The smell of antiseptic and stale air hung in the hospital room, a bleak reminder that my father was nearing the end of his life. Did he know? Maybe.

I walked past the hospital halls, glancing toward the familiar faces as my feet led me to the private floor reserved for him. A nurse greeted me with a polite nod before I entered. Inside, my father sat upright, his attention fixed on the television, though his body seemed too frail to match the room's energy.

"Dimitri, my boy!" he exclaimed, his face lighting up as he adjusted on the bed. "I didn't expect you to visit today."

I smirked, taking the chair beside him. His hand felt thin and cold when I clasped it, the contrast jarring against the strength I still saw in his eyes. "Well Dad, I didn't visit yesterday, so I had to today," I replied.

He patted my hand, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "That's nice of you, son," he murmured, his tone soft, almost wistful. A moment passed before his expression shifted, his brow furrowing slightly. "How are Svetlana and Nora? You're accommodating them well, right?"

Her name turned the taste in my mouth sour, and I tightened my grip on his hand slightly before letting go. "They're fine," I said, my voice clipped, though I tried to sound indifferent. I likely failed. "How about-"

"Son," he cut me off, his tone firmer now, "you're not giving them a hard time, are you?"

I forced myself to hold his gaze, though irritation prickled beneath my skin. "Of course not," I said, keeping my voice steady. "They're guests. I know how to handle guests."

He furrowed his brows, clearly unconvinced. "They are not just your guests Dimitri. Svetlana is very important to me."

He leaned back into the pillows, letting out a weary sigh. "You're a good man, Dimitri. You just need to let go of whatever keeps you so... angry all the time. It's not good for the heart or the soul."

I shifted, brushing invisible dust from my sleeve. "How's your heart holding up, then?"

"Old, stubborn, and still beating," he said with a chuckle that ended in a cough. "Now, tell me—did Fyodor bring in the shipment?"

I rolled my eyes, leaning back in my chair. "Relax, old man. You're supposed to be resting, not worrying about shipments."

His hand waved dismissively. "I'll rest when I'm dead. Did he bring it in or not?"

"Yes," I replied with a sigh, giving in. "Everything's running smoothly. You don't need to worry about anything."

"Good," he muttered, nodding faintly. His eyes softened, the sharpness in them dimming for just a moment. "You've done well, son. Just... don't let the weight of it all crush you. You've got Nikolai, and even Maksim, if you need him."

At Nikolai's name, something inside me eased slightly, though Maksim's mention was little more than a passing note. "How about we focus on your health instead of my burdens?" I asked, my voice quieter now.

He chuckled again, a weak sound that barely reached his chest. "Stubborn, just like your mother."

I didn't respond. The quiet hum of the television filled the silence, mingling with the steady beep of the heart monitor, as I watched the man who had built an empire try to make peace with his mortality.

A soft knock at the door drew my attention, and I turned to see a nurse stepping inside. "Mr Orlov, it is time for you to rest," she exclaimed politely as I nodded while she hooked him up with more wires.

I sighed and exited the room, leaving for my office early.

The cold wind greeted my face as a guard opened the car door for me and I went inside the huge building.

On the way, I was greeted by a giggling Nora and Maksim. What the fuck was he doing here? And why the fuck was her giggling so annoying?

"Oh brother, I didn't know you'd come in earlier than usual," he said as he approached me and we shook hands while I kept a stern face.

"I see you've met Nora," my voice came out rude which I intended it to be. "When did you come back?"

He seemed surprised by my coldness towards Nora. Why the fuck? "Just yesterday. My work ended in Moscow, I thought you knew," he replied, confused as he glanced at Nora who was busy looking at the files in her hands.

"Alright. Well, I've got more work for you. Nikolai has some clan information, meet him and work those out," I ordered as he immediately nodded but with a sulky face.

Maksim smiled towards Nora and they both fucking smiled at each other. Fuck you, man. "Okay Nora, see you later." And by his demeanor and expressions, I could tell he was trying to get in her pants too, just like he does with every woman he'll meet.

After he had left, I turned to Nora who seemed to be busy on her phone now. "Shouldn't you be working instead of..... entertaining yourself?" I asked with a smirk as she clicked her tongue, looking up at me.

Nora tilted her head with a sly smile, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh Dimitri, unlike you, I'm not desperate for attention," she shot back quite quickly. "But I get it, your ego must need the occasional check-in. Consider this your reminder that not everything revolves around you."

A mocking chuckle escaped me as I leaned closer, staring at her face. "Not everything, no. Just the things that matter. But I wouldn't expect you to understand that, you're too busy being everyone's entertainment."

She let out a soft scoff, folding her arms as she tilted her head. "Oh, don't be bitter, Dimitri. It's not a good look. Besides, if I'm the entertainment, what does that make you? The audience?"

My lips curled up, but my eyes remained cold. "Hardly. More like the critic, someone has to point out the flaws in the performance. And trust me, Nora, there are plenty."

She leaned back, raising an eyebrow with a knowing smile. "Flaws, huh? It must be hard, living with such high standards. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find a way to point them all out, like you always do."

"I'd suggest you focus on something other than your little games, Nora. There's work to be done," I whipped as I checked the time on my watch. "But I doubt you listen since you like to be entertained."

As my words disappeared into the thin air, I left her standing there with a scowl but not before she spoke again. "Oh, I listen. Just not to people who think they're the only ones with a sense of responsibility."

I didn't look back as I shook my head, my blood boiling even more. My anger seemed to show but not to her advantage, all she's ever done is get under my skin.

...

I entered the grand meeting room, the weight of the mission already settling like usual in my chest. The usual hum of hushed conversations and the click of chairs shifting were replaced by a quiet tension. Svetlana stood at the front, her eyes scanning the gathered faces, taking in the clan members from both hers and mine.

Everyone had been called here including Maksim and Nikolai. Nora sat beside Svetlana's chair, her eyes meeting mine for a moment.

Svetlana's voice made me look away and pay attention to her. "We've been given information on a man," she began, her voice sharp and authoritative. "He's been linked to several of Yakim Sorokin's operations, though the ties are unclear at best. He's slippery, well-connected, and not someone we can afford to ignore.'

I hummed while Nikolai spoke. "What makes him a priority? Usually, these men don't have any information and we just end up wasting our time."

Stepping forward, I scanned the group before speaking. "What about his whereabouts? Any intel?"

Maksim placed a USB on the table in front of me. "This is all the information we have. Check it out."

Plugging the USB in my laptop, the smart board behind me lit up and a man's face popped up. "Name: Viktor Soko, Age: 52 years, Family: Unknown except for his sister, Profession: Used to be a cashier and then worked for a drug dealer named Leonid Boris," I read the information out loud while everyone around me hummed.

"Wasn't this man named Leonid also involved in another drug dealing mission we did years ago?" Nora asked Svetlana who pressed her lips in a thin line as she nodded.

"Hmm, I recall that. He did dissolve for a few years and I guess now he has found an opportunity to resurface again," Svetlana said while reading his details again.

I clicked my tongue as Nikolai added. "Maybe, he isn't working for Yakim. Who knows, what if he is also targeting him?"

I nodded at Nikolai's point, although I kept my expression neutral. "Getting close to him won't be easy. He'll have people watching his every move. We can't afford any mistakes."

Just as Svetlana was about to speak again, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

The door creaked open, and a young messenger, Colton, stepped inside, his face pale. His voice shook slightly as he addressed Svetlana. "There's been an incident, ma'am. At one of the safe houses."

Everyone froze.

"What happened?" Svetlana's voice was icy as she stood up again.

"The safe house was attacked," Colton replied, glancing nervously at the room full of armed clan members. "There were casualties... and we've lost contact with the team inside."

{Word Count- 1713}

A/N

How are you liking every character so far? So a new character is introduced. What do you think of Maksim till now?

Updating after a month! I know I said earlier but again, I've been very busy lately.

This chapter wasn't very long but the next will have quite the drama! Stay tuned. I will try my best to update it soon.

I hope you enjoyed! If you did, please vote and comment so I have the motivation to write. Thank you in advance.

See you soon lovelies!

xoxo

-lily