**Same day – in the night**
~~ Orlov's Empire~~
The Orlov's mansion stood mightily under the subtle light of the moon.
Mikhail rode into the mansion as the giant iron gate was widely opened to welcome him.
The guards at the gate bowed in respect as he drove in.
He parked his car and he came down from it— his boots making a thud sound in the process.
He stared at the mansion but didn't feel a glint of awe in him.
He entered the grand hall, his boots echoing against polished sparkling tiles.
Andrei Orlov was waiting—not on a throne, but in a plain leather chair.
A glass of vodka balanced in one hand as his gaze narrowed into a cold one as that of Mikhail's one.
You could say like father like son!
Mikhail walked closer to him and sat down on another chair beside him. He crossed his legs and stared at Andrei with his usual cold looks— no greetings or respect.
"You're late," Andrei said. His tone was calm and almost bored as what Mikhail just did was already a usual thing.
Mikhail tilted his head slightly as he raised his brows. "Traffic!" he lied.
Andrei's lips twitched— not in amusement but with a scoff.
"You think of me as a fool?" His gaze sharpened and then shifted to the far corner, where two guards dragged a hooded man into the room. The traitor stumbled, blood already dripping from his nose and head.
Andrei stood, placing the glass down with quiet precision.
"This one thought betrayal was clever. Thought he could send messages. To who?" He shrugged.
"It doesn't matter to me tho. What matters is that he learns the cost of betraying this family!"
The guards forced the traitor to his knees.
Andrei turned to Mikhail. "He's yours."
And just like that, the head of the Orlov clan walked away.
Mikhail scoffed loudly "Such a waste of time!"
"I heard that, Mikhail!" Andrei announced and with that he disappeared through the doors leaving Mikhail alone with the weight of his command.
The doors was shut with a thud.
The room became silent except for the traitor's ragged breathing.
Mikhail's jaw tightened— his gaze, calculating and threatening.
His father didn't need to stay. He trusted Mikhail to be merciless.
And Mikhail would not disappoint.
The traitor's knees grazed against the polished tiles as the guards forced him down. Blood dripped from his head, forming a trail behind him.
His breath shook pathetically.
Mikhail didn't move. He didn't blink.
He just sat there, his legs crossed, staring at the man like he was a bug he hadn't decided how to crush yet.
The silence in the grand hall wasn't empty—it was heavy, suffocating and choking around the traitor's throat.
"You… you don't have to—" the man stammered, voice cracking.
"Don't what?" Mikhail's tone was soft. Too soft for his nature.
It was like a velvet hiding a blade.
"Finish your sentence. I love hearing last words."
The traitor swallowed hard, eyes darting to the door Andrei had exited through. He shuddered as he knew no salvation would come for him.
"You sent a message," Mikhail said, tilting his head slowly, almost curious. "To who?"
"No one! I swear! I—"
"You're lying." Mikhail didn't raise his voice. The unusual calmness in his tone was worse than a shout.
It was threatening!
Mikhail rose slowly from his chair, boots clicking against the tiles.
He circled the man like a predator, each step sounded terrifying.
The traitor flinched when Mikhail's hand rested lightly on his shoulder. It was just a touch, yet it made him jolt as if he was being burned.
"I'm not going to hit you now." Mikhail muttered with his unusual calmness, his lips brushing close to the man's ear.
"Pain fades but fear doesn't."
He crouched to him at eye level. "I'll let you imagine what happens next."
The traitor sobbed, shaking violently, mumbling apologies and pleas.
Mikhail simply stood, eyes bored, as if he had already moved on in his mind.
"Drag him to the basement," Mikhail ordered flatly. "Let him sit there alone, in the dark with his thoughts. We'll see if he talks tomorrow."
The guards obeyed without question.
As the man was dragged away, his screams echoed in the hall— his screams were not from pain, but from the terror of what Mikhail might do to him later.
Mikhail sat back down, his expression unreadable, as if nothing had happened.
He poured himself some vodka from his father's glass and muttered lazily. "Such a waste of my evening."
He hissed and drank from his glass.
**In a dark alley– same night**
Luxury walked quietly down the dark alley gripping unto her pistol tightly at alert.
The smell of garbage filled the air and the streets lights flickered dimly. She wondered why an alley would be a meeting place.
Suddenly, she was pulled into a corner.
Luxury pinned the person to the wall, his hands behind him and a gun pointed to his head.
"Who are you?" Luxury snarled adding more force to hold.
"Argh! Zhenya, you haven't changed at all!" the person said.
Luxury felt her inside twisting as she slowly brought down the gun from his head and removed his mask.
"Fuck you Nik!" she spat and released him forcefully.
Nik gave out a mockery laughter as he adjusted his clothes.
"Still as sharp as ever!" he said after his laughter and she shot him a glare.
"Why are you here Nik?" she asked placing her pistol back into her pockets.
Nik smirked. "Relax princess! I am not here to shoot you."
Luxury rolled her eyes, stepping back but not letting her guard down.
"Flattery won't save you, Nik. You showing up here means trouble. You always bring trouble!"
He placed a hand on his chest in fake offense.
"Ouch, Zhenya. Is that what you think of me? I thought you would miss me. Guess I was wrong."
"Miss you?" Luxury scoffed. "I prefer life without backstabbers breathing the air I breathe. So answer me! Why are you here?"
Nik's grin dropped slightly.
He glanced around the alley before leaning closer, his voice so low as he spoke.
"You should be careful. The Orlovs are hunting someone..."
Luxury's stomach twisted, but her face stayed cold. "Hunting who?"
Nik raised a brow at her poker face. He was expecting a reaction on her face but got a cold one instead.
"Rumor says they are after a ghost. A ghost with your old name tied to it. Zhenya." he said and gave a short laugh.