Downswing Page 11

  "You did, Fritz?" I questioned, my eyes wide in surprise.

  The large German nodded. "If this man is anything like his father, we need him to remain out of the fight. If we cross him and he defects to Korol instead of remaining neutral, we are all dead. There are only two groups in the world I genuinely fear, and Father of Assassins is one of them."

  Shocked silence met his pronouncement.

  "So, what happened to el tonto?" Ludo asked excitedly, calling the CIA operative in the story a moron.

  "Ah, the CIA operative? Well, that's what is so damn puzzling… and irritating, if I'm being quite honest. What both the CIA and MI6 have failed to do over the course of years, this wanker succeeded in a matter of hours. Sokolov took a liking to the operative and for some reason has taken them under his wing. He has now even agreed to a meeting with you, Emilia, once we evacuate and get all of you set up at a base of operations outside of the country."

  "With me? Why? He doesn't even know me." I frowned in confusion, and once again Jane glanced at me and I saw that strange flash of guilt on her face.

  "And how does he know about our escape already?" Masamune asked.

  "Ah, well, the answer to both of your questions is the same… it's because of the CIA operative he's now made a part of his group. Ah, though I should say now the former CIA operative. She officially gave her notice of leave, and Sokolov has stated to us that she is under his protection from now on. Which means she’s untouchable. Wanker." Jane answered.

  "What-" I began, but was cut off by a soldier appearing in the doorway.

  "Commander, she has arrived, and is requesting permission for entry." The man said, though his stress on the 'requesting' part was obvious.

  Jane blew out a tired breath. "Yes, yes, let her through."

  The solider nodded, muttering affirmative commands into his radio. He bowed, disappearing into the shadows of the hallway once again.

  Jane stood and Roy stood together, and I frowned at the tense look they shared. Whatever was happening, they were both a part of it, and it clearly wasn’t going to make me happy. We all watched as the two walked to stand at the center of the room, directly in front of my chair but facing the doorway. They both looked to me and twin looks of guilt appeared on their faces.

  Oh, you fuckers. What the hell did you do?

  "This former CIA operative chose to ally herself with one of the world's most feared groups with a truly terrifying leader due to one fact, and one fact alone." Jane said, her eyes on me, though Roy was the one who finished the explanation.

  "Because she thought that was the only way we could find and rescue you, Emilia."

  "Me?" I stammered out, once again taken aback. "Why me?"

  We all heard the door slam open at the front entrance, and everyone leapt to their feet, crouching into fighting positions. I was slower to rise but was immediately shielded by Viktor from the entryway where footsteps were fast approaching.

  Roy's quiet voice echoed around the room as he answered me.

  "Because you were the one who once saved her."

  A woman appeared at the entryway to the living room, breathing heavy, and looking around the room with frantic, jerky movements. Her long, wavy mass of strawberry blonde hair tumbled around her face to cascade down her back, and her green eyes sparkled in the light of the room like the spring grass right after a rainfall. Her tall, lithe body was covered with black leather, though her large chest was prominent as she panted.

  My mind went blank as our gazes met.

  The woman went completely still. After a heartbeat, she broke out into a dazzling smile that transformed her face from gorgeous to positively breathtaking.

  A single tear formed at the corner of my eye and trailed slowly down my frozen cheek.

  "FOXY!" She screamed, running towards me.

  I felt my body lurch forward, and I shoved Viktor aside, who was startled enough to step back. I ran past him and collided with the woman, my ribs screaming in agony at the contact. I barely registered the pain as we fell to the ground in a heap of limbs, hugging each other close and not letting go as we rolled around on the ground.

  Finally, we came to a stop, the woman sitting atop me, tears pouring from her eyes. She grabbed my face suddenly, and brought our lips crashing together. I held on, kissing her back with gusto, entwining our tongues in a long, deep kiss that left the room in silent shock for a full minute.

  "Ohh, thank ye, Jaysus, Mary, and all the saints."

  The breathless words from Kiernan penetrated my consciousness and I broke the kiss from the stunning woman on top of me. I clutched her cheeks in my hands, pressing our foreheads together. She held my hands there, her tears slowing as she gazed into my eyes. I gave her a final kiss on the lips and breathed her name.

  "Hound."

  "Everyone, please meet the idiot former CIA agent who won over the deadliest mafia boss in existence with just a conversation, and who has now chosen to ally herself with Emilia." Jane began, and once again, Roy finished for her.

  "Alex O'Connor. Codename: The Hound. A nickname she has used since childhood, when her most beloved friend gave it to her. And that friend was Emilia Fox."

  Confused silence reigned supreme among the convicts. But I couldn’t bring myself to give a shit about answering any of the myriad of questions I’m sure they had. Hound and I continued to gaze into each other's eyes, each of us laughing helplessly as we embraced.

  "The Fox and the Hound. You've got to be fucking kidding me." Cin finally said in disbelief, causing the entire room to groan at the pun.

  I clutched Alex tighter, and whispered into her ear, quiet enough so that nobody heard me but her.

  "I'm going to pass out now. Please don't be a dream."

  I heard a loud squawk come from Alex right before I fainted from the sharp agony of my injuries being jostled. Even as pain engulfed my being and I sank into the sweet black oblivion of sleep… I felt my lips pull back into the most blinding smile that had graced my face in over a year.

  Chapter Eleven

  Queen Of Hearts

  Viktor

  "Foxy!" Hound yelped, clutching Emilia as her head lolled back on her shoulders.

  I leapt into action, wrenching the former CIA operative off Emilia. My heart hammered in my chest as I picked the unconscious Emilia up in my arms, glowering fiercely at the newcomer.

  "Emilia has sustained injuries from our escape this morning, which you just made worse, idiot woman. Can't you see the bandages all over her?" I thundered loudly, making everyone in the room jump.

  The woman leapt to her feet, clutching Emilia's limp hand to her face. She whimpered, her eyes sparkling with tears. Pavel rushed into the room, out of breath, his remaining hair disheveled as he looked to me. Noticing the unconscious Emilia in my arms, he scrambled forward. Feeling her forehead and checking her breathing, Pavel nodded to me.

  "She's fine, she's merely fainted. She's been through a lot, please let's leave the plans for tomorrow and let the poor girl rest." Pavel looked at me with pleading eyes and I nodded my head.

  "I'll go with her, too!" Hound yelled, refusing to relinquish Emilia's hand. I glowered at her once again, yanking Emilia from her reach. The woman looked frantic for a moment before she abruptly stood to her full height and pulled a gun from a holster at her side. I stared at her stoically as she pointed it at my forehead, her eyes unfocused but her hand steady.

  "Now, now, everyone! Let's all calm down." Jane pleaded, sliding forward. "Miss Alex, if you please, put your weapon away. My men do have orders if there is any violence to contain it quickly. And you know what that means."

  Alex O'Connor stared at me, her hand unmoving for the span of three heartbeats. My only answer was to clutch Emilia closer, my lip curling back in a feral snarl. Hound lowered her weapon, exhaling a loud, irritated breath.

  "Who is this ugly gorilla and why is he touching my Foxy?!" She screeched, stomping her foot, but sheathing her weapon all the same.

  "Pl
ease, Viktor, my guards and Pavel will return Emilia to her room. We only have a few loose ends to wrap up. You and Miss Alex can go attend to her after that, if you promise to play nice." Jane said, waving a hand to the doorway. Two guards appeared out of the darkness, one opening his arms to receive Emilia.

  I ground my teeth, but gave a nod of acquiescence. I handed Emilia over to the guards and watched as they and Pavel escorted her out of the room and safely back upstairs. My heart ached at the loss of Emilia’s warm body pressing against mine, but I suppressed the urge quickly. I turned back to Alex O'Connor, my face growing dark with a glower of dislike. The woman had a similar sneer on her face as she met me stare for stare, finally clicking her tongue in distaste at me.

  "My dear girl, you do know how to make an entrance, don't you?" Jane exhaled loudly, plopping herself back into her seat. All the inhabitants of the room followed suit save Roy, who remained standing, looking expectantly at Alex.

  Alex noticed him after a moment and her face lit with delight. She ran over, hugging him tight with a squeal.

  "Roy boy! It's been so long!" She cooed, rubbing her face against his chest. Roy gave a small, fond smile down at the crazy woman. Hound’s face turned to the two young ones and her face brightened even more, her eyes wide with manic happiness.

  "KIDDIES!" She squealed, plopping down in front of Ludo and Kamili. Both kids screeched, scooting back on the couch away from her. The strange woman pouted, then looked around at all the other inhabitants in the room.

  "Roy boy, are these the people who helped Foxy?" Hound tilted her head to him in question, and he gave a nod. She clapped her hands together, bowing down on the floor.

  "THANK YOU SO MUCH!" The woman screamed, still bowing, and everyone thought the same exact thing in that moment.

  This woman is out of her fucking mind.

  "Please, Hound, if you can sit normal, I'm sure everyone would appreciate it." Roy bent down, helping the woman to her feet. She nodded, smiling a childlike smile up at the man. She grinned at the kids again, who both flinched, before squeezing in between them. Ludo clung to the edge of the couch, looking desperately like he wanted to run away, but Kamili leaned towards the woman suddenly, looking her over in curiosity.

  "You're crazy, aren't you, lady?" Kamili finally said, causing everyone in the room to go silent. The woman called Hound turned to her, her eyes dead and cold and smiled slowly. Kamili scrambled back against Roy, who put a comforting arm around her.

  The woman suddenly gave a tinkling laugh, her expression going back to normal, though her eyes still seemed slightly unfocused.

  "Mmm. I suppose so. They did make me take multiple psychological tests at the CIA, and I never did manage to pass a single one." She giggled, bouncing up and down on the cushion.

  "Uh, I guess I'll be the one to ask. How did this daft girl get into the CIA and how in the hell does she know Emilia?" Kiernan asked, looking to Fritz who nodded that he also had the same questions.

  "That's easy! Roy boy here got me in after I was arrested for murder since he knew my daddy before he died. The CIA agreed to train me as an operative, since nobody really knew I was alive and they let me go lots of fun places and kill bad guys!" Hound answered simply, shrugging her shoulders.

  Everyone blinked in unison.

  "Foxy was my only friend. I wasn't allowed to go to school after my daddy died, and she was the only one who really knew I was alive. We lived down the hall from each other in an apartment complex."

  As she said this, my eyes widened at the transformation that came over the madwoman. The crazy woman evaporated before our eyes and a sad, gentle woman took her place. She gave a small, sad smile to the room, her eyes shimmering with tears.

  "Emilia was the only one to treat me like a person. My mother died when I was born, and my father died when I was nine. I didn't have any family except my uncle, who took me in. I lived with him for four years and he was… not a good man." The gentle woman suddenly disappeared again, and a quiet, dead-eyed stranger sat in her place.

  "He raped and beat me all four years I was with him. He didn't let me go to school, and I was only allowed to go outside after dark. When I turned thirteen, he had me sleep with his dealers to support his drug habit. I think that's when I lost most of my sanity." Hound recited this in a deadpan tone, her eyes still flat and lifeless. A corner of her lips suddenly tilted up, and her eyes came alive the tiniest bit.

  "That's when I met Emilia. She was so bright and beautiful, I couldn't keep my eyes off her. I would sneak out at night after my uncle had passed out to watch her play on the playground. Her smile was so beautiful, her laugh so loud and joyous, I couldn’t stay away. I tried to stay hidden, and just watch her from a distance to let some of that joy rub off on me. I just wanted a little piece, you know? And then, one day, that sly fox caught me.” Hound chuckled. She looked over at Kamili, who had scooted right up to her during her story and had tears running down her tiny face. The woman raised a hand and gently wiped the tears from the small girl’s cheeks.

  "We would meet in secret at the playground in the apartment complex. She would force me to play with her, even though I had completely forgotten how to play like a normal child. She called me a friend and my entire world changed. We were happy like that for quite a while. Until my uncle caught us.” The smile fell from her lips as she said this, and she stared at the floor as she continued in a quiet voice.

  "He dragged me back home and beat me within an inch of my life that night. It was five whole days before I could move enough to sneak down to the playground. I didn't want Emilia to see all my bruises and cuts. I was so ashamed, so… well, I tried to stay hidden, anyway. But she found me just like she always did." Hound looked up to the ceiling, her lip quivering.

  "I was weak. I broke down and told her everything. I had never told another person, and here I finally let all my shame show to the only friend I had ever had." Hound's face crumpled with her devastation.

  She tilted her head after a moment, continuing in a contemplative tone.

  "As I told her, though, the strangest thing started to happen. No tears came forth, no horror or fear, no nothing. That thirteen-year-old girl listened to my story, and suddenly, I wasn't looking at my Foxy any more. When I was done and sobbing in her arms, I was looking at someone I didn't know. Her eyes… her eyes were so cold, and the sight shook me to my core. She hugged me, but I couldn’t feel any warmth from her at all. She was somebody else and I- I had done that to her."

  Hound turned to look right at me, startling me, and her eyes were flat once again as she went on. Everyone waited with bated breath, entranced by her story. Everyone except Roy, who was steadfastly staring at the ground, his hands clenched together so tight they were shaking.

  "That night, I was caught again by my uncle. He had been waiting for me to return and this time he had three men there with him. I knew what he was planning but… I couldn’t bring myself to care. All I could think about was how I had hurt my friend with telling her my sad story. That was the only thing on my mind, even as the men started to tear my clothes off."

  The entire room noticeably leaned forward as she went on, and Kamili let out a single broken sob.

  "When they were about to start in on me, there was a sudden crash from the kitchen. One of the men went to check it out while my uncle and the other two men continued to assault me. After a minute, my uncle yelled for the man who had left, but got no response. Another one of the men got up to look but stopped at the door. He just stood there for a few seconds, but then… he started making this horrible gurgling noise and collapsed to the floor. The other man that was holding me down got up and started yelling, and he reached for the gun at his waist. I didn't see anything except a dark figure rushing toward him, a sudden flash of silver, and a spurt of liquid. The man fell to his knees, blood pouring out of his throat, and died choking on his own blood. And when I looked up, I saw the other men were doing the same exact thing. Dying."

  Hound's voice
was quiet as she told the final part of her tale.

  "My uncle was so frightened, he couldn't do anything but yell and piss himself. I couldn't move either, partly from the beating, but mostly from the sight in front of me. There stood my beautiful, gentle, loving friend. My Foxy. Except… she wasn’t my Foxy. She was someone else. Covered in blood, her small body standing so still as she just looked at my uncle, I couldn't do anything but stare at this person. She looked like an avenging angel, come to take the lives of the depraved. My uncle had gotten to his feet and had rushed toward Foxy, but she met him halfway, running forward so quickly I barely saw her move. She had her knife planted in my uncle's stomach before he even knew what was happening. All he could do was scream and roll on the ground in pain as his blood gushed out. My uncle pleaded with her, crying and screaming at her to spare him. He kept begging her to tell him what she wanted so he could give it to her. He promised her everything and anything if she only let him live. Emilia didn't say a word while we listened to his horrible screams. She slowly climbed on top of him, pinned him down, and held the knife to his throat. Emilia finally shushed him, leaning down to whisper her response."

  Hound slowly started to smile, and her eyes took on a fierce glint.

  "You know what Foxy said to him? She looked him dead in the eye, pressed that knife against his throat and started humming. Humming. And after a few seconds, she said the strangest words that I’ll never forget. She whispered, 'I found an ace that I can keep’. And then she slit his throat from ear to ear."

  "Holy fuck," Jazz breathed out, unable to contain herself any more. All around the room, the convicts and murderers from across the world, all had identical looks of shock, horror… and understanding. I didn't let a single emotion cross my own face, but felt a deep, resounding pain echo inside my chest for the two young girls.

  "After that, Foxy took me to the hospital, and the police were called. I told the police I did it, was taken into custody, and that's when Roy came to get me. He had been best friends with my daddy, see, and had been trying to find me for years. But my uncle was living under a fake name, wasn't filing taxes, and had taken me from all public activities. So, he had no idea where I was all that time. But he found me and helped me become the badass woman I am today!"