Chapter 4

The next day when Aurora went to the restaurant but Gabriel was not available. She was disappointed and decided to go there the next day. Once again she was out of luck and couldn't meet him.

It was the fifth day she met him or the right words would be bumped into him again. A small smile broke on her lips. She was happy to see him but he was not.

She wanted to say so many things to him but he didn't let her speak.

"I am sorry, miss high and mighty and I apologise if I ruin your dress again," he said, taunting her.

Aurora bit her lip from inside but she remained silent, letting him vent out his anger. "Please tell me how much I need to pay you for…" he kept saying but there was a limit to Aurora's tolerance.

"Enough! Okay, I get it I was wrong that day but that doesn't mean you will insult me whenever you see me," she snapped at him.

"Look..."

"No, you look! I… I have been coming here for the past five days to apologise to you. I get it. I was rude that day but now you are doing the same with me…"

A tear strolled down her cheek and she wiped it with a shaking hand. "I… You Know what? It was my fault that I came here…" she said and started walking away but Gabriel grabbed her hand tightly and pulled her towards him.

Aurora tried to struggle out of his hold but it was too tight for her "Stop crying!" He said in a tone as if ordering her.

"Leave me!" She told him.

"I said wipe your tears."

She was still trying to get away from him but stopped when he raised her chin with his thumb and stared into her eyes. Aurora's vision blurred due to tears in her eyes.

He wiped them, "I am sorry if I hurt you."

Aurora gulped and nodded. "What's your name?" He asked her, this time in a soft tone.

Her throat turned dry at the intensity of his voice. "Aurora," she somehow managed to reply.

"Aurora, I am hungry and alone, would you grant me your company for lunch?"

She searched his eyes. "Yes…" she replied in the same soft tone. She was lost in those beautiful blue eyes and didn't even know why she accepted his offer.

He nodded, "after you, Madam." He said leaving her and gesturing his hand for her to walk first.

Once inside, he behaved like a complete gentleman. We were in his office, he ordered the best dishes from his restaurant and they all were delicious.

That's how Aurora's friendship with Gabriel started. She likes spending time with him, especially the way he treated her. They asked about each other's likes and dislikes. One day Gabriel told her that he was going to meet his uncle in a faraway town and after that, he will come back here for a few days only to leave for camping in the forest. Gabriel goes camping every summer for about four months.

Aurora's face turned sad when he told her that but she masked it. Aurora didn't have a big friend circle, but she had one of the strongest ones. But what she felt for Gabriel was far more intense than friendship. She didn't want to look like a desperate girl but she wanted to meet him more.

When she went home she was sad, when her friends asked she gave them an evasive answer. But her mood lifted when Susan told her that Kevin Rawls, the designer who they wanted to hire for their jewellery brand, was hosting an exhibition in Dawson. It was a golden chance to meet him.

"But the problem is that the Exhibition is tonight," Emily told her, "and there is no flight available."

Aurora twisted her lips to one side, thinking about the solution. "Let me ask dad about his Jet."

"No…" Emily started but Aurora cut her off. "Em, I am not asking for money, only his plane to take us to Dawson. It's important for us."

Aurora called her father to ask for permission to use his plane.

Meanwhile, Liam Knight was in the plane, clenching and unclenching his hand. He should be focussing on Ethan right now, but no, there was one person who was distracting him with her curves.

Liam knight's thoughts were focused on Aurora, Ethan's daughter. He closed his eyes and her blue eyes flashed in his memory.

Liam knight has fallen in lust over the temptress known as Aurora Kings.

"F**k!" He cursed and gulped down his scotch in one swig. He needed to focus on his meeting with Ethan. Liam closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, trying to take his mind off the hardness between his legs.

But he couldn't, the throbbing was still there. Self-control had always been the issue for him but never had he lost control like that over a woman. The throbbing in his d**k was the proof that he, for the first time, lost it.

With no other option left he called his whore, Grace to s*ck him off and if the throbbing still didn't get calm he would f**k her too, depending on her skill and Liam was aware of her skills but today he doubted them.

Exactly, after twenty minutes he was sitting calmly with his seatbelt on as the plane landed. The trip was shortly planned. It would be a surprise or shock, depending upon Ethan how to take it.

Friend or foe, Liam would soon get to know it.

The black Mercedes was waiting outside for him. The small packet of weed was stuffed in his pocket, he wanted to trade them to Victoria; the only way to do that was through Yellowknife and the territory came under Ethan's control. He was losing a lot of his shipments because of the Mexicans and not to mention the masked being a pain in his a$$.

So securing his ties with Ethan was a matter of need not want and he needed Ethan, at least for now.

On the other hand, Ethan raised his eyes to Thomas. "He came to my territory?"

"Asked for a meeting with you, boss."

Ethan's eyebrows pulled together, "asked or demanded, Thomas?" Ethan enquired.

"It was voiced as a request with a clear hint towards a demand. So the right word would be, he wanted you to acknowledge him as the new boss of Vancouver. As your counterpart, you're equal."

Ethan King threw his head back and laughed. "Let's meet the boy!" He said and Thoman's eyes widened into a grin.

The night won't be a boring one, certainly. Oh, it would be fun, too much fun because Ethan was going to show Liam his place in Ethan's eyes.

But they were unaware of the fact that Liam Knight had his eyes settled on the Queen. His queen and Ethan's princess. Aurora.

Exactly after fifty minutes, Liam eyed the huge table between him and Ethan. He was truly the man everyone said he was, cruel and brutal. No exaggeration, the man was the dark king of Churchill through and through.

The respect he had for Ethan increased at this moment. After his father, he might be the only man who impressed Liam with his darkness.

The same darkness which was inside him but along with it, Liam possessed his father's twisted mind.

The other man eyed Liam, assessing not only his body but soul too. Liam's confidence ingrained Ethan, he could see the same madness he once saw in his own eyes. That was the only reason that Ethan's body was on high alert.

It was not because he feared that Liam would attack him. No one dared to do that if the person was in the right mindset. He was on alert because he could sense that Liam could be the foe, and a dangerous one.

Ethan knew how to protect his territory, he had done that multiple times but the darkness in Liam's eyes told him that he wouldn't be a fair player like his father but he had the reason for it, otherwise, he was aware of his twisted reputation.

He couldn't risk the war with Vancouver's, not when Mexicans were biting his ass off but that doesn't mean he would bow down to this young boy. No, Ethan King would never bow to anyone and certainly not to this youngster.

Liam could see the little wheels turning in Ethan's mind. He needed to know that Liam was not someone to be taken evasively. He might have not taken the chair of the boss yet but he was in the Mafia since he could remember.

"You entered my territory, without my permission, demanded a meeting with me for what, sitting on the chair quietly, boy?" Ethan jabbed, Provoking Liam intentionally.

Liam's body stiffened at the insult. He fisted his hand to stop it from twitching. He reminded himself to stay cool but he was losing it, his mind was losing the calmness.

Liam leaned back in the chair, leisurely. Oh, he knew the rules, others learned them but he was born into them.

The most important rule of the Mafia: Never let your emotions show on your face.

He casually shrugged, "I came to show respect. To say that I am a friend, not an enemy, old man," he answered.

Take it any way you want, Ethan.

Something shifted in Ethan's eyes. Liam could observe it. He had not expected it, not everyone could dare to insult Ethan, that too in his territory, sitting in his office and not to mention the right to his face.

"Look, Ethan, we could do that any way you want, war or peace. I came here to show my respect to my counterpart again, and if you want things to run smoothly, everything depends on your will."

Ethan's eyes fixed on Liam. Anger and admiration were both presents in them at the same time but he wouldn't accept a young lad come to his office and insult him.

"I have already told you, my decision Boy, if you want to trade your goods in my territory, you have to pay me the tax. Fifty per cent of what you earn," Ethan said.

Thomas' eyes moved to Ethan, asking what game he was playing. Even Thomas didn't expect Liam to be so hard. Guess, people were right about him. Liam was the reincarnation of Lucifer. King of hell!

"We had this understanding…"

"I had it with your father, Not you. If you want to trade in my area, pay up!"

Liam shifted in his seat. He was on the verge of losing his composure but once again ordered himself to remain calm.

"Tax, we are not running a government here, Ethan. Fifty per cent is hype!" He snapped, gritting his jaw.

Ethan leaned back in the chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "In Churchill, I am the bloody government. You want to enter my market, pay up or don't show up here again."

Liam took a breath. "Pay up, hm!" Liam pulled out his phone from his coat, dialled his brother Ralph, put it on his ear and met Ethan's eyes one more time.

If you could play dirty, so can I…

"Liam…" Ralph answered.

"I want you to cease all the consignment that belonged to Churchill, Evacuate the goods and burn them!"

Hot rage shot through in Ethan's body. His eyes turned hard and angry, full of rage. Thomas shook his head ever so slightly, requesting Ethan to stay cool when Ethan was on the verge of pulling his gun on Liam.

"I had an understanding on this with your father."

This time it was Liam who had this smirk on his lips. He got what he wanted, leaning back in his chair leisurely, " Right, but I will be the new boss, so my rules in my territory, Ethan. You see, this was just to show that I could play any way you want me to. I already told you that I respect you but don't take my respect for my weakness."

Ethan closed his eyes. He didn't want to fight a two end war. "Status quo, Liam. That's the only thing you will get. Now get your ass out of my office and certainly from my city."

Liam stood up, buttoned his coat and looked at Ethan. "I told you, I am a friend, only if you treat me like one, Ethan. I believe you will see the reason, now," he let out, saluting him with his two fingers.

"Oh and I forgot to mention, my shipment is standing at the border of Churchill, call your men and order them to allow it in your territory," Liam said, putting the small packet of co**ine on Ethan's desk.

Ethan didn't even blink. Only gave him a terse nod. Not a friend nor a foe.

Liam Knight was dangerous on both ends.

After Liam walked out, Ethan glanced at Thomas who had this grin on his face. "That boy reminded me of you. The same aura, the same insanity…"

"And the same dangerousness, Thomas. He was admirable no doubt but we need to be aware of him. I don't trust him."

On the other hand, Liam's phone pinged. A message from his friend, Alexandrios pops up in his notification. It read: "Come to the jewellery exhibition tonight in Dawson."

Liam was about to decline the offer but stopped when he received a call from his brother. "She will be in Dawson tonight for a jewellery exhibition."

Liam's brows pulled together in question. "Which one?" He asked.

"The Belle."

Liam only chuckled. He accepted his friend's invitation for two reasons. One, he knew that he might have won the battle but not the war and he had no intention of fighting the war with Ethan. Second, he wants to meet the enchantress who stole his mind with just her pictures.

Tonight, Liam will meet Aurora and the meeting will decide her fate.

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