Chapter 9
The Viper's Weakness
Big Mama's secret knowledge about Thorne's hidden backers comes to light. This external influence is the key to Thorne's ambition, and potentially, his undoing.
The air in Big Mama’s cramped living room hung thick with the scent of brewing herbs and unspoken history. Outside, West Greenville slumbered under a blanket of stars, a fragile peace Capone had fought tooth and nail to maintain. But tonight, that peace felt as thin as a whisper. Capone sat across from Big Mama, the worn armchair groaning under his weight, his scarred hand resting on his knee, a coiled spring of tension. Slick Rick stood by the door, a silent sentinel, his eyes scanning the shadows that danced beyond the meager glow of the single lamp.
Big Mama stirred her tea, the spoon clinking softly against the ceramic. Her gaze, usually sharp and assessing, held a weariness that mirrored the weight of the city’s secrets. “Capone,” she began, her voice raspy like dry leaves, “you think Thorne is just another street dog, hungry for a bigger bone. But this dog, he’s got a leash on him. A leash held by hands you can’t see.”
Capone leaned forward, his scarred face impassive, but his eyes, dark and deep, betrayed a flicker of something akin to unease. “What are you talkin’ about, Mama? Thorne’s a snake, I know that. But he’s a snake that lives and breathes in this dirt. Who else is feeding him?”
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