They all bent the knee, as they should have.
It’s early in the morning three weeks after the bloodbath in Paris. My office is at the top of a skyscraper overlooking New York City. The floor is mostly empty right now, though there are movers in the process of installing desks, building chairs, basically trying to make the place look like it’s a legitimate investment firm. Which it will be, from the outside.
But really, this is the heart of my new empire.
I gaze down at the city, at the buildings, at the streets and the cars moving like slugs down below, and I wonder if any of this was worth it.
“Hail, Dragon.”
I turn, surprised at the voice. I thought I was alone this morning. I’m about to snap out a hard punishment, but the words catch in my throat.
Daniel’s standing in the doorway, grinning at me.
“Well, look at this,” I murmur, turning to face him. “You finally decided to get out of bed.”
His face twists into a scowl. “Damn nurses were like jailors. I swear to god, I think this one twisted old lady enjoyed keeping me bedridden.” But his glare cracks into his classic grin. “I’m pretty sure she wanted to fuck me.”
I laugh, even though it’s not really that funny, and he beams in response. Some tiny bit of tension I’ve been carrying since Paris starts to ease as I walk across the room to tightly embrace my friend.
“It’s good to see you,” I say, pounding his back and gripping his arm. “But you’re too god damn skinny.”
“Almost dying does that to a man.” He smirks weakly and pushes me away. “So this is what it’s like to be a Dragon? I thought you’d have, like, some tech millionaire constantly sucking you off?”
“That’s metaphorical.”
“Damn. What was all the killing for then?”
“You honestly want to know?” I walk back to my desk and tap the lid of my laptop. “Access.”
He slumps into the only other chair in the room. It’s pushed against an otherwise empty wall. I haven’t thought about what I’ll hang there, but I’ll figure it out soon enough.
“Go ahead and explain. I can tell you want to.”
“I’m glad I have your permission.” I pace across the room, easing into my favorite topic at the moment. “Becoming a Dragon is aboutaccess. It’s about taking control of a very particular and obscenely powerful network of information. There are territories and drugs and guns to sell, but at the heart of it all, this system is built on a flow of money, lies, and blackmail.That’swhat it means to become a Dragon. Now that Zohran’s dead, I’m in control of his access.”
“Which means, what? You know how many mistresses the Prime Minister of Australia’s rim jobbing at any given moment?”
“Pretty much, but you’re being too generic. Think granular. I know the exact size of the Australian Prime Minister’s dick and whether or not those mistresses actually enjoy having it shoved into their holes.”
“Gross. But I can see how that might be useful.”
“It’s addicting if I’m honest. The shit I know, the shit I can use against people… there’s money too. That helps.”
“Payments from all those horny and small-dicked prime ministers?”
“And their perpetually unsatisfied conquests.”
“I’m happy it’s you then.” He sighs, stretching his back, and gets to his feet. “And I’m glad I’m back at work.”
“I’m glad you are too, but about that.” I approach him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Consider your debts paid. Your family’s safe. You’re off the hook. Congratulations, you earned it.”
Daniel usually has some quick joke to make, but instead, he only shakes his head in bewilderment. “Are you being serious?”
“You owe me nothing. I’m not asking for anything in return. This is fair payment for a job well done, and honestly, because you deserve it. And because I should’ve taken care of this a long time ago.”
“Shit.” He looks down. Emotions overwhelm him. I grip his shoulder tighter as he takes a deep, shuddering breath. Then bursts out laughing.
It’s not the reaction I expected, but it’s not a bad one at least. He cackles, delighted, smile so big it stretches his face in half, and I almost start laughing too.