Johnny, Wade, and Jacob rolled in, catching Ivan's crew slipping since they were too wasted to even notice them.
«Huh?» Dmitri exclaimed after catching sight of the three menacing figures out of the corner of his eye.
«What the...?» Anatoly tried to speak, but Wade landed a solid right hook that sent him crashing to the floor.
Dmitri couldn't do a damn thing as Johnny smashed a glass bottle over his head, leaving him totally helpless. Wade then popped the downed Spyders right after they hit the ground, taking them out for good. Jacob, on the other hand, just stood by, his eyes roaming around the room as the fight unfolded.
After the brutal assault, Johnny cornered Viktor, the double-crosser of the Spyders, grabbing him by the ear and forcing him to kneel in pain.
«ARGH, J-Johnny...» he begged, trying to squirm free from his iron grip.
«Where's Ivan, Viktor? You were supposed to keep him here! WHAT DID YOU DO, SPYDER??» roared the Cobra leader as he shoved Viktor to the ground.
«Where's Ivan, Viktor? You were supposed to keep him here! WHAT DID YOU DO, SPYDER??» roared the Cobra leader as he shoved Viktor to the ground [https://img.wattpad.com/64fdb1f0922c54bfc329c3359b14e07492b4f121/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5a6a6c76535673394c72594b70673d3d2d313438323936393038342e313830643132633361363538656465323335373132313734333934372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«You're... you're too late, Johnny! He's already split!» Viktor replied, attempting to get back up.
«Nice job, Viktor. Real nice job...» Jacob commented, giving a brief clap.
«We had a chance to end this, and you let it slip right through your fingers!» Wade shouted before landing another punch on Viktor, sending him back to the mat.
«Jacob,» Johnny said, turning his gaze toward his son. «Now it's your turn. Make me proud!» the clan boss exclaimed suddenly, handing Jacob a gun.
The gun Johnny handed Jacob was a Glock 19, one of the most popular and reliable handguns out there. Its frame was made of matte black polymer, giving it impressive durability while keeping it lightweight.
Its frame was made of matte black polymer, giving it impressive durability while keeping it lightweight [https://img.wattpad.com/2e4b48efbdd519372412ae4f57a6d524d41ccc9e/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f545a6d4873484b6866554e656b513d3d2d313438323936393038342e313830643132636133643836323833653238323933373736343136342e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Jacob stared into his dad's eyes for a sec, then, with a smirk, turned down the gun, shrugging it off. He pulled out his dagger instead, the one Johnny had hooked him up with, as he slowly walked up to Viktor.
He pulled out his dagger instead, the one Johnny had hooked him up with, as he slowly walked up to Viktor [https://img.wattpad.com/d8bc947508c3ba71b640d00554b79f1fc6ffcf97/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f73584679726a51387a57306d78673d3d2d313438323936393038342e313830643132636265636564373662383631343833323836313232362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«What's he doing?» his dad asked, confused, turning to his brother Wade, who stood beside him.
«Beats me. Let's see what goes down...» his uncle replied, watching the scene unfold.
As Jacob crept up on Viktor, he felt that adrenaline pumping through his veins. He played around with the handle of his dagger, like he couldn't wait to use it. He waved it around a bit, trying to scare the crap out of Viktor, who was breathing hard and bugging his eyes out.
You're mine, Jacob thought as he began to smirk.
«Please, kid, I'll do whatever you want!» the rival clan member pleaded, scrambling backward.
«Oh yeah? The only thing you gotta do is... DIE!» shot back the Cobra heir, grabbing him by the collar and slicing his throat with a clean cut as the blood splattered all over him.
He smeared a little blood on his face and then stood up. He was all in as a Cobra now. Taking a good look at the corpse of his first victim, a smile spread across his face. He almost licked his lips, caught up in the rush.
What a killer feeling, he thought, twisting his lips as he relived the moment. He lifted his head, wiped the blood off with his right arm, and spat the leftover blood onto his enemy's corpse.
Johnny blinked a few times. He couldn't deny the bravery of his son, but Wade stayed silent, swallowing hard. Jacob then slowly turned back to his father and uncle, making his way through the other corpses.
«Not bad, Jacob, not bad at all! You surprised me,» Johnny said, giving him a nod and stepping closer to him. «You've got some potential,» he continued, keeping his gaze on his son as he approached. «And you definitely got the guts for this kind of stuff.»
Jacob first glanced at his uncle on his left to gauge his reaction, then shifted his gaze to his father and shrugged.
«It was a piece of cake, Dad!» Jacob replied, putting his dagger away.
«Let's bounce from this place, guys,» Wade interrupted as he started heading toward the exit.
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«Let's bounce from this place, guys,» Wade interrupted as he started heading toward the exit [https://img.wattpad.com/7085a2ef5a3115290bc2b4c4c7b8d7cb763d29e0/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f546473396a736a414256627652413d3d2d313438323936393038342e313830633866666461383365383038343632323937323033303139372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
They cruised over to Wade's Ferrari F8 Spider and popped the doors open. Johnny slid into the passenger seat next to Wade, while Jacob got on his Honda SH parked nearby. Wade then hit the gas and whipped a sharp right to get back on the road. After about ten minutes, they rolled back home, and as soon as they hit the living room, Johnny let out a big sigh.
"Wade, can I have a sec with Jacob?" he asked, stopping and turning to his brother.
"Sure thing, catch you tomorrow," Wade replied with a grin, giving Jacob a nod and slapping a hand on his left shoulder before heading back to his room.
After making sure his brother was out of it, Johnny moved to the door and closed it behind him. Then he turned to Jacob, who already figured his dad was about to give him another one of his lessons.
They headed toward Johnny's study, where he grabbed a chess set from the cabinet and set it on the table. He carefully arranged the pieces on the board. It was a game Jacob and Johnny always played when Johnny wanted to teach him something.
«We got a lot to chat about, don't we?» Johnny started, motioning him over as he set the table [https://img.wattpad.com/4b07788cf4801d9ba7a1003c444973636afc64ab/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f34573579536a32636b30586444773d3d2d313438323936393038342e313830633930313763326666646333363534323036343734363938342e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«We got a lot to chat about, don't we?» Johnny started, motioning him over as he set the table.
«You got something you wanna tell me, Dad?» Jacob asked as he plopped down on a nearby wooden chair.
There was a slight pause as Johnny searched for the right words to ask Jacob how he felt about what he'd just done.
«How'd you feel... when... well, you know,» his dad said, raising an eyebrow and watching his son's expression closely.
Jacob stayed pretty much poker-faced in response to the question. He shoved his hands in his pockets and lifted his chin.
«Good. I mean, he kinda had it coming,» he said, shrugging a bit. «I was expecting something like this, after all.»
Johnny raised his eyebrows at his son's cool response. Then he pouted a bit and tilted his head, satisfied.
«Well, then it's time you learn some of the ins and outs of our business,» he said, taking a seat across from him. «Tonight, we're talking about gambling,» he continued, crossing his legs while Jacob moved a pawn forward.
«Tonight, we're talking about gambling,» he continued, crossing his legs while Jacob moved a pawn forward [https://img.wattpad.com/01c00e1c54f1ac358d5caf854cc7986f373c72e2/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6f6537455463714b7976753256673d3d2d313438323936393038342e313830643133323133336666653232623339363232363139393531372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Gambling?» he said, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
«Yup,» Johnny replied shortly, resting an elbow on the armrest. «It can be a hell of a money maker if you do it right,» he went on, nodding slightly and eyeing the chessboard. «People are always drawn to the thrill and the chance to hit it big,» Johnny explained, tilting his head left.
«But what kinda games we talkin' 'bout?» Jacob asked, leaning in as he snagged one of Johnny's pawns, earning a smirk from his dad.
«Poker, blackjack, roulette, and sports betting,» his dad said, snapping his fingers as he moved his bishop.
«But isn't gambling regulated? And what about the cash?» Jacob pressed, leaning on the table.
«One thing at a time, Jacob,» his dad replied, watching him study his pieces. «True, it's regulated and can rake in the dough, but we gotta control the odds,» he continued, shrugging a bit. «Our customers gotta win sometimes, but the house always needs to have the upper hand,» Johnny reiterated, standing up to grab a bottle of wine.
Meanwhile, Jacob moved his knight.
«And what if someone tries to cheat or cause trouble?» he asked, watching his dad return with two glasses and set them on the table.
He then nodded at Johnny, signaling he'd made his move.
«Then they better watch their backs for life,» Johnny assured him, pouring wine into Jacob's glass with a grin.
«Sounds interesting,» Jacob replied, taking a sip of wine.
Johnny watched his son drink with pride in his eyes. He squinted a bit, then turned his gaze back to the chessboard.
I wasn't that sharp at his age, Johnny thought, as he looked back at his son. Then the Cobra boss moved his queen.
«In gambling, understanding human nature is key,» he resumed, sipping his wine. «People gotta keep coming back to get fleeced,» he said, setting his glass down. «They gotta get hooked so we can take everything they've got,» Johnny added with a sly smile.
«Like a drug, right?» his son asked, placing his glass on the table.
Johnny smiled, watching Jacob move a piece.
«I see you're getting the point,» he replied before giving a slight smile. «Checkmate,» he almost exclaimed.
Jacob leaned back and crossed his arms. It wasn't the first time he lost.
«Come on, don't make that face. Next time, I'll play with one eye closed,» his dad teased, giving him a playful nudge on the forearm.
«Yeah, right,» Jacob replied, showing a slight smile but looking at him sideways. Then he got up and grabbed the wine bottle's cork to seal it.
«Thanks, Dad. For... all this,» his son said, looking at the chessboard and then back at his dad with a blink.
Johnny stood up too and took a few steps toward him.
«It's my duty as a father, Jacob,» he replied, lifting his chin.
«Soon, you'll be the one pulling the strings, and remember this,» he said, raising a finger slightly. «Empires are never taken down by outside forces but by weaknesses from within.» Johnny concluded, leaning a bit in and touching his heir's left shoulder with his hand.
Jacob made a face as his dad's hand rested on him.
«Where'd you pick up that line?» his son asked, flashing a smile. «You didn't just make that up, did ya?»
Johnny laughed heartily, leaning back a bit and taking his arm off his son's shoulder.
«Oh no, I read it in a book about Philip II,» he said, shaking his head lightly.
«Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, huh? The conqueror?» Jacob asked, tilting his head a bit to hear better.
«Yup, and Alexander is one of your favorites, right?» his dad asked, leaning in again.
«My favorite,» Jacob replied, squinting a little as his dad wore a satisfied grin.
«You're the son I've always wanted, Jacob. Can't wait to see you take my place,» Johnny replied, as his blond tuft fell a bit over his temples.
«I won't let you down, Dad,» Jacob finished, watching his father nod and head back to the living room.
Johnny and Jacob were ready to take full control of Vicary City, and nothing was going to stop them.