Lawrence's pupils suddenly contracted.
Victor observed his reaction and sneered, "It seems you're not entirely in the know, or perhaps you're just a pawn left behind to stall for time?"
"Your brother is nothing more than a cowardly bug!"
He set down his glass, leaned slightly forward, and stared sharply at Lawrence, "Let me make things clearer, Mr. Vice President; Southern Texas is mine now, Red River frontline, Paul won't hold on for much longer. As for Austin, its fall is only a matter of time. Paul's speeches might incite some passionate youth to throw their lives away, but it won't change the outcome of the war."
"Now, sitting here, you don't represent the soon-to-be-defunct Texas Republic, you can only represent yourself."
Victor's voice lowered, yet carried an even stronger sense of oppression, "You can choose to continue pledging loyalty to the President who abandoned you, preparing to escape alone, and be nailed alongside him to the pillar of historical shame, or..."
