It was a quiet night at the Lyon's Den, none of the usual suspects were here tonight other than Vincent. Eddie was off being a boring family man, Victoria was spending all of her time with that fat boy, Cleo was off talking to some future felons at a detention center in Baltimore, and nobody really knew where the hell Alexander was. Save for a handful of young trainees, it was just Vincent sitting on a crate in the corner his Roulette Championship laid next to him.
But it was the voice of someone who truly wasn't supposed to be here that truly took him by surprise.
“Hey there son.” his father's voice cut through the silence.
He shook his head and smacked himself. That was impossible, his father had passed years ago.
“You look tired kiddo.” The voice came again
Vincent let out a soft guttural sound with a heavy exhale, snapping his head up and scanning the room.
And then he saw him, his father leaning against the wall near the punching bags looking directly at him with that stern look on his face.
“No.” said Vincent "You can't be here, you're not real, you're dead.”
“And yet here I am.” his father replied
“But that's impossible.” Vincent said “Maybe I've taken too many bumps. Maybe I have too much stress pressing on my mind.”
“You've been pushed hard before.” his father replied "But this? This is your guilt speaking louder than reason son.”
“I'm not guilty!” Vincent said, slamming his fist against the nearby wall “I'm doing what I have to do, not that you'd understand.”
“Is that what you think?” his father replied “You know I taught you better. You know you've crossed the line not just with your opponents, but with your own family. You pushed Victoria away. I raised you to protect her and keep her safe. But you've let your own anger take over and drive a wedge between the two of you.”
“All Victoria wanted to do was control me and I don't want to be controlled anymore” Vincent said sternly as he stood up and took a few steps toward his father. "And Logan he deserved what I did to him, nobody can tell me otherwise. Now I intend to teach L.J. the cost of getting into my business and trying to play the hero.”
“And you call that clarity?” his father asked "Because it sounds like fear disguised as control. You're just trying to ignore the cracks inside your own soul by punishing others without mercy.”
“Why should I show anyone mercy?” Vincent replied “Mercy is weakness and weakness gets you hurt and betrayed.”
“You sound scared." his father said “You sound scared of being weak and losing control, so you hide behind anger and cruelty. But that's not real strength, that's a prison and you've trapped yourself in it.”
Vincent's lip quivered and he tightened hand into a fist.
“I'm not scared.” he said "This is who I am now. I chose this and I don't need anybody's approval.”
“But you can choose differently Vincent. ” his father said, taking a step closer to him, “You can choose justice, real justice instead of punishment.”
“I'll choose to handle my business however I see fit!” Vincent said “You know as well as I do that this business doesn't reward heroism. Doing things the proper way is what makes you weak. To be strong you need to take matters into your own hands and not be concerned with what anybody else thinks of you, even family.”
“And what happens if you're wrong?" said his father, "What happens when those you pushed away are truly gone forever?”
For a moment thoughts of Victoria crossed through his mind, but he shook his head, shaking the thought away.
“No.” said Vincent “This is the way this is the only path that makes sense. I don't need to show mercy and I don't need to be a hero. This is the path I'm destined to be on father and I'm not turning back.”
“Are you sure about that?” his father replied. “Don't lose yourself to the darkness you embrace.”
“I am." said Vincent “I know who I am. I'm stronger and better than anybody else and if you were really here you'd understand and you'd see it. But you're not here because you're DEAD.”
He exhaled heavily with frustration, closing his eyes for a moment before another voice interrupted him but it wasn't his father.
“Vincent?” the voice said nervously “Are you okay? Who are you talking to?”
When his eyes reopened he saw a young rookie had walked up to him.
“Mind your business kid.” he scoffed with a dismissive roll of the eyes
He looked over to where he had seen his father standing and nobody was there. Without saying anything, he grabbed his championship, pushed past the young rookie and left out the doors of The Lyons Den disappearing into the night.
_________
The streets outside the Lyons Den were quiet and Vincent tried to chase the faint echo of his father's voice lingering in his mind as the cold air slapped him in the face.
But the turmoil didn't cease, the words of his father continued to haunt him, threading themselves throughout his own thoughts. He pushed back against those thoughts letting the anger mask the sting of guilt.
…You did the right thing. Logan deserved it, and now you will give LJ what he deserves. The Roulette Championship on your shoulder is yours, that's all that matters…
As he walked the faintest flicker of doubt lingered at the edges of his mind he saw Victoria's face with concern in her eyes, a look of hurt as he pushed her away.
…You think she was really that concerned about you? Look how quickly she replaced you with that fat boy…
He kept walking at a steady pace matching the post of his thoughts. The thoughts of LJ Casey saving Logan continued to prick at him.
…LJ thinks he can walk in and play hero on my watch? He wants to protect the weak? Then he'll have to learn the hard way. He will learn the cost of stepping into my world, and he'll see what his heroism really gets him…
He thought about that vision of his father leaning against the wall watching him with that steady gaze and just as fast as it came it was gone. Vincent exhaled heavily.
…Whatever Dad. This is my life, my rules, and I'll follow my path…
Even as he tried to convince himself there isn't uneasiness tugging at the corner of his mind. It always tried to keep certain thoughts suppressed and compartmentalized but something about the quiet of the Lyon's Den and absence of the usual chaos made him realize how lonely he really was. After pushing Victoria away he truly had nobody.
…Loneliness is strength. I've survived and endured what nobody else could. I'm stronger than everyone, including my own family….
…But maybe I don't have to push everyone away….
He stomped a foot angrily into the pavement below.
…No when you have to care about people, that brings about weakness and that's not me. I don't need approval. I choose my own path, I'm in control and I choose strength…
And as he tried to convince himself he still couldn't shake the image of Victoria's face when he had pushed her away the subtle hurt in her eyes.
…I still protect her but I protect her in my own way. I do what must be done and that's all she needs to understand…
… if that fat boy hurts her, then he and I will have a problem….
… no there's that weakness again you need to let her solve her own problems. If she needs help now she can get it from that fat boy…
He continued down along the sidewalk, he may have been alone but he felt powerful he didn't need forgiveness or approval. All he needed was the path he had chosen and nobody was going to sway him from it.
But has he continued his pace beneath the glow of the street lights scattered across his path the echo of his father's voice returned.
..Don't lose yourself to the darkness you embrace…
Vincent shook his head rejecting the memory, a devilish smile creeping across his face.
“I know who I am.” he said to himself “I'm stronger and smarter than anyone. If that means I have to walk this path alone then so be it.“
And continue on he did. He wasn't sure of his destination, and it didn't matter. He just needed to walk. The weight of his choices and the lingering echoes of his father's words remained and they would continue to follow him like all truths do. But for now Vincent Jr. had chosen his path and he wasn't going to turn back.
__________
The cameras open on Vincent Lyons Jr. sitting alone in a folding chair in the middle of a dimly lit room. He has the roulette Championship over his shoulder and hangs his head down, slowly lifting it so his eyes meet the camera with that familiar sadistic grin on his face.
“Do you know what I love about all this LJ?” Vincent said with a low voice that was laced with venom, “It's the predictability. You really think there's something new or something different but you're not. You're just like my cousin Eddie, the same tired old story on repeat. The same boring cookie cutter hero that always stands up for what's right.”
He scowls and spits at the ground disgusted.
"Your mistake was involving yourself in my business." Vincent continued, “Do you think yourself noble for protecting somebody like Logan Hunter? The same man that dragged you around the arena on a motorcycle? That's not being noble, that's just being stupid. That man tried to end your career and you chose to save him when I punished him for his crimes? Why? To make yourself feel special so Alexandra Calaway can run up to you like she's Olive Oyl running up to Popeye crying out ~~my hero~~? Oh don't worry we'll talk about what you've done to her in a bit.”
Vincent smirks.
“I don't see a hero when I look at you LJ." Vincent said I see prey. "I see a blind fool wandering into the woods thinking he can scare off the wolf.”
With a smirk he taps the faceplate of his Roulette Championship.
“This championship is proof.” he said “Proof that I know how to thrive in this business. Logan and Liam thought they could take it from me and they failed. But you, you won't even get the opportunity because this isn't about you getting a chance at my championship. This is about me getting revenge on you for playing the hero.“
He lets his words linger and gazes at his championship for a moment.
“You're going to understand the cost of stepping into my world LJ.” said Vincent. “You're going to wish that you had chosen to mind your own business, and let me handle mine with Logan. You may not understand the cost of the decision you made but I'm certainly going to enjoy teaching you.”
He laughs to himself.
“The funny thing is you could be so much more.” said Vincent “But you choose to stay in your little family motif. That's why you will always remain Miles Kasey's little brother. You're not even the main event in your own dinner table are you? Sadly that will never change unless you're willing to take proper action like I did.”
He pauses for a moment and there's a slight twitch in his eyes and face.
“They all laughed at me.” he said “They all looked at me as Victoria's twin brother, like she was supposed to be above me because she was the one with the championship. Well who's a champion now? They all laughed at me because I was trying to be a good brother and support her. Well who's laughing now? I'm the Lyons family member on top now, and Victoria is scrambling to make herself matter again.”
Vincent laughs.
“Trust me.” said Vincent “Break yourself off from Miles because all he's ever going to do is hold you back you need to worry about one man and that's LJ Kasey. You really want to step out of your brother's shadow? “Then stand up and push your way out of it like I did with my sister.”
He laughs again.
“The sad thing is, you know I'm right.” said Vincent "But you won't do it because you're too proud. So at the end of the day you're never going to be more than a discount Miles Kasey continuing to trip over his shadow instead of rising out of it.”
He glares into the keeping that creepy grin on his face.
“I mean you already know how to ruin somebody.” said Vincent “Look at what you've done to Alexandra Calaway. This is a woman who went to war with my sister. They bled together and every drop of blood was a testament to who Alexandra Calaway was, a warrior who demanded respect. But the key word is that you Alexandra Calaway was before you slithered into the picture.”
He gets a disgusted look on his face.
“Look at her now.” Vincent said “That warrior is gone, her bloodlust has been tamed. You give the impression that you're lifting her higher but what you've really done is clip her wings. You turned Alexandra Calaway, one of the most dangerous women to step in this business into a lovesick puppy standing by your side.“
He shakes his head in disgust, and stands up as he begins slowly pacing in front of the chair.
“I'll be honest with you L.J., You've got talent and you've got heart.” said Vincent “But you seem to think that heart matters in this business. Your need to be the good guy is going to be your prison, and I'm going to use it to break you.”
He continues a slow pace back and forth in front of the chair a few steps in each direction, like he's just unable to keep still.
“You want to keep your morals and do the right thing.” said Vincent “But the truth is the right thing doesn't win championships. Doing the right thing doesn't make you dangerous. So go ahead and keep pretending your morals make you powerful because in reality they make you predictable and they make you weaker.”
He suddenly turns and glares directly into the camera.
“My cousin Eddie is a lot like you, so I know your type." said Vincent “You're the type who needs to be seen as noble. You need that validation that you stood tall and did the right thing. It's like a drug to you.”
He laughs slightly again through the cold expression on his face.
“You may call it strength but I honestly think it's pathetic.” Vincent continued “The difference between us is I don't need anyone to clap for me or validate me. I don't need to be anybody's hero. I know exactly who I am and how far I'll go to get what I want. You've seen first hand that it's a lot further than you'll ever go. So when it comes to it and we have to cross that line between what's considered right and wrong, you're going to stop and I'm going to cross the line.”
He adjusts the championship on his shoulder.
“That's the reality people like you and Eddie can't accept.” said Vincent “The world doesn't reward good men. The world lets people like me chew them up and spit them out. You come with your noble intentions and sense of honor and I gut every last piece of it. I will shatter every last moral you have and leave you with nothing left.”
He pauses shortly.
“The truth is being good makes you vulnerable and I'm going to expose that vulnerability.” said Vincent “Because nobility isn't going to win you any fights. You’re just a sheep walking into the woods thinking your righteousness is going to save you, until you hear the howl of the wolf.”
He lets a soft howl escape his lips.
“That's me.” said Vincent "I'm the wolf, I'm the sound you should have ran from but instead walked closer to, hoping your morals would protect you and now you'll find out what happens when the Predator sinks his teeth in.”
That strange unsettling laugh exits his lips again.
“The Roulette Championship is mine because I'm willing to do what others aren't.“ said Vincent “I'm willing to cross that line and take things as far as I need to. I don't need to be good like you, I don't need the spotlight to shine on me in a way that makes me look pure. But I am going to pull you out of that light and drag you into the darkness and enjoy every second watching you choke on it.”
He lets out a quick exhale.
“So you can keep your morals LJ.” said Vincent “But know this, when the bell rings you're going to be standing across from reality. I will be the end of your illusions because I don't give a damn about right or wrong, the only thing I care about is pain. When I leave you lying gasping for air on that mat you'll finally come to realize that your righteousness wasn't enough. You want to play the hero LJ, The truth is, heroes die on their shields and I'm going to be the one that makes sure you die on yours.”
With a short pause has he smirks and gauges into the camera he gives a slight nod before walking off into the darkness leaving only the empty chair and the weight of his words in the as everything fades out to black.
__________
