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“Let’s cut to the chase,” I said, taking a cautious step forward. “What do you want?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” The Viper spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the tangled wilderness that surrounded us. “I want everything. And with Sam here, I’m closer than ever.”
I resisted the urge to glance at Sam, to seek some sign of allegiance. Instead, I focused on the Viper, the man whose blood ran through my veins but whom I hardly knew. A man whose legacy was violence and control.
“Even if it means going through your own children?” My voice was laced with disdain, though inside, my turmoil surged like the tide.
“Especially then,” he sneered, his eyes dark pits in the encroaching gloom. “You two have been a disappointment. Well, until now.”
The hideout–his cabin–loomed behind him, silent and foreboding. It was a monument to our father’s paranoia, rigged with traps and teeming with those loyal only to the promise of his power. How had it come to this? Our family saga twisting into a tale where blood ties meant little, and my father’s psychotic desire and avarice ruled supreme.
“Sam?” I choked out, searching for any sign of my brother I once knew. His eyes were cold and distant, making me shiver involuntarily.
“Sorry, Sofia,” he said flatly, his voice devoid of any emotion. “I’m with Dad now.”
I knew that my father had chosen this location for a reason – it provided him with the perfect cover while he plotted his next move.
“Enough talk,” the Viper sneered. “You’ve made your choice, Sam. Now, let’s see how well your sister and her little friends fare against my little surprises.”
I didn’t have time to process the dismissal of my allies or the fact that we were probably surrounded on all sides. An explosion sounded off in the background as everyone dove for cover. Gunfire erupted from all directions, bullets whizzing past our heads. We knew we had to act fast and take down the Viper, but he was a master of his domain, and we were outnumbered. I was pulled down by Teo again and we both ducked behind a tree for cover.
Teo looked furious. “Stay here,” he said. “Make sure to take cover.”
“Are you insane?” I yelled back at him. We needed to act now, to do something before the Viper killed us all. I scanned the area for any chance to make a move, but there seemed to be nothing but enemies. “Sam...”
“I will knock you out if I have to. I won’t lose you.”
“Alright,” I said begrudgingly, not meeting his gaze. I had no choice but to trust him at this moment. “But Sam...”
“I’ll take care of it,” he said. “We’ll take care of it. I should have never let you come along.”
He pulled me back down to the ground, ensuring I was in a safe spot, and then he took off, disappearing into the thick mangroves with a stealth that was almost eerie.
I watched as the battle continued, my father and brother standing on the cabin’s porch, my father with a smirk on his face. I did stay down and behind cover, despite myself. I just peeked.
“Sam!” I cried out.
His gaze met mine, just for a second, and then he turned around, his eyes wide, and tackled my father to the ground.
The fight broke out in earnest. It was clear to me that Sam had been waiting for his moment, and it seemed that he was going to take it now. He rushed toward my father, knowing that he had to do it. He had to take down the Viper to save us all. But as he tackled him to the ground, my brother was met with fury unlike anything I had ever seen. The Viper was angry, and he fought back with an intensity that was shocking. The two of them were grappling for control, their muscles ripping and tearing in the struggle. I knew Sam was strong, but I didn’t think he’d been in a lot of physical fights. My dad didn’t just seem to be ready for this. He seemed to be enjoying it.
The air crackled with tension as Sam and the Viper fought with a ferocity that was almost primal. I held my breath, unable to believe what was happening. My father, the man who had raised me, the man who I had always thought I knew, was capable of such savagery.
Everyone else seemed to be otherwise engaged. The Blades and the Knives were fighting other men, gunfire ringing in the swamp. I wasn’t going to let my father kill my brother.
Not a chance.
I would deal with Teo later.
I forced my way through the underbrush, heart pounding in my chest, adrenaline fueling my limbs as I ran towards Sam and the Viper. I was determined to reach them and help my brother, to make sure he was okay. As I drew closer, I could see the two of them locked in a ferocious struggle, their bodies twisted andturned in the dirt and mud. They were fighting for their lives, and I knew I had to do something to break them apart.
“Sam!” I yelled, my voice carrying over the din of the gunfire.
He didn’t look up, his eyes never leaving the Viper’s face. But he must have heard me. My father picked his head up. “Having fun yet, Sofia?” he taunted, his tone cold and cruel. “You really thought you could just waltz into my home and take me down? Oh, how naïve.”
But I wasn’t naïve. I was determined.
I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt on my account.
