Wrath's Genesis

Chapter Twenty Six

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The sight before me was unexpected, more so considering the place we currently were. Inhibition was a club chain that was just as famous as Wrath's Playground.

It’s exclusivity was famed throughout the State, more so here in New York. I was not at all stunned by the fact that my husband and the Kings of Sin were the owners of the said chain.

Besides, I have other more pressing matters to worry about, like the fact that Noah could genuinely be in some serious shit...

Looking at the scene before me that was milling with police officers and men clad in black suits and everything that had happened in Fiji, I couldn’t the fear that coursed through my veins.

Soren’s candid and detailed explanation was certainly unexpected. Knowing how stubborn the man was, I was expecting a bigger fight.

A battle of wits per se.

Instead, I had been met with absolute honesty and a straightforwardness that was shocking but all the same welcome.

It makes me feel like he’s finally somewhat opening up to me...that this was not as much of a clusterfuck as I thought it was...

He had produced more results than anyone ever could. He had proven exactly why he was the ultimate King of Sin...the dark man who rules the criminal underbelly of the States...

“Brother....welcome home.”

Kenji greeted once we stopped before him, the two men engaging in a quick bro hug before the Sin of Pride turned to face me.

“Emilia...Welcome back. I apologise for having Soren bring you here but I’m afraid it was a necessary step. It seems that you have been pulled into our war.”

Kenji explained, his expression the picture of cool, calm and collected despite the news he was delivering that left my body cold, a heavy weight pressing on my chest.

“Or she could have been part of it this entire time...what? Its certainly leaning towards that outcome more than any other.”

Diesel defended at the sight of the two men’s frowns. Clearly that was a piece of information that had been omitted from the grand scheme of things.

I glanced towards my husband and his second in command, each of them saying nothing to dispute Diesel’s statement. The sight irked me more than it should have.

I mean, I know I’m new to the crew but they should at least know that I have nothing to do with the Underworld they’re part of...

Their suspicions were not absolutely far fetched. I mean, I had not only agreed to killing my husband but had tried to. I had also revealed one of my ace in the holes- my martial arts prowess.

I knew Soren had questions. Ones he will probably ask soon but I at least hoped he would not think that I have anything to do with whatever the hell we just went through.

I want him to trust me...just as much as I trust him even though I know I shouldn’t...

Rolling my eyes, I turned my gaze to assess the wrecked interior of the club. Gone were the lavish interior decorations and aesthetically pleasing placements.

The place was a wreck, the air heavy with a recently put out fire and sulphur.

“I think you guys have far more to worry about, like the fact that this was arson....what?”

I asked, noting the silent but observant stares I was garnering from the dangerous group of men.

You need to keep a low profile, Emilia...you can’t keep provoking their suspicions of you...

“See, when you say s**t like that, we get a little curious as to how the f**k you could possibly know that without, at least, having been inside a crime scene like this...Tell us, little minx. Does a pyromaniac exist underneath all that beauty and mystery? Because that would certainly make you my new best friend!”

Diesel stated, seeming genuinely intrigued and excited at the prospect. He took a couple of steps towards me, his eyes alit with a madness that was growing commonplace to look upon.

It made him all the more handsome...Dark and dangerous in the literal sense.

Nothing like my silent husband whose simple and quick glance towards Kenji was the only sign that he was in anyway paying attention to the conversation at hand.

He wants to know too...he’s taking in all the information he can about me, sieving out the useless bits and committing the useful ones to his ever calculating mind.

The thought of Soren knowing me more than he already did filled me with anxiety and dread. He would use what I gave him to make my life harder. I just know it.

“Ha-ha...much as I hate to disappoint you and miss out on the grand opportunity to be your bestie, I have to remind each and every one of you that I did date a detective. Now, I’m not saying we always landed at crime scenes on date nights but there would be the occasional stop by if it was absolutely urgent. And that included encountering the occasional arsonist or two.”

I expounded, ensuring to traverse my gaze through each and every single man before finally landing on my husband whose eyes flashed momentarily at the mention of my ex but the emotion was gone as soon as it came, almost as if it hadn’t been there in the first place.

“Jesus Christ, guys. The trust issues are glaring. I know suggesting therapy to a bunch of criminals seems f*****g ridiculous in the grand scheme of things but it will really go a long way to help.”

I added, earning a loud laugh from Diesel, a chuckle from Soren and a shake of the head from Kenji as a ghost of a smile settled on his lips.

“You think my little bird would be interested in being my very own sexy therapist. I can’t promise I’ll open up but I would sure f*****g love to open her up and explore exactly what makes her so f*****g addictive...Fuck, that’s making me hard.”

Diesel’s eyes were hated over, glazed with desire as he seemed to fantasise about splitting my friend open?....

I shivered involuntarily at the thought.

“You are so messed up.”

I muttered in Spanish, earning a nod from Kenji and shake of the head from Soren who seemed less than pleased by the diverted conversation. The two didn't need to understand my words to know what I meant.

Diesel was messed up in every single language.

“Not really the place to be thinking about getting your d**k wet, brother. Now, can we get back to the matter at hand?”

Kenji nodded, the playfulness gone and replaced by an indecipherable gaze as he led us towards a warded off area away from the buzz of policemen and more.

Two men clad in black suits were poised over what seemed to be a black body bag. The sight made me pause, my heart beating painfully in my chest as I stared at the sight before me.

I was paralysed, unable to move as a multitude of anxiety riddled and depressive thoughts engulfed me. My entire body was not ready for whatever was to come.

Fuck...my worst fears come to life...He couldn’t be...he can’t be...

I didn’t realize my hands were shaking so bad until I felt the warmth and steadiness of Soren’s in my own. He held them tightly, his squeeze bringing me back from the brink of insanity.

I looked up and held his firm gaze in my own, watching his lips move. His words were blocked out by the ringing in my ears and the multitude of thoughts traversing through my mind, jumbled up and in absolute chaos.

Holy fuck...Could I have been making jokes whilst my best friend’s cold, probably burnt body was lying a few ft. Away? What have I f*****g become?!

Soren’s forehead settling on mine, his warmth seeping through me as did his strength. It was the push to sanity I did not know I needed so much.

“Emilia...baby, come back to me. It’s not him, moya zhenschina. It’s not Noah. He might still be out there. And if he is, I will scour the f*****g Earth to find him. I will stop at nothing to bring him back to you. Whatever the outcome, I will bring him home to you. Of that you have my f*****g word, baby.”

His words were firm, his eyes burning bright with determination. Absolute fire that raged through him and somewhat into me. I believed him.

He had made promises before. He had given me his word before. He had asked me to trust him and for all the moments I had regretted my decision to listen to him, to give in and marry him, I had never believed his word more.

With every fibre of my being, I believed him. He would stop at nothing.

The fear, anxiety and apprehension was gone, replaced with absolute reassurance. Nodding in acceptance, I held his warm gaze, absorbing the strength that he gave me.

It was only when my body was calm that I realized how close we really were, the warmth of his hands on my own that he held close even as he led me towards the body bag where the others were waiting.

Kenji and Diesel said nothing at our approach, their gazes relaying more. It was the first true show of emotion and I was grateful for their silent reassurance that I suspected was not common place.

“The club was evacuated after an anonymous phone call to the manager. It was only after everyone was out-purportedly-that the device went off. It was a contained blast, enough to destroy the interior and keep the exterior somewhat in check.”

Kenji expounded, his report wading over me as he gestured at the destroyed club that matched his report.

“After canvassing the scene, we found this body. Reason I asked you to come is because of this...”

Kenji stated just as a suit clad man walked forward and handed a zip lock bag that contained three photographs, two of Ashley and Noah.

“What the actual f**k? Only I get to take pictures of my little bird!”

Diesel muttered, sounding less than pleased by the sight of the evidence sourced from the body. All Soren and I could focus on, however, was the third photo of me.

A candid of me leaving the office.

“This led me to believe that this man either knows you and you might know him too. Now, it may be hard to see the body. He is a little disfigured from the blast...”

Kenji expounded, his consideration warming my heart as I shook my head in response.

“It’s fine. I’m okay. We need to figure all of this out.”

I responded, reinforcing my resolve as I nodded up at Soren who had not left my side, his eyes relaying the silent question going through everyone’s mind.

One of the suit clad men leaned down and pulled down the zipper, revealing w partly disfigured man who instantly jumped out to me. Memories of the last normal night I had with my two best friends came to the fore.

The impact of it was jarring, pushing me a few steps back as a chill travelled down my spine.

“You know him, Malyshka?”

Soren muttered, prompting me to nod as I looked up at the men before me, each of whom had their eyes trained on me, waiting for a response.

“Yes. He was at Wrath’s Playground. The guy who danced with Ashley for the night. What the f**k does this mean??”

I groaned, confused and frustrated at the multiple bits and pieces that were yet to form into a solid map to my best friend.

The Three Sins, however, glanced at each other, knowing looks on their faces as they shared a glance.

“What? What the hell is going on?”

I pushed, tired of holding back. I needed answers, no matter the fall out. I had a right to know the truth. A right to not be left out. I already paid the damn price.

“There’s much more going on here than we already anticipated and it definitely has a connection to your best friend.”

Kenji stated, answering the question that Soren seemed unable to answer. My husband’s gaze was on the door, his mind clearly not with us.

Is he seriously focusing on other stuff right now?

“So he’s the little s**t who wanted MY little bird? You should count your f*****g stars that someone else got to you.”

Diesel leaned down, his gaze hard as he fixated on the dead body before us. Anger radiated off of him in waves, chilling me to the very core.

I knew he was different. Depraved. I had never seen this side of him before. A side that the other two Sins clearly were familiar with as Kenji took a step towards him.

“Alright, brother. Let’s go find you someone else to hurt. You do have some rats to exterminate , remember?”

Kenji stated, placing his hand on Diesel’s shoulder just as Soren pulled me away.

“We’re leaving. Right now.”

He stated, leaving no room for argument as he gestured for our guards to follow.

“Wait...but...”

I began, my sentence dying on my lips as a voice I didn’t think I would hear spoke up.

Oh shit...

***