Is this destiny?

A surge of adrenalin made Sarah feel that everything is moving in slow motion, except for her maybe… She saw Shawn sneer while his eyes flickered with mad euphoria… Ron not moving, horrified by the prospect that this is the end… The man pressing on the trigger of a gun with a crazed smile on his face… JoAnna gasped… and Sarah dashed forward.

The sound of a gunshot had a time-unfreezing effect.

JoAnna cried Sarah's name, and to Sarah it seemed like it came from a distance.

To Sarah, everything seemed like it's far away, except for the man with a gun. That man was very close, he was the only thing her mind focused on while tuning out everything else.

Ron opened his eyes and took a small choppy breath. Ron does not remember closing his eyes. But… there is no pain. Wasn't he shot? Did the man miss? Ron noticed that Sarah is next to him, and her left arm is in front of his face, blocking his view.

"You, bastard!", Sarah screamed while dashing toward the man who didn't expect her to be that fast. With one kick, the gun flew away from his hand.

Everyone present watched without blinking, but they could not see Sarah's movements. Her punches and kicks were so fast that her limbs looked like a blur, and the horrid sounds of bones cracking came in such a quick succession that they merged into one long stretch, filling the air.

The man with a scar below his left eye didn't have a chance to make any noise. By the time his body fell on the ground like a ragdoll, he was unconscious.

Sarah stood above the man while rage burned inside her. He is barely breathing, but it's not enough. She needs to cause more pain. Someone else needs to pay for this… How dare he pull a gun at a child like it's not a big deal? Why these people don't value a life? Is it all a joke to them? How is it possible that they don't see anything beyond their petty interests? What would he get if he won? Would he get some money? Or a pat on the back? Is that worth killing for? And why did this remind her of that night when Evalina pulled a gun at Aiden and her? Even the pain in her left arm is almost the same… but the anguish of her loss is stronger than the pain in her arm… she feels Aiden's arms around her, like that evening... it was the last time... unbearable…

JoAnna looked at Sarah and her heart was aching. She does not know what is going on in Sarah's mind, but she can see that her baby sister is suffering. She was contemplating if she should go and give her a hug or something when Jeff's hand landed on her shoulder. Jeff's gentle squeeze reminded her that they need to stay in their place and trust Sarah. The current situation is too fragile and if they act recklessly, many will be hurt.

Sarah turned to Shawn and his men who stood behind him with madness apparent in her eyes.

"Anyone else wants to have a go? I will take you all on at the same time! Come! Where did your courage go? Come on!"

Sarah narrowed her eyes while looking at men in front of her with contempt. Most of them retreated further away from Shawn, indicating that they are not part of whatever is going on, leaving about fifteen people behind Shawn.

Out of those men who stayed behind Shawn, few of them looked at her with fear, some just stared blankly, but most of them lowered their heads, not daring to meet her gaze while wondering: 'How can such a young girl be so intimidating?'

"Do you call yourself men? Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?" Sarah was throwing insults their way without care if she will provoke them. Or maybe she hoped that they will lose control and give her a reason to attack. "Pulling a gun on a kid when you can't defeat him with your fists! Is this how you carry yourselves? Don't you see a difference between a fight against an enemy who is after your life and a match to determine one's strength at home? Do you really believe that it does not matter who gets hurt or what rules you break as long as you get what you want? And what will you get? Leftovers? People without a moral compass will not get anything, you will only be used…"

"Watch your mouth!", Shawn bellowed angrily. 

"Are you here to give me a lesson on good behavior?", Sarah sneered. "As a man who has no loyalty after decades of living under this roof, how dare you say anything to me?"

Two men behind Shawn pulled out guns and pointed them at Sarah. Before they managed to aim properly, they fell to the ground lifelessly.

Shawn looked at two men on the ground in panic and then at Sarah. He didn't see her move, and there was no sound… what happened?

"You are looking the wrong way.", Sarah told Shawn and pointed up.

Shawn looked up and saw about a dozen of drones hovering above them, silently. His eyes widened in horror.

Eve has authorization to act immediately if Jeff, JoAnna, Sarah, or their people are in danger. Unfortunately, Ron is new and Sarah didn't have a chance to add him to the no-harm list. He was lucky that Sarah reacted so swiftly.

Sarah's rage still didn't subside. She wishes to crush Shawn into dust, but she knows that Jeff and JoAnna need a more structured approach.

Sarah turned to the referee. "The second fight is over. One fighter is unable to fight, and considering that both sides broke one rule, he had a weapon and I interfered… we can say that no rules are broken. We won. Objections?"

The referee shook his head vigorously and gestured to men on the side to pull the unconscious man away.

"For the third fight, my team picks the fighters." Sarah turned to Shawn. "I chose you."

Sarah walked into the ring and told Ron to step out.

Ron looked at Sarah's left arm… it's bleeding. T-shirt's long black sleeve is covering the wound, but her hand is exposed and red, and the blood is dripping from her fingertips.

"Boss…", he reached to hold her hand.

Sarah pulled her hand back. "It's OK. Go with the others, I've got this."

Ron reluctantly walked away. He was still in shock. At one moment he was having fun, fighting a man who is more than twice his size (and age), in the next moment he felt the death envelop his every sense to the point of numbness, and then… Sarah saved his life. She took the bullet which was going for his head with her arm. Why would she do that? They only met last night. And considering how he behaved, and his shameful past which she knows… she should not think highly of him. He is not worth saving. Why did she step into harm's way for him?

Ron felt something on his shoulder and looked in that direction. It was Jesse.

Jesse placed a hand on Ron's shoulder and smiled: "Welcome to the family."

Jesse pointed with his chin toward Sarah. "Watch carefully how Boss fights for what she believes in, and you will understand why we follow her."

Sarah looked at Shawn. "Well? You either come in and we dance, or you forfeit."

Shawn wondered, what joke is this? Why would he forfeit? But he can't deny that what he saw terrified him. No matter how proud he is, he must admit that he can't win against her. And if he pulls a gun or a knife, it will make him look bad. But how can he win? Why would he enter in that ring if his defeat is imminent? Oh, she is hurt… maybe he can use that to his advantage. After all, she has a gunshot wound, and considering the proximity from which she was shot, if the bullet didn't come out on the other side, it probably hit the bone. That must be very painful. But why is she still standing and taunting him like nothing is wrong? Shouldn't she be crying due to pain or something? Just where did Jeff found this crazy group of kids?

Sarah saw that Shawn is reluctant, and that he is on the verge of backing down. "Don't tell me that you fear a girl like me. Will your men respect you if you back down now?"

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