BLOOD TIES (Decklan Jennings Thriller Book 1) by Philip Duncan (book recommendations for young adults txt) 📕

“I think you know the answer to that question, Teddy.”

“You are out of your fucking mind, kid! Going after him is going to get you killed. Guaranteed! I don’t care how much training you’ve had or how skilled you think you might be. Vladimir has killed a hundred men just like you,” Teddy said.

“I understand that, and I’m very aware of how dangerous he is. I have already killed several of his men and infiltrated his drug cartel back in the States, but unfortunately this is personal and I can’t let it go. I need to find him and put an end to this shit once and for all,” Decklan said firmly to make sure his point was made.

They just stood there in silence, both waiting on the other one to speak again, but it seemed that neither one of them knew what to say next. Teddy turned around, walked out of the gun room and back upstairs. Decklan wasn’t sure if he should follow him or let him cool off for a bit. Finally, he walked back upstairs to find Teddy and get the plan rolling. He walked back down the same hall and found him standing in the kitchen, holding a dark-colored drink.

Teddy looked at Decklan and raised his glass of bourbon. “Cheers.”

Decklan was a little confused. He wasn’t sure what there was to celebrate, especially after their conversation downstairs.

“What exactly are we cheering to?” Decklan asked.

“To our suicide mission, of course,” Teddy responded.

“Our mission?” Decklan said, confused.

“You heard me. We may not know each other well, but I’ll be damned if I let someone who served our great country of the United States of America walk into something like this alone. You’re going to need all the help you can get,” Teddy said.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” Decklan said. “I’m sure Parker told you, but all I need is weapons and a place to sleep.”

“No sir, you didn’t ask, and you are welcome to all the weapons and sleep you need. But like I said the first time, I am helping you whether you like it or not,” Teddy replied, while taking another sip of his bourbon. “Like you, I don’t have anyone to come home to. Everyone I have ever loved is gone from this life. The only thing I have left is helping out the good guys.”

Decklan knew there was no point in arguing so he just nodded his head in agreement. “Thank you, Teddy.”

Suddenly, Teddy’s phone rang. He took it out of his pocket, looked at the caller ID and answered. “Hey Parker, Decklan is here safe. Nothing to worry about.”

Decklan pulled his phone out to see if he had any missed calls or texts from his brother, but there was nothing. He thought it was strange that he chose to call Teddy instead, but then again, he hadn’t exactly been answering or returning his calls over the past several weeks.

Teddy looked at Decklan. “He’s right here if you want to talk to him.”

Apparently, Parker didn’t need or want to talk to Decklan because Teddy didn’t hand over the phone.

“All right. I will keep you posted,” Teddy said, and then he hung up.

Let me guess, that was Vladimir,” Decklan said sarcastically.

Teddy smirked. “Very funny, smartass. Your brother just wanted to make sure you got here safely. And I already know how your relationship is with Parker so no need telling me.”

Decklan held up his hands, indicating he understood and wouldn’t.

“So how far are we from Vladimir’s place?” Decklan asked.

“That’s kind of a tricky question. Vladimir has several places here in Moscow so he could be at any of them. However, I know for a fact that he likes to spend most of his time at his playhouse.”

“What the hell is a playhouse?” Decklan asked.

“It’s where he likes to go when he wants some company, if you catch my drift,” Teddy said, winking.

“He doesn’t have a wife or family?” Decklan asked.

“Not anymore. He lost his only child several years back in some kind of drug war,” Teddy said. “And I heard he killed his wife for cheating on him.”

Decklan’s eyebrows raised and his eyes widened. “That seems like an overreaction but doesn’t surprise me with what I’ve come to know about him.”

One thing did seem to catch Decklan’s attention, however. It seemed that everyone who had been swept up in this seemingly endless storm of chaos and death all shared something similar. They had all experienced loss in the greatest ways. He lost his entire family in one day, Langley lost his wife and son less than a year apart, and even Vladimir knew the feeling of losing a child, which was the worst and most unimaginable pain to exist, but Decklan had no sympathy.

Even Teddy was alone, although he wasn’t sure how he lost his family, and he didn’t think it was appropriate to ask. Life has a funny way of bringing people together that would have otherwise never met.

“I don’t know about you, but I would like to keep the collateral damage to a minimum. Best case scenario is no one dies except Vladimir and his guys,” Decklan said.

“Agreed,” Teddy grunted as he finished off his drink.

“This house that he likes to spend most of his time at—how far away is it?” Decklan asked.

“It’s about twenty miles north of here. I have a car, so we don’t have to take a taxi. Plus, most taxi drivers won’t get within five miles of that place. Like I said before, everyone knows Vladimir and they all fear him,” Teddy said.

“Including you?” Decklan asked, already knowing what the answer was probably going to be.

“Including me what? Scared of him? Not a fucking chance,” Teddy said with confidence. “But I respect what he is capable of and you’d be smart to do the same.”

Decklan grinned. “I like you, Teddy. You’re one of a few left of a dying breed.”

“And what breed is that?” Teddy asked.

“Tough as hell