Alex stepped out of the limo and buttoned up his suit jacket. His heart beated faster at the thought of Alison being somewhere in that house. He had not seen her for two days and had missed her a lot. He had spent last night and today working on his plan. He felt eyes on him and looked up and his heart stopped at the sight of mesmerizing blue eyes that had captivated his heart. He saw her smiling faintly. At least she was happy to see him. Two little boys, certainly the King's youngest kids, were standing on each side of her, watching him with a frown. Suddenly one of them pulled the curtains and Alex chuckled to himself. Even the youngest Kings were possessive towards her. But she was going to be his for sure. Only a few days and he would have her all to himself.

"Mr. West." said a deep voice and Alex looked up and saw Ben Williams, Mason's second in command standing there. "Please, follow me." he said firmly as he walked into the house. His eyes lingered on Mark and Alex saw a flash of guilt in his eyes before he turned and walked into the house.

Alex followed his father into the house. It was time to focus. He should do that for Alison. Ben guided them in front of double doors and opened them. Mason King had sat behind his table with his brother Rich standing behind him. Mason stood when they entered.

"Mr. West. Mr. Mansfield." he greeted Mark and Dean and gestured for them to sit, completely ignoring Alex and Simon. Alex gritted his teeth and sat beside his father.

"Actually, King, my son, Alex is in charge today. I'm here to only support him." said Mark as he sit on the sofa. Ben walked and stood on the other side of Mason who sat down and interwind his hands and looked at Alex.

"So Alex, I have been informed that you are here to offer us something." said Mason. "Tell me, what is so important that had caused the Gray wolf gang's leaders to come to our meeting after a long time?"

"We are here to offer you our help." said Alex firmly and Mason frowned.

"And in which field exactly you want to help us?" asked Mason. "As much as I remember we don't need any help."

"I want to offer you our help in the war with the Russians." said Alex and watched as Ben and Rich went rigid, but Mason remained emotionless. "We all know that Volkoves have returned and they just proved two nights ago that they are so strong. For years we had balance in New York, but with Russians now in the picture, this balance will be troubled and that is bad for both you and us. The damage will cost a lot for both families. But if we unite, we can decrease the damages and defeat Volkoves much easier."

"And what exactly has caused you to think that we will need your help here?" asked Mason. "We are ruling all over America. We are able to defeat a new raised Mafia ourselves just fine." he added dismissively.

It was time for Alex to reveal his cards. "I heard that one another of your shipments has been attacked this morning." smirked Alex. "and although unsuccessful, they have killed most of your guards and ruined half of your shipment. Yet you have found no useful information about them. It seems your resources have failed you." he smirked.

"And yours not?" asked Rich with raised eyebrows.

Alex nodded. "We have found some leads." he said. "But I'm only going to tell you after signing the contract. And believe me, I'm not that idiot to come here empty-handed. As a gang, we have the perk of having most of the small criminals of the city in our hands and they had slipped a few pieces of information for us."

"Name your terms, Mr. West." asked Mason after a moment of silence.

"We will help in defeating Russians and we also will help you to move and guard your shipments until they are delivered. We will also provide more markets for your items. But we want half of the profit." Alex named his terms professionally, all the while not breaking eye contact with Mason.

"You've got to be kidding me." scoffed Ben.

"You should accept it," said Alex. "This contract will increase your own profit as well."

"35 percent." said Mason. "It is us who still will provide most of the stuff. Remember that we can guard our shipments ourselves."

"Yet you are considering my offer." reasoned Alex. "That means it will bring more profit for your mafia than refuseing it. 45 percent is my word."

"40, and that's final." said Mason.

Alex nodded. "It seems we have a deal, Mr. King." he said and stood and held his hand out.

Mason shook his hand. "I should admit you know how to negotiate and how to intrigue your audience." said Mason as he leaned backward. He nodded toward Rich who went to prepare a contract. "Now tell me, Alex. What have you gathered about the Russians?"

"Their main base is not in New York, that we know for sure." said Alex. "That is why you can't find them here. We think it must be somewhere in Florida. We have been informed that they are using one of Cubaians' powerful mafia's help who has some enmity with your mafia."

"Rodríguez." said Ben.

"Most likely, but we don't know for sure. we are still searching on that." nodded Alex.

"Leave that part to us." said Mason and typed something on his phone. "We have some spies in Cuba. We can get the information sooner."

Alex nodded. "We don't know the name of their leader. But he must have a lot of influence on all mafia families in Russia. He has secretly gathered them under his control. That is why none of your spies in Russia informed you about their arrival."

"That we know as well." said Ben. "He should be someone from Volkov heritage to be able to ally their men again. It's important we find his name soon."

"We found out some of their men gather in a fight club downtown on Sundays afternoons." said Simon this time. "They are rats more than royal people."

"That is the disadvantage of having their base in Florida." added Alex. "They can't leave their people here in fear of giving their identity away. They know we have the whole city under our watch. So they had to use rats and spies. Simon and I are going to that fight club on Sunday. I'm sure we can take something out of them without alerting the Russians."

"Xander, Damien, and Hunter will come with you as well." said Mason.

Alex gritted his teeth, the thought of being with the irritating twins was annoying but he nodded nonetheless. "That's all we have for now." he said. He had stayed awake last night roaming around the city to gather this information that he knew was necessary to intrigue Mason King.

Mark smiled satisfied. His son has grown up for sure to be a powerful leader. All the time Alex was talking, he silently watched him and become prouder with every passing second. He had proved himself a great heir since yesterday and Mark was hoping he continues his new way.

"Those were great leads." said Mason as Rich placed a contract in front of him. "I think we can have a good alliance, Mr. West." he said before signing the contract and handing it to Alex.

After Alex and Mark, both approved of the contract, Mark signed it and they stood to leave. Once they were on the door Mason called them. "Mr. West."

Mark and Alex both turned but Mason's eyes were fixed on Mark. There were unreadable emotions in his eyes. "I know I have told you this so many times," he said. "But I'm sorry for what happened for Harrison. I wish you know how much I'm sorry that we were not able to bring him home that night, but It was his own choice to stay and save us. I'm sorry."

Mark stared back at him. His face was emotionless but his heart was clenching with so much pain. He nodded his head. "So take his revenge." he said with his deep voice. "Do not rest until you have gotten rid of all of Volkoves. And we will help you as well. Only then, I will forgive you."

Mason nodded firmly. It was as if a great burden was lifted from Mason and Ben's shoulders. "We will take his revenge. I promise with my life." promised Mason.

Mark nodded again and then walked out of the room followed by others. As they got near the front door, Alex looked up and saw a figure standing there. His long strides slowed down a bit, but he didn't stop although he wanted nothing more than running upstairs, where she had stood and was watching him with worried yet hopeful eyes, with one of her delicate hands on her heart, and just keep her in his arms and never let go.

He took his eyes away before the temptation of running to her become too hard for him to bear. he pulled out his phone quickly and send a message.

Sorry that I couldn't stay, Love.

It's better your brother doesn't know anything about us yet.

But I promise it won't last long.

I'm working on what you've asked me.

Soon you won't have any excuses to deny me anymore.

Alex

He pressed the send button and sent the message for Alison as he sat in the car. John had found her number with a few clicks on his keyboard.

"The girl who had stood on the stairs." said Mark and Alex looked up at him.

"She is Alison. Yes." confirmed Alex.

"Remind me to thank her later for bringing you to your senses." said Mark as he looked out of the passing scenery. "You were great today."

Alex smirked and looked down at his phone as it vibrated. What he read made his heart stir and he smiled.

I'm happy to see you are fine.

I was worried for you.

Someone nudged him and he looked at his left only to see smirking Simon. Simon leaned closer to him. "Control yourself, man." he whispered. "You are grinning like a fool and only because she is worried."

"Back off!" grunted Alex quietly as he pulled his phone away out of Simon's sight and Simon chuckled. Alex looked down at the message again. She was worried for him. At least she was thinking about him as well, hopefully thinking much.

Don't be worried, my little angel.

I won't die. Not before claiming what's mine that is you.

But if I died remember that you can always bring me back to life with the taste of your lips ;)

He sent the message and waited eagerly for any replies. He didn't wait for too long before another message popped into his phone.

Jerk !!

Don't think so highly of yourself,

but take care of yourself.

There were dark bags under your eyes.

Alex smiled and locked his phone and leaned his head backward. Suddenly he felt tired. She had even realized the dark bags under his eyes. Who was he to not do as she had asked? He closed his eyes and decided to take a nap until they reach home.

**************

It was the next morning. Mason, Rich, and Ben were still home, working on some files in Mason's office before going to the warehouse. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and before Mason can answer, it opened and a frantic guard rushed inside.

"I didn't let you in, Carson." said Mason harshly.

"Sorry sir," panted Carson. "But we have visitors. The Russians are waiting at the gates. They say that their leader wants to meet you. What we should do? The guards of the gate have held them there."

"What the hell!" exclaimed Ben shocked.

"Mason, we can't open fire on them. The twins and Alison are at home." said Rich quickly.

"What should I do, sir?" asked the guard. "Steve can't hold them for long."

Mason gritted his teeth angrily and slammed his palms on the table and leaned on them. He had not expected this. "Let them in and escort them directly into my office." ordered Mason. "Call all the guards to come around and inside of the house. The Russians won't step into the east wing at all and their guards are not allowed in the house. watch all of their movements carefully and shoot them if necessary."

Carson nodded and quickly left while talking in his earpiece. "They have fucking guts to show up here." growled Ben angrily.

"Ben go and make sure no one makes a mistake. Be prepared for anything." ordered Mason quickly and Ben nodded and left the room. "Rich, tell Marisa to find Alison and the twins and keep them in their rooms until I say. Tell her to take her gun."

Rich didn't waste any time running out of the room. Mason sat behind his desk and took a deep breath. His fists clenched. The Russians knew they won't open fire on them in their mansion, so they had chosen to come there instead of the warehouse.

Both Ben and Rich returned a few minutes later. There was a knock on the door before it was opened by Carson and a tall man with black hair and pale skin walked in. His triangle face was shaved so his high cheekbones were making shadows on his almost white skin. His green-blue eyes were shining mischievously as he smirked sinisterly at the three men in front of him who were shocked to the core. Even Mason's emotionless face had a deep frown of disbelief. Carson closed the door and stood there ready.

"This is impossible." said Ben. "Harrison dragged you down with himself. You died."

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Williams." said the man with a thick Russian accent. "That idiot thought that he can drown me with himself, but the poor man was already weak with the bullet wound on his chest."

"You fucker!" growled Ben angrily as he stepped forward but he was stopped with Mason's arm.

"What a great displeasure, Volkov." said Mason with a mocking tone.

"Ohhhh, Mason." said Volkov as he plumped himself on one of the sofas. "Don't tell me you are not happy to see your dear Vladimir."

Before Mason can answer, there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" said Mason, thinking that it was one of his men. The door cracked slowly and instead of one of the guards, a small petite figure walked in hesitantly which made Mason's heart skip a beat.

"Alison!"