Page 55 of Viripotent

I’ve never visited Steorra, it’s something that I make use of but it’s not of interest to me. Inessa runs a tight ship and the guards work on rotation between Bratva and ‘Ndrangheta, swapping days, so they’re always protected. I’ve chosen the wrong day for my first visit as Gio hesitates on letting me pass. Straightening my cuffs, I’m the gentleman and there’s no threat in my voice.

“It’s a neutral zone, I’m here to collect my wife.”

It’s a partial lie, and he relaxes minutely, stepping aside.

The large atrium is filled with light with branches going off into sections for different activities. Each part is filled with children of varying ages and there’s a room hidden behind the large floating reception desk that has adults sat inside. Aro pauses when he sees me, and it takes too long for him to recover. The little girl at his side follows his line of sight and smiles widely. She’s the only one who didn’t have blank eyes, and Inessa’s messages gave me her name.

Afiyah — to be free from any inflictions.

Her parents or guardians named her correctly and I keep my eyes forward going towards the elevator, not wanting there to be any interaction.

Stepping into the elevator, a little body squeezes through and she looks up at me like I’m a superhero whispering in awe, “Geedar.”

I don’t know what it means and fight a smile as she puts her finger in front of her lips, copying what I did. Her other hand moves as she covers her eyes too. She looks healthier and there’s no fear on her face as she stands beside me, so she’s hidden by the bottom panels as we go up to the top floor. Her little hand wraps around my finger. The kid is cute and one of a handful of successes out of hundreds of worst-case scenarios.

The glass panels are obstructed as we continue going up and I stop the elevator. Her smile doesn’t dim, knowing she’s safe, and I pick her up so we’re face to face. Softening my voice, I hold her under her armpits, and she stretches her arms out, stroking my face with the tips of her fingers.

“Afiyah, you can’t tell anyone you know me, okay?”

I don’t know if she can fully understand me, but my checks have shown that Inessa has started to get all the kids enrolled with translators. She holds her finger in front of her lips again, making a low shushing sound, and I take that as a yes.

Setting her down on the other side of the elevator, I go back to the control panel and restart our climb. She walks back over to me and holds my trousers near my knee as I straighten my cuffs. When I look down, she just smiles up at me and copies the shushing motion. I should have her follow me everywhere when I’m with Inessa, then she’d see that even a three-year-old thinks she talks too much.

There’s no one in the hallway as the doors open to raise any suspicion and the kid grabs my finger. I don’t push her away as I go to Inessa’s office, and she pauses seeing me. Her brows slowlycome together, and the crease deepens when she sees the new friend I’ve managed to make.

She abruptly stands, walking straight to her, and her voice is gentle as she crouches down to her height.

“Are you looking for Amber, sweetheart?”

The soothing tone tapers off as she picks her up and goes into another office. She isn’t gone for long, and she closes the door when she returns. Keeping her voice low, she asks, “Is everything okay?”

Worry lines her features as she stands in front of me, and her hands go to my chest.

My own confusion comes out at what the fuck could possibly be wrong and require Inessa’s help. I’m more than capable of dealing with anything that could happen, but I don’t say that and lie easily.

“Get your coat, I thought you’d want lunch.”

She softens, smiling up at me, and turns smug.

“Told you we’d be friends.”

I don’t have the willpower to burst her bubble and she turns stoic as soon as we step out of the doors. It’s like a switch has gone off in her brain and she becomes the ice queen as we take the elevator back down. I slow my steps to see what Val did when the doors open and take out my phone, tapping out random sentences as a little girl runs between the different play centers. He was right, even though I saw the picture, she’s a double of her father. It’s almost fucking creepy, like someone shrunk him and slapped a wig on his head.

It’s a shame she’s been taken in by that family. The Kadares don’t shy away from letting their enemies know how much family means to them and I won’t physically hurt her, but their imaginations will carry a threat my hands will never follow through on. Unless she’s an adult and involves herself where she shouldn’t.As far as I’m aware the Albanians keep their womenaway from business, so she’ll grow up to be a spoilt brat or a coke head searching for chaos.

The atmosphere changes as we step out into the street, and I can feel the murderous glare without turning my head. Rushed footsteps thunder towards me and I take a step back, covering Inessa before Roel can do shit. His eyes are ablaze with fury, the flames get wilder as I smile. He’s not the same kid I found getting high with Valentin at some shitty house party and a woman stands behind him without any emotion on her face.

Opening his mouth to issue a half-assed threat, I meet him head on with a twisted smile.

“You know where to find me if you want a fair fight,” I say calmly and pointedly look at his hand reaching the gun that is undoubtedly in his waistband.

He was a good earner; his psychotic tendencies weren’t as strong as mine. But he’d pack a punch and drive the crowd wild. Glaring with his fists clenched, he doesn’t move, and I wait for any reaction, the woman behind him must be his wife as she looks bored at everything around her.

The little girl who will solve this shit he’s caused pokes her head out of the door and calls out to him, “Uncle Ro, bunny?”

He’s being saved by a kid in more ways than one and positions his body to block me from anyone he deems his family. Walking away takes effort, I’ve never shied away from a fight. But the neutral spaces have to be protected or Maximoff will have reason to vote against me when the time is right. I repeat the plan I have mentally to infuse the will required for each step.

1.Valentin marries Inessa and becomes Pakhan.

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