Ch.5- Payment Assessment
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“Excellent. The first piece of business between the Skolovs and Lundins is resolved.”
Prendel’s body formed an arm-like mass and pressed a panel on the glass in front of him.
Streams of data—the official contract—rushed past.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“Sign and you may take possession of your new property and all financial debts between the two parties will be considered erased.”
Lucifer slammed his hand to the glass, relishing the prick as his blood oath was absorbed into the barrier and added to the contract.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
(nods) “We move now to the second piece of business, again related to the Skolov-Lundin feud.”
The other warlords sat straighter on their thrones. The Brotherhood was rife with disputes and double-crosses, but at the moment, none were more interesting than this one.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“The Skolov family has long contended that Olan Lundin is guilty of the most heinous of Brotherhood crimes: the deliberate killing and cover-up of one of our own.”
Low growls sounded from the other Alphas, their predatory instincts rousing.
There was no more grave offense in the Brotherhood. When associates and soldiers, as well as omegas, were killed in territorial disputes, it was dismissed as collateral damage, but to take down another crime boss was to break the blood oath made when they joined the Brotherhood.
The gravity of the accusation, and the outcome of the verdict—total annihilation of the bloodline of either the accused or the accuser—was why Lucifer suspected the Brotherhood had waited so long to address his complaint.
No one liked the idea of upheaval in the current power balance.
But he’d made damn sure they had no choice.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“Lucifer Skolov has accused Olan Lundin of shooting the previous Kuril head of the family and setting him, and the murder site, on fire to cover up the crime.”
Olan had killed people far more significant than the Kuril crime boss in that fire, but the Brotherhood didn’t give a shít about them.
But Lucifer did, and he intended Olan to pay for all his crimes.
Lucifer Skolov/ML/Elite Enigma
(looked across the way at the current head of the Kuril family)
Ever so subtly, the male nodded.
It was his predecessor who’d been killed in the fire, along with Lucifer’s own flesh and blood, and after finally hearing the Skolov side of the story, the Kuril family wanted the truth to come out almost as badly as Lucifer did.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“The Skolov accusation against Olan Lundin will now be considered. Along with Olan Lundin’s claim of innocence and counterclaim of slander.”
Prendel wrapped a glob-like arm around his gavel and slammed it against the glass.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“Punishment for the party found guilty will be swift and merciless, the specific means determined by the innocent party. Do you accept these terms?”
Lucifer Skolov/ML/Elite Enigma
“I do.” ❄️ (without any hesitation)
Olan Lundin/MC's Father/Alpha
“I do, too.”
Olan’s declaration was equally as clear. Whatever his faults, and there were plenty, the bastard was as bold and brash as ever, despite his advancing years and the stink of guilt that clung to him even now
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
(nods) “The Brotherhood has your witnesses. Interrogation will begin immediately.”
Lucifer Skolov/ML/Elite Enigma
“Good.” ❄️
The sooner the better. Tracking down the few living beta servants who’d been working in the compound the rotation of the fire had been a challenge.
Olan Lundin had killed most of them already, along with any Lundin soldiers who’d showed an interest in turning against their own. They’d ended up with their throats slit and their tongues cut out before Lucifer could get them to testify.
But thanks to his brothers’ tracking and computer skills, he’d managed to unearth a few beta servants who’d been working the rotation of the fire—and persuade them that, despite their terror, it was to their benefit to testify. Because however scared they were of Olan Lundin, they needed to be twice as scared of Lucifer Skolov.
The witnesses’ recorded testimonies recalled the same details: Olan’s fury, his threats against the Kuril head, the raised voices in the family’s private quarters, the panic of the fire, the stampede and thick smoke, and the fact that the Kuril crime boss and several members of the Skolov family never made it out alive. The witnesses also mentioned the scent of Kuril blood and the burning odor of laser shots on Olan’s skin and clothes.
One witness remembered more. Right before his mad dash out of the flames, he’d seen the Kuril crime boss and Lucifer’s mother shot and sprawled on the floor of the omega’s private quarters, already dead.
His testimony proved it wasn’t the fire that killed the previous Kuril head, but a laser attack.
But to avoid accusations of tampering or undue influence, the Brotherhood insisted on interrogating all witnesses in person. They’d assured Lucifer's security would be tight.
He disliked relinquishing his most persuasive evidence to someone else’s control, but it could not be helped. Certain protocols had to be met.
For an organization predicated on lawlessness, the Brotherhood was a stickler for established traditions.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“Both parties will return to their planets and cease all further retaliation strikes.”
Prendel’s emotionless voice, every intent on keeping the proceedings moving, cut through Lucifer’s thoughts.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“There will also be no attempt to influence the trial or the Brotherhood through outside means.”
He leveled first Lucifer and then Olan with a warning glare from eight narrowed eyes.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“You will talk to no one reviewing evidence. You will undertake no personal retribution. Any attempt to do so will be dealt with swiftly and harshly.”
Lucifer hated being sidelined, but he’d expected no less.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“You will have until the end of the interrogation and trial to present additional evidence. After that, we will make our decision and the case will be closed.”
Lucifer didn’t miss the way Prendel’s usually expressionless face hardened. No one in the Brotherhood liked Olan Lundin, but they disliked the idea of one of their own being accused of such a betrayal even more. Especially when the accusation came from the Skolov clan: an upstart, unpredictable, recent addition to the Brotherhood.
Surveying the hard faces of the other Alphas, Lucifer tried to determine who else might give him a hard time.
The Verish and Lunara crime bosses weren’t happy with him since he’d moved into arms dealings, rising above them to become the top supplier in the galaxy.
The Sartin family head also wasn’t a fan. The growing preference among Anarcheim’s elites to spend their money at Skolov gambling and pleasure clubs meant the other warlord’s traveling shuttles of sin were no longer as sought-after or profitable.
Lucifer’s relationship with the Stormhart family was fine, but one wrong move could send that fragile tolerance crumbling.
The same went for his other allies: the Toor, Avitus, Kuril, and Gron families. Alliances were always changing within the Brotherhood, and a friend today could stab you in the back without hesitation tomorrow.
Of course, his family wasn’t the only one with more enemies than friends.
No one liked the Lundins.
The Gron and Namiko families hated each other, as did the Grons and the Prendels, the Grons and the Sartins, and the Grons and the Kurils.
The Stormharts had only recently formed a tenuous treaty with the Avitus family after years of underhanded fighting, though no one besides them knew the initial reason for the conflict.
The Toors were squabbling with the Prendels and the Lunaras over territory.
The Sartin and L’kashlg crime families had just joined their syndicates through a prime omega Alpha contract, but it was rumored it wasn’t going well and ties between the two families were already fraying.
It was precisely to keep these tensions from bubbling over into all-out galactic, bloody war that the Brotherhood had formed in the first place.
Survival at the top was hard enough.
There were ambitious up-and-comers —like the Skolovs had recently been—looking to make a mark by striking at a Brotherhood business. The Federation, the law of the galaxy, was also always nosing its self-righteous way into syndicate business and disrupting shipping routes and confiscating valuable contraband.
Lucifer just had to hope that the proof he provided would be enough to outweigh all the exterior bullshit and petty internal disputes and bring the Brotherhood together for once. It would definitely be an uphill battle.
Especially because while the evidence he’d manage to acquire was good, none of it was the smoking gun that would convince a bunch of Alphas with a long line of sins of their own that Olan had been the one to fire the shots that led to the murder of a fellow crime boss. That critical piece would be up to his new property to provide.
Lucifer couldn’t wait to begin his own interrogation.
Lucifer Skolov/ML/Elite Enigma
“I agree to the terms.”❄️
Impatient to acquire Noah, he slammed his fist to his chest in the Brotherhood salute.
Lucifer Skolov/ML/Elite Enigma
“The Brotherhood is all.”❄️
“The Brotherhood is all.”
The other crime heads stood as well, echoing the salute.
Olan Lundin/MC's Father/Alpha
“One moment.”
Olan interrupted the closing ritual.
The hairs on the back of Lucifer’s nape rose. Olan was never calm and cool and the fact that he was now, did not bode well.
Lucifer forced his expression to remain blank and reveal nothing of the fact that his claws had sprung out, violence surging through every pore.
There was no way Olan could take him back now.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“What is it, Alpha Lundin?”
Prendel sounded pleasantly annoyed.
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“The requirements of the trial have been laid out clearly and the debt proceedings have been taken care of. There seems little more to address. Our traditions are very clear.”
Olan Lundin/MC's Father/Alpha
Of course, you are right, Inner Council Alpha.”
The obsequiousness in Olan’s tone was patently false. The male did not know how to be effacing or subtle.
Olan Lundin/MC's Father/Alpha
“But I would be remiss if I did not insist our traditions be adhered to in every way.”
Valf Prendel/Dominant Alpha
“Explain yourself.”
Even Predel sounded suspicious.
Olan Lundin/MC's Father/Alpha
“I don’t want it said I don’t pay my debts in full.”
Olan sounded far too smug.
Olan Lundin/MC's Father/Alpha
“To ensure the value of the property is as stipulated, I invoke the right to call for assessment.”
Lucifer Skolov/ML/Elite Enigma
“No!”❄️ (growled)
The low growl rumbled from Lucifer before he could stop it. Then, he silently throat punched himself for the pleased smirk that spread across his enemy’s face as Lucifer’s protest echoed into each Alpha’s private chamber.
Olan Lundin/MC's Father/Alpha
“I want no accusations later that the property was damaged. It’s as much a protection for the Brotherhood as me.”
Olan wanted him riled.He fúcking knew the assessment and its close-quarters exposure of the omega to the other Alphas would piss Lucifer off. No Alpha liked to share what was his alone to view, let alone Lucifer—an Elite Enigma, the kind who didn’t just guard his omega, but devoured every breath, every glance, every inch as though it were branded into his flesh. 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧."
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