Page 114 of Vicious Knight

There’s no way she was looking for the standard stuff I’d use the database for. It’s something else. If it weren't, she would have asked me.

I’m aware Levgen kept a lot from her, and she’s new to what most of us are used to here, but I suspect this is about her father.

Understandably, we don’t talk about him. Ever.

It’s a touchy subject for me. Just as much as it must be for her.

Except my family is dead. Her parents are still alive.

Essentially I’m sleeping with my enemy’s daughter. I just haven’t thought of Ivy as such.

In the beginning she fascinated me and I couldn’t stop thinking with my dick. I wanted to own her. Now I’m thinking with something more.

I don’t even know when the fuck that changed, but it did.

Usually I don’t care about anything, but I care enough to find out what she wanted from the database. Even if it’s to do with her father.

She’ll lie if I ask her about what she was doing, but I have my ways of getting information from people. And I have just the thing in mind for my little deer.

Until then, I have my uncle to worry about.

I switch off the computer and make my way into the kitchen to brew a strong cup of coffee.

Today will be another long day. First I have to make sure Aiden keeps his hands to himself and doesn’t fuck around with Ivy. Then I’m going to the docks later tonight.

I haven’t been able to get information on what Aleksander is up to with Claudio Hernandez, but I think I might have a lead of sorts.

I’m taking Caspian with me. It didn’t sit well with me to investigate his father in this way without telling him. Whatever is happening is serious if it involves Claudio Hernandez. So it was only fair I let Caspian know.

It seems Aleksander and Claudio are most likely meeting in person and trying to do things off the record as much as possible. Meaning they can’t be tracked and people like me can’t figure out what they’re doing.

That’s fine. I’ll find a way to work around it. I always do. It’s just a matter of putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

I just hope it doesn’t take me too long because time isn’t on my side.

The next shit Aleksander will throw my way is his list of potential brides. That’s going to make things difficult for Ivy and me. Especially because she doesn’t know anything about it.

It won’t be fair to her to continue this… thing we have when I’m engaged.

Fuck. I don’t even want to think of that word.

Hopefully I’ll find the first puzzle piece tonight. All being well, Caspian and I will be talking to a guy my uncle has worked with in the past. His name is Kai. He’s with the Yakuza. He’s gotten his hands dirty for my uncle on more than one occasion.

He should have some information for us about what Aleksander is buying or making.

It cost me a hundred G’s to get Kai’s help and buy his silence—for the moment.

The bad thing about people like him is that he gives his allegiance to the man who can pay him the most. Today that might be me. Tomorrow it could be my uncle.

I just have to work smarter and faster at figuring out what’s going on before Aleksander catches on that I know he’s up to shady shit again.

I make my coffee and head out, preparing my mind to take on the day.

“Heard you went to lunch with Ivy Yegorov today.” Caspian casts a curious glance my way.

“I did. What of it?” I keep my focus straight ahead as we walk along the docks. We’re heading to an underground boxing club on the south side. That’s where we’ll link up with Kai.

Caspian chuckles. “Are you serious? Weeks ago, when I asked you about her, you said she was just a girl. Since then I’ve been hearing a lot about you and this girl.”