“So I’m here to show you a way out,” San Shao leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped in front of him. “Do one thing for me, and I’ll help you take care of Dmitri.”

“Once it’s done, you come back to the United States with me. I’ll talk to Dad—no matter what, you’ll get every single share you’re entitled to.”

Vio raised an eyebrow and gave a slight nod, saying nothing.

He was mainly curious to see what tricks his third brother had up his sleeve.

San Shao picked up his wine glass, swirled it to aerate the wine, then raised it toward Vio.

“Dmitri wants me to lure you into the DIP Private Club. He plans to deal with you right there that very night.”

Vio smiled and lifted his own glass, taking a small sip.

The crisp sweetness of Riesling melted on his tongue, and he set the glass down.

“Does he need a reason to bring me there?” he asked nonchalantly.

“Exactly,” San Shao nodded. “That’s why I’ve prepared a plan for you.”

“I heard you arrested the father of one of his men,” he said, looking directly at Vio.

“Dmitri wants you to bring that person over. If you do, he’ll talk to you. If you don’t, he’ll act immediately. No matter which way you choose, he’ll make sure you’re dead that night.”

“You want me to walk into a trap—a Hongmen Banquet—and then you’ll handle everything for me?” Vio scoffed, his tone flat. “How exactly are you going to ‘handle’ it?”

San Shao leaned forward, lowering his voice even further: “I have a mole inside Dmitri’s inner circle.”

“When you go in, my contact will disable the security system. Your people slip in through the back door and go straight for Dmitri.”

“As soon as he’s gone, all his channels become yours. You’ll be the sole master of the Middle East arms market.”

He looked at Vio, pausing for a moment. “After this is done, I want 20% of all business in the Middle East—permanent profit sharing.”

Vio gave a slight nod.

“Fine,” he said, hardly hesitating.

A subtle, smug smile tugged at San Shao’s lips.

He reached for the wine bottle, picked up his glass with the other hand, stood up from his seat, walked over to Vio, and poured him a drink.

The cool liquid poured into the glass with a soft, faint sound.

He placed the bottle back on the table, moving with elegant grace—as if hosting guests at home.

“After all, we’re family,” he said, his tone warm yet just right. “Have you forgiven your older brother yet?”

Vio didn’t answer. He held the glass without drinking, spinning it in his hand as he watched the wine clinging to the sides slowly trickle down.

“Besides you,” he said finally, his tone neutral, “who else in the family knows I’m here?”

San Shao’s eyes flickered—just briefly, almost imperceptibly. But Vio saw it.

“When I found out you were here, I came straight over,” San Shao said. “I didn’t tell Dad. The family doesn’t know.”

He sat back down across from Vio, his tone growing more sincere: “The main reason is I wasn’t even sure you were really here. Once this is settled, you’ll come back with me. With me there and Big Brother lending a hand, the family will definitely welcome you back.”

Vio gave another slight nod. His glass kept spinning in his hand.

“Then does the family know you’re in the United Arab Emirates?”

San Shao wagged a finger, a hint of smugness in his smile: “Not at all.”

“The part of the company the family allocated to me is based in India. All the tickets I bought were for flights to India, and I specifically transferred from India just to get here.”

Vio stared into his eyes. Those pale gray eyes were as calm as still water, revealing nothing about what he was thinking.

After a few seconds of silence, Vio gave another slight nod.

This time, he picked up his glass and proactively raised it toward San Shao.

“Alright,” he said with a smile.

End of Chapter 44: Chapter 44