Chapter 207: Know your prey

Lucien’s POV

I fired the bullet on instinct because whoever was able to break into my place without triggering my alarm system was dangerous and I was right.

The bullet was already fired before I saw who the intruder was clearly. Luckily for the bastard, he reacted faster than I, pulling out his gun to knock out my weapon from my hand, changing the trajectory of the bullet.

The bullet shot straight for a picture frame shattering the glass immediately. Luckily, my house was made with concrete walls, which held the bullet from escaping the wall.

The shot faded with a sharp sound. My gaze was locked on the figure sitting on my couch, casually sipping my whiskey like he wasn’t almost shot seconds ago.

“Who welcomes family with bullets?” Ivan lazily sneered sipping his drinking dangling his gun with the other hand

Recognition hit me like a punch to the gut. My jaw clenched, I was in a shitty mood for Ivan’s tactics. The stomach twisted either way, I knew one thing for sure. Ivan wasn’t the type to casually pay his cousin a visit.

He had a purpose. It was something I didn’t like for someone like him to take his sweet time to visit me.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I barked, my voice sharp and laced with obvious irritation. “How did you break in?”

I wasn’t expecting visitors from the Orlov family. What do those vipers want?

Ivan rolled his eyes then kept his weapon. “Stop talking like I want to be here. Your whiskey tastes weird,” he commented. I hissed and then walked towards him.

“Then why are you here dear cousin?” I asked, my impatience was pretty much obvious. Ivan set his cup aside, his gaze studied me.

“I am here to warn you.” He casually said. My brows knitted together.

“I advise you to take a seat. You look like you had an awfully long day playing house with your nephew’s wife. How long do you plan on hiding your true self from them?” He spoke casually, as if it were all a game

I clicked my tongue and took a seat. Ivan offered me a cigarette. I arched a brow at him. “I thought you quit smoking.” I couldn’t help but ask. I could also notice the subtle changes in him. He still held his dominant presence and that smug confidence but something was off.

He looked too tired for someone who wasn’t 30 yet. Ivan sighed. “I tried quitting, but life is a bitch.” He said. He definitely had serious problems, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was related to his wife.

I shook off those thoughts. His problems weren’t my problem. “How did you get in? I might change my security system because of this.”

He shrugged. “You forgot I know the security company. It was child’s play breaking in.” My smile stiffened

I released a sigh. All the pressure from earlier seemed to be crashing on me. “What do you want to warn me about?” I got back on track.

He smiled at me. “The only reason I am telling you this is because I see you are pretty invested in that Braelyn girl.” He said and my stomach dropped.

This was about Braelyn. I immediately remembered the failed assassination attempts tied to the Orlov family. What did they want from Viper?

Ivan got serious, noticing the sharp change in mood. “What does this have to do with Braelyn?” I blurted out, straightening my posture.

Ivan dropped his cup on the table then intertwined his fingers. His dark emerald eyes met my hazel ones. “I know you have been snooping around. You are probably aware that Nana was the one behind the kidnapping situation,” he revealed

“Even a few days ago, you confronted her, but she didn’t say a word.” My gaze flickered remembering the night I had to leave Braelyn in a hurry after leaving the hospital

Something had come up and that something was my grandmother. Nadia’s mother

“She wants me to ditch the Volkov family and fully accept the Orlov name..” I said, gritting my teeth.

“She thought Braelyn was important to me and wanted to use her to coerce me.” I spouted out.

“Do you think it is that simple?” Ivan asked me. I have thought the same. Although I was aware of how dangerous the Orlovs were. To them, Braelyn’s life probably didn’t seem worth much, but I couldn’t help the feeling that there was something more someone wasn’t telling me.

“Why don’t you tell me?” I retorted. He smiled.

“You are an interesting person Ivan. Why did you refuse her offer? She can legitimize your name, and they stop calling you the bastard Volkov, after all, they don’t want you, and Aunt Nadia was never married to that family. ” Ivan said, staring straight into my eyes.

I smiled at him, “The time isn’t right yet. I still have some things to figure out.”

“You are delaying because of her,” he pointed out, reading through me like I was transparent.

“It’s not that easy, and yes, she is part of the plan,” I admitted, something sparkled in his eyes.

“You are playing a dangerous long game, but before you mark your prey, you should know more about them. ”

My eyes went cold, “I know everything there is to know about Braelyn. “I said carefully then added forcing a lump down my throat

“Including the true reason Nana is after her. The excuse of forcing me to officially join the family was just part of it.” I said confidently.

“Are you sure you know everything?” He drawled, narrowing his eyes on me. “Including the fact that her mother was directly involved in that accident. ”

I felt my heart squeeze, ” I know.” I admitted. After seeing Avelina’s tombstone, I did my finding, although it was closely hidden, but I know enough.

Ivan laughed, leaving puzzled. “How sure are you?” He drawled again. Was there something I didn’t know?.

“What I would say is know your prey well before the game gets too deep. Braelyn Alderheim isn’t that simple,” he said, leaving puzzled. Ivan stood up checking his wrist watch. He clicked his tongue.

“You don’t even know why your mother, a promising heiress of the Orlov family, decided to be a mistress, and you are certain you know everything about Braelyn. ” Ivan hinted.

“If there is something I don’t know, why don’t you tell me directly?”

Ivan went silent. He walked toward the exit, then stopped. “I am not certain, but I have heard a few rumours. One being, Aunt Nadia, didn’t become Gregor’s mistress for love…it was something deeper, and Braelyn’s parents were tied up in the mess.” He revealed leaving stunned.

Honestly, I didn’t know much about my mother. Information about her was deliberately hidden.

“A messy situation is about to start and your best bet is drawing the line between prey and lover,” Ivan said in a final tone before leaving me more confused than I was originally.

The door closed behind him, the sound echoing through the villa like a warning shot. Silence swallowed the room.

I stayed seated for a long moment, staring at the empty glass on the table, Ivan’s words replaying in my head like a slow poison.

Braelyn Alderheim isn’t that simple.

I exhaled sharply and finally stood, walking toward the shattered picture frame on the wall. The glass lay scattered on the floor, fractured and distorted just like the truth everyone seemed intent on hiding.

If there was more to her… if she was tied to this mess deeper than I’d thought… My lips curved slowly. Then this was no longer just a game of possession.

It was a hunt.

And whether she realised it or not ..

Braelyn was already at the centre of my crosshairs.

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