09-10-2018, 03:40 PM
Ivan had never been to the Almaz. Nor to this part of the city for that matter. Another time, Ivan would have been staring, dazzled by the lights and the cars and the people. A whole other world.
Not tonight. Fire burned in Ivan's chest. Impotence only fanned the flame. He might have called Nox. Headed down into the tunnels. The need for violence flowed through his veins, inky black. The lure of the Almaz was too much to ignore, though. He'd heard of it, of course.
It occurred to him that members of the Syndicate would be there. The flame burned hotter and a cruel smile formed on his lips.
It wasn't that he knew what he was doing. He didn't have a fucking clue. It wasn't that he had a plan. There was none beyond each single step he took. It was that he just didn't fucking care right now. The small voice in the back of his mind cried out to him, threw up images of Ma and Pop, his brothers and sisters. And something new; a face with the sweetest smile filled with baby teeth and Danya's eyes.
And strangely each of those things stoked the fire. He would not be impotent in this city, not any more. Dangerous. Very dangerous. But the mantle had not slipped from his shoulders. The memory of Zoya's voice- her teasing him- stabbed him. He standing in her room, hands on hips posing like a goof, her on the bed laughing at him. Supercop. More burn. Wrong.
The wall of a bouncer at the door looked him up and down. The rental gave him away. He didn't fucking care. He looked at the man with challenge. The guy had no idea. His name showed, though. He didn't really think Ryker would have sent him there on a joke.
Finally, the man nodded, a hard look in his eye. "No recordings. Our security systems disrupt any attempt. But just trying will get you thrown out." A slight smile appeared on his lips. "And I'd enjoy that." Ivan smirked. Let him try.
He brushed past the man and descended into the bowels of hell, messaging Ryker. It was what he'd expected. And nothing like he'd expected. Balconies and bars scattered around the levels, opening on to pits where men and women fought. Boards lit up showing stats. The servers had been hired for their looks, obviously, the men tall and fit, the women appealing to every kind of appetite.
And of course the elite- the very types who'd been at the Ball- mingled arrogantly, luxuriating in their power. The flame was stoked higher.
He could smell the violence, could feel it in the air. And his heart raced.
Not tonight. Fire burned in Ivan's chest. Impotence only fanned the flame. He might have called Nox. Headed down into the tunnels. The need for violence flowed through his veins, inky black. The lure of the Almaz was too much to ignore, though. He'd heard of it, of course.
It occurred to him that members of the Syndicate would be there. The flame burned hotter and a cruel smile formed on his lips.
It wasn't that he knew what he was doing. He didn't have a fucking clue. It wasn't that he had a plan. There was none beyond each single step he took. It was that he just didn't fucking care right now. The small voice in the back of his mind cried out to him, threw up images of Ma and Pop, his brothers and sisters. And something new; a face with the sweetest smile filled with baby teeth and Danya's eyes.
And strangely each of those things stoked the fire. He would not be impotent in this city, not any more. Dangerous. Very dangerous. But the mantle had not slipped from his shoulders. The memory of Zoya's voice- her teasing him- stabbed him. He standing in her room, hands on hips posing like a goof, her on the bed laughing at him. Supercop. More burn. Wrong.
The wall of a bouncer at the door looked him up and down. The rental gave him away. He didn't fucking care. He looked at the man with challenge. The guy had no idea. His name showed, though. He didn't really think Ryker would have sent him there on a joke.
Finally, the man nodded, a hard look in his eye. "No recordings. Our security systems disrupt any attempt. But just trying will get you thrown out." A slight smile appeared on his lips. "And I'd enjoy that." Ivan smirked. Let him try.
He brushed past the man and descended into the bowels of hell, messaging Ryker. It was what he'd expected. And nothing like he'd expected. Balconies and bars scattered around the levels, opening on to pits where men and women fought. Boards lit up showing stats. The servers had been hired for their looks, obviously, the men tall and fit, the women appealing to every kind of appetite.
And of course the elite- the very types who'd been at the Ball- mingled arrogantly, luxuriating in their power. The flame was stoked higher.
He could smell the violence, could feel it in the air. And his heart raced.