64. Curiosity

Vienna was waiting in the car for Tristan. He had been pulled off to take a call and he hadn't been back in a while. What had happened? She wasn't sure. After she was getting restless she got off the car and was surrounded by his body guards who were eying her cautiously.

The head body guard was a young man named Jericho. He seemed to a be a new recruit who had risen up quite fast in ranks. He was one of the only guards who dared to look at Vienna for longer than a second. His father had served the O'Neil's for years and so had his grandfather. His eyes were apologetic and polite when he spoke "ma'am. Please remain inside the vehicle."

Vienna said "Jericho. Where is Tristan?"

Jericho was quite taken back at being addressed by his first name. He was security agent O'Brian. Vienna was on first name terms with him which meant he could be as good as dead if his family were not historically tied with the O'Neil's. His great grand father was one of the first men who had sworn loyalty to Tristan's great grandfather. But no one was immune ultimately. He looked around nervously and then at Vienna "Ma'am. Please. Go inside. Please accept my sincere apologies to raise this. But I don't deserve to be addressed by my first name. I am an agent. Sworn to protect you and serve you..."

Vienna sighed and shrugged. If it made Jericho happy to dehumanise him, she had to comply. But she didn't like how they feared being called by name. But she could use her imagination on what Tristan's meetings with his men consisted of. It was always about discipline. It was about handing out discipline and expecting nothing but order by Tristan's law. She decided to get back inside the car but not because she wished to. It was because of the look of horror in Jericho's eyes as she had remained unmoving from her position. She had no idea what Jericho was worried about. He was Tristan's brightest agent and most skilful or so he said. He spoke multiple languages. He was able to run miles and miles without stopping. He could go nights without sleep. Not to mention his gun control and his mixed martial arts moves and how they were making him perfect or even over qualified. Tristan had picked the best for guarding his queen. But Jericho had no experience of handling Vienna's verbal demands. He could only be prepared for arranging her safety. He was just out of college and hardly twenty one years old. He knew his law and order but not his queen's expectations. That was by trial and error. He was in for a ride.

She watched him order around men as he went back to watching the surroundings. He seemed abit more relaxed once she was inside the car.

After a while, she saw Trent coming towards the car. He opened the door "I am very sorry for the delay. Duty calls. Tristan has to be parting ways. I can accompany you home... He will join you later..."

Vienna said "Can't I go with Tristan too?"

Trent said "It could be a long wait. He is already gone and is on his way to where he is meant to be... But ... He knew you might say this since you vowed to be spending the whole day with him as everything is unexpected with his work schedule. So he said, you can go to his rendezvous and wait for him to finish. I can accompany you. He will ride with you home..."

Vienna said "Alright. Let's go then."

Trent broke the news to the guards. Jericho didn't like it one bit. He tried to argue but word of Trent was law. She felt sorry for Jericho. His duty was to protect Vienna but he also took orders from Trent like any other O'Neil. Jericho didn't take orders from anyone but the O'Neil's and of course Vienna since she was Tristan's girl.

Trent got into the car and said "Jericho is driving me insane."

Vienna said "How?"

Trent said "He is taking too much precaution. Don't get me wrong. It's good he does do checks but he can be too careful. He asked from all the men I had brought for identification before he let them stand within 20 feet of your car. They are men I led here. It's my responsibility."

Vienna said "I don't blame him. He is doing his job..."

Trent said "Of course. He knows the price is quite high if he even makes a mistake that's my responsibility."

Vienna said "It's getting harder to trust people. Isn't it?"

Trent said "It is. I do understand that perfectly."

Vienna said "Can you tell me about what duties Tristan had to leave me for?"

Trent looked away "I am not at a liberty to say any specifics. It was urgent."

Vienna sighed "Alright. I will ask him."

Trent said "Great idea."

Vienna said "You don't think he will tell me everything. It must be a big security matter or he wouldn't have left me abruptly."

Trent said "Don't worry Vienna. It's fine. He has got it under control..."

Vienna nodded and then went silent for the rest of the ride. As the car stopped, Vienna asked "Is this the place?"

Trent nodded "Yes. You can wait here. I go check the surroundings to make sure it's all clear. I might give Tristan a nudge when I am done which maybe in about an hour."

Vienna asked "Really? That long?"

Trent said "I am afraid so." He then nodded respectfully "Tell Jericho if you need anything."

Vienna watched him leave as she sighed. She turned on the radio. The news was quite inadequate. It wasn't real news. She heard the real news from more reliable sources... There was a lot of crime and only a glimpse was reported. The version of what had happened with her aunt Anna and Jackson in that building was laughable. Some gas explosions of some kind and missing persons from the fire. What a load of nonsense? Then there was the law side... There were some raids on small mobs. FBI was operating smoothly but they hadn't started with taking on average sized families, let alone big ones like hers.

Vienna looked at her watch. It was almost an hour. She thought she could go inside the building. This was a private property. An O'Kane operating area... it was guarded with barbed wires everywhere. Tristan called it, the summer house of the okanes. It had a bar and swimming pool surrounded with trees and gardens. It looked like paradise from the outside as the name of the property suggested. Paradise court was where Tristan handled bloody business in Vincenzo's words. His brother had warned her to never open any closets or cupboards at this property as it was full of skeletons. She wasn't sure if it was a metaphor or a literal warning.

She was curious why Tristan was held up and she was bored. So she got off the car only for Jericho to appear again "Maam. Please step back inside."

Vienna said "I am going for a walk. You can join me to watch where I go. Follow me...". She then walked away.

Jericho silently followed Vienna. He didn't protest further knowing he wasn't allowed to block her. He could only be her shield if she needed him.

Vienna knew he wasn't going to protest. She had given him an order when she had told him to follow her. He wasn't allowed to disobey but he could advise her against it. So minutes later he spoke slowly "Ma'am. We need to be back at the vehicle."

Vienna said " I need to find Tristan." She was inside the building looking from room to room.

Jericho stated "Ma'am. No one will be found on this floor."

Vienna stopped walking. " Where is Tristan? Do you know where is?"

Jericho said "I do ma'am."

Vienna said "Why didn't you say before?"

Jericho said honestly "Because ma'am, you did not ask me to lead you. You asked me to follow you and I obeyed."

Vienna sighed "Take me to Tristan."

Jericho said "Yes ma'am. Please follow me to the basement..."

Vienna said "Basement? Lead the way..."

Jericho said "Ma'am. I am not allowed to make decisions that endangers you..."

Vienna said as she walked away "This place is not dangerous. I will find the way myself then."

Jericho said " I will lead the way ma'am. This way ... This is no place for a lady ma'am... There are horrors..."

Vienna followed Jericho "Like What?"

Jericho said " There are live poisonous snakes bigger than I have ever seen held in the basement..."

Vienna chuckled as she reached the stairs, "I am not scared of snakes."

Jericho said "They eat humans ma'am."

Vienna sighed "What else am I meant to be wary of? Killer dogs?Vincenzo has hundreds...."

Jericho said "Ma'am. Please let's turn around."

Vienna walked down the stairs and as the basement door came into view he said "You don't have to come with me if you are scared."

Jericho wasn't scared. He was mortified. His boss was brutal. His queen was becoming adventurous in the wrong place. He hoped she didn't blame him if she regretted her decision to explore the place as though it was a historical site.

Vienna pushed the door open and noticed how the decoration was old fashioned. Was this the 16th century? "What is this place?

Jericho stated "A dungeon ma'am."

Vienna noticed the torches. "This is like time travel."

Jericho hoped his queen kept her sense of upbeat ness coming. His boss wouldn't have condemned him if she was content.

Vienna saw another door. She opened it. It lead to a corridor. She walked along it. She stopped walking as she came face to face with a scene she didn't expect. The corridor lead to an even one floor lower. There was a large space underneath. There was someone tied to a chair that was locked into the hard metal floor and had a sack on their head. Tristan seemed to be interrogating them as he was beating them as his men where watching.

Tristan stopped and turned as he became alerted to her presence by the sound of her footsteps. He immediately knew it was her.

Just as Tristan turned, Jericho stiffened hoping he wasn't taking his last breath. He stood pale and stone faced as his boss stared at his queen.