Page 147 of Vendetta Crown

"My Dragon Lord is a man of his word. Which is more than what I can say for Semyon Mikonov." Haidan extends his hand, the device nestled in his palm. "Make your choice, pakhan of pakhans."

I stare at Haidan's outstretched hand.

My mind races through the possibilities. If he's lying, I'm showing weakness to an enemy who's already tried to kill me once.

But if he's telling the truth…

I look at Aurora, and see the question in her eyes. Not fear at what is inside, not panic at the risks we're facing, but a silent question asking me what kind of man I want to be.

The kind who risks innocent lives on pride, or the kind who is willing to swallow his pride to do what's necessary for the greater good?

And I have my answer.

I pull out my phone and call Korsakov.

"Pavel Yanovich, I'm speaking with Haidan Sun from the Triads. He's come to negotiate."

"What?" Korsakov's voice explodes through the speaker. "Tell him to go fuck?—"

"I need you to spread word to our boys. Seven-day ceasefire, effective immediately while we negotiate with the Triads."

"Have you lost your mind?" Korsakov hisses. "We have the Triads on the ropes. This isn't the time to?—"

"This is exactly the time to negotiate. Don't forget why we're fighting." I cut in sharply. "To force them to come to the table. And they have."

A long pause, then a frustrated grunt. "Fine. I'll make the calls."

"Good." I end the call and turn back to Haidan. "It's done."

He nods and places the device in my hand. As my fingers close around it, he leans closer.

"Semyon has made contingencies in case we turned against him," he says quietly. "Part of that contingency is an assault on the theater itself."

My blood freezes. "When?"

"The assault is scheduled to begin right when the bombs would detonate."

I curl my fingers around the device, already calculating how much time we have left. "Why tell me this?"

"A show of good faith." Haidan smiles. "The first part of what I believe will be a very long negotiations process."

I watch Haidan's back as he retreats toward his Lexus, my fingers clenched around the device he's given me. A trap or salvation—I won't know until it's tested.

"Ruslan." Aurora tugs at my arm, her voice urgent but controlled. "We don't have much time."

She's right.

I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Artyom.

"We have a situation," I say the moment he answers. "I need every available man back at the theater. Now."

"What?" Artyom's voice crackles through the speaker. "That'll pull away manpower from watching the routes. If Semyon attacks?—"

"Listen to me, Artyom!" I interrupt him. "Haidan Sun just came to tell me himself that Semyon and Kristofer planted bombs in the theater. If those go off, it's going to be a bloodbath."

There's silence on the other end for a heartbeat. "Are you sure?"

"Only one way to find out. I need you here as quickly as you can."

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