The low growl of an engine rolled through the Mathias estate.
Zarri glanced towards the drive.
A black Range rover swept through the open gates, tyres whispering over pale stone before curving around and coming to a smooth stop near the entrance.
Kashi checked her wrist. "About time."
Zarri adjusted the cuff of her dress. "They're three minutes late."
The driver's door opened and Chaos stepped out. The passenger door opened a second later and Alex stumbled out like a hostage escaping captivity.
"Jesus Christ." He caught the roof with one hand and remained there for several seconds, apparently reconsidering every decision that had led him into that vehicle.
Chaos shut his door.
Alex stared at him across the roof. "You drive like you're being chased by the fucking apocalypse."
Chaos slipped the keys into his pocket. "We arrived. You're alive. Be grateful."
Alex pressed a hand dramatically to his chest and drew a long breath— Then noticed the women waiting at the entrance. His suffering disappeared.
Zarri stood beneath the shade in a fitted burgundy dress that skimmed her figure before falling elegantly around her legs. Gold gleamed softly at her throat and wrists, her hair swept away from her face to expose the delicate line of her neck.
Beside her, Kashi wore black.
The dress was deceptively simple, sleeveless and fitted through the waist, its clean lines doing absolutely nothing to soften the woman wearing it. Her natural red hair fell loose down her back, catching copper beneath the afternoon sun.
Alex's attention locked onto Zarri. His entire face transformed. "Princesa." He spread his arms and headed straight for her.
Zarri's lips curved as Alex reached her, wrapped both arms around her waist and lifted her clean off the ground. "Alex—"
One kiss landed on her cheek, then the other her forehead, her temple, the corner of her mouth.
Zarri caught his face between both hands, laughing. "Have you finished?"
"No." He kissed her cheek again.
Kashi watched them, her expression deteriorating by the second. "Oh, for God's sake."
Alex finally lowered Zarri, although one arm remained firmly around her waist. He looked at Kashi and grinned. "Jealous? Would you like some?" He opened his free arm invitingly.
Kashi's gaze travelled from his hand to his face. "I would rather develop a rash."
Alex clicked his tongue. "Your loss."
Chaos approached and Kashi's attention shifted. He stopped directly in front of her.
"Riegrow."
"Saints."
That was it. No kiss. No hug. No dramatic reunion and somehow, the single word landed differently from Alex's entire performance.
Kashi folded her arms.
Chaos's gaze flicked briefly over the movement before returning to her face. "Beautiful dress."
Kashi smiled. "…Thank you." Behind them came a suspicious choking noise. Kashi turned and Alex was suddenly fascinated by the fountain, before she could decide whether violence was warranted, the front doors opened again, footsteps sounded behind them.
"Are we going inside at some point, or was I summoned here to watch heterosexual courtship rituals?"
Everyone turned. Ivar descended the steps. He had abandoned the suit jacket he'd worn since arriving and now wore cream trousers with a loose white shirt, the sleeves folded carelessly to his elbows. A gold watch caught the sunlight at his wrist.
Alex's arm remained around Zarri. His gaze settled on the newcomer.
Chaos's did too.
Ivar reached the bottom step and stopped. His attention moved first to Alex, then Chaos. Curiosity flickered across his face.
Kashi sighed and gestured towards him. "Ivar, this is Chaos Riegrow and Alex Sergeyev." Ivar's brows rose faintly.
Kashi pointed lazily in his direction. "Boys, this is my stupid cousin."
Ivar turned his head. "Excuse me?"
"His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Ivar Giaever," Kashi added with absolutely no enthusiasm.
Alex straightened slightly.
Kashi immediately raised one finger. "Please don't bow."
Alex laughed and stepped forward. Their hands met. Something passed between them.
Recognition.
Two men who had heard enough about the other's family to know the introduction was largely ceremonial.
Kashi decided she didn't care enough to investigate. Chaos stepped forward next.
Ivar offered his hand.
Chaos took it. "Your Highness."
"Pleased to meet you."
The handshake was brief.
Firm.
Ivar studied him.
Chaos gave him absolutely nothing to study. For several seconds, the two men simply regarded each other.
Kashi looked between them.
Men.
Always finding bizarre ways to communicate without using actual words.
"Wonderful," she said. "Everyone has established that everyone else has a penis. Can we go inside?"
Zarri burst out laughing. Ivar looked scandalised.
Kashi was already heading towards the house. "Move."
💜~~~~~~
The sitting room was considerably cooler than outside.
Everyone settled in.
Alex had apparently decided chairs were an unnecessary obstacle to bothering Zarri. He sat beside her on the sofa, one arm stretched behind her shoulders while she attempted to review something on her tablet.
Alex leaned closer.
Without looking up, Zarri planted a palm against his face and pushed him away. He kissed her palm and the tablet lowered.
"Behave Sergeyev"
"I am behaving."
"You've touched me seventeen times since you arrived."
Across the room, Kashi looked physically ill. "Can somebody sedate him?"
"Jealousy." Alex shook his head sadly. "Tut, tut. Nasty behaviour, Saints."
A maid entered carrying a crystal decanter and several glasses. She poured the whisky, distributed the drinks, placed the decanter on the centre table and quietly withdrew.
Chaos took his glass. Ivar swirled his once before taking a sip.
Alex reached for his and Zarri stole it. He watched her drink. "That's mine baby."
"You'll survive."
Kashi put down her glass. "For fuck sake, can we discuss the international political problem before the two of you start reproducing on the furniture?"
Alex looked delighted and Zarri nearly inhaled whisky.
Chaos lowered his glass, suspiciously close to amused.
Ivar looked between them. "Are they always like this?"
"Yes," Kashi said.
"No," Zarri said simultaneously.
Alex supplied, "We're worse privately."
"Business, children," Chaos cut in. "Please, Alexander."
The room finally settled.
Kashi leaned back. "Xavier?"
Chaos rested his forearms against his knees. "Still mapping Vross's connections. We know some of the obvious ones. Port officials. Customs. Regulators. Several political offices."
"How much belongs directly to him?"
"We don't know yet."
"And that's the problem," Ivar said. Chaos looked towards him.
Ivar turned his glass slowly between his fingers. "If you move against Vross before knowing which relationships are genuinely his, you risk alerting everyone connected to him."
Alex had finally stopped harassing Zarri. "Exactly." Ivar glanced at him.
Alex leaned back. "Right now, Vross thinks we're scrambling because he disrupted the shipments."
"You are scrambling," Zarri pointed out.
Alex looked at her. "Baby. Support me."
Nobody did.
Kashi picked up one of the files from the table. "Then we let him think that." Chaos's attention shifted to her. She turned several pages. "For now, Zarri keeps the immediate supply problem manageable."
"I can."
"Xavier keeps investigating Vross's network and nobody approaches the senator."
Alex's brows rose. "Nobody?"
"Nobody." Kashi closed the file. "If Vross thinks you're desperate, let him." A brief silence followed.
Chaos watched her. "You have something in mind."
Kashi rested one finger against the file.
Vross couldn't know they were looking beyond him. Not yet. They needed time.
Time for Xavier to separate genuine influence from reputation, time for Zarri to stabilise the immediate problem and time for Ivar to become useful without anyone realising why his presence mattered.
Her finger stilled.
Ivar.
Kashi slowly looked up.
The Crown Prince was saying something to Zarri, his glass balanced loosely between his fingers.
Kashi sat back. "The Saints family will be holding a formal reception... "
Zarri stopped. Ivar looked over. Alex's brows lifted.
Chaos said nothing. Kashi's mind was already moving.
Ivar narrowed his eyes. "Why do I suddenly dislike your expression?"
She ignored him. "You're visiting. Grandfather's family. It's perfectly reasonable for the Saints family to formally welcome you home."
Zarri caught on first. "And Vross finds his way onto the guest list."
Alex's grin appeared. "Diplomats…"
"Regulators," Chaos added.
Ivar looked horrified. "That's my party. This is political exploitation."
Kashi smiled sweetly. "It's family."
"You don't even like Vross."
"I like you."
Ivar choked on his whisky and Kashi continued as though he hadn't.
"A welcome reception for His Royal Highness. Nothing unusual. Nothing connected to Vross. Nothing connected to X Holdings."
Chaos's fingers shifted once against his glass. "A room full of people."
Kashi looked at him. "A very useful room."
Ivar stared between them. "And what exactly happens in this very useful room?"
"Nothing."
Alex laughed. "Bullshit."
Kashi's expression remained perfectly innocent. "Absolutely nothing." Outside, the Mathias grounds stretched beneath the fading afternoon sun.
"Vross thinks he knows where everyone's attention is," she said. "So we give them something else to look at."
Ivar groaned. "I knew being related to you would eventually become a diplomatic incident."
Kashi glanced towards him. "Wear something pretty." she looked around the room. "Everyone's invited to a ball."
Ivar raised his middle finger and Alex burst out laughing, from his chair, Chaos watched Kashi Saints smile.