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Prologue
Rhys
I turn my wrist and stare down at my watch, wondering what the hell is taking my glorious King and Queen so long. I’ve been here for well over half an hour, instructed to be here at three o’clock in the afternoon sharp. You’d think that they’d make sure they’re here for our meeting, but it seems to me like they’re enjoying being tardy. I wonder if it’s some sort of power play from the both of them. If their lateness is supposed to make me nervous, shaking in my boots, terrified of what’s to come. It doesn’t though, I’ve been through a fuck of a lot when it comes to the Clans and not even a meeting with my leaders will make me worry.
I stiffen up in my seat, pressing my back further against the wooden detail that goes up along the wall. I’d much rather be back home in Russia right now versus in America. I’ve never been a big fan of this country, and every time I visit, there is some sort of catch. I’m a man who hates surprises, so it isn’t shocking that I don’t appreciate them.
“Rhys, long time no see.” Mariana’s voice greets me out of nowhere. I dart my eyes over to where her voice came from, looking her up and down, unable to stop staring at those damn deathtrap heels she has on. If the foyer wasn’t carpeted I would’ve been able to hear her from a mile away.
“Not long enough,” I grumble out, standing from my seat. I glance around quickly and look for her other half, not seeing him in sight.
“Ion is waiting for us. Come along.” I follow Mariana down the hallway until she opens a door and leads us inside. Ion is seated behind a dark as midnight black desk. Upon entering, Mariana heads behind the desk and stands at his side.
“Please, sit,” Ion says to me. I nod and head to the seat directly across from his desk. I’m not even seated before Ion starts speaking again. “I’ll cut straight to the chase, considering none of us are here to lollygag. We have a job for you, an offering of sorts.”
I scoff, wondering what sort of offering would even interest me. I have everything I need to survive. There is nothing else that I desire - not a damn thing.
“I wouldn’t scoff if I were you, Rhys. Do you not remember the friends you once kept?” Mariana pipes up, those dark eyes of hers staring me down. I know of the friend she is reminding me of, one who caused her so much pain at one time. Only, back then I didn’t know anything. None of us knew who her captor was until she was found, and a little while before that is when I was burned by my so called ‘friend’.
“Why should I still pay for the sins of my past?” I question them both, not seeing where they’re getting at.
“It’s simple, because your sins aren’t of the past. They’re present. Not only did you cause a major tiff in the relationship we had molded with the Prime Minister of Russia, but we lost the Ukraine as well. Now is your chance to fix what you have broken.” Tiff. She called it a fucking tiff. What a joke that is. Tiff is an extreme understatement. Jonas ended up killing the Prime Minister’s daughter, and while I was able to salvage a bit of the relationship...it hasn’t been the same in years. We no longer hold the political advantage that we once did, and I know that’s my fault. All because of the company I used to keep. I saw a snake back then, but I thought I could bend it to my will. Instead, it out and bit me. Now I’ve learned my lesson, though. The only good snake is a dead one.
I bring my elbows over the top of my knees and look right at them, “What exactly are you two thinking?”
Ion cocks an eyebrow, “You will go to the Ukraine and take back our trading routes. Although, there is a problem and a big one at that. They have a street queen named Vera. From the intel we’ve gathered, she owns a gang and is neck deep in other illegal activity. She’s the only way you get our trade routes back. In actuality, she’s the only way we get any part of the Ukraine. Now is the time where we need allies, and we know that we do not have that in Russia, even if the Prime Minister somehow comes back on our side. My uncle wants me dead, and he will always want that. It’s time that we go into countries where we once thrived, and into places where we haven’t ever been. Rhys, we lost Russia because of your cocky attitude in thinking that you could use Jonas. I’m giving you an opportunity to rectify what you have broken and bring us a country that we once had many, many years ago. Bring us the Ukraine, and we will forgive you for your previous actions.”
I stare at my King and Queen, wanting nothing more then to tell the both of them to fuck off. I’ve always been the black sheep of the Clans, and I was dead sure that I would be until the day that I died...but now I see an opportunity to rise, to show that I am even more valuable than they know.
I rise from my seat, “I will make arrangements to fly in tomorrow. Which city does Vera reside in?”
“Vinnytsia.” Ion replies quickly.
Well, it looks like I won’t be going back to Russia anytime soon. “I’ll keep in touch,” I say to both Mariana and Ion before I turn around and head out.
It’s time to do some digging on this Vera woman, but for some reason her name already rings a bell, and that cannot be a good thing.
