The Truth Behind the Throne
1031 Words
Part 1
Elena barely slept.
The couch in Adrian Volkov’s penthouse was more comfortable than any bed she had ever owned, but sleep refused to come easily.
Every time she closed her eyes, she heard the sound of gunshots again.
The shattered car window.
The chase through the dark streets.
The men trying to kill Adrian.
And possibly her.
Morning light slowly filled the massive penthouse through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city below was already alive with traffic and noise.
Elena sat up and rubbed her eyes.
Adrian was already awake.
He stood near the window with a phone pressed to his ear, his voice low and controlled.
“Find out who sent them.”
A pause.
“No mistakes this time.”
Another pause.
Adrian’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Then start looking closer.”
He ended the call and placed the phone on the table.
Elena watched him.
“You run your morning meetings like a mafia boss.”
Adrian glanced at her.
“You say that like it’s surprising.”
Elena stood up and walked toward the kitchen counter.
“Last night you said someone wants your empire.”
“Yes.”
“And those men were part of that?”
“Yes.”
Elena leaned against the counter, studying him carefully.
“Then tell me something honestly.”
Adrian waited.
“What exactly is the Volkov empire?”
Silence filled the room.
For a moment, Elena thought he wouldn’t answer.
Then Adrian walked slowly toward the bar table and poured himself a glass of water.
“My father built the Volkov empire thirty years ago,” he said.
“Starting with shipping and logistics.”
“That sounds legal.”
“It is.”
“But?”
Adrian looked directly at her.
“But power attracts enemies.”
Elena folded her arms.
“That’s not the whole truth.”
Adrian took a slow drink before speaking again.
“My father didn’t just build a business empire.”
He paused.
“He built influence.”
Elena’s eyes narrowed.
“In politics?”
“Yes.”
“And the criminal world?” she pressed.
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
That silence was answer enough.
Elena exhaled slowly.
“So you are a mafia family.”
Adrian shrugged slightly.
“Labels are convenient.”
“Gunfights in warehouses aren’t convenient.”
A faint smile touched Adrian’s lips.
“You’re adjusting to this world surprisingly fast.”
“I don’t have a choice,” Elena said.
Her voice softened slightly.
“My brother disappeared because of something connected to you.”
Adrian’s expression hardened again.
“I told you before.”
“I know.”
“You’re wrong.”
Elena stepped closer.
“Then help me prove that.”
Adrian looked at her for a long moment.
Something about her determination reminded him of someone.
Someone he had lost.
Finally, he spoke.
“What was your brother investigating?”
Elena blinked.
“You’re asking me?”
“Yes.”
She hesitated.
Then she walked over to her bag and pulled out a small folder.
“These.”
She spread several documents across the table.
Shipping records.
Financial transfers.
Photos.
Adrian leaned closer.
Then his expression changed.
Slightly.
But Elena noticed.
“You recognize something,” she said.
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
Which meant she was right.
Part 2
Adrian studied the documents carefully.
Most of them were ordinary shipping records.
But one of them…
Made his eyes darken.
“Elena,” he said slowly.
“Where did you get this?”
She pointed to the paper.
“My brother sent it to me two days before he disappeared.”
Adrian leaned back slightly.
The document showed a shipping transfer between two companies.
One belonged to the Volkov Corporation.
The other belonged to a company Adrian recognized immediately.
A rival organization.
A dangerous one.
“Elena,” Adrian said quietly.
“Yes?”
“Your brother wasn’t investigating my empire.”
Her heart skipped.
“What do you mean?”
Adrian tapped the paper.
“He was investigating them.”
“Who?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“The Orlov Syndicate.”
Elena frowned.
“Who are they?”
Adrian’s voice turned colder.
“My father’s biggest enemies.”
A chill ran down Elena’s spine.
“And you think they took my brother?”
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
Because the truth was worse.
He looked at her again.
“Your brother got too close to something he shouldn’t have seen.”
Elena’s voice trembled slightly.
“So he’s alive?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Her chest tightened.
“But if the Orlov Syndicate took him,” Adrian continued, “then he may still be useful to them.”
Elena stared at him.
“You’re saying they might still have him.”
“It’s possible.”
For the first time since her brother disappeared…
Elena felt a small spark of hope.
“Then we can find him.”
Adrian looked at her carefully.
“This isn’t a police investigation.”
“I don’t care.”
“This is a war.”
Elena held his gaze.
“Then I guess I’m in the war.”
Adrian shook his head slightly.
“You don’t belong in this world.”
Elena’s eyes flashed with determination.
“My brother does.”
Silence filled the room again.
Then Adrian made a decision.
A dangerous one.
“Fine.”
Elena blinked.
“Fine?”
Adrian nodded once.
“I’ll help you find him.”
Her heart jumped.
“But,” Adrian continued, his voice serious again, “you follow my rules.”
“What rules?”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You stay where I tell you.”
“You don’t investigate anything without me.”
“And you trust me.”
Elena stared at him.
“That last one might be difficult.”
Adrian smirked slightly.
“I expected that.”
Then his expression darkened again.
Because the truth was something neither of them fully understood yet.
Elena’s brother had uncovered something far bigger than a criminal shipment.
Something powerful enough to start a war between empires.
And now…
Adrian Volkov and Elena Carter were walking straight into it together.
- Writer
