Nikolai adjusted his overcoat as he got out of his car, he silently nodded to the men that had accompanied him. They were seated in the driver and passenger’s seats, nodding in return with cold expressions.
It was still early in the evening as he strode across the parking lot, his expression outwardly calm.
He would essentially be asking Asher for a bit of a favor, so it was only right that he would be the one to seek out the other Mafia King.
The sky was dark but the club was blinding with flashing neon lights, the day was only beginning for the club.
The bouncers did a double take at the sight of him, one of them turning to the side to say a few quiet words into the device in his ear.
They didn’t try to stop Nikolai, parting to let him pass but they had to report his presence over to the necessary authorities regardless.
He strode into the dim club, unsurprised when he was immediately approached by Jael. The second-in-command was just as unruffled to see him.
It had been a few weeks since the shit-storm of a camping trip, Nikolai wasn’t pleased that seeing the Beta reminded him of that.
"Come with me," Jael said shortly without exchanging formalities. There was no need to, there were no hostilities between the two Mafia Houses at the moment, but that didn’t mean they were allies.
Nikolai followed without a word, getting further and further away from the noise, lights, and the mixture of mingling scents and booze.
Asher’s office was well removed from the noise of the club, the walls had to be insulated, the decor lavish.
Nikolai took a seat without being invited, immediately reaching for a cigar from the depths of his coat.
Asher cocked a brow at this, "Did you come here just to smoke?"
Nikolai ignored him, lighting his cigar despite the other’s obvious disapproval. "I came to ask for a favor."
"You can ask that without blowing smoke in my face," Asher doubled down, in an irritable mood.
Nikolai wasn’t worried, regardless of Asher’s mood, if the other Mafia King wanted to turn him down, he would do that. Another cloud of smoke obscured his features, "I need you to retract your influence from southern downtown for a few weeks."
Asher stopped nagging about the cigar smoke, it was a staple of the other Mafia King at that point. He constantly had a cigar between his sharp teeth, Asher was sure that his scent was now the rich undertones of the white smoke.
Nikolai’s request wasn’t a big deal, he was essentially saying that he had some things to deal with and he didn’t want Asher’s men to get caught in the crossfire.
"I’ll accept if you return the favor," Asher leaned back in his seat, his fur coat giving him the image of a wild beast.
Nikolai’s expression turned wary, "What do you want?"
"Just some answers. Have you heard any news about heat inducers recently?"
Angelo took a cab as he always did, he had never been to the club Silvia picked before but he already knew that it belonged to Mafia King Asher.
Firstly, it was on the Mafia King turf, and secondly, Silvia was on good terms with the Mafia King, you could even say they were friends.
He didn’t read anything into it, cool green eyes staring at the bouncers who scrutinized him. There was a sharp edge of lethality to Angelo, it caught the bouncers’ attention.
However, it was only for a moment and they parted their massive bodies to let him pass.
Silvia was already at the club, in one of the private lounges so he just headed right for her.
The noise and music didn’t bother Angelo, a wisp of warmth in his eyes when he opened Silvia’s private room.
His boss was dressed in a black dinner gown, her hair a halo around her gorgeous face, dark-red lips that matched her sharp nails tilted up to a smile at the sight of him.
"I was starting to think that you stood me up," Silvia smiled, patting the space beside her.
There was enough space for Angelo to sit elsewhere but he obediently went over, curling up on the leather sofa, a bad habit of his. "I got caught in traffic."
Silvia just waved a hand, leaning forward to pour two glasses of blood-red wine. She already knew that Angelo had a suitable reason for being late, she was just worried.
After all, this might be the last time she would get to see Angelo, it made her antsy and a bit clumsy.
Silvia slipped her forefinger stained by wine into her mouth, licking it clean. "Let’s not talk about business tonight, drink with me and let loose a little."
Angelo’s pale green eyes held a world of knowledge, he saw right through Silvia but he didn’t turn down her offer, taking a glass of wine.
There was little for them to talk about outside of business, it didn’t help that Angelo was content to drink the wine Silvia poured for him without saying a word.
The air between them wasn’t tense despite this, Silvia had known Angelo ever since he was 15, there was a lot of past between them.
She drank as much wine as she poured out for Angelo, a despondent air around her that was out of character. Silvia rarely ever had regrets but right now it was the only thing she could feel.
Nikolai studied Asher intently at the Mafia King’s words, "You’re friends with the owner of Frequency, I don’t think you need to ask me that."
"It’s a yes or no answer," Asher said with a twinge of impatience.
Talking about Silvia, he had been informed that she was at his club, it would be polite of him to drop in on her.
"I haven’t," Nikolai said simply.
Asher rose to his feet at that, "Then our deal is complete." He said brusquely, walking out before Nikolai could rise to his feet.