Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

As soon as he stepped into the apartment, a strange sensation crept all over his body. Something inside him did not want him to enter the apartment unarmed and vulnerable.

Though Joshua did not believe in having a gut feeling, he decided to follow his gut feeling for once.

As every wise man would, he stepped out of the apartment, closed the door before slowly walking away.

He then entered the lift and called the only reliable person he could think of.

…..

[30 minutes later]

Joshua was impatiently waiting by his car when Andrew arrived along with four other men.

"Thanks for coming." He was relieved and thankful.

With how heated things were with Igor, he did not want to take the risk of calling Samuel. He was a hundred percent sure that he was being watched continuously by people appointed by Igor. There was no way his former boss wouldn't keep an eye on his every move.

The only person he could think of other than Samuel was Andrew.

Though they had their differences when he was working with Igor, Joshua knew he could trust Andrew and that he wouldn't betray him.

Maybe he felt this way because they were now a family.

"Which floor do you live on?" Andrew inquired.

"Thirteenth," he answered before handing him the keys.

Andrew instructed his men to go and have a look at the apartment.

"Should I go with them?" Joshua asked.

"Let them have a look first, we will go once they make sure it's safe," he said. "I don't want you getting hurt or anything."

"Rachael will not like it," he added.

Joshua nodded. "Yeah, it's best not to stress her out."

"Why aren't you armed?" It was strange for Joshua to not have any weapon with him. Not only was it strange but also unsafe.

Though he wasn't working with Igor anymore and pretending to lead a normal life, danger was still lurking in the dark and it would always be the same.

"I have a gun in my closet," Joshua said. "I don't keep it with me or in my car because I drive mom around a lot these days. I don't want her to see a gun on me."

He had always hidden his real identity from his family and he wanted to keep it that way.

"And why didn't you call Samuel?" Andrew inquired. "Aren't you both partners now?"

"I—" Joshua hesitated. "I didn't want to take any risk."

Andrew gave him a glance before saying, "Is it really that or you still don't trust him?"

He was taken aback by Andrew's remark. He wasn't expecting it.

He wanted to retort but couldn't as a part of him knew that Andrew was right.

Was Joshua working with Samuel? Yes.

But did he really trust him? Maybe not.

Samuel was a Petrov after all and even though he was planning against his brother, he was still Igor's brother. They shared the same flesh and blood.

Though he was much better than his elder brother, how far could an apple fall from the tree?

Joshua's silence answered Andrew's questions. He had a hunch that Joshua did not trust Samuel completely and was always vigilant and alert with him.

"Whatever Samuel is planning is huge and it involves a lot of risk," Andrew remarked. "If you can't trust him completely maybe it will be best for you to not work for him."

"I understand what you are trying to say but—"

"Things are going to get really messy in the coming days," Andrew remarked. "Samuel is prepared but what about you? Are you ready?"

"Think about it," he added. "Will Samuel be able to provide you the protection you will be needing?"

Joshua did not say anything, he knew Andrew was right. Currently Samuel wasn't in a position to extend full protection to him which was understandable as he lacked resources.

"Are you suggesting I shouldn't work for Samuel?" he asked.

"No, I am suggesting you work for me," Andrew answered.

Joshua widened his eyes in shock. " Are you serious?" He wasn't expecting such an offer from a Volkov after whatever they had been through in the past years.

"You work with Samuel for me," Andrew explained. "We have decided to help Samuel to deal with Igor in exchange for a few things. Since you have worked under Igor for so many years, no one other than you knows how things work in their organisation. It will be easier for you to deal with everything related to the Petrovs than Daniel, me, Justin or Owen."

Joshua frowned. Though whatever he said made sense, he couldn't understand why Andrew was willing to do him such a big favour. "You trust me?"

"Why not?" Andrew patted his shoulder. "You are family now."

"What if I betray you?" He curiously questioned him. He would no longer harm Andrew or any of his family members but given his past and how things were, there was a possibility that one might wonder if he would betray them.

"Then not only do you lose the chance of working with my wonderful team but also your life," Andrew smiled as he tightened his grip on his shoulder.

Though he was smiling, Joshua gulped in nervousness. He knew how brutal the Volkovs could be if the situation demanded it, especially Owen.

"What about others? Will they agree with this arrangement?" He shared a relationship with Andrew but not with others. Would they trust him the same way Andrew did? There was a very slim chance for that.

"Don't worry about them, I'll do the talking."

Contemplating for a while, Joshua said, "I need some time to think."

"Take all the time you need." He patted his shoulder. "The offer is always open."

"Why are you doing this?" Joshua asked. "Do you like me or something now?"

"I don't like you but I love my wife," Andrew remarked. "If something happens to you, she will be worried and I don't want that. And the only way to make sure nothing happens to you is by taking you under my wings."

…..