Wrath's Genesis

Chapter Thirty Four

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Rowan said nothing, each of us settling into a comfortable silence in which all the cards had been placed on the table. Not many knew about Rowan's drastic move. His marriage had been a well kept secret, one neither the Irish or the Polish had wished to reveal.

But Alas...he lives in MY world now. Nothing moves that I do not know about, especially when it comes to wars...

I knew he recognized my affinity for information, should have probably been prepared for it but the darkness that encroached into his eyes was reminiscent of something else. Something dangerous. It had been a while since I saw that particular side of him.

"I was foolish to think we had kept that well within our ranks. It seems I still have some spring cleaning to do."

Rowan stated, leaning back into his executive chair. His gaze was as calculating as ever, relaying the silent message that made me chuckle. He really was a worthy rival, a man who instilled fear and apprehension into the other Dons. They felt threatened by his dominance and I could now see why. His marriage to the Polish Mafia's princess had been a surprise indeed.

Was it a f**k you to the Polish Don for encroaching onto his territory, a grander plan to something even bigger or just a dumb f*****g move?

He was on the fast track for something bigger, better. A war with the Polish was certainly not a smart trajectory for where he was supposed to go.

"No amount of cleaning would ever hide anything from me, Rowan, and you know it."

My smile was small, my eyes relaying everything he needed to know, what he already comprehended. My power was absolute in our world, an enviable position that the Vipers and many others before them had tried to take away.

It will never f*****g happen, though.

Rowan shrugged, turning to gaze at the weapons before him. I could see his mind working, calculating and envisioning his next move. It was a look I was more than familiar with. One I saw every morning when I looked in the mirror.

Something is holding him back, though...

"Dealing with them will ensure your territory's stability. You must know this, Rowan, so why are you hesitating?"

I was genuinely stumped, confused and somewhat irritated. Never had I pegged the man before me as irrational. His territory's safety meant that I had yet another ally to call upon when s**t hits the fan with the Vipers. He cannot afford a war right now, a long winded battle with an opponent he can easily defeat.

"It is nothing you will understand, Soren. Well, certainly not in this moment but soon enough..."

His words beheld a lesson, a silent message that was still a mystery to me. Rowan's chuckle was filled with amusement, his eyes clearly reading into my confusion. He made no efforts to expound on his statement, though. And that somewhat irked the f**k out of me.

"I know what you're worried about. Your war with the Vipers will be won. My men are more than prepared to fight the Polish and win your battles for you."

I narrowed my gaze, never once faltering as I glared at the smirking Don. I knew him. Knew he was trying to get a rise out of me. I would do the same if I was in his position.

But he's still a jackass. A cocky bastard I would LOVE to put in his place.

"Focus on winning your own battles first before concerning yourself with mine, Rowan. You seem to be struggling quite a lot on that front."

A laugh escaped me at the sight of his glare and middle finger. For all our ravings and rantings, the back and forths and pissing contests, Rowan Byrne had become a grudging frenemy. A man I knew would always have my back in a battle situation. His loyalty and moral code were admirable, reassuring.

That's not to say he would not take any chance he could to destroy me should the opportunity arise. Such is our world.

The door banging open had us both acting on instinct, each of us reaching for our weapons, prepared for any eventualities.

"You bastard! I will NOT f*****g let you kill my family, Rowan! Never again!"

Her shock of curly, strawberry red hair was the first thing that stood out to me before my eyes shifted to her angry hazel eyes. Delicate feautures adorned her, her caramel colored skin looking absolutely stunning in the afternoon light flooding through the floor to ceiling windows in the office. Her Polish and African American roots melded perfectly, producing a curvy firecracker with a wild spirit and untameable heart.

She is so much like my Emilia but not as beautiful. No, my wife's beauty would shame the goddess Aphoridite. She is and always will be the most gorgeous woman I have ever looked upon. No one will ever compare to her for the rest of my life.

Rowan's sentiments seemed to match mine as he relaxed the rigid position he was in at the sight of Izabella Zima Byrne who looked aything but pleased to see him. She was ready for war, clearly uncaring of the blank and somewhat amused gaze that her husband granted her.

"It is good to see you too, Bella. Have you had the chance to meet my good friend Soren?"

Rowan ignored her statement, seemingly enjoying the aggravation that shifted in his wife's gaze. Her eyes narrowed, glaring outrightly at my presence which she seemed to notice now. Granting her a blank look, I kept my smile at bay at the sight of her unease before she turned to face her husband once more.

See? She is nothing like my Emilia. A fighter and challenger through and through.

"Don't do this, Rowan. It does not have to end in bloodshed!"

She urged, her resolve clear in her gaze as she took a step towards her husband. Gone was Rowan's playfulness, though, replaced by irritation as he glared at his wife whilst slowly, gracefully rising to his feet.

"Well, your Father made it very clear that his intent is to kill my men. He started this battle. He was the one who pushed me to this position and I will not stop until I have his head on a damn pike for all the Irish blood He has shed!"

Rowan seethed, his words seeming to scare his speechless wife who took a small step back at his harsh words. It was clear that she had never seen this side of him, a side that I was more than familiar with.

There is the Rowan Byrne I have always known. One of the most ruthless bastards I know.

"Your men deserved it for attacking us! Irish blood will continue to be shed, all of it on your own hands for what you have done to our brothers and sisters! And now she, the traitorous Princess, will return with me to face her punishment as has been decreed by the Dons of old!"

The statement was dark, harsh and filled with rage, one declared by one of the standing guards who pulled Izabella right into his tight grip before shoving a gun right into her temple. A small gasp escaped the stunned woman, her eyes filled with terror as they skirted from my own to Rowan's enraged expression.

He was barely hanging on by a thread, his fists clenched so hard, his palms bled and dripped red to the expensive parisian rug.

So He has a rat problem as well, huh? Those f*****g Vipers...Traitorous and cowardly bastards...

"Please don't do this..."

Izabella began but her words were met with the tightening of her assailant's grip on her neck to silence her. Rowan snarled at the action, his body instinctively moving to protect her only to be met by the threat of the gun that was still against her head.

"Shut up, Izabella! You have no right to speak before me!"

"Threaten my wife again...fuck, hurt her and I swear to god, I will rip you limb from limb. I will break all of your bones and reset each and every single one of them before doing it again and again. I will inflict pain upon you that is beyond your wildest dreams. You will die a slow, miserable, excruciating death if you do not let her go!"

Although his words were low, they were stained with the pull of violence. Each and every one of us knew, all including the guards who had stormed in due to the commotion, that he meant every word.

And was struggling to hold himself back.

All hell would break lose very soon.

I guess it is time to intervene...Before this amateur ruins my packed day and chance to see my gorgeous, feisty wife.

I can't wait to see her reaction at the move today. She will look so f*****g sexy trying to take my head off for ambushing her.

Turning to face the situation whilst the assailant continued his self righteous rant, I spotted the one thing that would end all of this. Bring to conclusion what was the most pathetic attack and escape plan I had ever seen.

No originality. Our world really has gone to s**t, huh? Nothing to entertain me except my beautiful wife.

Swiftly discharging my glock, I fired perfectly into the man's exposed knee, his scream of agony and natural response to reach for his leg allowing Izabella to break free of his hold. I was on him before he could recover, my punch holding much more force than was necessary really.

"That's for wasting my f*****g time. f*****g amateur."

I sneered, getting to my feet and moving away just as Rowan's men swooped in and took charge of his unconscious body. Rowan held his wife close, soothing her by rubbing circles on her back. She melted into him, almost as if she was made for him. Gone was their heated argument from before and replaced by the need to assuage each other's fears.

"Thank you, Soren. That meant more than you will ever know."

I simply nodded at Rowan's words, straightening my suit as I replaced my gun back to its usual position.

"You can start repaying me by getting your s**t in order. The Polish are a f*****g problem and you know it. Destroy them, spring clean your ranks for their spies and make examples of them. I don't need to tell you all this."

I urged, turning to the door where my men were waiting, each of them on high alert for more.

"Fix it, Rowan, or I'll f*****g fix it for you and I know you don't want that. End it all once and for all and leave a clear message to ensure no one f***s with you ever again."

Satisfied that he could comprehend my words and the silent threat also within them, I turned to leave. There was still too much to do.

"How is he? Up to no f*****g good as usual? That psychopathic bastard."

Only I knew what he was asking. Who he was asking for. And the same was clear from the confused gazes on each of his men's gazes as they watched us.

"Better than you, that's for sure. I'll tell him you said hi."

"You better f*****g not, Soren, or I'll f*****g end you. I swear!"

A chuckle escaped me as I left the Don's office, the sincerity of it leaving a kind of warmth and satisfaction within me.

Today is going to be a good f*****g day.

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