I've been sick

[Dorian]

Rachel and Cruz ate breakfast. It was good. Pavlo was an excellent cook. They chatted about little things. Cruz wanted to pace while he waited but with Rachel here he didn't want to seem nervous. He was almost terrified. What if this was more dangerous than his father thought? What if this guy tried to kill him?

Cruz was having second thoughts about having Rachel here. But he couldn't exactly ask her to leave either.

The longer the morning ran the more nervous Cruz got. He hadn't seen or heard from his father since he left with Ivan. This was not good. What if the Atharim got him.

Pavlo came into the study with a bottle of sparkling water and two glasses. "Master Cruz, sit and enjoy the water. I'll bring lunch in momentarily."

There was a knock at the door and Cruz nearly jumped despite Pavlo's presence. "I'll get it. You get lunch ready Pavlo."

Cruz rushed to the door and opened it quickly, it slammed into the wall behind it and crushing his hand against the wall. "Fuck!" Cruz yelled and then immediately blushed. The man outside was tall and skinny and he looked nothing like he'd expected, he was the same age as him, maybe a year or two older. The one behind him was a little worse for wear, but he didn't look like what he expected either.

But the sight of them being this late only made Cruz seethe. "Where have you been? You said bright and early!"