Page 189 of Darling Wildfire
We walked through the back door of the club and Nyx and Atlas were standing there waiting.
“You good?” I asked them.
Nyx was practically vibrating with adrenaline but he nodded, looking more composed than when I’d spoken to him on the phone. Atlas looked as calm as ever and if I didn’t know him as well as I did, I’d think this wasn’t affecting him. Except I knew better.
“Lach and Demetrius are clearing the bar,” he said.
I headed down the hallway towards the main floor of the club. The smell of alcohol, cigars and perfume from the dancers assaulted me as I rounded the corner and stepped down into the moody lighting of the speakeasy. Lach and Demetrius stood near the front door, speaking quietly to some of my men.
But I had eyes only for the man at the bar. He turned and those sinister eyes that haunted me locked on mine with a slow sinister smile on his lips.
“Vetticus,” I said, stopping in front of him.
He looked the same as he had a decade ago—the same lithe body, morebusiness man than military. His hair was a little longer, a little grayer and his face had a few more wrinkles, but it was him—the man who’d stolen everything from me. The man who I’d spent every waking hour of the last ten plus years planning my revenge against.
“Kraven,” he purred, stepping down from the barstool, he looked me over in appreciation. “Time has been good to you I see.” He looked around at the bar. “You’ve built quite the empire for yourself—all while staying hidden for some time.”
“Well, you found me,” I said.
He chuckled. “Don’t start thinking me a fool now, Kraven,” he said condescendingly. “You wanted to be found.”
I shrugged. “So did you.”
He inclined his head, his smirk stretching to his eyes. “A great reminder of how much we’re alike, don’t you think? What did you say back then?We break people. Are you still a monster, Kraven?”
When I didn’t answer, he gave me a knowing look before he turned his head to take in the space.
“Still trying to play house I see,” Vetticus said. “You have quite the family unit going on.”
His gaze settled behind me on Nyx and Atlas, and his eyes sharpened. Heat poured through me and I wanted to drag his attention away from them.
“Reaper, Phantom—good to see you two again.”
“Can’t say I share that sentiment,” Nyx said.
“Go fuck yourself, Vetticus,” Atlas growled.
Vetticus’ eyes crinkled at the edges as he chuckled. He turned his attention back to me.
“Well, I’ll cut to the chase,” Vetticus said. “I’m here for you. So—here’s the part where I say we can do this the easy way…or we can do this the hard way.”
Vetticus motioned to his men who moved towards me.
Atlas stepped forward. “He’s not going with you.”
“I see we’re choosing the hard option,” Vetticus said easily. “I’m afraid you’re outnumbered in this.”
He pulled his gun out and leveled it at Atlas, then looked over at Demetrius.
“Sorry, North,” Demetrius said as he pulled out his own gun and pointed it at me. Viktor, Konstantine and a group of other Bratva stepped out of the shadows, guns pointed at my men.
“Demetrius,” I growled. “Why?”
“A better business opportunity presented itself.”
“What did he give you?”
“Stakes in the games—exclusivity,” Demetrius shrugged. “It’s always about money and getting ahead isn’t it?”
