The roar of the chopper blades filled the skies, their rhythmic thrumming echoing like war drums over the compound. Down below, the entire base stood at attention — rows of captains, vice-captains and others aligned in rigid columns.
Inside the chopper, two figures sat opposite each other.
Nik, ever composed, exuded authority from every line of his posture. He wore a tailored black button-down shirt, crisp and tucked perfectly into slim-fit trousers, his chest wrapped in a charcoal-gray trench coat. Leather gloves hugged his hands, and a silver watch gleamed under the low cabin lights. Not a strand of his perfectly gelled white hair was out of place.
Dmitri, on the other hand, looked a little… distracted. Dressed in a deep red v-neck shirt beneath a navy overcoat, his boots tapped absently against the floor, as if he couldn't quite stay still. He leaned slightly toward the window, peering down at the scene below.
A tiny curve tugged at his lips.
Nik narrowed his eyes.
"You keep staring out there," he said coolly, eyes flicking to the window.
"What's got your attention?"
Dmitri blinked, caught.
"Nothing."
He leaned back with that easy, disarming grin — the one that never fooled Nik.
Nik's gaze lingered on his brother. He didn't press, but he wasn't convinced either.
A moment of silence passed — only the drone of the blades remained — before the pilot's voice crackled through the earpiece.
"Boss, we will land in two minutes."
Dmitri nodded once and adjusted his coat, his eyes flicking down again, scanning the ranks.
Nik's gaze followed him, calm and sharp. He could sense it — something had Dmitri mildly excited.
And whatever it was… it was down there.
***************
AFew Hours Ago
"Ash!" "Emil!"
Luca's voice exploded through the corridor as he spotted Ash, Emil, Sebastian and Matteo coming out from Ash's room. He crashed into Ash and Emil, wrapping them both in a rib-crushing hug .
Ash winced, immediately trying to pull back.
His muscles ached, but more than that—
his chest burned.
Right over his right breast, beneath his shirt, the fresh ink of a wolf tattoo was still raw. It wasn't just a symbol. It was proof that they were official members of the mafia.
Ash groaned.
"Luca—let go. You're gonna open my stitches."
"Tch," Sebastian scoffed,arms crossed.
"It's looking more like torture than a hug."
Matteo snorted, clearly entertained.
"Look at Emil's face—man's turning the same color as a tomato."
True to his word, Emil was gasping for air in Luca's iron hold, his face flushed red from a dangerous mix of pain and love.
"Can't... breathe..."
"Oops." Luca let them go, grinning unapologetically.
"You guys are so soft. I was just showing off how happy am I"
Ash rubbed his chest gently, muttering under his breath,
"Next time show it with something else but not a hug "
Everyone chuckled. Today Ash and Emil had to be assigned to their different units.
As the laughter faded, Luca suddenly blinked and looked around.
"Wait. Where's Léo?"
" A few hours ago, Léo was called to help prep the hall ."
All four of them stared at him blankly.
Then Matteo facepalmed "Dumbasses...Don't tell me you guys forgot! Today's the meeting!"
They four of them exchanged glance
"Huhh" Matteo sighed in frustration andoved forward.
***************
The helicopter's blades slowed as it lowered onto the landing pad, dust and dry leaves swirling through the air. Its descent drew sharp lines in the silence, and by the time the skids kissed the ground, everyone had straightened.
The doors opened.
Dmitri was the first to descend, his deep red v-neck shirt catching light beneath the folds of his dark navy overcoat. His boots hit the tarmac with practiced ease, yet his gaze flicked across the formation with a trace of curiosity.
"When did he get here?" he murmured under his breath.
From the front ranks, Alexei stepped forward. He wore a neutral expression, not too cold, not too warm—just formal.
"Welcome, Sir Dmitri," he said crisply, then turned with equal respect.
"Sir Nik."
Nik followed behind his brother, calm and pristine in his charcoal-gray trench coat, black button-down shirt, and matching trousers. His leather gloves flexed slightly as he reached to unbutton the coat.
Without a word, both men handed their coats to Alexei, who received them smoothly.
They moved forward and met with the compound's unit captains and vice-captains of the three different units,exchanging nods and handshakes.
—Meanwhile—
Far behind the line of guards and members of the Mafia. Ash and the others stood among a group.
"There are too many guards, I can't even see anything," Luca groaned, standing on his toes before sighing in defeat.
The others remained still, quietly observing.
Ash stood a little apart from the rest, arms folded, eyes scanning the crowd. That's when he caught a glimpse of someone—a silhouette that tugged at recognition.
Feminine, Confident. The sway in her steps was just as he remembered.
He squinted. "No way..."
Then, with a frown settling in, Ash turned and tapped Matteo. "That woman over there… who is she?"
Matteo followed his gaze. "You're talking about Miss Kelly? That's the Vice-Captain of the Blackmail and Surveillance Unit."
Ash let out a dry laugh, eyes still narrowed. Well, he thought bitterly, atleast her unit fits her face.
But before he could fully finish his sentence in his mind, something else caught his eye—a flash of red.
His gaze shifted, locking on the unmistakable figure of a man with red hair.
It was him.
The same guy who had entered his room the day he was first brought here.
He stepped slightly forward to get a better view, but the crowd was too thick, guards too tightly packed.
"Matteo," he muttered under his breath, "that guy with red hair—who is he?"
Matteo turned his head lazily to look. "Oh. That's Sir Dmitri. The younger brother of Nik."
Ash blinked slowly. That same man—Dmitri—had come to his room that day.
Why the hell would someone like him come to my room…? he thought
**************
💌 Author's Note 📝
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