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CHAPTER SIXTY – SIX ROSE AMARA POV I needed to keep track of their conversation. Pharaoah is clearly planning something. First, he got his octopus hands on Laye, and now he's going after Pakstan—whom I at least thought couldn't be swayed. My phone vibrates, and I swiftly pull away to check the text. Hades: Uncle River wants you in his office. With a groan, I go back upstairs. Pharaoah and Pakstan will leave after they are called by Uncle River. I need to figure out what they're plotting, or at least Pakstan's fixation. If I can get him away from Pharaoah, I can convince him to switch to my side. I knock on Uncle River's door before stepping inside. Hades and Igor are sitting with him in the lounge area. I nod at my supposed father-in-law, and he nods back before focusing on the paperwork splayed in front of him. Hades doesn't spare me a glance. His jaw is tight, and his beard appears thicker today, casting an ominous shadow on his face. He's been in a foul mood since I released Ethan, and he completely stopped talking to me when he found out I took Ethan back. He tried to shoot him the following morning. Needless to say, Ethan got his own gun, ready to murder him as well. I had to stand between them to stop their madness and told Hades he had no evidence against Ethan, and therefore he couldn't shoot him. Something for which Ethan smirked while he possessively pulled me to his side by the waist. 'I don't even know you anymore," Hades told me. 'When you go back to being the Rose I recognize, come talk to me." That was about a week ago, and to say I don't miss Hades's companionship would be a lie. If it were the old days, he would've been the first to help me bRosenstorm about Pharaoah and Pakstan. Sighing, I greet Uncle River by kissing his hand and then remain standing. 'You asked for me?" 'Yes. You did well, Rose." I stare at the three men present. 'Concerning what?" "Kai," Uncle River explains with a proud gleam. "His leader, Abe, is open to negotiations, thanks to you." I smile. 'It's my duty." I knew Kai's profit-oriented bRosen would be favorable for a lucrative partnership. Hades grunts under his breath, but he says nothing. He's like a grumpy large bear who finds it difficult to speak. 'If there isn't anything else, I'll go to work," I tell Uncle River. "No, no. Since you started this, you must take it to the end." I halt in my tracks and face him. My granduncle appears healthier lately, his features less haggard, and his coughs seldom occur. It gives me hope that I don't want to have, like the hope I had when Uncle River's heart condition got worse. I thought he was more potent than the world, but he left me. Uncle River will go too. Everyone does. I shoo those thoughts away and ask, 'What do you mean?" 'We have a meeting with Kai and Abe today." 'And?" Uncle River exchanges a look with Igor, who speaks on his behalf. 'Abe specifically asked for you, Pharaoah, and Pakstan." 'He did?" I stare incredulously. 'Wouldn't it make more sense if Igor goes?" "That's what I said," Ethan's fake father agrees. "Pakstan, of all people, shouldn't be near a strategic meeting." He can say that again. 'It can't be helped." Uncle River stands. 'Can I trust you, Rose?" 'Of course." 'Keep that wild dog on a leash," Igor tells me, appearing uneasy as if we're heading stRoseght into a disaster, which might as well be the case. Pharaoah, Pakstan, and me in a meeting all on our own? Yeah, this needs a word more potent than disaster. CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN ROSE AMARA POV The meeting is set in a traditional Asian restaurant with private rooms. It's one of the places where the Yakuza conduct their outside meetings. If I remember correctly, they own this one. Our guards remain outside as we agreed on beforehand. Pakstan, Pharaoah, and I arrived early and sat on the floor. Pakstan is beside me to the right, and Pharaoah chooses to sit opposite me even though there's room on my left. The table is empty except for a ceramic teapot in the middle. Every five minutes, a waitress comes to refill our teacups. "Don't you have some vodka in here?" Pakstan barks, and the slim woman flinches at the strength of his voice. She'd probably piss herself if he showed a hint of his Russian accent. He's really a bull. 'No need to yell at the lady." Pharaoah smiles, speaking in a smooth, suave voice. 'Can you please get us some vodka? Our friend here lacks class and is not a fan of tea." She mirrors his smile, falling right into his fake charm. 'Right away, sir." As the wooden door slides shut behind her, Pharaoah's smile vanishes. "How long are they going to keep us waiting? Is this a tactic?" I take a sip of my tea and relish the relief it creates at the bottom of my stomach. 'The question should be why they chose the three of us." 'Especially you," Pharaoah says with condescension. 'Why should that be a surprise when I'm the one who brought Kai around?" 'Did you use some lady skills?" Pharaoah taunts. 'Does that tool husband of yours know?" "No, but if you want him to know about something, I can tell him about your skills." Pharaoah readjusts his glasses with his middle finger, glaring at me, but he drops the subject. The waitress brings us a bottle of vodka and glasses, smiles at Pharaoah, then leaves. Pakstan uncaps the bottle, ignores the glasses, and drinks stRoseght from it like the savage he is. 'Stop it." I try to take the bottle from him, but he pushes me away. 'Drink your tea and leave me the fvck alone." "I can't leave you the fvck alone when the brotherhood depends on this meeting." I grab the bottle and yank it away, causing droplets to spill on his shirt. "You're hard to handle sober, so there's no way you're getting drunk on a day like this." He licks his mouth, wiping away the droplets of vodka that stuck to his upper lip. 'Are you this bossy in bed, too? That lucky bastard, Ethan." 'More like poor bastard," Pharaoah mutters. 'Lucky or poor is none of your business." 'Tell me, I'm curious." Pakstan leans his elbow on the table. 'What made you settle with Ethan, of all the men who surrounded you all your life? You had much better options. Hint: me." "He understands me better than anyone else," I say without thinking. That's what always made Ethan special. He sometimes understands my needs before I do. 'How does one even begin to understand a witch?" Pharaoah asks. "You would never know because you're already under my spell when you start." 'Holy fvck, that must've hurt." Pakstan barks out a laugh. 'You okay there, Pharaoah? Want me to get you something for the burn?" I smirk at Pharaoah, and he flips me off. Pakstan uses my distraction to try to reach for the bottle of vodka. I swat his hand away, clasp the bottle, and place it in front of me under the table so he doesn't have access to it. Even though he's sitting still, his eyes are shifty and agitated. I'm ready to bet it's because of whatever seed Pharaoah planted in his head back at the house. The door slides open again; this time, it's not the waitress. Kai walks in, followed by an old, short man who wears a pressed suit. Abe Hitori. The leader of the Yakuza branch in New York. Pharaoah and I stand in greeting, but Pakstan remains planted in place. He also uses the chance of my standing up to grab the bottle of vodka. I glare down at him, but he just sips from the bottle. 'What? Surely they know how I am if they specifically asked for me. Right, old man?" The motherfvcker.