Chapter b251 /b

ASO

“I sent my car back to the factory for maintenance,” I said, abruptly changing the subject. “Need to buy a new one for getting around. You seem like you’d know about this stuffe with me.”

Ss’s intense eyes narrowed. “Finish what you were saying flist.”

“Cars first,” I insisted, already pulling bout /bmy phone to order an Uber. “We can btalk /bafter,“

He looked like he wanted to argue,

but finally

gave a curt nod. The Uber arrived within minutes, and we rode in silence to bthe /bluxury car dealership bacross /btown. I could feel Ss’s curiosity and impatience building with beach /bpassing block, but I kept my expression neutral, staring out the window..

The dealership was ba /bmassive ss structure showcasing dozens of high–end bvehicles /bunder perfect lighting. As we walked in, ba /bsalesman with an eagerly predatory smile approached us.

“bGood /bafternoon,” he said, eyeing my bcasual /boutfit with barely bconcealed /bskepticism before his gaze shifted to Ss in his worn jeans and faded t–shirt. “Are you… looking for something in particr today?”

“I bneed /ba four–seat car,” I said, ignoring his tone. “Most of my cars in Russia are two–seaters. Not always bpractical/bb” /b

“You have multiple cars? In Russia? Ss asked quietly.

I shrugged. “Shipping them here is a hassle. Easier to buy new ones.”

The salesman’s younger clients.”

demeanor

instantly

transformed. “We have several excellent options. Perhaps a Porsche Panamera? Very popr with our

b“/bToomon,” I dismissed with a wave of my

hand.

“A Bentley Continental GT, then? Elegant and powerful.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Too stuffy.”

“Ferrari Roma? It’s technically a 2+2,

hut-

“I don’t like it,” I cut him off.

1

wandered through the showroom, btrailing /bmy fingers over hoods and doors until I stopped beside a sleek ck Maybach. “This one.”

The salesman practically salivated. “Excellent choice. The $650 is our gship luxury sedan. Would byou /blike to test drive

“No bneed/b, I’ll take it.”

While the salesman scrambled to process the paperwork, Ss leaned against a nearby pir, arms crossed. “Do you always make major purchases this casually?”

“Only when I know what I want,” I replied,

Forty minutester, we sat in my new Maybach, the engine purring almost silently,

“Now bcan /byou tell me what you were going to say earlier? Ss asked, his patience visibly wearing thin

I adjusted the brearview /bmirror, taking my time. “You look like your brother. Same build, simr mannerisms,”

His entire body tensed. “Where is bhe/bb? /bYou k

You know where my

brother is?”

I bkept /bbmy /beyes on the road as I pulled out of the dealership. “He’s dead, Ss.”

The silence that followed was heavy and brittle. When I nced over, his face had drained of color.

“Are you bfucking /bwith me?” His voice was low, dangerous.

“No.”

“Where did you see him? When?”

“I didn’t bsee /bhim personally,” I exined. A friend showed me his picture once.”

“Where’s the picture? I want to see it.

“I don’t bhave /bit anymore. My friend is dead too.”

“This is bullshit. You don’t just tell someone their missing brother is dead without proof”

“I’m telling you what I know.”

“How did he die? Whenb?/b”

“I don’t know the details.”

區

“Did he know?” Ss’s voice cracked slightly. “Did he know he had ba /bbrother?”

“I’m bnot /bsure,” I admitted. “That’s why I can’t be absolutely certain he was your brother, I bdidn’t /bknow him well. My friend mentioned him a few times, but I never got to meet him.”

Ss bstared /bat me, eyes burning with suspicion. “So you’ve been weirdly nice to me, helping bme /bout, bbecause /bof him? Because of your friend?”

“Would I bother with your problems if it wasn’t for my friend? Not likely.”

“What if I’m not his brother? What if I just look like him?”

dead