Chapter 97 Ninety Seven
OWEN WINTERS
Amy and I sat in the Winters mansion waiting for the rest to arrive.
After a few minutes, everyone was gathered in the mansion, some surprised Amy was present there even Kayla.
“Don't be nervous,” I whispered to her, nudging her with my arm. She shrugged.
“I'm not, just carry on,” she said a little too loud.
I searched for Dylan but he hadn't arrived. That meant starting the discussion without him.
Everyone waited eagerly for me to start, and I could sense the excitement bubbling within them.
“We've been victorious these past few days and the news can confirm that,” I said and they agreed in unison.
“Ari has even withdrawn from attacking late at night, she's out of men!” Someone said laughing heartily.
He was right by saying Ari withdrew from attacking so frequently, but was totally wrong when it came to manpower.
She was not stupid.
Xavier's were never stupid.
“Your plan was well carried out and we're leading!” Another added and everyone cheered.
I noticed Kayla watching me intently, her eyes paving way into my mind. She knew what I was thinking — that everyone here was a fool and a loser.
“What do you think?” I asked, nodding at her.
She smiled before speaking, “It's so nice of you to ask for my opinion, Mr Winters. If I should say the truth, we're rejoicing for nothing. I was a Xavier and I know how they operate, she's just stalling waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Amy here knows all about it since she's the main reason this war started, yes?” She gestured towards her, and the crowd stared at her accusingly.
Anger boiled within me, but I needed to keep my cool, I turned to Amy and she looked stunned for a while before regaining composure. She stood to speak, but I held her hands.
“I can do this, trust me,” she whispered and threw her eyes directly at Kayla.
“To be honest, I understand Ari for her resentment towards us, but her actions are utterly unforgivable. Her father was a power hungry man who met his demise at my father's hand. She's out for revenge or maybe wants us to believe she is, but in truth, she's just like her father, nothing more, nothing less-” she waved her eyes towards the crowd gathered.
“Kayla is right, we wait for the last moment to strike, but in this situation, Ari Xavier is desperate and in need of attention, influence and power, so let's focus on destroying her rather than pointing fingers,” she finished and sat back muttering curses at Kayla.
Suddenly, there was a clap, we turned to the direction of the noise. It was Dylan.
He clapped his hands, smiling all the while.
“You're late,” I muttered and he laughed.
“I know and I bring good news,” he said, coming towards me.
Everyone focused their attention to what he had to say and when he said it, one could hear a pin drop in the room.
“Ari sent a letter requesting we pay her a visit to discuss things.”
I knew he wanted to say something else but held himself.
Dylan wanted to say that Ari Xavier was just like her father, power hungry and tactless.
“Isn't that wonderful,” he continued, placing his hands on the large table there.
“What does the letter say?” Amy asked and her father shot her a hard glance questioning why she was here, but he answered anyway.
“It said we should meet at the woods, Owen knows that place, and to have a little chat with her.”
Everyone began to murmur confused if it was real or just one of her many tricks.
Dylan wasn't bothered about the letter so I knew she meant it when she said we should come to meet her.
“When should we meet her?” I asked Dylan and he sagged his shoulders.
“Tonight.”
“Tonight?!” Someone exclaimed and the murmuring increased.
“Calm the fuck down, would you?!” Kayla screamed and the hall became cold with silence.
Then someone spoke up, “If it's tonight, then it's probably a trick, she just wants to get back for what we've been doing to her men!”
I looked at Dylan so he could say something, but he was busy admiring his nails.
“Why do you think it's a trick, Lyon?” I asked and he answered quite annoyed at the question.
“What do you mean why do I think it's a trick? Isn't it obvious? That woman is crazy and you know it!”
I did.
Just then Dylan looked up at them and everywhere returned to its former silence.
“It's not. Let's say this is something we Xavier's do. Ari might not show up but her men would and isn't it the perfect time to kill more men?”
They nodded in agreement.
We began to devise a plan on how to go. Some men were to go upfront and the rest had to wait for a signal.
Dylan and I were going with the men upfront in case Ari was there. The plan was made and I gave everyone a different type of weapon since we dealt with ammunition.
The men lined up as I gave them each a gun and a poisoned knife.
“I guess we're done,” I said to myself, turning to meet Dylan.
“What about me?” Someone asked, making me swivel.
“Amy?”
“I want to join,” she said defiantly, her hands balled into a fist.
Dylan approached us most likely wondering what we were talking about.
“Amy, it's dangerous, I don't want you to get hurt again,” I said, expressing my concern towards her.
Dylan chimed in supporting me. He didn't want his precious daughter to get hurt.
“Sweetheart it's dangerous — Ari is dangerous, please,” he begged, surprising me.
The Dylan I knew never begged, but it looked like when it came to family, he was a total softie.
Amy rolled her eyes reaching for a pistol. She grabbed it before I could stop her and cocked it ready to fire.
She fired at a glass cup that stood far away from her and it shattered the content spilling.
Not to lie, I was impressed, but I didn't want her to have to deal with Ari Xavier, and so was Dylan. For once we thought alike.
“Baby, it's dangerous…”
“Father, you wanted me to prove myself to you right?”
He nodded and soon regretted doing that.
“That's exactly what I'm doing and-” she cocked it again pulling the trigger, she shot at an apple that lay farther away from the glass cup.
“I want to kill that bastard.”