Andrew had spent the morning working with Liam and Arya Croft today preparing for the transition to the new site and filing formal business notices to the correct authorities. Around noon, Anika finally rolled in on her bike, dressed in her black riding leathers.
“You didn’t run away from the capital this time, did you? You are not going to have an army of lord Reva’s men coming to find you again, right?” asked Andrew.
“It's good to see you too.” She said as she patted his cheek. “and no, I did not run away this time, but that is not to say some of the capital spies will not be lurking about. I swear, I feel like there are always eyes on me these days.” Anika replied.
“Hmm, I am not sure I care for the sound of that,” replied Andrew.
“You are just jealous that someone other than you is staring at me.” She said coyly.
“hmmm,” Andrew chuckled and pulled her into a side hug as they walked in to see Arya and continue reviewing plans for the
That evening, across town, Liam was meeting with several big bosses of the underground circle of Durres. Each man had laid claim to a different sector of the city. They were all here to convince Liam to settle with the lord butcher. “Liam, it's bad for business for you to have a blood feud in our streets. We are willing to buy off the rest of your businesses to help you raise the capital.” Said one. “I have sold all my underground business. I don’t need to sell anything else. I never had need of cash in the first place.” Said Liam calmly, leaning back in his chair. “Come now, man. We all know you owe a huge sum to the lord Butcher. 50 million is not easy money. Even if you broke your entire capital chain with new loans, it may not be possible. Look, we are willing to let you have a loan, and will offer you a great rate. Dreadnaught can be collateral against the butcher killing you outright. Surely if you settle tonight, well before the deadline, he may only b
In a dark stock room near the eastern dock, Shane Eisen was tossed against a crate, gagged and bound. “Piece of shit. It's because of you the master is now a useless chunk of plaster. Now we have to face the wrath of his brother! The lord fucking butcher himself! Do you know how much trouble we are in now that he is here in person because your stupid ass put us on that job! 5 million! 5 fucking million! as if 5 million was enough to cross the lord butcher! Who the fuck did you put us up against you jackass!” cussed the brawler as he kicked Shane Eisen repeatedly. “relax man, he cannot tell you anything until you ungag him.” Said another. “I just want him to understand the shit storm he has brought down on us all!” said the first. They finally ungagged Shane who choked up a mouthful of blood. “I don’t know who you pissed off. I just asked you to mess with my niece. She has no backing. She was tossed out of the family. She has no connections, no
“Well, his legs anyway,” Alexa replied. “Why you little bi…” The door blew off its hinges from a blow so strong it flew in, flattening two of the brawlers. Anika and Andrew stepped in simultaneously, already in motion, moving in perfect unison, to attack the stunned brawlers to either side. Anika and Andrew both punched and two fell before the noise of the door crashing had even ceased, and they spun, to the left, kicking the two men standing on the opposite side of the doorway, their bodies slamming into the steel beams of the wall with a sickening crack. Andrew then grabbed Anika by the wrist and they twisted in a synchronized twist that sent Anika spinning across the room like a bullet, feet first, to slam her heels into the chest of the final brawler. His chest collapsed under the sudden assault and Anika used his body and a launchpad to land between the girls and Lord Butcher. “Anika! You made it!” said Alexa. “please, let me have some of the fun
On the other side of Durres, the underground bosses were gloating over their new businesses and discussing how to divide up Liam’s legitimate business as well. “If that bastard is not going to use the funds we provided to pay off lord Butcher, he will be dead by morning!” one said. “Indeed! He is lucky we were generous enough to pay what little we did. We should have just taken those businesses. But now we can lay claim to Dreadnought Investment Group as well! I hear he has started a nice new construction site with ties to the medical group. That should be worth a decent penny!” said another. “Yes, but will we be able to keep these or will the Lord butcher claim them himself on top of what we paid Liam? Can we resist the lord Butcher if he comes at us?” a third cut in nervously. “Surely the Lord butcher has enough to deal with, and would leave us this slice?” said the first. “Besides, Liam will be dead, and this vengeance saded” Just then a ru
In the Golden Dragon Emporium Club, Liam sat in an office he used while managing the club. Cold sweat poured from his back. If anything happened tonight to Andrew, or any of the girls, his life was forfeit. The way he had spoken to those other bosses of the underground was unforgivable. However, he had played it off as cool and collected, and followed Andrew’s instruction. If Andrew ordered, he would do, and Andrew had ordered him to clean out all dark business. The profit loss from that was enormous, but Liam had already seen in just the few short weeks Andrew had been here just how large he planned to make his Dragon Corporation Empire. Loses now from the underground would be a drop in the bucket tomorrow when he looked back and compared the profits gained by following Andrew. “Sir, there is news.” Said one of his men. “go on,” Liam said, almost fearing the answer. “It is done.” “Done?” “Lord Butcher was seen being dragged from the city by h
Later that evening – Celeana’s room. Knock knock knock “Enter!” In walked the family spymaster. “Ah, have you news?” asked Celeana coldly. “are the bitches dead or otherwise no longer in the picture?” “My lady there was an issue.” “Issue? How hard can it be for a group of thugs to kidnap, rape, and dispose of a couple of girls, dammit!” Celeana vented. “My lady, it seems that these particular women may have more protection than we were originally aware. And there are other… developments. It seems the lord Butcher and his brother, one known as Maahes, were both hired to mess with Roisin and hinder her work efforts.” “Really? Well, that is fine. Double the pay to get the job done permanently.” “My lady, Roisin, her cousin, and the woman named Alexa were successfully captured. However… it seems that their protection detail arrived within a matter of minutes. It was… very one-sided.” “How so?” Asked Ce
Ashia home counsel: “My Lord, The God of war, Nash, is at the gates and on his way to see you.” Said the house steward. “WHAT?! Here? NOW? What could that blood-thirsty monster want?” said the old Lord Devos. “My lord, please be careful. It is said the gods each have enhanced hearing. It would not be good for him to hear such words.” Said the steward. “You are correct. It is just hard to fathom the king granting such power to someone as young as he.” Said the lord Devos, who himself was in his seventieth year. “It seems the king saw fit to name several who are of the younger generation. I believe Jackson and Zev might be in their mid-forties, but the rest are younger. My lord, shall I summon your sons?” asked the steward. “Yes, If the God of war is here, they might as well meet him. Also, alert the house guard. Not that I think they could take him, but still, best be prepared nonetheless.” Said Lord Alan Devos, patriarch of the D
Lord Connor Devos, son to lord Governor Devos, sat in his office, deep in the keep of the Ashain capital city of Kaibain. He picked up his phone and dialed his spymaster. “Yes my lord” came the stoke voice of the shadow master. “I need an update on Celeana. What the HELL has she been doing?” demanded Connor Devos. “Sir? Forgive me sir, but did you not approve this mission to find the lost son-in-law?” “I approved her to look for him, yes! Sign the divorce and be done!” stated Connor. “My Lord, forgive me, but it seems your daughter has taken a different meaning from your words. She is here looking for her husband, but not to break the contract. I believe it is her intention to consummate it and bring him back to Ashai.” “What the hell has gotten into that girl! The peerage is already mocking us because of such a son-in-law! Does she seek to shake the whole family?” asked Conner. “I do not know for sure sir, but I think she is s