Page 33 of King’s Promise

“Do you think one of George’s men is behind the attack on Anya? Liev said he’s been short and complaining about it.”

“That’s what put him on our radar. I doubt it, but it won’t hurt to have him followed by one of our spies. Put someone on it. I want Konstantin monitored as well.”

“On it.” Pavel is a large man; traffic slows to let him walk across the street to a coffee shop. He grabs us hot caffeine as he talks on his burner phone.

It never hurts to be too careful. We have no clue who to watch. It’s like waking up in a chess game right before you realize you’re moved into checkmate.

My phone rings.

“Roman, my God, how are you?”

“Well, brother, and you?”

“Living to see another day it appears. I can’t wait to see you. Something tells me this is a quiet spell before all hell is about to let loose. I don’t like it.”

“I got you, brother. We’ll be there soon. I’ll do whatever you need.”

“Great.”

“I hear you’re doing well,” his tone invites me to add comments on my situation.

“Well enough. Anya was drugged at a club.”

“How did that happen? I’m sure you’d kill someone over that.”

“She snuck out, disguised as her younger sister who looks more like a twin. The girl who drugged her is in the wind.”

“Any read on who she might be affiliated with?”

“No clue. Can you go through the books I sent to you? They are encrypted. I want to know if anyone is skimming money.”

“Consider it done. You know, if she’s too much for you, I can make good on Dad’s promise.”

“That’s gracious of you. I take it Mother has shown you pictures of Anya?”

“Of course. You’re fulfilling the King’s promise.” Roman chuckles at the irony of me helping my father before he passed, and now I’m the king, still upholding the promise is ironic. I never dreamed becoming the King could happen so quickly. It’s like a self-fulling prophecy, only earlier than I suspected. The getting married part was a long time coming. Nice of Dad to keep that secret in the vault. I wonder if he knew I had my eye on Anya years ago. All in all, I can’t complain.

“I’m holding my own, thanks.”

“Great, then I look forward to meeting your wife.”

“And not me?” I pretend to be hurt.

“Of course you, too, brother. Blood and brotherhood can’t be denied.”

“That’s the truth.”

He rings off and I grab a cup of coffee from Pavel. I wonder if my brothers will remember Anya. I’m surprised she hasn’t mentioned her childhood, but she was young, maybe she’s forgotten me.

“Roman is going over the financials. Maybe he’ll come up with a lead. Any sightings of Darci?”

“None, we ran her through Interpol, she’s not there. There isn’t a trace. We kicked in the door to her flat, in a terrible neighborhood. I assume she did the job for money.”

“Still, it’s an elaborate ruse to spend months getting to know Anya, that takes money. She didn’t have it. There is no telling who is behind her, or what they are capable of.”

“I’m sure they’re no worse than us. Hell, only the Chechens are worse than us,” he chuckles.

I consider it for a moment. Some are within our ranks, but there are not enough of them to pull off a takeover.

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