Alex stepped out of Villa into the cool afternoon air, the door closing softly behind him with a satisfying click.
The sun had climbed higher while he'd been inside, painting the estate grounds in brilliant gold. The gravel crunched beneath his feet as he walked toward his car, mind still processing the conversation he'd just had with Viktor.
Alex allowed himself a satisfied smile.
The conversation with Viktor after the others had left had been... productive.
They'd discussed the future... not in vague, aspirational terms, but with tactical precision. What came next. How to position themselves. What resources would be needed. What threats to anticipate.
Viktor's military mind had proven invaluable, breaking down Alex's broader vision into actionable steps, identifying weaknesses in current plans, suggesting alternatives that Alex's inexperience had overlooked.
Alex had asked Viktor to find him men who could be trusted.
