Rise of Roma

Chapter 6

Chapter 6
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"So, let me get this straight" Max said leaning in. "We know for certain that Charles is involved in the attack on my mother and I" he said looking around the room, today was the first day he was joining the task force created to find Charles.

And here are the facts we know " One: The weapons that were used came from Russia, we just don't know if Ivan was part of the deal, two: we got no leads from the dead folks identified at the scene and we could not capture any one alive, any cell phones retrieved did not fetch useful information since they were all burner phones. Three: Charles is still AWOL somewhere in the US of A and we know certainly he is restricted in movement and has not left the country. Anything I am missing?"

"Nope" Adrian answered, where as Roma leaned back quietly taking a passive role, she was sending a message that her mate was in charge of this whole investigation.

Max stole a glance at Evelyn, who sat quietly observing.

"How do we find if Ivan was involved in the attack, that worries me the most" Max stated, Ivan was Russian alpha and would be a big problem if he was their enemy, they were more exposed to him as Roma shared a border with Russia.

"We don't" Adrian stated. "We tried sniffing around in Russia, but they are pretty tight lipped about their packs and information is hard to come by."

"Any idea where Charles might be?" Max further asked.

"We searched all packs and lands that supported Lockbourne and anyone who might be sympathetic to Charles, but we could not find him, as if he vanished into smoke." Adrian added in frustration the old wolf was proving to be a tough adversary.

"So, here are a couple of scenarios" Max began "The absolute worst: Charles and Ivan are in bed together, which means we are in a world of trouble, but this is the angle we will focus on going forward."

"Any reason why we want to focus on this scenario?" Evelyn asked opening her mouth in the meeting for the first time.

"Because we prepare for the worst...just in case" Max said. Evelyn nodded.

"Best case scenario: All Charles supporters are dead, and Ivan has nothing to do with him, in which case he has limited resources to be of immediate danger to us and it will be a matter of time to find him." Max elaborated

"But as I mentioned we for now assume the worst and act" Max instructed "so let us assume if Ivan and Charles are working together what would they do now."

"ok, where do we start" Adrian asked.

"Find out if Ivan as any business interests in the US, usually low key and not necessarily legal...there is a possibility they might be hiding Charles." Max voiced out.

"Will do" Adrian nodded, making a note.

"Are we sure none of the packs are covering for him?" Max wanted to confirm again.

"We went through all of American packs with our men and people who are loyal to us, nothing turned up, also most packs are pretty much terrified of us right now to be harbouring a fugitive." It was too soon for any rebellion when they back had been thoroughly broken by Roma.

"So, focus on Ivan, if Charles is indeed in bed with him, he will reach out to him pretty soon." Max voiced.

"sounds good" Adrian said. "Give me a few days and I will have some info."

***

"World council?" Max asked in disbelief.

"Yep" Adrian said, they were in his office catching up, it was becoming a tradition now Max dropping in everyday and asking questions about the time he spent in coma.

"How did that happen? How on earth did Evelyn end up being chair of the world council?" Max asked, he already knew she defeated Lockbourne, but the council seat was not automatic it was democratically elected.

"While you know we defeated Lockbourne and the American packs, what you probably haven't realized it yet was that it was brutal Max absolutely brutal. Evelyn losing her parents was hard on her but they killing Sebastian dishonorably was absolutely the last straw, she went on a rampage...you should have seen her...she was wrath itself, she made fully grown alphas quiver in fear and I am not exaggerating. You might not believe me, but I sometimes feared her too" Adrian confessed. He still did. They way she executed the American alphas in cold blood was a sight he would not ever forget.

Max had this hole in his timeline and the last of what he knew was that sweet Evelyn who was his mate, he could not picture her as anything different, he had not seen the trials and tribunals of what she had been through and Adrian wanted to make him realize that.

"Evelyn went through absolute hell Max, after the attack on you, it went down real fast...everyone wanted her dead and Roma was up for grabs...Sebastian and Evelyn literally had to fight tooth and claw for survival, Evelyn had to grow up in a fucking hurry....and she did...by god she did...she was savage...You know Lockbourne was defeated but do you know how? She shot him in the face, point blank, in the hall of the world council, in front of all the world leaders... "Adrian explained to an absolutely stunned Max. How could he explain that the world council surrendered to Roma to pacify her wrath, they themselves scared that she would turn on them next.

"She was unstoppable on her path of mayhem, the world council elected her unanimously, the trail of blood she left in America was too much to bear and it needed to be stopped and the fastest way to do it was to concede to her." Adrian explained further.

Max looked shell-shocked.

***

Max sat at his desk deep in thought, what Adrian had told him had shook him to his core. He knew what Adrian was doing he was trying to give him very obvious hints, Evelyn was not who she was but for him it was difficult to see her as anything but the woman whom he knew, the wonderful warm woman. But he also realized today for the first time the scope of what she had been through, and not fully yet. Adrian has stopped and asked him to think about what he told. He was giving him time to digest the information being given to him. Max knew there was more...but Evelyn shot and killed Lockbourne? His Evelyn? He was saddened by the loss of her innocence and what she had been through... Just because she had been his mate? His thoughts were in turmoil as me picked up some of the work he wanted to complete as a distraction.

***

"Hey, what's up?" Evelyn smiled warmly as she saw Max standing at the entrance of the door and gazing at her with an expression she could not read. He kept staring at her.

"Anything wrong Max? she frowned at his expression, concern filling her.

He walked over to where she was sitting got down on his knees and hugged her tightly at her waist.

"Max" she whispered softly "is everything ok?" she asked running her hands over his head, shoulder and hair...her wolf was getting agitated at her mate's behavior...as if something was not right with him and concern was pouring out.

"I love you Evy" he said his head still buried in her waist. She stilled her worry increasing but whispered back to him softly "I love you too Max"

He took a deep breath and got up and pulled her up with him and simply led her back to their room. She offered no resistance too worried about her mate.

He pulled her in to the bed and as they laid down, he hugged her to him tightly engulfing her in his arms.

"Max" she voiced concerned but at the same time she felt such warmth and comfort in the arms of her mate that even her wolf was feeling overwhelmed.

"Shhhh..." He said softly "I just wanted to have you in my arms Evy, I may not have my wolf yet but even the human me loves you wants wants to hold you. So why don't you relax close your eyes and let your brain rest for a while...we can talk later."

And she surrendered to the warmth of her mate.