Page 37 of CJ

When Alana suggested that they all get plastic surgery to look more alike than they already did, Mikella was all in. Irena had to be convinced of it. She liked that she looked somewhat different than the other two. But she didn’t have the courage to fight her sisters, and now, she realized that she might have to.

“We’ve gone too far, Mikella. What’s done is done. Alana is dead. We have enough money to move forward with our plans. What you’re trying to do is not going to end well for us. Anyone who attempts to cross these people dies. You know that.”

“Don’t be weak, Irena. It’s not attractive,” said her sister, standing to pour herself another cup of coffee. “G.R.I.P. is just another government contractor. They’re not God. We will get the items that we need for our army, and then we will sweep our way across this entire region, and we will own it. All of it. Industry, armies, governments, all of them.”

“Them? What you really mean to say is that you want to own the men. What is it with you and Alana? She wanted to own them through sex. You want to physically own them and use them as your personal war machine.”

“And you want nothing to do with them,” smirked Mikella. “What is it, sister? Do you prefer women in your bed? It’s fine if you do. I don’t care.”

“You know that I don’t, but we’re killing off these young men for no reason.” Mikella slammed her hand on the kitchen counter, glaring at her younger sister.

“It is for a very good reason! They either could not provide us with the information we needed or knew too much. You cannot leave loose ends, Irena. It might be wise for you to remember that.”

Irena stared at her sister, clearly understanding the inference. She was threatening her. If she didn’t comply with everything she wanted, she would be the next one with a bullet in her head.

“Don’t threaten me, Mikella. I may not be a mastermind criminal such as yourself, but I’m not stupid, nor am I weak. You need me for this to work. After all, you’re down one sister now, and you can’t have marriages to multiple men at the same time all by yourself. It would be incredibly difficult.”

Irena turned to leave the kitchen, and then Mikella called to her.

“Irena? I expect you to have the young sergeant eating out of the palm of your hand by the end of the week.” Irena glared at her sister, then gave a smile.

“Of course, dear sister. Anything you want.”

Mikella watched her sister leave the home they shared. She’d sold their childhood home outside of Prague. It was lovely, it was big, but it was full of memories they didn’t need to be constantly reminded of. After their mother suffered a tragic fall, Mikella became the unofficial matriarch.

Her father’s men had always stayed close to the family, and over the years, their own sons became employees. Most of the businesses were run by her mother and a few of the top men on the team, but eventually, Mikella announced she would take over.

Since that time, she’d multiplied their wealth by ten. She understood money, she understood war, and she understood men. They could all be manipulated, and Mikella was a master manipulator.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Wow, that weather is something else, isn’t it?” said the woman, taking the stool beside him.

“Yes, ma’am. It’s definitely winter,” smiled the handsome soldier.

“What can I get you?” asked the bartender.

“Vodka on the rocks and a menu, please.” He nodded and stepped away as the young man sipped his iced tea. “No alcohol?”

“I’m in uniform, ma’am.”

“Ma’am,” she laughed. “You’re giving my ego a hit.”

“Sorry. It’s something we automatically do,” he smirked. He took a bite of his burger, and she just smiled at him as the bartender left her drink.

“I’ll have your soup of the day and a side salad,” she smiled.

She stared at herself in the mirror behind the bar. She would need to get into her favorite injector this week and get a touch up for her wrinkles around the eyes and forehead. She could use a little filler around her mouth as well. Keeping up with youth was exhausting.

Turning her attention to the young man beside her, she needed to kick it up a notch. Casually, she unbuttoned the top button of her blouse, hoping it would turn his head.

“So, you must live in this area,” she said, smiling at him.

“Not really. I’m here for a short time,” he said, staring at her. She watched as his eyes lowered to her cleavage, and she smiled. “Sorry, ma’am, but it appears your button has come undone.”

“Oh,” she said, blushing as he looked away. “Of course. Sorry.”

Is this guy made of stone? What the hell? Shit. Maybe he’s gay.

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