Rawl's POV
The silence between Sam and me was suffocating. This time, I wasn't sure of how to let it go. His smirk felt eerily familiar, but I wasn't about to let it get to me.
"You need to leave, Sam," I said, my voice low but firm, feeling the edges of anger bubbling under my skin.
Sam's response was the same, always full of mockery and defiance. "Where am I supposed to go, Rawl? You've got everything, haven't you? All the control, all the power. You think I don't see it?"
I gritted my teeth. "I told you already. Get a hotel." I turned away from him, moving toward the door as if that was the end of the conversation.
But Sam wasn't done. "A hotel? Is that really all you've got to offer me, big brother? Do you think I'd be some kind of charity case? This was my house too, Rawl."
His words struck me hard and I turned to face him. I'd had enough of his annoying games. "You sold it, Sam. I bought it back. You don't own this place anymore."
For a second, there was nothing. Just the sound of his breathing, shallow and controlled. But then the realization hit him. And I saw the shift. The flicker of something dark in his eyes. It wasn't a surprise—it was fury.
"No... no. You didn't. You couldn't have," he said, his voice dangerously calm, as if he was trying to convince himself. "You're lying."
I took a step forward, meeting his gaze head-on. "I'm not lying. You were desperate, Sam. You sold this place for pennies. I made sure I got it back."
His hands balled into fists, his eyes never leaving mine. For a second, I thought maybe he was going to implode. But instead, the madness flickered behind his eyes, and without warning, he lunged at me.
His fist cut through the air toward my face, and instinct kicked in. I dodged, but just barely. His hard knuckles grazed my cheek, almost rattling my skull. The second punch came hard on my face before I could react.
I held my stomach stumbling as his fist hit my gut making me gasp for air. My vision blurred for a moment, but I wasn't going to let him win. Not today.
The girls screamed. "Sam, stop it!" Vanessa yelled.
"Don't hit him!" Claire yelled.
This time, I was faster catching his hand in the air and twisting it until he grunted in pain. "Enough!" I growled. My grip tightened, and I shoved him back hard, slamming his back against the wall.
But Sam wasn't done. He always had more in him. He attacked, moving forward with his knee aiming at my stomach, but I caught it in time with my forearm, spinning him around, and sending him crashing into the coffee table. The wood shattered and I winced, concerned at the furniture. It was a gift from an old friend.
My anger rose as Sam scrambled to get back on his feet. Blood dripped from his lip, but he continued smiling. "You really think you've got control here, huh, Rawl? Do you think I am that easy to push around? I'd rather die than let you get away with it?"
I stood tall, my muscles tensed, ready for whatever came next. "You don't belong here anymore, Sam," I said, my voice steady but hard. "You need to leave."
But then, just as I was about to move in again, Vanessa's voice screamed out from behind me.
"Dad! Stop! Uncle Sam, stop!"
It was enough to make me pause, but Sam didn't. He grabbed a shard of the broken table and swung it at me.
I dodged again, but this time, his arm grazed my side, the sharp edges of the wood biting into my skin. My focus was sharper on the pain because I knew he would kill me if he had the chance. I grabbed his wrist, forcing him to drop the piece of wood.
"Sam!" Claire's voice broke out with fear. "Please, both of you—stop!"
I looked over my shoulder, catching the terrified expressions on Vanessa and Claire's faces. My heart twisted at the sight, but I knew Sam wouldn't care. Not if it meant he got what he wanted.
"Uncle Sam, you need to go!" Vanessa yelled, stepping forward, her voice trembling but determined.
I turned back to Sam. "This ends now."
He snarled at me, his eyes black with anger. "You don't tell me what to do, Rawl. Not anymore."
"Enough, Uncle! Or I'm calling the police!" Vanessa warned and he glared at her.
He launched at her, but
I was prepared. I caught him, holding tightly to his throat, squeezing his windpipe tightly and slammed him against the wall as he gasped for air. He struggled, trying to get my hand off his neck as Vanessa and Claire screamed.
I felt his nails scratch my arm but I refused to let go. He dared to hurt my daughter. "I warned you," I said through clenched teeth. "If you ever touch my daughter. I'll make sure it's the last day you breathe on this earth. Do you hear me?"
I watched Sam's face turn red and his eyes go in as he struggled to be free from my gasp.
"Dad, stop, please," Vanessa begged.
"Rawl, stop, please. You're killing him. Please, stop it!" Claire cried and I loosened my grip.
He fell to the floor, gasping for air. He coughed and crawled on the floor. "Leave, Sam. Now," I warned.
He wiped the blood from his lip, then glared at me. "You think this is over? You're wrong. I'm coming for you, Rawl. Everything you've built, everything you think you've won-it's all coming down.".
I said nothing else. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, dialed his number, and sent him the money he wanted. Not much, just enough to keep him away from me, at least for now.
The message went through. Sam looked at his phone and smirked, but his eyes were still cold, filled with bitterness. "Thanks for the 'generosity'," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'll be sure to remember this."
"Goodbye, Sam," I growled and he turned towards the door.
I watched him leave through the door, and I sighed. The air felt a little lighter, but deep down I knew he wouldn't let it slide. I had dealt with him before, but this felt different. I could feel it.
The moment the door closed behind him, I turned to Vanessa and Claire, my body still tense from the fight.
"Are you both alright?" I asked, my voice quieter now.
Vanessa nodded, but her expression was tight. "Yeah, we're fine. But are you okay, Dad?" Her voice was soft, the concern in her eyes cutting deeper than I cared to admit.
I nodded, though I wasn't sure I was okay. "I'm fine. Can you stay at Claire's place till I get back? I'll pick you up I promise."
Before I could say another word, my phone rang.
"Mr. Bennett, the Japanese investors are here. Where are you?" my assistant asked.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. "I'll be there in five minutes. Keep them entertained till I get there ."
I quickly picked up the file from the floor and rushed to the door. I got to the car and my phone buzzed again. A message popped up from my assistant: "We've been compromised, sir."
My stomach dropped. What did that mean? Was this about Sam, or was something else going on?