CHAPTER 30

Ricky leaned in, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "Dude, I heard it was a wild fight! Alexander and his crew were merciless. I wish I could've been there to see it for myself."

Vicky, sipping her latte, didn't even flinch, her gaze fixed on her phone. "Mmm-hmm... yeah, sounds intense."

Ricky continued, "I know, right? I've been trying to get into those underground fights for ages. My friends said it was a real brawl. I'm so jealous I missed it."

Vicky's expression remained neutral, her thumbs scrolling through her phone with a practiced air. "Uh-huh... glad I didn't go, sounds too violent for me."

Ricky chuckled, "Come on, Vicky, you're such a wimp. You're missing out on all the fun."

Vicky rolled her eyes, still not looking up, "I'll stick to my books, thanks."

Ricky shrugged, undeterred, "Suit yourself, sis. But I'm telling you, those fights are the real deal. I'll get into one eventually, mark my words."

Vicky retorted, "Oh, yeah, sure, Ricky, you're so eager to get into those fights, but who's fault was it that you got banned from those clubs in the first place? You got kicked out for two years because you lost your cool when your fighter lost! Remember that tantrum you threw?"

Ricky's face turned bright red as he stuttered, "Uh, well, it was... uh... a moment of passion, yeah, that's it. I just really believed in my fighter and got emotional when he didn't win."

Vicky chuckled, "Emotional? You call getting into a shouting match with the judges and throwing a chair 'emotional'? Please, Ricky, you're lucky they didn't ban you for life!"

Ricky looked down, his embarrassment evident, "Shut up, Vicky... it was a one-time mistake, okay?"

Vicky teased, "Sure, sure, keep telling yourself that, little brother. Maybe next time you'll learn to keep your cool... or at least not get caught!"

Ricky's face remained red as he muttered under his breath, "This is why I don't tell you anything..."

Ricky said with a grin, "Hey, don't forget, Vicky, you're only older than me by a minute!"

Vicky's eyes narrowed, "Still older, Ricky! And don't you forget it!"

Ricky chuckled, "Of course, you're an old lady, Granny V!"

Vicky's face turned red with anger, "RICKY! THAT'S IT, I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR TEASING!" She slammed her fist on the table, making the cups and saucers rattle.

Ricky laughed, "Whoa, calm down, Vicky! Don't throw a tantrum because you're getting old!"

Vicky's eyes flashed, "I AM NOT OLD! AND I'M NOT THROWING A TANTRUM, I'M JUST STANDING UP FOR MYSELF AGAINST YOUR CONSTANT TEASING!"

The cafe patrons began to stare, and Ricky held up his hands in mock surrender, "Okay, okay, Granny V! I surrender! Don't hurt me with your walker!"

Vicky's face turned purple with rage, and she looked like she was about to explode. Ricky laughed and leaned back in his chair, enjoying the show.

The tantrum was met with a familiar roll of the eyes from the cafe staff, who had witnessed countless sibling squabbles between Ricky and Vicky over the years. The twins' parents, owners of the popular cafe chain, had long since grown accustomed to their children's lively disputes and had learned to let them sort things out on their own.

As Vicky continued to fume, Ricky calmly sipped his coffee, unfazed by his sister's outburst. The cafe's patrons, a mix of locals and tourists, went about their business, some chuckling and shaking their heads in amusement at the siblings' antics.

After a few moments, Vicky's anger subsided, and she huffed, "Fine, but you're still a jerk, Ricky." The twins' argument ended as quickly as it began, with no hard feelings or consequences, just another day in the life of the lively and lovable siblings, Ricky and Vicky.

...Jack...

Jack sat in the van, surrounded by three burly men with stern expressions, wondering where he was being taken. He tried to make small talk, asking "Hey, guys, where are we headed? Got a hot date with a boxing ring?" But his jokes were met with silence.

He tried again, "Come on, fellas, can't you tell me what's going on? Am I being kidnapped or just getting a really bad haircut?" But the men remained stone-faced, their eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Jack's mind raced back to the mysterious phone call that had started it all. A low, gravelly voice had given him orders - "Meet us at the location sent to your phone. Come alone." The call had ended abruptly, leaving Jack with more questions than answers. He had received a text with a location pin, but no further explanation.

As the van continued to drive, Jack's anxiety grew. He was trapped, and no one was giving him any answers. He was at the mercy of these mysterious men, and he didn't like it one bit. The silence was oppressive, and Jack's attempts at humor were met with an unsettling silence, making him feel like a prisoner en route to an unknown fate.

The van finally came to a stop in front of a secluded house, surrounded by dense woods and overgrown bushes. The three burly men got out, and one of them opened the side door, gesturing for Jack to exit.

As Jack stepped out onto the crumbling driveway, he asked again, "What's going on? Where am I? What do you want from me?"

But the men ignored his questions, their faces expressionless. They turned and got back into the van, which quickly reversed out of the driveway and sped away, leaving Jack alone in the silence.

Jack looked around, taking in his surroundings. The house loomed before him, its windows boarded up, and the door hanging crookedly on its hinges. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay. He felt a shiver run down his spine as he realized he was truly alone, with no phone signal and no way to escape.

The silence was oppressive, and Jack's mind raced with worst-case scenarios. What did they want from him? Why had they brought him here? And what lay in store for him in that foreboding house?

In the van, the burly men were visibly shaken, their faces glistening with sweat. One of them, clearly a rookie, spoke up, "Why did we just leave him there? We can't just leave him in the middle of nowhere!"

The other two men glared at him, their expressions a mix of annoyance and fear. The driver, who seemed to be the leader, clicked his tongue and said, "If we had stayed a second longer, we would have never left. That place is not to be trifled with."

The rookie pressed on, "But what about that guy? We can't just abandon him!"

One of the other men snarled, his patience worn thin, "What about him? The boss ordered it, so he'll live. That's if...that thing will listen. Now shut the fuck up and stop with the endless questions!"

The van fell silent, the only sound the hum of the engine and the heavy breathing of the men. It was clear that they were all shaken by whatever had just transpired, and the rookie's questions were only adding to the tension. The driver's words hung in the air, leaving a sense of foreboding and dread.