54. Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter fifty-four
W e're sitting around the large table in our compound. There's an air of anticipation in the room as we work to figure out what's next. All fourteen of us—Angel and us Brixtons, Devon and the Snakes, and Aria and the rest of the Unknowns.
I want to be happy with everything that's happened—after all, we just successfully executed our mission, but there's something holding me back from being truly excited about it. I sigh, hating to be the one to bring everyone down. "You know this isn't really over, right?" I run a hand through my hair.
Roman studies me, his intense eyes piercing through my doubts as if they're breaking them down piece by piece. "In what respect? Tane's gone now."
"He's right," Dimitri speaks up. "The chapter with Tane may be over, but the threat hasn't gone away. We're just at the start of establishing ourselves in this new capacity, and while I'm very pleased that Tane is dead, now is not the time to get complacent."
"What do you mean?" Roman asks. "I thought we'd have a moment to breathe, to relax and enjoy life for a minute."
“You know he’s not going to be the last person to try and take power of these islands, right?" Dimitri explains. "There’s always going to be the next group coming for us, with ambition to take over this precious turf. The islands may be relatively small compared to some hubs on the mainland, but they're lucrative with the sheer quantity of tourists coming in and out. Plus, they're a strategic access point for substantial drug funneling and human trafficking. To anyone wanting that for themselves, we'll be like their Tane. But less into human annihilation and mass graves. Compared to him, and despite his eventual demise, we look comparatively soft.”
“Yeah, but in practice it’s easier to stand strong at the top of a platform while people try to make you crumble by your knees, than it is to topple that person off," Skyler adds. "It’s physics, psychology… all of that stuff in one. Since we took Tane down we've become the biggest fish, with home court advantage. Someone won’t be able to come in and just oust us. It would be possible, but it'd be much, much more difficult.”
"Well, we'll be ready and waiting. Anticipating," says Roman. He turns his attention to Dimitri. “So what’s new with you guys, now that all that is over? Any plan to leave the other island and come here any time soon? Are we all going to live together in one giant house?” I grin at the image.
“Nah, no way!" laughs Dimitri. "I actually do really like coming here for a visit, but any more than a week or so and I start to get itchy feet. It just feels… no offense, by the way…. commercialized. Built for tourists and everything. We like our little slice of nature.”
“Well, I can’t disagree with you there," I nod. "But, that said, it is how we make a lot of our money.”
“Yeah. I know. It’s not totally different where we are. Anyway, I’d still be on one of these islands than anywhere else. I know that much.” He smiles. "Besides, Aria's going to be here regularly to check on the restaurant. When she's not flitting around checking out new locations, that is. We've bought her an apartment right near the restaurant, and we'll be coming with her a lot of the time."
"Oh good," says Slade, out of nowhere. "I'm really starting to like you guys."
"Wait, did hell just freeze over?" I say, staring at Slade in surprise.
The entire room laughs. This is really starting to feel like a team.