Page 109 of Feral King

I look back at Dobrov, his gun still trained on me. Murdering me in the middle of the council would ruin his attempt at legitimacy.

“This council was a setup from the beginning, the intention being to play everyone here for fools. Alexander would take power while Dobrov and Lee pulled the strings behind the scenes. But it’s not going to happen.”

I turn to Alexander. “Did this plan suit you, Alex? Being the empty suit in the throne, so smarter people could work through you? I suppose as long as you’ve got your party yachts and OnlyFans girls on speed-dial you’re happy.”

“Careful, brother.”

I turn to the rest of the council, to the other men who have been blindsided by this treachery.

“This council was a farce. Had their plan worked they wouldn’t have stopped there. I don’t need to tell you that, once I’m out of the way, Dobrov and Lee won’t stop with just my position. They’ll come for all of you, one by one.”

My words hang in the air as the council members exchange cautious glances.

Lee clears her throat. “There is no need for speeches, Julian. Call it unfair, but these men are not interested in you having power for your sake. They want money, and this partnership with the Triads will provide it for them. May I recommend that you cease the theatrics and step down?”

“No, because this isn’t a matter of merely transferring power—this is a matter of life and death. There’s a jammer on this room, if the rest of you haven’t noticed. And my pregnant girlfriend is out there with a security detail that can’t reach me. I’m telling you, and my brother, that if something has happened to her during this meeting, there will be a tremendous price to pay.”

I sweep my gaze over the council.

“And that’s to say nothing of the danger the rest of you are in. If they’re willing to come after a pregnant woman in order to gain power, what do you think they’ll do to your families once you’re in the way?”

The men shift in their seats. I can sense that my words got to them. Dobrov’s smile is gone, his gun slightly lowered. The room has turned, pulling away from him, Lee, and Alexander.

Baranov clears his throat and speaks. “Put the gun down,Dobrov. Such behavior is highly inappropriate for a council meeting.”

The subtext is simple—if you want to live to see another day, dispense with the bullshit—now.

But Dobrov doesn’t put down the gun.

“The council has been compromised,” he says. I can hear the anxiety in his tone, his bravado cracking. He didn’t plan for this.

Baranov narrows his eyes.

“Put. The gun. Down.”

Dobrov’s gaze sweeps the room as he tries to determine which of the council is still on his side. He finds fewer than he hoped for.

Lee steps over to the side door and knocks on it quickly. It opens and four men enter, all of them Triad, all of them armed.

Shit.

Lee turns her attention back to me.

“Mr. Volkov, that will be enough. Relinquish your position, allow the council to vote for your brother, and we will end this meeting. Otherwise?—”

Between her words and the armed men, the threat is clear. Lee, Dobrov, and Alexander are all but taking the Bratva by force.

“Brother,” Alexander says. “Think about what you’re doing, what’s at stake.”

Another clear threat.

“Let us vote,” Lee says, “and be done with it.”

“There isn’t going to be a vote,” Federov says, standing. “Not like this, not with guns and jammed phones and?—”

Lee nods to her men.

The first shot gets Federov in the throat.