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.

before we found out we

two hundred and fifty true Stepanovs on our side was a massive shift and a definite

see us, Leo?” Marcel asked me, taking a

Stepanovs to head West and settle in Gad of all places, I think Yuri might get suspicious,”

would have been suspicious regardless of Alexei’s story,” Dominic said. Some of them agreed, but they didn’t see my angle. I needed them to see

a mastermind. He is intelligent and thinks thoroughly; that is why we have been unable to catch him. Even the information

in 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

and Marcel got a

you want us to do, Leo? We have been cautious. We even let you run this thing for a while in the East. Now that we have some action, you are doubting our

my place in the North. I do not appreciate your tone, Marcel,” I said because his

said, realising I

Marcel. You did cross the line there by saying we allowed him. It is his region, so he had to be in charge, and he did a damn good job at it. What you said was unfair,” Sylvester reprimanded him taking my side. Marcel ran his fingers through his hair and apologised

this Yuri’s bullshit. I miss my son, and I miss 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

Leo?”

not see us coming. We cannot be obvious about either of

the coming days. When I go to the East, we will send some men to the South to make it seem like

I said and paused to apologise to The Stepanovs in the room for calling their clan members

we are heading south, and when I mean we, I mean most of us. This will give Yuri the confidence to move with the lesser danger. Christain is holding the North well, so he won’t come here, and Max and

most of those properties are in the area of the national theatre, so he is bound

disguise. What if he disguised himself and settled within the city?” Alexei asked, and

for every 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

we can trace the calls to try to pinpoint his location. But I have a gut feeling that he is already in

my point, and Sylvester soon ordered everyone on what to

try to ensure that Yuri believed we were heading to the South to stop his coronation and take

that Gezel would fight with us, and I wished I could talk her out of it. Still, I hadn’t gotten the chance, nor had I been able

they carried our luggage out of our room, Amelia and

how Jake was before I

doubt the woman would. She had been working none stop with

and I did not want to wake the woman.

already knew why I had come to see him. He