Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Rafael said with a cigar hanging from his lips, "I was just thinking. Mosby and I could really use someone with a head full of dirty tricks right about now."

Mosby chuckled. "Exactly. No one plays dirty like you do, Quinton. Without your help, grabbing Aspen would've been a lot messier."

Quinton replied coolly, "Dr. Lake, Mr. Driscoll, my little schemes are nothing compared to what that bastard Andrew's capable of. Compared to him, I'm a harmless kitten."

Rafael grinned. "Quinton, sounds like you've got a bit of rage bottled up there."

Quinton's eyes darkened with venom as he ground his teeth. "Rage doesn't even begin to cover it. I want to eat that bastard's flesh, drink his blood, and rip his damn spine out. Neither of you probably know this, but that son of a bitch actually forced me to regard him as my godfather.

"On top of that, the feud between the Wrights and Grand Viper? That bastard Andrew orchestrated the whole thing."

Mosby flinched, then gave a dry laugh. "You're his godson? Yeah, I'll admit, that's a new level of humiliation."

Rafael waved dismissively. "I don't care about all that. What's this business about Grand Viper? What happened between him and the Wrights?"

Quinton's face contorted with fury. "You don't know the half of it. Grand Viper's two apprentices-White Viper and Black Viper-weren't killed by the Wrights.

"But White Viper died first, and just before I came here, Black Viper was confirmed dead too—our guards found the body. Now Grand Viper has gone completely unhinged. He stormed up to the Wright estate, accusing us of killing his people and vowing to wipe us out."

Rafael's eyes widened. "He actually attacked your family head-on?"

Quinton nodded grimly, his face pale with rage. "He's not just mouthing off. Two of our guards are already dead at his hands. Black Viper also killed two of ours earlier. Now, the blood feud's real-there's no turning back."

Mosby cursed. "Damn it! Grand Viper was supposed to be our ace-the martial king-level force to keep Andrew in check. But now he's clashing with the Wrights? This complicates everything!"

Rafael's expression turned dark as he pulled out his phone. "I'll call him right now. He needs to calm the hell down if he turns the Wrights into enemies, he's doing Andrew a huge favor."

The line rang only once before it connected, and Rafael asked quickly, "Grand Viper, where the hell are you?"noveldrama

A chilling voice replied, "I'm returning now."

Before anyone could say more, the front door flew open, and in walked Grand Viper. His robes were soaked in blood, and the sheer savagery in his eyes made all three men freeze on the spot.

Mosby let out a strangled yelp. "Grand Viper, w-why are you covered in blood?"

Grand Viper sneered. "It's not mine. It belongs to those filthy Wright bastards. They killed my two best disciples. From now on, anyone from the Wrights I lay eyes on-dies."

The words had barely left his mouth

when he spotted Quinton standing there, pale and frozen. Without

hesitation, his eyes flated, and he

stepped forward and slapped

Quinton across the face.

Blood sprayed from Quinton's nose and mouth as he was sent flying across the

room.

Rafael jumped up in horror. "Grand Viper-stop! Stop! Quinton's with us! What the hell are you doing?"