The two crime families were locked in a tense silence. Neither Desmond nor Anatoly wanting to be the first to speak. The rain was coming down harder now making the sound of the raindrops hitting off the glass seem deafening in the silence.

Nick's hands were still groping my shoulders making me squirm under him. Alex, who was sitting next to me with his ankle resting atop his opposite knee was smirking at the mental and physical torture I was going through.

I wanted to desperately to throw myself at Declan. To hide in his arms but the tug at the chain around my neck reminded me I was trapped. I shrugged my shoulder to try and get Nick's hand off of me but it only made him dig his fingertips deeper into my skin, bruising me. I could see Alex's smirk growing more out of the corner of my eye.

"The boy always had an eye of class didn't he?" Desmond asks, looking around the space. He waved his hand in Declan's direction. "As promised, I've brought the boyo."

"Before we start, a drink?" Anatoly asked, flashing a smile. He raised his hand, keeping his elbow on the armrest of the sofa and snapped his fingers. One of his men who was standing behind him turned quickly on his heal and walked to the drink butler that was set up along the wall of windows. Taking off the glass top of the decanter he worked to pour him a drink.

"T'anks, but I prefer my own." He answered.

Anatoly hummed in response, his lips turning down in what looked like annoyance. "Refusing a drink offer? Not a good way to start, Mr. Kelly."

Desmond chuckled. "No, I just prefer not to waste."

Anatoly brushed of his comment and turned his attention to Declan. "Drink?"

Declan shook his head no. "Headache." He replied with a hoarse voice, pointing to his head with a shaking finger.

"And you, lisichka?" He leaned forward slightly so that he could look past Alex to me.

Everyones attention fell on me. In normal circumstances I hated being the center of attention. Now that I'm in a room filled with two of the most dangerous men in the city who were about to decide my fate, I felt like I was about to implode under their fixed stares. My cheeks burned red and I became hyperaware of how tiny this dress was. I knew I was being objectified.

"N-no, thank you." My voice was barely a whisper.

"Such polite manners." Anatoly laughed. He snapped his fingers again then spread them so that his guy could place the crystal glass in his open palm then moved to give Alex his own glass.

I looked across the room to Declan. My nerves were a wreck from Anatoly dragging this out. I needed him to look at me, to calm me the fuck down before my mind snaps from all of the scenarios playing out in my head about what's about to happen. But he had his impassive gaze fixed on Anatoly.

Desmond cleared his throat which made Anatoly's focus turn back on him. "Ya came to Church about some sins t'at been needin' help with forgiveness. Now it's time to work out your penance. As you can see, all is about to be forgiven." He says, gesturing towards Declan.

Anatoly laughed. "I need Mick help moving my own product like you need help killing your own. I told you to solve this problem for us and we would consider hearing what you have to say. Don't be mistaken in thinking you're worth more than the potato farmer you are."

"Well, seeing if its really not all that important, I can let my pup go and we'll be off then. I raised this one since before he could even serve the alter so don't pretend like t'is little concession is some small gesture, aye?"

"Now that you mention it, he really was your responsibility now wasn't he? Maybe I ought to have you settle the tab?" Anatoly snapped back before taking a sip of his drink. He used the thumb of his free hand to pull his index finger down until a loud pop filled the silence then repeated with his middle finger.

"You know, Tony Corallo has a mind to burn the entire Z market down. He could do it, too. Now would't that be a shame if most of what ya had came to an end, boyo? Well t'at would be a crying shame, aye? And to think all ya had to do to keep yourself from becoming this city's newest piece of eastern European cunt was to listen and to pay the fucking church what is required." Desmond goaded, enjoying himself.

"You got a mouth on you, mick and not a smart one if your saying your going to be getting in bed with the Guineas while standing in my fucking hotel." He tutted. His eyes drifted to Declan when he said my, trying to get a rise out of him but he remained impassive. "Not too smart at all." Anatoly raises his left hand in a gesture to one of his men. I watch him slowly dip his hand under his blazer then slowly pull it out to reveal the butt of his gun.

I felt my mouth turn dry. My anxiety spiked higher and I could feel my spine stiffen thinking I was about to witness Desmond get blown away. Nicks hands stopped moving on me for a moment until we saw the smile spread on his Uncle's face.

"Smart is knowing what's about to happen and making sure your standing on the correct side of alter, boyo. Do you think I would even be chatting with ya right now if I wanted to open this city up to the Italians? Don't do anything foolish." His eyes draw Anatoly's attention to a small green dot on his body guard's chest. Anatoly looks back to Desmond, the both of them exchanging a grin now that they've locked each other in a temporary stalemate.

"So what is it you want then?" Anatoly asks, letting out a deep breath while gesturing to his man to stand down.

"You know what I want." Desmond replies cooly before taking another drink from his flask.

"Your talking about stepping into one of the key roles of our business? Let's stop right there for just one second," Anatoly lifted his finger in front of him to keep Desmond quiet while he took a sip from his glass. "You are openly talking about this like its common place. You got a big mouth, your stabbing Corallo in the back without giving it a second thought and let's not forget your offering up one of your own. Your loyalty isn't looking very good, Desmond."

"You and I both had a little problem, a few pups got a little carried away. Seemed to take a liking to fucking with your business. You asked me to handle this because you were loosing bodies and that is an expensive game to play when there is business that needs to be handled."

"Get to the point, you fucking Mick." Anatoly cut him off. He was starting to lose his temper with Desmond's long winded responses.

"Turns out it was the boyo, here. Proper fucked he is now, as he was acting without my orders. He seems to be doing that a lot recently. I can't help him and even if I could, not sure you would be willing to let all that slide, so you can punish him as you will. I believe ya are owed t'at."

Anatoly's gaze travels back to Declan, a malicious smile growing on his face.

"However," Desmond continued, "I reserve the right to put him down."

"Again, your loyalties, Desmond. You bring me the thorn in my side for the last eight months and demand that you become part of my business. Then you inform me that he was the one killing my men and now you're not even going to let me kill him?"

"I see what you're saying, Anatoly, but you remember t'at he's been my pup since I killed his Da all t'ose years ago." Desmond countered. "I think I should have the right to kill the boyo. End the story and all."

My head snapped to Declan expecting to see him react to Desmond admitting to killing his dad but there was nothing. No outrage. No anguish. Not even a twitch of his eye. Just the cold, expressionless stare he's had since they started talking. Did he already know? Had he figured it out? How could he not be reacting?

"I need to see a show of commitment and loyalty or get the fuck out of my building."

"I imagine Artur Kuznetsov will be wanting retribution for his son, Roman?" Desmond asked.

Anatoly's brow rises, confused at what Desmond is getting at. "Isn't his killer right there?" He asks, using the hand he has his glass in to gesture towards Declan.

Nick was busy running his fingertips up and down my neck when he heard Anatoly question his Uncle. His hands finally let go of me and I heard him take his mask from his face to show off his deformation.

"It wasn't just him. The little cocksucker Noah Rhys helped. They're the ones who did this." Nick sneered. I could see Declan's icy demeanor break for just a moment to smirk at his handy work.

"Who is Noah Rhys?" Anatoly looked between Nick and Desmond.

"One of Deco's henchies." Desmond clarified. He shot Nick a dangerous look, telling him to shut up.

Anatoly looked over his shoulder to one of his men. "Matvey, look into this Noah character."

"Any other names you care to give up?" Anatoly asked, looking back at Nick.

"I've got a list." Nick replies, his hands latching back onto me. "And we know where they are."

Declan's features betrayed him again. I could see the confusion on his face as his brows pulled together in disbelief. He glared over me to Nick before he tried composed himself again.

"I'll give you all of them. Including Noah's brother and the other one, Ben, his younger sister who I imagine you'll make a pretty penny on. And any other of my clergy I find who were working with him." Desmond said, reclaiming the conversation.

With his free hand Anatoly grabbed his chin and rubbed at his beard, mulling over Desmond's offer. He brought his drink up to his lips and sipped before he turned his attention to Declan.

"I must admit, Mr. Byrne, you were a hard man to catch." Anatoly sucked on his teeth after taking another drink from his glass. "If it wasn't for Alex and Desmond's nephew capturing your lisichka, you might still be on the run. Clearly the old man isn't as good as he used to be."

"It is nice to see her again. I was upset she got away that night at the gala." He goaded. Declan's face remained neutral despite the crude looks Anatoly and Alex were giving me.

Anatoly was silent for a moment while he used his thumb and index finger to unbutton the top button of his suit jacket. "Your offer doesn't seem very even."

He snapped his fingers again, this time looking over to Nick. He put out his arms across Alex's chest and held out his hand, palm facing up. Nick placed the leash in his open hand and took his other hand from me. My heart dropped in my chest.

Tightening his fingers around the leash, he violently pulled his closed fist back toward him. The chain tightened around my neck causing me to audibly choke. I desperately grabbed for the leash to try and pull it back so that I could breathe but it only made him angry. Another harsh tug had me off of the couch and stumbling in my heals over to him.

When I was in front of him he finally loosened the tension on the leash and I sucked in air. I glared down at him while I worked to pull down the material of the dress. The laughs from all of the men in the room had my cheeks burning red as I clenched my jaw.

"You're getting to kill the one I want most. The who orchestrated the killing of my men. The one who apparently has all of these incriminating documents her father gathered on me." The tips of his index and middle finger gently touched my thigh. My lungs seized. His fingers slowly started to trace circles on my skin before they started to trail up my leg.

"She's what 'ya wanted all along, was she not?" Desmond was annoyed that he wasn't biting on his offer. "I'm handing over a good portion of my clergy as well."

"She was, and I do have special plans for her but this was before Mr. Byrne's little casus belli." Anatoly replied. His fingers stopped at the bottom hem of the dress. My bottom lip was trembling but I kept my eyes fixed on the wall in front of me. I refused to look at him. To let him see how he was humiliating me.

"Fine. I'll let you do the killing. It will be fun to see how long he lasts before he breaks and gives me the documents."

Between Anatoly's acidic touch and the horrific thoughts of what they would do to Declan I snapped. "H-he doesn't have the files!" I blurted out, stumbling over my words.

His fingers gripped my leg, squeezing. The gold rings around his fingers bitting into my skin making me wince. "What was that, lisichka?"

"He... he doesn't have t-them. I-I stole them. I have everything." I said, finally looking down at him. I could see Alex's smile grow wider out of the corner of my vision. He must not have told Anatoly that I had the flash drive.

His eyes looked over me before he let out a thunderous laugh. "And where, pray tell, do you have all of this?"

The realization of what I would have to do sunk in and I could feel the tears pool in my eyes. Letting out a shaky breath through parted lips, I gritted my teeth to the point that my ears were ringing and pulled up the front of the tight dress. Anatoly hummed in approval as he watching my shaking hands.

The weight of everyone looking at me was crushing. I could hear all of them shifting in their spots to get a better view, the laughs, the words they were mumbling. I dipped my fingers under the lace of the thong I was wearing and pulled out the flash drive then hurriedly pulled down the material.

I held the fake cigar in my open palm. Anatoly reached out to grab it but I wrapped my fingers around it and pulled it away from him. The surprised look on his face quickly turned to amusement.

"Agree that you won't kill him. Or the others." I demanded, finding my resolve. More laughs filled the room making me flinch.

He twirled the leash around his index finger to add some pressure around my throat. "What makes you think you're in any position to give me an ultimatum?"

"I... I'll-"

Nick came from behind me and pried my fingers open. He plucked the flash drive from my palm and handed it over to Anatoly. Nick's hands fell on my shoulders and pushed me so that I was bending over Anatoly again. My hands gripped the bottom hem of the dress to keep it from riding up.

"You'll what?" He asked. I could smell the vodka on his breath making my stomach twist. "Oh, I am going to have fun with you, lisichka."

"What do you say, Litvinenko?" Desmond snapped, sick of the show he was putting on. "Do we have a deal?"

Anatoly looked over to Alex and raised his brow. Alex's lip curled up in a sneer apparently not wanting to share Declan's demise. He waved his hand in front of my face, looking past me to Desmond. No. That was the only bargaining chip I had in all of this and now it's gone. I let him take it from me like a fucking idiot.

Nick pulled me back up and moved me so that I was sitting on the armrest of the couch next to Anatoly. Trying to fight back tears, I was mentally willing Declan to look at me. To tell me everything was going to be alright but he was still fixed on Anatoly.

Anatoly leaned forward and stretches out his arm over the table to offer Desmond his open hand. Desmond's mouth curls slowly as he mimics Anatoly's actions. They grab each others hands and I can see both of their knuckles turning white from squeezing as hard as they could, not wanting to be the weaker of the two.

"You've got a deal, Mr. Kelly."

Both men sat back in their couches. Desmond raised this flask while Anatoly raised his glass. "Slainte," Desmond fired back his drink.

"Vashe zdorov'ye." Anatoly answered. I could see the guards from both families finally relax a little now that an agreement had been made.

Twirling the fake cigar in his fingers for a moment, he tucked it into the breast pocket of his suit jacket. "I will say, you've trained your, what did you call him, pup? well. Even with all the talk of killing his men and my hands all over his girl he hasn't so much as flinched."

Desmond looked over at Declan with a smug look, enjoying Anatoly's compliment.

"I wonder what would get a rise out of him, though?"

"Ghost stories never bothered me." Declan deadpanned. His comment was so quick on the draw it took me a moment to process what he said.

Anatoly's thunderous laugh had me flinching. As soon as it came on, he quickly silenced himself. With another snap of his fingers he had two of his guard on Declan in a second. One grabbed Declan's hair at the top of his head, tugging it back while the other pulled a gun from a holster on his belt. He pulled the slide back with a loud metallic scrape and shoved the barrel against his temple.

I lurched forward making the chain around my neck tighten. My fingers gripped the couch, my nails digging into the leather.

"No, please, NO!" I screamed. Thick tears were already blurring my vision. I tried desperately to blink them away. "P-plese, no!"

Despite having a gun pressed against his head, Declan remained undaunted. As if this was normal.

"Hmm," Anatoly hummed, amused. "Even with a gun to your head, you're still an arrogant little prick." Anatoly reached into his suit jacket and pulled out his own gun.

"What about her?" His arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me down onto his lap, pressing the cold barrel of his gun against my skull. "What if it was my gun to her head?"

His free hand moved up my ribs, brushing over my chest in a crude way and kept moving until he had a vice like grip on my jaw. He pressed his cheek against mine, rubbing up and down causing his beard to drag against my skin causing it to burn. My heart was hammering so violently in my chest that I swear my ribs would crack.

Letting go of my jaw, he moved the gun in front of us and pulled back his slide, loading the round in the chamber. I felt bile rise in the back of my throat when he returned the gun to my temple.

Declan's jaw clenched. Even from across the room I could see the muscles in his cheeks flex. He struggled against the hold the Russian had on him. His face twisting in pain when he jerked his head back even harder.

"Found it." Anatoly hummed.

His hand fell on top of my thigh, squeezing my muscle hard enough to make me squirm on his lap. "We'll get to that later, lisichka." He mocked before dragging his tongue along my jaw. I groaned in disgust and tried to pull away but it just caused him to bite at my skin making me yelp.

Deciding he had enough, Anatoly shoved me aside. I fell into Alex's shoulder which caused him to push me off of him. I kept my gaze down on the floor, completely humiliated and afraid to look at Declan should they pull the trigger.

"Siblings," He chuckled. Standing up from the couch, he put his open hand on his chest and smoothed it down over his suit.

"Matvey, take Desmond, Nick and his men to the other room. Get the names of all of the rats and send them on their way." All of Anatoly's humor left his voice. Turning to Desmond who was now on his feet, "You'll have your pup back in an hour."

The one named Matvey slapped his hand on Desmond's shoulder and started to move him and his men to one of the rooms off of the living room. As Desmond passed Declan he patted the top of his head harsh enough to make Declan's face screw up in pain.

When Desmond and his crew were out of the room, Anatoly walked over to the bar that was set up along the wall of windows. Putting his glass down, he worked to pour himself another drink.

"Tell me, Declan. How does it feel to lose everything you've worked so hard for?"

Declan grimaced from the Russian shaking his head violently when it took him a moment to answer his boss.

"I haven't lost everything." He sneered.

"Look around!" Anatoly's voice boomed. "In a few short hours I'll have your little friends. I have your businesses. I've got your bitch and now all of the documents." He patted his breast pocket that held the flash drive. "I'd say I have everything."

Looking up, I saw Declan smirk when Anatoly had mentioned the flash drive.

"Ah, no sense in arguing with a stubborn Mick." He waved his hand dismissively.

Moving over to to Declan's side, Anatoly pulled a bottle of pills from his pants pocket and shook it next to Declan. Declan flinched from the rattling sound of the pills in the orange plastic bottle.

Working to take the cap off of the bottle Anatoly spoke. "I know you know what this is. You spent months looking into my syndicate. If it wasn't for your slip up at the docks that night back in October, you would have gone by unnoticed. You should have killed Alex that night when he caught you breaking into our shipping container."

The break in at the docks. I remember reading that article on my computer at Uncle Mike's dealership before Nick had showed up to question him. I remember Alex coming in looking like he was beat up but when I questioned him he gave me some stupid excuse. It was Declan.

"I'm sure you found out about our little money laundering deal with Wyndham Pharmaceuticals. We donate our money to fund the production of Zenalyn, in return they give us the unfiltered compound." Anatoly continued. "And I'm sure you know what these do to people. Everyone has heard the stories on the news. Hell, at this rate with how much Z has taken over the city, I'm sure you've seen its effects. Funny thing is, I haven't. I'm looking forward to it."

The guard who had his gun to Declan's head holstered his gun then pinched his nose and gripped his jaw. The other guard worked to hold Declan in place while he thrashed against them but it was no use. He couldn't breathe anymore and the moment he opened his mouth to take a breath Anatoly shoved the pills in his mouth.

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