Poisoned Waters | ✓

|𝟑𝟎| "𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐥"

   𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 paranoia caused West to pace back and forth in his apartment. His hair was dishevelled from his constant tugging, as he anticipated a call from Angelo.

   The plan had worked. The Ascots got the ammo crates and successfully escaped, but Noah was still alive and he knew about it all. Their training sessions, their treachery, and their plans for the future of Everwinter when they finally got rid of him.

   Now with Mack locked up and soon to be potentially executed once Noah had recovered properly, West was now feeling a heavy burden. The same nauseating feeling that overtook him when he'd missed all of his shots to fatally end Monet at Goldcrest. What he was sensing was failure.

   He nibbled on his fingernails as he impatiently anticipated another phone call with Angelo. This time, he would have to do it himself, Mack was being watched like a hawk during the day and they wouldn't be able to have the conversation together. Regardless of keeping to their plan, West was struggling to keep his mind from diverting to Monet.

   He didn't like to say that he was afraid of her, but her threat was certain. He'd overheard Zara telling Sasha about Noah sharing his feelings towards Monet to her, so West knew that she was being fuelled by emotion—he was just hoping that that same emotion will get her killed this time, it seemed to spare her at Goldcrest. It meant that he just had to kill her first.

   The phone began ringing and West snatched it from the table, "You have some nerve taking your time to call, after you failed your end of the deal."

   "You and Mackenzie are really not fans of greetings, are you?" Angelo hummed contemptuously.

   "Shut the fuck up. Noah is still alive. He's figuring everything out and Mack and I essentially have bounties for our heads." West spat. "We basically gave you that ammo for free and I know for sure I am not letting that slide after everything I've had to do."

   "Well, killing a bunch of your own was your lousy decision, and frankly you deserve it for trying to pick a fight with my sister." Angelo contended, the anger fell from West's face. "Though, that mess could easily be blamed on Noah's 'terrible leadership skills', no? Does that not benefit you?"

   "That's not enough, Angelo." West exhaled, "Mack is being held in our dungeon and Noah is soon to kill him when he can get the chance. The least you could do for all the trouble we have gone through for you is to offer some fucking hospitality. You think we don't know that you're going to be using that ammo on Everwinter? I'd at least prefer to not be on the receiving end."

   "My plans are not the same as yours, if I wanted to rain bullets into Everwinter, I would've already." Angelo soon fell silent on the other end, considering whether telling them that Noah apologised was an intelligent idea, he could already sense the reaction that would unfold. Though, as he thought about it, he was beginning to want that truce wholeheartedly as well.

   "Can you fucking speak? Are you going to help us or not?" It was definitely better that he didn't, West's desperation was readable and certainly unstable.

   "Okay, help you how?" Angelo strained as he asked.

   "Get us out of here. Noah's going to kill Mack, and soon me, and you're not going to let that happen, are you?"

   "I couldn't care less, to be frank, but I'm sure that's not what you want to hear." Angelo scoffed.

   "No it's not. I'd prefer you offer a place for us to stay and help when we take down Noah properly." West gritted. Angelo almost laughed, hearing the fact that he had to continue on. Warning Noah would be hard at this point, considering their last interaction, and war seemed like the last resort for Mack and West.