2009.
In the Cobra villa, in Dragonhill, Johnny was standing behind a mahogany desk, looking at a map marking the territory of the Spyder Clan in Tigereast. He was dressed in a high-quality black polo shirt and elegant trousers.
He was dressed in a high-quality black polo shirt and elegant trousers [https://img.wattpad.com/bc9a09db078ce07f5248928a5dccd53606d7ffa6/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f3141317a624d3270504f304266513d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830643131343735356530363762313237373535393839373235332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
His younger brother, Wade, stood before him. He was a thirty-seven-year-old man with short, slicked-back brown hair. His eyes were brown as well. Plus, a light beard and a hint of a goatee framed his face. He was dressed in a light gray polo shirt paired with matching trousers.
«We been at it with the Spyders way too long, Wade,» Johnny, the Cobra boss, said, palms flat on the table [https://img.wattpad.com/e637515e5b0e147765667a688208fa6491e8256d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f506a647754715a573171465748513d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830643131646131643632323066633531363837383034313530372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«We been at it with the Spyders way too long, Wade,» Johnny, the Cobra boss, said, palms flat on the table. «This here's where Ivan's weakest,» he said, tapping the map. «Word is, he's sniffin' around our drug spots. Time to flip the script,» he urged, his gaze lifting to his brother, who stepped a little closer.
«So what's the move, Johnny?» Wade asked, steady.
Johnny's lips curled into a smirk.
«We gon' use their own tricks on 'em,» he said, nodding to himself. «And besides, we got Viktor...» he added, folding his arms, and making Wade's forehead crease.
«You sure we can trust him?» Wade asked, stepping aside to get a better look at the map.
«Trust? Man, trust doesn't exist in our game, you know that,» Johnny said with a low chuckle. «But he's got his reasons. Viktor wants Ivan gone as bad as we do.»
Wade sighed, letting his arms fall to his sides.
«Just gotta play this smart. We don't need no extra mess,» he said, blinking slowly.
Johnny stared at him for a moment, then nodded. He knew Wade, younger or not, was the cautious one. They had mad respect for each other, and Johnny knew his brother's sharp eye for detail kept them out of trouble more than once.
«Relax, Wade,» Johnny said, brow furrowed. «Our Spyder ain't makin' no moves without our say-so. Dude's stuck worse than you think,» he explained with a cocky grin.
Wade smiled back, his shoulders easing up.
«What happens to him after tonight?» he asked, head tilted up.
«Do you really want me to explain?» Johnny replied with another chuckle, stepping over the table as if to leave the room, but just then, Jacob entered.
«What y'all talkin' about?» Jacob asked, strolling toward the table, and rubbing his chin.
He wore jeans and a dark green V-neck shirt and stopped in front of Johnny, who glanced at Wade behind him and then back at his son [https://img.wattpad.com/3a5509b71bf81fb3380aae07358d6b0b92b6de19/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f517557684e73594e7641563279413d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830643132346561396339323532633939303938303238313032352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
He wore jeans and a dark green V-neck shirt and stopped in front of Johnny, who glanced at Wade behind him and then back at his son.
«Just settin' up a lil' ambush,» his father replied, lifting his head with authority.
Jacob's eyes lit up as he watched his uncle study the map.
«Can I help out?» he asked, a confident grin spreading as he stepped closer to the table.
«Jacob, it ain't time yet. You're only fifteen,» Johnny said, turning around, arms crossed. «We'll talk when you're at least eighteen.»
«But I wanna do somethin' big!» Jacob pushed back, turning toward him. «I gotta prove I'm worthy of bein' your son!» he said, staring Johnny dead in the eye, his voice firm.
Johnny and Wade exchanged a look, both taken aback by the fire in Jacob's words.
«Maybe we oughta let him in. We were 'bout his age when Dad...» Wade started, rubbing his thumb across his lips.
Johnny cut him off with a raised hand, thinking it over. He eyed Jacob, and the two of them locked eyes, neither backing down. Johnny couldn't help but notice the kid didn't even blink.
Damn, he's serious, Johnny thought.
«I like that fire you got,» he finally said, moving back to the table, and showing Jacob the map. «Alright, we're gonna hit the Spyders right here,» he said, pointing to the Spyder warehouse. «But it's gon' be dangerous, so you gotta listen and do exactly what we tell you,» he warned, his blue eyes fixed on Jacob.
«Count on me, Dad,» Jacob replied, puffing out his chest while looking at the map with his chin held high.
«Good stuff,» added Wade, nodding and shooting a glance at Johnny, who gave him a nod back.
In the meantime, in the Spyders' hideout, deep in Tigereast, Ivan sat surrounded by his most trusted lieutenants: Viktor, Dmitri, Anatoly, and Sasha.
Behind Ivan, who wore an elegant black suit with a light blue shirt, there was a large painting of a spider on a web, rendered in intricate black and gray details. In the center of the table, painted a dark red, was the Spyders' emblem, which depicted a tarantula with its legs spread wide as if about to capture something. A bottle of whiskey and glasses were positioned on the table, right next to the emblem.
«Five fucking years, fellas!» Ivan broke the silence, leaning forward and smacking the table [https://img.wattpad.com/9ccb11c5ae5174f7d44ff8ef09174af73f5ca662/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f524c635671744d6a6d47445367513d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830633866333063336166323539313133393535353930363835392e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Five fucking years, fellas!» Ivan broke the silence, leaning forward and smacking the table. «We've been scrappin' with those Cobra scum for five years. I'm sick of losin' my best men to those damn snake-lovers,» he said, staring each of his guys down.
They shifted, exchanging uneasy glances.
Viktor, the double agent, leaned forward on the table and poured whiskey into his glass. He was a slender man with sharp features, thin-framed glasses resting on his nose, and wore a high-quality black polo with elegant trousers.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
He was a slender man with sharp features, thin-framed glasses resting on his nose, and wore a high-quality black polo with elegant trousers [https://img.wattpad.com/df4c3f9f50dbc22580fdd27d9324bc5379e1c470/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f51452d652d45314d7754423364413d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830633866333430643832333862363632343934303137393838362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Maybe it's time to think about a truce,» he started, filling his glass. «We can't keep losin' turf... or bodies,» he added, raising the glass to his lips.
«A truce?» Ivan shot back, raising his eyebrows and pulling his neck back. «Not after what Johnny pulled on me!» he barked, watching Viktor take a sip.
The only woman at the table, Sasha, had just turned thirty and possessed an athletic body and green eyes. Her black hair was pulled back in a bun, and she wore an elegant dress with high heels. Within the clan, she had always been the voice of reason, the only one capable of seeing things from a different perspective.
Within the clan, she had always been the voice of reason, the only one capable of seeing things from a different perspective [https://img.wattpad.com/b5c0256af16a8e56d8d1276f4df2eb16d3a190c5/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7a716c53484877666256633975513d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830633866333762366436363133373838373537303730303838322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Ivan,» she began, crossing one leg over the other and locking her eyes on him. «I get where you're comin' from, but maybe it's time to put the ego aside,» she suggested, her lips tightening as she glanced at Viktor on her right, who had just finished his drink.
«And how am I supposed to do that, Sasha?» Ivan yelled, jumping up from his chair in front of her, and waving his hands. «That snake humiliated me in front of everybody! ME! A Spyder!» he shouted, pounding his chest with pride.
As the argument between Ivan, Viktor, and Sasha heated up, Anatoly couldn't hold back any longer. He sat to Sasha's left. He was a tall man of forty-six with curly hair, a thick beard, and a double chin. He was obese and wore a white tank top under an oversized dark gray jacket.
«Ivan's right, Sasha,» Anatoly rumbled, drawing her attention with his gravelly voice [https://img.wattpad.com/43ae86861948a54725b41284df4382b27c5d87e5/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f534139464c7150654154427a36413d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830633866363833326363393166663635323138353530363837372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Ivan's right, Sasha,» Anatoly rumbled, drawing her attention with his gravelly voice. «Those Cobras are chokin' the whole city,» he went on, shaking his head and angling it toward her. «I seen some of their boys in Tigereast; they're scoping us out. We gotta hit 'em back, and fast,» he finished, turning his eyes to Ivan, looking for his approval.
At Anatoly's words, Dmitri, who sat to his left, leaned forward and nodded. He had a shaved head, light eyes, and a blond beard. He wore a black shirt and a tight jacket that accentuated his massive physique.
He wore a black shirt and a tight jacket that accentuated his massive physique [https://img.wattpad.com/b4a723c91cbe951bc07abd5853f4a28d55fb85cb/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4a664b6876796d71625f743474513d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830633866363963613539633631643739333039343039353636352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Boss, I got an idea,» he said, pressing his thumb to his lips, nibbling a bit. «Why don't we throw more cash at the politicians and businessmen they're dealin' with?» he suggested. «If we get them to switch sides, the Cobras fall apart!» he exclaimed, sliding his chair forward eagerly.
Ivan considered it, rubbing his chin.
«It could work. What do you think, Sasha?» he asked, turning his attention back to his lieutenant, who stood up.
«It's not a bad move, but we might not have the time,» Sasha began, turning toward Dmitri. «If Dmitri's right and the Cobras are closin' in, we better be ready,» she said, shifting her gaze back to Ivan.
«Right,» Ivan muttered, lowering his head before covering his mouth with his hand, and rubbing his nose quickly. «So, what do we do if they show up?» he asked, looking back up.
«One thing we got is our organization,» Sasha replied, glancing at the others, her fingers resting on the table. «Plus, this is our turf,» she continued, trying to lift their spirits with a confident nod. «We know these streets better than they do, and if we play it smart, we can hit 'em hard and even take back our spots on the edges of Lionwest.» she concluded, meeting the eyes of each lieutenant.
Ivan was clearly impressed by her words, regaining some of his confidence.
«Good point, Sasha,» he said, nodding slowly with a grin forming.
But before they could strategize, Viktor spoke up, raising his hands in mock caution.
«Nah, y'all stressin' too much,» Viktor said, grabbing the Jack Daniel's whiskey bottle again and pouring some into the others' glasses. «Relax, the Cobras don't know jack 'bout this spot,» he continued, pouring more alcohol to loosen up his now former crew. «What's the point of bringin' this bottle if we ain't drinkin'?» he asked, glancing back at them.
«I'm good,» Sasha said, waving her hand, curling her lips a bit as she sat on the table, letting her legs swing [https://img.wattpad.com/3d8be371103bc656dc28828dc7b1c8b05089e68e/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f594e554473736b415a4f63794b673d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830643130323434326532313935663338313437353131323237312e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«I'm good,» Sasha said, waving her hand, curling her lips a bit as she sat on the table, letting her legs swing.
Anatoly and Dmitri, though, were all too happy to ease the tension, eagerly grabbing their glasses.
«Yeah, for real, this whole mess got me twisted,» Anatoly said, grabbing the bottle and pouring more whiskey into his glass. «Dmitri, you in?» he asked, glancing back at Dmitri, who nodded in agreement. «And you, Ivan?» he asked again, holding out his glass after topping off more whiskey.
«Nah,» their leader said flatly, grabbing his jacket from the chair. «I got stuff to handle,» he added, shrugging on his jacket.
«Aw, c'mon, boss, just one sip,» Viktor urged, shaking his glass, but Ivan just stared back.
«Meeting's done. Sasha, roll with me,» he said, lifting his left arm and motioning with his finger.
Sasha nodded, hopping off the table to follow Ivan to the exit under Viktor's disappointed gaze. Once outside the building, Ivan checked to make sure no one was listening before he spoke again.
«Sasha, you're the only one I trust here,» he said as they walked, casting a glance her way. She kept her head down, nodding as she paced alongside him.
«I got you, Ivan. We'll figure it out,» she replied, looking up at him.
As they neared Ivan's black SUV, a massive shadow emerged from the dark-Senwe. Ivan's go-to weapons guy stepped forward to open the car door for his boss. He had on an orange tactical vest over a dark shirt, ammo belts slung around his waist. His eyes were cold, and his hair was shaved on the sides, slicked back tight.
His eyes were cold, and his hair was shaved on the sides, slicked back tight [https://img.wattpad.com/09105272a0492022394b2602ed5331f4f6c01fcd/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f563053353651483855745f5633513d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830643130343739633534306639303234383333323137343235352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«All good, boss?» Senwe asked, cracking the car door open [https://img.wattpad.com/93184c3edf87984cb0b5049449c3fb65f8f6e476/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f69465f5436376c2d4e2d323050673d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830633866373964663765306562323539323930383038393139332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«All good, boss?» Senwe asked, cracking the car door open.
Ivan didn't answer at first, just settled into the back seat before finally replying.
«Close enough. Let's roll,» he said, leaning forward to tap the front seat twice.
«These Cobras gettin' bolder every day,» Sasha commented, staring out the window as Senwe started the engine.
«Shiiit, they ain't built like us. They gon' fold, straight up,» Senwe replied, eyes cold as ice, catching Ivan and Sasha in the rearview mirror.
Senwe then turned on the engine and drove off, the car fading into the night.
Not long after, Wade, Johnny, and Jacob crept out of Wade's Ferrari F8 Spider and Jacob's Honda SH and snuck up to the warehouse. They found a window, and Wade crouched to peek inside while Jacob and Johnny pressed against the wall.
They found a window, and Wade crouched to peek inside while Jacob and Johnny pressed against the wall [https://img.wattpad.com/4397194e10ba70d14cad0f8754dff2ba820bff0d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f435f352d587835307470597a4e673d3d2d313438323936323930392e313830643130353933666235643266333939303339373737363430352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
«Where's Ivan? Where's he hidin'?» Wade whispered, scanning the room with his eyes.
Johnny's face twisted, and he leaned into peek, motioning for Jacob to keep quiet.
«He knew we were comin',» their boss muttered through clenched teeth, watching Ivan's crew crack up at the table.
«What's so damn funny?» Jacob whispered, his lips curling in annoyance.
«We gotta find where he ran off to,» Wade added, turning to his nephew.
Wasting no time, the trio circled the building and headed through the front door, which had been left slightly open.
What will become of the Spyders?