Page 13

KIAN

T he return of the children brightened Annani's mood, Allegra immediately making a beeline for her grandmother with Princess Sparkle clutched in her hand. Darius giggled happily when Jacki scooped him up into her arms and kissed both of his cheeks.

Evie toddled up to Amanda with her arms outstretched.

"Well, hello, sweetheart." Annani gathered Allegra into her lap. "How was your playtime with Shamash?"

Allegra cast the guy a haughty look that Kian didn't know how to decipher and then launched into an animated tale about Princess Sparkle's adventures in the playroom, largely incomprehensible due to her excitement.

"It is time for whiskey and cigars," Kalugal announced. "My smoking lounge is finally completed, and I have some excellent Cuban cigars." He rose from his seat.

The guy had a smoking lounge?

Kian had to admit that the idea held appeal, and he was curious to see his cousin's latest extravagance. Besides, he was more than ready for some relaxing time with a good whiskey and a genuine Cohiba.

"You didn't tell me that you were building a smoking lounge." Kian followed Kalugal up.

"It was a spur-of-the-moment stroke of brilliance, realizing that my library could serve a dual purpose. Is there anything better than relaxing with a book, a cigar, and a shot of whiskey?"

"You won't hear any arguments from me. I agree that it's a brilliant idea, especially since it means that you will be stocking your own cigars from now on and not be mooching off me."

Kalugal laughed. "It occurred to me that I owed you quite a number of cigars, and that perhaps you would visit me more often now that I have this beautiful space dedicated to the things you love."

Kian put a hand over his heart. "I'm touched. You built it all for me?"

"Of course." Kalugal clapped him on the back. "My men enjoy unwinding there as well, and it means they don't hog the living room, so Jacki is happy." He turned to the rest of his guests. "Who else is joining us?"

"Count me in," Max said immediately.

When Brandon, Din, Orion, Dalhu, and Ell-rom rose to their feet, Kalugal lifted a brow. "It's not a gentlemen-only invitation. Any of you ladies care to join?"

"Phew, gross." Amanda waved a dismissive hand. "I hate the smell. Enjoy your cigars, boys."

"I'd love to try," Morelle said, "but perhaps another time. I think I'll stay here with Annani and the little ones."

She must have noticed that beneath Annani's brave facade, her sister was struggling with the emotional impact of learning about Esag.

"Another time, then," Kalugal agreed easily. "Gentlemen, follow me."

As he herded them through yet another corridor in the labyrinth that was his home, the temperature dropped slightly, but since everything was climate-controlled, Kian had a feeling that it was done deliberately to create the right ambiance.

Everything about Kalugal's domain spoke of careful planning and attention to detail.

When they reached the smoking lounge, it was exactly what Kian had expected from his cousin—impressive to the point of being ostentatious.

The centerpiece was a massive skylight that Kalugal demonstrated could open completely, ensuring proper ventilation.

The furnishings were leather and dark wood, arranged in several conversation groupings that encouraged intimacy while maintaining sight lines to the whole room.

A fully stocked bar dominated one wall, with the crystal decanters catching the light from carefully positioned fixtures.

The other walls were lined with bookcases, stocked with leather-bound editions of whatever was available in that format.

In fact, Kian suspected that the books had been purchased for their decorative value and not their contents, even though Kalugal was a well-read guy.

Perhaps there were hidden bookcases behind the ones that were just for display.

"This is very nice," Kian said. "I like it when you go all out."

"You mean to say it's excessive?" Kalugal suggested with a self-deprecating laugh. "Perhaps it is, but then you know my motto. If you have the money, why not?"

Kian couldn’t even argue that the money could have been better spent on more deserving projects because Kalugal and Jacki were donating enough of their time and wealth to the rehabilitation of trafficking victims, and Jacki had proven to be a genius at getting the government to fund a large share of the operation.

He didn't like that a hefty portion had to circle back to fund the politicians' campaigns and award contracts to their family members, but that was how the cookie crumbled, and as much as he would have liked to, he couldn’t right every wrong.

"It's exquisite," Brandon said, running an appreciative hand over the back of a leather chair that probably cost more than most people's cars.

"Thank you." Kalugal moved to the bar, pulling out glasses with his usual flair. "Whiskey preferences, gentlemen? I have quite a selection."

As they stated their preferences—ranging from Orion's request for "whatever's best" to Ell-rom's uncertain "whatever you recommend"—Kian studied the space more carefully.

Every detail had been considered, from the ventilation system that would prevent smoke from lingering to the placement of tables at the perfect height for resting a glass while seated.

His cousin had created a sanctuary where people could let down their guard, where difficult conversations could happen over shared indulgences, and where loyalty was built one interaction at a time.

Perhaps the next council meeting should be held in this lounge…

Oh, so that was Kalugal's plan. Clever bastard. He knew exactly which bait Kian would take.

"The humidor is through here," Kalugal said, leading them to a temperature-controlled closet that would have made any cigar aficionado weep with envy. "Please, select whatever appeals to you."

Kian chose a robusto that smelled of earth and promise, while the others made their selections with varying degrees of expertise. Din, surprisingly, showed considerable knowledge, helping Ell-rom navigate the options with patient explanations about wrapper types and flavor profiles.

Soon, they were seated on the comfortable chairs, the ritual of cutting and lighting their cigars providing a familiar rhythm. The first draws filled the air with aromatic smoke that the ventilation system whisked away just slowly enough to let them appreciate the scent.

"Now this," Max said, leaning back with a contented sigh, "is civilized."

"My thoughts exactly," Kalugal agreed, savoring his own cigar with obvious pleasure. "I invite my men to join me here after a long day in the office. They seem to appreciate both the gesture and the quality of the spirits."

Kian took a sip of the whiskey Kalugal had poured him—something Scottish, old, and expensive—and felt some of the day's tension begin to ease.

Leaning back in the comfortable armchair, he took another sip from the superb whiskey before turning to his cousin. "You mentioned noticing an increased presence of Doomers in Egypt. Max reports the same from Iran."

"What did you find?" Kalugal asked Max.

"They're embedded deeper than we feared, and there are a lot of them.

They are not just engaged in influence operations like they used to be in the past, but actual integration with the Revolutionary Guard.

They had intel on our movements that suggests either exceptional intelligence gathering or inside information. "

"Or both," Kian said.

Kalugal's expression darkened. "That mirrors what I observed in Egypt.

The Brotherhood's presence there isn't just growing—it's metastasizing.

They're not content with influence anymore.

They're building actual power structures, bases of operation. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are planning to take over when the time is right. "

"Sleeper cells?" Dalhu asked.

"Nothing sleepy about them," Kalugal said.

"There are so many of them in Cairo that I suspect they are getting ready to take control of key institutions.

The religious establishment, the military, and naturally, the intelligence services.

They're playing a long game, and you are falling behind, cousin. "

The words hung heavy in the smoke-tinged air. Kian took another draw from his cigar, using the moment to organize his thoughts. The situation was worsening by the day, approaching the irreversible, and he was low on options.

"You are not telling me anything I don't already know.

" He finished the whiskey in his glass and put it on the side table next to his armchair.

"Your father outsmarted me, and I find myself playing catch-up.

I need to come up with a more aggressive approach.

I've been thinking about forming a specialized task force of gifted females who could exert influence on key figures in the government.

I hate using Navuh's tactics, but what choice do I have?

By taking the higher moral ground, I might be dooming the whole of humanity to slavery under the Brotherhood's banner.

" He closed his eyes briefly. "Everything my mother has worked for, all the rights she restored for women, it will all crumble. "

Kalugal sighed dramatically. "As I've said many times before, cousin, humans are too dumb to appreciate what they have and too easily manipulated.

They fall for the same play time and again, believing the blatant lies, the propaganda, while the elites are robbing them blind and sending them into the meat grinder. "

"You're not helping," Kian grumbled. "I need solutions, not commiseration."