Chapter 397 - 397: A New Ally?

Kyle leaned against the railing of a pedestrian bridge overlooking the Thames. The water was grey, the sky was grey, but somehow London still felt alive. He had been here less than two days, and already the city had started to grow on him.

Part of that is Tony.

Anthony—no, Tony now. The man had insisted on the nickname after breakfast. "You're not a client anymore. You're a friend. Call me Tony."

Kyle smiled at the memory, then his expression hardened.

He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. Isabeau. He hadn't spoken to her since the meeting at Marcello's estate. She had returned to France—or so everyone assumed.

But Kyle had a feeling that she would stay a little longer because of her association with Cleopatra.

"She's too curious to just go home."

He pressed call.

The line rang once, twice, three times.

"She's not going to pick—"

[[Kyle.]]

Her voice was crisp, accented, guarded. She had picked up on the fourth ring.

"Isabeau." Kyle turned away from the railing, lowering his voice. "You're still in America."

A pause. [[What makes you say that?]]

"Because you didn't leave when Marcello sent everyone home. The other heads went back to their countries. You didn't."

Another pause. Longer this time.

[[You're very confident for someone who wasn't in the room when I made that decision.]]

"I don't need to be in the room. I just need to know how you think." Kyle watched a tour boat putter down the Thames. "So. Am I wrong?"

Isabeau was silent for a moment. Then: [[No. You're not wrong.]]

"Why did you stay?" Kyle asked.

[[Personal reasons.]]

"Not good enough."

[[It's the only answer you're getting.]]

Kyle let it go. He didn't care why she stayed. He only cared that she was there.

"Fine," he said. "Then I need something from you."

[[You're not exactly in a position to make demands.]]

Isabeau was trying her best to show she couldn't be walked all over.

"Marcello respects me. I'm his equal now, whether you like it or not." Kyle's voice was flat. "So yes. I am in a position,"

Isabeau was quiet for a moment. Then: [[What do you want?]]

"I need you to find out who remains in America among the family heads."

[[Marcello ordered everyone home.]]

"I know. But orders don't always get followed. You're proof of that."

Isabeau made a sound—not quite a laugh, not quite a sigh.

[[You're playing a dangerous game, Kyle.]]

"I'm aware."

Another pause. Then: [[Why should I help you?]]

"Because I'm asking. Because Marcello would want you to. And because it's a simple question."

Isabeau exhaled slowly, Kyle could hear her thinking.

"Viktor remains," she said finally.

Kyle's stomach tightened right away because this was the worst person to in this scenario.

"Of course it's him," Kyle thought to himself.

"Viktor," Kyle repeated. "The Butcher."

[[The same. He never left. Marcello gave him a special assignment. Something about watching someone.]] Her voice was casual, but Kyle caught the edge. [[I assumed it was you.]]

Kyle didn't confirm or deny. "Anyone else?"

[[The others are gone. Lucius, O'Rourke, Kurobane. Back to their territories. Viktor is the only one still in the country.]]

"Where is he based?"

[[I don't know. He doesn't share his movements. No one asks.]]

Kyle ran a hand through his hair. Viktor. The massive Russian with metal teeth and a split personality. The one who laughed at violence. The one Marcello had trusted to watch him.

"And now he's still in America. Not watching me. Watching something else or rather, him," Kyle thought to himself.

"Isabeau," Kyle said, "I need you to keep an eye on him. Let me know if he moves."

[[I'm not your spy.]]

"You're not my enemy either. Unless you want to be," Kyle told her.

Another silence, then Isabeau laughed—a cold, sharp sound. [[You have no idea what you're walking into, do you?]]

"Probably not. But I'm walking anyway because as you saw, I can get out of any situation, even death," Kyle was feeling himself a bit but he knew this is what these people responded to.

[[He's the most dangerous of all of us, Kyle. Even Marcello is careful around him.]]

"I know."

[[Then why are you poking the bear?]]

Kyle looked out at the Thames. The water kept moving, indifferent to his problems.

"Because the bear is already awake," Kyle said. "I just want to know which way he's facing."

Isabeau was quiet for a moment. Then: [[I'll see what I can find. But I'm not doing this for you.]]

"I don't care why you do it. Just do it."

The line went dead soon after.

Kyle lowered his phone and stared at the screen.

"Viktor." He had confirmed what he suspected but he needed to know Viktor's movements.

The name sat heavy in his chest. He had hoped—naively, he now realized—that Viktor would have followed the others. Returned to Russia. Disappeared into his own territory.

But no. Viktor was still in America and had its eyes on him which meant he was now aware of his own family.

Kyle didn't know but he intended to find out.

He slipped his phone back into his pocket and walked toward the bridge's exit.

Things had just gotten tense but he knew everything would swing in his favor once he finds Angelica.

-

The morning had settled into a lazy rhythm. Jane was on the couch with a book, Jasmine was coloring at the table, and Junior was napping in his crib. Kyle had stepped out again—something about a phone call—leaving the suite quiet.

Cassandra was folding laundry when Ella appeared in the doorway.

"Hey," Ella said. "Got a minute?"

Cassandra looked up. "Sure. What's up?"

Ella jerked her head toward the hallway. "Privately."

Curious, Cassandra set down the shirt she was folding and followed. They walked past the bedrooms to the far end of the suite, where the windows overlooked a small courtyard. Ella closed the door behind them.

Cassandra waited.

"So," Ella said, crossing her arms. "Last night."

Cassandra's face went red. Not slowly—all at once, like someone had tipped a bucket of paint over her head.

"I—what do you mean?"

Ella shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Relax. I'm not judging. I heard you, that's all."

"She heard which means...!" Cassandra thought to herself because she had no idea how Ella would react to this.

Cassandra's mind raced. The walls, the doors. She had thought the suite was soundproof enough. She had been careful or so she believed.

"I'm sorry," Cassandra said quickly. "I didn't mean to—I didn't think anyone would—"

"Cass." Ella stepped closer, her voice softening. "Stop. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

Cassandra stared at her. Ella's expression wasn't mocking, it wasn't cold, it was… warm and genuine.

"You're not upset?" Cassandra asked.

"Why would I be upset?" Ella asked with a confused look on her face.

Cassandra didn't know how to answer. She was fine with Kyle and his relationships with the other women—Jane, and Ell. But she had always wondered if they felt the same. If jealousy lurked beneath the surface.

"Ella is Jane's friend. She's known Jane longer than she's known me. How did Kyle manage to pull both of them?" Cassandra always asked herself this question.

She decided not to ask. Some questions were better left unexamined.

"I don't know," Cassandra admitted. "I just… I wasn't sure how you'd react."

Ella laughed—soft, almost inaudible. "I liked it."

Cassandra blinked. "You what?"

"I liked it. What I heard, that is." Ella held her gaze, unashamed. "And I'm not going to pretend otherwise."

Cassandra's mouth opened. Closed and then opened again.

"You… liked it?"

"Very much." Ella leaned against the windowsill, her voice dropping. "I loved what I heard. The sounds, the rhythm and the way you gasped at the end."

"Oh my God."

Cassandra's face was burning now, the way Ella recalled it made her uncomfortable.

"Ella…"

"I'm not finished." Ella tilted her head, a hint of a smirk returning. "I also touched myself to it."

Silence followed this revelation.

Cassandra stared at her. This woman—fiery, bold, unapologetic—had just admitted something Cassandra had never heard anyone admit out loud.

"She's way more sexual than I thought." Cassandra thought to herself.

"I didn't know you were that… open," Cassandra said carefully.

"I'm not usually." Ella shrugged. "But you and Kyle? Something about it got to me. I couldn't help myself."

Cassandra cleared her throat. Her voice came out steadier than she felt. "I didn't realize I was that loud."

Ella's smirk widened. "Cass, it's impossible to take Kyle's entire cock and stay quiet. Trust me, I know."

"He's…" Cassandra paused, searching for the right word. "Impressive."

Ella nodded. "Big."

Cassandra giggled—a surprised, almost girlish sound. "Yeah, big."

They both laughed then. Quietly, so as not to wake Junior or draw attention.

Ella pushed off from the windowsill and moved closer. "Here's the thing, Cass. I wouldn't mind hearing those noises again. Tonight..."

Cassandra's heart skipped. "You want me to…"

"I want you to be comfortable. To not hold back." Ella reached out and touched Cassandra's arm—a light, reassuring gesture. "What happens between you and Kyle is your business. But if I happen to be in earshot? I'm not complaining."

Cassandra didn't know how to react. She had never met someone this sexually open before. In her world, these things were discussed in whispers, if at all. But Ella stood there like it was the most natural conversation in the world.

"You're not jealous?" Cassandra asked again.

"Of you? No." Ella's smile softened. "Of what you have with him? A little. But that's my problem, not yours. I'm not going to make it weird."

Cassandra studied her. Looked for the lie but found none.

"Okay," Cassandra said slowly. "I'll… keep that in mind."

"Good." Ella stepped back, her usual fiery confidence returning. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find Jane before she reads that entire book in one sitting."

She turned toward the door, then paused.

"And Cass?" Ella called out.

"Yeah?" Cassandra looked at her.

"You're lucky. He's a good one, be glad he chose you,"

Cassandra smiled—warm, genuine. "I know."

Ella left. The door clicked shut.

Cassandra stood alone in the quiet, her hand pressed to her chest. Her heart was still racing.

It should have felt invasive and made her uncomfortable.

Instead, it made her feel seen. Ella had found a way to involve herself in more ways than one, which meant she didn't have to partake directly to enjoy herself.

"I've never had a friend like her before." Cassandra muttered to herself.

She picked up the laundry and walked back to the living room. Jane looked up from her book. Jasmine asked for more juice. Junior started crying from his crib.

But underneath it all, something had shifted.

Cassandra smiled to herself.

"Tonight, maybe I won't hold back."