Chapter 22 Azrael #2
Now that was a development. Those two couldn’t have possibly known that, but dear Mr. Raine would have.
Had he questioned why one of the grunts there hadn’t made it to class?
Had he confronted father dearest about it?
The Initiation Program was still very new in Russia, but I suppose this little incident will prove to be quite good in the eyes of the mountain man.
Further proof that the idea of his school was completely founded.
Whatever the answers may be, I would need to make a call as soon as this was over. Perhaps he just assumed Igor ran, unable to handle the pressure of the trials. Perhaps he was just relieved that Igor had decided to run before Initiation started rather than after.
Igor would have been labeled just another Initiate who went rogue the second he stepped out of the program.
I had studied the profiles of the Initiates that had gone rogue, and there was nothing in their files indicating that it was something they would do.
There was a possibility that Raine never would have seen it coming.
He had done his job and calling me over one man who stopped attending wasn’t a red flag, not in and of itself.
“When will we go after them in full force? Why can’t we just handle it. There are enough of us.”
The same song on a different day.
A chorus of young males agreeing met my ears. Such ignorance in that room. Youth did not equate to power. Especially not in this church. These boys have never fought for anything in their lives, but my family? Our teeth were red with the carnage we’ve left behind.
“If you wish to go against the Elders, then do so of your own volition, but we will not protect you,” Garrett told them.
“Your fates are your own, as for the reason we’ve gathered today.
It has nothing to do with the Elders and their decisions against The Family.
They protect us from them, we obey the Good Book and any laws they lay down for us. Unless it affects us directly—”
“Louis died,” another young male stated.
Silence swept across the room before Garrett spoke again. “It is six months until the marriage of the Blessed one.”
“We all know the laws we have in place for the Favorites, the auctions, the trades going on today, but as a reminder, she is held to a higher standard.”
I straightened. That was new. Four years, and I have never heard anything about her being held to a different set of rules.
She wasn’t allowed to speak, to look people in the eyes, to be penetrated in any way, although that had been broken three weeks ago.
She was to wear what Thomas told her to wear, she was to marry him, and he was to be her only owner.
While other Favorites had multiple owners, Scarlett Harris was only allowed one, although Thomas shared her with the Leaders so they could have a taste of her so-called ‘blessing’.
“I still don’t understand why he chose to share her,” one of the younger males commented. “I never would have shared her. Not until I got a taste of that honey-coated pussy.”
My eyes narrowed at that. I had assumed it was required because of her being Blessed. Why would Thomas share such a sacred artifact, according to their church, if he hadn’t been required to?
“Enough, Brandon,” Garrett snapped. “The six-month mark is coming up in a few days, which would normally mean that the bond is locked until marriage.”
Whoever the Favorite was betrothed to was the only person they could spend any time with before the marriage in the remaining six months.
“However, the Elders have decided that, due to her circumstances, they will allow her to be picked as another’s Favorite. She will be allowed to have more than one owner who can make his or her own rules during the remaining six months.”
How interesting. The Elders must have heard of her impurities by now. Someone must have petitioned the church to have a piece of her before she was married off.
Murmurs erupted around the room. Excitement barely contained as the possibilities grew.
Everyone wanted a piece of her. Everyone wanted to feel that tongue of hers wrapped around their cock, but as they all spoke of what they wanted to do to her, my own plans grew.
I could accomplish more in six months than others could in a lifetime.
“Tick tock goes the clock, Leaders gather ‘round. Tick tock goes the clock, it’s now my playground.”
~ ~ ~
“Azrael,” the rose said in way of greeting. “Calling for help?”
My smile widened. “Dear wild rose, you know you’re the first person I’ll call if I am in need of my own mind.
” After a brief conversation with Raine, he confirmed my suspicions.
Igor simply stopped attending. He had no idea what happened to him.
He didn’t even know that the daffodil or her partner were in Russia.
He would have loved to show them around.
He wanted to talk more about what teaching at the school would require, but I couldn’t chat.
“Compliments,” she sang. “Not your forte.”
“It’s only a compliment in your eyes.”
She released a breath. “Why have you called, dear chess player?”
I leaned onto my cane, back on the balcony overlooking the room. The dear little sinner was still following Thomas, the congregation of Leaders and their sons now reintegrating back into the room.
Thomas was trying to find one of his friends, it seemed.
Did he know what his father had just announced?
Because I saw many hungry sharks in the water now, searching for the blood I would soon spill.
“The mountains have been planning a school for the less desirables for quite some time now. How has it progressed since I was last there?”
“He’s figured out some courses,” she answered easily. “We’ll be able to train some powerful people when this thing opens. Especially with those six families teaching and attending.”
“Good. I have something else that may help his little cause.”
There was a shuffle. “I’m listening.”
“Jacky boy and his little daffodil were recently in Russia, killing a man who went by the name Igor.”
She was quiet a moment. “Two weeks ago, I believe,” she confirmed.
So recent, yet enough time for an alert to be given. The heir should have known about it by now. “That man was a fox, wild rose.”
The tension grew. “How…” She rethought her questions. “You said you vetted Raine.”
“Raine is fine, but the Russians? Someone is there,” I sang.
Opening a program in Russia had always been against my best interest. Malachi expanded in the wrong way.
Nikita and his four sons were promising but not promising enough to open an entire program there.
It should have been kept in the US for now.
Going to other countries just led to problems.
“I’ll let Everett know,” she told me. “If there was a fox there, should we assume there will be more here?”
“Questions in need of answers,” I purred, watching as whispers were spread and eyes began shifting to the unknowing sinner. “Remind him of the Fall deadline, hmm?” I pushed again.
“I’ll let him know.”
Giving them a morsel to push them towards the right path was always fun. Especially with new and eager blood like the rose’s. “Good, have fun, wild rose, I may call upon you yet.”
“Tick tock,” she hummed and hung up.
I couldn’t help but smile. A prodigy, she was, a perfect little mixture of the mountains and I, but the little sinner? She was ready to be used by someone who could force her to use that little brain of hers.
I searched the waves of people below until I found the good Pastor. He was, of course, surrounded by men of all ages making their case to get their hands on the Blessed One.
I pulled out my other phone and sent him a text.
Azrael
2m for her. I want to be
the only one.
I waited, watching carefully.
He pulled out his phone a moment later, reading it over, his motions slowing, his eyes focusing.
For 3m more, I’ll give you her hand
in marriage.
My brows lifted. Interesting offer. One I hadn’t considered. It could bring advantages. More time to break their hold on her so I could get the information I needed that had long since been locked away in that mind of hers.
Azrael
I’ll consider it. For now, just
the 2m
I would need to put some thought into it. If I could crack her in the six months, then I didn’t care where she ended up. My job would be done.
But this church had done a deep number on her pretty little soul.
She lacked trust, faith, any bodily autonomy of her own.
Perhaps it would take longer than I predicted to get the answers I so desired.
Whatever the case, I would keep that information in my pocket. Even God’s Blessed One had a price.