[Location: Classified] [High Table Main Base]
Michael Wilson pushed open the heavy steel door and stepped into the luxurious living room. He dropped his black gloves on the counter, opened the fridge and grabbed a beer. The bottle hissed when he twisted the cap off. He took a long drink and sighed like a man who had just clocked out of a very unusual shift.
He crossed the room and sat on the couch. Exhaustion settled on him like an old coat. Most men in his position did not personally fly halfway across the world to lob a tactical nuke at a criminal empire, but most men were not Michael Wilson. And most men did not have a son like Alex. Spectre had threatened his son, so Michael responded with the subtlety of a meteor strike.
Was that enough to balance the sins of his past? Hard to say. Therapy was expensive, but nuclear payloads were oddly cathartic.
Across from him, Gina lounged in an armchair, one leg crossed over the other, reading through several reports on her phone. Each notification seemed to bring her a curious blend of satisfaction and mild annoyance, like she was watching stock prices for a company she hated.
She looked up. "The bounty is working. Can't believe he dropped that much money just like that. Well, three hundred million is the kind of number that motivates people. Assassins in Europe have already taken out two Spectre warlords. The Yakuza cracked open one of their cyber vaults. The Italian outfit burned one of their safe houses and stole their wine collection. Things are moving fast."
Michael wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I guess, this time they are going to end for good. With their head gone, all that is left are the branches."
Gina slid her phone onto the table.
"Yes. Spectre is going to be wiped from the world for good this time. The underworld is practically speedrunning their extinction."
Michael nodded, pleased. He took another drink and leaned back.
"You know, I almost feel bad for them."
Gina raised a brow. "No, you don't."
He cracked a small smile. "Yeah, you're right. Not even a little."
She leaned forward with a serious expression. "And once the rest of their branches are gone, we deal with the rogue fragments and erase the information of the bioweapon nanites."
Michael took a sip and said, "I still can't believe that our son created something like that. I always knew he was a genius. Just... Haaa..." He just hoped he was there to witness Alex's teenage days and his journey to reach the top.
"I know," Gina said as she closed her phone. "I also wish I were there, you know, to see our son grow up, fall in love, and we'll snoop around trying to find out about who he's dating and maybe get into a little fight..." She chuckled, imagining what could've happened if the war hadn't started back then within the underworld.
Michael smiled. "Then we'll have the guy talk about certain responsibilities and keep an eye out to see if he sneaked in alcohol or a girl through the window in his room. Then scolding him for returning home late after a party and getting drunk. Then be there for his graduation and first car."
There was a moment of pause.
"We missed so much," He sighed again.
Gina stood up and walked over to him before sitting on his lap. She put an arm around his neck and looked into his eyes. "Yeah, we did."
"You think he still hates us?" He asked.
"It's been a long time. Hard to tell," She said in a low voice.
"That debt part was supposed to be a cover-up for a few months. But those bastards from the Cult targeted Alex and made his life a living hell just to draw us out..." He looked angry for a moment before calming down. "I should've killed O'Connell when I had the chance. I guess, he has suspicions."
"Don't blame yourself. You were shot, I was busy killing the Elders, and things just went shit. When I learned about his situation, I wanted to just rush to him. But with the target over his head, our only choice was to take control of the underworld and end all our enemies to save our son. It took years, and we missed so much. There's no changing that. All we can do right now is to make sure he's well and out of danger," Gina said as she leaned over his shoulder.
"Yeah, as long as he's out of danger, everything is good," Michael replied as he put his arm around her back, pulling her closer. "I just wish we could meet him once and tell him the whole story, but after seeing him at the Comic Con, I just couldn't do it. He was cosplaying. I shook his hand, took a picture together, and left."
"You looked hilarious in that spandex outfit," Gina said with a smile.
"C'mon. It was Spider-Man, and you said I look awesome in it," He looked at her, mockingly offended.
"And hilarious..." She chuckled. "By the way, guess what Rachel got for us?"
"Another comic book?"
"Nope. Two VVIP tickets for Mr & Mrs Smith premiere. Our son's acting debut."
"No!" He straightened up.
"Yep. In four days. So, you'd better keep your schedule open, or I'll leave alone..."
And so, both of them continued to chat and plan about what to wear and security details.
...
[Meanwhile, private docks]
Rachel leaned casually against a crate as Alex and John stepped inside. Twenty assassins stood guard around the warehouse. Rachel nodded at them before turning and leading Alex and John deeper in.
Inside, Jerry Tyson and Kelly Nieman sat side by side, chained to metal chairs. Their mouths were taped. Their expressions said they were trying very hard to pretend they still had dignity. It was not going well.
Rachel folded her arms.
"They tried to kidnap Caroline," she said. "Tried. Emphasis on tried. Their plan looked like something they copied from a YouTube tutorial titled How to Crime for Beginners. They barely made it past the front gate before my people stopped them and their little pawns. That bitch threw a scalpel at me. Missed by three feet. I almost felt insulted."
Alex stared at Tyson.
The man who had caused him so much headache now looked like a disgruntled accountant on take your humiliation to work day.
Rachel continued, "I have evidence stacked high enough to qualify as modern art. Enough to get them the death penalty if you hand them over to the cops."
Alex walked up to the prisoners. He crouched to meet their eyes. Tyson glared at him with the intensity of a man who had always thought he was smarter than everyone else. Kelly looked more annoyed than frightened.
Alex spoke calmly. "Death penalty, cops, law... all that shit. Forget it. You motherfuckers tried to harm my woman, now, I'll fuck you two up. But I'll give you a fair chance to gain your freedom." He looked at Rachel. "Untie them and give them two knives." He then looked back at them. "You'll use those knives and try to kill me. No one here will interfere. Kill me, and you two will be free to go. No one will stop you. Sounds good? Nod if you want the deal. Or I'll beat your two up till your bones break and then feed you to the mountain lions or alligators. Your choice."
Both of them nodded.
Tyson looked as if he had just won a jackpot to freedom and a free kill. Like, a rich guy like him wants to fight and act tough before his people over a girl. He looked at Alex's hands. 'Smooth hands, arrogance, and boyish expression, and a hero mentality to act tough before his people, with the excuse of being a man for his woman. I'm going to enjoy slicing him up. Even though I hate killing men, I'll make an exception for him.'
'Typical rich kid.' Kelly thought.
Rachel cut the restraints, gave them their knives, and stepped back. Her face was calm, although her eyes had the kind of sparkle that belonged to someone watching live theatre where the actors had no idea they were doomed. Tyson rolled his shoulders with theatrical bravado. Kelly flexed her wrists like she was auditioning for the role of knife enthusiast number one. Both snatched their blades and rose to their feet.
Alex stood still with his hands in his pockets. He looked like a bored student waiting for the school bus. Tyson saw that posture and smirked like a man about to deliver a TED Talk on overconfidence. Kelly shifted her stance, knife pointed forward, breathing sharp and focused.
'I'll stab him and take him hostage. I won't be dying here in this shithole like this,' Tyson thought.
Alex looked toward Rachel, and she gave him a nod. She looked toward the assassins and said, "No one will step in. It's between them. The winner walks away." She made a little hand sign at one of the assassins. The guy moved to a position where he could see the entire thing properly.
They lunged at Alex in perfect murderous harmony.
Alex lifted his right hand from his pocket, revealing a Smith and Wesson 432 UC. His expression turned into a polite smile, the kind of smile a waiter gives before informing a customer that the restaurant is out of breadsticks.
Tyson's eyes widened as he realized the math had been wrong. Kelly's jaw tightened in disbelief. For a heartbeat, they both looked offended, as if Alex had violated the sacred rules of homicide etiquette.
Alex squeezed the trigger twice.
Two sharp cracks echoed in the warehouse. Tyson fell backward with the stiff surprise of a man who thought he was in control right until his brain filed a complaint. Kelly's legs folded beneath her as she toppled sideways. Their knives clattered against the concrete.
Silence settled for a moment.
Rachel nodded. "Those morons."
John checked his watch. "Fastest knife fight I have ever seen."
Alex holstered the gun. "I said no one would interfere. I never said I would fight fair." He looked down at the bodies. "And I never planned to waste anymore of my time on shitfucks like you two."
Rachel signaled her men. Two of the guards stepped forward to secure the scene. Another opened a nearby crate filled with heavy plastic sheeting. The sort that implied paperwork and disposal were about to become best friends.
She looked at Alex. "Feel better?"
"A little," he said. "Mostly annoyed. Now all that's left is to wait till the underworld takes care of the remnants of Spectre. Oh, you got the recordings, right?"
"Yes," She nodded.
Then she looked toward the guy, leaning near the door. "We'll need someone to divert the task force so that they end their investigation. Let's give them something. Find some cartel and make them take the fall. Make it look like a deal gone wrong, and they fought each other and ended up dead. I want this mess to be over within the week."
"Will do," The guy replied.
With that, Alex and John left for the office. Alex had a few papers to sign. Rachel stayed behind to wrap things up.
*****
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