Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
He looks small outside of his chair and his bed. Nobody offers him any help.
I don’t move to assist him either.
Because I’m too busy staring at the two people watching me from the stern of the ship, barely ten feet away.
The first is Satya. She’s holding Rosie in her arms. My daughter seems comfortable and unharmed, though the little girl starts to squirm and cry out for me when she spots me. I am going to kill Satya as brutally and slowly as I possibly can. But I do my best not to show any emotions.
Because the second figure is Medved.
I haven’t seen him in years. Not since his failed attempt on Elias. He looks fairly good, all things considered. He’s a bear of a man. Tall and large with a heavy gut and a thick beard. There are new scars on his face and burns disfigure the side of his head, leaving his hair in patches. He’s wearing dark fatigues and a thick jacket. There are no weapons visible, but that doesn’t mean much.
Medved came up through the Russian special forces. He was a killer for the government before he was a criminal. When international murder didn’t pay well enough, he decided to go private, and that’s when his true calling became clear.
The man has a head for the drug trade. He’s exceptionally good at it, and it helps that he has serious connections in Moscow and Beijing.
Medved’s smiling happily. “I wasn’t sure you’d come. And look, you caught me a big fish.”
Elias pulls himself up beside me. I don’t offer to help him. I doubt he’d want that right now. He’s visibly struggling, but the old Dragon deserves this last bit of dignity.
“Give my granddaughter over, Medved. This can be simple.”
“It can be. Drag yourself over here. I like seeing you down there, Elias, down at my feet where you belong.”
Elias’s face twitches. Despite everything, he’s still got his pride. But slowly, he begins the horrible trip across the deck, inching his way closer and closer, angling straight toward Satya.
The old woman clearly is bothered by the display. She moves to help Elias, but Medved stops her with a glare. We stand in silence as Elias uses the last of his strength to pull himself up beside her, slumped back on his elbows and gasping for air.
“My daughter,” I say, holding out my arms. I’m aware that Medved’s crew is watching, and each of them is likely a heavily armed and hardened killer.
Satya doesn’t move, and Medved doesn’t order her over.
Instead, the old Russian seems thoughtful.
“This system of ours. I always found it rather antiquated. Why the Dragon name? Why five positions? There could easily be four, or three, or even one.” He shows his teeth in a dazzling smile. “I’ve been pondering all the different ways I can positively impact our silly little agreement.”
“I don’t care about any of that. I only care about Rosie.”
“The child is important. She represents so much of what’s wrong with our system. Granddaughter of one Dragon. Daughter of another Dragon. We’re supposed to be a meritocracy where the strongest ascend, and yet it seems like you Dragons sure do love to interbreed. Makes me wonder.”
“Enough.” I step forward, heart hammering. “I’m not interested in your monologue. Hand my daughter over.”
Medved pretends to think it over. A smile spreads across his craggy face. “I don’t think so.”
“You disgusting rat,” I snarl, hands curled into fists. I’m aware that I’m surrounded by well-armed killers and anything I do will be completely futile, but I hate the bastard. “You go back on this deal and I’ll make sure my people sink you to the bottom of the fucking sea.”
“I don’t think so. You wouldn’t risk your precious girl like that. No, I think I’ll keep her, keep you, and keep what’s left of Elias here. Two Dragons and a little baby Dragon? That sounds like enough leverage to take control of the whole damn system, don’t you?”
Blood rushes into my head. How could I have stumbled into this? I should’ve seen it coming from the start. What leverage do I have now? Some vague threats? Medved has Elias. I’m powerless to stop him, especially with my daughter on board.
It’s a fucking nightmare.
“Enzo,” I say quietly.
His voice crackles to life in my ear. “I’m listening.”
“Did you hear all that?”
“Unfortunately.”
“How surgical can you be?”
“I can split a dick hair from a mile away, but your daughter—”
I lock eyes with Elias. He stares back grimly, shuffling closer to the old woman. “Wait for my signal.”
“Are you sure?”
“Do what your Dragon commands.”
“Yes, sir.”
Medved looks smug as he crosses his arms and jerks his chin at me. “You can chat with your people all you like, Massimo, but you’re finished. Tell them to stand down. This is all over.”
I don’t do a damn thing. I glare defiance at Medved, raging over our situation.