Royal Blood

by Victoria Renteria

  “Motherfucker.”

  Doing a double take, I check out the storefront for the second time. My gaze sharpens as I focus intently on the two figures exiting the building. The muscles in my face strain as I continue to survey the couple. Mentally, I give myself a little shake. No, I am definitely not seeing things. Relaxing my now tense face, I reach for the telephoto lens and snap a few images of the couple strolling down the walkway.

  Coming to a stop at the crosswalk, the man turns and the couple begins to have an intense conversation in hushed tones. Not waiting for the light to change, the woman tosses her hands in the air and stomps across the road. The man huffs loudly, watching her walk away. I hesitate, the camera still glued to my face as the man stands motionless. His expression changes as he goes through various emotions, his eyes following her retreat.

  I almost laugh at the torn expression on his face. For a second, it seems like he’s actually debating with himself, trying to convince himself she’s worth the effort of chasing down. Schooling his features, he takes off running, grasping her arm and spinning her around to face him the moment he reaches her. Lifting her hand, she slams it into his chest repeatedly. Her features contort in rage as she continues to rain down her assault.

  Chuckling, I snap a few more pictures of the couple. Throwing his hands up in the air, he takes two steps backward. They continue arguing for another moment until he says something that calms her down. Concurring with a nod, she smiles, and they continue heading south.

  “What are you up to?” I murmur.

  My eyes drift to my watch. Four hours. Something is amiss. According to all of my intel, he’s usually here by now. Ice fills my veins, making my blood run cold. What are the odds of him being here and Sang-Hyun being four hours late?

  Dammit. Glancing at the couple, I see them trailing off in the distance. Making a snap decision, I seize my gear, shoving it in my pack and take off after them. What are the fucking odds? Just my damn luck Sang-Hyun will show up now.

  Oh well, too late to change my mind now.

  Pumping my legs harder, I sprint down the sidewalk, using the shadow of the buildings as cover. Energy flows through me, heightening all of my senses as I track the dangerous duo. The further they travel, the more the cityscape changes. Long gone are the bright streetlamps and the clean, tasteful architecture. No, the once beautiful city has transitioned into the grungy darkness of the underprivileged. Where crime is bred and the poor are held captive.

  The barely lit streets provide just enough light to cast an eerie glow about the buildings. The man says something to the woman and points to an alleyway up ahead. Shit, there is no way I’m going to be able to get in the alley. Quickly assessing the situation, I scan the area for something of use. Spying the fire escape, I stalk over to it and eye it with caution.

  Well, it will have to do. Gotta love Korea. One of the few places you can travel by rooftop. The thought enters my mind just as I climb onto the roof. Shaking my head, I move closer to the ledge, trying to get a better view. Peering over the side, I see the man coming to an abrupt halt at the mouth of the alley.

  Damn, I really couldn’t have picked a better spot. Grinning like a fool, I lay flat on my belly, inching as close to the edge as possible. Scanning the entrance, the man squints, peering from left to right, looking for something . . . No, someone. All of the air is expelled from my lungs in one shot. Holy shit. It can’t be.

  Fumbling, I reach into my pack, dragging out the telephoto lens. Two men stride out into the open, revealing themselves to Black and Sabrina. Hastily, I begin capturing image after image of the four together. I can feel my eyes bulging in my sockets as Black steps forward, embracing the newcomer like an old friend. My mind races, searching for answers to the unceasing inquiry in my head. What would Black be doing meeting with a Russian General?

  How does he even know Morozov? The man isn’t only a General in the Russian Army. He’s an arms dealer for Christ’s sake. Fuck. I scrub a hand down the back of my neck. It appears Back Door Black has been busy. What in the hell are you cooking Black?

  Clenching my jaw, I capture a few more images of the duo. Focusing my attention specifically on the General, his face twists into an irritated scowl as he listens intently to Black’s animated speech. Light reflects off of something in the corner of my eye. Moving the lens, I adjust the focus, landing on the behemoth of a man standing next to the General. Pressing the button, the DSLR takes several images in a row.

  My brow creases as I peer at the man on the screen. It’s there a moment before it deepens, turning into a scowl. This man isn’t Russian, and he’s not one of Morozov’s usual guys. Who the hell is this guy? The man stands with his legs spread wide and his arms haphazardly strewn across his chest. He appears to be every bit the imposing guard, although something tells me he isn’t there for guard duty.

  Peering through the lens again, I snap a few more images. Sabrina stands gaping at the man, her mouth hanging wide open as he glares at her unwanted attention. An amused laugh bursts forth before I can stop it. Clamping a hand over my lips, I roll to the side, plastering myself to the roof, not daring to move a muscle or make a sound.

  Fuck. I mentally give myself a kick in the ass. That was the stupidest thing you could have done. Shit. Shit. Shit.

  I hope they didn’t hear anything. Without making a sound, I roll onto my belly, peering over the small ledge of the roof. The tall, dark stranger towers over Sabrina, his arms still slung haphazardly across his chest, his legs spread as if he were preparing for a brawl at any possible moment. Blowing out a sigh of relief, I relax.

  “You’re one lucky son of a bitch,” I whisper to myself.

  Taking up my previous position, I angle myself on the ledge, moving closer than before. The General reaches into his jacket, retrieving two large manila envelopes, relinquishing them to Black. A wily grin spreads across my face as I begin acquiring as much evidence as possible. Enough that will hopefully incriminate Black for . . . well, God only knows what. It will help.

  I have to believe that. Scooting closer, I place my elbow on the brick and angle the lens down to get a better view of the contents in Black’s hand. My heart races with excitement as I acquire image after image until Black shifts, cutting off my view. Sighing, I slide my arm to the right, and the brick crumbles, giving way, falling to the alley below. Inhaling sharply, I wrench the camera back out of sight and roll to the side just as Sabrina starts throwing a fit that she wants to leave.

  Thank God for small favors. The damn woman is so loud I can hear her up on the roof. Blood rushes to my ears as my heart careens out of control. Fuck, it’s time to cut and run. I have no clue if they heard me, but I need to find out before I can leave. Crouching low, I crawl to the ledge and peer over the side of the building.

  The General and Black are saying their goodbyes, Sabrina is pouting and whining that it’s taking too long. Looks like I was saved by the whine. I slink back from the edge, and just before I’m completely out of sight, I lock gazes with the new guy. Fuck. He heard.

  Time to duck and cover. Never breaking eye contact, he gives a slight shake of his head before turning toward the General and ushering him off the way he came. What in the hell? Who is that guy? Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I quickly pack up my gear and head for the SUV. Damn, how much do you want to bet this has something to do with that arms deal in a few days? How in the hell am I supposed to pull this off now?

  GUILT, SUCH A FICKLE EMOTION, a tricky little bastard that loves toying with your conscience, ticking away at your sanity bit by bit until one day you finally wake up and find there is nothing left. The person you once were has faded, disappearing into the big black void of nothingness, leaving no trace of who you were before behind. The funny thing is, I should feel some sense of guilt over what I’ve done, over the anger he will undoubtedly experience the moment he walks into that house to find it empty. And he will be angry. Yet knowing that doesn’t make me change my mind. An acute sense of
purpose fills me as my thoughts shift from Alex to the task at hand, excitement thrumming through my veins as I prepare for what’s to come.

  Tonight is the night everything changes. Notching my chin just a little higher, I place my hands on the heavy wooden doors and shove. Swinging open, they wrench back several feet, hitting the wall with a small whoosh. Six shocked expressions glance up from the table. Grinning widely, I stride confidently into the room, locking eyes with each member around the table as I go.

  “It would seem someone forgot to extend me an invitation to your gathering, Grandfather.”

  His eyes gleam, brightening with concealed emotions. “An unfortunate oversight, Granddaughter. One I am delighted to rectify.”

  His meticulously chosen words are delivered with care, a discreet message meant to warn me off. No way in hell, old man. Pinning me with a hard stare, he waits for a considerable length of time before nodding once and looking around the table at the other guests.

  “You can’t be serious!” my aunt screams, slamming her hand down on the table.

  Amused by her outburst, my sarcasm rears its ugly head. “Do tell, auntie dear. Why wouldn’t he be serious? I’ve only known the man for a short period of time, and even I can recognize he doesn’t seem to have a funny bone in his body.”

  The look on my grandfather’s face is priceless, his impenetrable mask cracking as a smirk teases the edges of his frigid lips. A slow rumble rings from the other side of the table, pulling my attention toward the sound. Coming to a stand, she pushes up with such force the chair flies backward into the wall with an audible thud. Her face enkindles with the fury she so clearly feels.

  “You have no right to be here. This is a private meeting,” she seethes, pinning me with an icy glare.

  Standing up from where I’d perched myself on the table, I smile at my aunt, baring my teeth. Heat blooms over my skin as anger filters its way through my body. Trailing my fingers first along the table then the backs of the chairs, I take slow, deliberate steps toward my aunt. Every eye in the room follows me as I abruptly stop between her and Sang-Hyun. Casually, I run the pads of my fingers along the back of his chair.

  His eyes track my movements warily. Meeting my aunt’s gaze, I smile treacherously, my voice dangerously low as I proclaim, “I was born a Sun-ye, and I have just as much right to be here as you do. And definitely more than others who are already in attendance.”

  Casting a pointed look at Sang-Hyun, I give him an icy smile. He bristles uncomfortably, glaring up at me in return. The corner of my mouth tilts up in response. He’s clearly infuriated that I pointed out the obvious. Poor baby can’t handle that he’s the only non-blood family member in attendance. My aunt’s shrill voice brings me back to the task at hand.

  “How dare you! He has assumed—”

  “Enough, Inna.” My grandfather’s booming voice reverberates through the room.

  “But . . .”

  “I said enough.”

  Glowering, he points a finger to her chair. With the attitude of a petulant child, she shoves me out of the way to retrieve her chair. Snorting, I step back as she approaches, waving her through.

  “Your highness.” I gesture with a little wave of my hand.

  Two of my uncles snicker while my aunt sends me a withering look.

  Ignoring my comment altogether, my grandfather clears his throat, catching the attention of everyone at the table. Giving a little wave, he motions for me to take the seat to his right. Accepting his offer graciously, I take the chair, positioning myself between my grandfather and Sang-Hyun.

  “Now that you’re comfortable, let me properly introduce you to the family.” His voice rings with authority as he meets the eyes of each individual around the room.

  With wide, sweeping gestures, he motions to the older Korean man on his left. Peering thoughtfully at his son, he draws in a deep lungful of air. Releasing it, he states, “This is my eldest son, your Uncle Taejo Sun-ye.” Hesitating briefly, he watches his son carefully. When it’s clear he’s lost in his own world, he shakes his head lightly, straightening his shoulders at the same time.

  Continuing with his introductions, he progresses down the line, coming to the next male at the table. “The man sitting next to Taejo is your Uncle Sejo. He is my second born son.” His voice is filled with pride as he looks upon his second born.

  Chancing a glance, I cast a quick look in my aunt’s direction. The scowl permanently etched into her brow confirms my suspicion. She’s jealous of anyone that takes the attention off of her. Well, Daddy’s attention, that is. The deep baritone of my grandfather’s voice hauls my attention back to the here and now. Scanning the room, I find he’s already begun speaking, and judging by the direction he’s facing, I’m assuming it’s to the guy directly in front of him.

  “. . . He is your Uncle Euijo. He is my final son.” Pausing, he shoots a warning glance at his daughter before pushing on. “You have already met your Aunt Inna and Sang-Hyun who worked for your mother. And my name is Dasan.” He pauses once more, giving me a polite half-bow before proceeding.

  “I know you’re aware that our family name is Sun-ye. Your mother made it clear to me she taught you our traditions, the Sun-ye way, before she passed. God rest her soul . . .” His voice softens at the end, his words trailing off into nothingness as he remembers the woman who gave birth to me.

  A deep churning sensation swells in my stomach at his praise. Swallowing back the acid threatening to rise, I plaster on a polite smile and wait. A moment passes, then two before he finally lifts his head and speaks.

  “So tell me, Granddaughter, what has brought you to my home today? Hmm? You and I both know it wasn’t just for family bonding and introductions.” Cocking his head to the side, he levels me with a deep, knowing look.

  His rich brown irises gleam with sinister intentions as he carefully scrutinizes my every move, taking in each detail of my face as I peer inquisitively into his eyes, reading him just as he is me. As we remain locked in an intense battle of wills, I hear my aunt snort derisively in the distance. My grandfather’s gaze darts to my Aunt Inna for a brief second, his expression tightening around his eyes as he shifts his attention back to me. Well, that changes things now, doesn’t it?

  Relaxing into the chair, I let a calm, cool smile slip into place, and I beam encouragingly up at my grandfather.

  “Oh, I just came to fulfill my mother’s dying wish.”

  “You what!” Inna screeches.

  “Silence,” my grandfather commands, his voice barely above a whisper yet still carrying throughout the room. Inna tenses, her body going rigid as her fingers grip the table with bruising force.

  Turning the full force of his penetrating stare on me, he demands, “Explain yourself now.”

  Crossing my legs, I draw my shoulders back, feeling the look of superiority radiating from every pore of my body. The smug smile on my face only expands, growing in its entirety as Sang-Hyun bristles uncomfortably at my side. Lifting an eyebrow, Dasan folds his hands in front of him in an attempt to provoke me to speak. Inwardly, I chuckle. May as well get this show on the road. No sense dragging it out any longer.

  “Did you know that I spent her final moments with her?” Although my gaze has yet to leave my grandfather, I ask the question to no one in particular.

  “I had heard you were with her. I am sorry that I could not break away to be with you during that time, Kylee. Something came up, and I was unable to leave. I will forever carry that shame, and I hope you can forgive me for that. Your mother was deeply loved.” Taejo’s mournful voice wavers.

  Something tugs inside me, pulling my gaze his way. The moment our eyes meet, I can feel his pain, the deep sadness radiating from his soul. That sense of loss and brokenness that I’ve felt every single day since the loss of Violet hits me square in the chest. I feel an intense connection to this man. Immediately, I begin smoothing my hands over my skirt.

  It’s the only thing that’s keeping me from running ov
er to him and wrapping him in my arms to comfort him and tell him that everything will be okay. What happened to this man? What brought about that hollow look? Those pain filled eyes? Oh my God, what the fuck?

  Why do you even care? Get ahold of yourself, Kylee! Mentally, I give myself a big kick in the ass. You cannot feel anything for them. They created the monster that did this to you. Nodding to be polite, I turn my attention back to my grandfather, who’s surveying me very carefully.

  A pleased look is etched on his face. What the hell is that about? Pushing the thought away, I move on with my carefully organized plan.

  “Yes, well, thank you,” I say politely, acknowledging my uncle.

  “You see, during that time, I really got to know my mother. Make up for lost time, I guess you could say . . .”

  “Will you get on with it already?” Inna spits out.

  A pleased smile crosses my face as I angle myself, putting her in my line of sight. “Why the hurry, Inna? Do you have somewhere to be?”

  “Anywhere is preferable to spending time with you,” she retorts.

  “Come now, Auntie Inna. I’m not that bad. You haven’t spent enough time with me to see how truly annoying I can be.” Boisterous laughter bursts out around the table as my uncle’s chuckle at my response.

  “Can we keep her?” Sejo asks.

  “I’m with, Se. She’s a keeper,” Euijo quips.

  Taejo’s quiet response comes from the other side of the table. “She isn’t going anywhere if I have anything to say about it.”

  Everyone turns, peering at him with gaping mouths. My grandfather smiles broadly and claps him on the back before tossing me a wink and settling back in his seat. He gestures for me to continue. Casting a glance at Inna, I see her whispering to Sang-Hyun, all the while tossing angry scowls my way.