Is this destiny?

~ Austin, White Mansion ~

Sunday, December 1

9:27 AM

JoAnna is frowning while scolding Sarah: "Why do you have a need to pick up people? Or animals?"

JoAnna saw Ron talk with Jesse and Haru that morning and asked Sarah: "Who is the boy who is acting so familiar with Jesse and Haru? Also, why are they wearing matching clothes?"

Ron is almost as tall as Jesse, and they have about the same lean built, so Jesse gave him one of his outfits. Now all six of them have matching clothes.

Sarah casually said that he is the guy they picked up last night and that information threw JoAnna into a fit of rage.

JoAnna got Sarah into the study room (where Jeff is) and started questioning Sarah about this newcomer.

Back to present…

Jeff is pretending to be invisible while reading news on his tablet. After breakfast he saw that JoAnna went to look for Sarah, so he decided to relax and catch up on news until the scheduled showdown with Shawn and his men at 11. Who would have known that he will end up witnessing his wife's rage? He knows not to get in-between two Hill sisters, so he is doing his best to hide his presence.

Sarah ignored JoAnna's scolding. "I need more people. He will not be in the way and we are leaving tonight."

JoAnna rolled her eyes. "I didn't mean that he is in the way. Did you run a background check on him? Why did you just bring him here? What if he is a spy?"

Sarah looked at JoAnna who is overreacting. Why is she so edgy? It's not like she asked for Ron to stay at JoAnna's home. "He is not a spy. His father remarried, and because his father is always away for work he is stuck with his stepmother who is mistreating him. So, he left."

"Ahhh…", JoAnna exaggeratedly exhaled. "I didn't realize that you are a social worker."

"He is a good fighter."

JoAnna frowned. "Is that the only thing that matters to you?"

"He needs help." Sarah was getting tired from explaining to her sister. Why can't she let it go?

JoAnna snorted in disapproval. "Yeah, right. He needs help until he makes up with his family and goes back home and takes all our secrets away with him! What exactly did his stepmother do? Refuse to give him a dessert after dinner? Or did she scold him for not doing his homework?"

"It's not that simple…" Sarah exhaled while choosing her words: "For years, his stepmother used him as a dessert."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that… his father is not home most of the time, and his stepmother saw a teenager in the house, and she helped herself to fulfill her… needs.", Sarah gave JoAnna a knowing look.

Jeff lifted his gaze over the tablet. He forgot to pretend that he is not listening. This was too… shocking.

Sarah continued talking to JoAnna whose eyes were widening the more she heard: "He tried talking to his father, but he does not believe him. So, one day he left. It will be nearly impossible for him to forget how that woman mistreated him or forgive his father for not believing him."

"And you believe that story?", JoAnna's temper was rising. "That all sounds like a very bad drama plot! Who knows what he is up to?"

"Anna, I gave him the truth serum."

When JoAnna heard about the truth serum, her fighting spirit completely deflated. The boy was not lying.

JoAnna opened and closed her mouth few times before finally speaking: "Why are you picking up troubled youth? He needs help, counseling, healthy environment to heal…"

"What are his options? To go back to that woman? Or to a foster home? How is that better than what we can offer? And no one said that he can't have counseling while staying with us. Look at all the kids we have, are they not doing well?"

JoAnna exhaled, admitting defeat. "Fine. I will keep quiet. Do whatever you want…"

"Jeff, we will need new identity for Ron.", Sarah said without looking at Jeff.

"OK.", he responded and remembered to lower his gaze back to the tablet in his hands.

…

10:54 AM

In the back of the White Mansion, behind a small park is a clearing. They decided that matches will be held there.

Sarah is standing behind Jeff and JoAnna. Jesse, Haru, Ade, Jamari and Ron are behind Sarah.

Ron still needs a haircut, but he washed all the gel and hairspray out of his hair and pulled it at the back of his head. Now he has a man-bun. Sarah is not a fan of man-buns, but she believes that it looks much better than that hideous mohawk.

At first, Sarah didn't want Ron to be there, but then she thought that this will be a good experience for him, to watch. Jesse and Haru explained to Ron what this fight is about, and that he should avoid provoking any of these people since they are in the middle of an internal fight of a powerful organization. Like any other adventure-seeking teenager, Ron was excited to hear about the current situation.

Shawn got two of his men to carve the ground and create a square shaped rink.

Shawn stood in front of Jeff and said smugly: "Fights are one-on-one, no one interferes. Match ends when one is out of the border or can't continue fighting."

"No weapons.", Jeff added flatly.

"No weapons.", Shawn repeated in agreement. "How do we decide who fights whom?"

Jeff shrugged. "Whatever you want."

"OK.", Shawn was irritated by Jeff's aloof behavior. Is he really that confident that those five… wait, there is one more… never mind… Is he really that confident that those six people can defeat his men? He snorted. "To make it fair, let's take turns. My men pick, then your men pick an opponent. Three wins determine the overall winner, in case of a tie, both teams get zero points."

"Sounds good.", Jeff responded.

Sarah frowned slightly. What if they pick Ron? Well, he can fight, but they didn't talk about it. He is here only to watch. She glanced at Ron and his gaze was already fixed on her. He gave her a small nod, indicating that he is OK. She reluctantly returned the nod, content that he understood the situation. It seems that all the talking they had since last night helped in adjusting his attitude because suddenly Sarah felt that Ron is reliable.

Now that she is facing Shawn and his people, Sarah is not at ease. Their opponents are all in their thirties and above, with numerous fights behind them and scars to prove them. She is confident in the fighting capability of the young men by her side, however, it's undeniable that opponents have experience on their side, and in this fight without rules, experience sometimes will be more valuable than skill.

Shawn stood in the middle of the rink area and spread his arms widely. "I feel magnanimous today!", he exclaimed and looked at Jeff. "Your men will pick first."

Sarah held her breath while thinking, 'It begins'.

She turned to her five companions, to discuss their order and strategies, but Jesse spoke before her.

"Boss, let me go first."

Sarah responded with a nod. "They might cheat. If you don't see a way to win, step outside the border. The most important is that you are safe.", she advised.

Jesse smiled. He is touched to see how she always puts their safety first. "I got it, Boss. I will not let you down."

Sarah exhaled. "I know you won't."

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