Coalition

KEVIN

The look on her face was priceless. Rose seemed so surprised to see me. I was probably the last person she had expected to see. I was not expecting to see her either. Her ex-employer seemed a little mad.

I mentally shook my head. He was not just a little mad. He was immensely furious. Judging from what Maxim had told me, it was no wonder that he felt that way. However, I can't really say that Rose was at fault. If anything, her employer should have given her a chance to explain herself. Sad to say though, it was never the case around businesses. Customers were always right and it had always been the motto no matter what the situation was and that would probably remain unchanged.

"You're here," Rose said, finally getting over her initial surprise.

"I'm here," I said, copying what she had stated. I opened my mouth to add more to what I had said when the door behind me swung open revealing her friend who gave me a look before turning towards Rose and then throwing me another look. She was clearly as puzzled as Rose was. I could not blame them.

"You,"

"Me," I could almost chuckle at this seemingly repetitive cycle between the three of us. But I stopped myself at the last minute seeing Rose's friend narrow her eyes towards me.

"Did you put a tracker on us?"

"Whoa, hold up," I said, immediately stopping her from making up another theory of how I had found them here.

"First off, I would never do such a thing," I said, glancing at both Rose and her friend.

"Second, I see no reason to do so. So, why should I?" Rose caught my stare and shrugged.

"Who knows? How would I know? I'm not inside your head," This conversation was most likely going nowhere and I was beginning to see no sense in trying to keep this up. So, I might as well just be straightforward.

"The Russian guy," Rose instantly narrowed her eyes towards me. Clearly, her boss was not the only one harboring being furious. It seems that Rose was too. In her defense, I think she did have a right to be mad. Although her actions did seem a little too much.

"That Russian guy is your friend,'' Rose stated, completing my sentence for me. I could only look at her and nod my agreement.

She scoffed while her friend made a face.

"Figures. Of course, you would be friends with the Russian Mafia. Why am I not even surprised?"

The sarcasm in her voice laid thick. I usually did not care about comments like that nor the sarcasm. I was that kind of a chill guy. However, I can't seem to let this slide as it seemed like Maxim was being attacked here. Although partly he was indeed to blame, I felt the need to defend him somehow.

"My close ties with Maxim is irrelevant. Besides, the guy said it was really an accident," Rose laughed, the kind of laugh that was not really expressing joy but mockery. It was a mocking laugh for me.

"Accident my foot. Well, I can't really blame you. You would obviously pick your friend's side even if they are in the wrong. But, I get it. It's a mafia thing," The way she had talked about it in a carefree manner made me wonder how long she had been involved in the Mafia.

It seemed to me that she was quite versed in it and the way she and her friend had fought, it was nothing like an ordinary person who just learned some basic skill. It was as if they had been prepared for it ever since they were little.

If this theory of mine would be correct, I would like to conclude that both Rose and her friend might have grown up in a Mafia family whom this Takahashi Ryuji had gotten rid of by killing them. Thus, her thirst for vengeance.

"It's more than just a mafia thing. But that's not why I'm here. I did not come all the way here to talk about Maxim,"

At this, both Rose and her friend stared towards me.

I shook my head.

"Let's talk, but not here,"

"We're not coming with you unless you tell us what this talk would be about,"

Of course. They would need reassurance. I found myself glancing at Rose's friend who had her arms across her chest and then letting my gaze fall back on Rose, both of them waiting for what I was going to say.

"Well," I began, placing my hands inside my jeans pocket. "You did tell me to come and find you when I get to decide,"

Rose held my gaze.

"Here, I am, Rose. I think this is enough of an answer for now. Unless you both want everyone to hear what we would be talking about and what happens then. Do you?"

--

PATRICK

The aftermath of that devastating night had left me and the remainder of my family to have no choice but to stick by Takahashi Ryuji. Together with the rest of what was left of Allan Cortez's men, my mother and my other brother had been kept by Takahashi alive for the purpose of being able to continue running the Golden Island.

In short, he can't afford to get rid of all of us or he might have no one who knew how things were run around here. Paul was only one person and he did not handle every aspect of the business.

Despite the everyday inner protest and the boiling fury I have against the guy, I had to play it safe for now. Margaux was still alive and she was keeping my sister safe. That was enough to give me and the rest of those who were rooting for Margaux some hope.

I know that when the right time comes, she would most likely need all the allies that she could get.

I do not know what the future holds but as long as we get to make a stand against Takahashi Ryuji one day and give back Margaux Cortez her rightful claim to leading the Golden Island, I could live by blindly following the man who was responsible for my father's demise.

At least, for now.