BXBX NOVEL Chapter 143: Declaration of Intent
"How are you doing, Gen?" he asked, a small smile on his face.
Gen grinned wolfishly, her usual energy restored. "Better than ever, thanks to you."
-original
The three women took seats in the study, their presence filling the room with a comforting warmth. Ezra could feel the soul bond connecting him with his two wives, a deep, unbreakable connection that pulsed with life. Vitality flowed between them, creating a beautiful ethereal loop that strengthened and sustained each one.
He turned his gaze back to the arrow, resolve hardening in his chest. "Let us begin." He spoke softly, his voice filled with a quiet intensity.
"We\'ve faced three attacks simultaneously," he began, his eyes meeting each of theirs in turn. "First, the attack on Red at the City Lord\'s mansion, next, the attack on Olivia at Ascendant, and finally, the attack on Gen and the explosion that wiped out most of the Black Spider gang."
He paused, turning back to stare at the arrow in the wall, a reminder of their enemies\' reach. "The loss of the Black Spider gang is significant. They were the main operation with the most significant cash flow. With them gone, there\'s a power vacuum in Southside that others will scramble to fill."
"However, the loss of the Black Spider means that we have one less battlefront." He crossed his arms behind his back. "The enemy is plenty and we are few."
"What\'s our next step?" Red asked.
"I\'m more interested in why you didn\'t kill the vampire in the City Lord\'s mansion. Why did you let her go?" Gen leaned forward in her seat, her eyes glinting with an undiscernable emotion.
"Simple." Miss Red sat forward, her eyes sharp and focused. "Ezra killing that vampire was part of the Silent Hand\'s plan all along." She began, her tone urgent. Olivia and Gen leaned in, their faces reflecting the gravity of her words. Ezra\'s expression hardened, but he remained silent, still staring at the arrow.
Red continued, "They orchestrated the attack on me with two possible outcomes, favorable for them. First, if the vampire had defeated Ezra, they could capture and use him however they wished. But the second outcome, which is what happened, was for him to defeat the vampire. They hoped he\'d kill her."
"Ah." Olivia\'s brows rose in realization, her hand absently tracing patterns on the armrest of her chair. Gen sat with her legs crossed, her eyes locked onto Red.
"By killing the vampire," Red continued, "the Silent Hand planned to use the City Lord against us. They would claim we took advantage of the City Lord\'s hospitality, hoping he would exact punishment on us for them."
Ezra straightened, his gaze firm. "That\'s why I chose to let her go. She will go on to tell the others in the Silent Hand what happened to her, and their fear of me will grow. They\'ll wonder, how was a mere second ring vampire able to defeat our champion so easily."
The room was silent for a moment, everyone absorbing the implications. Gen broke the silence, her voice thoughtful. "So, instead of falling into their trap, you turned it into an advantage. They\'ll think twice before coming after us again."
She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Smart move, Ezra. But we all know that the Silent Hand won\'t give up easily."
"Which is why I have called you all to hear what I have decided." Ezra turned back to stare at them. He walked slowly to the center of the study, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.
His eyes were sharp, filled with a resolve that left no room for doubt. "I\'m severing ties with Count Griffin," he announced, his voice steady and unwavering. Olivia, Red, and Gen looked at him, their expressions a mix of surprise and understanding.
"Griffin has become a shackle," He continued. "To be free, we need to cast him off. The Silent Hand wants Ascendant? Fine. I\'ll leave it to them. We won\'t be stuck on the defense any longer.
It\'s time to go on the attack."
Red\'s eyes sparkled with approval, while Olivia nodded, her expression serious. Gen\'s lips curled into a small, fierce smile, her enthusiasm for the fight clear. "Fucking finally." She muttered.
"Instead of protecting assets, we\'ll attack the Silent Hand directly. The positive thing about these attacks is that we now know all the covens in the Silent Hand. There is only one law now. Kill or be killed."
He paused.
"And I\'ll make we\'re the one doing the killing." Ezra declared, his voice filled with a cold fury. "I won\'t waste my time being a caretaker. I will protect what belongs to me, which means fighting back against everyone who threatens us. Griffin, X, Solomon, and the Silent Hand."
The room buzzed with a new energy, each person understanding the gravity of the decision Ezra just made.
"We won\'t be facing Griffin directly. That\'s a battle we\'re not ready to fight. Instead, we\'ll fight him from the inside. This means we will be taking the Arbiter\'s offer."
He turned to Olivia. "Olivia, halt all developments of our partnership with TransitLink. Inform them immediately. Once that\'s done, the Arbiter will send the ally she promised."
Olivia stood and walked over to her desk, pulling out her communication device. "Consider it done," she said, her fingers already moving swiftly to send the necessary messages. The room fell silent for a moment, everyone contemplating the path ahead.
Ezra\'s gaze swept over the women, seeing their commitment and readiness. "This won\'t be easy," he admitted, "but we have the advantage now. We know who our enemies are, and we won\'t hesitate. This is our fight, and we will take it to them."
The women nodded, firmly in support.
Ezra nodded, a smile touching his lips. "Then let\'s prepare. We\'ll move swiftly and strike hard. The Silent Hand, Griffin, and anyone else who stands against us will regret underestimating us."
The resolve in the room solidified into a shared purpose. They were no longer on the defensive, waiting for the next attack. Now, they were the ones planning the assault, ready to ensure their survival.
The Silent Hand had sparked a war, and Ezra was prepared to finish it on his terms.