It begins with us.

Chapter Thirty-Six

⚠️Warning⚠️

Contains violence and death.

Yaakov's POV

The air surrounding the docks was stale and damp, making the black long sleeve shirt and black cargo pants I was wearing stick to my skin like an unwelcomed visitor. The smell of the salt water mixed with the fumes that were pouring out of the container ship tickled my nose and straightened my spin. The atmosphere left harsh goosebumps on my skin as I remained perfectly still alongside Danial and Aries, crouched down amongst old wooden pallets that had been discarded at the far end of the dock. Judging by how rotten the wood looked, and the rats that had built nests deep inside the timber, I'd say this part of the dock wasn't visited quite often. Which was perfect for us.

"Twenty-four bodies in the main area... fourteen on their six and ten on their twelve."

Omars voice rang out through the earpiece that was currently placed inside my right ear. That was a total of forty-eight men. I cracked my neck, enjoying the feeling of the bones popping as the tension released itself from my shoulders.

"We will have to move stealthy and quick. We cannot afford to injure the women and children."

I say, looking at the men grouped around the area where the container was being loaded off of the ship. The sounds of rusted metal rubbing together echoed throughout the dark night, the chains creaking under the weight of the container gave off an eerie sound, like it was telling a story of what was to come. The men laughed as they smoked casually under the flickering light that hung from one of the lamp posts, unaware of what was hidden in the shadows. The sun had all but set as the moon cast its white glow down around us, making sticking to the shadow even more important. But they all had made one mistake. They had grown too cocky with their dealings, too casual while leaving so many opportunities for hiding available. They thought they were alone. The docks were located in the secluded area of Eilat, surrounded by sea, sand and old dilapidated buildings that once housed many fish markets that stretched across the dock, now they were all forgotten about, left to rot away while the years rolled on. Our vans had dropped us off before driving the twenty minutes to the closest source of life. There was nowhere for them to be parked without someone spotting them and fucking this whole thing up.

"Can you make out the men?"

Aries questioned, eyes never leaving the twenty-four that stood underneath the lights of the ship that beamed down onto the dock. I knew my gut was right, no one needed to identify these men as part of Uri's family. But I did understand Aries concerns. This was a valid reason to go to war with another family, but not one if we had made a mistake.

"They are Dumrains."

Dan growled into his earpiece as a sneer tugged at my lips. My eyes slid over to Aries position, seeing his head shake slightly before nodding once.

"Satisfied?"

His eyes showed the devastation he felt, jaw clenched and hands gripping both of his guns tightly.

"I am sorry my King. I just didn't want to believe that our own would be capable of something this horrendous."

His voice dripped with venom as it fuelled my own beast dwelling within.

"We all would like to see the good in people, even ones we have considered family, but that's what makes the deception so much greater."

I say, leaning in close enough that I wouldn't make a sound to trigger any unwanted attention, but I wanted Aries to succeed in the title his father would pass down to him one day, and to have the knowledge to spot deceit within someone, even if they are family.