Chapter Seventeen

Andro’s POV

The door leading into my office was forcibly opened and Igor walked in with two of his men, armed with guns.

Raven was already fighting for freedom from her cage, it was already at alert anytime it sensed danger around me and her sudden interest in Annika is alarming.

"The fuck is going on, Igor," I asked, still calmly sitting.

"Why are you so relaxed, Andro? After what you did, why the fuck are you so relaxed?" he yelled, banging his hand on my table.

"You tell me why I shouldn't be calm. Because obviously, I shouldn't be when you're the one who barged into my office for unknown reason," I asked. Raven was flapping its wings against her cage, and also sending a series of images to my head.

It was all that of her plucking out Igor's eyes or scratching the hell out of his chest till it gets to his heart.

Raven can be scary and honestly, she scares me sometimes.

"If you dare try to deny killing my sons, I could fuck you up right now," he yelled.

Raven flapped his wings harder, making the room echo with the noises it was making.

"Shut that little birdie of yours or else I’ll shut the bird up," one of the guys with Igor threatened.

"She wouldn't be so little if I opened her cage," I told him.

I stood up from my seat and walked closer to Igor.

"You might have fucked up my men but going after your sons, your blood, is what I'd never do," I truthfully told him.

"And you expect me to believe you?"

"If you expect me to believe you didn't kill my men, then you should trust my words as well," I advised him.

"Dimitri, right?" he asked, the change in his tone showed that he was in pain.

He was just a father pained by the death of his sons.

"I don't know what the issue between you and Dimitri is, but I don't know who could’ve done it. In fact, I didn't hear about the death of your sons until now."

"They were poisoned. They were at a club yesterday and on their way back, the driver saw them foaming white substances from their mouth and he had to take them to the hospital. They were pronounced DIA," he explained.

"I think you should take a seat, Igor. You need it," I told him and one of his boys pulled out a seat for him.

"I'm sorry for the loss of your boys, but God knows I know nothing about it. I'll never hurt anyone on the basis of revenge. It's not my principle and you know how much I fought with my previous Boss to stop unnecessary killings."

"It's Dimitri for sure. I'm sure about it."

"I don't know how this is supposed to sound but if Dimitri had wanted to go after anyone, that'd be you, Igor. Not your boys, not your kids," I enlightened him.

He was silent as if thinking about what I'd said.

"You should go home and take care of their funerals, Igor. Unless you want the police to get involved," I advised him.

"Sure. You're invited." He stood up and walked towards the door.

"I'll sure be there," I told him.

"And why is that stupid bird looking at me so murderously?"

When I turned to look at Raven, she was rolling her eyes continuously while staring at Igor.

I laughed. "That's just Raven being Raven," I dismissed the discussion.

Once he left, I took some of Raven's food and dropped it through her cage bit by bit in a way to calm her down.

I'm sure Raven must have been a crazy old vampire lady who probably was cursed to turn into a bird by an angry witch. She acts too crazy for just a bird and lived too long as well.

Stefan walked in a few minutes later, announcing it was time for us to depart for Igor's son's funeral. We left the office immediately and drove off to his mansion in the city center.

People were turned back as they weren't allowed entrance and surprisingly, the gate was opened for us after a thorough search.

"Do you really think this is a burial ceremony? The security is too tight for my guts and its feelings" Stefan complained and I couldn't help but agree.

"Maybe he's trying to be safe and cautious," I replied as we found a spot to pack the car.

"We could have brought along others. Maybe three or four."

"We're here for a burial ceremony not a war, Stefan. Chill!" I instructed.

"You know one thing Fabi found out earlier, It's the fact that the boys that died were not actually Igor's favorite and best kids. He knew that the club belonged to Dimitri and his boys would definitely misbehave out there. If anyone asked me, I'll say he had a plan in the first place."

"Bait Dimitri with the lives of his sons."

I asked rhetorically…

"Has Igor ever cared about anyone? Because his father complained about his selfish attitude, he threw the old man into the streets to beg for survival until he died from an ulcer complication. He ended up throwing him the biggest funeral this whole city has ever witnessed. Moreover, he has like ten kids, I don't envision him battling an eye after killing two. It's Igor we're talking about, grebanyy ublyudok," Stefan cursed and spat. (T: Fucking bastard.)

"Well, I don't think any funny business will be played out today," I assured him.

"A burial at his home; trust me, that's suspicious." Stefan opened the car's safe and brought out two guns and a Taser. "You keep the two guns; I'll keep the Taser." He stretched the guns out to me.

"This isn't necessary, Stefan."

"I don't know what that old man saw in you that made him to make you the Boss because you believe too much in peace but trust me, being a Vampire wouldn't always make you powerful. If that bastard ends up shooting you and you don't die, trust me, the whole city will know what you are in ten seconds. Protect yourself." He dropped the guns on my lap, and I didn't have a choice than to keep both hidden in my body.

We came out of the body and began walking towards the house.

"Name?" a security guard asked as we stepped closer to the main door.

"Andro and Stefan Nikolaev," Stefan replied "Andro is on the list but not Stefan,” The guy answered. I turned to look at Stefan and he gave me the 'I told you' look.

I pulled him aside and whispered, "I think you're right. He got this all planned. I mean who drafts a list a few hours after his son's death."

"I'll stay guard out here; you go in there and beep me when anything unusual happens."

"Shouldn't you be worried about yourself? Remember I can't die but you can."

"What do you want me to do?" he asked.

"Stay put in the car and wait for me. Call one of the boys to release Raven." He turned sharply to glare at me. "Don't worry, it won't pluck out their eyes." He got calm. "Yet!" I completed my words.

"Really?"

"Stay in the car, Stefan. It's a command this time."

"Yes, boss." He bowed lowly and went towards the car's direction.

In turn, I turned and walked into the house through the large doors. Igor's house is majestic and that isn't something I'll deny. He likes all things fancy and gold. As I walked by, I saw two golden caskets right there, with a book in front of them.

I walked closer to make sure the bodies were in there and just not a prank of Igor's. Before I got so close to the caskets, I could see the young boys' bodies, lying stiff. I turned and left, since I had nothing to write.

"Welcome to my empire, Andro," Igor announced as I got closer to his living room.

"It's a pleasure. Once again, I'm sorry for your loss."

"You shouldn't be, Andro. I've been finding a way to get rid of those two nuisances and whoever killed them might have done me a huge favor but still, I'll hold that grudge till forever." I frowned as Stefan's explanation came right back into my head.

It was true! It was planned work! Was he so desperate for power that he had to use his sons as a stepping stone? He wanted power; Dimitri wanted power, and I thought it was time I leave as Adonis had advised.

This game is getting too dangerous. Not for me, but for the woman I love and long to protect.

"When is the funeral starting?" I asked as I sat on his couch, crossed my legs.

"Funeral? There's no funeral, Andro. I have a little game I'd love to play, but my second opponent isn't around yet, so you just have to wait for a few minutes."

"Opponent?" I repeated after him.

A voice suddenly interrupted, "I guess that'll be me."

The moment I turned to see Dimitri walking in, I knew things were about to get bloody, but I smirked as I remembered that I was a bloody vampire—I couldn't die as they would.