Twisted Loyalties

Chapter 2: The Enemy's Wrath

Viktor Romanov was fuming with anger. His men had only one job but, as usual, they flopped. He had a very simple plan: get to Tommy first, gather all the information that is required for him and then blackmail Ethan with the boy. But now, Ethan had spoiled everything by getting to Tommy before his men could.

He tightened his fingers around the glass of whiskey in his hand. The pressure was too much for the glass and a small vertical line of c***k started to appear across its sides. He didn't even realize that he was spilling the liquid over the white Persian carpet on the floor below him.

The only thing on his mind was the loss and the fact that Ethan was ahead of him.

“Dimitri!” Viktor roared, the sound of his voice echoing through the whole room.

A muscular man with a bald head and beard walked into the room carefully. Dimitri had been Viktor’s right-hand man for years, and he knew better than to approach him unprepared when he was in this mood.

“Yes Boss?” Dimitri answered, making sure his voice showed no emotion.

“What the hell?” Viktor screamed in a cold and dangerous tone. “How did Blackwood get to the boy first?”

Dimitri cleared his throat, carefully choosing his words. “Ethan has resources, Boss. He must have had someone watching them. Our men got there just in time only to find out that Blackwood had already taken the boy.”

Viktor clenched his fists. “I don’t care about the reasons, I only care about the outcome. That AI technology is necessary, and the boy is my key to getting what I want.”

Dimitri nodded, knowing he couldn’t afford to provoke Viktor’s anger further. “We’ll work on another plan. We still have connections inside Blackwood Industries. We’ll figure out what they’re planning and counter it.”

Viktor walked towards the window, looking out the floor-to-ceiling window that had an excellent city view. NYC lights glowed like a sea of stars, but all Viktor could see was a picture of Ethan Blackwood looking smug and victorious.

“Blackwood must be destroyed by all means,” Viktor said in a dangerous tone. “Ethan will suffer for every move he’s made against me and I want that boy back. He’s the stone we have to kill two birds. Ethan and Mia won’t guess what’s about to hit them”

Dimitri hesitated before speaking. “Mia? What are we going to do with her?"

Viktor narrowed his eyes as he thought about the question.

Mia has been a pain in his ass ever since she left the mafia, faking her death and disappearing into thin air. Now, she's back in the picture and, worst of all, she’s working with Ethan Blackwood.

“Keep an eye on her,” Viktor finally said, his voice laced with venom. “Don’t make any move against her yet. She’ll come running to us at the right time. She can’t resist trying to save her brother and when she finally gives in, we’ll be ready.”

Dimitri nodded, accepting the orders without asking further questions. “Understood, Boss. I’ll make all necessary arrangements.”

Viktor waved a dismissive hand, giving Dimitri a sign to leave. As he closed the door behind him, Viktor gave a deep sigh, trying to calm the burning fire within him.

Ethan Blackwood had stepped on the wrong tail and Viktor was ready to make him pay for every single damage he had caused. No one messed with Viktor Romanov and lived to tell the story.

He built his empire on fear, and he wasn’t about to let anyone, especially Ethan, threaten that.

Meanwhile, he had to prepare for the next step of his plan. He can’t make the same mistake twice. This time he would strike fast and without mercy.

But first, he had to take care of another threat, Margaret Blackwood.

Viktor could not let her get too comfortable in their cooperation in order for him to get what he wanted from her.

He was fully aware that she had her own personal interests and, though temporarily the plans of both parties seemed to merge, he did nothing to trust her more than he did a snake.

She was intelligent, deceitful, and calculated, things that Viktor admired but also things that he knew could make her a very bad partner.

He grabbed his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. It took only a few rings before Margaret’s voice was heard through the phone, cool and collected as ever.

“Viktor,” she replied, her voice was neutral and showed no emotions at all. “So, tell me, how may I help you?"

“We have to talk,” Viktor said, going straight to the point. “Your son has messed with our plans.”

Margaret was silent for about five seconds before she could find her voice to respond. “I know that Ethan may be quite possessive and hard to contain from time to time.”

Viktor spat on the floor viciously. “Margaret, I think you are losing control; if he continues this way, our plan is at risk."

Margaret paused for a while and said, “I’ll handle Ethan, he is my son and I know him well enough to handle him.”

“You’d better” Viktor said in a warning tone. “Because if you don’t, I will and trust me, Margaret, you won’t like how I handle things.”

Again, silence ensued only to be broken by Margaret’s voice after what seemed to be a few minutes. “Don’t worry, Viktor,” she reassured him, “Just worry about getting us what we need.”

Viktor angrily hung up the phone, flinging it on the table beside him with considerable force.

He did not like Margaret; but here they both had to rely on each other. Once they get rid of Ethan, and he has the AI technology in his possession, he would deal with Margaret and anyone else who gets in his way.

As he turned back to the window, Viktor allowed himself a small, cruel smile. The game was far from over as he was just getting started.