A/N - Hello. Um... Nick is going to have a lot of fun this chapter. Never considered a chapter in this category, but the idea came to me and I ran with it, like most of them. Hope you enjoy it!
This is also a long chapter. A little patience might be required as I set everything up!
Previous chapters found in the following:
Chapter 1-10: Incest/Taboo
Chapter 11, 13-15: Erotic Coupling
Chapter 12: Interracial Love
Chapter 16: Mature
*****
I paced the departures lounge. At least I was flying business class, but it was still going to be one long flight, and I didn't like the idea of playing bodyguard again. Sure, my time with Marta Hrubcova had been pretty damned good, excluding the fact I'd been shot a couple of times, but I'd trained to be a spy, not a babysitter.
"
Don't worry, Nick. You've read the file. The bodyguard role is just a cover. There is a lot of noise, a lot of scary noise, coming from all over the place. Brazil is ready to explode. The Director wants you on the ground to take advantage of any moves made. We don't know if it's the left, the right, the military. It could be any of them, or even a surprise candidate."
"Okay, fair enough. But I'm based in London. Doesn't he have..."
I heard her chuckle.
"Nick, he's sending you to lead the operation. Secondly, you're going to Rio de Janeiro. Are you seriously complaining about that?"
"Look, I know the job, but it feels like I've just settled back in London after a few months away..."
"I'm sure the Brazilians will keep you busy."
She paused a moment. "
Just remember that she's nineteen and no doubt a devout Catholic. No pre-marital sex, that sort of thing."
"Jesus, Jen, I don't fuck every single woman I come across."
"How old are you again?"
"Old enough to know better. Young enough that fucking a nineteen-year-old wouldn't leave me feeling too guilty."
"What about a nineteen-year-old virgin?"
"Slightly guiltier... Maybe..."
I had all the information in my bag, including a photo of the young woman I was meant to be protecting. She wasn't in any particular danger, but I was to be her driver, bodyguard, basically always by her side. Everyone knew certain cities in Brazil could be incredibly dangerous. From what I'd read, Sao Paulo seemed to have a worse reputation than Rio, but that didn't mean there wasn't danger lurking around every corner.
"You actually going to Poland for this thing you're involved in?"
"I'm not sure. I haven't received official orders yet. Had to make sure you were ready to go."
"Flight's about to start boarding."
"Well, then you should hang up and ready yourselves for a fun time in Brazil, Nick. I mean, how bad could it be?"
"Jinxed. Utterly fucking jinxed now, Jen. Thanks."
"I'll see you soon, Nick. Good luck. I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Jen. Haven't had long enough..."
"I know. When you're back, I'm spending as much time in your apartment as possible."
"Works for me. I'll call you when I arrive, long as it's a good time."
"Bye, Nick."
It was a long flight, twelve hours from Heathrow to Rio's main international airport. I managed to get some sleep on the flight, though was still bleary eyed when stepping off the plane and approaching customs. I was travelling as Nick Stevens, no reason to be using my other alias outside of Europe. After grabbing my luggage, I wandered out into the arrivals terminal, thankful there was a man waiting for me, holding a sign with my name on it. I approached him, ensuring I was grinning.
"Joao?"
He grinned back, offering his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Nick. Welcome to Rio."
"Thanks."
"First time in Brazil?" he asked as we walked towards the sliding doors leading outside.
"Yep. First time in South America."
"Well, though I'd like to play tour guide, unfortunately, you are here for work, yes?"
"I am. Been working on my Portuguese. Still not fluent."
"Don't worry. The family all speak fluent English, though like anywhere, a little Portuguese will get you a friendly smile."
"What helps is that I can speak fluent French and Spanish. Being a Romance language, there's enough similarities that I've managed to pick up quite a bit in a few short weeks."
I wasn't surprised that I found myself sitting in the passenger seat of what we would have called an enormous bloody ute back in Australia, though I guess they called it a truck in Brazil. Bloody felt like it anyway. Painted black. Heavily tinted windows. Powerful engine from the rumble I heard in front of us once Joao had us heading towards the centre of Rio itself. I gazed around, taking in the sights. He gave a little commentary of what we passed by. Couldn't miss the
favelas
in the distance.
"So I assume you know your role here?" he finally asked.
"I'm providing protection for Adriana Luciana Beatriz Moutinho de Sousa."
He laughed. "Most people just call her Adriana." Once we came to a stop at a red light, hearing the doors automatically lock, his hand resting near the shotgun carried by the centre console, he glanced my way. "Brazil looks peaceful on the surface, Nick, but there are many factions vying for control. Then you have the criminal element causing misery for millions. Honestly, you've walked into a hornet's nest."
"I did two tours of Afghanistan, four of Iraq. Dealt with a lot of fuckwits in my time."
"Hmmm. Guess those from the
favelas
also have little to lose, depending if they're your run of the mill foot soldiers, just working to earn some reals, though those who hold the strings, who run the operations, they're safe and secure in their
palacios.
Many of them are protected. Corruption runs rampant. Crooked cops. Crooked politicians. Things were improving for so long, now it's like the old days."
"I guess our focus isn't them? Or..."
He smirked again as he drove. "Wait until you speak to Antonio. He is a... man of vision. That makes him dangerous to those who wants things to remain as they are."
"You like him?"
"I am Brazilian, Nick. We all need a little hope. Someone to help lead us out of the mire."
He fell silent as we turned into what could only be called an affluent area of the city. Some of the wealth on display was rather ostentatious, but I guess those who had made it big had the right to splash some of their cash. No surprise the residence I would be staying came with a guardhouse, Joao lowering the window, the guard checking my credentials, before we were allowed inside the compound.
It wasn't a house. It wasn't quite a palace. Maybe the right word would be mansion? Whatever the case, there was a man waiting to greet us, offering to carry my bags. Felt a little weird handing over everything, insisting that all my belongings would be waiting inside my quarters. "I have quarters?" I asked quietly.
"We'll explain everything soon. Antonio will want to meet you straight away. Adriana should be at home too."
It was enormous inside and out, Joao assuring me I'd receive a layout of the mansion and the grounds. Though my primary focus would be protecting Adriana, he knew I'd be focused on other matters at the same time, and a secondary role would be protecting the family as a whole. Antonio was waiting for us in a large office, providing a fantastic view of the backyard... Actually, calling it that simply doesn't convey the size nor grandeur.
He grinned immediately, rounding his large desk, offering his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Nick."
"You too, sir."
He waved that away. "Please, you are a guest in my home and will be protecting those most important to me. Antonio, though I also like the shortened Tony. Sounds a little more English, yes?"
I smiled as he certainly put me at ease. "Tony works for me."
"Good. Would you care for a drink as we chat?"
I glanced at Joao. He returned a single nod. Not wanting to offend, I replied, "Sure, I'd love one."