Colette lounged in her office chair, the faint glow of her desk lamp illuminating the room. Raize stood at attention nearby, her dark elf features sharp and composed, though her violet eyes carried a flicker of curiosity. A glass of wine rested in Colette's clawed hand, but she hadn't touched it yet. Her other hand tapped rhythmically on the desk, a sign of her mounting irritation.
"I swear," Colette began, her voice dripping with disdain, "politics is nothing but a circus of incompetence. Every time I think these idiots can't possibly sink lower, they surprise me."
Raize tilted her head slightly, a rare smirk tugging at her lips. "You've always said they're useful, though."
"Oh, they are useful," Colette replied, sitting up straighter. Her sharp blue eyes narrowed as she gestured with her glass. "Both sides are pawns, Raize. Nothing more. I push the right buttons, grease the right palms, and they do exactly what I want. The problem is, pawns aren't particularly bright. And when they start fighting each other, it causes… complications."
Raize crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "You're talking about Maxor Shiren and Keire Poste, I assume?"
Colette let out a humorless laugh. "Of course I'm talking about them. Those two are like children bickering over a toy, and their little spat is screwing with my operations. My drug trades are down because their respective camps are stirring up instability in key areas. It's giving law enforcement just enough incentive to tighten their grip on my supply routes."
Raize raised an eyebrow. "Do you think either of them is worth keeping around?"
Colette waved her hand dismissively. "They're both idiots. Maxor Shiren, the Democratic leader, keeps posturing like he's some kind of moral crusader. He's been threatening to expose my entire operation for months now, thinking it'll somehow 'clean up the city.' As if taking me down wouldn't just leave a power vacuum for something worse."
Raize frowned. "We could remove him. Quietly."
Colette leaned back in her chair, swirling her wine glass as she considered the suggestion. "I've thought about it. Believe me, the idea of silencing that pompous fool is tempting. But it would be too much work. Killing him would draw too much attention, and the fallout would make things even messier than they already are."
"And what about Keire Poste?" Raize asked.
Colette's lips curled into a cold smile. "Poste's no better. The Republican candidate talks a big game about 'law and order,' but he's just as dirty as the rest of them. Half his campaign is funded by shadow money, probably from someone like me. He just doesn't know it."
Raize chuckled softly. "You really have both sides wrapped around your finger, don't you?"
Colette shrugged, taking a sip of her wine. "It's not hard when they're so predictable. Offer them money, power, or the illusion of influence, and they'll bend over backward to please you. The problem is keeping them from tearing each other apart. Their infighting is costing me money, and I don't tolerate that."
Raize's smirk widened. "So, what's the plan, boss? You can't exactly make them play nice."
"No," Colette said, setting her glass down with a decisive thud. "But I can exploit their stupidity. If they want to fight, I'll let them—just not in a way that interferes with my business. I'll feed them just enough information to keep them distracted while I shore up my routes and expand into other markets."
Raize nodded, her respect for Colette's calculated approach evident in her expression. "And what about Shiren's threats to expose us?"
Colette's sharp gaze hardened. "If he pushes too far, I'll remind him who's really in charge. Not through assassination—like I said, that's too much trouble—but there are other ways to make someone disappear without raising questions. Let's just say he won't be an issue for long."
Raize's smirk turned into a full grin. "Understood. I'll start gathering intel on both of them."
"Good," Colette said, leaning back once more. "And Raize?"
"Yes, boss?"
"Make sure the rest of the capos understand this: I won't let anyone—politician or otherwise—interfere with what's mine. If anyone gets in my way, they'll regret it."
Raize gave a respectful nod. "I'll make it clear."
As Raize left the office, Colette picked up her wine glass again, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the flickering flame of the nearby candle. Maxor Shiren and Keire Poste thought they were the ones pulling the strings in the city. They had no idea they were nothing but pawns in a much larger game—a game that Colette controlled.
Colette leaned back in her chair, savoring the last sip of her wine. The quiet of her office was short-lived, however, as the door creaked open. She turned her sharp blue eyes toward the soldier who entered, his expression tight with concern.
"What is it now?" she asked, her tone cold and sharp.
The soldier saluted stiffly. "Boss, we've got a problem with one of the capos. She's been running an unauthorized protection racket. Threatening local businesses, demanding payments—some of them have started pulling away from our trade deals."
Colette's claws tapped the armrest of her chair as her lips curled into a grim smile. "A capo betraying me? That's bold. Stupid, but bold."
The soldier hesitated before adding, "There's more, ma'am. She's been using your name to scare these businesses into compliance. It's ruining our connections."
Colette stood, her towering frame casting a long shadow over the soldier. Her tail swished in agitation, the room's temperature dropping slightly. "Where is she now?"
"She's at one of the businesses in question, ma'am. It seems she's trying to keep them in line."
Colette's smirk widened, though her eyes burned with icy fury. "Good. I'll deal with her myself. Send Raize to clean up the fallout afterward."
The soldier saluted again. "Understood, boss."
When Colette arrived at the business—a modest bar tucked away in the heart of her territory—she expected to find her capo making threats or collecting payments. What she didn't expect was to see Kent there, standing awkwardly near the counter while the capo—a tall, curvy woman with a suggestive outfit—hovered far too close to him.
From the shadows, Colette paused, her sharp eyes narrowing as she took in the scene. Her initial anger at the capo's betrayal was replaced by something much darker: jealousy.
The capo was leaning toward Kent, her voice low and sultry. "You know, Kent, a guy like you deserves to be appreciated properly," she purred, twirling a strand of her auburn hair around her finger.
Kent took a small step back, his hands raised slightly in an effort to create space. "I-I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm happily married," he said, his voice polite but firm.
The capo laughed, a sound that grated on Colette's ears. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me she's always got time for you. I can give you things she can't. You're too sweet to be left alone while she's off playing boss."
Kent's face flushed, but he shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I think you've misunderstood. I don't—"
The capo stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Oh, don't play hard to get. I know you're curious. I'm not saying leave her, just… have a little fun."
Colette's claws dug into the wood of the doorframe, her icy aura intensifying as she watched. Kent's discomfort was evident, and it enraged her. She wanted to step in immediately, but her jealousy and possessive instincts kept her rooted for just a moment longer, waiting to see how her husband would handle the situation.
Kent sighed, his expression firming. "Listen, I'm flattered, but I love my wife. Please, don't do this."
The capo's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her tone turning cruder. "You're too good for her. A man like you deserves someone who can… really take care of him." She reached out to grab his arm, her fingers brushing against his sleeve.
Kent jerked away, his voice sharper than before. "That's enough. I said no."
The capo's playful demeanor cracked, revealing irritation. "Oh, come on. You don't have to be such a prude. I—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a low growl filled the room. The temperature plummeted as Colette stepped out of the shadows, her towering form radiating icy fury.
The capo froze, her eyes widening in terror as she turned to see Colette approaching.
"Boss, I—"
"Don't," Colette hissed, cutting her off. Her voice was low and venomous, sending chills down the capo's spine. "Don't you dare speak to me. Don't even look at me."
The capo stammered, but Colette didn't give her a chance to explain. In a blur of motion, she grabbed the woman by the arm and flung her across the room. The capo crashed into a table, the wood splintering under her weight.
Kent stepped forward, concern on his face. "Colette, wait—"
Colette held up a hand, her eyes never leaving the capo. "Stay back, Kent. She crossed a line."
The capo tried to crawl away, but Colette was on her in an instant. Her claws dug into the woman's shoulders, pinning her to the floor.
"You dared to touch my husband," Colette snarled, her icy breath frosting the air around them. "You dared to use your filthy hands on him?"
"Boss, please!" the capo begged, her voice shaking. "It was a mistake—I didn't mean—"
"You didn't mean to?" Colette's voice was laced with scorn. "You're a liar, a fraud, and now you've insulted me in the worst way possible."
Without another word, Colette grabbed the capo's arm and wrenched it from its socket. The woman's scream echoed through the bar as Colette tossed the severed limb aside like garbage.
Kent flinched but didn't intervene, knowing Colette's rage couldn't be stopped once it reached this point.
The capo tried to scream again, but Colette silenced her by grabbing her jaw. "You don't deserve to speak," she hissed, her claws glowing with icy magic. With a swift motion, she tore the woman's tongue from her mouth, blood spraying across the floor.
The capo's muffled screams turned to gurgles as Colette raised her head, her sharp teeth bared in a snarl.
"You're finished," Colette growled. She inhaled deeply, her frost breath swirling in her throat before she exhaled, encasing the woman in a thick layer of ice. The capo's remaining movements froze as her body was preserved in crystal-clear frost.
For a moment, the room was silent, save for the crackling of the ice as it settled. Then, with a flick of her tail, Colette smashed the frozen body into a thousand shards, scattering them across the floor.
Kent stepped forward cautiously, his face pale. "Colette… did you really need to go that far?"
She turned to him, her icy gaze softening as she saw the worry in his eyes. "Yes," she said firmly. "Anyone who tries to harm you, manipulate you, or touch you without your consent deserves worse than that."
Kent sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I appreciate you protecting me, but…"
"No buts," Colette interrupted, stepping closer. She placed her hands gently on his shoulders, her sharp eyes filled with fierce affection. "You are mine, Kent. My everything. And I will never let anyone hurt you. Ever."
Kent looked into her eyes, his expression conflicted but softened by her sincerity. "Just… try to go easier next time, okay?"
Colette smirked, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "No promises, darling. But I'll try—for you."
As she wrapped him in a protective hug, her tail coiling around his waist, Colette felt her anger begin to subside. No one would ever come between them—not while she was still breathing.