The Day of Reckoning

    Luolen

    The bday /bof breckoning /bhad be /b

    bDespite /bnot being the one stepping onto the battlefield, ba /bknot twisted deep in my gut. I’d learned to btrust /bthat bfeeling/b. Something was off. I couldn’t afford overconfidence–not today. Arrogance was a luxury bfools /bIndulged in before getting themselves killed.

    We were still in the suite, going over final preparations before moving out. I had called for a private strategy meeting–nothing left to chance. The television was already broadcasting live footage from the bbattleground/bb, /bthough the field remained empty. Just the wind and silence.

    Darian reached for the remote and hit mute. The room quieted further as he sank into the couch across bfrom /bollibme/bb. /b/li/ol

    “It’s finally here, big brother,” he said.

    We both looked toward our father.

    He sat still, arms rxed, legs slightly apartb, /bstaring at nothing in particr. To anyone else, he looked serene. But I could see it–the way his fingers tapped the armrest, the subtle clench of his jaw.

    “I’ve waited twenty–three years for this,” he said finally, his voice low. “And now that it’s here… I really don’t

    know how to feel.”

    I smiled faintly. “You’ll win. One–on–one, you have him. But don’t drop your guard. That bastard’s full of tricks. He’s noting for a fair fight. He’sing for blood.”

    I paused, then switched to the mind link.

    b-From /bbthis /bbmoment /bbon/bb, /bball /bbstrategy talk /bbstays /bbin /bbthe /bblink/bb. /bbThis /bbroom /bbmight /bbbe /bbbugged/b.

    Three heads nodded in unison. No one questioned it.

    I turned my attention to my father, then reached out to Denis and Rowan through the link.

    b-Time /bbto /bblock /bbin/bb. /bbCheck /bbsecurity/bb, /bbfallback /bbpositions/bb, /bband /bbbe ready for interference/bb. /bI bwant /bbeyes /bbon /bbevery possible angle /bbric /bbcould /bbexploit/bb. /bbNo /bbassumptions/bb. /b

    The pressure in the room was heavy, but controlled. Focused.

    This wasn’t just a fight.

    It was the end of something that had ruled our lives for far too long.

    “Call and confirm that the three hundred men are on standby,” I said, my tone sharp. “If ric decides to get clever, they move in–no hesitation, As for the rest of us, we stay visible. We observe the fight in in sight.”

    I looked around the room, meeting every gaze.

    “I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a wife to go home to. None of us are dying here today. And we damn sure

    aren’t letting ric win.”

    Everyone nodded, voices ovepping in agreement. A single rhythm. United.

    then I tumed to my father His eyes were Calin buit

    rage of belmyal of bgrief /b

    Father I saidb, /bstepping closer, b“/bbI /bneed byou /bto bfight /bbhim /bwith a clear mind. Don’t let anger driver yo everything bYou’re /bbnot /bbdoing this /bbfor /bbrevenge/bb, /bbYou’re /bdoing this for bpeace/b. For safety. For our family for ind

    bHe /bwas still, listening.

    bknow /bbyou /bwant revenge–we all do. But if you let that fuel you, it’ll blind you. My mother is bproud /bof byou /bWherever she is, I know it. You’ve done right by me. And Martha… she loves you with everything bshe’s /bbgot/bb. /bIf it were up to her, you wouldn’t even be out thereb. /b

    I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady.

    “You don’t have anything left to prove, Father. Not to any of bus/b.b” /b

    He nodded slowly, then stood. Darian and I moved in and wrapped our arms around himb. /bbIt /bwas instinctive. Natural. Strong men clinging to the one person none of us could afford to lose.

    “Don’t die out there, Father,” I said quietly.

    He let out a low chuckle. “You must think so little of me. I’m not an old man. Ask Marab–/bshe’ll tell you.”

    We all groaned at that,ughing despite the tension. Typical him. Even now, he found a way to make us smile.

    “I know you’re strong,” I said, looking him dead in the eyes. “But I’m not ready to say goodbye.”

    His expression shifted–just slightly. Something flickered there. Maybe fear. Maybe love.

    He pulled me into another tight hug, then reached for Darian again.

    “I’m not ready to die either,” he said, voice quiet.

    We allughed again–nervous, relieved. There was still weight in the air, but it felt lighter somehow.

    If everything went to n, by the end of the day, ric would be a memory. A dark chapter finally closed. And maybe–just maybe–we could start living again.

    bComments /b

    bGet /bBonus b(/bbAd/b)

    bVote /b

    b457 /b

    2/