Collateral Blood

6

Lucas Montgomery's home, once a sanctuary of comfort and warmth, now felt like a battleground. The evening's events had turned his world upside down. The smoke outside had long dissipated, but the acrid smell still lingered, a grim reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. As Lucas paced the living room, his anger was palpable. The room, filled with the echoes of his own frustrated roars, seemed to shrink under the weight of his rage.

Maria stood nearby, her face pale and her eyes filled with a mix of fear and helplessness. She had been trying to comfort Lucas, but the fear for their daughter's safety had left her emotionally drained. The reality of Sloan's abduction had hit her hard, and the thought that her only child was caught in the crossfire of their violent world was more than she could bear.

Lucas's phone buzzed insistently, a stark contrast to the tense silence that had enveloped the house. He grabbed it with a violent swipe, his fingers shaking as he dialed the number of his most trusted lieutenants within the Black Vipers. His tone was icy and filled with controlled fury.

"Get me Liam. Now."

The call was answered almost immediately. Liam, one of Lucas's right-hand men, was on the other end of the line. His voice was steady, though there was an edge of concern.

"Lucas, what's going on?"

Lucas's temper flared, his words coming out in a snarl. "My daughter has been taken. I need to know who did this, why they did it, and where the hell she is."

There was a brief silence on the other end before Liam responded, his voice carefully measured. "What happened? The smoke outside—was that related?"

"Don't play games with me, Liam," Lucas snapped. "I know it was a diversion. They took Sloan while Maria and I were outside. I need you to find out who is responsible for this. No one interferes with my family and gets away with it."

Liam's tone grew serious. "Alright, Lucas. I'll get on it immediately. We'll trace the source of the smoke grenade and see if we can find any leads. But I need more details. Who saw anything unusual? Do you have any clues?"

Lucas's patience was wearing thin. "The smoke was a diversion to get us out of the house. Whoever did this knew what they were doing. I want every resource we have put to work on this. Find out who's behind it, and make sure we get Sloan back."

The conversation ended with Liam promising to investigate and report back as soon as possible. Lucas slammed his phone down, his anger reaching a boiling point. The notion of someone daring to touch his family, to disrupt his life in such a personal way, was beyond infuriating. The loving father had been replaced by the ruthless gang leader who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

Maria, unable to contain her own fear, approached Lucas cautiously. "Lucas, please. We need to think this through. Sloan... she doesn't know anything about this world. She's innocent. This isn't just about you anymore."

Lucas's eyes, once soft with affection, now blazed with a cold, calculating fire. "Maria, don't you think I know that? I'm not blind to what's happening. But this is bigger than just us. No one messes with my family and gets away with it. I will find out who did this and make them pay."

Maria's fear was evident. "What if Sloan gets hurt? What if they... do something to her?"

Lucas's face hardened. "If anyone touches her, they'll regret the day they were born. I'll use every resource at my disposal to get her back. You have my word on that."

The weight of the situation hung heavily in the room. Lucas's anger was a force to be reckoned with, but it was also a double-edged sword. His wrath, while driving him to act decisively, also risked clouding his judgment. The search for Sloan and the pursuit of revenge were now intertwined, and the potential for collateral damage was high.

Lucas's mind raced as he began mobilizing his network of informants and contacts. He needed answers, and he needed them fast. His usual methods of intimidation and persuasion would be brought to bear, and anyone with information would be pressured to deliver.

He called upon his most trusted operatives within the Black Vipers, issuing orders to track down any leads on Sloan's whereabouts. His network of spies and informants was vast, and he demanded results quickly. Lucas's voice was a growl of barely-contained fury as he directed his men.

"Find out who was behind the smoke grenade. I want to know every detail. This isn't just about a simple kidnapping. Whoever did this has made a grave mistake, and they'll pay dearly for it."

Maria watched as Lucas's demeanour shifted from a concerned father to a formidable leader of a criminal empire. Her heart ached for their daughter and the turmoil that had been thrust upon them. She knew that Sloan was now a pawn in a dangerous game, and her own ability to protect her child was limited.

As Lucas made his calls and organized his search, Maria was left to grapple with the reality of their situation. She knew that their world, filled with danger and violence, had now collided with the innocent life of their daughter. The fragile separation between their criminal life and their family life had been shattered, and the consequences of this breach were still unfolding.

The tension in the Montgomery household was palpable. Every moment was filled with the fear of what might happen next, and the uncertainty of Sloan's fate loomed large. As Lucas worked furiously to track down the kidnappers and secure his daughter's return, Maria was left to watch and wait, hoping against hope that their family could be reunited without further tragedy.