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“Pineapple,” Stephen said. “Got it?”
"Yeah," I replied, my voice hoarse in the thick air. The night was heavy with anticipation now, not just heat and humidity. "Pineapple."
Stephen's eyes bore into mine, searching for any hint of hesitation. They were cold and mechanical, devoid of emotion or concern. But I was ready. I had to be.
"Good," was all he said before turning away from me and Sam, striding towards the driver's side with an urgency that matched the beating of my heart.
Sam squeezed my hand once before releasing it completely. "Good luck, Sof," he said, his voice trembling just a bit. His usual confident grin was replaced by a tight-lipped smile that didn't reach his eyes.
We arrived at a very nice looking house near the downtown area. “This is your father’s turf when he’s not in the Everglades,” Stephen said before he parked. “He asked me to bring you here after he heard that the dungeon was broken into so that was lucky.”
My mouth dried up as I stared at the house, its elegant lines and gleaming windows a stark contrast to the dark deeds I knew had been committed there. The front yard was a manicured paradise, every blade of grass seemingly placed with particular care. It was hard to imagine that within the seemingly benign structure lay my worst enemy, my own kin.
"Okay," Stephen said, drawing my attention back to him. "Remember to act scared," he added before stepping out of the vehicle.
I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly in a shuddering sigh. I caught Sam's gaze in the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with worry and unease. I didn’t need to act scared. I was terrified.
“We’ll be able to hear her through the bluetooth here,” Stephen started to explain as I got out of the car. My legs felt like lead as I stepped out, each footfall seeming to echo against the silent street. I could feel Stephen's gaze burning holes into my back as he watched me, his hands nervously twisting around the wire that connected the bluetooth device.
"Right," Sam said, trying to keep his voice steady. "We hear her, but can she hear us?"
"No," Stephen answered, his voice curt. "It's a one-way communication. It'll be risky if she gets any external voices."
Risky...that word seemed to define everything right now. The house loomed larger and larger the closer we got, its sprawling opulence a grotesque parody of all the lives ruined within its walls.
I stopped hearing them when I closed the car door behind myself. I stopped just before reaching the imposing front door, turning back to face Stephen and Sam. "Just...stay safe," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Stephen gave me a hard nod, his face as unreadable as always, while Sam's lips twisted into a grim smile. I turned back to the door, my heart pounding in my chest so loud my ears were ringing.
I took a deep breath and pushed the front door open. It swung silently, the well-oiled hinges making no sound to betray my arrival. The house was eerily silent, with only the soft hum of electricity and the distant ticking of a grandfather clock. The grand entrance hall was lit by a single chandelier that threw shadows across the walls.
“Dad?” I asked.
“In here,” he said from the hallway to my right.
His voice sent cold shivers up my spine, but I moved toward it, my heels leaving echoes in the vast hall. The interior of the house was as pristine as the exterior - not a speck of dust to be seen, every piece of furniture expensive and tastefully chosen. It was all so elegantly decorated, so perfectly coiffed, but it felt like walking into a tomb. A beautiful mausoleum, holding haunting ghosts and ghastly secrets.
I turned the corner and there he was: The Everglades Viper. My father. He sat at a mahogany desk, impeccably dressed in a black suit with a white shirt that contrasted sharply against his tanned skin. His dark hair slicked back as if he was going to a high-end party instead of an impending showdown with his own daughter.
"Here she is! My little girl,” he said, his voice sickeningly sweet but eyes devoid of warmth. “Stephen didn’t have to drag you in here?”
“Let’s just say he had bargaining power,” I replied.
He chuckled, a deep, resonating sound that sent chills down my spine. "Ah, of course, dear Stephen," he said, folding his hands on top of the desk. His eyes were still cold, calculating, assessing my every move. "Always the diplomat."
I clenched my fists at my side to stop them from shaking. I was in the viper's den now – there was no turning back. This was it. The final face-off. It was either him or me.
"I've missed you,” he lied, his lips curling into a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I doubt that," I retorted before I could stop myself. Instinctively, my hand flew to my shirt collar, where the tiny wire was hidden. I flicked my hair behind my shoulder instead. “You kidnapped me a few days ago, right?”
His smile faded, replaced by a thinly veiled sneer. "Yes," he said, his voice low and deadly calm. "I did."
"Guess we've got some family issues to work through, huh?" I said, my own voice trembling with emotions I was trying hard to keep at bay.
“How’s your brother?”
“Almost dead. Recovering now, but…” I replied. “You almost killed him.”
