Victor's Retaliation

Aria’s POV

I could feel the tension in the air as Victor drew closer. Not anymore was I afraid. After dealing with him numerous times, I got a more complete understanding of the man who was attempting to destroy Cole's life. This time, however, there was something odd about him as he approached us with his deliberate, leisurely pace. A darker thing.

Even while Victor's eyes were as steely as ever, they were tinged with something more today: resentment. His tight, almost mocking smile suggested that he was enjoying some invisible triumph.

Victor's voice was as seductive as ever as he said, "You both are still here." "I assumed you would have discovered by now. You can't escape your history. I can't be outrun.

I took a slap from his remarks, but I pulled myself together. They were all familiar to me. With each interaction with Victor, I became stronger and more confident in my identity and goals. I was not going to give up this time.

Beside me, Cole's posture changed, tight as a coiled spring about to break. I saw the anger building in his eyes. He would not submit to his father's authority once more.

Victor's eyes shifted to Cole and back to me, and a small smile that stopped short of his eyes curled his lips. "You believe that you have won, don't you? Do you believe that this small engagement of yours will prevent me from reclaiming what is mine? You consider it all to be a game, don't you?"

Standing up, I folded my arms across my chest. "Nothing was taken from you by us. Victor, you lost it. You went too far. It's too late to fix it now.

Victor's smile completely vanished as his eyes furrowed. "You think you can just stand here and give me a lecture? Do you believe that I will allow you to inherit my legacy, Cole? I'm not going to allow a few kids playing pretend to undermine all I've worked so hard to create and everything I've sacrificed."

Cole balled his fists up. His rage was growing, and I could sense it, but there was more. He had a quality that I had never noticed before. Something like resolution, like he'd decided something. The man who had once yearned for his father's praise was now standing here, uncompromising, and resolved to put an end to this.

Cole responded, "You're wrong," in a stern but quiet voice. Legacy is no longer the focus of this. Control is the key. And it won't be returned to you."

Victor's eerie, hollow laughter echoed out. Do you believe you've triumphed, Cole? "You believe you can simply abandon me and everything I've created?" His eyes deepened in disdain as he shook his head. "You're not leaving me, I assure you. You won't.

I felt like I was being punched in the stomach by his remarks, but I remained strong. Not now, not here.

Cole was staring at his father with an expression I couldn't quite place when I looked at him. A mixture of fury and something else, something deeper, was present. Worry? Is it regret? I was unaware. Whatever it was, though, Victor was still in control of him. Even now, following all of the events.

Cole stated in a firm voice, "I'm done playing your games, Father." "I'm no longer under your authority. You have no authority over anything in my life.

I feared Victor might hit me for a second as his eyes hardened. He appeared to want to, his eyes burning with hatred, but the anger vanished behind that icy mask of his as fast as it had appeared.

"Cole, you think it's that easy? That I'll let it go if you simply leave and take what's mine?" Victor's voice grew low and growled. "You are incorrect. I win. I'll make sure you both feel bad about this.

The ominous promise hung in the air, and I could feel the weight of his warning. However, I was not intimidated.

My voice was powerful as I stated, "We won't regret it." Victor, whatever you try to throw at us, we're prepared.

Victor's mouth curled into a menacing smile. "Oh, I’m sure you think you are," he responded in a venomous tone. However, there's something you're unaware of. Something that will completely alter the situation.

I could sense the uneasiness beginning to seep in, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. What did he have to say? What was the plan he had?

Victor moved in closer, his voice lowered for our ears only. You see, Cole, I've always been aware of your weakness. Something that I might use against you. And now that I have the power to undo all of your hard work, I can do it."

With a pounding heart, I glanced at Cole. "What is he talking about, Cole?"

Although he didn't respond immediately, I could see the storm building in the back of his eyes. He had been upset by something his father had said, and I knew it wasn't anything to take lightly.

Victor looked from one of us to the other, his eyes shining with joy. You're not even aware of what I possess, are you? This is the one thing that may destroy you both. "That one thing that will make you plead for my forgiveness."

Trying to maintain a steady voice, I took a step forward. "What's that, Victor? What might it be that you possess that we haven't already addressed?

Victor made a low, throaty laugh that made my skin crawl. Oh, you'll learn soon enough. To put it mildly, Cole, the past tends to catch up with you. And it's impossible to avoid this time."

His footsteps echoed in the quiet room as he turned and left before I could reply. His comments hung heavy in the air, and I could feel the tension building between us.

The ---

The next few hours passed quickly. Cole was so focused on whatever Victor had meant that he hardly spoke. By now, I was familiar enough with him to recognize that he was having trouble controlling his emotions. This was no longer solely about the vineyard. It had to do with personal matters. Something Victor had discovered about Cole's history.

Cole abruptly broke the stillness as we sat in the study, surrounded by papers and paperwork, by saying, "I'm going to fix this." “I’m going to deal with whatever it is.”

He spoke with a sense of resolve, but there was also a trace of fear in his voice. The fear of losing everything.

With my hand on his, I gently said, "We'll fix it together." "No matter what he throws at us, we can manage. We simply need to remain one step ahead.

With a nod, he tightened his hold on my hand. "There will be no victor. No, not now.

However, as I gazed at him, I couldn't get rid of the sense that something was lacking. An important thing. What did Victor possess about us? What may be his one weapon against Cole?

With my thoughts racing, I reclined in my chair. Somehow we must be missing something. Something we hadn't thought of.

My thoughts kept me awake that night as I lay in bed next to Cole. Victor's comments were coming back to me repeatedly. He had something. Something that has the potential to ruin us. What it was, I had to know. I needed to learn before it was too late.

I was ready to fall asleep when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I grabbed for it, thinking it might be Cole's message.

My heart skipped a beat, though, as I saw the name on the screen.

Someone from an unidentified number texted me.

* "You're about to lose everything, but you're not aware of it yet. I will ensure it. – V"*

My heart thumping in my chest, I gazed at the television. How did he mean it? What did Victor have planned?

Another message came up before I could consider any more.

* "Ariana, keep in mind what I said. History always catches up with us. *

I was struck with the realization like a freight train.

Victor wasn't merely a danger to Cole. *Us* were in danger from him.

And he had a piece of our history that had the power to destroy everything.