Link Between Us

Chapter 1: Return to Familiar Strangers

Marcus' POV

Manila’s heat was the first thing to greet me, thick and humid like the city itself was trying to suffocate me. The airport was the same chaos I remembered: families reuniting with tearful hugs, porters shouting over each other to grab luggage, and the faint smell of fried food lingering in the air. I stood there for a moment, letting it all sink in.

Four years. That’s how long I’d been gone. Long enough to forget the small details of home but not long enough to forget why I’d left in the first place.

“Marcus!”

The voice was unmistakable, and before I could even turn fully, Hendrick was already shoving his way through the crowd, grinning like he’d just won the lottery. He looked exactly the same—broad shoulders, shaggy hair, and that same cocky grin that could get him out of just about anything.

“You look like you’ve been living in a gym,” Hendrick said, clapping me on the back so hard I almost dropped my duffel bag. “Or did Russia turn you into some kind of secret assassin? You’ve got the vibe.”

“Not quite,” I said, smirking. “More like overworked delivery boy for shady clients.”

He laughed, slinging an arm around my shoulder. “Come on, South’s waiting in the car. You remember South, right? Your terrifying shadow?”

“How could I forget?” I muttered.

---

The streets of Manila looked the same as I remembered: busy, loud, and unrelenting. Tricycles zipped in and out of traffic, honking horns blended into the distant chatter of street vendors, and the occasional jeepney sputtered by, overloaded with passengers.

Hendrick filled the silence with updates I hadn’t asked for. “Old Man Ramirez finally sold his lot—some developer’s turning it into a strip mall. And guess what? Your mom still makes the best lumpia in the neighborhood. Also, Ryna…”

I glanced at him sharply. “What about Ryna?”

He smirked, clearly enjoying my reaction. “Oh, nothing. She’s just been asking about you.”

“She has?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“Relax, man. I’m kidding. You think Ryna has time to care about anyone but herself? She’s still the same old her—quick to fight, quicker to win. But hey, maybe she’ll surprise you. People change, right?”

I didn’t answer. Ryna Maseltov had been a constant in my life growing up. Our families were close—too close—and we spent more time together than I cared to remember. She was the kind of person who could piss you off and make you laugh all in the same breath. I hadn’t thought about her much while I was away, but now the memories came flooding back.

---

When we pulled up to the Sinary estate, it hit me how little had changed. The tall gates, the sprawling gardens, even the faint hum of cicadas in the air—it was all the same. But stepping out of the car, I felt like an intruder, like I didn’t belong here anymore.

South was waiting by the front door, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. He gave me a short nod when I stepped out of the car. “Boss.”

“South,” I said, shaking his hand. “Still keeping things in line?”

“As much as I can,” he replied. His tone was flat, his expression unreadable. Same old South.

Inside, the house smelled like home—my mom’s cooking, mixed with the faint scent of incense she always burned in the evenings. I barely had time to take it in before she appeared, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug.

“You’re thinner,” she said, stepping back to look me over. “Are you eating properly over there? You look tired.”

“I’m fine, Ma,” I said, trying to smile.

She cupped my face, her eyes softening. “You’re home now. That’s all that matters.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that “home” didn’t feel the way it used to.

“Your father’s in the study with Pyson,” she said, her tone growing colder at the mention of Pyson’s name.

Of course, Pyson would be here.

---

The study was just as I remembered—dark wood furniture, bookshelves packed with old volumes, and a faint smell of cigar smoke that clung to the walls. My father and Pyson were sitting across from each other, their conversation stopping abruptly when I walked in.

“Marcus,” Pyson said, standing to greet me. His smile was sharp, calculating. “Welcome back. How was the flight?”

“Long,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

“Good to see you, son,” my dad said, though he looked more tired than pleased. His shoulders were slumped, his face lined with worry.

“The situation with Silverstone is worse than we expected,” Pyson said, cutting straight to the point. “We’ll need you back in the field sooner than later.”

Jacob Silverstone. Just hearing the name made my fists clench. The man was a snake, a rival weapons dealer with no morals and too much power. He’d been a thorn in our side for years, but apparently, the situation had escalated while I was away.

“I’ll be ready,” I said simply.

---

Later that evening, I found myself wandering the gardens, trying to make sense of the day. The air was cooler now, the cicadas louder. This place used to be my sanctuary, but now it just felt… empty.

“Didn’t expect to see you here so soon,” a voice called out.

I turned to see her—Ryna Maseltov. She was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, her sharp features illuminated by the soft glow of the garden lights.

“Ryna,” I said, nodding in acknowledgment.

She smirked, pushing off the tree and walking toward me. “Still brooding, I see. Russia didn’t fix that, huh?”

“Still picking fights, I see,” I shot back.

She laughed, the sound surprisingly light. “Well, it wouldn’t be any fun otherwise.”

There was a beat of silence as we stood there, sizing each other up. She looked the same, yet different. Older. Stronger. But there was something in her eyes—something guarded.

“You’re back for good?” she asked finally.

“For now,” I said.

“Good,” she said, her tone shifting. “We’ve got work to do.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Your dad and my dad have been screwing this business up for years. It’s about time someone fixed their mess.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or be annoyed. “And you think you’re the one to do it?”

“Why not?” she said, her eyes glinting with challenge. “Unless you think you can do better?”

I shook my head, a small smirk tugging at my lips. Same old Ryna.

But as we stood there in the quiet of the garden, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this time, things were going to be different.