Shadows of Destiny

111 A Remourseful Convict

-Leo-

Devin, Vino, and I left the Lounge to prepare to see Larry. Everything Erik told us registered in my

head, and I was on the lookout. I hoped he would reach out to me because I planned to use that

opportunity to catch him.

I went to my room in the Estate, and Amelia wasn't there.

There was a possibility she was with Linda. She had linked me while I was in the lounge to inform me

that she and Linda would keep her brothers and cousin company. I wondered why Nelson did not come

to the lounge with Alexei and Clay.

I was still dressing up when Amelia walked it. She was surprised to see me in the room. She must have

thought I would still be in the lounge.

"Where are you going?" She asked me, opening her bag to go through her stuff. It seemed she was

searching for something. I asked her what it was, and she smiled.

"Bathing suit. Tamia is throwing a pool party for us. We are trying to act as if all is normal just in case

the estate is being watched." She said, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

These women were just trying to have fun while they still could. But I let her keep her excuse.

"Where is Nelson? He did not come to the lounge with your brothers," I asked, and she giggled.

"He is with the young women living in the Volkov estate. He decided to hang out with them, and they

seemed to like him. They like Clay too, but Clay seems harder to please and serious-minded than

Nelson," She said. I had forgotten entirely about Sylvester's trophies that refuse to go home.

They were more like residents in the estate now.

Some of them had paired up and were waiting for the Bluemoon. Tamia had told me the weddings

would be much during the bluemoon this year. I guess the single ones were trying to catch up. Maybe

two of them would get lucky with Clay and Nelson. The thought alone made me chuckle, i

"Where are you off to?" Amelia asked me after finding the sexy pink two- piece bikini she wanted to

wear, along with a short floral white robe.

"I can't believe you will be wearing that when I am not around," I growled, and she smiled at me.

"I will try and keep it on for you," she said and winked.

I watched her go to the bathroom while I left the room to head to the prison.

Devin and Vino were already outside. Devin reeked of Susan, and I wondered if the two would ever get

enough of each other. As much as it wasn't my business, it was definitely a quicky. 1

I guess I stared at Devin so long that he raised an eyebrow to snap me out of it.

"You should have at least showered,” I said, and Vino laughed. 2

"I thought as much," Vino said, and Devin ran his hand through his hair from embarrassment. He

shouldn't feel that way, but we made him uncomfortable.

We made sure there was a small nitric acid tank in the car, and we each wore goggles and gas masks.

We did not want to take chances.

We made sure the Kappas driving us were protected too. No surprises.

I could confess that I was still traumatised by what happened to us last time, and not having a

Stepanov with us scared me.

I just hope we make it there and return home safely.

We got into the car and left. There was a Kappa in the passenger's seat in front, so we had to place

Vino in the centre of the backseat. While Devin and I sat by the doors.

The ride was quiet, and as soon as we got on the lonely road that led to the estate, my heart began to

pound in my chest. That was where we were almost killed. The memory alone made me want to get

even with Joan. She was a bitch, and she needed to end as one. I had a pound of flesh to get from her,

and I hoped Sylvester would allow me that luxury.

The ride was smooth. We got to Lucland City in no time and were at the prison. Head Enforcer Bryce

Golubev had done an exceptional job securing the place. There were huge Nitric tanks at both ends of

the entrance, and the prison guards and enforcers were wearing goggles and gas masks.

Who would have thought Bryce would be this loyal? To think he had once helped the enemy in the

past. I had to commend Sylvester for being forgiving. He would have lost a loyal soldier had he not had

the decency to give Bryce a second chance. Bryce also was repentant and has proven his loyalty times

without number. He was so loyal that Yuri saw him as a lost cause.

We alighted the vehicle and entered the prison. It wasn't dark and dingy, as I remembered it. I do not

know which of the lords saw to it that it was renovated, but it loved livable. It was clean and air-

conditioned. I commended the North for creating a conducive environment for the convicts. I might

copy the same in the East when all this is over. I planned on surviving no matter what, so that would

not be an issue. 1

We were led to an underground prison. It wasn't as beautiful as the one above, but it was livable. We

were taken deep inside. I heard some people growl and shake the silver bars. I could not feel Black

once we entered the place, so I knew we were where they kept the hardened and condemned

criminals.

"Why didn't you take him to a questioning room?" I asked the Kappa leading us to the cell.

"To ensure he does not escape," The Kappa replied, and I could understand their reason.

"Is that the only entrance to this place?" I asked.

"Yes, Sir," He said, and I relaxed.

It would be difficult for anyone to enter here. I am sure Amanda was kept in a place like this in the

women's prison. No wonder she took her life.

Death was the only escape.

We stopped at a cell, and the light was turned on.

It wasn't bright, but I could see inside the cell.

A man was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall. His bed was neatly made, and everywhere

was clean, but he remained on the floor with his head bowed.

"There he is. I will excuse you now. You can leave the way we came in when you are done." The Kappa

said, ready to excuse us, and I nodded.

"Larry. Larry," I said, and the man did not respond.

We spent almost fifteen minutes trying to call his attention. I even shook the silver bars, and it burned,

but he did not respond.

"We are here to negotiate with you if you can deliver Yuri Stepanov to us," I said, and he did not

respond.

"Very well, we just need the location of the properties you helped him purchase and where he is likely

to hide. Just answer this part, and we will be on our way." I said, giving up, knowing I would not be

successful in questioning him.

My last statement made Larry move. He looked at me. My words had caught his attention.

He stood up and slowly walked towards the bars.

He had lost weight, and his eyes were hollow.

He looked like a man that battled demons daily. I wondered what they did to him in the prison cells.

"So Yuri finally came out of the shadows," he managed with a breathy tired voice. I nodded, avoiding

saying anything that would make him ignore us.

"Yuri used me and left me to my devices when I needed him the most," he said. He did not let me even

speak.

I could tell he had ill feelings towards Yuri. We might not need to offer much for him to help us.

"I thought I was avenging Emily, but then I realised I was the fool all along." He said, voicing his

thoughts, and we remained silent because he seemed a bit unstable. Spending over a year without

access to his wolf was bound to do that to him.

"I wished I could do things differently. I would have lived a full life. I would have had my wife and

children with me. I would have been a happy man. I threw it all away for nothing," Larry said and looked

at me.

"There is nothing you can give me that I want. I have stayed alive this long for this day. A day when I

would pay Yuri back for using me and taking advantage of my ignorance," He confessed.

"Go to the office in my house. The third bookshelf is on the right. Pull the grey book, and a secret door

will open. The safe in that room contains all the documents of his properties, especially bunkers where

he hides in the West and South. I will advise you to ensure Gordon Miles, Sean Garret, Joan Clayman,

and Wilson Carson are out of the way before you go for him. I have one thing to request," He said, and

I looked at him. It was obvious he was waiting for this day.

"When Yuri is caught, kindly inform the King to end my life. I cannot live with the shame of what I did to

my friends. Maurice, Gavin, and Lucas did not deserve what I did to them, especially Lucas. I was a

fool to believe Emily, and I destroyed lives for it. Tell the King to end my life when he has defeated

Yuri," He said, and I knew he meant every word of what he said.

"I will convey your request to the King. I hope you think about it, Larry. King Sylvester isn't vindictive," I

said, and he wept.

"Too many people have died for me to want to hold on to life. Please, Albert, tell him that is all I want.

They wont let me take my life here. Please, I need you to help me out," He said, and I knew we would

not hear anything from him again.

I nodded, agreeing to his words, and we tried to leave.

I was glad that I was not a victim of deception. I could see Larry's suffering, and mercy would only

worsen it. He had given up completely. None of us uttered a word. There was absolutely nothing to say.

We had got what we came for.

"So what now?" Devin asked, and I sighed.

"We cannot raid Larry’s house until after the arrests. If we do that now, Yuri will know Larry is alive, and

he has told us all he knows. We must get the documents in secret while we arrest the people. I will still

want to question Larry, so please inform Bryce to ensure he gets some care. He is too depressed to be

of use now. Maybe have his wife visit him. It might boost his morale. Something must be done.

Because we need his full cooperation to interview him properly," I told Vino, and he frowned.

"Why didn't we just ask him what we wanted now?" He said, and Devin growled at him.

"Are you blind? Can't you see the state he is in? He wouldn't have said anything. We are lucky he gave

us something. We have to come back again and take our time when he is in a better frame of mind.

Hopefully, his wife might help get him there," Devin said, understanding why I did not bother to question

Larry. We were even lucky we got something.

We left the prison and headed back to the estate.