SEQUEL: NINETEEN

Lou returned with what Roman had asked her for after the sun came down, excitement brimming in her gray eyes. She strode right in with a pad in her arms looking like she had a lot of things to say.
Roman rose to his feet first, interrupting her words. "Dinner first."
Lou looked slightly disappointed at this, "Nothing wrong with talking over dinner," She said hopefully.
"We're not all without manners," Roman said with humor. He could right away tell how much Lou wanted to tell him whatever she had to say and he wanted to mess with her a bit.
After dinner, she led the way back to his office impatiently, still clutching her pad. "Did eating make you slow?" She jabbed at him when he took his time walking to his office long after she had gotten there.
"You seem eager to give me this report," Roman casually noted, languidly lighting up a cigar.
Lou shot him an icy stare, looking like she would like to crack him over the head with her pad. "Not really," She shrugged, playing along.
"You sure? You seemed really impatient-"
"Shut it and listen to me." She interrupted him, placing her pad on the table and turning it on.
"Iyla Cutler is fucking badass," She started with the biggest shit eating grin on her face.
Roman sat up straighter for this, a frown on his face. "I hope you're talking about someone else because she's not an ally."
Lou shrugged, "I don't have to be friends with someone to admit that they're fucking cool."
"Anyway, I'll spare you my opinions. I went down a really deep dark hole researching Iyla Cutler, you did say no information was unimportant."
Lou wasn't exaggerating when she said that, she had managed to dig up basically everything about Iyla who surprisingly hid her life very well so it had been quite the task.
She flashed a picture of Iyla, she was dressed in a little black dress and fishnets, chunky boots on her feet. The picture was taken by someone to the side while she leaned against a wall smoking, her pale green eyes stared right into the camera, her gaze unsettling.
"She's done a lot of things although she's so young but what you're interested in I'm sure is what connection she has with Alina," Lou began, tapping on the screen to change the pictures.
"She's a member of Luna Queen Claire's fanclub-"
Roman sat up straighter at this, "Claire has a fanclub?"
"It's got a strict membership requirement of being a half werewolf and also female but you could give it a shot, I'm sure they'll let you in." Lou said, all the while struggling to keep a straight face.
Roman gave her a flat look, "Go on with your report," He replied instead, not taking the bait.
He had just been genuinely curious about why there would be a fanclub for Claire but after hearing the description, it all added up.
"As I said earlier, Iyla is a member of Luna Queen Claire’s fan club and everyone knows about Alina’s open animosity with her…"
"So you're saying, Iyla is doing this because of Claire?" Roman interrupted.
"That's exactly what I'm saying, and there's proof. Iyla is a half werewolf which is no surprise but she was actually trafficked by The Underground when she was a child and after she escaped she had to hide in the shadows because there was really no place for half werewolves until Luna Claire started making changes."
"This has gotten a little complicated," Roman mused, he had thought that Iyla Cutler was just someone that Alina had crossed, well that was exactly who she was but the involvement of Claire had changed the trajectory of things.
"I want to see her in person." He said shortly.
Lou perked up at this, genuinely surprised. "Really? Can I come with?"
Roman shot her a look, "My initial plan was to get rid of her with searing lead, this isn't the chance to grab a date."
"But you said that was your initial plan which means that if everything goes right…"
Roman just expelled a breath, knowing that there was no convincing Lou when she was fixated on something. "You really have to choose your lovers better."
Lou raised her hands in defense, "I do! Dangerous women are the best."
"Can you arrange a meeting?" Roman asked.
"Absolutely," Lou accepted, rising to her feet. "I'll also email you a full report so you can go through it if you want," She tagged on before striding out of his office.

-*-

Roman sat in the back of the car while Lou drove, wondering if this was a great idea after all. It had been two days since Lou had made efforts to reach out to Iyla, she had insisted on being the one to set up their meeting place and Roman was genuinely surprised that she was willing to come down to his settlement for that.
The location was a small reputable hotel which was wise because they were in public but also have enough privacy to have whatever conversation they wanted. She had also not revealed the location to them until fifteen minutes ago and that was when they got in the car and drove out.
Roman also noted that in those two days, he hadn’t heard a word from Alina which meant that he had a very peaceful couple of days. Wilson, from the private agency, had given him a full report so he knew that she was unhurt and probably back in her father’s mansion.
He made it a note not to check her location on the tracker given to him by her sneaky father, he wasn’t going to let them interrupt his life over a deal he was offered.
Lou pulled into the parking lot of the hotel they had agreed to meet up with Iyla at, there were a few other cars in the parking lot but they were all mousy which meant that the car stood out.
A shoddily dressed valet with a red vest thrown over an untucked white shirt ambled over only to stumble over his own two feet when he saw who came out of the back seat of the fancy car that just drove in.
“You-Your Highness…” He mumbled.
Lou flipped the car keys deftly around a finger and clicked her teeth at the valet, “Don’t worry, I got this.” She said nicely, leading the way to the front doors of the hotel.
The valet seemed frozen in place but he didn’t make any move to offer to park the car for them so Lou just left him behind, holding open the door for Roman who shot her a flat look.
The foyer was small and cozy with a warm toned decor, and the only occupants were a teenage girl on her phone and what looked to be her grandfather dozing off beside her with his face hidden by a newspaper. The hotel was just the right amount of nondescript, perfect for a meeting like theirs.
Lou walked up to the counter while Roman hung back which was a relief because his citizens were half in awe and half terrified of him. It made interacting with anyone while he was close a hassle.
She leaned over the counter, her lips tilted in a polite smile, “We’d like to visit someone, they said they would be in room 204.”
The receptionist had a difficult time concentrating on Lou and her words with Roman standing a few feet in the distance but she somehow managed it. She knocked over some stationery as she distractedly typed in some things to get the required information.
“Un-Unfortunately, we’re required to check in with our guests before sending visitors to their rooms,” She said in a rush, nervously tucking a lock of brown hair behind her ear.
“Go right ahead,” Lou accepted, straightening up when she noticed that her pose further flustered the poor receptionist.
She nodded and picked up the landline to have a quiet conversation on the side with who had to be Iyla. “She says she’s expecting you so go right on. Room 204 is on the second floor, down the first hallway, thank you.” She added awkwardly, unable to hold Lou’s gaze anymore.
Roman started for the elevator, Lou striding after him. “I hope you don’t have any weapons on you,” She teased.
Roman glanced over to her as they stepped into the elevator, “It’s good to know that a date is more important than your Alpha King’s life.” He said dryly.
Iyla had insisted that they show up unarmed or their arrangement was off and she wouldn’t speak with them anymore. Which was a fair demand… as long as she was also keeping to the no weapon rule.
“Hey! I’m not the one that asked to arrange to have a meeting with her.” Lou said, pressing in the buttons that would take them to the second floor.
Roman let it go, it was amusing to see his personal assistant in such a cheery mood. It had been a while since he saw her get this excited over anything, and the past week had been quite the rollercoaster.
Lou led the way down the hallway, her steps eager. She stopped in front of the appropriate hotel room, glancing at Roman who just walked up behind her before reaching out to knock.
There was no response from within but she knew that Iyla was inside because the receptionist had just spoken to her so she reached for the doorknob. It opened easily, and she cautiously peeked in only to freeze up when she felt a cold metal gun right on her pelvis. If she had been a man, the barrel of the gun would have been pointing right at her dick.
Although Lou was in literal danger, a smirk pulled at her lips, “I’m hurt that you think a woman wouldn’t attack you,” She drawled, intrigued by Iyla’s tactic.
Iyla stepped into view, a look of consternation on her face, “It’s you…” She murmured, glancing past the tall lady in front of her to Alpha King Roman in the flesh who was behind her.
“How flattering that you recognize my voice,” Lou replied, the barrel of Iyla’s gun still pointing at her.
“Enough flirting,” Roman cut in, unimpressed, he would never understand his second in command’s tastes. “We’re not armed, we just want to have a conversation.” He explained, looking straight at Iyla.
She had switched off the lights in her hotel room and drawn the curtains so it was difficult to make her out. Roman hadn’t done much background research on her but it was clear that she was a skilled murderer who knew exactly what they were doing.
Iyla pulled away the gun and cocked it, “Fine,” She rasped, walking into the dark hotel room.
Lou made no move to follow her yet, Iyla might make her heart race but she also knew that she could make her heart stop; she was infatuated not stupid.
Iyla switched on the lights, standing beside a window next to a small dining table that had only two chairs. “Come right in,” She invited huskily, her gun dangling from her black tipped fingers, “I don’t bite.”
“Wish you would,” Lou muttered under her breath, striding forward.
Now that the lights were back on, she could properly see Iyla. She was dressed in all black like she often was, she had on a long flowy black skirt which had a high slit to the side to show off her fishnets underneath and chunky heeled boots. She wore a little corseted top and had a silver armlet on her upper left arm, the neon blue in her hair the only splash of color on her.
Roman took the lead at this point after overhearing Lou’s words, he knew well that they wouldn’t get anything done if he left it to her. He confidently sat on the slightly uncomfortable hotel chairs with grace like he owned the entire place, reaching into his pocket.
He didn’t even slow down when Iyla clicked her gun and pointed it at him, pulling out a cigar and next a lighter. “There’s no reason to be jumpy, if I meant you harm, you’d be already dead.”
“Exactly why I should be jumpy,” Iyla deadpanned but she slowly dropped her gun. “Look, what do you want with me?” She asked, tense as hell.
She knew well about who Alpha King Roman was, anyone who grew up in or had connections to the dark side knew. It was why she couldn’t turn down the offer from his secretary- she glanced at the well built lady that had been staring fixedly at her the entire time, she didn’t look like a secretary at all.
The conclusion of the matter was that she couldn’t turn down his offer because that could get her killed but answering his summons could also get her killed. She had been a tense ball of nerves ever since she got the call.
Roman puffed out a ring of smoke, “I just want to make a polite offer,” He said calmly, his ice blue eyes fixed on Iyla who visibly gulped. “I want you to stop going after Alina.”
Iyla’s eyes bulged, it was well known that the British Alpha King and the daughter of the European Alpha King were mortal enemies, why would he suddenly care about what happened to Alina enough to go to this length?
“I’m even feeling generous, I’ll let you off the hook for daring to attack royalty which is a capital punishment.” Roman tagged on when Iyla seemed to have a hard time talking.
Roman was the only one sitting down, the two women standing around the dining table. Lou right behind him and Iyla across the table from them.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Iyla said carefully.
Roman found this response amusing, “It wasn’t a request but you have me intrigued, why would you go this length for someone who probably doesn’t even know you exist?”
Iyla glared at him when he asked that, fighting the urge to put a bullet in the wall next to her or the British Alpha King’s smug face. “That’s none of your business,” She said sharply, shaken by how much they knew about her.
She was beginning to regret revealing her identity to Alina and her stupid friend but she had done it in a moment of overconfidence. She thought she was dealing with two bimbos and in a way, she was because they had fallen for her lies so easily.
Now that she was in this situation, how Alina had gotten away from the clutches of The Underground became clear to her, it was all Alpha King Roman’s doing. It might be a stretch but it was highly likely that he had also been the one to intervene in the cottage attack. He was easily several steps ahead of her, she had no upper hand here and was actually in very grave danger.
Roman’s face hardened, “You will want to watch your words.” He said coldly.
Lou’s gray eyes darkened at this, it didn’t matter who they were, her Alpha King always came first so she wouldn’t hesitate to snap Iyla’s neck if she was required to.
Iyla dropped the gun on the table and crossed her arms, “Someone had to put the bitch in her place and Luna Queen Claire is too nice to do that. When you idolize someone, it doesn’t matter if they know who you are or not, being able to ease them is more than enough.” She said quietly, her depthless black eyes getting animated when she mentioned Claire’s name.
Lou picked up on this right away, dismayed. How the hell was she supposed to compete against someone like Luna Claire?
Roman leaned back, he had expected a response along these lines. He had to agree with Iyla, Alina was pretty annoying. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore, if there’s anyone Alina listens to, it’s her father and he had prohibited her from coming close to either Claire or her mate.” He explained even though he didn’t have to.
Iyla’s hands dropped to her side, she looked very skeptical, “Really?”
“There’s no reason for me to lie to you,” Roman said, his tone less cruel.
Iyla fell silent because she knew this was true, it already said a lot that Alpha Roman went through all the trouble to set up a meeting with her instead of just sending assassins after her. It was a strange thought but he actually wanted to let her off easy although he knew nothing about her.
She wondered if it was because of Luna Claire; rumors flew around and most people knew that Alpha King Roman had once tried to go after Alpha King Lukas’ mate. She wouldn’t be surprised if it was, it felt perfectly right for Luna Claire to protect her even in a situation like this.
“Fine,” She accepted, knowing a lost battle when she saw one. At least this way, she would more or less achieve her goal and still get to keep her life, it was far more than she could ask for.
Roman rose to his feet, “Glad we agree.” He said flippantly, pinning Iyla a steady look. “Come work for me,” He invited bluntly.
Both Iyla and Lou choked at this, “I’ll take that as a yes,” He said as he headed for the door, “You clock in today, come along.” He swept out in a cloud of expensive cigar and cologne, his knee length overcoat swirling.
Iyla looked at the lady left with her in the hotel room with wide eyes filled with disbelief, “What??”
Lou chuckled, “You don’t want to keep him waiting,” She said as a warning, striding out after her Alpha King.
Iyla watched them leave, thinking that they were both fucking nuts. She belonged to Alpha Lukas’ settlement, there was no way she would work for another Alpha King-
Lou returned at this point, her gray eyes lit up like two suns. “The boss ordered me to bring you,” She said shortly before sweeping forward, picking Iyla up, and throwing her over her shoulder.
“What?” Iyla repeated, flabbergasted.
Lou just picked up Iyla’s discarded gun from the table top and walked out, a big smile on her face when Iyla made no move to resist.