Page 35 of Den of Thieves

No one noticed Vladimir yet. Everyone’s eyes were focused on the angry 6’7’’ Russian in a smoking jacket and slippers, waving a pair of bloody pliers in the air.

Vladimir looked back towards the staff trembling in their chains. One man’s fingers lay at his feet. His swollen palms were the only thing stopping the cuffs around his wrists from slipping through. A woman had a river of blood pouring from her mouth. There was what looked to be a tongue at her feet. No one made a sound, even though many of them cried openly.

“And after all I’ve done for your families, you dare poison the only person I care about! The only woman on this planet with a heart too pure for words.”

Vladimir raised his brows and stepped forward, finally making his presence known. “And here I thought you had repressed feelings for men all these years.”

“Vladimir… our yearly chats are usually done over the phone.” Vadim rolled his eyes, not shocked to have a visitor.

“Is that any way to greet your favorite cousin?”

“You’re my only cousin,” he growled.

“The only one you like,” Vladimir coughed into his hand.

Vadim grunted in response before addressing his staff again. “I should let you all starve or bleed out. Whichever comes first.” A few of the maids at least had the decency to look ashamed.

Vadim turned on his heel and headed back into the kitchen.

Vladimir followed in his cousin’s wake. Something was different about Vadim. Yes, he was still as volatile as he used to be, but this time there was a method to his madness. A reason for his ire other than boredom. Vladimir smiled to himself. There weren’t many things on this planet with the power to change a man that set in his ways.

They weren’t the closest, but there has always been a mutual respect between the two. Vadim may have had 10 years on his cousin, but he never treated Vladimir like a baby when they first met or like his youth was akin to a lack of knowledge.

“Stomping out a coup?” Vladimir surmised, as Vadim washed the blood off his hands.

“That is none of your concern.”

“What? You don’t like small talk anymore?”

Vadim stared at him for a moment before picking up a tablet and walking away. “Come, let’s head towards the fire.”He said over his shoulder.

“Let me know if you need help getting answers down there. I haven’t had a good interrogation in a few months.”

“Only a few months?” Vadim snorted before slowing his pace. “Ma always said to look out for you. But even at thirteen, you were a force that could not be stopped.”

Vladimir nodded, falling into step with him. “You were the one of the few that did not seem surprised when Gustaf named me his successor.”

Vadim shrugged. “To go against the will of the King is suicide. A blind man could see that your power and influence were too big to ignore. Besides, only weak men thirst for what will never be.”

“You are a philosopher now?”

Vadim let out a bark of laughter. “I have been called worse.”

Vladimir looked around the old castle as they walked the halls. The artwork and tapestry had not changed since he was there last over five years ago.

The cold, damp air gave way to pleasant warmth as they neared Vadim’s sitting room. It was more like an office with a large desk in one corner and bookshelves filled with ancient weapons. Two leather chairs sat opposite the imposing fireplace big enough for a whole hog.

Vadim carefully set up his tablet on a side table before pouring them both drinks. Curiously, Vladimir looked over, shocked to see a woman on the screen asleep in a large ornate bed.Her dark bronze skin had a pale gray hue to it. Vladimir thought she looked more than a little sickly.

“That is Angela. She is resting now, but she may be up for visitors in a few days if you plan on sticking around.”

When Angela opened her eye’s briefly to let out a weak cough, he glimpsed the biggest golden-brown eyes he’d ever seen on a person. She reminded him of that deer movie his wife played for the children.

Vladimir sat back, taking a sip of vodka. “I don’t know how much time I have, cousin.”

“On this earth or in my home?”

Vladimir shrugged. “These days, they are one and the same.”

---