Chapter 3 Konstantin
three
Konstantin
Power builds under my skin as I open and close my fist while I gaze out my office window.
The business associate drones on in the conference call. My mind isn’t where it needs to be. Instead of the shit going on in our streets, it’s across town in the high-rise condo with my fiancée.
My strength is growing. It has since our flash bond locked into place on my side.
Tilting my head to the side, I filter out the voices in this room and try to tune into other conversations going on in the building.
My hearing has always been exceptional. I could hear farther than most normal people could. The last time Misha and I tested, I could clear a football field easily. But as I focus, I can hear the train rolling along the tracks of the metro.
Three miles away.
One hell of an improvement.
I push harder, straining to see how much farther I can go, and a dull throb lights up behind my eyes. There’s a fire in my brain as it struggles with the cacophony of sounds.
Then my brain flickers offline for a few seconds, and I hear nothing but silence.
A warm trickle comes from my nose.
With a sigh, I pull my handkerchief from my breast pocket to wipe away the blood.
“You are pushing too hard again,” Misha admonishes. “Stop being impatient and wait until your ceremony.”
Instead of answering, I turn back to my meeting, but the room is empty.
Fuck. I missed the entire thing.
“He was informing us that there was another OD. A younger one this time.”
“Another Reaper vial?”
There’s been a new synthetic drug on our streets that is killing many of our people.
They are not ours and have not authorized the sale of them.
We have a vetting process in place for any drugs that hit our streets to minimize the potential of overdoses.
Our chemists are some of the best in the world for a reason.
They create product for people to have a good time with, not fucking die from.
“Da,” Misha answers, running the scanner along the room to ensure the room is still secure after the meeting.
I wait until he gives a nod that we’re clear before speaking. “This is why I am pushing. I need to find out who is brave enough to run their supply on our streets.”
“Leave it to the brigadiers. Their men on the ground will bring us news.”
My papa taught me long before I took over the family that it was not smart to depend on others.
That you should always only depend on yourself because no one can betray you that way.
His way of thinking wasn’t something I understood.
To me, it seemed weak to not ask for help.
I do not see strength in it. Papa’s teachings are hard to brush off, as they have helped shape me into the man I am now.
Misha has been at my side since birth to make sure I do not turn into the same cold version my papa is.
People did not respect Ivan Kirovsky, they feared him.
That is not how I wish to rule. I want to rule with respect.
I want my people to count on me. My enemies are another matter entirely.
If they do not fear you, you have no control. It is the reason I fear nothing.
“Bring me Dragomir, Yuri, Zavid, and Sasha,” I order, sliding off my suit jacket and hang it from the back of my chair.
“We also need to have a conversation with our chemists to see if they’ve been able to break down the compounds of the Reaper drug.
” I scrub a hand over my face before peering back at Misha. “What is their name?”
“It was Rurik Stepanov’s son.”
“We will pay. Get Stasia to learn what they need. We will visit Rurik to reassure him we will find the person responsible.”
My phone rings and I pull it from my pocket, smiling when Cressida’s name pops up.
Misha laughs. “I will leave you to answer and go grab our brigadiers.”
“Lisichka,” I purr when I answer.
“Konstantin? Are you okay?”
The worry in her voice has me straightening in my chair. “Yes. Why? What is wrong?”
She blows out a heavy breath. “This is ridiculous.”
“What is?”
“This freaking bond. My head started hurting and then my nose burned, but there was nothing wrong with me. The only conclusion was fate’s stupid interference. What happened to you?”
Her rambling rant is cute as hell.
Fuck.
“Just a little nosebleed, Lisichka.”
“Okay then. Talk to you later.”
“Wait.”
Cressida sighs. “What?”
“Have dinner with me?”
“Sorry, I can’t. I have a date already.”
I don’t have to look at the screen to know she ended the call.
Wily little fox.
Misha steps back into my office with our brigadiers, and I push Cressida from my mind for now so I can focus.
My men stand tall with their chins up and their arms folded along their backs.
“Today, we have learned that the Reaper drug has claimed another life. I want leads. We need to find out who is producing this product and putting it on our streets. I want names. Bodies, preferably. I will not be picky. The drug is not safe for our people. Rurik Stepanov has to bury his son because I was negligent and not paying attention. There will be no more.”
I pull the knife I keep sheathed at my side and run it through my fingers.
It’s an intimidation tactic as much as it is also a soothing one.
They don’t flinch, their eyes steady on mine without a hint of fear.
“I do not care how small the lead is. Bring it to me when you have it.” They lower their chins to their chest in acknowledgement of their orders before meeting my gaze again.
“At ease, gentlemen. Now, tell me what is going on in your worlds.”
I relax back into my office chair, listening to my men, confident that I will find anyone who dared to defy me. And if they are not, then I will have to go hunting.
The shadows that they play in are my sanctuary. The darkness is a comforting embrace of secrets, mystery, and power. It’s where I live, where I thrive, so it is only a matter of time before I find their hiding spots and drag them into the light.
A thrill of righteous triumph surges through me, anticipating the sweet justice that awaits as their day of reckoning nears.