Chapter 202
Chapter 202
Travis stood motionless in front of the closed door, his chest rising and falling in slow, measured breaths.
The heat blew it way in his direction, and he took a few steps back, just enough to escape the worst of it but not far enough to miss a single second of what was about to happen.
A slow, beautiful smile stretched across his face.
Finally!
Fifteen horrible years!
Fifteen goddamn years of sorrow, of nightmares that refused to fade, of hearing his parents terrific cries as the fire took them away from him, never to be seen again.
Justice was eventually served.
For the first time in years, he believes he would sleep soundly.
But there was one last thing.
One final, glorious moment to make everything perfect, he needed to hear Alexander’s scream of terror.
His wails of agony and regret of a man who finally knew what it felt like to be powerless.
Travis waited.
Seconds passed.
Then a minute.
And another.
But the sound never came.
The smile on his lips disappeared and his expression darkened and he tasted bile on his tongue.
He cursed out loud as he realized that what he was waiting for might never come. Considering the fact that he knew Alexander so well, he shouldn’t have expected it too.
For fifteen long years, he had studied the tadpole. Watching from the shadows while Alexander lived his perfect life.
In short, Travis had graduated with every possible degree in the study of Alexander Black.
His strengths. His weaknesses.
The way he moved, the way he spoke.
The way he thought.
And Alexander’s silence shouldn’t have surprised Travis in the least? But a normal man on the brink of death should scream. Should beg.
Travis clenched his jaw, his fingers twitching at his sides.
Alexander had always been stubborn, always resisting when others would have crumbled without hesitation. When any normal person would have fallen to their knees, hands raised in surrender, Alexander would still be standing tall, daring the
world to break him.
And even now at the brink of death, with fire licking at his heels, he refused to give in.
Travis hated Alexander more for this.
Hated the way he always seemed untouchable, unshakable. Hated the way he held his head high, even in the worst of circumstances.
But in a twisted, bitter way… Travis also admired Alexander for his strength, resilience and determination.
70%
And maybe, just maybe, in another world, at another time, in a life not poisoned by the Black‘ betrayal and bloodshed, they could have been friends.
But not in this one.
Not after everything.
He unclenched his hand as he gave up.
Whether Alexander screamed or not, whether he accepted death in silence or not, the deed was done.
His parents were avenged.
For the first time in fifteen years, Travis breath in fresh air of victory.
A slow, satisfied smile slipped from his lips as he turned away. He had done what needed to be done, and at last, his parents could rest in peace. He had made them proud.
Just as he took his first step forward, a crack echoed through the night.
An unexpected pain rang through his head, making him lose his footing.
His vision blurred, the world tilting violently beneath his feet.
And before he could make sense of what was happening, he was on the ground.
Fighting for his own life.
