It was a summer night, and the head of the Spyders, dressed in a gray shirt and black pants, sat in his room, decked out with spider-themed decor.
Ivan pulled out his phone from his pocket and started dialing Johnny's number, the boss of the Cobras [https://img.wattpad.com/731d0e336c89881fb1a9a43b665de766411cdf75/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f57797345497971472d64383352413d3d2d313439353533383932302e313830373539616164663861633037383838383130313432393938302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Ivan pulled out his phone from his pocket and started dialing Johnny's number, the boss of the Cobras.
Let's see if this sucker takes the bait, he thought, hitting the call button and holding the phone to his left ear.
Johnny was chilling in his apartment, wearing a blue tracksuit and a black T-shirt. When Ivan's call came through, the phone lit up and buzzed, but the number wasn't one he recognized.
When Ivan's call came through, the phone lit up and buzzed, but the number wasn't one he recognized [https://img.wattpad.com/c6913afe6be1e36f6be37fd047f7169bab1b69eb/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f517a723577487152304e337241513d3d2d313439353533383932302e313830373539616466333765373937303933373435333735343337312e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
He took a second to decide whether to answer or not.
Who the hell is calling me now? Johnny thought, staring at the screen that read «Private Number.»
«Who's this?» he answered, switching to speaker.
«Gotta talk, mate,» Ivan said, squinting as memories of their past crossed his mind.
«Ivan?» Johnny replied, turning around and taking a seat. «How the hell did you get this number?» he demanded, voice as hard as stone.
«Johnny, let's not get lost in the details. We need to meet up and talk about a truce,» Ivan said with a cocky grin.
«A truce?» Johnny shot back, raising an eyebrow and shaking his head slightly.
«Yeah, Johnny,» Ivan shortly replied.
Johnny bit his lip with a sarcastic smile and moved his head like he was nodding.
«You got some nerve, I'll give you that-after all that's gone down,» Johnny replied, strengthening his hold on the phone.
«There's bigger threats out there we gotta deal with together. We can't afford to be split up,» Ivan replied, shutting his eyes and tilting his head back, phone still at his ear.
«Bigger threats? Split up? You off your rocker?» Johnny snapped, getting up from his chair.
«Johnny, I'll lay it all out for you at the old warehouse. Can't talk about it over the phone,» Ivan assured him, holding back a laugh.
Johnny started pacing back and forth in his room decorated with Cobra symbols, mulling over Ivan's proposal.
«It's not enough, Ivan. Give me more,» he said, narrowing his eyes.
Ivan leaned back in his chair and sighed, taking a moment before replying.
«Alright, fine. We got new enemies in town, and you know what they say-the enemy of my enemy's my friend, right?» Ivan said, lighting a cigarette.
Johnny stopped pacing and stood in front of the portrait of Philip II, letting Ivan's words sink in. Philip II, with red hair and a crown of gold, was painted in profile with a stern look, staring down at young Alexander the Great, who was also shown in profile. It was like he was thinking, "Will you make me proud or will you disappoint me?" Alexander's face, on the other hand, was innocent, and behind Philip, there was a landscape with some horses in the background, including Bucephalus, Alexander's future horse, rearing up.
«And who exactly are we talking about?» Johnny asked, tilting his head slightly and looking away from the painting.
Ivan, on the other hand, drummed his fingers on the table between puffs.
«There's a rival crew moving in, Johnny. And I'm not liking it one bit,» Ivan continued.
Johnny ran a hand through his blonde hair, almost white now. He was in his mid 50s.
«A new crew? How come I ain't heard a damn thing about them?» he asked, voice growing harsh.
«They're working from the shadows, but from what I've gathered, it's folks who got kicked out of our clans. They've banded together, Johnny. We're all at risk,» Ivan explained, trying to sell him on the threat.
Johnny snapped his head up as soon as he heard Ivan’s words, taking a couple of seconds before replying. He squinted slightly, staring at the wall in front of him. A plain white wall.
«And how the hell do I know you're not just feeding me a load of crap?» he sneered as he turned.
«Johnny, I swear on the honor of the Spyders, this is real,» Ivan replied, his voice rising. «They call themselves the Eagles. Check with your guys if you don't believe me. This is about survival!» he insisted, standing up and stubbing out his cigarette in a nearby ashtray.
The room went quiet as Johnny walked over to the window and looked out into the night. There was a half-moon and a few clouds. The stars were clear, but there was a haze on the horizon. Maybe some fire.
«You're painting a pretty grim picture, Ivan,» he said, still not fully convinced.
The head of the Spyders sighed and rolled his eyes.
«The world's changing, Johnny, and we gotta adapt. Isn't that what the Cobras do best? Your words, not mine,» he said, trying to play to Johnny's pride.
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Johnny stepped away from the window, remembering their last meet-up back in '04, took a deep breath, and finally made up his mind.
«Alright, Ivan. I'll meet you at the warehouse, but if this is some kinda setup...» he said, voice sharp, but Ivan cut him off.
«Yeah, yeah, I get it!» he exclaimed, scratching his neck.
«Alright. Midnight it is, then,» Johnny agreed, sitting down on the couch and crossing his legs.
«Good,» Ivan replied with a sigh. «May this be a fresh start for the Cobras and the Spyders,» he added slowly.
«I hope for your sake, Ivan,» Johnny finished before hanging up.
The leader of the Cobras walked into the living room and found Jacob and Samantha on the big gray sectional, wrapped up in a documentary about snakes. Jacob was sprawled out on the left side, shirtless, in a loose black tracksuit, his feet propped up on the coffee table in front. Samantha sat in the middle, watching intently. She wore comfy jeans and a dark gray shirt, sitting cross-legged with her face tilted a bit.
Jacob's mom was a fifty-three-year-old woman with sharp blue eyes. Though petite, she was a seasoned player in the crime world, shrewd and calculating.
Johnny strolled over to the table next to the couch, calmly grabbed a half-full bottle of whiskey, and unscrewed it [https://img.wattpad.com/4891767a7b2ff7642675bf318f9c6bcf409a7069/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f377651415a43566a4f4862575f673d3d2d313439353533383932302e313830373539623666663436633932383236303936343737303131302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Johnny strolled over to the table next to the couch, calmly grabbed a half-full bottle of whiskey, and unscrewed it. He poured the booze into three glasses, handing one to Jacob, who accepted it with a nod. Holding onto his own glass, he offered the third to his wife, who shook her head slightly, arms crossed over her still-curvy chest.
Standing in front of the screen, Johnny momentarily blocked the documentary image.
«Meeting with Ivan tonight,» Johnny announced, shooting a look at both of them.
At the mention of their longtime rival's name, Samantha grabbed the remote, turned down the volume, and locked her intense gaze on Johnny.
«We need to call a truce that might give us some breathing room,» their leader continued, raising his glass and taking a sip.
Samantha stood up, and took a few slow steps toward Johnny, keeping her eyes skeptical.
«You sure, Johnny?» she asked, shifting her weight to one leg as she stared at him. «I don't trust Ivan; he's a weasel,»
Johnny looked at her for a moment, then over at his son, who stayed silent. After weighing his options for a few seconds, he shifted his gaze back to his wife.
«We're low on choices,» he finally replied, gripping the glass while he kept sipping the whiskey. «Ever heard of the Eagles?» Johnny asked, tilting his head a bit.
Samantha slowly nodded, her gaze shifting to the left like she was trying to recall something.
«I've heard the name. Once overheard Wade and the others mention it,» she said, touching her red lips with one finger.
Johnny narrowed his eyes, taking another sip from the glass.
«And what were they saying?» he asked, lifting his chin.
Samantha sat back down, shrugged, and tilted her head slightly.
«Didn't catch much. Seemed like they were talking about some outcasts from our crew. Folks who got booted and re-grouped,» she replied, crossing her legs again.
Jacob stood up, holding his glass, his muscles tense.
«I've heard about 'em too, Dad. Looks like we've been sleeping on 'em.»
Johnny clenched his jaw, soaking in the info while the whiskey took effect.
«Ivan said the same thing,» he replied, leaning down to place the now-empty glass on the coffee table. «And he's proposing we team up against these Eagles,» he continued in a gruff tone, looking at Jacob as he straightened back up.
Samantha's gaze met Johnny's again, but she didn't say anything more.
«I'm going to this meet-up,» the family head announced, walking to the wardrobe behind him and grabbing a dark jacket. «If the Eagles are a real threat, we can't afford to face them solo,» he said, slipping it on.
«Wait, Dad,» Jacob said, moving quickly. «But what if it's a trap...» he trailed off, stopping in front of him.
Johnny stayed silent for a moment, staring at him intently. Then he took in his son's stance, and a smirk flickered across his face.
«Your old man ain't no fool. The clan's coming with me, don't worry,» he tried to reassure him with a grin, tilting his head toward him for added confidence.
But Jacob still wasn't convinced, pressing his lips together and standing tall.
«Yeah, but if...» he started to stammer, but Johnny cut him off, putting a hand on his cheek, close to his ear.
«Then you'll be the man of the house,» he replied, eyes narrowing, giving him a light pat before stepping aside.
His son stayed still, processing his father's words, only watching the white door in front of him as he blinked.
«You two dig up more info on them,» Johnny said to Samantha with a nod. «We gotta know what we're up against,» he finished, pulling his phone from his pocket to text his guys for a quick meet-up first.
«Got it, I'll take care of it,» Samantha replied, as Johnny scrolled through his contacts on the phone.
After sending out the message, Johnny turned to open the door.
«Johnny,» Samantha called out, leaning on the arm of a nearby chair, which made her husband pause and slowly turn toward her. «Be careful,» she warned, her gaze steady.
Johnny gave a small nod, took a deep breath, and opened the front door, stepping out of the house.
Once Johnny stepped out, Jacob didn't waste any time. He headed straight to his room, grabbed a burgundy V-neck shirt, and threw it on.
«Where you going?» his mom asked, seeing him head back to the living room, now dressed.
«Meeting up with Enzo and the others at the hideout,» Jacob replied before opening the door.
Samantha nodded and sat back down, still mulling over Johnny's words.
Meanwhile, Ivan leaned back in his chair in his office, taking a few deep breaths. He turned to Sasha, his loyal right-hand, who had just entered. She was in black combat gear, tactical pants, and a tight grey shirt. She also had a black guitar case slung over her shoulder, but inside, it held a sniper rifle.
«The fish took the bait,» Ivan said, grinning as he checked her out. «Did ya bring the Dragon?» he asked, referring to the sniper rifle. Then he stood up and began walking around her.
Sasha nodded and adjusted her black hat.
«Yeah, Ivan. Senwe's ready, too,» she confirmed, standing firm, but keeping an eye on Ivan's every move.
«He already there?» Ivan asked raising his chin a bit.
«Yep,» Sasha answered shortly, and Ivan smirked.
«Perfect,» he said, hands behind his back.
He then strolled over to the window and watched the late-night chaos outside. There was a ton of traffic right under Ivan's place. Cars were lined up, one behind the other, and even side by side. It was a pretty loud night, and people were flipping each other off from the windows, trying to find any gap to squeeze through. Most of them were coming back from work, exhausted but still trying to make it home. But they still had some fight left in them-one of them even got out of his car and told another dude to show him that middle finger again.
But they still had some fight left in them-one of them even got out of his car and told another dude to show him that middle finger again [https://img.wattpad.com/5eae6828f8daa4a4846e2e4c6c73ca843a2971f7/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4937494f4e7945426e42344c37673d3d2d313439353533383932302e313830633836393232303733303031653735363335333634323033362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Get ready, Johnny. Ain't gonna be shit left of you and those damn snakes. Not even the memory of you,» Ivan said as he chuckled to himself and watched the breeze sway the curtains and saw the two men squaring off.
After silently observing his little speech, Sasha stepped closer and positioned herself beside Ivan, also peering out the window.
«We'll make them pay for everything,» she muttered through clenched teeth, keeping the guitar case steady on her right shoulder.
She then stepped back slightly and headed for the door. The Spyders were ready to strike.