Zephyr's Promise

31

You have the power to leave, that is your right. But you do not have the power to come back to me. Not after this.

Stretching my legs I walk on the crowded sidewalk. The smell of heated concrete slips me back to the very boy I was all those years ago. Sets me back in time as it usually does. I have been in Russia for almost a week. It has been five days since I have heard Nile's voice. Still I can't get the sorrow filled sound of her telling me not to come back out of my head. This is what I gave her up for. Heavy traffic and fuckers scared to look me in the eye.

The first three days I holed myself up in my cottage. Relegated to reliving the worst moment of my life. Leaving Nile in New York. In my life I have been shot, stabbed, kidnapped some of which has happened multiple times. Yet none of it compared to walking out that door. The longer I stay in Russia the more I question if it truly was the right decision.

In life I am the one with the answers. I control the chessboard in all aspects of life. However after winning many games and losing a few I never felt such a deep loss as I have this time. There may have been a better way but I was too stubborn to consider that. The idea didn't even form until I was already on the plane home.

There's nothing you can do now.

"Atlas." One of my men loyal to me, Bravich, falls in step. "News."

"What."

"Meeting with that little rebellious group. Now, at the Red." Stiffly I nod. "I follow."

"Any new toys?"

"Sword." He shrugs.

"Boring, but fine." Not having made it to the estate yet I only have a gun. Which will make for easy work but I am in the mood to be a bit creative. A sword will do fine for what I have planned.

These fuckers have no idea I am home and onto their secret meetings. Part of me understands the small group of revolters. Ivan is shit. Under his leadership our entire operation will sink. Generations of sacrifice down the drain. As a member of this organization I would demand change also. Unfortunately this is not a democratic situation. Meeting in the shadows even to simply to discuss leadership will be met with consequences. All it takes is one man to start war. Causing an uprising against my family will be in other words disastrous. I have to make an example of these men.

"Who leads them?"

"Asha and Radik." The twins are two enforcers who moved up enough in rank to head up operations for us. It's too bad they will lose their life for this, they were doing well.

The Red is a small family owned restaurant where most of our business meetings are held. Asha and Radik know we would never question them taking meetings there as it is the norm. Silently I curse the two. If it weren't for Bravich I would be completely unaware of what is happening right under my nose. I wonder if Papa knows the extent of these rebellions.

As expected the sign outside of the mom and pop diner says closed for business. Behind these doors lay traitorous fools. Idiots who know not the length of my fury. There is more than enough to go around. The sting of Nile's rejection coupled with the betrayal is enough to have me roaring in anger. The beast within has already taken over. My men in America think I am severe, unyielding. And while that is the truth my overbearance is nothing compared to the savage hell I rain down in my homeland.

Easily I push through the doors. Like an abandoned town there is no one around. Not even the music from the old tattered record player is on. Making my way through the stale establishment I walk down the stairs leading to the basement.