Chapter 2: Prologue Part 2

Arias and Dmitri entered the V.I.P. section and partied for about thirty minutes. Arias mimicked drinking, never taking more than a few sips at a time, while Dmitri drank without restraint, quickly becoming tipsy. The two were now seated in an open area, surrounded by gorgeous women serving them beverages.

"I don't think I've ever seen you this happy, Dmitri. This Arias must be quite important to you," a tall woman sitting on Dmitri's lap teased while feeding him fruit.

He quickly nodded, chuckling at her remark. "Important is an understatement. That's my brother from another mother right there. I knew him before my dad became a big shot. We got separated when my dad had me change schools for high school, but we still hung out every week… but six years ago, right before his fifteenth birthday, he vanished."

Dmitri drank from his cup, then set it down and sighed.

"Ohh~ Then where did you go, mister Arias? Leaving our poor Dmitri without his best friend?" the woman asked Arias with a raised brow, but Dmitri intervened before Arias could respond.

"Hey, Natasha, don't go asking him those things. I know he wouldn't leave without a good reason, and I won't press him on it. I'm just glad he's back. We all have our secrets, right?" Dmitri raised a glass in a toast to Arias while grinning at him.

"Right, thanks. I'm still not forgetting that bet you lost to shave your head, though," Arias added slyly, causing Dmitri to scowl in response.

"Oh, c'mon, man. I take it back. I didn't miss this petty smartass." Dmitri laughed even more loudly.

Arias could tell that Dmitri sincerely missed him, whatever the cause. Perhaps Dmitri's life had not been easy either, as evidenced by the amount of alcohol he consumed regularly.

Dmitri fell asleep on the seats a little while later, but Arias stayed awake. When he turned to gaze at the bar, he noticed that the couple he had been observing earlier was still there.

Natasha smirked and said, "He always blacks out for a bit after one too many drinks. We can keep you busy till then," but Arias shook his head.

"It's fine, I think I'll just walk around here a bit." After saying so, he stood and moved toward the bar.

As he was moving, his phone rang from his right pocket, so he swiftly snatched it up.

"Craig, you're not supposed to call me," Arias reacted sharply.

"[Well, you're not supposed to take damn ages. Hurry up, man. Remember, I need to say I was just patrolling by, but at this rate, I'll seem suspicious.]"

"Fine, I got it. Just be ready."

Arias promptly ended the call and moved to the bar, where he sat down a short distance from the hairy man sitting next to the attractive woman. He pretended to be carefree and even placed his own drink order while keeping an eagle eye on the couple. 

It was only when he saw the large hairy man order a drink that he decided to take out his phone again below the counter and dial something.

*Ba!*

Soon after, all of the club's lights went out, causing guests to groan irritably in frustration.

"Dammit, are you kidding me?" a big, hulking voice expressed displeasure with the situation.

The lights quickly came back on after the brief blackout. When they did, Arias hastily tucked a tiny white sachet inside his coat before getting up from his seat.

'That was cutting it close…' he thought, but he still smiled and took out his phone before typing…

"It's done. I'll linger here for a bit so that I don't draw suspicion, then leave before the substance kicks in."

"[Finally. Another successful job, a high-class one at that. Moving up in the underworld, are we?]"

"What other option is there?" He responded by typing, then put his phone away and went back to where he and Dmitri had been sitting.

"Oh, there you are. I was just about to come look for you. Sorry about that, booze makes me sleepy after long days, haha." When Arias returned, he found Dmitri awake and only slightly sober.

"I just wanted to see if there were any ladies to my liking around." Arias nodded in response and took a seat across from Dmitri to observe the activity at the bar.

Arias never really relaxed during the lighthearted chat; instead, he occasionally glanced toward the bar as if he were waiting for something. When the big man in a suit at the bar glanced his way with a sneer while on the phone, Arias suddenly appeared surprised.

This gave him a horrible sensation, and he got to his feet right away. Before he could do anything, though, he noticed a group of big guys in suits enter the V.I.P. lounge and head over to his table, accompanied by the big man who was now grinning.

"Huh, what's going on? Eric, is there something you want?" Dmitri scowled and cast a wary glance in the direction of the bulky man in a suit who was approaching them.

"Me? Nothing, I just want to share a drink with this new face over here." The man, identified as Eric, grinned and set a glass down while glancing at Arias, who was clearly frowning.

"Thanks, but I'll have to decline." Arias quickly rejected the drink as his demeanor grew icy.

Dmitri exhibited confusion as Eric chuckled in response.

"Eric, seriously, he's not interested in whatever games you're trying to play. Just go enjoy your time at the bar." When Dmitri tried to intervene, the big man smacked him on the back.

"Be quiet! Your friend here had the balls to lace my drink. I just want him to have a taste of whatever he poured into it. Well? Drink it… or do you need a little motivation?"

In addition to frowning, Eric pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed it directly at Arias.