He's right, of course. We need to be smart, despite our eagerness. The shadows of the past still lurk, waiting to swallow our hopes, as do the myriad snake oil merchants who'll only be too happy to snap up our money on a shitty deal before we know what’s happening.
But with care and patience, we can outmaneuver them. Together, step by step, we will make this dream real.
I squeeze Josef's shoulder and nod to Dimitri and Florian. "Come on. Let's keep looking."
The city hums with potential around us. Our future is out there somewhere, waiting to be claimed. All we need is the courage to reach for it.
I take a deep breath, inhaling the crisp night air as we round the corner onto a quieter street. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, glancing at the screen. A message from Devon.
My eyes widen in surprise.
Devon: We need to have a sit-down. You and your guys. The Snakes and the Brixtons. It’s time to discuss next steps, and this can’t wait.
This could be dangerous. The Snakes and Brixtons were at each other's throats for a long time, but their bond has recently grown strong. They seem unbreakable.
We showed Tane that our loyalty is not with him, and now we expect that he'll come at us harder than ever.
And by doing so, we showed the Snakes and Brixtons that we can be trusted.
We are, after all, determined to achieve the same goal—taking down Tane Brown. This carries risk, of course, being the new ones… the group that is the least known and therefore the most easily discarded. The most likely to be used to take the fall, or as collateral damage.
But there's opportunity here, too. Together, we'd be a force to be reckoned with. Able to hit back and protect our own.
"Devon wants to talk," I say, looking up at my men. "She's called a meeting with us, with the Snakes and Brixtons."
Florian's eyebrows shoot up.
Josef frowns, wary.
"Is that smart?" Dimitri asks. "Getting in the middle of their feud with Tane?"
"It's risky," I agree. "But we really showed our colors over on the other island. We’re already smack bang in the middle of things as far as Tane’s concerned. And if we want to take Tane down, we need numbers. Isn’t that why we helped them over there in the first place?"
Josef shakes his head. "I don't like it. We've only just broken free of one viper's nest. Why crawl into two more?"
"Because these are our islands, too," I counter. "Our home. We have a right to fight for it." I meet each of their eyes. "And they might be dangerous, but we’re not the onesthey have their eyes on. We all want the same thing. I can't force you into this. But I won't hide from Tane anymore. With or without allies."
Florian grips my shoulder, resolute. "We're with you."
Dimitri and Josef exchange a look. Josef sighs.
"You know we'll follow wherever you lead. But promise me we'll be cautious?"
I squeeze his hand, moved by their loyalty. "Always."
This won't be easy.
But together, we can take back control.
One ally, or in this case, two. One day at a time.
Chapter six
Isit in my room, the morning sound of bird calls loud through the screen on my window. The heavy air presses down on me as I replay the dark events that brought me here, grappling with this twisted new thrill coursing through my veins.
Because while the birds are light and happy and free, I feel the opposite. And it has both nothing and everything to do with the guys.
I pace back and forth, my mind racing as fast as my pulse. I've always been the calm in the storm—okay, that’s a complete lie. I’m sassy, and occasionally a bit of a brat. Yet when it comes to our group, I’ve consistently been the voice of reason in our morally gray crusade against Tane Brown. The need to ally. To think things through calmly and deliberately without rushing in, no matter how tempting.