The Dark Side of Fate

139 A Meeting Of Caution

~Leo~

The meeting with the Stepnaovs went pretty well. Gezel knowing and trusting them was a good sign, but we could not be relaxed and let them in on our plans. We had to be extra careful because we would only get one shot at this. Yuri was a slippery bastard, and we could not afford to let him slip. Everything mattered.

We did not mislead the Stepanovs. We just did not tell them why we would be in the West. The fact that they believed only Alexei and Clay would be there to fight would throw Yuri off.

I needed to tell Sylvester something before I departed the next day. Knowing we only had one shot at this, we had to somehow find a way to direct the matter carefully.

The Stepanovs were led to the delta wings, and the unmated men were allowed to get acquainted with the women in the Harem. I still did not understand why Sylvester called that gathering a harem since he had never touched them. I knew they were hopeful some women would find love, and this was a great opportunity. Only two of the Stepanovs opted out, and I could tell it was because they felt too old to mingle. The two were Peter and another guy. I did not bother to catch his name.

“Sylvester, I would like us to have a meeting in your office before we retire,” I linked him, and he looked at me before he stood up. Speaking out loud when in the open wasn’t a great idea, especially while we had strangers in our midst.

I figured he linked everyone on the issue because they all moved to the Royal wing of the mansion.

We went to Sylvester’s office and shut the door for the first time.

Everyone was there, just as I had hoped.

Sylvester sat on the couch with the rest of us instead of sitting behind his desk.

“Guess the lounge is out of bounds,” David joked, and we laughed.

He always had a way of enlivening the situation, no matter how serious it seemed. Dominic nudged him, and they both laughed.

I couldn’t help but notice how close the brothers had become. Four of them behaved like they came from the same woman and grew up together.

I kind of envied what they had. It sucked being an only child. Even Alexei and Clay had a bond I envied.

I wondered why my parent had only me and rested. I planned to have many children with Amelia.

Thinking about everything, I was pretty stupid when I told Tamia I wasn’t ready for a child. It wasn’t meant to be, really, because, with Amelia, I was very prepared for everything. There were no rules or limits.

Although it seemed like it initially, Amelia was too stubborn and unaffected to let me have my way. I thanked her for it. Thanks to her, I have a family now, and her brothers are like mine.

I also had an unlikely bond with Sylvester and his brothers and cousins. They were my family too. It was amazing to find out that we were literally family.

we had developed a bond before we found out we were related was also pleasing. I

than we were in the morning. Having two hundred and fifty true Stepanovs on our side was a

why do you want to see us, Leo?” Marcel asked me, taking a

that we have sent the Stepanovs to head West and settle in Gad of all places, I think Yuri might get suspicious,” I said, and

then he would have been suspicious regardless of Alexei’s

why we have been unable to catch him. Even the

custody and might be feeding us with the information he wants. Has it ever occurred to you that the person in question might have someone he was supposed to meet on Cains Island? With Yuri, we really do not know what to expect.

them, and

thing for a while

do not doubt our break. And for the record, you did not allow me to run things in the East. I had no choice because it was my territory. I have done nothing but maintain my place in the North. I do not appreciate your tone, Marcel,” I

Leo,” Sylvester said, realising I was getting

and he did a damn good job at

my quality time with my wife. I miss my life in general. I shouldn’t take it out on

bound to crack at a point. The only thing keeping me is this Whiskey”, David added, and we

you suggesting, Leo?” Theodore asked

Yuri so he does not see us coming. We cannot be obvious about

to aid Alexei and Clay in the coming days. When I go to the East, we will send some men to the South to make it seem like we are planning

took them,” I said and paused to apologise to The Stepanovs in the room for calling their

confidence to move with the lesser danger.

for him will come in handy. As we noticed, most of those properties are in the

is a master of disguise. What if he disguised himself

public structure to send information about new or strange people, preferably hotels and restaurants. We will have to run it with the Identification database. It is not like we will actually do it, but knowing he is careful and won’t take foolish risks, he is bound to stick to his known circle and use his

him so we will know he is still on course. Although we cannot trust his words to Ighor completely, we

everyone on what to do, and we

were heading to the South to stop his coronation and take

and lead them to the West. I wasn’t happy that Gezel would fight with us, and I wished

out of our room, Amelia and I decided

how Jake was before I

doubt the woman would. She had been working none stop with Erik. I hoped Sylvester would

couch, and I did not want to wake the woman. I noticed she had lost some

He already knew why I had come to see him. He looked at Amelia beside me and hugged