ZADE

I watched everything from my office. The view of the open field wasn’t too far from here.

Elliot was putting Anastasia through upon my orders. She doesn’t look happy that she was involved in all this, but it made this more satisfying to see that look plastered on her face.

Because I knew she had no choice but to think of me and mentally curse me in her head.

The rifle was too heavy for her, and Elliot helped balance her, giving a few instructions. My narrowed eyes fixated on that hand that momentarily touched her waist and then her arms.

I told myself he was doing what I asked, and that there was no harm done.

I brought the glass to my lips, but before I could take a sip, I realized I was gripping it too hard; I could almost hear it crack.

I moved my eyes to Anastasia again. She was able to balance herself, but Elliot needed to keep her from falling over.

My chest expanded as I took a deep exhale. I should be the one teaching her, but I resorted to this because of the attitude she gave me yesterday.

After her body had finally welcomed me in... the look in her eyes when the cameras were all over us, how her body caved so easily for me, only for her to rid me like I was a piece of trash.

She was fighting so hard for no reason at all, and even though I welcomed this wholeheartedly, I’m starting to feel... annoyed.

Patience.

I’ve been fucking patient for the last two years. All I could do was watch from the sidelines, watching her live her life when she should have spent that every moment with me.

My patience is wearing thin.

"And more reports were brought in... apparently, the shipments were intercepted by Don King. He’s really not happy with your business transactions in his turf."

"Ares King," I mumbled his name. "The Devil of Midnight."

"He’s not someone you should underestimate."

I faced Lisa, and she quickly said.

"Our contacts in Midnight made sure not to leave that part out."

"I do business. The Devil of Midnight isn’t gonna stop me." I finished the drink in one swift move.

"What do you plan to do?"

"Simple. My clients still want what I sell, and they are gonna get it. The Devil can just deal with it."

Lisa gulped. "The last shipment was gone without a trace; it’s already disturbing enough that he made an entire container disappear like that."

I walked back to my table, turning the laptop to see the statistics, quite on the low side because of this Devil of Midnight.

I knew for a fact Don King wasn’t someone to underestimate, but that was a bridge I was eager to cross. Midnight isn’t called that name for fancy; the underworld there was quite something, and I wanted a portion of it, but the damn Devil wasn’t ready to share.

"How about this? Pitch him an offer he can’t resist."

"A-An offer?"

"Yes..." I said, grinning. "I have the resources. Send Timothy, he’s good for the job."

"Yes, Don."

Lisa left the office, but the door opened again, and a creak whistled through the space.

I lowered my eyes to Caleb wheeling into my office.

"Brother..." he said.

"This is rare. To what do I owe this visit?" I sat on my chair, and he came close.

"Just hearing a thing or two, so I came to confirm."

"About what?"

"Is it true the Russos are gonna be participating in the hunt?" he asked with a frown.

I opened the lid of the decanter and poured whiskey into the rocks glass.

"Originally, it was meant to be a dinner, but I decided to take it up a notch. Make it more intimate. It’ll be far more interesting that way. You should join us."

Caleb dropped his gaze to his hands, nervously fidgeting in his lap. A habit of his that became excessive whenever he was around me.

"You know me, I don’t like those things," he said. "The sight of blood makes me sick."

"You’re a Salvero."

"And now you sound like Dad."

His words made the glass stop midway to my lips.

"Or what I recall..." he added, looking anywhere but me, like my office was tolerable more than me.

I can’t blame him. I have always been hard on him, hard on all of them. But it was necessary. Our parents left the world too soon, and all they had was me.

I was a boy who didn’t know what the fuck he was doing, but I did what I could to ensure they all survived.

I set the glass down on the table, pinning him with my gaze, and Caleb found a semblance of courage to continue.

"You always take risks."

"Risks are necessary. Empires aren’t built by cautious men."

My father’s words, but it has become mine in the long run.

"Just like marrying Anastasia?" he snapped, still not meeting my eyes, his fingers fidgeting rapidly. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

He could never maintain his posture with me, not like the others. They feared and respected me, but Caleb feared me more.

He saw me as the monster under his bed. And I was.

Not his saint,

Not his hero.

I was the monster that hunted down every other monster foolish to come near him.

"She was finally free of you, yet you dragged her back in. It should’ve been her choice to make, not yours."

As though he had finally said what weighed on his chest, his trembling hands settled on the wheels of his chair. A moment later, he turned and wheeled away.

Her choice to make.

There was no choice for Anastasia... none. The moment I decided I wanted her, every other outcome ceased to exist.

My eyes landed on the drawer. I pulled it open, and inside lay a diary with a worn ribbon attached to it.

Blue.