"If someone puts their hands on you, make sure they never put their hands on anybody else again."
—Malcolm X
LISA
Pulling up a seat in front of my old friend Scoot, I leaned back before I turned to my darling wife who stood against the brick wall to my right. I noticed a red gallon tank of what I hoped was gasoline sitting beside her. She grinned and it was as though she could see into my mind.
"I know who this fucker is," I said, as I rested my foot on his hand, which was taped to his thigh. One of the greatest gifts given to man had to be duct tape. "But I am not acquainted with these lovely women."
"Meet Lacey, Scooter's wife." My own wife pointed to the woman on the left with dusty blonde hair. "And to the right is Shelby, Scooter's prostitute. How he had so much time on his hands is beyond me."
"Which one do you think he loves more?" I asked as I tilted my head to the right to stare at the brunette. They both seemed simple enough to me.
"I couldn't figure it out," Jen sighed dramatically, as she pushed off the wall and walked behind the blonde. The woman's tears rolled past her taped mouth and dripped off her chin. "His wife has the house and he always comes home to her. She was his high school sweetheart. Right Scooter?"
Jen pulled his head back roughly before letting go, and he didn't struggle or speak. Instead he sat there with his head hanging so low that he tipped forward. Had it not been for the tape, he would've fallen to the floor.
He was broken on the inside.
If only he hadn't pissed the hell out of me, that would've almost been enough. But it wasn't. I wanted him broken on the inside and destroyed on the out.
"Yet, he's put up the prostitute in his old childhood apartment, she also has a stake in his will."
Scoot's wife's head snapped over to him as her eyes went wide.
"So, it's hard for me to say who's number one, I thought I'd let you figure it out," Jen whispered as she moved over to me.
With a sigh, I look to them both. "What did King Solomon do when he wished to find who was the true mother of the baby?"
"You want to cut them in half." She gasped in mock horror. "So messy."
"You're right, but the suspense is killing me." I dropped the brass knuckles as I pulled a razor tooth knife from my boot. Cutting the tape from his mouth, I held the blade to his nose and said, "You're going to tell me who you love more, or I will start cutting off their fingers."
He didn't speak, he didn't even look as though he were breathing.
Sighing once more, I moved over to his mistress and ran the blade over her thumb. Her breathing became rapid and her tears fell faster.
"You know what separates man from beast?" I asked her as she closed her eyes. "Our thumbs."
I slammed the blade down and started sawing off her thumb. She wailed so loudly that her body began to shake. Scooter watched the entire time, as tears fell from his face.
"Who do you love more?" I asked him again, as I wiped the blood on his jeans and walked towards his wife.
"I...I..."
"Too slow."
Holding the hilt of the blade, I drove it into her ring finger. She screamed as loud as her reluctant competitor, but the truth of the matter was that those kinds of wails no longer fazed me. Grabbing her dismembered finger, I held it in front of his face and tilted it ring-side down, he watched as the ring he'd given her dropped to the ground and nestled itself into the pool of her blood.
How poetic.
"Eighteen fingers left between them both. I've got nothing but time, and this is a very sharp blade, Scooter. Just pick one. I promise I won't kill her."
He swallowed and his head turned to his wife, then to me, and then back to his wife again. It seemed that he'd lost the ability to speak.
With a sigh, I moved to another one of Lacey's fingers. "I'm so sorry, Lacey."
Moving to her thumb, I paused, and looked at Scooter who only stared back at me. This time I didn't look away from his eyes as I once more pressed the knife into her other thumb. She screamed over and over again.
I didn't even ask before turning to Shelby.
"St—Stop. Please stop," he finally said, as he looked to his mistress. "I love her. I love her."
"Your mistress?" I asked calmly.
"Yes!" he cried.
Before I could blink, a bullet struck his mistress between her eyes. Turning to Jen, I watched as she placed her gun down.
"Well that was a plot twist," I said to her.
"I hate home wreckers." She shrugged as she glanced at Scoot's wife who sat in shock. "You're welcome," she added.
"AH!" Scooter screamed as he fought against the chair. "You no good fucking liar! Damn you to hell! You sick fucking bastards!"
"Wow, he really loved her," I said, wishing that I'd tortured her more.
"He's disgusting," Jen muttered. "I don't have to tell you what will happen if you ever think—"
"I know," I snickered, as I dropped the knife to ground.
I pulled out my own gun and shot his wife in the heart, finishing the heartbreak that he had caused. That woke him up and he began to fight against his restraints, trying in vain to reach her as she bled out beside him. Her blood gushed out, sending a hot spray of it into his face. Fortunately for me, I remained a safe enough distance away to avoid any splash back, and I simply watched as she died.
"You know, I always saw this ending," I told him calmly as he wept. Picking up my brass knuckles, I pulled my fist back before I slammed it into his face.
"In fact, I warned you," I sighed when I heard the sickening pop of his nose.
"You came after my family." The brass of my knuckles connected with his teeth and he coughed as they undoubtedly lodged themselves into his throat.
I held his blood-soaked face, looking to see if there were any bones that I hadn't yet broken...there was.
"You had me sent to jail," I sighed again, as I wiped his blood off my hands and onto his shirt. Pulling back once more, I struck and felt his jaw crack from the sheer force of my blow. "But it's alright, because I'm over it...now." Looking him over as though he was a fine painting, Jen walked forward before she poured gasoline over the bodies.
He coughed up a few teeth as he choked for breath.
"Any last words, Officer?" I asked him.
All he could do was struggle to breathe.
"I guess not. Funny since you had so much to say on the stand." It didn't matter, he was done. He was just the first of many who had to pay the price.
I exited the room because I hated the smell of gasoline. Neither Jen nor I said anything as we walked back to visit Roy and the idiots who were still cutting useless product. Chanyeol, Hanbin, and now Kain, stood at the exits with their guns clearly visible.
"It seems as though our business is done here," I stated as I walked back towards the exit that led down to the grand staircase.
"I swear on my life, Manoban, I will repay everything," Roy called out, as he used the arm of a naked woman to stand.
It was clear that he had indulged in a little too much of our product in the time we were gone.
"Oh no," Jen smirked, as she pointed between the two of us. "We are done here. You...well you're just done."
"Kill them and burn this place to the ground." I commanded. And before they could blink or even run, Chanyeol, Hanbin and Kain emptied their clips into them, making sure to double tap the heads.
JENNIE
We sat at a beautiful diner, about a mile out from the old hotel and we watched as it burned. The fire department had been called, but they apparently thought it best to allow the building to burn out safely. No one else was in the diner but us, however, it wasn't supposed to be open for another hour anyway.
"Do you think we're pyromaniacs?" I snickered, as I gazed at the rising smoke that tainted the sky in varying shades of grey.
"Not at all. The fires we set have purposes," she replied as she cut into the sausage links before her.
"True," I said, as I reached for my phone. I wanted to check up on Ethan.
"No phones." Lisa glanced at the device in my hands.
"You're funny." I chuckled as I signed in and saw that Ethan was sitting with Marco and Evelyn, the latter was reading something between them...I fought the urge to smile, and as I glanced up, I noticed that Lisa was peeking over my shoulder to see them.
"Yeah, no phones," I mocked. "I see what you're doing, Manoban."
"And what is it that I'm doing?" she asked from behind her coffee cup.
I waved my hand over the spread of toast, waffles, sausage and eggs in front us, and her eyebrow raised as my grin spread across her face.
"Oh come on, this is you trying to get me on a date."
"No. This is brunch. I was hungry." To prove her point, she grabbed a slice of French toast and took a bite.
"Manoban—"
"When I take you on a date, Jennie, there will be dancing, the best wine in the country, and food that is ridiculously overpriced," she replied.
"I don't understand your obsession with romance. It's like you're a love child of War and Peace," I muttered before I bit into my apple.
"What do you have against romance?"
"Nothing. It's fine when it's not being directed at me. I'm understanding of love, but this need to buy flowers, and chocolates—"
"You do know love and romance are synonymous, right?"
"No, they're not—"
"And you are aware that what you did for me today was romantic, right?"
I swallow slowly, unsure of how to reply, and she knew that she'd bested me. Leaning back, she pensively crossed her arms.
"Why did you do it?"
"I don't know, I thought you needed it or at least wanted..." I muttered as I reached for my tea. I didn't like where this was going.
"And it made you happy to do it?"
Oh God, must she drag this out? "Yes, fine. I was happy that you were happy. Can you just say what you mean now?"
"You, as my wife, anticipated my needs without having to ask or be asked. I, as your wife, wish to do the same."
"But I have no need for restaurant wine, I have my own. Nor do I care for dancing, and if you want overpriced steak, then I'll let the cook know."
She rolled her eyes at me. "How do you know what you like if you've never done it before?"
Her smugness was slowly killing me.
"Because I know myself."
"I know you too, and you've already agreed so we're going on a date and you're going to enjoy it without being a bitch."
"Now you're trying to change my personality, Manoban? So controlling. I think this is an early sign of an abusive relationship."
"You can bring your sarcasm and wit, I find it entertaining."
Oh how she annoyed me.
"Can we talk business now?"
"Of course. It's not like this is a date or anything," she winked.
"It isn't. Now how would you like to handle all those who testified you against you? And I meant that as a completely unromantic and platonic question."
I watched as her eyes glistened. "I do wish to handle them. But sadly I can't deal with them in the same manner we handled Scooter," she said seriously.
She was right. If all the people who testified against her suddenly went missing or turned up dead, suspicion would surely follow...it would've sent a clear message though.
"Oh what a shame." I sighed. "Because here comes Dr. Lewis now." I pointed to the woman with short blonde hair. On her arm was an attractive looking man...who possessed the same hair and eye color as Lisa. He kept her distracted by making out with her and grabbing onto her ass. He covered her eyes with a laugh as he led her into a back booth.
"Did you know she would be here? You picked the diner?" Lisa grinned at me.
"Who me? Really now Lisa, I can't control everything."
She looked as though she didn't believe me. However, when the mystery man stood up to join her, so did I.
"I'll be right back."
"Jen..."
I raised my hand and placed it over my heart. "I'll be good, I promise."
"Fine. But you sure as hell don't get the warden too," she muttered, as she rose and followed me.
"What do you think she values more than her life?" I asked Lisa as we walked through the maze of white tables and chairs that led to the bathroom in the back.
"Her career," she grinned, as she listened to the sounds that seemed to echo in the empty space.
"Exactly."
We silently entered the bathroom and watched as she sucked on his small, naked mole rat dick while her breasts hung out of her tight blue dress. The sight made me want to bleach my eyes; it was like a bad amateur porno.
"Hello, Doc," Lisa snickered.
Her eyes went wide as she pulled away. "Oh my God!" she screamed, and as her eyes began to water, she looked up at us as though we were some ghosts of mafia past.
"Oh my God already?" I sneered in disgust as I sat on the white and yellow couch in the bathroom.
"What the fuck are you doing here?!" she yelled as she tried her best to stuff her breasts back into her bra. "Daniel! You told me you were closed!"
"I'm going to take a wild guess and say he lied," Lisa said, unable to keep the grin off her face as she leaned back against the wall.
"Daniel," I said to him and he nodded as he walked out and left her in fear.
"Daniel? Daniel!"
"You just have the worst luck with men, don't you?" I said to her.
"Wait," Dr. Lewis whispered her brain slowly catching on. "He's been working for you this whole time? No. I can't be. We've been dating for—"
"Two and a half months, I know. While Lisa was in jail, and right after you gave your first testimony to the police. Just so you know, he was paid handsomely for your time together. He didn't have a penny to his name...but then again, you didn't know that. You thought he was a rich doctor who happened to own a few restaurants on the side. Wouldn't that have been amazing? Shame," I laughed. It was pathetic how easy it was to predict some people's actions.
She was shaking badly and we could tell that she was going into shock as reality crept in.
"Wow, you must have truly believed that you were falling in love," Lisa gasped mockingly. "This must be embarrassing."
"What do you want?" She spat, not realizing how kind we were truly being.
"You know all those rumors you spread about me? About my family? How we take out anyone who crosses us. How we control this city to the point where you could run into the police department right now and still not be safe? What if I told you they were true, Doc? What if I told you half of the people you treat were sent to you by us?" Lisa replied stalking up to her.
"You're lying," she stuttered. "You're the Manobans—you feed the inner city kids and..."
"And cut off fingers and bash in heads...which makes me wonder what will happen to you," Lisa finished for her.
"Please—"
"Oh no, we are well past begging." Lisa walked closer to her and stared into her scared mouse-like face that was now streaked with tears. "Now you're going to go to the media and you're going to tell them that you were forced to testify against me. Are we clear?"
"I..."
Lisa took her by the neck forcing her to stand on the tiptoes. "Don't be stupid here. I wanted to crack your skull open. But it's been a busy morning for us. So take this gift and know that if you ever speak about us other than what we tell you to do, your sweet boyfriend knows all about you by now, and believe me, Daniel won't be so gentle with you this time around."
Lisa said nothing else to her before she turned towards the door. However, before we left I glanced at her and tilted my head to the side as I took in her shaking frame.
"Have a nice day, Dr. Lewis. Daniel will stick around for a while just in case you have any doubts."
We walked towards the cars and I noticed that both Chanyeol and Hanbin were drinking coffees and eating muffins whilst Kain stood there glaring at them. I smiled; Chanyeol and Hanbin didn't take kindly to new people.
Lisa opened the door on the passenger side of the truck for me and I entered without argument. However, I moved across until I was in the driver's seat.
"I'm driving," I said.
"Only because you were so good," she mocked before she slid in beside me and handed me the keys.
"All that's left is Dr. Alden and the prosecutor. I'm sure we can think of something. They won't be too much trouble. And we still have Avian to deal with," I whispered, as I pulled out onto the road.
I wanted Avian dead. I didn't want him to suffer, and I didn't want some fancy, elaborate plan. I just wanted his head separated from his neck. The end.
"The mess our 'scandal' has created must be keeping him busy. But I doubt that will last any longer than another week," Lisa said, as she clenched her jaw and leaned back into the truck's seat. "You'd think he would just stop."
"Would we?" I wouldn't. "Before this was just business, but now we've fought back. We've embarrassed him and taken out his daughter, all while looking as clean as ever. He's Italian. Questo è l'orgoglio."
"Pride? Well that's comforting," she said as understanding dawned. "I don't want to be taken by surprise from that motherfucker ever again. We've been two steps behind up until now."
"Yes, and I'm positive that we have at least one more rat in the house." I had no clue who it was, but I would peel the skin from their flesh with salt filled nails the moment I found out.
She sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Of course we do. I'll have Nickhun go through the phone logs—"
"I did it while I was away. I couldn't find anything suspicious, but I know there's still a mole. I think it's someone as close to us as Adriana was. If my mother could get to her, then I can only imagine who Avian could get to." Thinking about Adriana only pissed me off.
She tensed as she looked at me. "On three, we say who we think it is."
"One..." She began.
"Two..." I countered, and on three, we both spoke.
"Bambam."
"Mina."
We both paused.
"Why Mina?" she asked me, and all I could do was look at her with my eyebrow raised. However, she shook her head. "She's jealous and spoiled, but I doubt she has the skills to pull anything this elaborate off."
That was true, but..."Maybe if it was just Mina alone. But Avian could be protecting her."
"But Mina is adamantly against our lifestyle. We're 'evil,' remember? Sadistic even, according to her," she mocked as we stopped at the light.
"You know what I think is sadistic? People know who we are and what we do. But yet they still lie, cheat, and steal from us, thinking that there will be no repercussions. Somehow we're the depraved ones in their fucked logic. Don't cross the mob and you get to live. How many more mafia movies does Robert De Niro have to be in before people get that?"
She looked at me before she broke out into a fit of laughter.
"Look, I'm not a hundred percent sure about Mina, but my instincts tell me to not trust her. Why do you believe it's Bambam?" I asked her.
"He's my older brother," Lisa replied as if that was reason enough. But then again that was enough. I wasn't sure if anything could have ever cleansed the bad blood between them, but at the end of the day, Bambam was still her brother.
"Do you think they're in it together?" Though I wondered how either of them could possibly keep such a thing from each other.
Lisa thought for a moment and then sighed as her phone went off. Reaching for it, she quickly read through the text and smirked.
"What is it?"
"The White House chief of staff is wondering if we had time to come to pay a visit late next week for an award ceremony and dinner dedicated to our service. It's perfect. Let's leave tomorrow."
What?
"Tomorrow? Why in the hell would we do that?" I'd just gotten back.
"We're at war, Jen. We've taken things slow to repair as much as possible" She smiled before sitting up. "But it's time we stopped fighting in our own backyard and go into Avian's. He's been separating his criminal life from his professional, so now we're going to collide them both and watch it burn."
"I'm not a pyromaniac, but you just might be," I said, as I turned into the city. "Fine. But I do want the whole family to come along as well. If only to keep an eye on them."
"Victoria and Nickhun will have to stay behind. There's a void in dealers with Roy gone. Someone else will try to push their luck and step up, I'd rather keep them all on a very short leash," she reminded me.
"Short leashes easily lead to the master," I paused, thinking for a moment. "Have you ever thought that maybe Nickhun and Victoria could be the mole?"
The moment I said it, her face fell and she shook her head. "Not Nickhun. Never Nickhun."
She said it with such conviction that I didn't push her any further on the matter. However, I had to get the thought out there.
I wasn't sure about Nickhun, but I knew Victoria...But then again, I'd thought I knew Adriana as well.
"Wife. Not Nickhun," Lisa said to me again as if she could read my mind.
"Okay." For everyone's sake, I hoped it wasn't anyone in the family.