A phone ringing suddenly surrounds the room, startling Rami who is sitting beside the bed. Just dozing off. Just staring straight into nothing. His mind was so full of different thoughts.
Upon checking who the caller is, he groans irritatingly.
"Hello?" Rami asked sharply.
"Hmmm. . . getting pissed, are we?" said the voice Rami didn't want to hear right now at this instant.
He knew this was coming. Even if it's delayed, he won't be spared from it.
Rami felt like crying without tears now.
"Eldest brother." Rami said with recognition. His voice, flat.
"The one and only dear little brother." Astera, his eldest brother, answered. Appearing entertained from Rami's voice.
Astera Maxwell Deveraux is the oldest among them. A natural devil, in Rami's perspective. Though he is very handsome Rami admits. On the other hand, the one who called him about the visiting sniper was his third eldest brother, Grayheme Scott Deveraux.
Rami heaved a deep sigh.
Astera heard it which made him chuckle a bit. This little brother of theirs is so funny sometimes without him knowing. His mood lightened a little bit.
Truthfully, Rami didn't want to talk to his eldest brother. Because he knew, they were already aware of his current situation—that he was injured two months ago—and that meant he would be punished. He dreaded it. Just thinking about their eldest's sadistic side made him shudder.
'Yayks.' Rami grimaced.
The punishment was one of the rules their father had given them. Their father issued the order through their eldest brother, who was responsible for all of them. The rule was simple, during official missions, simple tasks given by them or even if it was an unexpected situation: injured or not, accidental or not, they were forbidden to get hurt—not even a scratch. Any injury meant punishment, and that punishment depended entirely on their eldest brother's mood.
Unfortunately, that punishment was going to fall on him. God help him. That brother of theirs was a satanic incarnate—ruthless when it came to punishment. Being his younger brother didn't grant him any mercy.
"Elder brother. . . ." Rami pleaded cutesily towards Astera. Just like a cat whining. The last letter, he intentionally uttered it longer. Hoping that it will elevate his eldest brother's mood.
Astera smiles widely.
Hearing the coquettish sweet voice of Rami. Astera melted a little. But when it comes to his mind again why Rami was being punished now, he tried not to let it affect him. He hardened his heart.
Rami needs to remember. Of course, he won't let him go alone. Him and his other brothers will monitor him. To protect in silence. Without him knowing.
A moment of silence passed by, however Rami did not get any response.
Rami knows Astera is currently smirking right now.
Accepting that no matter what he did, it's not going to change the dreadful situation that he was about to face, he annoyingly said to Astera, "Tsk!! Just fire it away. Don't be a sus!!"
"So impatient." Astera teased Rami.
"Just say it, will you?" Rami snapped. He's getting impatient because of his nervousness.
"Yeah, yeah. So, as your punishment--" Astera replied hangingly.
"Fuck!! Just say it!" Rami yelled.
Astera laughed.
That laugh stunned Rami.
As usual, when their eldest brother laughs, it's mesmerizing. Even if Rami can't see him laugh. Even by hearing just the sound of it. It's enough. It's already very enchanting.
"Fine! Here you are. So your head won't hurt even more from thinking about it. You need to stop five syndicates—deal with them and kill them all. Then kill ten drug lords for just one shot. Hunt twenty-five wanted criminals who are currently roaming around. And lastly, you must not get a single scratch or injury of any kind. If you do, you'll do everything twice, and we'll never let you leave our territory again." Astera said all of this nonchalantly, as if those tasks were naturally easy.
'Well easy for him that is.' Rami grumbled on the back of his head.
"Wwwhhhhaaaaatttttttttttt? Are you kidding me?" Rami exclaimed unbelievably.
'Seriously. This is hell!!' Rami thought.
"Do I sound like I am joking?" Astera asked coldly.
Rami couldn't answer or say a thing anymore. Because when Astera talks that coldly, that means he must stop complaining already and just obey what his brother said.
"Yes. I'll do it." Rami obeyed silently. After a while, he whispered. Pleading even in a small voice, fearing that his eldest brother would reject him, "But can I do that after a month Eldest brother? Just one month. Promise."
Hearing Rami's whisper, Astera didn't agree nor make a sound.
Astera pondered why Rami would say that. After a while of brainstorming. He can't think of any reason. Besides, all he knows is that Rami just met Dark and his group just recently after his accident.
So would Rami be reluctant in leaving them? Astera didn't think so.
After a while of silence, Astera agreed--- "You can. Remember, just for a month. Before I forget, they are based in different countries. So, enjoy traveling. Grayheme will send you all of the information about your targets in your email. Just go to him when that time comes."
Astera hung up without waiting for Rami's response.
Tsk!! So annoying!!
Five syndicates, Ten drug lords, Twenty-five wanted criminals. And each one is in a different country.
'Shit!!! THIS IS HELL!' Rami complained.
With that thought, Rami made up his mind. He needed to cherish the remaining time he had with Dark and his new friends, because he knew that after a month, it would become difficult to find any excuse to be with them again—to be with Dark again—without running into problems, complications, and all the chaos that might come with it.