for me. How far are you willing to go to prove your loyalty to The Family?”

 

Gene replied, “I will do whatever it takes.”

 

Squall's voice was just as chilling as before, “I don't want to know how and I don't want to know when, to prove your loyalty to me and my family it will cost one thing.”

 

Gene asked, “And what might that be?”

 

Squall's response was dark, “His life.”

 

Gene Caraway didn't flinch, but behind him Reno looked like he was close to having a grand mall seizure. Had his intelligence on Squall Leonhart been fraudulent? Was he really Michelangelo Valentinius? Who in the fuck was he?

 

Squall saw the redhead having a conniption fit and instantly knew where his mind had wandered. He gave Reno an evil smirk and left it at that.

 

When Reno saw that smirk he visibly relaxed and was glad that no one else but Squall and Seifer had been witness to fit.

 

Seifer was as proud of Squall now as he had been last night when his lover had told him what he had in mind. Like Squall he didn't care if it cost him his badge or not he agreed with his boyfriend that Hojo Odine's existence needed to be eradicated off the face of the planet. Although he was ready to leap across the desk and bitch slap Reno for almost blowing cover.

 

“It will be taken care of Michel, you have my word on that.” Gene said.

 

Squall indicated his agreement with a slight nod of his head and replied; “One more thing before I answer your question Gene, I want you to take care of it personally. The reason that I brought this to your attention is because that piece of shit has had dealings with one of your associates.”

 

Gene knew without being told that it was William Gentry. He was impressed that Michel seemed to know more about his business partners then he did but it also worried him. He needed to get better informants if he wanted to keep his lily-white ass out of trouble.

 

A soft knock on the door interrupted Gene's musings and he answered, “Yes.”

 

Marie entered the room pushing a cart that as before held a coffee urn and various pastries. Pushing the cart over to the desk she turned and asked Squall, “Would you like coffee sir?”

 

“Yes black please.” Squall replied.

 

Pouring the requested cup she sat it on the desk in front of him without sloshing the contents on the smooth polished surface. Turning back to the cart she poured another cup and placed it front of her employer. She asked, “Would you like anything else?”

 

Gene smiled at the girl and replied, “No Marie that's all for now.”

 

Marie turned and left the room only to narrowly miss being plowed into by William Gentry, she offered a quick apology that wasn't even acknowledged by the brutish looking man.

 

William Gentry didn't even bother apologizing to Gene for his tardiness, instead he stared openly at Squall his first impression of the brunet was he looked away to effeminate to be part of a mob family.

 

Gene stood and said, “Ah William, thank you for coming on such short notice. Mr. Valentinius wanted to meet you so we could finish hammering out our negotiations please sit.” He waited until the other man had sat and introduced him to Squall.

 

“William Gentry this is Michelangelo Valentinius.” He continued with a slight tilt of his head, “Michel, William Gentry. Before we continue would you care for a cup of coffee?”

 

“Yeah sure.”

 

After he poured the cup of coffee Gene handed it to the stocky man sat back down and smiled across the desk at Squall. Since the introductions had been taken care of and refreshments served it was time to stop dilly-dallying and get down to business. He said, “So Michel during our last meeting you said that you could help bring product in without getting caught. How do you propose to do it?”

 

Squall was still leaning back in his chair giving the appearance of casual indifference. He had placed one of his hands on his ankle and was drumming his index finger up and down on it. The other hand which he had risen back up to his mouth and was following the rhythm with his other finger by tapping it repeatedly under his nose. He drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly then said, “It's quite simple if you think about it. We will have William ship the product into Cuba then from there it's just a short jaunt to the Keys.”

 

William asked rudely, “And how is that supposed to help?”

 

Squall raised an eyebrow and replied like he was speaking to a slow child, “No boarder checks.”

 

Gene was even more impressed with Michel then he had been before but he was confused, “What about the coffee?”

 

William was confused and it came out in his voice, “The coffee is fine but I don't see what that has to do with anything.”

 

Squall rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly from side to side, William Gentry was either a complete idiot or he was extremely intelligent and knew how to play the game. He wouldn't make any snap judgment on the man, that's how people wound up dead.

 

Seifer fought the urge to slap William in the back of the head just to see if his brain was engaged in drive instead of park. But he quickly came to the realization that Squall had. Except his was no one could possibly be this stupid and still walk upright and breathe naturally.

 

“Not what we are drinking but coffee beans. Like I explained to Gene during our initial meeting, it confuses the dogs and won't taint the product.” Squall explained to him.

 

William didn't know what to think, glancing out of the corner of his eye he saw that Gene was hanging on every word that fell out of Michelangelo's mouth. He said irritably, “I though you were supposed to be good.”

 

Eyebrows furrowing together Squall glared cold at him and said evenly, “I am.”

 

“Then why are you worried about getting caught?”

 

Squall replied harshly, “Because Mr. Gentry, no matter how good a person thinks they are, eventually they do get caught and I for one don't relish the idea of spending the next 20 years in Club Fed.”

 

Gene let out a soft snort of laughter at the response where Reno faked a coughing fit to cover the guffaws that threatened to spill from his mouth.

 

William stared across the desk at Gene Caraway, in his observation he had noticed that the older man was enthralled by everything that had come out of Valentinius' mouth and he was pissed. In all the years that he had been doing business with Caraway the man had never bent over this far for him. He glared at both men, and said, his voice filled with venom, “I don't know why you're kissing his ass so much, I heard he was gay.”

 

Gene slammed his coffee cup down on the smooth polished surface of his desk and sputtered, “What?”

 

William snarled, “You heard what I said, he's a fag.”

 

Before Gene could make another comment Squall said nonchalantly, “Really? I heard I was a cop.”

 

William's head snapped back around to find that he was on the receiving end of a malevolent stare he stuttered out, “You mean you're not gay?”

 

Squall glared at him and said, “You should really do your own homework instead of relying on the tabloids to do it for you. You obviously know nothing about me but I know everything about you William. Or should it be Billy the Kid? I do give you props on originality of that nickname.” The last was laced with enough sarcasm that you could have placed it on a coffee table.

 

Gene sees that this situation is quickly becoming volatile and intercedes, “William, Mr. Valentinius is offering us a great service. If you continue to question his integrity we will lose his favor. Trust me on this William I can find other distributors but it will be impossible for me to find someone who will be able to move the product like Michel and his family can. And about him being gay, if he were he'd have some serious explaining to do to his fiancée.”

 

William turned again and looked at Michelangelo and said, “You're engaged?”

 

Squall smiled slightly and replied, “Yes. Our families arranged it.”

 

William scratched his head in bewilderment and said, “Isn't that a little old fashioned?”

 

Squall replied evenly, “Yes, but tradition is tradition dear boy, we have old world customs that we adhere to. She is in Italy right now, but my forthcoming change in martial status is not why we are here. Gentlemen we have wasted enough time so let's get down to business.”

 

 

AN: Sorry it took so long to update. Would like to think everyone that has read so far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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