Chapter 13 BANG

Chapter 13 BANG
NIKOLAI

They stop us at the double doors.

Two guards – thick necks, thicker accents. One steps forward, eyes flicking to Mia like she’s a stray dog I dragged in.

“Who is she?”

“She guest,” I say simply.

Not a lie.

Not the truth either.

The guard’s expression hardens. “But - the rules, boss,” he says calmly. “No outsiders. Only family.” I can see him shaking in his boots while saying that to me, but I admire his courage and dedication to doing what’s right, even at the risk of his own life.

“Would it help if I were his mistress?” Mia asks, and we both glare at her.

I feel her step behind my back; I don’t look at her- I just keep my eyes on the guard.

“She stays with me,” I say.

He shakes his head. “Not in the meeting hall. She’s not one of us; if she enters, the vote nulls. You know this.”

I clench my jaw.

Of course, I know it.

Our traditions were written in blood long before any of us were born.

I glance sideways at her then, just once, then at Fin, who seems very uninterested.

“Go to the bar,” I tell her. “Don’t wander.”

Her eyes flash like she wants to argue, but she swallows it. Smart girl.

I nod at D, and she follows to show Mia the bar. Heads turn as she walks into the bar, and my teeth clench, watching her hips sway from left to right until she disappears around the bend.   

I turn back to the guard, and he ushers us in. The room is already filled with various families all around the hall. All unarmed, it was long written that if something goes wrong within these walls, the only option is a fist fight- so far, nothing has gone wrong.

I take my seat in the middle of the round hall and sigh when everyone settles, ready to start the meeting.

“Alright,” I say calmly. “We’re here because blood was spilled without permission.”

There’s silence, and I can feel the tension in the air as various emotions hang in the balance.

“The Han family has lost a son. The Rodriguez family stands accused of betrayal.” I lace my fingers together on the table. “This council exists so we don’t answer every insult with a war.”

I turn my eyes to the grieving mother seeking revenge. “You can speak.”

“My son was killed! Not my accident or some miscalculations, but deliberately by someone who is supposed to be one of our own!”

I can feel her anger, and I understand her, but the case has some blind spots, and that’s why we’re here. If it were a clear case of betrayal, there would be no need for this. And if the offender is found to have deliberately murdered one of our own, he won’t be living here alive.

I look to the family of the offender. “My son was misled. He made a mistake.”

“A mistake-“ Mrs. Han starts, but I cut her short.

“Let the offender speak for himself!”

Murmurs ripple around the room and die down almost immediately.

The boy steps forward; he’s almost 22, but he looks a lot older than his age. “I was misled. I thought he was working for the enemy- I panicked –“ his voice breaks. “I’m sorry,” he bursts into tears, and I immediately feel disgusted.

More murmurs erupt in the crowd, and I raise one finger, not taking my eyes off the boy at all, but the murmurs die down once again.

“This is not a trial of emotion, and shedding tears would get you nowhere. This is a negotiation, and you are asking for mercy. You killed one of your own, and the offended is seeking your blood. Let’s speak based on what’s important.”

The boy swallows and wipes his eyes before looking up. He swallows. “Name the price,” he says.

“Your life!” Mrs. Han yells.

My gut tells me that he’s being honest, but I’m all for killing him right here. He did kill another person’s child, and I really don’t care why. An eye for an eye.

“Killing the boy would satisfy grief – but it will also fracture alliances.”

“And letting him live tells every traitor that they can beg their way out of punishment.”

Fair point.

I think for a moment, but before I can open my mouth to speak, I am interrupted by a loud sound that shouldn’t be heard anywhere near the area.

BANG!

The sound cracks through the all, and for half a second, no one moves.

That shot didn’t come from this room; it came from the bar.

I get to my feet without a word amidst the chaos, my eyes are fixated on the doors, because whatever just happened out there is about to become pretty damn personal.

From the corner of my eye, I see Fin right next to me, his expression is tight and worried. Almost like he is taking this as personally as I am.

He’s not really the type to get worried – I brush it off. Of course, he’s worried; he probably thinks we’re under attack.

We step out of the door, and all the security are already at the bar, ready to eliminate the threat. For some reason, I feel fear, my chest tightens, and I hold my breath as I push past security and enter the bar.

There she is, eyes wide, stance confident, a dead body next to her, and a pistol in her right hand. Her white hair frames her face; there’s a little blood on her shoulders. And blood dripping from her head down to her face.

Her hands are by her side until we lock eyes, then her hands come up swiftly, and she points the gun straight at me. The guards cock their guns, and Fin is immediately in front of me, ready to block a bullet.

“Stand down,” I say to the guards.

“Boss?”

“I said stand down.”

I draw in a deep breath, brushing past Fin and walking towards her, one step at a time. She doesn’t lower her weapon, but that doesn’t stop me.

“Stop walking,” she says. I ignore her.

“I said stop!” she yells, and I ignore her again.

“I will shoot you!” She grabs the gun tighter.

“Don’t miss,” I reply.

She keeps her eyes on me, and I keep my eyes on her, anticipating the shot, wondering if she’s brave enough.

I reach her and gently pull the gun out of her grip, giving her a stern look.

“Good girl!”