Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
And I let myself. I open my mouth. His tongue invades me, and I kiss him back with stupid abandon, aware that I’ve gotten myself into something much worse than I ever imagined, but I don’t care anymore.
I’m here in this moment. I’m doing this tonight. And when he drops me off in the morning, it’ll feel like this was just some wild dream.
For now, I don’t want to wake up.
MASS
My main office in the Fortress is in the heart of the first floor. It was once a gym, but I had it totally renovated a couple of years back when I got sick of riding the elevator to the top tower every time I wanted to work. Now the massive area is filled with books, couches, a huge fireplace fit for a medieval castle, and several desks. Computers hum and monitors glow. Several of my secretaries are working quietly at their stations. It’s big enough in here for a mid-sized company to operate. Except it’s just me and my trusted few.
Lucy’s at her station nearby, ignoring everyone as always.
“She’s comfortable but a little out of sorts still,” Satya says, pouring me a cup of tea. Behind me, a portrait of five dragons tearing the world apart looms over everything. “I’ll check back in shortly.”
“That’s good. I want her taken care of.”
“Could I make a suggestion, Mass?” Satya smiles warmly. The old woman is one of the rare employees who uses my first name. To everyone else, I’m Mr. Cardone or simply sir, which I prefer. It’s easier to keep a distance when they treat me like their boss.
“I suspect you’ll say it regardless of what I want.”
“You might want to see her yourself.” She places a small plate of cookies beside the tea. I never eat them, but she always offers anyway. She keeps saying one of these days I’ll give up denying them, and on that day, my life will change. “She needs some reassurance.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“Physically, yes, absolutely. But mentally?”
“My wife will be strong. Or else—” I leave that unspoken.
Satya only nods, still smiling. “No doubt about it. Either sink or swim. That’s the Cardone way. Even still, she is your wife, and that is your daughter."
“You will ensure they have what they need.”
Satya hears the tone in my voice and she’s smart enough to let it go. “Alrighty, I can do that. Do you need anything else? Have you eaten yet?”
“I’m fine. But go make sure my wife is sufficiently fed.”
“Sir, yes, sir.” Satya grins, mock-salutes, and walks off. She gives Lucy a little wave on her way out.
I sigh and drink the tea. It’s strong and deeply flavorful. I normally prefer coffee, but Satya is like a magician when it comes to brewing this stuff. I keep asking where she gets the leaves from and she jokes that the secret is the only thing making sure I don’t cut her throat for some little mistake.
She’s not entirely wrong.
I lose myself in spreadsheets and emails. My empire is vast and complicated. Most of my job these days involves negotiations and logistics. I could outsource most of that work to dozens of competent underlings, but I didn’t get to where I am by handing away work.
I shape the world. I bend it to my will. I don’t let anyone else take that from me.
“Mass, news from Bulgaria.” Lucy appears in front of my desk with her customary phone shoved in her face. “Georgi Todorov reports that the missing shipment was found.”
“That’s good. How much did he recover?”
“Nothing. The drugs were burned and the girls are either dead or missing.”
I take a slow breath and blow it out. “Authorities?”
“Not involved, from what I understand. Someone else did it.”
“Who would involve themselves in my operations?”
She gives me a flat look. “You know who.”
I close my eyes and rub my forehead. “The fucking bear.”
“Medved,” she agrees while rapidly tapping at her screen. “How should we respond?”
I consider the options. Medved has been a problem for months, but recently he has gotten much too brazen and aggressive. The problem is every time I try to bring him down, he disappears into the deep forests of northern Russia or hides out somewhere in remote Moldova.
We all know what he’s doing. Not even Lucy will come out and admit it. But Medved has gotten more and more brazen while I’ve been unable to completely crush him.
The man wants my power. He wants to take my title.
That’s how a crime lord becomes a Dragon.
Ascent through blood.
Nobody is born to it. They only take it by force.
“Hire local gangs in Romania and have them smoke out any Medved-aligned factions. Provide weapons and funding.”
“You’re okay with starting a border war?”
“Approve of skirmishes, but avoid an all-out conflict. I will handle the exact weapons and munitions myself. If the fighting gets bad enough to reach the American newspapers, I’ll be unhappy.”