Twenty minutes passed, and Tony leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze darting between his siblings, his expression unreadable. The silence in the room was thick, but Tony finally broke it, his voice calm yet firm. “So,” he asked, his tone laced with expectation, “what do you two think about the plan?” His question hung in the air like a challenge, daring them to question him.
Ben and Donna exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions a mix of hesitation and curiosity. Neither of them spoke immediately, as if weighing the gravity of what they had just heard. After a few long seconds, Ben finally broke the silence, his voice measured but cautious. “Honestly,” he began, “the plan seems solid. You’ve thought it through. But…” He hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. “Does Dad know about this? Or are we keeping him in the dark?”
Tony reached forward, his movements deliberate, and grabbed the glass of water sitting before him. He took a slow sip, as if buying himself time to form his response, before setting the glass down with a distinct clink. He shook his head, his expression unchanging. “No,” he admitted bluntly, his voice calm but resolute, as though it were a matter of little concern.
“So, you’re just… not telling Dad about this?” Ben pressed, his tone carrying both curiosity and a hint of worry. His eyes narrowed slightly, trying to read Tony’s thoughts.
Tony let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as he leaned forward. “It’s not like I’m hiding it from him,” he explained, his voice low but steady. “The truth is… Dad doesn’t agree with using the resources of Darknetz. He thinks it’s too dangerous, too risky. But let’s face it-we can’t take down the Midnight Fang Pack by ourselves. We just don’t have the strength or the numbers. This is the only option we have left.”
Ben nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful as he mulled over Tony’s reasoning. There was a certain logic to what his brother was saying, even if it didn’t sit entirely well with him. “I see your point,” he said after a moment, his tone reluctant but understanding.
Tony’s sharp eyes swept across their faces, searching for any sign of doubt. “The real question,” he said, his voice gaining a sharper edge, “is whether or not you two are in. Are you with me, or not?”
Before Ben could even open his mouth to respond, Donna slammed her hand down on the table with a sudden burst of energy. Her voice was bold, her tone fiery with determination. “Count me in!” she exclaimed, her words slicing through the air like a blade.
Both Tony and Ben turned to her in surprise, their eyebrows shooting up at her sudden outburst. They hadn’t expected her to be the first to speak up.
“What?” Donna said, noticing their startled expressions. “Don’t look at me like that. Have you both forgotten what they did to Nelly? The way they treated her? We can’t just let that slide! We have to do something!” Her voice trembled with a mix of anger and passion, her eyes brimming with a fire that was impossible to ignore. Yet, despite the intensity of her words, Tony and Ben couldn’t help but chuckle, amused by her outburst.
Donna’s face twisted in frustration, her expression darkening as she glared at her brothers. “What’s so funny?” she demanded, her voice sharp. “I’m serious about this!”
The laughter in the room faded as Tony and Ben realized the depth of her emotions. They could see the frustration and guilt written plainly across her face, the weight of it pressing down on her. Donna’s voice softened, trembling slightly. “I didn’t realize how dangerous this place was when Nelly first came here,” she admitted, her gaze dropping to the table. “And I had no idea what she went through until now. I should’ve been there for her. I failed her.” A shadow of sadness flickered in her eyes, a heavy burden of guilt that she couldn’t shake.
Ben glanced at Tony, his expression softening. “What matters now,” he said gently, his tone reassuring, “is that we’re here. We’re going to fix this. We’re going to make things right. Dwelling on the past won’t change it, Donna. What’s important is what we do now.”
Donna straightened her posture, her resolve hardening as she met her brothers’ eyes. “That’s exactly why I’m helping this time,” she declared, her voice steady and unwavering. “I won’t sit on the sidelines again.”
Tony frowned slightly, his brow furrowing in thought. “Donna,” he said, his tone cautious, “if you’re not going to train with Darknetz, I think you should sit this one out. This isn’t a game. It’s dangerous.”
“Why?” Donna asked, her voice tinged with confusion. “Why can’t I help?”
“It’s for your own good,” Tony replied, his tone firm and serious. “This isn’t just about revenge. It’s about making sure we all come out of this alive.”
Ben nodded in agreement, his expression somber. “He’s right,” he said. “Let us handle this. We’ll make sure Nelly gets the justice she deserves, Donna. You don’t need to take that risk.”
Donna hesitated, her gaze shifting between her brothers. She could see the concern in their eyes, the fear of losing her to the dangers ahead. But after a moment, she straightened her back and lifted her chin. “Even if my role is small,” she said firmly, “I want to help. I have to. Otherwise, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Her determination was clear, and Tony sighed, realizing there was no talking her out of it. “Fine,” he said at last, his tone resigned. “But promise me one thing-no matter what happens, take care of yourself first. Above all else, your safety comes first.”
Donna nodded, her expression resolute. “Don’t worry about me. This isn’t about throwing ourselves into danger. We’re doing this for justice-for Nelly. The last thing we want is to make her more upset.”
“Exactly,” Ben agreed, his voice steady.
Tony leaned forward slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “There’s one more thing we need to handle before we make our move,” he said, his words carrying a hint of mischief.
Ben and Donna both turned their attention to him, their curiosity piqued. “What is it?” Ben asked.
“Ben,” Tony began, his tone sly, “Miguel told me Alpha Dave has an armory nearby. I know you’ve always wanted to check it out. I think we can get Dad and Alpha Dave to take you there tomorrow.”
Ben raised an eyebrow, his expression suspicious. “Cut to the chase, Tony,” he said. “What are you really getting at?”
Tony’s smirk grew. “I need you to keep Dad and Alpha Dave busy tomorrow,” he said bluntly.
Ben’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Got it.”
Donna crossed her arms, her brow furrowing. “And what about me?” she asked, her tone expectant.
Tony turned to her, his expression serious. “I need you to stay with Nelly. See if you can get her to sketch a map of the Midnight Fang Pack’s territory. It’s critical.”
Donna’s brow furrowed deeper. “Of course, I get the hardest job,” she muttered.
Tony’s confidence didn’t waver. “You can handle it,” he said simply.
Donna rolled her eyes but finally nodded. “Fine,” she agreed, though her tone carried a hint of exasperation.
As her words fell, a hardened look crossed Tony’s face. The plan was in motion.
The next morning, the three siblings found themselves standing in the dimly lit entrance of a hidden underground room. The air was cool and slightly damp, the faint hum of machinery somewhere in the background adding to the atmosphere of secrecy. Tony stepped forward first, his movements deliberate and confident, as though he belonged there. The moment he entered, a man in his mid-thirties, lean but sharp-eyed, immediately stood from his seat and greeted him with a respectful bow.
“Master, you’re here,” Miguel said, his voice carrying a tone of both reverence and urgency. Despite Tony’s young age, Miguel’s demeanor reflected absolute respect, even admiration. He wasn’t the kind of man to underestimate others, and Tony had more than earned his acknowledgment. To Miguel, Tony’s intellect and abilities were nothing short of extraordinary, far surpassing what one might expect of a boy his age.
Tony didn’t reply immediately, nor did he return the greeting. Instead, he walked further into the room and chose a sturdy wooden chair near the center. He sat down without a word, leaning back with an air of calm authority that felt far too natural for someone so young. Miguel, quick to act, scanned the nearby table and grabbed a lollipop, unwrapping it without hesitation. He stepped forward and handed it to Tony with both hands, as if offering a sacred gift.
Tony glanced at the candy briefly, his sharp eyes assessing it as though it carried far more significance than it did. Then, with a small nod of approval, he accepted the lollipop and popped it into his mouth without uttering a word. The silence that followed felt almost theatrical.
Donna, who had followed closely behind Tony, blinked in confusion at the exchange. Her brows furrowed as she leaned toward Ben, whispering under her breath, “Wait a second-when did Tony start taking on disciples? And why does that guy look like he’s worshipping him?”
Ben, standing beside her with his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow and shrugged lazily. “Beats me,” he muttered, his voice equally low. There was a flicker of amusement in his expression, but he didn’t elaborate.
Donna frowned, her curiosity only growing. “Did he… expose his identity?” she pressed, her voice barely above a whisper as she glanced cautiously toward Miguel.
Ben’s shrug deepened, his tone growing even more casual. “I have no idea,” he replied, his lips curling into a faint smirk. He clearly wasn’t as concerned as Donna was, which only irritated her further.
The siblings’ quiet exchange went unnoticed by Miguel, who was now standing behind Tony with a focused expression. Miguel reached out and began massaging Tony’s shoulders, his movements careful and precise. “Relax, Master,” Miguel said, his voice smooth and almost soothing. “We’ve got this. Today’s the day we bring him down. I’ll make sure of it.”
Tony, his gaze fixed on the large computer monitor in front of him, didn’t even blink. His voice, calm and low, carried a distinct authority as he responded, “Stop brown-nosing me and sit down. Just watch and learn.”
Miguel immediately stopped what he was doing, clearly not offended by Tony’s curt response. Instead, he nodded in understanding, grabbed a nearby stool, and sat down obediently at Tony’s side. He folded his hands in his lap and waited patiently, his eyes flicking occasionally toward the monitor to see what Tony was working on.
From where they stood, Ben and Donna exchanged another look. The silent communication between the two siblings was almost telepathic-it was clear they were both thinking the same thing. After a beat, Ben stepped forward, his voice breaking the tense silence. “We’re heading out now,” he announced, his tone steady.
Tony turned slightly in his chair, his sharp eyes locking onto Ben. “Stay in contact at all times,” he instructed firmly. There was no room for argument in his tone, only an unspoken expectation that his orders would be followed.
Ben inclined his head in a small nod, his lips curling into a confident smirk. “Got it,” he said simply. Donna, standing beside him, gave a smaller, more subdued nod before the two of them turned and strode toward the exit.
Once the sound of Donna’s footsteps faded, Miguel leaned slightly toward Tony, his expression curious. “Who was that girl?” he asked, his tone casual but carrying a note of genuine interest. “She’s stunning.”
Tony didn’t look up from the monitor. “She’s my sister,” he replied flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Miguel blinked, clearly surprised. “Your biological sister?” he asked, as though the idea was difficult to believe.
Tony finally turned his head to shoot Miguel a sharp look, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What else would she be?” he said, his voice carrying a subtle edge of annoyance.
Miguel raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, his expression sheepish. “No offense,” he said quickly. “It’s just… you two don’t really look alike, that’s all.”
Tony’s gaze softened slightly, and he turned his attention back to the monitor. “She got all the best traits from Dad and my mom,” he said simply, his tone calm once more.
Miguel tilted his head thoughtfully, his mind turning over Tony’s words. “Now that I think about it, she does resemble Alpha Kilian a little…” he mused aloud, trailing off as if lost in thought.
Tony didn’t respond this time. His focus was fully on the monitor, his fingers suddenly flying across the keyboard with practiced precision. The rapid clacking of the keys filled the room, the sound sharp and rhythmic, almost hypnotic. Miguel leaned back slightly on his stool, watching in silent awe as Tony worked.
The air in the room grew heavier, the tension palpable. Whatever Tony was doing, it was clear that it was important. Every keystroke felt deliberate, every line of code purposeful. Miguel remained silent, knowing better than to interrupt.