This party represented two things—celebration of victory and search for new men. Meanwhile, I would be placing my mouse around animals.
In the brotherhood, there was a class of soldiers who were more animal than human. The sick. The demented. The ones who took joy from death, got hard from it. Ones with no remorse or regrets. This class held high ranking, and many of them would be here.
Is this too much too soon?
Usually, I studied the moon and all of its magical presence. Tonight, I had other things to ponder.
I gave her seven men. Now, she has thirty.
I stared at Emily’s new headquarters. The last of the light was draining through the leaves. The security lights had come on, surrounding the building in a haunting glow.
I’d also given her the old servants’ building on the east for her little headquarters. No one had used it in years. I knew she’d been intrigued by the underground service tunnels that led from the building to our house.
The next day, she’d begun construction.
A chilly breeze traveled through the open window. Fall had come to Moscow. Temperatures had already dropped, but the chilly winter months were still far away.
What is she doing over there?
Emily’s building stood far out, but close enough for me to see. It was the other reason I’d given her the property. My office window had the best view of the building, not that it helped. I only caught who went in and out, and that was only the front entrance.
I directed my attention to the new moon.
I always looked forward to full moons. Most people did. With that round, glowing rock hanging in the sky, it was hard not to believe in the power of nature. The possibilities of wild enchantments supercharged within a full moon’s glow. The world felt more magical when the full moon appeared.
But the new moon held significance too.
While the full moon represented completion, the new moon pointed to the beginning.
For me, the moon was a constant symbol of birth and death. The new moon showed its birth, and then it embarked on a journey in the waxing phase, growing and maturing. At pure ripeness, the full moon appeared, but not for long. Then the waning phase would begin, and the full moon would slowly dissolve night by night, shifting into a thin crescent. Birth transforming to death to only be reincarnated the next month.
Like the new moon, tonight would mark the true beginning for Emily. I’d invited the top officials in the brotherhood over for the party. It had been short notice, but necessary.
It’s time for them to meet her.
Pressure built in my chest.
I gazed up at the sky and breathed in the fresh air. No noise came besides the distant movement of my men securing the property. Calm hung in the night sky.
The party will start soon. Is she ready? Will they understand how important she is to me? That she must be protected?
Many in the brotherhood already had their attention on Emily, intrigued with the lion’s new lover. Her guards had reported back and let me know a few had sent their men to monitor her from afar. Others had noted the Afro-Russians surrounding her. Her thugs from Kapotnya would now be living the good life. My mouse had given these men the opportunity to rise in power. Many would not like that.
They’ll have to deal with it. If my mouse wants to play with her little soldiers, then let her.
Of course, I would have to maintain some control over her.
It was a feat I still had not learned.
From the very beginning in New York, she’d disappeared and reappeared at will. She’d followed her own rules even back then, when she should’ve feared me.
In Prague, she’d raced after men who’d come to assassinate me gun in the air, no fear in her heart. No bullet in the barrel. Completely reckless. Wild, she’d wrestled one down. Thank God he’d already been injured. I’d sent Emily to her room like a pissed father. She’d responded by disappearing. When I found her and tried to bend her to my will, she’d cursed and slapped me.
Such a feisty little mouse.
I grinned at the moon.
Now, she listened to me out of love. It was somewhat of a compromise. And listening and following my orders were broad and flexible definitions for my mouse.
I let out a long sigh.
I shouldn’t be thinking about her. I have enough to worry about.
Many had died with my war. Sasha had been my number one and Luka my number two. Both had betrayed me.
Now, I had positions to fill. Two men to surround me and a third to maintain a sense of checks and balances. Three men to provide their wisdom and protection. Loyalty needed to be at their cores. There could be no more betrayal in the days to come.