Prince Ezra
"I'll be there, I'm at my brother's," I pursed my lips.
"I'll organize one of your suits," Tarek added before he ended the call.
The moment I looked back at Apollo, he looked beyond exhausted with me. "You remind me of Adonis. Always jet setting, never able to stay at home for longer than three days," he sighed. "What are you needed for this time?"
"An emergency with Tarek," I explained and guickly gulped down the hot liquid. "I promise we'll talk later. This is very important."
"Minister of Military and defense important?"
I nodded, "it can't wait."
He let out a sigh then nodded, "very well but Ezra you have to promise me one thing."
"Anything," I gave him a shaky smile, my legs itching to rush to the convoy of cars I knew were already waiting for me outside.
"Come back home this time. You'd disappoint the whole family if you stayed away," he stared into my eyes and I knew he meant it. This wasn't one of the many occasions I had brushed off a family gathering with an excuse of an emergency overseas. Not this time.
"I will Apollo," I stood up as he followed me. "I promise I'll come back home this time."
"Be safe," he brushed me into a hug, "that's all I'm asking."
"I will be. I'll see you later I have to get going," I returned his hug with reassurance and finally he let me go. My feet were quick to rush out the house and there with the rest of my fleet of security Tobais waited at the door of the black Range Rover Sport.
"Good morning my Prince," he bowed, then opened the back door for me.
"Good morning, let's get going. We're on a tight schedule," I slipped into the back seats and soon we were rushing out of the palace gates to Tarek's estate.
"Prince Ezra, Lady Thea asked about your whereabouts and requested that you call her as soon as possible. I explained to her that you were with Apollo for the evening."
"Excellent job Tobias," I sighed, already feeling the stress of dealing with her later. With a hiss I pulled out my phone and quickly sent her a text that simply read 'I'm fine. I'm going to my mothers. Don't worry' before I completely switched off my phone knowing she would detect the lie within seconds.
When we arrived at the Estate, Tarek ushered me to one of the guest bedrooms to shower, changing into a crisp suit before we climbed into the helicopter with his security with us and my own following in their own helicopter.
"Why would Ebrahiem come this soon?" I called into the mic. "Is he always this erratic?"
"He goes with the military ops. Nothing is ever perfectly on schedule with them. He found himself in Turkey because the mission they were on finished faster than expected and he was tasked with the next one for the next few weeks. This is the only opening he has for probably another two months. Unfortunately we can't wait that long."
"Do you think his information is valid?" I frowned, "we've had a lot of people pull our leg within these past few years."
"I'm confident this time," he nodded with determination.
I simply chose to trust him.
As usual our meeting ground was one of Tarek's many luxury hotels within Istanbul. Cladded in the finest mosaic tiles around the world and painted in a bright white with a gold roof, it was a beacon within the city. The spa was one of the reasons Ma had fallen in love with him the most.
Tarek led me to a private meeting room whilst our security waited outside. The hallways had about four military men standing guard who bowed in our presence.
A grand wooden door was pushed open and standing before a window that had a view of the city with the marina was who I believed was Ebrahiem. A tall, fit built man with dark shoulder length hair that was pushed away from his face. A streak of grey from his left temple making the hard contours of his face look sterner. A scar running along his left jaw that showed he had served his country at all costs.
His eyes were a rich amber brown matching his tanned brown skin. He couldn't have been any older than myself but just like how I saw myself we both had our demons.
When our eyes met, his eyebrows furrowed before he straightened his shoulders. "Prince Ezra of the Nomikos Family of Kommos and Prince Sheikh Tarek Muhammad bin Alzaam. The honor is mine."
"Thank you for seeing us on such short notice," I shook his hand after Tarek had said his greetings.
"Apologies for my own short sights. I was confident that I would be available next week. These things never go to plan." We all sat down around the board room table. "Your stepfather tells me you wish to find the men who killed the Royal Knight. My Prince, I have met braver men go down the same path and come out with scars."
"Scars I am willing to take on," I clenched my jaw. "This is something I have been hunting down for the past three years. Nothing can deter me."
He stared at me for a few seconds before leaning back in his seat. "My information does not come cheap."
"Name your price."
He let out a chuckle before he shrugged. "My country wishes to obtain one of your new drones and be the first to see the prototype live. As you probably know your country has set quite a high price on such drones."
"And what discount do you require?" I raised my eyebrows.
"Thirty percent off," he smirked. "With weapons."
My spine tightened but I refused for him to see that the request bothered me. "That is a decision I cannot make alone. I will have to consult with the king first.
"Ah your great King Adonis," he tsked and shook his head. "A leader who is not one with the country will know nothing of its current affairs."