Chapter Text
Anakinn held the piece of paper in front of Vegas’s face, almost rubbing it all over his face; he was completely beside himself. The head of the main family was barely holding back his rage so as not to shout; he was trembling, his emotions tearing him apart inside, yet unable to show it.
Vegas gripped Kinn’s wrist tightly to stop his frenzy, snatched the paper from his hands, and proceeded to read it in silence… Vegas paled as his eyes scanned the words; it took him a second to comprehend what he held in his hands. Without a word, he let go of his cousin and then quickly moved to the opposite corner of the room; with a growl, he crumpled the piece of paper in his right fist into a ball and threw it into the burning fireplace, the smell of wood and burnt paper flooding the room. Vegas turned to Kinn, who had remained in place the whole time, barely following the younger family head’s movements with his eyes.
“Are there more copies? Do you have other copies here, Kinn? Because you have to get rid of everything right now!!”—Vegas didn’t raise his voice; no, they didn’t do that among themselves anymore. Ha, they no longer gave orders, or yelled, or humiliated each other, so with a cold, hard voice, he spoke again. “I know you’re not stupid enough to leave a trail, but I need you to confirm it right now, damn it!”
Anakinn composed himself, took a deep breath; he was still trembling, but he was visibly much more in control. He spoke in a methodical, stern voice, as if giving a mission report—more to steady himself than anything else. “Yes, this was the only copy. The lab where the tests were sent was a local one, 100% reliable, but without a backup on their servers. Last night there was a fire at their facility and months of data were lost, including these tests. It’s believed to have been a short circuit, an unfortunate accident; there’s no way any trace will lead back to us or the family,” Kinn declared, looking past his cousin, watching as the fireplace burned and carried away the secret they now shared.
“And the men who did the job?” asked Vegas… “All dead,” Kinn interrupted. “I personally made sure none of our men were involved; I hired a couple of small-time thugs that no one will miss.”
Anakinn squared his shoulders and stepped closer to Vegas. He looked him in the eyes, which reflected torment—he was sure his own did too—and said, “Only you and I know the contents of that analysis; there’s no one else. It’s our secret now. And I haven’t a fucking clue what we’ll do with that information,” Kinn concluded.
The windows of the hotel suite reflect a white blanket covering the city, while the snow continues to fall. Two men—two cousins—far from home, share a secret that could change everything for their bloodline, their family, and their legacy.
What would you be willing to keep secret?
What would you be willing to reveal?
If the truth hurts, isn't it better to tell a white lie?