Chapter 6 - Competition

Venice's Point of View

“I’m sorry for what happened.”

I just rolled my eyes out of frustration while sitting at my father’s office’s couch, listening to this bastard’s unsolicited explanation.

Never in my wildest dreams would I see him again, not in this kind of situation at least. It has been so many years since the last time I talked with that two-faced man.

Do I have a grudge? Certainly.

I could still remember how he took advantage of my vulnerability when I was still training to be part of the organization. He was consistently picking with me, together with his younger brother.

“Ven, I see your face,” my father tried to assert his dominance over me, but I did not back down.

My capabilities and pride were both at stake here. It was my first time failing a mission, and it happened because of this damn existing bad luck.

“No, Papa!” I dismissed his words, not minding whether he is my father or the highest person in this room. “It was almost a success, for Pete’s sake! We almost made it out, only if your men did not plant a bomb in our ride and blow up our deliveries.”

I stared at Vlad full of anger while he was just sitting there, crossed legs. As if he did not mean that apology, nor have any plans to make up for the damage he had done.

He met my eyes. Those fucking eyes that never failed to look down on me ever since my father took him under his roof.

Those eyes that always tried to pin me down on mistakes I never did, distracted me from training, and even planted a bullet scar on my back.

My demise started when he came in, and was only turned to luck when he was finally designated overseas. But now that he is back in New York, it feels like he brought every little misery with him and projected it on me.

“Do you know how much it costs, Vladimir?” I asked in a more controlled voice while keeping an eye-to-eye with him, fighting the intensity he gives. “How would it affect the entire society with that interruption?”

“It was an honest mistake, Venice. The order and reports got mixed up in our system. I did not know it was you,” he answered that question with conviction in his tone, yet the opposite of what his face says.

It did not come off well. It sounded forced, like a hole he is trying to dig to escape from the real reason.

“We will be working with the interrupted deliveries,” my father finally cut his silent observation game. “Vladimir, I want a full report of what happened and we will investigate your side of the story.”

“I will comply as soon as possible, Papa.” Fuck you.

“And Ven, hija.”

He went in my direction from his table, and sat beside me. “Loosen up. If there was a confirmed foul play on Vladimir's side, we would have consequences. You both know that.”

But my eyes were fixed on my stepbrother’s expressions and actions.

Both of his arms are laid flat on his knees while playing with his intertwined fingers. I could see how his lips would move occasionally, smirking on me when my father’s not looking in his direction.

I could feel the mockery. I can even touch it, if it is even touchable.

He stood up and inched the gap between us. My father was about to stop me from leaving, but Vladimir pulled my wrist first before he could even do so.

His body closed to mine, his hand clutched my arm like something he doesn’t even want to let go of.

But as soon as my eyes met his, there was fire.

A fire that my father does not see. A flame that wants to burn me alive with everything he’s got.

“I’m really sorry, Ven. I’ll take accountability for it.”

No, it was not an honest mistake. It was an honest sabotage.

I quickly glanced at my father’s side, silently asking for quick help. But his phone suddenly rang, and he went outside without leaving us an excuse.

As soon as my father closed the door, Vladimir's grip on my wrist tightened even more, as if wanting to leave me with bones alone.

I slapped him on his face and pulled my hand back when his hand loosened up a bit after that hit.

I pulled a knife from my back and was about to point it at him, when he slammed my arm hard. The knife got out of my hold, in which he immediately caught.

Just as I was about to pull another one, he kicked my lower part and pulled me on my waist.

The next thing I knew, he’s grabbing me on my neck, locking it with his left arm.

While pointing the knife on my back—where my bullet scar was.

“You can lie and fool Papa, but not me. I know what you’re doing.”

I was even hoping that he would deny my allegations, but his mischievous chuckle in my ear confirmed my suspicions even more.

“Then you know what to watch out for, Ven. You know what I’m capable of. You’ve seen it before.”

It was not an entertaining laugh. It was a threat, a warning.

In the middle of this red office, this is the first time I feel like I am suffocated because of his presence.

But I won’t let that intimidation get over me.

I can fight back now.

“And I won’t back down on you, Vlad.”

—

“What was he like now? I mean, he’s probably hotter?”

“Bella, what the hell?” Amari retorted when my cousin uttered that line like a woman fantasizing my stepbrother.

“Do you even get me? Though, yes, fine. Zakienzo is more appealing. But, come on. I’m not the one lying here.”

Amari tried to tone down her voice, but I could still hear her whisper despite zoning out into my abyss of thoughts.

“Hey, your cousin’s here! Do you even still remember that Vladimir shot Venice before?”

I sipped from the glass of White Russian and looked at the window from the penthouse while secretly listening to them.

Which I bet, not actually a secret.

“I know! But aren’t we moving on?” Bella whispered back.

I glanced at her shortly and went back to staring at the window after seeing her tomato face.

Deep down, I know she did not mean that. After all, she was the first one to retaliate when I was shot back then.

Our unit building is standing almost at the center of this lively city.

From my place, I could see the busy streets with the never-ending light flashing, and people occupying all the edges and corners of the sidewalks.

Just by looking below, I could even hear the gossip noises and horn blaring all combined.

After a week of rotting in bed, this is the first time in seven days that I once again entertained myself with the view outside.

“We haven’t seen him for years, and Varfuego! I almost forgot about them, by the way. They’ve been out of the radar since they left,” my cousin continued after drinking another glass of her favorite hard liquor.

“And it was for the best,” I joined their conversation while my eyes were still fixed outside.

But from the window’s reflection, I can see Bella and Amari’s faces looking at me. And from the bar counter, my cousin sat beside Amari on the couch.

“I am just wondering why he came back here,” I added in a lower volume as if talking to myself alone.

“Maybe he missed La Fortaleza de Rosario? Your father and mother? Vaughn, or even you?”

I slowly shook my head, refusing to accept Amari’s claims and attempts to calm down these terrible existing thoughts in my head.

I silently stood up as I finished my drink, and went on the bar counter to pour another one.

“Vladimir is not that kind of person,” I certainly remarked. “He is… vicious.”

Silence engulfed us for seconds after I said that sentence.

I have known him even before he left, and I know what he has become when Papa took him.

After all, he is not one of us.

He was not really a part of this family.

Just before the two could bombard me with another conversation about him, the devil made my phone ring.

Like perfect timing.

I went back to my room while holding my comfort drink without excusing myself, and answered his call before the last ring could end.

His deep voice welcomed me from the other line, proud and full of confidence. “The mission’s mine.”

I kept my mouth shut for a few seconds, while calmly opening my computer to check our dashboard.

And there, I could already see his name on the pending list of a mission that was introduced to me first a month ago.

I smirked after realizing one of his reasons why he came back.

From outside my room, I heard Enzo’s voice together with Bella’s loud comments.

They must have seen it by now.

“Now you’re stealing my work? What else would you try to take away from me, huh?” I asked as I turned my swivel chair and stood on the huge glass window in my room.

His voice faded for ten seconds, before I could hear another noise from him.

A damn growl, followed by a sarcastic chuckle.

I can imagine the snicker drawn in his face right now.

“I am not stealing anything, little sister,” he answered safely. “I was actually thinking if you want to team up, just like the old times?”

Oh, stop fucking around.