She is the Queen

Chapter 23

2  𝙼𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚜  𝙻𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛...

In the past two months, whilst Andrea gallantly handled the threats from the Russian gang, I was left in charge of fine-tuning the operations of the Circle. Our careful construction now stood tall, an intricate system seamlessly interconnecting leaders, terminators, and criminal enterprises worldwide. The Circle was now more than just a concept; it was a living, breathing mechanism that had the power to control, to dominate, and to eliminate.

The leaders within the Circle, all displaying their unshakeable allegiance, had signed the binding contract that held them to our cause. Each skilled terminator in the business was now under our command, serving the Circle with unyielding loyalty. Any challengers bold enough to defy our laws are met swiftly and decisively by these terminators.

Our system, designed to mirror the efficiency of a free-market model, was an intricate hierarchy of accountability. Deviants were reported to the Jury, who wasted no time in slapping a bounty on their heads. This bounty would consistently increase over time, attracting more terminators to the chase. This bounty was funded by the Circle leaders, who in turn, sourced the funds from the lesser gangs, businesses, and operators working under us.

At the epicenter of this grand scheme were the Circle Leaders, who functioned as the monopolies within our system. Comprising just seven formidable entities, they had their fingers on the pulse of illegal trade across 70% of the globe. Still, our ambition had no bounds, and the Circle continued its journey of relentless expansion.

Our system was held together by three fundamental principles: the protection of innocent civilians, a hard no to child and sex slavery, and immediate termination if Federal Forces were onto our trail. It was a system for survival – either cover your tracks or face extinction.

The Russians, however, presented a persistent challenge during the rise of the Circle. At the beginning, we extended an invitation to join us to the Red Russian Mafia, led by Aleksandr Petrov. Unfortunately, his inflated ego and lust for power led him to decline our offer. Petrov, not understanding the value of strategic alliances, instead opted for violence, killing some of the smaller gangs that had decided to align with us. His rash actions deepened the chasm between us, nudging us towards an inevitable conflict. His desire for dominance shed innocent blood and spiraled us towards a war we had hoped to avoid. Thus, continued our fight against the shadows, defending our turf, and protecting those under our banner.

Amidst the unfolding chaos, there was one man upon whom I laid my trust unreservedly - Andrea. His strategy for dealing with the volatile Aleksandr was kept under wraps, a secret he kept close. The fragility of trust was a familiar concept to me; it was those hailing from Russia that I found particularly hard to place my faith in. This wasn't a bias rooted in their nationality—no, indeed I shared camaraderie and friendship with many from Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia, and Kazakhstan, thanks to my summer school experiences. Instead, it was the persona of Aleksandr Petrov that aroused a deep-seated mistrust within me.

My role was clear - provide Andrea with all the intelligence we had amassed about Petrov. Beyond that, the responsibility was entirely his. The only sentiment that tugged at my heartstrings was the fear of losing Andrea in this warfare that we had unwittingly been dragged into.

Over the past two months, Andrea and I had managed to cultivate a bond that was nothing short of a closely guarded secret. Subtlety was our chosen approach, away from the prying eyes of the public. Our interactions were limited to private spaces - my home or his - a routine we followed religiously. We steered clear of unnecessary risks, yet kept the doors open for anyone curious enough to spy on us. To such onlookers, it would be evident that we were not merely allies in business, but shared a connection that ran deeper.

Little did we anticipate that Aleksandr, in his power-hungry frenzy, would dare to pull the stunt he did. I shook my head in disbelief, succumbing to the reality that I had underestimated him. This man was not just a threat to the Circle, but to everything we held dear. The fight against the shadows was now personal and defeating Aleksandr was not just about maintaining our turf, but securing our survival. The dice had been rolled, and we braced ourselves for what was to come.