{[Sometimes, the filth of life drags you back down to its depths.]}

Risa clung on to Ashner's arm, still purring while she slept. His hand was wrapped around her butt.

Lina hung on to Ashner's other arm. Her body pressed against him. Out of all the girls, she was the softest.

And Melissa, who woke Ashner with an early morning blowjob. “Melissa.”

“Shh.” She brought her head up and smiled. “You’ll wake the others.”

The blonde girl returned to her task. She was making Ashner fight back his moans.

The other girls slept peacefully around him.

Melissa is always the most eager to pleasure me…

Ashner focused on Lina, who was breathing softly.

You’re the most nurturing one.

His eyes went towards Risa, whose ears wiggled while she slept.

And you’re the most childish and needy.

Ashner tried his hardest, but Melissa sped up and made the bed shake. He moaned softly, waking up both the girls around him.

I created my own paradise.

“You cheater.” Risa crawled over Ashner and joined Melissa.

One that just keeps giving.

Lina leaned in and kissed Ashner.

Fuck yes.

*******

Ashner wore loose cargo pants and a short-sleeved shirt. Its fabric made his muscles show. He found it worked better for his armor. Walking down the kingdom's hallway, he smiled. Fully satisfied, not just sexually but with something else… He hadn't found what to call it yet.

As he paced through the castle, he glanced up.

The dwarfs are doing an amazing job fixing up the castle. In a few weeks, it'll be completely restored.

He found himself in a special hall, one created by the Dwarfs. Similar to the one they had in Echo cave.

Elana, Wilson, Alex, and Wong were already there. Each sitting in a different chair.

Ashner took his seat. One of the servants pulled the chair back and pushed it in for him.

I’m going to have to get used to that.

“Thank you for joining us.” Elana smiled while she tilted her head to her side. And with a small smirk. “How was your night?”

She knows.

“Eventful.”

“Ashner, you’re smiling.” Elana brought her elbows up on the table. “That’s a real smile, not what you’ve shown me up til now.”

Am I that easy to read?

“Where is my little sister?” She teased.

Ashner sighed. “She’s running late.”

“I wonder why.” Elana giggled.

Wong raised his eyebrow, and then his eyes widened once he grasped the situation. Next, he shook his head with a proud smile.

Gio, Violet, Kabu, Caitlin, Melissa, Lina, and Risa arrived shortly after.

Several guards accompanied Violet and Kabu. They were still leaders of their people. Behind Violet were five demi-foxes, each cloaked in elaborate green clothing.

“It appears we’re all here.” Ashner stood. “Today marks our first official meeting between leaders. It’s been troubling gathering this many people here. That was the first step.”

The group studied Ashner. They each had their own cultures and beliefs. Conflict was bound to happen.

“We need to start with our daily essentials.” Ashner placed the special stone on the table. “We need more water stones. Does anyone here know how to make them?”

Kabu tilted his head up. “Hand it yonder.” His eyes were eager.

Ashner slid the stone towards him.

"Marvelous work, this stone is dwarven. It's created with magic exclusive to our race. But these runes are high elven." He poured some mana into the stone, and it created water. "We can recreate the stone, but not the runes. When the runes are created, the stone needs to have a drop of the First God's power, in other words. A fresh drop of human blood."

“So that’s how they were made.” Elana tapped her fingers on the table. “They’re simple to create.”

"We still don't have any high elves in our kingdom." Ashner focused on Caitlin, who glared at him. "According to Caitlin, some are still alive, living in a place called the Burned Forest."

"That's a long journey. Even with your armored beast, it'll take you at least two days of traveling." Elana spoke her part. "I need to go with you. They're my cousin race… But they're also stuck up and hard to negotiate with."

“Why is that?”

"Because if they're born with mana, they're exceptionally powerful. Most of them don't carry weapons because the magic they wield is their weapon." Elana sighed. "Hopefully, the way they view the world has changed since the war started."

“Until we get them to join us. I will bring water from my world.”

"What about meat." Kabu eagerly asked. "You gave your word that you would bring some."

"I will." Ashner nodded. "But I need to focus on essential items such as water and soap."

“Soap?” The dwarf scratched his beard.

“Yes, soap.” Wong intervened. “My world has plenty of it, and it's cheap… I've treated multiple demi's. I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but most of them are filthy and are getting sick because they don’t have a way to clean themselves properly.”

“You’re so smart.” Violet ogled Wong from her seat.

Okay, what’s up with her?

"I also want access to all the spark stones. I can bring machinery from my world to get a better diagnosis of your people."

"We only have twenty-three." Elana raised her eyebrow. "Do you need all of them?"

"Yes, I plan on bringing medicine as well. Some of them are very delicate and require an adequate temperature…"

The leaders glanced at one another and nodded, not that they had any use for the stones.

"Doctor Wong," Wilson spoke. "Some of my people are interested in pursuing a life in medicine. If it's too much to ask for, can you teach them?"

Wong tapped his finger against the table. "I can use the extra hands… If they follow my orders and are not disrespectful, anyone who wants to learn can follow me. But I will not tolerate any disrespect for me or for anyone else… That includes demi-bats… I can't stand that level of disrespect, and it's beneath anyone who wishes to pursue a career that involves helping others."

Wilson smiled.

“Next is security.” Ashner glanced at Wilson.

"My demi-bats are currently scattered around the forest of fear. Some have ventured towards the closest human settlements and are currently searching for more demi's to join our cause. Master dwarf, if it wouldn't trouble you, I'd like your people to review our weapons and armor."

“Do it for a price.” Wong interrupted. “Wilson, use the money you have stockpiled and pay your guards a reasonable sum, and in return. They’ll pay the dwarfs that are working with metal.”

“Isn’t it too early for that?” Kabu questioned the doctor.

"No. As of now, we need to establish a proper way of transferring money around, but we won't charge for food or water, at least not right away. That being said, every demi-bunny working in the fields and every dwarf working to restore the kingdom should be paid an appropriate sum."

“And what should that sum be?” Elana asked.

"Please allow me to figure that out." The demi-foxed stepped forward. She dropped her hoodie, revealing her brown ears and yellow hair. "I speak for every demi here. We're all grateful for everything you've given us… But your world values gold more than ours… We need to make changes to keep the value of gold on our side low."

“What are you suggesting?” Ashner raised his brow.

"We should create multiple businesses in our city, and each will sell unique items from your world… On the condition that you only sell to those merchants… That way, demi's can set the price of every item." She studied the rest of the group. "Not every dwarf wants to fix this city and not every demi-bunny wants to tend to the farms… Some of us want to create our own businesses… But we only have one provider… Humans from another world…"

Wong debated it. "We can do that, but we're still going to be the ones with most of the profits… Normally, it would not be an issue, but we melt the gold and sell it for a different currency… Eventually, giving us all that gold will lead to your world having a shortage… Sure it's worth almost nothing here, but it's also the dominant coin, so the loss of that coin will result in the economy shifting towards devaluing mythril and platinum…"

“So we need to find a way to obtain gold without effecting the economy in this world.” Ashner sighed. “By the way, how many demi’s live in this city?”

“440 wood elves, 1600 demi-bats, 1800 dwarfs, 25 demi-foxes, and 4000 demi-bunnies. Close to 8000 in total.”

“How many people can this kingdom hold?”

“Approximately 100,000.” Wong answered. “This kingdom is large, and it can become larger if we start cutting the trees surrounding us.”

"Let's avoid that," Elana warned.

"I have a suggestion." Melissa raised her hand. As soon as all eyes were on her, she panicked for a second, but she spoke. "We don't have to be paid in just gold, pay us in platinum and mythril as well, we can return that money to the economy… Maybe use it to fund a public school… Or for other things.”

"That's not a bad idea." Gio smiled. "Why not create colleges? Like a smithing school or a military school. I don’t mind training demi’s with firearms.”

“You’re speaking about creating a guild?” Elana spoke up. “Those existed in the Victory era. We called them ‘adventurer's guilds.’ Locals and kings alike could request adventurers to hunt down troublesome monsters or do odd tasks in return for money. But it was ultimately heavily flawed."

“That sounds awesome!” Gio boomed. “Why did it fail?”

"Because poor citizens hardly had any money to give, so the lords and wealthy ruled the quest board… In the end, it turned into a battle to increase their own wealth at the cost of the poor… It was never corrected before the war started."

"That's our solution," Ashner smirked. Wong grasped and smirked. "We become a guild… One that serves the poor, we'll set prices for troublesome monsters, materials, and the like… For instance, these stones… Or we can pay adventurers to plant seeds at random outside of the castle. Essentially our jobs will be to improve the living environment of our city."

"Isn't that a waste of seeds?" Wilson raised his eyebrow.

“No.” Wong intervened. “Your world’s vegetation is dying, so if we plant and grow our world’s seeds and pollen starts spreading into your world, then you'll have a food source the Dead God can't corrupt… Actually, that'll also help the animals in this world… They'll have food and won't starve…"

“I see now…”

“That'll bring humans to our doorstep," Elana warned.

“We're not going to plant them directly outside. We'll plant them far away, in places where they can thrive. Infusing seeds with nature magic allows them to grow faster. It's not an easy task, and we're more than likely going to have them go out for days just to plant seeds. It's well worth the risk if they're seeking out wealth." Wong smirked. "But the question is, where will they spend their money?"

“Bring items from your world." Elana pulled her blue hair. "I really enjoyed the anime you showed me. If my memory recalls, Gio wanted to create a movie theater. Whatever that is."

“Oh yes, we'll make anime merchandise. It'll be the highest valued items demi's can buy." Gio smiled. "Oh yeah. It's all coming together."

Gio laughed devilishly.

“Entertainment is something we can provide, but we shouldn’t determine the prices. That’ll be up to demi merchants.”

“Very well." The leaders nodded.

“Now for our living situation," Ashner spoke up. "We will not separate demi races and force them to live in different parts of the city. Every race has been separated for years, so living together will be a challenge. As the leaders of your groups, you must allow them to intermingle."

They nodded again.

“We will bring weapons from my world here. I want you to ask your people to volunteer in case they want to learn our style of fighting. It won't be easy, but they don't need to have a mana pool. Those that do will become part of the military. We also need to create a separate force that'll serve as the local police."

“Why separate?” Wilson asked.

“Because the military should never view its people as a potential threat. They'll serve as the shields that fight off monsters from our borders. While the police will deal with internal struggles, they'll be two separate divisions." Ashner added. "But only ask those who want to volunteer, don't force anyone into a job they don't want."

Elana sighed. "You humans have an odd way of viewing the world, but it's been thousands of years since I've seen order. I'm interested if your way of governing will hold some merit."

The others nodded in agreement.

“Any other issues we need to talk about?”

Nobody said a word.

“Then we can move on past this." Ashner stood. "I'm heading back to my world. It'll take us a few days to gather everything we need. I also changed the door, so we'll be entering through the main entrance of the castle."

Everyone stood up and went about their own ways. Ashner studied them as they went to perform their duties.

“Ashner." Alex sat down on one of the seats. His hair was combed. Lately, he had been taking care of his appearance more. "Are we going home?"

Which side do I consider my home?

“Yeah, we’re going to be busy.”

Alex smiled and rushed to Ashner's room to pack his items. He made it a point to help him out any way he was capable of. At first, Ashner nagged him to stop, but he didn't stop, so Ashner let it go.

Risa stood a few feet away from Ashner. Since their night, she hadn't said a word to him.

“Risa.” Ashner took a step towards her, but she used her speed and dashed away from him.

What was that about?

*******

As they entered the white room, Risa kept her distance. She was keeping her focus on the lit candles.

What soured her mood?

The group returned home, it had been a little over a week, and their home soaked in the morning light, immediately their bones numbed to the temperature change. Even in the warm house, the cold was harsh.

Everyone made their way into the living room, where the outside world stopped them all in their tracks.

Snow had fallen, covering the exposed Jacuzzi, the long driveway, and the property's trees.

“It’s always a trip going from summer to winter.” Gio sighed as he made his way towards his room. “I’ll get started on gathering water.”

Wong rushed towards his car. He had his own objective.

“Toodles." Melissa opened the backdoor that overlooked the guest's home and walked towards it with her notebook in hand.

“Alright, we need to smelt the gold we’ve collected so far.” Ashner turned to Alex, Lina and Risa. “Want to come along?”

Alex lit up, and Lina smiled. Risa was the only one who was uncomfortable. She kept her distance and studied the furniture.

*******

Ashner drove the van through the city. The group wore thick jackets, and even with the heater on full blast, they were shivering from the cold.

“Risa." Ashner glanced at her. She was sitting on the passenger's side. Behind them, Lina and Alex joked around in the furthest seats to the back. "What's bothering you?"

“I…” Risa crossed her arms around her chest and slowly turned her head towards Ashner. “Last night… I’m not so sure how I feel about it.”

“Do you regret what we did?”

“I don't know…" Risa admitted. "I got caught up in the moment, and we did so many things… Sure it was amazing, but I never made it a secret to the other girls that I want you all to myself… I'm just sad now that I know that'll never happen…"

“It's not like you’re losing me." Ashner grabbed her hand. "I care about you, and yes, I care about the other girls…"

“But I'm not like the other two… Even after you left in the morning, those two had sex… They wanted me to join, but I said no… I felt like I was betraying you…"

Ashner giggled. “None of us are dating… You can do whatever you want with anyone you want…”

“I don’t want anyone else but you.” She squeezed his hand hard. “But I don’t dislike the other girls… And they’re on board with sharing you… I’m greedy… But I’d rather share you than lose you.”

“I didn’t take into consideration anyone’s feelings when we had sex… I was also swept up in the moment…”

Risa tapped her fingers against his hand. “I won’t stop you from sleeping with them… Just make me two promises.”

“What kind of promises?”

“First.” She tapped her fingers against his hand once. “Never abandon me.”

“That’s a given.” Ashner smiled.

“Second.” She tapped him twice. “Never view us as just an object you can throw away… If you plan to be with all of us, then actually take the time to care for each one of us individually… Having too much of something can make anyone entitled… I don’t want that from you… I want you to fall in love with me… And with them…”

Risa just wants more one-on-one time… That's understandable. She's been attached to me for a while, and I stick to myself most of the time... Maybe it's time I spend less time alone and more time with the girls.

“Deal.” Ashner smiled. “Whenever you want to have just one on one time, let me know… This world has lots of places we can go to…”

“Thank you.” Risa smiled and brought her hand closer to Ashner. Purring softly.

*******

Ashner parked the van outside of the company. The pavement had fresh snow covering it. One by one, the group jumped out and walked towards the entrance of the old building.

Ashner got to the door while Risa clung to his arm. Lina's ear's wiggled, and she smiled when Ashner's eyes met hers.

“Somethings wrong.” Alex whiffed the air. “Thirty, no forty people are inside the building.”

“What?" Ashner studied the door. It had signs of a forced entry. The wood next to the handle was splintered. "It might be thieves, but this far out in the mountains? That seems unlikely.”

“What do we do?” Risa reached for her sword. “Kill them?”

“No, things on this side of the world are different. If we kill them, people will come asking questions… I’ll call the police.” Ashner quickly dialed 911 then stopped when the rustling of leaves grabbed his attention.

Fifteen armed men revealed themselves. Each of them wore white ghillie suits.

“Hands in the air!” One of them barked.

Risa went for her sword. Before she reached it, Ashner gripped her arm.

Concerned, she studied his eyes… He was worried.

We’re outnumbered and outgunned, even with our powers combined. We won’t win.

Ashner raised his hands up first. Then the others mimicked him, each surrendering.

I don't see any footprints in the snow. These guys are good. They also managed to hide their scent… Wait, the wind is pushing it away from us? Did they do that on purpose?

"I'm the owner and CEO of this company. Do you mind telling me why you’re aiming assault rifles at us?” Ashner’s eyes went from one to another, hoping one of them was their leader.

“Walk inside." A woman's voice ordered. Immediately the woman grabbed Risa's arms.

Then another warrior grabbed Alex, and lastly, Lina.

Lina can't fight, Alex has some level of training, but he won't stand a chance against professionals… I have to talk my way out of this… Fuck, why didn't I hire some type of security…

They were forced inside the company. The lights were on, and inside, lounging around the new furniture and machinery, were dozens of men and women… All were wearing winter camouflage uniforms. But they were not part of the military.

“What do you want? Money?" Ashner focused on the group. Altogether they were up against at least fifty.

This is too coordinated. Who are we up against?

“Money?” A familiar tone made Ashner’s chest tighten. “Nah, we got plenty of that.”

No… How? Why is he here?

A strong man stepped forward from between the uniformed intruders. He was a few inches taller than Ashner but easily had more muscle than him. “You did hire us after all.”

“Ensley…” Ashner fought every desire in his body, heart, and soul. His knuckles ached to meet Ensley's face. "Why the fuck are you here?”

“Like I said." Ensley raised his eyebrows and smiled. "You hired us to keep this place safe… Since Aqua corp was raided a few days ago… That's why we secured it and waited… And waited… And waited…"

“Get out of my company!" Ashner roared. When he did, several mercenaries readied their weapons.

Calm down… Don’t let him get under your skin… This fucker will get what’s coming to him soon… But why is he here?

"Don't get your panties in a knot, is that any way for CEO's to greet each other?"

“CEO?”

“Oh, you didn't know?" Ensley raised his hands. "I'm the CEO of White Water. A gift from my father, and I have to admit. I like what you did with this old factory. You replaced the machinery, the walls, and restored it to its former glory."

Ashner recalled the day he tried to stop Ensley and his soldiers. The day he was arrested. He studied the men around him, and two of them were there the day he found Melissa. One was tall with chocolate-colored skin and bald. The other was slimmer with green eyes and black hair that he kept in a ponytail.

Sergeant Amore and Sergeant Jean… They were there that day too… Fuck them…

Ashner clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles were becoming white. Behind him, his friends put together the situation. Fully aware of how much danger they were in. Some of the mercenaries had their weapons on the group. In contrast, others casually observed the situation like it was a bad soap opera.

“As of today, we’re working together.” Ensley extended his hand for a handshake. “As partners.”

“You were hired by another company to protect mine. You also broke into this building and assaulted the owner and employees of said company… Your services are not required.” Ashner sized up Ensley. “Get the fuck out!”

Don't kill him. Fight your desires… We're surrounded. If I act, we're all going to die… But still… I want him dead… After what he did to Melissa and after what he did to me. I've imagined this moment a million times… But it's not just my life in danger… My mind knows I need to be calm, but my body isn't obeying…

"That's not very nice, we did deploy together, and you were an amazing soldier… Up until you raped that girl."

Ashner bared his fangs.

The group around him each murmurer to each other and belittled Ashner. Some openly dissed him.

Ashner's eyes widened, a vein on his forehead became visible.

“Well, I have to admit it doesn’t feel too good getting fired by a criminal, but since we got fired. We don’t need to be civil anymore.” Ensley smirked and gave his orders. “Seize the others.”

The mercenaries quickly grabbed Alex, Risa, and Lina and forced them to the ground.

A fit brunette pinned Risa on the cold floor. She tried fighting back but got nowhere.

Strong men held down Alex and Lina, but they weren't fighting back like Risa. She flailed, and the brunette kneed her back, keeping her from moving around too much.

“Let them go!” Ashner barked. The three were overpowered. Ashner had given them the order not to kill anyone. They wouldn’t disobey, even if it meant they died.

"No." Ensley smiled and shrugged. "If I'm not working for you, then we wasted our time, even after we protected your business for a week… And now, your employees have become violent… In the middle of the commotion, one of your employees reached for one of my mercenaries weapons… And someone unfortunately died…”

FUCK! NO! FUCK YOU, ENSLEY!

White Water soldier’s aimed their weapons at the three demi's. Even pinned against the ground, they were willing to murder them in cold blood.

“If you hurt them.” Ashner’s raged pulsed like a raging wildfire. Then something clicked, and he laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Ensley raised his eyebrow.

“I called the police, and everything you’ve said up until now is being recorded…” Ashner showed him his phone, and sure enough, it was still recording everything. "You just threatened to kill three innocent people. If you hurt any of them. Your company goes down."

“That’s it?” Ensley raised his Ruger Blackhawk and scratched his head with its barrel. "That's your threat?"

“Ashner, Ashner, Ashner… White Water is held to a higher standard than the police… It’s held to a higher standard than the military… My father gave me the company, but I had to enlist and fight in the war because we only hire bloodthirsty badasses…. We don’t need soft little bitch boys like yourself… And we are above the law… Just watch…” Ensley cleared his throat and spoke clearly into the phone. “I stretched the truth and kind of put this pussy in jail…”

He’s admitting the truth? Why?

“See, and even with that information out in the world, nothing will change…" Ensley yawned and took a step back. "White Water ensures the right people stay in power, and we dispose of troublesome organizations within our country. People that can bring about changes that the higher-ups don't want. Torture… Extortion… Murder… None of that is off-limits to us… Because we keep the pigs in power… That's how the real world works… You can make as much money as you want. But it's just that, money… Real power comes when you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. To whoever you want.”

Ensley leaned in close enough to whisper into Ashner’s ear.

“Thanks to you, I never got my second round with that blonde pussy.”

FUCK YOU!

Risa lifted her head up with disbelief. Ashner's eyes were enraged, but he stopped when Ensley aimed his weapon at his head.

“Now that's what I like to see, the fire in your eyes." Ensley jerked his body back. "Ashner, you were Delta's best sharpshooter, rallying more kills than everyone in our platoon… But you didn't have the steel to enjoy what you did… You actually gave a damn, and that's why I couldn't have you talking to the wrong people… It’s also why I never once considered hiring you…"

“It was you!" Risa's ears twitched, but Ensley's men didn't perceive her true demi nature.

“She has good hearing." Ensley studied her face. "And she's a nice piece of meat… I bet she'll moan real good with my rod inside her."

“Fuck you!” Risa spat.

The woman holding Risa’s arms pressed her knee into the neku’s back, pinning her in place with a sidearm aimed at her head. When Risa calmed down, she whispered in her ear. “Don’t get any ideas. When Ensley wants to get his point across, nobody gets in his way.”

Risa focused on the woman pinning her. She had jet black hair and deep blue eyes. The more she harmed Risa, the more her smile expanded.

“Angel, don’t kill her just yet.” Ensley teased in a childish tone. The woman winked at him and moved her finger away from her trigger.

“Don’t leave me in suspense… Are we killing them or not?”

“That’s up to Ashner.”

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! What do I do? This fucker has me cornered!

“Ensley, why are you here?” Ashner managed, pushing his rage back. “What do you want?”

Ensley aimed his weapon at Lina, who closed her eyes tightly, then Alex, who glared at him.

Their reactions amused the mercenary.

“Can’t I visit an old battle buddy?” Ensley smirked. “And remind him where he stands?”

He’s here for something else… Could it be Melissa? No, only Iris knows she's here… Or maybe he's still sore over what happened years ago… But he put me in jail… Isn't that enough?

Ensley holstered his weapon. Deep down, Ashner sighed, but he still held his breath.

“But if you want the honest truth… It’s because you took a cheap shot at me all those years ago, in front of all my comrades… And I just can't have that stand." Ensley struck first, nailing Ashner's cheek. The moment the impact hit, blood appeared between Ashner's teeth.

Ashner tumbled back but kept his balance and raised his arms up to fight.

“Nah, ah.” Ensley wiggled his finger. “If you take one swing at me… I’ll kill those three…”

Ashner licked the inside of his lip, allowing the bitterness to take hold in his mouth. He then lowered his arms.

“That's better." Ensley smiled. "You broke my nose a while back. I had to get plastic surgery… It was costly and a huge waste of my time… But I have to keep this handsome mug as pristine as possible for the ladies."

Ashner stayed silent. He didn't care what Ensley had to say. Ashner was ready to take a beating if it meant they all got out of there alive.

“Sure, you were locked away for a while. But after what you did to me, it just doesn't feel right… You had it so easy…"

What the fuck do you know!

“Even after you raped that poor girl." Ensley swung, connecting his fist against Ashner's gut, making him heave. "She should be grateful. I did make sure you ended up in jail.”

The fuck! He just admitted he lied…

Ensley backhanded Ashner's face, leaving his cheek red. Next, Ensley punched his chest, stomach, and shoulders several times. Sometimes he stopped right before his blow connected, hoping to get a reaction. He never once flinched.

Ashner endured the pain and brought his head up, ready for more.

Fuck, how do I always end up in these types of situations?

Ensley took a few ridiculous steps back, and his soldiers laughed, then he danced forward, bruising Ashner's ribs.

Lina didn’t have a way to fight back. Her tears ran down her face.

“Ashner!” Risa tried fighting away from Angel. The brunette smacked Risa’s head with her handgun, drawing blood.

“Try that again, and I'm putting a bullet in you." The woman warned then focused on the fight. "Isn't he amazing? He's a man after my own heart."

Risa bit her lip hard enough for blood to emerge.

Ashner fought to breathe. The blows were starting to take a toll on him. Ensley wiped his brow that had gathered sweat and turned around towards Amore and Jean. Tagging them in, the men stepped forward. They were adjusting their brass knuckles.

Ashner readied himself. He didn't lift his hands up. Instead, he focused on breathing until the first blow connected against his face. He tumbled but stayed on his feet.

I should've known better, no matter how hard I try… I'm always dragged back down to the depths by someone who controls every aspect of my life… If I fight back, they die… If I don't stay on my feet, everyone might die… I have to stand strong…

Jean rushed in, aiming for Ashner's shoulder, then his throat.

Ashner landed on the ground, coughing.

Menu.

The blue bar appeared, but Ashner's vision was fuzzy, and the words were not clear to him. Amore mounted him and relentlessly attacked Ashner’s face.

I’m pathetic… I can’t focus on the menu, so I can’t use it. I can’t protect my friends… I can’t even protect myself… What the fuck is wrong with me? I have so much power… Yet I’m still so powerless…

"Alright, that's enough." Ensley sipped on a water bottle. Both his soldiers moved away from Ashner.

“Ashner, do you think we’re even now?” Ensley asked with his hand on his ear, pretending to tune in closely to Ashner’s response.

Fuck no…

Ashner breathed in slowly, blood had made its way inside his body, and the bitterness was everywhere in his mouth. "Yes…" Ashner lied, just saying that made him want to shoot himself.

“Well… That didn’t sound very sincere.” Ensley grabbed his revolver and aimed it at the hostages. “Maybe killing one of them will change your attitude.”

“No!" Ashner used his arms to bring himself up. It took a few seconds, but he managed to get up with blood running down his nose and mouth. "You don't have to hurt them… Your beef is with me… If you want… Keep punching… I won't fight back…"

Ensley aimed his weapon up and studied Ashner with a smile. "See, now you're getting it… And you're right… I don't have to hurt any of them… But you forgot to ask me one simple question…"

“What question?”

“You forgot to ask me if I wanted to hurt them." He brought his weapon down again. "The answer is… Yes."

Ensley pulled the trigger.

The brass shell bounced a few feet away from Ashner. Everything else faded away, except for the bouncing of the metal on the concrete floor.

He didn’t… No, he didn’t…

Even with the pain in his body Ashner managed to turn towards the group. Lina and Risa were fine…

Alex's wasn’t…

The bullet had gone through his head…

No…

“Alex!” Ashner took a single step and tumbled to the ground. His hand reached towards his friend. “Alex…”

Ensley nodded towards his men, and they each stepped out one by one, leaving the property. Ashner's body pulsed from the blows, and his vision blurred. His fight was gone.

I’m sorry…

Strong fingers wrapped around Ashner's hair. He was pulled up, not that Ashner fathomed the physical pain anymore. "Despite what just transpired, this was never personal… You sucker-punched me, and that shook the respect some of my warriors have for me… I needed to correct the mistake you made… So you left me with no choice… A good leader never shows fear or mercy…”

“I’m going to kill you…” Ashner whispered.

Ensley smiled. "You're finally being sincere with me… But we both know you’re too much of a bitch to do anything… Never forget this moment, little pussy." Ensley yanked harder, making Ashner grunt.

I won’t.

“You made a fool out of me… And I took everything from you… I can do it again and again… So never fuck with me… Or I’ll make you my permanent bitch… Do you understand?”

Ashner gritted his teeth. The blood around Alex moved closer to him.

“Do you understand?” Ensley repeated himself with a harsher tone.

“… Yes…" Ashner forced the words out. Ensley slammed his head back down and smiled, keeping an aura of confidence. He paced towards Angel and grabbed her by her slim waist. Risa roared Alex’s name, but that only earned her another blunt strike to the back of her head.

“This bitch just doesn't know when to shut up." Angel grabbed Risa's sword and took it off her belt. Studying it, she smiled and asked Ensley. "Can I keep this?"

“I don’t see why not.” Ensley and Angel stepped over Alex and left hand in hand. The door slammed as they left.

The room was eerily silent as Ashner crawled himself towards Alex.

That's when his corpse started laughing.

“What a bunch of dumb-asses.”

The illusion broke. Alex opened his eyes. They were bloodshot. "That wasn't easy." Alex stood. Even the girls were shocked.

“Alex?" Ashner wiped his eyes. They were still covered in his blood.

“Did you think I died?" Alex grabbed Ashner's arm. "I'm an incubus. Illusions are my thing…"

“How?” Lina asked.

“I used my power and influenced him. If he was going to shoot someone, it had to be me. Of course, he only fired about five feet away from me. But I had to trick everyone… Including you three.” Alex rubbed his eyes. His tears had turned red from overusing his power. "Tricking that many people, in the positions everyone was in strained my mana.”

So he created an optical illusion. That's impressive.

Ashner grabbed his friend and hugged him tightly.

“Ashner? Are you okay?”

“No… I thought I lost you…" Ashner finally let himself breathe. The pain returned, and the girls helped him up. "I don't care what happens to me… As long as you three are okay…"

Risa glared away. "What about our feelings? Did you think we wanted to watch that? Had you given the order, I would've killed everyone."

“You would've died," Lina admitted, still shaking. “Even magic won’t stop a bullet. More importantly… Who was that man?”

Ashner lowered his head. Blood kept dripping down his face. “It’s a long story.”

“We have time.”

*******

“THOSE FUCKERS!” Gio punched the wall breaking it. “I’M GOING TO END THEM!”

Wong finished wrapping gauze around Ashner's ribs. "Don't be rash. That's the first thing they'll expect. Do you want us to go guns blazing into their headquarters and kill them all?"

“OF COURSE I DO!” Gio paced around the room that served as the aid station. “THEY’RE FUCKING WITH US FOR NO REASON! AND THEY BEAT ASHNER TO A PULP!”

“Think this through, Gio." Wong continued working. "Ensley is cold, but he's not an idiot. Someone had to tell him where we were. I honestly doubt this is just revenge… It has to be something else…”

“HOW ARE YOU SO CALM!” Gio gripped Wong’s collar. “ENSLEY TRIED TO KILL ALEX! HE DECLARED WAR WITH US!”

Wong sighed. “Please unhand me.”

Gio's eyes and body caught how aggressive he was being. He let go of Wong and glanced at the group, who were just as anxious and angry as he was. "I'm sorry."

“Tensions are high, and everyone is stressed and scared… That's why we need to remain calm… Gio, when it comes to people you care about, you lose all reason… Take a second to think about this… No one died… I consider that a victory."

Ashner's vision came back into focus. He was lying on the bed with an IV drip on his arm. He was curious if his ribs were broken. Ashner focused on Risa, who had gauze wrapped around her head.

This is my fault… I was a fool, and I actually let myself believe that I had crawled out of the mud and found a better life… It's the same… I'm still hated… I'm still powerless… And those around me still suffer…

“We need to fight them.” Gio encouraged the group. Risa was more than willing. But Lina and Wong shook their heads.

“Attacking a group of people who are better armed, with more soldiers will only lead to us dying… Plus, right now, they hold the advantage because we don't have a clue what they want."

“You want us to waste time figuring that out? What if it’s nothing? Do you want us to let this slide! After all the crap they did to us!"

“What if you're wrong and we walk into a trap?" Wong glared at Gio. "We need to think before we act. This is our world. That means if we kill them, people will come asking questions. And we need this world to obtain supplies. If we act recklessly, then we're only going to screw ourselves and all the demis. Think of them. Think of Elana.”

“I can’t let this go!” Gio’s hands shook with his rage. “They also raped Melissa… Tell me that’s not a good reason to put them in the ground… Tell me you don’t want payback…”

Wong glared away from Gio… The answer was obvious… Wong also desired revenge…

“I know what they want.” A meek voice interrupted the group. It was Melissa. She clung against the door with a melancholy glance. Up until now, no one had caught on that she was eavesdropping. "It's me… I ran away from them…"

"I don't think that's the case," Wong admitted. "No one knows you're here… Except for Iris, and I doubt that girl has anything to do with White Water… No, it has to be something else…"

Alex entered the room. He was holding his cell phone. “I called Misty.”

“Who’s Misty?” Gio asked.

“She's the CEO of Tearju corp. She's the redhead.” Alex put his phone in his pocket. “She hired White Water because Aqua corp was robbed, and they stole half of the gold we sold to them. Misty swore that White Water was supposed to contact and introduce themselves to Ashner before anything else happened. They were never supposed to enter the property or attack us…”

“Humm." Wong debated it in his mind. "White Water isn't a security company. They're mercenaries who are usually hired by the government and sent overseas… Why are they so interested in us?"

Ashner stood up.

“Menu. How much to heal my minor wounds?” The menu appeared.

Heal Minor Wounds – 10XP

I could’ve sworn it was cheaper… This system makes no sense. Buy.

XP:2890

The light bruises and numbness in Ashner’s body healed in seconds. But that did nothing for the pain in his face or ribs. That was something the menu didn’t heal.

This system doesn't have any feature that heals serious wounds. I wish it did… Fuck…

"Alex," Ashner spoke up. As he did, the demi-dog's ears shot up. "Go back to the factory, Gio, go with him. If they were there for a week, then maybe they left some clues behind for us to find. Change your appearance when you arrive there. They think you're dead so let's keep that illusion up."

Gio nodded, and the two left the room.

“Wong.” Ashner studied his friend. “How bad are my wounds?”

“Not as bad as I assumed. Two fractured ribs and a broken nose, plus some light damage to your organs… My guess is, Alex had something to do with that… You should give that kid some more credit…”

That explains why I wasn’t knocked out…

"I should leave." Melissa shook in fear. "If they're this close, then it's dangerous for all of us if I stay here."

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Ashner raised his eyebrow. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to… I hope it’s over… Considering they left me like this.”

“Ensley won’t stop…” Melissa tapped her head against the med bay’s door. “I need to leave this city.”

“No,” Ashner moaned when Wong pressed against his rib. “Just go into the other world. Ensley won’t find you there.”

“Will I be welcomed there without you three?” Melissa asked.

Lina put her hand on Melissa’s shoulder. “Yes, I’ll explain the situation to my sister… Stay there as long as you need.”

“I’ll do that.”

“The white room is still open in the garage.” Ashner never bothered closing it, but now he was considering being more careful with his key.

“I’ll still do my job, just send me a report of everything we bought… I’m not going to stop helping.”

Her tone changed. She's scared… Not that I blame her… I was face to face with the men that wronged her.

Lina and Melissa left. Risa remained behind.

"Tell me what your plan is." Risa's eyes were daggers. "Give me your orders… I know you're trying to keep everyone calm, but I want you to be honest with me… I want you… No, I need you to trust me."

"I'd also like to know." Wong finished his check-up and started counting some pills for Ashner to take.

“I don't know," Ashner admitted. "This isn't a group of slavers or monsters. These are trained killers. One wrong move, and we will all end up in the grave…"

"Does someone like him deserve to live?" Risa reached for her weapon, but it was gone. "They even took my sword…"

“No… If things were different, I'd put a bullet in his head… Don't worry about the sword. I can get you another one. Things can be replaced. People can't.”

“That’s not the issue.” She whispered to herself so low nobody tuned into her voice. “It was the first gift you gave me…”

Risa was fatigued, and her body was exhausted from the day.

"Why are we taking the approach Ensley is expecting," Wong added while he handed Ashner some pills and a water bottle. "You forgot the first rule of battle."

"Know your enemy…" Ashner smirked… "They don't know about Evaristo, do they?"

"You're going to ask that weirdo for help?" Wong raised his eyebrow. "I heard after he got out of the army, he became a recluse that spends all his time playing video games, arguing with people on Reddit, and watching porn."

“Evaristo isn’t someone I trust full-heartedly, but we can negotiate with him. He’s the one who gave me the weapons and armor I have.”

"So what did you do for him to merit all those weapons?" Wong asked

“Did you hear about the company that disappeared deep in the middle east?”

“111th heavy armored division. I've heard rumors foreign nations eradicated them, other rumors that our military had them erased for unknown reasons… A hundred and fifty soldiers and equipment just disappeared. How can someone not know about them?"

"Evaristo was obsessed with trying to find them since his brother was a part of that unit… It's been about a year since they were officially named MIA… Evaristo hired me days after I was released from jail… He believed the Division Commander knew the truth… And I joined a team of armed men, stormed the base, and stole thousands of gigabytes of data… Along with a few armored vehicles and weapons…"

“Are you an idiot?”

"I was broke… I kept everything I stole, and even after all that, Evaristo still came up empty with his brother… He's a top-notch hacker… And White Water doesn't have government-level security…"

"Are you suggesting you hire someone to hack into their company… White Water is ruthless. I wouldn't be surprised if they covered their tracks well."

"Filth can only be washed clean so well before the smell starts to linger… We need to find a few things, leak them anomalously online, and start a huge investigation… If we find definite proof that they're breaking the law and getting away with it, we can take them down… I know firsthand the government will turn their back on you if they can't protect themselves from the backlash."

“I like your plan better than Gio’s. It’s safer and has a better chance at success… I’m on board… Ensley can rot in hell for the crimes he’s committed, but what’s wrong with us seeking out a little justice before he bites the bullet?”

"I'd prefer we kill him," Risa whined.

"If you want his suffering to end, then let him die. When I was rotting away in jail, I wished for death every single day… It would've been easier… Much easier…"

Risa averted her eyes from Ashner.

“Where is Evaristo?” Wong asked.

“Southern California… A few hours from here… We should head out towards him…”

"I'll drive since your eye looks like it's having a hard time opening," Wong commented. "Risa, come along. On the way there, I'm going to show you how to order things from the world wide internet to our doorstep."

Ashner took the pills and swallowed them quickly. He sighed and focused on his fists.

"I'll destroy you, Ensley… One way or another…"

*******

The cold faded the further south they went. First, the snow melted, and then the three removed their thick clothes, opting for thinner sweaters.

“How is it so warm?” Risa asked as she removed her top from the backseat. She wore a tank top underneath.

"We're getting closer to the equator. Even in the winter, it doesn't get that cold."

Risa raised her eyebrow. “I understand.”

No, she doesn't.

"We're almost there." Ashner was directing Wong. They passed by several low-class homes, each a few miles away from each other.

“Who is this Evaristo?” Risa asked.

"He was a sergeant when we joined. For a while, he trained Ashner, Gio, and me. But he left before we deployed."

“Is he a friend?”

“Not really.” Wong turned the steering wheel deeper into the mountains. “He was a bit of a conspiracy nut and loved computers… He once told me he only joined the military to prove some things… Whatever that meant is still a mystery to me."

A few miles into the woods, through dense vegetation and slowing down when the ignored roads became too rough, they finally arrived.

“We’re here.” Ashner pointed at a run-down mobile home. The group helped themselves out of Wong’s car and stretched. “Just take him as he is… War sometimes changes people… But in Evaristo’s case, I think he was always missing a screw in his head.”

“He can’t be that bad.” Risa shrugged right before a rifle round broke the stretching session.

Ashner tackled Risa behind the van. Wong took cover and reached for his sidearm as his rear-view mirror shattered from a bullet.

"Who are you, and what do you want!" The man yelled. "I don't have money!"

He lives alone in a tiny property. Of course, he's broke.

“Evaristo! It’s me! Ashner!” Even screaming out his name, Risa focused on Ashner’s hand as he reached for his piece.

Another round was fired. This time it hit the body of the van.

"Ashner, if he puts one more bullet in my car, I'm going to start firing back."

“SHOW YOURSELF!” Evaristo ordered.

Ashner sighed and slowly lifted himself up, Wong tried to stop him, but Ashner shook his head.

“It’s me!” Ashner took a step towards the man. “I’m here… Remember me?”

Evaristo had heavy Native American features and was a bit older than the rest of the group. In his hands, he held a SCAR-H with smoke emitting from its barrel. He used a tree that led to his door as a brace to fire his weapon.

Ashner took a step forward. Evaristo aimed his weapon at Ashner’s head.

Risa readied a combat knife, and Wong aimed his sidearm at his old Sergeant.

Ashner waved his hand, telling them to stop.

Something’s wrong…

Evaristo's white shirt had faded to a brownish-yellow around his chest. And his jeans were torn. He also sported a full, unkempt beard.

His obsession with finding his brother has brought him this far… He hasn't showered in weeks, maybe longer, his eyes are bloodshot, and his muscle mass has decreased… Menu, show me his mental status.

The blue menu popped up.

Target is Insane – XP Required to Cure – 300XP

Losing his brother brought him this far… I should’ve checked in on him months ago…

“WHERE’S DAVID? I KNOW YOU TOOK HIM FROM ME!”

Trying to talk to him in this mental state won't help… Menu, heal him.

XP:2590

Evaristo shook his head as the power took effect. Almost like someone had forced reality to settle into his mind again.

"Evaristo?" Ashner took a step forward. As he did, Evaristo focused on his sight, keeping the reticle on Ashner's head. "It's me."

“Ashner?” Evaristo’s vision and mind cleared. He lowered his weapon. “I’m sorry… I wasn’t thinking straight.”

"It's okay. Are you willing to talk now?" Ashner's group lowered their weapons.

“Yeah…” Evaristo studied his front yard, he had left it unkempt, and it only now started bothering him. “Come inside… And excuse the mess.”

Ashner smiled.

The menu can cure mental illnesses… That’s honestly the most impressive thing about it to me…

Wong holstered his sidearm, and Risa moved her hand away from her combat knife.

“Did you use the menu?” Wong asked.

“Yes, the menu flat out called him insane… But I cured him.”

"I'm curious about the long-term effects of your power on the human psyche. Even Melissa flipped a switch when you used your power on her… She adapted quickly with the group also… My guess is that was her personality before her trauma… It's also why she's so interested in you… You did cure her right after you hugged her… Maybe in her mind, she thinks you’re responsible… And she's not wrong…"

That explains a lot.

Ashner walked into the mobile house first. It was tiny and cluttered with newspapers, dozens of computers, each turned on with random algorithms running through them. And an evidence board, with pictures of Evaristo's brother, some high-level military officials, and some that he surmised were part of his platoon and their families. The pictures were scattered around the home and pinned directly into the wooden walls.

He's been working hard… I don't have siblings, so I can't imagine how hard this has to be for him.

Evaristo put his weapon on top of a computer. Ashner studied the desks. Everywhere he glanced, a gun or knife was there. Sort of like he was waiting for someone to attack him.

"Do you mind giving me a few minutes?" Evaristo turned to the group, embarrassed with a guilty glance. “I don’t smell all that well.”

“It’s your home.” Wong sat down on one of his seats. “We’re not going to go anywhere, Sergeant.”

"I'm not your Sergeant anymore," Evaristo commented as he paced towards the bathroom.

“His insanity is gone, and now he's aware of his clothes, smell, and the environment he created for himself… Your power is amazing."

“It’s costly as well… Killing gives me power… It’s not something I enjoy…”

“None of us do, but Ensley did, even when we fought in the war… But he was a coward when we were pinned down…”

“He only acts like he’s hot shit when he holds the advantage.” Ashner studied the computers. “Do you know what all these programs are doing?”

“Not a clue.” Wong shrugged. “I never took an interest in computers… But I’m sure this is all to find his little brother. Can your menu find him?”

“Menu, find David.”

The menu popped up, but nothing happened.

“Nope.”

The shower turned off, and after a few minutes, Evaristo emerged, sporting new and clean clothes. He also shaved and put his hair back in a ponytail.

"You look like shit," Evaristo spoke to Ashner.

"I had a run-in with Ensley," Ashner admitted.

“Ensley? He joined around the same time I did… Never cared for him…”

He handed Wong a few hundred dollar bills. “That’s as an apology for putting a few bullets in your ride.”

“Thanks.” Wong shoved them into his wallet. “We’re square now.”

“Then let's talk… Why are you here, Ashner… I hired you because I was desperate, but that doesn't make us friends… I know what you did to that woman…"

“Is that what you believe?” Wong crossed his arms. “What if I were to tell you someone framed Ashner?”

“Framed him? Nah, I heard he was caught in the act… Pants off and all…”

Ashner's gaze went to the floor. His heart stung him.

"He was framed… Ensley did a thorough job ensuring he went to jail… He's the CEO of White Water."

"White Water? Those assholes get away with a lot of dirty crap. From what I gathered, they're directly responsible for the civil unrest in Yemen and the civil war that erupted in Pakistan… Ensley huh, yeah, he was always sketchy…" Evaristo popped his knuckle as he focused on Ashner. "I honestly don't know why you're defending Ashner. You were the smartest guy in our platoon."

“Still am… And it’s simple.” Wong leaned back. “It’s because he’s innocent.”

Evaristo studied Ashner, who was still focusing on the carpet.

"Fine, I'll take your word for it… Ashner never did strike me as that kind of man… So do you mind telling me why you three arrived at my front door? What do you need?"

"We want to hire you," Wong smirked, taking full control of the conversation since he grasped Evaristo's words wounded Ashner. "Hack into White Water's personal files, gain access to every mission, every member, and every political party that hired them and for what reason… We want every dirty little secret, and we'll pay you."

“Are you out of your mind!” Evaristo stood up and reached for a soda can. "White Water isn't military, but it has a security system that's just as complicated as the army… It'll take better equipment than I can ever afford, and it’ll take several hackers and honestly several weeks…”

“So you did attempt to hack their systems.” Wong raised his eyebrows.

“Yes, that’s why I know how hard it is to hack. I’d need access to the right equipment and programs… Just attempting this will cost thousands of dollars…”

"We can pay," Ashner muttered, still annoyed. "Whatever it costs, we'll pay it, and we'll pay you."

I'm sick and tired of being treated like crap by everyone, and I hate how everyone assumes I’m the asshole.

“Taking down White Water and getting paid for it… You’re aware the government isn’t on our side… If they catch wind of what we’re attempting to do, we’re all going to jail…”

“Can you do it without us getting caught?”

Evaristo smiled. "With the right equipment and my team, then yes… But we're going to need a lot… Right down to a secluded building where we can work." Evaristo popped his knuckle again.

"Do it, and I want you to focus on one person in particular, the CEO. His name is Ensley… Take him down at all costs."

“Alright.” Evaristo extended his hand. “Deal?”

Ashner gripped his hand hard and shook it.

"Then call me when you find a place. Until then, I'll make a list of things we need to obtain. I have a friend you should talk to before you… He’s heavily involved in the black market… Technology and weapons, he’s going to have most of the things I need…” Evaristo scratched his head, then asked. “You don’t have to pay me, on the condition that I get to keep the equipment… I can use it to find David.”

"That's fine, and it's not like I can use it…"

Evaristo nodded, then sipped on his soda. "I'm not certain if you committed the crime or not, but you've changed… You're not as happy-go-lucky as you used to be… But then again, I also changed… But I hate corruption, and I'm more than willing to help you if we can bring justice to the victims of White Water."

Ashner nodded.

The three left the run-down mobile home and made their way to the van.

"Is it really this simple?" Risa asked. "In my world, justice is brought about with violence."

"Our world used to be like that…" Wong nuzzled the bullet wound on his passenger's side. "But senseless violence only brings about more senseless violence… Sometimes it's needed, but if we can avoid a situation where people end up dead for no reason, then let's do that."

“I don’t believe you’re making the right call, Wong. Violence must be met with violence…” She studied Ashner. “Ashner?”

“Wong’s right. We can't beat them if we attack them head-on…" Ashner opened the door for her. "Justice is nothing more than a conflicting ideal. We can pretend we're going about it the right way, but there is no right way… It's straightforward. Someone was hurt, then we find a way to get payback… Doesn't that mean revenge and justice are essentially the same thing? I don't know… What I do know is I won't stand back and do nothing."

“I don’t agree.” Risa tapped on her combat knife.

Ashner's phone rang just as she finished his sentence. He tapped the answer key.

“Hey, Gio." Ashner put him on speaker.

“Alex and I found something interesting.” Gio’s voice echoed clearly.

“What did you find?”

“Don't freak out, but they bugged us, even went as far as setting up a computer in our attic… Don't worry, cause Alex's power also affects cameras and microphones… And they also planted some high-grade plastic explosives around the building."

“WHAT! GET OUT OF THERE!” Wong roared.

“Hey! I told you not to panic. Remember, I tried to become an EOD."

“I remember you flunked out.” Wong retaliated.

“Details, anyway, I took the liberty of disarming them, except for the primers. They seemed to be hooked to some kind of computer system. So if they do go off, nothing will blow up."

“That was stupid!” Wong rolled his eyes. “Why did you take that risk!”

“Because I knew you would never let me do it. And we don’t need a bomb squad there.”

Wong paced around his van, pissed off.

“This works for us.” Ashner smiled. “Ensley was stupid enough to leave a computer that links directly to his company."

Wong smirked.

“I think we found where our hackers are going to work.”

*******

Ensley spun the cylinder on his revolver. He waited patiently in his office with Angel lounging on a leather couch. Her hair was a mess, and sweat ran down her neck.

The door to his office opened, and the tapping of heels closed the distance.

“Don’t you ever knock?” Ensley asked.

“It smells like sex in here." The woman whiffed the air and studied Angel, who was very amused with her new katana sword.

"When you have to bang, then you bang." Ensley put his Ruger Blackhawk on his desk, which also had some sweat on it. "I have to ask, what did Ashner do to you? Iris, you hate him so much you're pop a hate lady boner."

She scoffed. "Some things are better left unsaid." Iris fiddled with her hair. Ensley checked her out. She was a nice piece of meat… But she wasn't a woman he wanted to take by force… Since she still had her uses… At least for the moment…

“My eyes are up here," Iris warned while she fiddled with her nails. "Did you set up the live feed and the bombs?"

"They were set up on the first day, and I have my guys keeping an eye on the cameras. So far, those pussies haven't found them." Ensley flexed his muscles. After the day he had, he was more than ready to crash out. "And Melissa is nowhere to be found. I'm starting to think you used me."

“She's around. Just be patient." She frisked Ensley's jawline. "Bitches always return to their masters."

Ensley giggled. “You’re more of an animal than I am.”

“We're nothing alike, Ensley." She pulled a dagger out from her purse and stabbed it on his table. It shimmered with its gold and silver handle. At its handle's tip lay a clear marble. "I have Mike wrapped around my little finger. All I had to do was fuck him a few times… Now we're in business… White Water will protect our metal miners in certain parts of the world… With less than adequate human rights laws that heavily favor profit over lives… Sometimes terrorists or what they like to call themselves 'freedom fighters' attack our work progress. But with your group and our resources, we can help each other."

“This deal is more for you. At the end of the day, you'll be taking home billions." Ensley licked his lips. "Sweeten the deal, Iris."

“You killed one of Ashner's friends. That lack of self-control makes me question your sanity… Then again, even a brute has their uses."

“You’re not sweetening the deal.” Ensley teased with a bright smile.

“You brute… Fine, five percent of all monthly profits from the areas you're protecting will go directly to you, on top of what we're paying you… With that, you'll be able to afford more equipment and weapons…"

“Iris, you're so sweet it's going to get me hard."

“You're also a pig." She rolled her eyes. "I have a plan in motion that'll force Ashner into the spotlight. He'll have no choice but to give up his sixty percent. His portion will collapse, and my company will take over its remnants. So I'll own sixty percent, Mike will own forty, and you'll serve as our main source of security… Everybody wins."

“What’s your plan to deal with him?”

“A crowd is easily swayed if you know how to play with their emotions…. Never underestimate the power of hatred… It's deadlier than any bullet, blade, or blunt object… Let me deal with him. Just sit back and enjoy the show."

“You’re twisted. But that’s what I like about you.” Ensley licked his lips. “Want to stay a little and have some fun?”

“No. Brutes, don't get me off." She took a step back. "Fulfill your end. Or everything falls apart."

Ensley grabbed the knife. “Gladly.”