The truth About cypher ✓

Epilogue

The road was bumpy, making it un-sleepable. Rolling down the window, Laila watched the new construction sites. She's been here before, for a long time now but it was always a burden. Laila thought about the last time she visited Novosibirsk. It was a small gathering held for the new mother of Keres after she killed the last one. Laila recalled how cheap the alcohol was.

She came back to reality but she didn't take her eyes off the sights outside of the window. No concrete at all was visible, no chrome or glass or any skyscraper buildings on the horizon. That was a blessing, for it meant that they were nearly at their location and they could get out of the car soon. She had her arm cocked on the window armrest so that she could rest her chin on her palm and every now and again she would tap her fingers against her cheekbone in a sporadic rhythm.

There was a breeze coming in through the open front window of the vehicle but it couldn't blow away the scent of the flowers on her lap and on the seat beside her: big massive bouquets.

The car halted outside a large metallic gate as a man opened her door, the security guard. The sky was clear, easing her mind from the dreary thoughts. Laila's black heels tapped harshly against the cemented pathway. She walked further ahead, stopping in front of a granite headstone.

"It's been long Brute." She said softly before lowering the bouquets.

Alex followed behind her, dressed in a black suit and tie. He had definitely grown an inch or taller in the past five years. He paid his respect, lowering a small bundle of white chrysanthemums. He stood a little further behind Laila in silence, letting the girl have her privacy.

"Sorry I don't come to visit you often, you understand right? It's not 'cos I'm so busy. I'd never abandon you for work it's just..." She stopped talking as she ran her thumb along with the granite.

"It's just hard sitting here, you know?"

She didn't get a reply but she liked to think that Brutus was listening regardless.

"Dimitri's doing well these days, I think. His son keeps him busy and he has a job to keep so I understand. I don't see him a lot either but I've got eyes on him regardless. And no I am not involving him with my work, he stays away from Cypher."

Just like you wanted. She wanted to say but she didn't. She knew he knew. That's all he ever wished for.

"Igor turns up at the den sometimes, to drop new trainees. Fucking crazy to see them, reminds me of us." Laila chuckled.

She talked for a while, narrating to him about Kaila and her new job, about Abram joining some tech company in Saipan. She brought her wrist up, concealing her old tattoo, the watch was ticking.

"Well, that's my queue. Sorry for the short visit but you know how it is... Once you become the Queen of the biggest group in Russia, it is all work." She got up.

"Oh right, happy birthday clown."

Alex walked back in the limousine, asking the watchman to bring Laila. Laila showed up a minute late, taking her seat. Alex gave her a soft smile before accelerating and driving away. The drive back to the airport was definitely dull, but that's how it always was after they came back from visiting Brutus's grave. Today's journey was rushed. She had a meeting in the evening with the heads of Kazan's districts but it was Brutus's birthday, so she had to meet him.

Kazan wasn't the same like it was five years ago.

Everyone moved in groups, dealers with goons, goons with goons. No more runners, too risky. Weapons weren't just prepared for brawls but a staple: throwing knives and guns and hammers were now a regular sight on public sidewalks rather than hidden away. Districts didn't belong to anyone anymore; the country was an ocean filled with sharks fighting over little scraps of neighborhoods and everyone had such sharp teeth these days. Five years and nothing was even remotely the same anymore.