A Bride For A Truce

   ADRIKO’S POV

      The door clicked shut behind me and my eyes instinctively flickered to my phone screen.

     Sergei.

     My thumb Swiped the receive button, and I pressed the phone to my ear. 

      “Speak” I ordered, my voice low and calm despite the fury simmering underneath the surface.

      “We found something boss” Sergei reported. 

      I strode down the hallway, taking swift steps to my study.

      “Tell me”.

      “The detonator, it’s a high-class military piece. Someone went through a lot of trouble to get it”.

      I reached the end of the hallway and pushed open the doors to my office.

     The scent of leather and polished wood greeted me as I paced across the room.

     Shoving my hands in my pockets, I glanced out my study window, the city bustling below.

      “And the source?” I asked.

      “That's where it gets complicated. The parts were smuggled into the city months ago but it was assembled-” 

      “Spit it out, Sergei”. 

      “Well the markings on the piece seem to point to the Yakuza, but we ain't hundred percent certain yet, it could be a diversion”

      My fists tightened beside me. The Yakuza. Of course, it had to be them, they had been circling us for months now waiting to pounce.

      “What about casualties?” I asked, though I already knew I wouldn't like the answer. 

      “Five dead” he replied grimly. “Three of our men, two guests. A dozen others injured but non-critical”.

      I pinched the bridge of my nose, the sting of the news settling in the pit of my stomach “The timing was too precise, how the fuck did they know where and when to strike!?”

      Sergei hesitated. I could hear his heavy breathing from the other end. 

      “There’s more, the device was planted inside the venue hours before the event. The one planted by the Rolls Royce was just to seal your fate. Someone had inside knowledge”.

      The hairs at the back of my neck stood. A mole, someone within had betrayed us.

      “Find them” I growled, my voice low and menacing. 

      “I don’t care if you have to turn the city upside down, I need names and when you find them, bring them to me alive”

      “Understood boss”. 

      The line clicked off, and I tossed the phone onto my desk sinking into the chair. 

     I let out a sharp breath of annoyance as I leaned back and stared up at the ceiling. My mind raced with different thoughts.

     Alot of my enemies were getting bolder but this time,they had gone too far and were going to regret it.

      The memory of the explosion flashed in my mind, the panicked and fearful look in Serafina’s wide gray eyes as I pulled her from the ground still left me with that feeling of unease that I tried to shake off. 

     I replay the verbal exchange we had earlier and chuckle softly to myself. 

     Most people cowered under my sharp gaze and commanding aura but not her, she faced me head-on and for some strange reason, that fire in her both irritates and intrigues me. 

      “She doesn’t even know the danger she’s in” I murmured to the empty room, the words hanging heavy.

      A soft knock on my office door interrupts my thoughts. Nadia stepped inside, her usual composure replaced by something softer.

      “The doctor's here to check on her Mr Ivanov” she announced,her voice edged with concern.

      I rise from my desk, grabbing my blood-stained Jacket from the back of the chair. “Take him to her and make sure he has everything he needs”.My tone was clipped but not unkind.

      She nodded quickly “Yes sir”.

      “I’m heading to the club now and I probably won't be back until morning. If anything urgent comes up, Dinma is a call away“.

      “No problem Mr Ivanov. Please be careful out there” she added, concern laced in her voice.

      “I will, Nadia. Thank you” I gave her a reassuring nod before walking to my bedroom for a quick shower and change.

      ♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧

      The roar of the car engine filled the silence as I sped through the city streets to my club ‘BELYE NOCHI’. 

     My fists gripped the steering wheel, as I reflected on the events of the day.

      I parked the car, the blaring music greeting me as I entered. 

     The scent of cigarettes, spilled whiskey, perfume, and alcohol lingered in the air.

      To the naive eye, this was just a regular strip club but eighty percent of my illicit dealings go on here. 

     I glanced at the stage, where a dancer in red swayed to the music, running her hands down her body sensually. 

     My eyes lingered for only a moment noting the inviting look in her eyes but I wasn’t interested in indulging, not tonight.

      I made my way upstairs to my office through the private staircase. By the time I turned a corner, I was met by Tasha, one of the servers.

      “Mr. Ivanov”, she began hesitantly, her eyes darting around nervously “I need to talk to you”.

      I paused, my eyes narrowing “About what?” 

      Her hands trembled as she wrung them together glancing behind as though expecting someone to step out from the shadows. “It’s about…what happened tonight. The explosion”. 

      “You have two seconds to speak” I snapped, irritation creeping into my voice.

      She bit her lips, lowered her voice, and stepped closer. “Last week, I overheard one of our regular customers and a new face having a conversation in the VIP lounge. The new guy said something about ‘timing the blast’.” 

     She paused as she took a deep breath “I thought he was drunk and talking nonsense. But after what happened today at your wedding……”. Her voice faltered

      My patience thinned. I stepped forward, my fists clenching at my sides. “Who was it?” 

      “I don’t know his name” she stammered, her eyes wide with fear. 

      “He had tattoos with weird inscriptions, the words were foreign. He’s been here twice this month and always ordered the most expensive whiskey “. 

      I gripped her arm, not too tightly but enough to rattle her. 

     Her skin was cold beneath my fingers, her breath hitching in fear “You better not be making this up, or you’re as good as dead”. 

      Her eyes bulged and she quickly shook her head “I’m not lying, I swear”. 

      I let go, my voice dropping to a low growl “Get back to work, and don’t say a word of this to anyone“. 

      She nods rapidly and skitters back to the bar. I enter my office and place a call to my club manager.

      “Dimitri, pull the video surveillance from the VIP lounge for the last two weeks. I want to know every single person that has been in and out. Make it fast”

      “On it boss. I’ll be there in ten”.

      I pour myself a stiff drink, the alcohol burning my throat as I strode to the tinted window that overlooked the main floor of the club that was bustling with activities.

     Tipsy men were sticking wads of cash in between the boobs of the dancers, servers moving quickly drinks in hand. 

      A knock on the door draws my attention away.

      “Enter”.

      Dimitri walks in, holding a couple of tapes.“Got them, boss”.

      I nodded towards the TV and video player in the corner of the room. He moves quickly, inserting the first tape. 

     The screen flickers to life, and the weight of silence hangs heavy in the air as we focus intently on the screen. 

     A vaguely familiar figure grabs my attention as I refill my glass. 

      “There! Rewind and pause!” I barked. Dimitri works quickly, zooming in. 

     The figure becomes clearer and I curl my fingers violently around the glass.

      “Well look who we have here” I snarled, recognition flashing in my eyes.

      The shrill ringing of my phone cuts through the tense silence. I glance at the ID and swipe 

      “Govori” ( speak) I snapped, irritation creeping into my voice.

      I listen as Sergei’s voice floats into the room “We have a name boss and you’re not going to like it”. 

      The words hung in the air.

      I exhaled sharply, already knowing who he was. “Bring him to me alive”.