Present Day

"Are you still sulking?"

Even with his back to him he could see the deadpan expression Drew made, knew how hard he was fighting the urge to hold back his urges to roll his eyes and shake his head, even those motions so slight most people would have missed them. No visible reactions, something the military had drilled a little too hard into him. Into Tess too but where she had different masks she could slip on and off Drew just had his own, mastered just as well but never anything but him. Considering the stone-faced ex-soldier he'd been when he'd come to him looking for security work it was a miracle he was making facial expressions at all. Four years could do a lot.

And it wasn't as though Drew was actually emotionless, he was just good at acting like he was, something that came in handy more than it didn't. Especially when while his businesses may centre around neutrality he'd grown to like letting people know how he felt about them.

Especially his boyfriend.

He was still ignoring him, looking so domestic as he folded and put away their clothes that Liam couldn't help but slip up behind him and wrap his arms around his waist, letting his hands explore his chest. "Let me rephrase. Are you still upset with me?"

"Yes."

Such a flirt.

"I thought you liked Caishen."

"I do. But-"

"And you trust him?"

Finally he turned his head, his pursed lips a clear sign of annoyance, though he stopped his task to focus on him, but he also stopped his hands from roving lower. "As much as I can. And yes that extends to most of his men, and yes I've let him know which ones that doesn't include. But that doesn't mean I like being excluded from your meetings. I can't keep you safe if I'm not there."

"My hero." He only got a second to realize he really was upset before Drew went to step away but he tightened his grip and tucked his chin against his shoulder, his quiet apology which worked since Drew turned and wrapped his arms back around him. But that didn't mean a verbal one wasn't needed. "I didn't mean to upset you. Or put myself in danger. I just thought dividing would help us conquer faster."

"Conquerors fall without good guards."

"I have no plans on falling."

Drew snorted and Liam knew he had a dozen snarky replies ready but he swallowed them all with another subtle shake of his head because he knew, like Liam did, that with whatever war was coming they would have to take their victories where they could. "How did it go?"

"He agrees with me, as apparently do his bosses. Two of them fervently, one less so but no one is surprised there and they all agree they want this handled as quickly and quietly as possible. They'll let us know if they sense trouble."

"And Dimitri?"

"Installing a new Sovietnik as we speak. Like the Triad they're choosing someone loyal from home. Not the wave of immigrants the right wing media has been complaining about but I think I prefer it."

That earned him a snort, and the cutest smile as his boyfriend pulled back enough to look him over, though it got too serious too quickly for his liking. "You really want to do this."

It wasn't a question, not anymore but then they'd had enough discussions about this.

Being neutral was what he'd built his empire on, cocky though he knew it was to call it that it was accurate, maybe in a smaller way but that was fine by him. But this last year, seeing everything Tess had gone through… He was happy for her, that she'd found her way back to her own love, to her home, her life, herself. Liam had never wanted a sister but somehow she'd slipped right into that role, Drew too and while they had always done what they could to care for her outside of emotional comfort it had always been just that. What he could. What his job allowed him to do, even if he was the one who decided what that was. And he had.

And when it came to the law his stance wasn't going to change but when it came to her…

Now he wanted something different.

"I do. Are you okay with that?"

"I chose my side years ago." Drew said with a confidence he didn't quite feel he'd deserved, which was maybe why he kissed him so deeply. "I trust you and I trust her and I trust our people. Whoever's going after her is going to rue the day they decided to piss us all off."

"Rue?"

With another eyeroll he kissed him again and this time Liam gave as good as he got, his own certainty growing as they made their way to their bed. He knew what was coming was big, they both did, but neither were afraid of a fight. Not only were they ready for it, they enjoyed it. This asshole was going to rue the fucking day he'd chosen to stand opposite them. One for all.

And all for one.