BLOOD IN THE WATER.

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Chapter 52 – Blood in the Water

The night air was heavy. Thick with tension.

Zane stood on the rooftop, his fingers twitching around the cigarette he never lit. Below, the city pulsed—neon lights, rushing cars, the distant hum of life moving on while his own stood on the edge of something irreversible.

Behind him, Vincent was silent.

Too silent.

Zane exhaled sharply, turning to face him. "You're thinking too hard."

Vincent didn't look up. He just stood near the ledge, gaze locked on the streets below like he was already seeing the blood spill.

Zane sighed. "Tell me what's going on in that pretty little head of yours."

Vincent's fingers curled into fists. "Cain was right."

Zane stiffened. He didn't like where this was going. "About?"

Vincent finally turned, his expression carved from stone. "There is no third option, Zane. Lancaster has to die."

Zane's stomach twisted. Not because he disagreed. But because Vincent said it like it was inevitable. Like it was already done.

And maybe, in his mind, it was.

Zane took a step closer. "And what happens after that, huh? You kill him, and then what?"

Vincent didn't answer.

Zane's chest tightened. "You think the Council won't come after you? You think you won't have a target on your back for the rest of your life?" He let out a bitter laugh. "Shit, Vincent. You think I won't?"

Something flickered in Vincent's eyes.

Zane pressed on. "You're not the only one in this, you know. If you go to war, I go with you."

Vincent's jaw clenched. "I never asked you to."

Zane's breath caught.

It shouldn't have hurt. But it did.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Then—Zane forced a smirk. A lazy, reckless thing that didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah? Too bad. I'm already in it."

Vincent exhaled slowly. Shaking his head like Zane was something impossible.

Zane took another step forward, voice softer now. "Look, I get it. You're used to doing this alone. But you don't have to." His fingers brushed against Vincent's wrist—gentle, just a ghost of contact. "Let me in."

Vincent didn't move. Didn't breathe.

For a moment, Zane thought—this is it.

The moment Vincent finally gives in.

Then—

Vincent stepped back.

The space between them stretched. Cold.

Zane's stomach dropped.

Vincent's voice was quiet. "You should leave, Zane."

Zane's heart pounded. "And if I don't?"

Vincent hesitated.

Then—his eyes darkened. "Then I'll make you."

Zane stared at him.

Vincent meant it.

But so did he.

Zane exhaled slowly, tilting his head with a smirk that hid everything breaking inside him. "Guess we'll see who wins, then."

And just like that—

The line was drawn.

And neither of them could go back.

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