Stars are reflected in your eyes. Volume 4. "Book of Flame" Chapter 2

 Kai reached Kamrat quickly. Five hours' drive - and he was already in place.

Before the trip, he dropped by home to make himself tidy and change into civilian clothes. He decided to remove the bandages from his hands, he didn't want to attract too much attention, and the wounds were practically healed.

When he arrived at the hotel, he saw the Sheikh's limousine, his guards, and people next to him. Arshad also saw his car, waved the hand at him. Kai gave the car to the parking attendant and went to Arshad, who grabbed him into the arms and then turned him around to face those who were behind him.

"Kai, I want to fly to Las Vegas now, have some fun. My plane is already waiting for us. I am so glad that you've agreed to be with me, besides Toyami did not refuse to join our company."

And here Kai saw Toyami in front of him. He looked at Arshad's smiling face, then at Toyami's impenetrable face.

"Well, why have you froze? You know each other!" Arshad was having fun, looking at Kai. "Two of my friends will fly with me. We'll have a lot of fun! Come on, let's go, the plane is waiting."

Arshad, without giving Kai his senses, led him to the open door of the limousine. Toyami sat down there, along with Maksud and Gifar.

Everything happened so quickly and unexpectedly that Kai did not even have time to do anything. He leaned wearily back in his seat. Realizing that he now no longer had the strength to argue, and even more so to come up with a convincing reason for refusing to fly with Toyami to Las Vegas.

"Las Vegas? Yes, Arshad has said we are flying there," the guy thought and closed his eyes. Too much had happened lately.

"Kai," he opened his eyes and saw Arshad's anxious look, "when did you sleep for the last time? Did you eat?"

"I look so bad?" he asked wearily.

"You need to rest," Arshad looked at Kai's tired face.

"I'll sleep on the plane; won't you be offended?"

"Not. Excuse me. I keep thinking about entertainment, but you must have had a hard time all this time."

"It was as always. Thanks for the invitation. Now I really want to change the situation."

"What's wrong with your hands?" Arshad saw his palms and took them in his, examining them.

Kai didn't resist it.

"I dug trenches for disciplinary purposes."

"And how? Have you been re-educated?"

"Not."

"What does it mean to dig trenches?" Toyami spoke for the first time.

"You don't know yet? It is customary for the Russians to send them digging trenches for a fault. As long as I know Kai, he regularly digs them."

"Do you break discipline so often?" Toyami looked at Kai.

"Always."

Toyami wanted to continue asking why then Kai was in the army if he did not accept the discipline of army life, but seeing his tired face, he decided that now was not the best time for a conversation.

Kai began to look out the window, and a few minutes later his head fell on the shoulder of Arshad, with whom he was sitting next. He fell asleep, all his moral and physical strength was exhausted on this.

Arshad looked up and met the gaze of Toyami, who was sitting opposite him in the limousine. Arshad saw envy in Toyami's eyes. Yes, he was not mistaken in his feelings for Kai. But now he didn't want to exacerbate this topic.

"He’s always like that," Arshad explained, nodding at Kai, "when I invite him anywhere, he just sleeps off for the first few days."

"Well, I see he is very tired."

It was only now that Toyami began to understand what Kai was like. After all, for him, serving in the army was akin to another entertainment. He could afford everything: a luxurious tent, and regular trips with Kodji to the city to have fun. His service was not stressful and even boring, which was why he and Kodji so often looked for opportunities to diversify their leisure time. Kai was clearly different. His service was real, and now he saw it from the way Kai was laid out in the car.

Then, passing by his seat in the aircraft cabin, he also saw him sleeping.

Throughout the flight, Kai slept, occasionally waking up and falling asleep again, wrapped in a blanket. His tired face and dark circles under his eyes spoke volumes. Kai was exhausted and was now sleeping off, regaining his strength.

He vaguely remembered the arrival in Las Vegas. Maksud took care of him all the way. He covered him with a blanket, then brought drinks, but now Kai could not eat because of fatigue.

When they landed, Maksud carefully woke him up and brought him to the waiting limousine, still sleepy, and then escorted him to his hotel room, where he helped him to come to his senses, since everyone was waiting for him at the table for dinner. With the help of his servants, Maksud prepared a bath for Kai, after which he noticeably cheered up, then helped him get dressed.

Kai glanced at himself in the mirror, noting that he was wearing a nice dark suit that Maksud had picked up for him.

Accompanied by Maksud, he came to the table, where Arshad and Toyami were already waiting for him.

"Well, the sleeping beauty has come!" Arshad exclaimed cheerfully, smiling at him. "How are you, my friend?"

"Sorry that I slept all the time and did not share your company."

"I’m glad you rested, we didn’t miss you, although it would be better with you. Isn’t it true, Toyami?"

"Are you always so exhausted?" Toyami saw that now Kai came to his senses a little, and that made him happy.

"This is my job."

"Stop talking, eat," Arshad watched Kai distantly look at the plates of food. "By the way, Toyami, you already know that Kai needs to be fed, otherwise he forgets about it."

"Yes, I am aware of this peculiarity."

"Well, then I’m calm, now there is someone to take care of him in my absence," Arshad said it without any hint.

Kai from such words did not bring a piece of food to his mouth, he looked at Arshad.

"Why have you decided that we are seeing each other at all?"

Arshad laughed.

"Eat, do not be distracted, I've warned Toyami for the future."

Kai realized that he didn't understand anything.

"Why does Arshad think that I am meeting with Toyami? All our meetings before were pure accident and concurrence. And this last captivity in his tent is complete nonsense! I have no thoughts to meet with him."

Fortunately, further conversation at the table turned to neutral topics. Kai was again surprised at the suddenly arisen friendship between Arshad and Toyami - how many common interests there were between them. He sat and rejoiced, watching how they chatted animatedly.

From the food that got into the stomach, he again began to feel sleepy. Sleeping on a car seat and an airplane seat does not provide an opportunity to fully recover.

"Kai," came the voice of Arshad, "wake up. Go to sleep, my friend, or you'll fall asleep on your plate."

"I didn’t fall asleep, I was just distracted," Kai said sleepily, feeling that it was hard for him to sit at the table, he wanted to lie down.

"Go to sleep. Maksud, see our friend out. We'll talk more tomorrow."

"Thank you, I think I'll go."

Seeing Kai's guilty look as he left their company, Arshad added:

"Don’t worry, we’ll find something to do tonight, right, Toyami?"- Arshad again looked at Kai. "Or did you also want to visit one institution with us to have some fun?"

Seeing now the horror on Kai's face, Arshad laughed.

"Go, I know you don't like our entertainment. It's good that I have someone with whom I can share them," Arshad sly winked Toyami.

Kai did not delve into their entertainment, knowing that this would be another elite establishment with sophisticated tastes for visitors.

"Why are my friends so perverts?" he thought, walking with Maksud, guards, and servants to his room.

***

Waking up at noon, Kai learned from Maksud, who again took care of him, that everyone was waiting for him for breakfast in Arshad's room.

Arshad's room was so huge that without Maksud's help he would have wandered through the large rooms with luxurious interior for a long time. Finally, Maksud took him out to a large balcony with an amazing view of the entire city on the twenty-fifth floor. The day was sunny and warm. Everyone was already sitting at the table and having breakfast.

Arshad waved a greeting to Kai, not looking up from his conversation with Toyami. Judging by the excerpts from the conversation, Kai heard that yesterday they hotted up in no childish way. They heatedly discussed the specifics of their night's rest, until Arshad noticed the embarrassment on Kai's face.

"That's all! Do not worry, we will not discuss this anymore," Arshad looked meaningfully at Toyami, "otherwise we are embarrassing our young friend."

Toyami also saw that Kai was hiding his eyes while listening to their conversations, which amused him.

"Did you sleep well?" Arshad continued to look at Kai.

"Yes. I'm much better now. The bed is good; in recent months I don't even remember when I slept on the bed."

"How are your hands?"

"Maksud processes, everything has already healed."

Arshad fixed his gaze on Kai, who was now wearing ordinary jeans and a shirt, but even such clothes fit him perfectly. Then he said, already addressing everyone:

"I have a surprise for you, my friends. Now we'll have breakfast and visit my friend at the ranch. It is not far from here. He is waiting for us, he promised to show us a real cowboy show and a lot more. We will not be bored at his place!"

"Does he have horses?" Kai perked up.

"Yes, but this time no riding," seeing the disappointment on Kai's face, Arshad explained. "I don't want to worry about you, I just want to relax in your company."

"Do you ride?" Toyami again realized that he still does not know much about Kai.

"Yes, he does," answered Arshad for him. "He doesn't just ride, and he always chooses the wildest ones and breaks into a gallop. Sometimes I get scared for him."

"Yes, I really love horses," Kai explained, "I don’t gallop, I just love energetic and fast ones," then he looked at Arshad. "But what about you? You also love to race."

"This is in the desert, there is sand, and here I am against your rides. Okay? Let's just look at the cowboys. By the way, Toyami, I will be glad if you come to my desert in my palace, we will all take a horse ride together. You ride a horse, don't you?"

"Yes, all samurai ride, but I don't like it," Toyami, looking at Kai, continued. "But I'll be glad to go with you."

"That's great, soon I will have a birthday, and I will send you an invitation. We will celebrate in my palace. Will you come?"

"Thank you for the invitation," Toyami bowed politely to Arshad, and they exchanged strange, meaningful smiles.

Kai understood that now he would definitely see Toyami often.

Toyami gladly accepted Arshad's invitation. He liked Arshad as a person, an interlocutor, a friend. And also Toyami liked this feeling of the game, which was played by Arshad and in which he was now involved.

At first, Toyami was very surprised to hear Arshad's voice on the receiver, who personally called him and invited him to fly to Las Vegas with Kai. Toyami, of course, understood that this was part of Arshad's game, but it did not bother him. Let Arshad play his game, he decided to play his own and see who would outplay whom. He, like a child, would not avoid Arshad, knowing his insidious plans concerning Kai. This was stupid. What for? On the contrary, with this call, Arshad invited him to join his difficult game, and Toyami agreed, while not holding a stone in his bosom against Arshad. So what if they had common claims, did this interfere with having a good time together, having fun, and enjoying each other's company? On the contrary, this made the game even more exciting.

And now, on the very first evening in Vegas, they had great fun with Arshad in one closed club, realizing that they had similar interests and inclinations. Toyami behaved correctly with Arshad, like an adult sensible person, and Arshad appreciated this, guessing that Toyami suspected something in his relationship with Kai. Now they had an interesting triangle in which they were all friends, but at the same time, each was playing his own game. Rather, Toyami and Arshad were playing their game, but Kai was just resting. But was it really bad? Especially since nobody did any intrigues and dirty tricks in this game. Their play was noble and complex, like a combination of chess moves. Well, Arshad made a move by inviting them to Las Vegas, Toyami made a response, accepted the invitation. Toyami knew that they had a long game ahead of them. But then he did not even imagine that for a lifetime ...

***

After breakfast, they got into the limousine and drove towards the ranch.

Although the view of the area from the car window was rather monotonous, it fascinated Kai. He looked with interest at the cacti of bizarre peculiar shapes standing alone by the road, small stony embankments, and thin, stunted bushes. Then they drove into a fairly green area, where there were trees and grass, everything looked very different.

Arshad and Toyami occasionally talked about all sorts of trifles, at first they tried to involve Kai in the conversation, but seeing his keen look out the window, they left him with his thoughts.

The ranch was located in the center of a green oasis. It was a ranch - huge buildings in the style of cowboy times: barns, cattle sheds, warehouses, and then the house itself - a large one, with a huge number of balconies and open terraces. There were animals everywhere, though in paddocks. Sheep, goats, cows, and, of course, horses grazed here. Those same cowboys on horseback rode around the ranch. They were dressed as cowboys and that was their everyday clothes.

At the stairs to the house, everyone was met by the owner himself, a short, pot-bellied man of about forty with a Hollywood smile on his tanned face. With him stood several more men of about the same age and the same large sizes. Smith had known Arshad for a long time, they had common affairs in the oil business, so they hugged like old friends, then Arshad introduced his guests. Smith, in turn, introduced his own.

As he greeted Kai, Smith held his hand in his, unceremoniously examining him from head to toe. Kai calmly endured his gaze.

Arshad, apparently, warned in advance who would come with him, and therefore Smith was aware of who Kai was.

"You are Russian? It cannot be. That's not how I've imagined you. Are all Russians like that in Russia?" Smith mumbled, looking at him.

"They are different," Kai answered evasively, already tired of such attention to himself.

"I will be proud that I know the Russian, such a Russian!" then Smith looked at everyone. "Well, let's go, I'll show you my property."

Smith finally let go of Kai's hand and walking forward began to show first his house, and then, leading everyone to the balcony of the second floor, his possessions, which were visible from above.

Then everyone was invited to the table, which was set in the garden under the summer canopy. The food was in American style; it was a lot of everything.

At the table, Arshad discussed with Smith his business affairs, general issues, then moved on to discussing the health of the Smith family. It turned out to be very huge, it took quite a lot of time to list all the nephews, cousins ​​, and grandparents.

All this time, Kai was not particularly bored, examining the surrounding environment of the life of the cowboy ranch.

Finally, Smith said that he was inviting everyone to go to the cowboy show prepared for them. Several open cars arrived, in which they had driven to the stands with a fenced arena. When everyone was seated, the show began.

The show, indeed, was in the style of the wild west: cowboys rode horses and, with the help of a lasso, caught wild gobies released into the arena. Then the cowboys began to ride out one by one on wild, unbroken horses. It looked very impressive. The horses were wild and kicked violently, trying to throw off their riders. All the guests perked up, placing bets on who could hold out how long. In these disputes, Kai always won, since from the first seconds he saw the cowboy's skill and the horse's temperament and could say for sure who and how long would last in the saddle.

At the end of the show, the fun began. Cowboys rode wild bulls. The bulls were huge, with formidable horns and bloodshot eyes. It was already really dangerous. Several times, the thrown off cowboys miraculously did not fall on the horns or under the hooves of angry animals.

All this captured Kai, he enthusiastically watched the action in the arena, placed bets, argued, and applauded the brave guys. Arshad and Toyami were not very impressed, they were happy rather for Kai, who was so childishly happy with the performance.

The show was over. Smith said that he would not let his guests go and asked them to stay overnight, otherwise he would be offended. Arshad decided that they were in no hurry and did not object, Kai and Toyami agreed with his decision.

In the house, the guests were allocated bedrooms, where, after a dusty show program, everyone could freshen up in their private baths and change into other clothes, it had prudently been taken by Maksud. For dinner, everyone came out cheerful and fresh.

Supper was served in the house, in the great hall. There was again an abundance of food and liquor. At the end of the dinner, Smith mysteriously said that he was asking everyone to move to another hall, where the guests would have a continuation of the cowboy show.

The other room was small, with sofas and small tables. In the corner, there was a small stage with a pole. The lights were dim and the music played. All sat down on sofas, drinks and snacks were brought to them. Smith nodded, giving the command to begin.

As Kai predicted, the presence of the pole on stage did not bode well. His assumptions came true. Cowboys began to appear on the stage, but already a little different - clean, sleek, with smooth movements and staged gestures. They began to act out small scenes from cowboy life, gradually undressing and exposing their strong, muscular bodies.

Kai did not understand what was the interest in looking at half-naked guys, he had seen enough of them in the army. It would be better if the girls were invited, but, apparently, the girls here were not interested in anyone. At the fourth dance, the cowboys began to descend from the stage and approach the guests.

Smith's friends, like himself, began to actively touch the guys who wriggled around them.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kai saw the burning gaze of Toyami, which he held on one of the cowboys. This look was caught by Smith, who whispered something to the cowboy, who unceremoniously sat down next to Toyami. They sat so sweetly, continuing to watch the show and whispering.

The cowboys did not approach Kai, meeting his cold gaze, they only sent him smiles from afar.

Finally, Arshad took pity on Kai's torment, which he watched. He called Maksud to him, who then, going up to Kai, said that he would take him to his room. This meant that Arshad permitted to leave their party. Kai nodded gratefully to Arshad and followed Maksud. Smith, turning to Arshad, asked him something, Kai understood - about him, Arshad shook his head.

Kai was glad to be released from this party. Today was a lot of impressions, he liked that real cowboy show. Remembering the spectacular races on wild stallions and the dangerous duels between cowboys and bulls, he quickly fell asleep.

***

The next morning everyone came out late for breakfast. The evening "show" dragged on and turned into a night one, Kai guessed from the faces of those present at the table.

Toyami went to the table with yesterday's cowboy. However, the "cowboy" was now dressed more decently, he was wearing ordinary jeans and a plaid shirt. He threw languid glances at Toyami, Toyami smiled back at him.

Smith at breakfast began to ask Kai if he was bored here and what he would like to see more. Kai graciously answered questions from the hospitable host. Smith did not lag behind with questions, and then Kai said that he would like to ride a horse.

Smith jumped up in his chair and immediately called the manager to him, giving him orders to organize a horse ride.

Kai felt Arshad's displeased look on him.

"It's safe," Smith said after hearing Arshad’s concerns. "Kai will have the calmest horse and experienced escorts."

"I don't need a calm horse!" Kai exclaimed.

"Then I forbid you to go," Arshad's voice sounded like a sentence.

Kai frowned but did not want to quarrel with Arshad.

"Well, let it be a calm horse. Then do you mind if I go?"

"I’m against it, but you’re not listening to me."

"Arshad, let him go, there are beautiful places, let him look, chirk up," Smith tried to settle the dispute.

"Okay, but just let it be the calmest horse!" Arshad answered with displeasure.

"Gentlemen, who else would like to join the horse ride?" Smith asked, addressing everyone.

Everyone shook their heads. Toyami generally got carried away with the conversation with the cowboy and did not participate in this discussion.

The manager came and said that everything was ready. Kai went with him, feeling Arshad's anger by his back. He, of course, did not want to upset him, but he could not deny himself the pleasure of riding, and then in America, on real cowboy horses, he could not.

The cowboys who were waiting for him were real, the very ones who worked on the farm. They looked at him indifferently and waited for him to sit in the saddle. From the look of his horse, Kai realized that it was the slowest nag of all. This upset him greatly, he looked with envy at the young stallion prancing under the cowboy. He wouldn’t refuse to take a ride on this one.

Before the trip, Kai changed into regular blue jeans, a T-shirt, and a shirt top. The manager found a matching cowboy boot for Kai and gave him a cowboy hat. He put it on, knowing it would be hot in the sun.

At first, they drove in silence, then we got into conversation. Kai commented on the action of the horses under the guys, they were surprised that he understands this, and immediately a lively conversation with a common hobby - horses - was formed.

They drove to a small farm with a paddock, where they broke the horses. There, the farmworkers were busy with this right now. Kai's eyes lit up.

He asked if he could sit on a wild horse. The guys accompanying him did not receive any instructions on this matter. They had one goal - to make Kai's vacation as interesting as possible. They decided that this request did not contradict Mr. Smith's instructions.

Kai was led to a paddock, where a wild mustang wheezing with rage was sandwiched between two shields. He climbed onto the shield along the crossbeams and sat down in the saddle from above, the gate opened. The Mustang lunged forward, kicking. Kai held on. To the surprise of everyone, he behaved better than the cowboys. But then, with another kick, he flew out of the saddle. Getting up quickly, he stood up, watching the guys catch the horse around the corral.

The cowboys began to shake his hand, pat him on the shoulder and look at him differently, not as a pampered guest of Mr. Smith but as one of them.

He asked for another permission to sit on the mustang. Nobody objected. So they had fun.

Having galloped on five wild horses and with pleasure rolled in the dust during the fallings, they drove on to admire the beauties of nature.

It was very beautiful here. Leaving the wooded area, they climbed the path to a low canyon, from the flat plateau of which a beautiful view of the valley opened up.

Returning home, Kai asked to exchange horses with him and allow him to gallop, since there was a flat valley ahead. The cowboys didn't mind. One of them gave his horse to him. Then those who were supposed to participate in the race separated from the rest and drove off.

That was a delight, a flight of a bird. They galloped at full gallop across the plain, raising columns of dust. The horses were almost equal in strength and therefore went head to head. The valley ended, they jumped out onto the road and in front of them saw stopped cars and people.

Having approached closer, Kai saw that it was their company that had gone for a walk in cars. And everyone watched them gallop across the plain.

Already from afar, Kai saw Arshad, and now he felt like a schoolboy going to the principal's office.

"And what does all this mean?" Smith asked angrily as the cowboys drove up. Apparently, Arshad had already told him everything. "I told him to give him the calmest horse."

"You shouldn't worry, Mr. Smith," said the chief of the cowboys, whose name was Sam, spitting on the ground. "The guy drives normally. Here in the rodeo on five horses, he lasted the longest."

"What rodeo?" Arshad asked menacingly.

"And we stopped by at the farm to the Nicholas," Sam began to tell innocently. "It was there that they had been breaking the mustangs. So he rode on them."

"I forbade it!" cried Smith in panic.

"No, you did not forbid anything. You said that the guest should not be bored, so he did not get bored. Really, Kai?"

Kai listened to all this with horror, even being afraid to look at Arshad.

"Arshad, don't swear. The guys have nothing to do with it. I didn't listen to you."

"And why didn't you listen to me?" Arshad was very angry.

"Sorry…"

Arshad's eyes flashed fire, now he was not joking, he was pissed off by Kai's behavior.

"Arshad, look, Kai is happy, he liked it,"  all this time Toyami only watched what was happening, but now he decided to stand up for Kai, seeing that the situation was heating up.

"Okay. Let's end this conversation. I'll talk to you later," said Arshad, looking at Kai. His voice did not bode well.

Smith took the initiative and, as a caring host, continued to entertain his guests.

The cowboys and Kai drove along the path towards the house, the cars with the guests also turned towards the house since it was clear from Arshad's mood that he no longer wanted to admire the beauty of nature.

Naturally, the cars returned home first, then the cowboys arrived.

Kai thought about Arshad and his very harsh reaction to everything. Although, why be surprised - Arshad got used to completing the submission, but here such a situation arose and even in front of everyone. But how could Kai resist horses?

Going to his room to change, Kai met Maksud, who, beckoning him with his hand, led the guy after himself. Approaching the door with him, Maksud opened it, let Kai in, and remained standing at the door on the other side.

Walking forward, Kai froze, seeing Arshad, who was looking at him.

"Come in," anger was felt in Arshad's voice.

Kai began to approach, not knowing what to expect from the angry Sheikh.

"You disobeyed me in front of everyone! I am not asking to carry out my orders - it was a request to you," Arshad also began to approach Kai. "I hate it when my friend behaves this way. There is no need to question my authority in front of everyone. Do you understand that?"

"Arshad, I didn’t want to offend you, I didn’t think that you would take everything like that, I…" Kai's voice trailed off, he felt Arshad's hands on his waist and froze.

Arshad began to walk slowly around him, touching his clothes with the hands. Already from behind, Arshad ran his hand along his back, then just as slowly moved his hands to his shoulders. Embracing him and putting his arms forward, he began to unbutton the buttons of Kai's shirt. Kai felt his hot breath on his cheek.

"Arshad, what are you doing?" Kai's voice was lost with excitement.

"What I want. After all, you also do what you want."

The unbuttoned shirt flew off Kai's shoulders. Arshad began to take out his T-shirt, tucked into jeans.

"I'm dusty," Kai said in a trembling voice, feeling his hands already under his shirt.

"I like you like that - a real cowboy. You smell like horses, dust, and yourself ... " Arshad's voice trembled with excitement.

He pressed closer to his back, caressing his stomach and chest with his hands. Kai, frozen, waited, feeling a wave of goosebumps on his body and the pleasant warmth that these hands gave him.

Arshad grasped his condition, slowly turned to face him. Raised his chin, looked into his eyes, in which he saw confusion.

"Don’t," Kai breathed, remembering that he could not touch Arshad with his hands, and now he was completely in his power.

"Don't need what?" Arshad whispered almost into his lips. "I told you that too, but you didn't listen to me."

And then Kai gasped from the kiss, from the hands that so roughly pressed him and squeezed so that all the ribs crumpled from falling from the horses immediately made themselves felt.

Arshad kissed him passionately, demandingly penetrating him, and in response to the slightest resistance, squeezed him even tighter.

Then he pulled back.

"Should I continue punishment?" Arshad's voice changed, now passion, a desire was felt in him.

Arshad understood how he had not kissed Kai for a long time and how wonderful it was. Now he remembered how good it was for them then, and how all this time he wanted this, wanted him.

He pulled Kai again and captured his lips again. But now he was kissing gently, carefully, wanting to prolong this pleasure. Their distant tenderness arose from the corners of memory. Forgotten sensations, feelings, memories returned ...

Arshad ran his hand tighter along Kai's side and climbed under his shirt. Kai jerked and exhaled. Arshad pulled back and looked at him.

"What, ribs hurt? Why did you climb on these horses?" asked Arshad in his usual voice.

"I really wanted it," Arshad's face was very close. Kai felt his hot palms on his body. "Do not be offended."

Arshad froze, looking into his eyes, then released him and walked to the window.

"Why are you standing, go change your clothes. We'll have a snack and head back to Vegas."

Kai, bewilderedly picking up his shirt from the carpet, moved towards the door.

"Do you remember the terms of our contract?" looking at him, as if casually asked Arshad.

Kai turned around, uncomprehending looked up at him.

Arshad continued:

"That I will be the second with you. You will give me the night ..."

"What are you talking about now?" Kai has not yet fully recovered from the kisses.

"I'm talking about our contract."

Now Kai got the whole point of what was said.

Stars are reflected in your eyes. Volume 4. "Book of Flame" Chapter 1

 

Continuation of the events of the first volume.

Returning in the evening from his next assignment, Kai drove into the tent to Bartholomew, as had promised. During this time, they practically did not see each other, constantly either he or his group were on assignments. Only when they met at the headquarters, Bartholomew each time friendly patting Kai on the shoulder invited him to their tent, to sit in the evening, to have a drink, and to chat.

He didn't want to get drunk today but wanted to see all the guys - Pepper, Torpedo, Ivan, and Frol, to listen to their news, to learn about life.

Going into their tent, he found all the guys except Frol. They perked up with his arrival, immediately pulled to the table, especially since they were just about to have supper. Torpedo and Pepper were cooking in the kitchen, it smelled of fried onions and meat.

Bartholomew began to ask Kai about his recent raids into the mountains with other groups, then he told about how they had regularly traveled for the second week to patrol the road in the valley area, where it was not very calm.

Ivan supplemented the dry story of Bartholomew with various funny details, Pepper and Torpedo, sometimes looking out of the kitchen, told about the events that had happened to them.

Kai immediately drew attention to the absence of Frol, but at first, did not attach any importance to this. When Frol did not appear for half an hour, he became worried but did not raise this topic in front of everyone, only casually clarified when he would finally come. Torpedo, not attaching importance to his question, replied that Frol should have returned long ago, but apparently delayed.

He immediately felt that something was wrong, but, not having a firm conviction in his premonitions, he did not want to tell the guys about it. Fortunately, his phone rang, and, referring to an important conversation, he left the tent.

Lieutenant Ivchenko called, who reminded the guy that the colonel was waiting for him in the office tomorrow at nine. Having heard this, he did not return to the tent but went to his jeep.

Arriving at the thieves' barracks, Kai asked the guards if Sebastian was here and he received a not very affirmative answer and at the same time an invitation to wait for him with them. With peripheral vision, he saw that the car was beginning to be surrounded - he did not like this state of affairs. Kai did not want to find out the reason for such actions now, he just sharply pressed the gas and, without giving anyone a chance to come to his senses, left.

It was clear that something was happening. Frol was gone. Sebastian and his men were absent. Kai didn't want to put these two facts together, assuring himself that they were just coincidences.

Now he was trying to think logically where there could be quiet, secluded places in the garrison, and immediately remembered that the unfinished barracks building, which was abandoned and located in the farthest part from residential buildings, fit the description. There was usually no one there even during the day, and even more so in the dark.

He turned the jeep around and drove to the building. Coming closer, he turned off the headlights and reduced the speed to a minimum, trying to remain unnoticed. Going inside the building, he heard voices and noise and also saw the light from the headlights of cars. He realized that the cars were parked at the back of the building, and judging by the voices, it was quite lively there.

Kai quickly followed the noise, wandering in the dark corridors and rooms. It seemed to him that his approach was detected, and he was not too hiding. This was no longer necessary.

Finally, he went out into the corridor overlooking the courtyard, and saw exactly what he expected: Sebastian's people, led by himself and Sher, stood in a semicircle, in the center stood Frol with handcuffs in his arms.

"Kai, I'm always glad to see you," Sebastian said, turning his head towards Kai, "but now you'd better leave."

"No need to arrange to lynch. Let him go."

Kai walked forward and saw that the grate of the gate blocking his way out was padlocked. Footsteps and the creak of a door were heard from behind. He rushed back, but did not have time - the door closed, the key turned, and he was locked in this space.

Having tugged at the door, which had just been locked, he returned to the grate, tugged at it, and realized that it could not be opened. Through the bars, he could see everything, but he could not do anything.

Kai pulled out a pistol. All this time, Sebastian and the others watched him throw.

"If you shoot, everyone will come here. You're going to court all the guys. After all, we kidnapped an officer," Sebastian looked eloquently at Frol.

"In any case, you will end up under the tribunal if you harm him," Kai held a pistol in his hand until he dared to use it.

"Nobody can prove it. His word without witnesses means nothing," Sebastian nodded at Frol, "unless, of course, you confirm it."

Kai shot an angry look at Sebastian.

"Do you think I’m capable of this?"

"So, enough empty arguments!" Sher stepped up to Frol and hit him with a fist in the solar plexus with a swing, Frol bent in half and hung in the arms of the boys holding him. "Here, nit, get for everything."

Then Sher began to strike blow after blow. Two guys were holding Frol by the hands cuffed behind his back. Now he was like a punching bag to Sher.

"Enough!" Kai shook the grate, "Sebastian!"

Sebastian stood with a blank face, watching how Cher beat Frol brutally.

Kai understood that he would not open the door with a pistol anyway, but the shooting would definitely attract the attention of everyone here. And this was not only the abduction of an officer, this was already a beating of an officer. For this, and the execution can be. So he didn't know what to do now.

He tugged at the grate in vain, but when he saw that Frol was thrown to the ground and was being kicked, he turned away and slid down his back on it, sitting down on the floor. He knew too well how painful such blows.

Sebastian saw Kai sitting by the grate and how he covered his ears with his hands, but restrained himself, did not do anything.

***

It became quiet, Kai heard it even through the palms pressed to his ears. He removed his hands, stood up slowly, turned. There, in the yard, Frol was lying, there were no cars and the guys, everyone left. He went to the door, which he had entered, it turned out to be open.

Wasted no time, he rushed to the jeep and, having gone around the building, drove it into the backyard. It was good that Frol was a tough guy and even after all this he practically got into Kai's car himself, he only supported him. He couldn't have lifted it himself.

By the nature of the injuries, Frol Kai understood that he needed to be taken to the doctor in the hospital. As much as he wanted to hush up this story, human health is more important.

His fears were justified. The doctor immediately determined that Frol had two broken ribs and badly repulsed internal organs.

While Frol was being bandaged, all the authorities came to the hospital, since the doctor immediately reported on this emergency. Kai did not resist this, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

The colonel arrived with two of his assistants and Lieutenant Ivchenko. They walked past Kai into the ward, were there for a long time, then went out into the corridor.

"Stand up!" the colonel's voice sounded cold and harsh.

Kai stood at attention.

"Who did this?" looking into the eyes of Kai, asked Pyotr Ivanovich.

Kai guessed that Frol hadn't said who had beat him. Why? Probably he didn't want everyone to think that he was a weakling and ratted those with whom he could not cope with the force.

"I've found Frol in the backyard of the unfinished barracks and brought him to the hospital. I have nothing more to add."

"So you don’t want to talk? Are you covering these freaks?! I know who was sharpening his teeth against Frol! Well, nothing, I'll get to them."

All were silent. Pyotr Ivanovich approached Kai.

"Impudent boy! Do you think you're inviolable here?! Do you think everything is allowed to you?! I'm fed up with your antics and your behavior! I’ll find justice for you!"

Pyotr Ivanovich several times walked past Kai, who did not utter a word.

"Surrender the weapon. You're under arrest. You will dig the trenches; it will be good for you. You've become too arrogant."

Pyotr Ivanovich turned to Lieutenant Ivchenko:

"Place the prisoner in a punishment cell, tomorrow under escort - take him to forced labor. And do so every day, until I say that's enough!"

The colonel and his assistants walked down the corridor towards the exit.

Lieutenant Ivchenko called the guards, took the pistol and his waist belt from Kai's hands, and, with a vile smile, showed him to the exit.

He was taken to solitary confinement. He was no stranger to spending the night in such. Crouched in a fetal position on the hard bed, he fell asleep.

Early in the morning, Kai was raised and escorted through the entire garrison to forced labor. In the distant part of the garrison, defensive trenches were dug. They gave a shovel, and he got down to business.

Sometimes physical labor, especially so monotonous as throwing the earth from place to place, brought peace of mind and inner harmony. Therefore, until lunchtime, he was in a state of immersion in nirvana, not noticing neither the scorching rays of the sun, nor the heat, nor the fact that his palms were bloody from the rough handle of a shovel.

***

Sebastian had been thinking all morning about Kai, about how he had just had been sitting with his face turned away yesterday, covering his ears so as not to hear the sound of the beating. Then Sebastian wanted so much to approach him because he understood why Kai was covering his ears - he knew these blows too well, he remembered them on his body. Sebastian had a conscience, but he couldn't act differently yesterday. His people needed to feel his power and strength. He could not be so human as Kai.

Sher with a puzzled face quickly entered the room where he was sitting with the bros.

"Kai was arrested yesterday at the hospital. He brought Frol there. Frol has several broken ribs."

"Enough about Frol! What's with Kai ?!" Sebastian interrupted him.

"All the authorities came to the hospital. Then Kai was put alone for the night, and in the morning he was taken to dig trenches. He is digging them there now."

"He shielded us. He took it all upon himself," Sebastian said grimly.

"How do you know?" Sher looked at Sebastian.

"If he had said about us, they would have taken us all yesterday. We would sit in solitary confinement instead of him," Sebastian nervously walked around the room. "He shielded us. What else have you learned? How long should he dig?"

"Nothing concrete. They say that yesterday the colonel yelled at him so hard that the walls were shaking. In short, as long as daddy does not have a change of heart, Kai will dig."

"Who is there of our people?"

"There are a lot of ours, they wanted not to let him dig, but in the morning there was a big brass there. They say that after dinner everyone will leave, then our boys won't let Kai dig. He will sit and rest. They'll dig for him."

"Who is there from the leaders now?"

"It seems nobody already," Sher answered.

"Then let's go to him."

Sebastian went to the exit, the guys followed him.

Sher once again contacted his people, and they confirmed that everyone from the leadership had already gone. They calmly drove up to the place where the earthworks were being carried out and got out of the cars.

The shovel had already been taken away from Kai. Although he did not want to give, he saw that it was pointless to argue - the bros would not let him dig anymore, they would do everything for him themselves.

He sat in the shade, keeping hands parallel to the ground, palms down.

Sebastian quickly walked over and grabbed Kai's hands, turned his palms over - they were ripped off and bleeding.

"It always happens. I always rip off my palms as soon as I start digging," Kai said apologetically when he saw Sebastian’s upset face.

"Your hands are not intended for this," Sebastian turned to the frozen boys. "Why are you standing? Bring a first-aid kit from the car and water."

Kai tried to resist, but Sebastian himself washed his palms and, having treated him with an antiseptic, began to bandage him.

"Sorry about yesterday," Sebastian said without looking up and continuing to bandage Kai's hands.

"For what? You didn't beat me."

"I saw how you covered your ears ..."

"Yes, unpleasant memories appear when I hear these sounds of blows."

"What term are you assigned here?"

"I do not know. The colonel was very angry yesterday."

Sebastian finally finished with Kai's hands:

"Do you want to smoke?"

"Yes."

He brought the flame of a lighter to Kai's cigarette.

"Guys, fetch food!" he gave orders, despite Kai's protest. "You will eat. Or do you want to sip the official gruel, which you are supposed to?"

Kai shook his head. Even without feeling the taste, but seeing what the penalty boxers were fed with, he lost all desire to eat it.

"You shouldn't have done that with Frol."

Kai couldn't help but say that.

"It was not in vain. We have taught a freak a lesson!" Sher snapped proudly.

"You've taught me a lesson, Frol is now resting in the hospital ward."

"It's my own fault. Why did you get involved?"

"What if he died there from the beatings? After all, everyone knows who beat him anyway," Kai shook the ash off his cigarette.

Sher didn’t have anything to say. Sebastian was also silent, then he remembered the main:

"Prokhor still can't get through to you all this time."

"Yes, I have seen that he called. But you know that all this time there are constant trips. I couldn't talk there, but after returning I did not remember about his call, fell asleep. Well, tell me what he says - how is he?" Kai's eyes lit up with the memories of his friend.

"I'll tell you, but first about the main thing: he expands his business and wants to send his representatives here, or rather, to Kamrat. These are, like, his people. The main is called Lavr, and there are still guys with him. In general, I am here, Lavr is in Kamrat, Prokhor is in Moscow. The network is getting better. Regular deliveries. Well, you are the key one in everything - you understand yourself."

Kai looked at Sebastian.

"Yes, of course, they have time to play with all this, to establish a network, to supply. And lately, I have only been running around on the outskirts, shootings, shaking on an APC, sitting in ambushes and again swallowing dust ..."

Kai did not like all these Prokhor's things, but he could not contradict his friend.

"Come on, tell me in more detail," Kai leaned against the earthen embankment, realizing that it was still necessary to delve into these muddled up: what, where who, and how would deliver.

Sebastian stayed with him until evening. First, he spoke in detail about what Prokhor had said. Then they brought food, he made sure that Kai ate. Then they began to discuss and adjust Prokhor's plan for couriers since Prokhor planned all this from Moscow, and only Kai knew the features of the local traditions.

In the evening, Sebastian and the guys left, as the authorities could return.

Kai was taken back under guard. Another night he spent on a hard bed in a solitary confinement cell. The next morning, everything was repeated exactly as on the previous day. In the first half of the day, he strenuously dug trenches, as his superiors stood nearby and watched the execution of the colonel's order, then the superiors left, but Sebastian and his guys arrived.

Sebastian immediately came with a first-aid kit and, pushing Kai onto the bench, began to carefully unbind the bandages with dried blood and dirt from his hands. Kai silently watched this touching action. After bandaging his hands, he was fed and given a drink.

He spent the rest of the day in their company, they called Prokhor and continued to correct his plan, the crossing points of couriers, hiding places, and paths along which they would go.

This went on for five days. On the sixth, instead of escorting Kai to earthworks, he was taken to the colonel's office.

Pyotr Ivanovich was sitting at the table with a stern face with his assistants - Lieutenant Colonel Prokhorov and Major Batulin. Lieutenant Ivchenko reported on his arrival, looking at Kai's pitiful look with satisfaction. The colonel and the rest of those present in the office also gazed with a squeamish look at his dirty uniforms soaked in dust and sweat.

"You’re lucky," the colonel finally spoke up, "an urgent task from the center, you’ll get the details from Bartholomew. You will work with his team. Departure is in half an hour."

The colonel turned to Lieutenant Ivchenko:

"Give him back his personal weapon," the colonel turned back to Kai, "but if I had my way, you would have been digging trenches all your life."

"Can I go?" Kai asked calmly.

Even in such a dirty, shabby look, he looked elegant and beautiful. It seemed that the dirt only further emphasizes youthful beauty.

"You are free," the colonel answered dryly and only now saw his bandaged hands. "What with the hands? Oh yes, you are a gentle creature, digging trenches is not a princely business."

"Can I go?" Kai remained calm listening to this.

"Yes."

Pyotr Ivanovich in his heart treated Kai well and even pitied him, but Kai's constant antics, his disobedience to the rules, a complete lack of discipline - all this disgusted the colonel, and, moreover, he could not allow himself to behave like that in his submission. He must maintain power here, which was why he acted so harshly with Kai - the guy gave him no choice in the matter.

Yes, he would have forced him all his life to digging trenches for his self-confidence, for how he puts himself above the rules, and for how he behaves and hides behind people from the center. What was there for him to do? Only such methods somehow put Kai in his place, although not for long.

***

Realizing that time was running out, Kai asked for a lift, stopping a passing car. At home, he immediately rushed to his laptop, opened a secret encrypted file, read his task: to slay the next leader from the group. He would have to do this while Bartholomew's group would be fighting with them. How he would do it, he would think over on the road. Now there was no time.

On the way sitting in Bartholomew's armored personnel carrier, he listened to the part of the assignment that was given to the group, since only he knew about the secret part. The road was long. They arrived in the evening and began to wait for the night to move on under its cover.

This operation took several days. The grouping was constantly moving. The locations for the attack were unsuccessful, because of this, the group followed them, masking their presence and keeping a considerable distance from them.

They moved during the day, went out on reconnaissance at night and monitored their movement until morning, and then again returned to their armored personnel carriers and followed the tracks. In between, they ate and slept in turns.

All this time, Bartholomew and his guys were formal and dry with Kai. Kai realized that this was after the incident with Frol, who was still in the hospital. And he also understood that they knew who beat Frol and knew about Kai's friendship with these people. They did not understand why Kai chose the latter between Frol and thugs. After all, if Kai had testified, those guilty of beating the officer would have been punished. They knew that Kai had said nothing and that he was digging trenches for it. Bartholomew and the guys were offended for such a choice of a friend. But now there was work, and no one began to find out, keeping the distance.

It was hard for Kai to see this, but he could not explain anything to them and, moreover, expect understanding from them. Therefore, he also turned to them only strictly on the case, although it was very difficult when such close people turned away from you like that.

At first, Kai wanted to talk about what had happened, but then, seeing the cold faces of the guys, he decided that this conversation would lead nowhere.

During the next stop, he changed the dirty bandages on his hands to clean ones. Without bandages, his hands were constantly bleeding, dust and dirt penetrated the wounds.

Everyone saw his torment, but no one came to help. Kai was offended for such an attitude towards himself, on the other hand, he understood them. After all, Frol was now in the hospital, the guilty had not been punished, Kai was covering them. How else should they relate to him?

He turned away and began to stare into the distance, forcing himself to think only of the task.

***

One night they saw that the group's camp was located very well for their plan, they returned to the APCs for a night attack.

The plan of action was quickly adjusted: from one side of the gorge, the armored personnel carrier of Bartholomew enters, from the other the armored personnel carrier of the Torpedo, cutting off any attempts to escape, and Ivan's armored personnel carrier drives into a well-located hill, where Kai will be, and from there they pour fire on everyone who is in the camp. The plan was simple; the main thing was that the area was conducive to its execution.

Kai was happy with everything, except that in the panic that would arise in the camp, he could miss the one he should kill. Therefore, he decided to go there before they heard the noise of the armored personnel carriers, and then he would have time to catch in a rifle scope the one he needed.

He slipped out of the APC, grabbing a sniper rifle, and moved along the path, which he had noted in advance, towards the enemy camp. He heard the noise of approaching armored personnel carriers, realizing that the guys did not look for him and wait.

He aimed the optics at the tents, suggesting that the main leaders should be in the largest, in the center of the camp. The noise of the armored personnel carriers caused a commotion in the camp, then voices and commands for the defense began to be heard. It was evident that night guests were not expected. The one, Kai needed, ran out of the main tent. He stopped, peering into the darkness, Kai pulled the trigger. The man fell. Judging by the bustle around him, the shot was a good one.

Panic arose in the camp, and here, finally, armored personnel carriers opened fire on all this chaos.

Kai lay in the same place and shot those who ran in his direction. He saw that a small part of the group went into the mountains along another path, but this did not concern Kai. He completed his task.

Then everything was quiet.

He returned to Ivan's armored personnel carrier. The man looked at him strangely but said nothing. They reached their group.

Bartholomew, seeing Kai, grabbed him by the collar of his uniform:

"Who are you, bitch, working for? You set us all up now! After all, it was you who shot even before we reached the points! You dumped in advance! Are you holding us for idiots ?!"

"I thought that an extra firing point would not hurt. It was too late to agree on this. Everything is right, the task is completed, we can return."

Kai knew he was wrong, but what could he explain? Now he was only trying to smooth over the conflict. Bartholomew shook him roughly again.

Kai closed his eyes, expecting a blow. Bartholomew saw this, froze, and then, releasing Kai, moved away from him.

"Let me at least hit him in the face," advancing on Kai, said Pepper, "if you cannot do it."

"Leave him alone. I've said set aside!" Bartholomew commanded. "We are back, all into cars!"

Pepper spat angrily next to Kai, turned around, and walked into his APC.

They drove back quickly, practically without spending the night only stopped for a couple of hours for rest.

Kai's presence was ignored by everyone. He endured it stoically, knowing they were right.

Returning to the garrison, everyone went to report to the colonel. He silently listened to everything. Now Bartholomew did not spare Kai, he said everything as it was. The colonel was silent. Then he thanked everyone for their good work. He let everyone go to rest, only Kai was unfriendly asked to stay.

Kai remained in the office under the colonel's gaze and the gaze of his assistants.

"Do you play your game?" looking into Kai's eyes, said Pyotr Ivanovich. "Look, don't overplay. If my guys perish, I'll strangle you with my own hands."

The colonel turned sharply and sat down in his chair.

"Why are you standing? You are free. If it weren't for those who are covering you, right now I would have strangled you. And so I can only say that you have a week of leave. This is not from me. It's from the center. You can go."

Kai left, still hearing the colonel's voice and his accusatory speech, and here his phone rang. He pressed the answer button on the machine without even glancing at who was calling.

"My sweet, hello," a voice sounded. " I want to see you. Will you give me such a gift?"

"Arshad, is it you?" Kai had not yet fully recovered from everything that happened.

"Someone else calls you sweet? Of course, it's me. You can rest with me. I want to fly somewhere, so I thought it would be more fun with my friends. For several days. Can you?"

"Yes," Kai did not attach any meaning to the word with friends, now he generally still poorly perceived everything.

"Well, that's good. You make me very happy with this answer. I am waiting for you in Kamrat at the Riviera Plaza Hotel, when will you arrive?"

Kai realized that he didn't even have time to come to his senses, to comprehend everything. But on the other hand - why? It's so good that Arshad called. Now he needed to leave here, change the setting.

"I'm leaving now," he replied.