160. Bring Out the Rat

Vargas chuckled, but there was a dangerous edge to his laughter. He leaned back in his chair, appraising Tiffany with a calculating gaze. “Alright, princess, you want to talk business? Let’s talk.” He gestured to the empty chair across from him. “Have a seat.” Tiffany hesitated for only a heartbeat before sliding into the offered chair, her back ramrod straight. She met Vargas’s stare head-on, refusing to be cowed. “I’m listening,” she said coolly. Vargas’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’ve got spirit, I’ll give you that.” Tiffany arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Thanks. Now tell me why you sent that message. Are you planning an attack on Red Vipers?” Vargas’s smile faltered slightly as he leaned forward, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. His gaze darkened, and Tiffany could feel the shift in the atmosphere, like a storm brewing just beneath the surface. “You’re direct, I’ll give you that,” Vargas said, his voice taking on a more menacing tone. “We ha