70: Apology Denied

The journey in the jet was completely devoid of words. It was morning. Nobody had had a wink of sleep the entire night. Sophie had finally stolen a handful of shuteye that she desperately needed to function. Mike and Rick couldn't make eye contact with each other during the entire flight. Aaron just kept staring at Sophie and cursing himself for ever entering her worriless and peaceful life. She was in terrible shape. Boris was still lost in his thoughts and looked ready to commit a murder. The air voyage was over and they had spent every second of the duration without speaking a word. The plane touched down and Mike’s phone rang as soon as it did. It was from Sophie’s mother. He received it.

“What’s going on out there? Is everything alright?”, Grace worriedly inquired. Mike knew that he was not equipped or skilled to explain it all to his wife. Then he looked at the people who were ready to pull each other’s guts out just a day ago, but were now peacefully sitting across each other in his jet, and he realized it actually was ‘alright’. The bruises on Boris’s face and Rick’s recently healed nose might have suggested otherwise but the present was better than what it was a day ago. Mike had promised to keep her informed on whatever was going on around Sophie but his lack of communication had worried Grace.

“Yeah. It’s alright I guess”, Mike responded as the jet taxied into the hangar. Rick saw him talk on the phone and checked the reception on his own. Boris seemed restless to get out of the car.

“How’s Soph? Get her on the phone”, the concerned mother spoke. Mike looked at the state of his daughter and decided that the sleep she was managing was more important for her.

“She’s fine too. She’s asleep. I’d let her be because she had too much to do last night”, he responded hoping that his wife would conclude the grilling.

“Oh poor soul! Her workplace must really be testing her”, she exclaimed in response. There was no way Mike could tell her that her workplace wasn't responsible for that.

“When are you gonna be back?”, she added.

“I have some things to take care of here in the city. I was thinking about leaving them for later but since I’m already here, I guess I should get it over with”, Mike responded and Grace seemed to understand. The call was concluded and the jet was stationary. Boris was the first to exit the plane and he did so hastily. The rest took their time and Mike let his daughter nap until their vehicle was there. Leaving Sophie inside, the jet was emptied in a matter of minutes. They had to squint their eyes as the sunlight of the early morning glared upon their faces. Rick and Sandra stood close to each other and Aaron kept himself at a safe distance from everyone. The unrest on Boris’s face and body language was obvious.

“Easy tiger!”, Mike tried to calm the werewolf down but he was not willing to spare an ear for Mike. “The Devil and his stooges can wait. Chill out while you still can! Our ride is gonna take a while”, Mike added. The remarks were not helping Boris but on the contrary, they were making him feel like he was getting wound up for nothing. But he understood that Mike was only saying all that because he genuinely cared.

“You don't understand bud. My anger will only make sense when you see what’s causing it”, Boris spoke his first words since exiting the elder vampire’s house. Mike decided to refrain from digging deeper. Their transport finally arrived. It had taken a quarter of an hour. As soon as the vehicle was in view, Mike turned to run up to the jet to wake his daughter up but found Aaron already on his way. He decided to let the boyfriend do the honors. Moments later, Aaron emerged from the jet with Sophie who still looked drowsy but in a better shape than before. Mike was in no mood for displays of humility. The vehicle he had called up was his most expensive limo. Rick wasn't impressed. They entered the vehicle. They drove for a while aimlessly and silently waiting for Boris to fill them in on what he knew. Boris simply spoke to the driver and gave him an address. The address was of a house on a posh street of the city. They were sure that it was going to be another elder or a lost nobleman. The limo took a sharp turn and increased its speed.

After a long and tiring drive they were finally there. The street was devoid of any playing children. The houses looked simple yet the simplicity looked expensive. Everything attached to the houses seemed more expensive than the fancy items. It was a neighborhood of people that were so rich that they had got bored of the luxuries so they were going back to the basics but the capitalist geniuses found ways to sell them simple looking stuff in prices that suited their bulging pockets. If Rick didn't have a crippling need to show off his wealth, he would have moved to that street. The limo slowly moved across the neighborhood as Boris tried to recognize the house he was looking for. The vehicle screeched to a halt and they had arrived. Boris jumped out of the vehicle and marched to the door. He didn't even bother to shut the door. Everyone else in the limo was confused by the odd behavior of the veteran werewolf. Aaron ran after him and so did the rest of the party. Boris rudely knocked on the door. He was practically punching a hole in the woodwork.

“Can you turn on command?”, Boris asked Aaron as soon as he saw him standing next to him. Aaron was confused by the odd inquiry but then again, everything about Boris was confusing that morning.

“Yeah, I guess. But whose house is this?”, Aaron couldn't help but ask. Boris tightly shut his eyes as if the answer to the question was a cause of pain for him. He stopped knocking and gathered himself.

“The motherfucker who got my best friend killed”, Boris barely whispered among the rageful growls. Aaron instantly realized who the best friend was. He stared at Boris trying to find the words to respond. The door abruptly opened and Chuck Bjorn stood at the entrance looking clueless. Boris kicked the door in and Chuck went flying into the center of his living room. Bjorn landed back first on a glass table that disintegrated on impact. Before he could get up, Boris ran up to him, grabbed his head and smashed it on the closest wall. Everyone stepped inside the house and locked the door to keep the noise inside. Mike and Sophie wanted to stop Boris but Aaron stepped up and filled them in on why the man needed to be treated that way. The Hudsons simply stood there and waited for Boris to finish it. Chuck didn't have the slightest clue why he was being bashed up like a punching bag.

“I have money…It’s behind that painting”, Chuck barely managed to speak with his profusely breathing mouth. He was missing a few teeth. The brat was struggling for his life and the more he struggled, the more forcefully Boris rained it down on him. He caught a glimpse of Sophie scowling at him behind Boris and immediately realized why his face was swollen. He gave up the struggle. It didn't matter much to Borris. The guy was relentlessly swinging one blow after the other. Within a few minutes, Chuck looked half dead. The only thing that stopped Boris from ending it then and there, were the questions he needed answered. He let out a roar in agony and rage to vent out the rest of his anger. He stood up and stepped away from Chuck’s motionless body. He turned to Aaron and everyone saw his blood drenched face.

“Get this fucker on a chair. I’ll deal with him”, Rick stepped up. Sandra didn't mind the violence as long as it helped with their vengeance.