"this is what you get
when you mess with us."
- Karma Police, AG (ft. Lissie)

╳

"Madani okay?" Frank asks, the smile he greeted me with upon my return still gracing his handsome face.

"Yes." I reply, locking our hotel door. "She's with Mahoney now."

"With Mahoney? What happened?" Frank asks, his smile replaced by a frown.

"I tracked her to some apartment. When I got there, she was in a brawl with another woman." I begin to explain, making my way to him as he stands from the table. "I grabbed her before they both went through the window."

"Shit. Who was the woman?"

"Billy's therapist. That's where he's been hiding this whole time." I tell him. "Mahoney's taken Dinah to the hospital. She's got a few scrapes, but she's fine."

"Lucky you found her, huh?" Frank says, his frown softening as he smiles down at me.

"Billy was there." I tell him, and he stills, the clenching of his jaw his only movement. "He was down in the street, but he fled when the authorities arrived. If we go back, I can track him."

╳

Hiding under the hood of my jacket, I cross the street, getting as close as I can to the section of sidewalk Dr. Dumont landed on.

Mahoney may be gone, but a handful of investigators remain on the scene, barricading the area. But I don't need to get too close. I pick up on Billy's scent in no time.

I close my eyes for a moment, honing in on his scent before taking off in the same direction he did earlier tonight.

Heading down the street away from remaining authorities, I feel Frank catching up behind me. He keeps a few paces back, giving me space, ensuring he doesn't interrupt my process. His unnecessary precaution is amusing.

Fifty minutes later, we find ourselves outside an abandoned building. Glocks in hand, Frank and I stealthily scope it out. It appears there's only one man on guard duty, with more men inside.

And Billy Russo is one of the men inside.

Frank and I exchange hard looks for a moment before Frank gives me a nod.

I nod in response, and we get ready to move in.

Heading back around to the front entrance, Frank hangs back in the shadows while I approach the guard.

"Excuse me, sir?" I call, and the guard snaps his head in my direction. "Can you help me? I was invited here by a Billy Russo? Please tell me I have the right place." I approach him slowly with an innocent smile, sporting a lost puppy demeanour.

He looks me up and down, taking notice of my nervous glances at the gun in his hands. "You've got the right place." he says as he lowers his weapon.

"Oh, fantastic! My friend will be so pleased." I softly clap, beaming at the man.

"Your friend, huh?" he asks and I nod at him. "She as pretty as you?"

"Aren't you a charmer?" I coyly gush, resting my hands on my hips as I flutter my eyelashes. "But who said anything about a she?"

The guard frowns down at me, then swiftly turns as Frank appears behind him. Before the guard can act, Frank knocks him out with the butt of his gun.

"So, what's the plan?" I ask while Frank plucks the rifle from the man's hands, slinging it across his back.

"Finish Bill, once and for all." Frank says, adjusting his new rifle. "Just follow my lead."

I cover Frank's six as we head inside.

This warehouse is one expansive room, with nothing but a couch and a table for the fifteen armed men inside. Stemming from the middle of the room is a staircase, leading up to an open planned second story.

"RUSSO!" Frank yells beside me, gaining the attention of every man in the room. His trademark white skull on full display.

The men all look confused for a moment, before they draw their weapons, pointing them at Frank and I as we saunter in.

Frank comes to a slow stop and I keep beside him, my eyes and ears watchful as my body readies to shield him if need be.

"Lose the guns, Frank." Billy calls from the top of the stairs.

Frank puts his handgun on the ground, sliding it forward before raising his hands, and I follow suit.

Two of Billy's men come forward and pat us down, taking the knife from Frank's belt and the rifle Frank scored from the guard outside.

"Come back for more?" Billy smugly yells, finally showing himself.

"Didn't take you long to start over, Bill." Frank comments as the two men stay close, keeping their guns trained on us.

"I told you, Frankie, there's always more guys." Billy sneers as he starts making his way down the stairs.

"And I told you, Bill, it's gonna come down to you and me." Frank counters. Billy just laughs and shakes his head. "Why don't you do right by these men, and spare their lives?" Frank suggests.

"We're brothers, we fight together." Billy states, boasting his faux solidarity proudly for the men around him to swallow. Some of the men nod, and stand up just a little bit taller.

"You say that like it means something." Frank scoffs. "You and I were brothers once."

"It does mean something." I can't help but chime in. "It means he's afraid."

"Excuse me?" Billy says, dropping his smirk as he raises his eyebrows. His black, soulless eyes now fixed on me.

"You're afraid." I state. "You hide behind all your brothers, you send them to their deaths like pawns on a chess board, to spare your own life, hoping that one of them might be lucky enough to stop Frank on their way out. Because you know, you will lose. Again."

He narrows his eyes at me, before he laughs humourlessly under his breath. "Frankie, you need to muzzle your bitch."

"I was gonna let her off the leash actually." Frank retorts in a blasé manner.

"Do your brothers know they're just pawns?" I ask Billy.

"Do you know you're his?" he counters venomously, nodding his head to Frank. "You think he cares about you? He doesn't care about anybody. My men and I are family, we got each other's backs."

"And I've got hers." Frank states.

"Her?" Billy laughs. "That's it? That's all you got?"

"I'm a quality over quantity kinda guy." Frank says, looking down his nose at Billy. "This is between you and me, Bill. You should dismiss your men."

"What, you gonna take us all on? Because that worked out so well for you last time." Billy sneers, standing behind his two men that guard us. The rest of the men around us chuckle.

"Oh, he's just here for you." I state. "I can handle the rest." I send an innocent smile to some of the men.

Billy looks at me and snickers. "You? Against all my men?" he scoffs. "Frank barely made it out alive last time. You think you'll be half as lucky?"

"Luck's got nothing to do with it." I reply.

"Is that so?" Billy sneers before squatting down to pick up our weapons from the floor. He looks back up at me from his crouch and I see the smugness leaves his eyes. "Wait.. you.." he breathes, eyes widening. "You hurt Krista." I see the frenzy return to his eyes and feel the Deja vu of our positions. The similarity of when he looked up at me from the street as I stood in Dr. Dumont's window. He stands back up, gripping Frank's handgun tight. "You fuckin' bitch!" he spits, storming forward to press Frank's gun to my head.

"I can't take the credit for Krista, I'm afraid." I say, setting Billy's eyes ablaze at my mention of her name. "That was Dinah's handiwork, actually."

The look on his face as he processes my words is satisfying. I wish I could capture it for Dinah.

"All I've ever done to you, is tackle you in the street that one time." I add, nonchalantly. Billy's eyes narrow, before they're sparked with recognition.

"No.." he shakes his head. "No, my men kill you in that street." he says, pressing the gun harder against my head.

"Your men shot me. Big difference." I reply. My unfazed demeanour and lack of reaction only enrages Billy further.

He glances at Frank and I can practically see a light bulb go off above his head. With a nod, he signals to his men. The two who pat us down move in and beat Frank to his knees.

I take one step towards Frank and Billy's digging the gun into my head. "Uh-uh." he croons.

The two men drag Frank a few metres away, before forcing him to face me.

"I want you to watch this, Frankie." Billy says, his voice low and smug.

Billy steps back amongst his men, wearing a sinister smirk. With another nod of his head, his men begin to shuffle forward, slowly forming a semi circle before me.

I stare at Billy who stares at Frank, while the men chuckle amongst themselves, stepping closer to their seemingly defenceless prey. All of them filled with bad intentions.

"Come any closer and you're all dead." I warn. "If you want to make something better of yourselves, you can leave right now, no shame."

I look around at each of the men, hoping to see any glimmer of hesitation or doubt from any of them. But they continue to close in, more than eager to do Billy's bidding and fulfil his evil deeds.

"No?" I add, giving them one last chance. "No one wants to save themselves?"

My eyes find Frank's, and he gives me a singular nod. It's a nod of encouragement. A nod of understanding. A nod signalling it's time to do what I gotta do.

I breathe out a sigh. "Okay.."

I tried. I gave them a chance, but none of them want to be good.

I shift my weight and ball my fists. My senses go on high alert, analysing my assailants while I let my mind fall into my instincts and training. I hold my position and wait for the cockiest man to reveal himself. There's always one, beating his own chest and underestimating his situation, too keen to ride his own glory.

A man with broad chest and shoulders steps forward with just a little too much confidence, unknowingly proving my point. He marches forward, his swagger insufferable. I am more than ready and willing to humble him.

He tries to loom over me, even though he's really not much taller. Leaving it to the last second, right before he touches me, I strike.

In mere seconds, I punch him in the stomach, elbow him in the face, kick his leg out from under him and send him to the ground face first.

Men begin standing up straighter, ready to prove themselves, thinking they're better than the man on the ground.

On my left, the next man steps forward and swings.

I dodge the hit and enter a fist fight with him. I'm quick to gain the upper hand, so another man joins the fight, coming at me from behind. I hear his footsteps close in and spin, punching him hard in the face. I turn and kick the other one before he grabs me, and then I'm fighting them both off at once.

They manage to cop in a couple hits here and there, but it's nothing I can't handle. And soon they're both on the ground with their buddy.

That's three down, even if I have left them alive. I'm just trying to give them one last chance to reconsider, to make a better choice for themselves and leave.

But I don't think they will. Knocking them down doesn't have their lives at enough of a risk.

"Stop playing with your food, boys." Billy calls out from behind his men, moving his way closer to Frank.

Opponent number four decides to take things up a notch, stepping forward, knife in hand.

I dodge his sharp advances, until one of the men on the ground tries to trip me. I stumble but stay on my feet, but the man's blade connects with my arm, slashing down my limb.

The pain from his blade and the sound of the men cheering sends anger surging within me.

Yeah, I'm done playing with my food, too.

He comes at me again and brings his arm down, knife in hand, but I grab hold of his wrist and snap it, stealing his knife in the process. I slit his throat with his own weapon, and shove him back into his friends. The man chokes on his own blood in the arms of his brothers, and they drop his dead weight to the floor.

I steal a glance at Billy, who stares on a little shocked. He turns his gaze towards Frank and I do the same.

A smirk slowly works its way onto Frank's face.

I hear another man step forward on my right, cocking a gun and aiming it at my head. Without blinking, without even looking at the man, I swiftly raise my right arm, my claws shooting out in time to slice straight through his outstretched arm.

His dismembered limb drops to the ground and the impact triggers the weapon, firing a bullet that shoots into another man's foot.

Both men scream at their injuries, until I pick up his gun and shoot them both in the head.

Time stands still and the room falls silent as many eyes shift between the arm on the ground and the claws protruding from my fist. Everyone's hearts start to beat a little faster.

Then everyone is cocking their weapons.

I use my tiny window of opportunity and shoot Frank's captors, two bullets in each of their chests, before the men around me start firing.

I return fire until my gun is empty, taking out two more men, then hurl the empty weapon at another man's head. As he cops the blow, I slice his machine gun in half with my claws and slip behind him, burying the knife in his throat to keep him upright while I use his body as a shield.

In the middle of the chaos, I notice Billy grab two more men to shield himself, pulling them towards the staircase.

The rest of the men begin to scatter when Frank joins the fire fight. They spread out around the room, ducking behind the few pieces of furniture in this space. Three of them dive behind the couch, while two of them flip the table for cover.

One man though, tries to turn on Frank while he reloads. I reef the knife from the neck of my human shield and fling it, the blade piercing straight into the man's back.

Frank finishes reloading and fires a headshot into the man before he can recover from the knife in his back. Then Frank turns and shoots at Billy, taking out the two men he uses as cover as he flees up the stairs.

The sound of movement behind me has me turning.

The first cocky man I'd brought to the ground has decided to get up, grabbing a knife and pinning me in a glare most hateful. I laugh under my breath before breaking into a run.

Closing the distance between us, I jump towards him, feet first. My legs wrap around his shoulders, locking my ankles around his neck as I swing my body to the side. With the momentum of my swing, I pull his head down with my legs. I unlock my ankles, landing back on my feet as the man crashes to the ground, hard, his skull cracking on impact.

I meet Frank's watchful gaze, and I smirk at him, giddy that he witnessed me execute the best running hurricanrana I've ever performed.

He smirks back, and we exchange nods. Then Frank disappears up the stairs after Billy while I turn on the remaining men.

I stalk up to the table and slice the wood in half, pushing it apart. The two men behind it shout and start firing, along with three men behind the couch.

I dodge, flip and spin, moving around the men as if they're my own personal jungle gym, feeling the splatter of their blood hit me while I slice throats and pierce stomachs.

Panting with exertion, I wander back to the men I'd tried not to kill when the fighting began, and finish them off. All the while, sounds of Frank and Billy brawling echo from above.

Almost silent here below, I turn and watch the one remaining man trying to flee up the stairs. He was the burliest of the lot, and apparently I didn't sink my claws deep enough.

I don't hurry, sauntering after the man as he crawls up the staircase, grunting and groaning. He's halfway up when I start on the first steps.

He hears me closing in and throws a glance over his shoulder. Cursing under his breath, the man draws a handgun and unloads his whole clip into my thighs and stomach.

The impact drops me to my hands and knees, and I glare at him as he continues on with his crawl.

And then I follow, crawling after him while my body expels his bullets.

I hang back, letting him think he's going to make it. Then when he's down to five final steps, I strike, stabbing my left fist into his left calf muscle, followed closely by my right fist into his right thigh.

He cries out in pain, but continues to crawl.

And I continue to climb. Stabbing my way up his body, pulling myself up.

Claws now in his back and shoulder, I wrap my legs around him, straddling him.

He reaches the top of the stairs and with a loud grunt, I stab both fists into his shoulder blades. He collapses beneath me, finally done.

Panting, I lift my head, looking around until I spot Frank.

Frank stands over Billy, who's slumped against the wall. The both of them stare at me and my dramatic arrival. My eyes quickly take in Frank's condition. The blood trailing from his nose and from his split cheek, his face already showing signs of bruising..

With a huff, I get up off the body beneath me, and make my way over. As I get closer, I see the wet sticky glisten on Frank's sleeve, bleeding from fresh wounds, and I sigh. Frank did say he'd have new scars again. And while I did believe him, I didn't expect it to be so soon.

Billy's eyes are wide, staring at me with disbelief. The sudden silence of the warehouse below only emphasises my victory.

"Impossible.." Billy breathes, blood oozing from his mouth.

"Like I said, Bill.." Frank remarks as I come to a stop by his side. "Quality over quantity."

Billy looks up at Frank, and I can see it in his eyes; he knows he's lost. For good this time.

"Frank.. whatever I did.." he splutters, his words muffled by the blood pooling in his mouth. "..I'm s-"

Frank silences him with a bullet to the stomach. Blood trickles down Billy's chin as he bears his blood stained teeth.

"You played a part in the murder of my family. That's what you did, brother." Frank enlightens him, his voice the coldest I've ever heard it. "You became everything you hate, and then you tried to kill me. Know that. Live with it." he states. "Until you bleed out."

Frank stares down at him for a moment, before he slowly turns and begins to leave. I follow suit, without a word.

"Wait- wait, please.." Billy stammers. "..I don't want to be alone. Frank.. I'm sor-"

Frank turns fires a headshot, letting no apologies escape, silencing his former friend. Permanently.

As dark and soulless as Billy's eyes are, I can still see the life leave them.

Frank turns away, tucking his gun into his waistband. I follow, descending the stairs a few steps behind.

We move back through the mess of bodies and as we exit the building, Frank throws his arm around my shoulders and pulls me to his side.

We head down the street together, the both of us now free.

A/N

references: the part of this chapter where Jenavieve stabs and climbs the man crawling up the steps was inspired by the character Akira from John Wick 4. She's a queen.

Final chapter out next week!

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. 🤍
- K