LEO
Even with their masks, I know who is who from their scents and build. I know the curiosity of those around us will only be heightened because, for the first time, I have a woman by my side. I’ve always been a private person. No one knows me as anything but Schurke Wolf. Then there is the fact I am down one of my regular men… the Six were always with me, and today… today there are five. It still hurts, and I don’t think that the pain of his loss will ever completely go away.
Rumours will be afloat, they probably fucking are already, but I’m fine with that. Anything to keep the attention away from the main reason we are here.
I keep my hand on Azura’s waist; I hadn’t wanted her to come, but I also know she is my mate, born to be my equal, and I have no right to control her decisions. If she was in my place, I sure as fuck wouldn’t stay back. But that also doesn’t mean I’m going to let her risk herself.
We mingle, and Azura stays silent behind her rhinestone and chain face mask. It doesn’t cover her face entirely, but the others that Jax had purchased for her had all been uncomfortable around her eyes. This is the only one that had been comfortable enough, according to my sexy little psycho. I can’t really blame the masks since her eyes are so fucking perfectly huge.
Several of my own men come over to greet me, followed by those smaller cartel dons that are partially run by myself. Big enough to be powerful, yet still far too small to defy me. I make small talk, and if someone didn’t know better, they’d think this is just another business dinner. Several thank me officially for doing business with them, yet what disturbs me is that no one seems to have an issue with the drugs being tainted. No one mentions it. No complaints that I cheated them against what was promised…
Scanning the room, I know they all fear me. I can smell the fear seeping from them when I walk past them. I don’t really care… I came for a reason. There are several things I need to do, and I plan to handle them all tonight, even if it risks showing my humanity… Schurke Wolf may be known to be heartless, ruthless, and dangerous, but in the end, there are still rules that I expect to be obeyed.
Time to get this shit over with.
Not all of our buyers are here. The seven who were unable to make it let us know, of course, and a few should be here shortly, Li Sheng says through the link.
Get our men to purchase those drugs back from them, even if it means as customers. Those were smaller buyers… but I haven’t seen Web yet. Is he here? I ask, opening the link between the Five and Azura as my hand caresses her waist.
Oh, he’s almost here. Our men are tracking him. He made a stop on his way; we’re finding out who he spoke to and exactly where he went, Jin adds.
Find out fast, I reply sharply. That doesn’t seem right…
A while later, we are now making our way to dinner. Unlike the rest of the people here, only the leaders will retreat to a private room where I will state the reason behind this dinner. They all know there was a purpose for this invitation, and many are on edge to know exactly what that is. Each one is tense and on edge as they wait for me to share.
I am now seated at the head of the table with the Five standing behind us. The table is large, and everyone is spread out, giving enough space for their men to flank them. A lavish meal has been set out in front of us.
We are about to begin eating when the doors open, and none other than Web enters. He is wearing a white suit on his stocky frame and a gold mask with a long beak on his face, a cigar in hand.
“I apologise for my tardiness; however, I have a vast business to run,” he declares, taking the seat that awaits him. Our eyes meet, and he forces a smile.
“I hope that’s all it was… business,” I remark coldly. His heart thuds, and I can smell the sweat and fear oozing off him, like a man who had just committed a crime and feared being caught.
“Yes. Like I said, I am sorry.” I raise an eyebrow behind my mask. Something is off.
“No need to apologise. We are glad you could make it.”
“Ah, of course,” he replies, his eight men behind him standing at attention. He is the one who brought the most security.
Ace, send out more men. Find what he was up to, I command before being the first to dig in, making sure the food is safe. Of course, it was my men who had arranged the food, but no one would eat it unless I tasted it first. Although poison for humans wouldn’t kill me anyway, I wouldn’t play fucking dirty like that.
“It’s an honour to be called to dinner by yourself, Schurke Wolf. After all, you don’t really like to mix,” one of the men says, his eyes on Azura, who could easily pass for a high-end escort.
I reach over, take her hand, and kiss her wrist softly, trying not to act possessive of her even though I want to fucking put him in his place. Looking at my gorgeous girl, I know the pout on her face is from her wondering how she’s going to eat with her mask that dangles over her lips. She is apparently pretty hungry, or more like she’s blaming our pup for taking too much from her and being the cause. Those walls are down the majority of the time.
“Sometimes things call for it. We will discuss further after we have eaten,” I explain coldly, allowing a server to pour me a glass of wine. Several of the men have their glasses checked by their men before they allow the wine to be poured.
“I apologise, Schurke Wolf, but times are hard, and we must be careful,” one of the men who’d had his plate wiped down explains. I nod.
“Of course. Only a fool would dig in blindly. However, rest assured, if I wished to kill you, it would not be cowardly poisoning via a meal.”
They laugh uneasily, each one trying to display their fearlessness, yet they aren’t able to hide their fear and doubt completely. They are shrewd men, most sharp and cunning, others wiser and smarter, but regardless of their personalities, these are the dons for a reason.
Guess you’ll be joining us for a meal later, Luna, Jax snickers, and I glance at Azura, who is looking at the food with displeasure.
I prefer you not eat anything here, anyway, I add. Although I had taken careful measures to make sure the food was untouched, I’d rather be safe.
He says that whilst eating himself, she retorts before picking up her wine glass and sitting back, crossing her legs. Even drinking isn’t too fucking easy in that mask. Web is watching her intently; in fact, a little too curiously for my liking.
“Who is the beautiful woman by your side, Schurke Wolf? We all know you don’t entertain women, or men, for that matter.” He smirks at his own comment, “Or none that we know of.” I raise my eyebrow, a cold smirk on my face as I look at Azura.
“This is… Lola,” I answer with a small smirk. Azura’s eyes snap to mine.
We agreed on She-Devil! She frowns. Now I’m a dumb fish.
Hey, I thought we were sticking to Lady She-Wolf, Jax add.
Yeah, I don’t fucking think so. Both sound fucking ridiculous. I would not use anything associated with her self-proclaimed title or werewolves because if anyone in this room is linked to Judah, they will figure her out…
“Lady Lola, ah. Lovely to meet you,” Web says. Azura simply smiles faintly from behind her mask but says nothing.
Once the meal is over and the table is cleared away swiftly, we sit back, holding fresh glasses of alcohol. I take out a cigarette, and Azura takes the lighter from me. Our eyes meet as she slowly leans forward, giving me a good eyeful of her sexy cleavage. She gives me a wink as she flicks the switch and lights the cigarette for me. I lean closer, my eyes fixed on her for a moment before I sit back with my now-lit cigarette.
Thanks, baby girl. She simply gives me a small, sexy smile, and I force my attention back to the table.
“There is something urgent I wanted to discuss, and although this was meant to be a celebratory dinner, the issue I must address will be anything but pleasant,” I begin, taking a drag on my cigarette. Silence follows as they all wait for me to continue, “The drugs I sold have been tampered with.” As predicted, they all don’t look that surprised.
“Tampered? By?” Web asks sharply. I frown, placing my free hand on Azura’s thigh.
“By one of my men, who will be taken care of accordingly,” I reply coldly. Their gazes flitter to the Five, and I know they are instantly assuming it was Shane. “No, it wasn’t one of my closest men. Regardless, I want to purchase those drugs back, and, due to the issue this may cause you all, I’m happy to pay double.”
A shocked murmur rushes through the room, and Azura tilts her head slightly, observing them keenly. She looks pretty fucking hot in that mask, and I’m looking forward to that dance she has promised me. There are only a few days until the ceremony…
“Back? Why? No one complained, Wolf, then why?” A man who goes by the name Chain questions.
“No one did, but that doesn’t make it fucking right. The negative impact can cause the law to dig deeper. I don’t want any of my business partners coming under pressure and being forced to spill my name, now do I?” They don’t need to know my actual reasons.
“Then you will lose millions,” Web remarks.
“A mere drop in the pool. I want those drugs back, immediately. This is not up for negotiation.” My voice is ice cold, my eyes hard as I look at them all in turn, challenging them to argue.
“Then will you compensate with other options to purchase? The drug is popular. I’ve sold a lot,” another inquires.
“The drug trade is always growing. Right now, I don’t have shit to sell, but start planning the return. You will get paid via banks abroad or in cash, whatever you prefer. We are not negotiating. This is a direct order. Refuse it, and there will be consequences.”
“You’re threatening us.”
“And I will follow up on that threat if need be,” I snarl, making a ripple of unease rush through the room.
“Triple in return. This is business, after all, Schurke Wolf,” Cobra remarks, sitting forward, a smirk on his half-covered face.
“Double, or I take it by force,” I counter coldly. “You don’t want to fucking mess with me.”
Cobra tenses. No matter how powerful he is, he is still just a human, and no matter how fucking powerful they think they are or act, a werewolf is always going to be fucking stronger. No mafia or cartel boss could ever come close. They can carry on acting like they are above the fucking world when really, they fucking aren’t.
“Anyone else have a problem with that?” I ask venomously.
Silence follows, but just when I think we are done and the message has gotten through nice and clear, Web speaks, smoking his cigar as he sits back. The stupid thing spreads a large amount of smoke.
“What if we’ve already sold those drugs? I’m just a bit concerned. Lately, you and your… men are dealing in things that you then want back,” he sighs, and I frown. Me and my men? So, he knows those bullets were from my man… he knew Emmet. “Can we perhaps borrow the pretty Lolita by your side? We will surely hand her back after a while,” Web taunts. My eyes flash, and I stand up, the urge to tear him apart overcoming me.
“This dinner is over. Get out!” I growl, my heart raging. “My men are waiting outside to organise the return of those drugs. Willingly or by fucking force.”
Calm down, Leo. I’ll crush his little pinky-sized dick later, Azura’s voice insists, but I’m not having it.
“Don’t threaten us. This won’t be forgotten, Wolf!” Cobra snaps.
“Test me, and it won’t be just fucking threats,” I hiss. This time, everyone gets the message as I exude just a sliver of my Alpha aura. Everyone gets up, and when Web almost does, I slam my hand down on the table. “Everyone but you. We’re not done yet, Web.” He forces a smirk and nods at the other men.
“Go! I mean, I only said what we were all thinking. Since when does Schurke Wolf rule us?”
But no one is siding with him. The fear in their eyes as they back away tells me they are under my control. Willing or unwilling, I rule them all. The moment the last man and his security leave, I turn my gaze to Web. The smoke of his cigar makes me frown when Azura coughs lightly.
“We can do this the hard way if you want, Web. There’s a lot we need to discuss anyway,” I say coldly. His men are standing on edge behind him, but if I wanted, they’d all be fucking dead.
“Oh, I agree… but if we are having a heart-to-heart, then how about we start from the top, Schurke Wolf, with you owning up to the truth?” He says quietly, puffing away. He’s a little too relaxed for my liking. What is he playing at? His confidence is far more than usual, too… something isn’t right.
“What truth?” I ask coldly. He lets out a raucous laugh and leans forward.
“The one where you admit the truth that you hide, Wolf… because I know exactly what you are. What a befitting name, too… Schurke Wolf.”
Our eyes meet, shock rushing through my men and Azura as we all stare at the human before us, a human who never should have known what he is clearly insinuating he knows. The question should be how, but my question is who? Who the fuck told him that shit?
I think I have a pretty clear idea of exactly who that might be…