Chapter 159

Vladimir:

“Are you sure that it is wise for you to be going to the Ivanov Estate this early?” Konstantin asked, looking at me through the mirror of the front door while I fixed my jacket.

“They were already informed that I was alive, and the meeting would be a public one. There is no need to hide while tending to the things that we have to take care of.” I said, and the man raised an eyebrow at me. 

“You are not the least bit worried that things would be taking a wrong turn? The man believed that you were dead…”

“My heart stopped, but that didn’t mean that I was dead. Even Killian knows that one mustn’t be too foolish to believe one’s death before they have seen them buried or have burned their bodies. Anyhow, as I said, the meeting would be a public one. We will start arranging how things go accordingly.” I said, and he nodded. His eyes studied my expression for a few seconds before he took a deep breath. 

“I take it that you are going to want her to stay in your room?” He asked, clearly referring to Elena. 

“she is going to do what she wants and I expect her to as I left her when I am back.” I said, turning to face the man. “I do not hurt my women and I wouldn’t allow anyone, not a single soul, to harm them, do you understand?”

“You seem to be forgetting that she was MY woman.” He said, raising an amused eyebrow at me. “Anyhow, it would be as you wish; no one is going to harm her, and no one is going to touch her until you’ve come home.”

“Good,” I said, and he smiled. He walked toward me and put both his hands on my shoulders, squeezing them gently. 

“I can trust that you are going to make me proud, son.” He said, and I nodded.

“You needn’t worry, I am going to do what I have to and the job is going to be done.” I said, and he nodded. His eyes met mine, studying my expression, and for a moment, I couldn’t help but find myself wondering what would happen if I choose to smash his head against one of the walls here and now. Ending him would make everything a lot easier for me and I knew that I was going to be able to get rid of him. But then again, there was a lot that I needed to find out, and if it was about simply killing him, that could have been done ages ago. It wouldn’t have had to get to this point.

“I will be sure to keep you updated with every move that I make, and I believe that your men would beat me to that anyway.” I said, reminding him of the fact that I knew that he didn’t fully trust me. In truth, I didn’t care whether or not he did. He was the least of my concerns but right now, I had a lot to have to deal with, and caring about whether or not he had any faith in me wasn’t something that mattered. 

“The last person to need to question my trust in him would have to be you, Vladimir.” He said, trying his best to lie. I had to fight back the scoff that almost escaped my lips as I knew that he was only putting the best ploy game that he could. The man was an actor, so I had to give him that much. “The men would be there to keep you safe, and trust me when I say that they are going to give their lives up for you if they need to. One harmed hair on your head would equal their heads and neither one of them is foolish enough to gamble with their lives.”

“I hope that they truly are as loyal as you say. You know, we’ve had our hands full with backstabbers, and some were even the closest to us, and the last thing that I am going to want to do is bring back heads with me.” I said, and he smiled. His smile was dark, forced, and I could tell that it didn’t reach his eyes. It didn’t need to though, I didn’t care about him enough to care about whether or not he was pleased with what I was saying, but I knew better than to think that I was going to be able to play more cards than I had. It was something that Konstantin didn’t understand when it came to this; but the less he understood, the better the outcome was going to be for me.

“You needn’t worry about their loyalty. You just come home to us in one piece, and if anyone is to think of disrespecting you…”

“It is not disrespect that I am worried about, Konstantin.” I said, stopping him. “I have zero tolerance for treason, and I think that you of all people should know where I got that from.”

I knew that my words boasted him, giving him the chance to think that I inherited something from him. The man was a backstabber in nature, and I knew that he lived on the people that he played with or stabbed in the back. I wasn’t foolish enough to trust him, but I knew that he had to think that I was.

“Don’t worry, Vladimir. You are safe in their protection, and as I said, they would rather die than see you get hurt.” He said, and I nodded. “And when you come home, if you come successful…”

“When,” I said, correcting him. “I don’t do well with IFS, but I am good with what I do and I am more than a little willing to get things ready and about. We will be discussing our next move with the Ivanov’s when I am back, and then…”

“We are heading off to Venice.” He said, making me frown in confusion. 

“Italy?” I asked, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Unless you know another Venice, then I am certain that it is Italy.” He said, and I rolled my eyes at his lame attempt to be sarcastically playful. “We have a few meetings there and there are some people that I want you to meet. I think that you are strong enough, and it is time for you to start being seen and introduced as my new heir, don’t you agree, son…?”