Is this destiny?

"Continue...", Hong urged Aiden. "I believe that this is the part where you tell me how that chaos can be prevented."

Aiden nodded in confirmation. "If you take over as the Grand Master, I will support you as an Elder and then we can decide what is worth keeping and what will be disbanded but in an orderly way where we will remove resources from their hands before we let go of the people."

Hong's expression was unreadable. "What can the two of us do? It will be the two of us surrounded by Elders and other characters who are gathering supporters for decades and they will all have in common seeing us as newcomers who snatched something they believe it's theirs."

"It does not need to be just the two of us. Didn't you mention that there are people loyal to your father, and maybe to you? After Simeon is out, people will approach you and we can confirm their sincerity with the truth potion."

"I thought that you said the potion is not useful.", Hong reminded Aiden of one of their previous situations.

"That is the case if we try to do it secretly because people will tell the truth, however they will be aware that something is wrong. But if you are the Grand Master and we do the interrogation in one swoop as part of the official process, it will be different." Aiden saw that Hong's expression shifted slightly and he knew that Hong is softening up. He continued easing Hong into the idea: "In addition, you can bring your people. Right now, I can think of Bo, Souta, and Wing. You trust them and they are loyal to you. With the three of them, Francisca, Azra, and Camila are part of the package. Of course, there are other kids, but at this point, we don't know how many we might need."

Aiden paused and glanced at Sarah before continuing to talk to Hong.

"Let's not forget that Sarah is the head of the Lebedev family, and we have many other allies. But none of that will work unless you take your role as the Grand Master. Your father was the Grand Master, and you are the rightful heir. No matter how strong Simeon's influence is, some of the people will support you. Once you step on that throne and hold the reins, you can decide what you want to do with the organization and we will support you as long as you pull the Voronin's people out of the White family and take targets off our backs."

Hong's gaze didn't leave Aiden and he pressed his lips into a line, unsure how to answer.

Of course, getting people away from the Whites (Sarah and Aiden included) is not a problem, but he never thought about taking over the Voronin family as the Grand Master. That is the role he didn't consider in a very long time, and he associates it with all the bad things that happened to his beloved wife and all the misery that followed after. Also, Hong knows that his father would treat him differently if he didn't carry the weight of the Voronins on his shoulders. Hong never blamed his father, but he sees the organization as something evil he should stay away from.

"Think about it.", Sarah urged Hong. "It is a position your father left you and we can help you take it back from your Cousin. If we make the right moves, as the Grand Master you will have access to all the information necessary to keep Tashi safe. We are returning to the base tomorrow and we believe that within a few days the tournament will be over, and Aiden will get his position as the base leader or maybe something close to the main family. In either case, they will stop looking at Aiden as an outsider and he will become one of them. That is the time when we need to decide what our next step will be…"

Sarah and Aiden left the room and Hong returned to his spot next to the window that is facing the forest. He listened and said that he will think about it. He wants his revenge, and his Cousin should suffer, but Hong can't stop doubting if that is the right thing to do. Sure, there is a chance that Simeon forgot about Tashi and Gedeon Voronin (aka Hong), but what if he didn't? What if Simeon has some protocol that if anything happens to him, Tashi (and others like her) will be eliminated? What can Hong do in that case? To attack openly? Swiftly? To take away his power? Hong does not know, but he believes that Tashi's safety should come before his vengeance because he can't bring back the dead while he can protect the living ones. Maybe.

…

After all the meetings and chats were done, Sarah and Aiden went to their room and Sarah plopped on the bed.

Aiden saw that Sarah is fighting with her fatigue to stay awake, so he informed her: "Dinner is in half an hour. You can take a nap."

Sarah extended her arms toward him, indicating that she wants him to join her on the bed.

Aiden looked at his sweet wife, ready to cuddle, and he shook his head while smiling. If someone sees her like this, they would not believe that she is the main character in more than one deadly organization. His wife is amazing.

Aiden hopped on the bed, next to Sarah, and in the next moment, she snuggled into his embrace.

He noticed that she is shifting, which is unusual because in the last few weeks Sarah sleeps off within seconds. Probably due to pregnancy.

"Is there something on your mind?", Aiden asked.

"I'm not sure why, but I feel restless.", Sarah admitted.

"Did something happen?"

Sarah exhaled. "After the checkup, I spoke with Anna, and she told me not to be reckless. I mean… am I reckless? What should I do? Find a safe place and hide? Where is that safe place? They took down Eve and we had armed intruders on our properties. Victoria was in our house during the attack; imagine what would happen if she had a gun or a knife, or if she knew how to snap necks! She was in the room with the kids! And they kidnapped you from our own city! Our skills, army, technology, security protocols, nothing helped! We take them out one by one and they still keep on coming. Tell me… where is safe!? Should I find a dark corner and curl up with the hope that no one will notice me?" Sarah's voice was rising with her anxiety.

Aiden hugged Sarah and rubbed her back while trying to calm her down.

After some time, Aiden inched away and cupped Sarah's cheeks, lifting her head so that he can see her face.

"There is no safe place, love… But that does not mean that we can't make one for ourselves.", Aiden's voice was gentle, yet laced with confidence that spilled onto Sarah and she smiled.

Aiden kissed her on the lips and continued talking.

"Think about it. We wanted a home, and we built several. At our first Christmas, it was just the two of us, and now we celebrate with friends and family, expanding our tables every year to accommodate all of them. We needed an army and we have more than one at our disposal. Your arm that was useless is now your strongest weapon. You brought me back when everyone gave up on me. Eve, VR��� Tell me, is there anything that is impossible for us? Whatever we need, we either take, buy, or create, and we make it our own. Building a safe spot should not be a problem."

Sarah blinked a few times and then her face broke into a smile. "You are brilliant!"

Aiden's eyebrows shoot up. "I am?"

Sarah nodded enthusiastically. "Bat cave…"

Aiden didn't get it. "What?"

"The cave under the Beach house. We never utilized it. It is huge and we can do so many things with it. We can open up access to the road and the ocean, connect it to the underground garage where vehicles and the helicopters are… and reinforce the cave itself to be an impenetrable bunker. The location is perfect because it's already ours and no one will suspect that it's anything more than a vacation house that we use occasionally. The enormous lot is a big bonus. The Cliffside Villa has secured underground areas, but that is our home, and our enemies will expect us there, while the Beach house has lower visibility."

Aiden saw that Sarah is excited about this new project, and he approved. "I will get in touch with Louis and Cash and they can start working on it. If it's a bunker, we should weaponize it. Jarred can help…" Aiden saw that Sarah frowned as he spoke. "What?"

"The more people know about it, the less safe it will be. We had so many projects that we can design this one ourselves. Let's pick a few people who are necessary, but I would prefer no outsiders. Mike was in construction before he became Charlie's assistant, he should be able to help. We can get his inputs without disclosing the location. If we buy furniture and other equipment in small waves, it will not be noticeable, and if anyone notices, they will think we are redecorating the Beach house. And between our kids and Felix, gadgets will be set. Weapons can come from the Army of Chaos and if anything needs to be purchased, it will be done through our existing channels. What else are we missing?..."

Aiden looked at Sarah's lit up face and realized that she will not nap before dinner.

He was not sure how much that cave can be their safe place, but he knew that it's a side-project to keep Sarah distracted from the Voronins and their upcoming mission that comes with a heavy dose of stress.

---

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