Late at night, the alley behind a rundown pub was soaked in shadows, the faint hum of distant traffic barely reaching into the narrow space. A police car rolled in quietly and came to a stop by the back door, its headlights cutting briefly across cracked walls before going dark. Two officers stepped out, their movements casual, practiced, like this was just another routine stop in a long night.
A convenience store glowed at the corner, its fluorescent lights buzzing softly against the silence. Jaden adjusted his belt over his heavy stomach, letting out a breath as he stretched. "Come on, Isaac, let's grab some coffee. By the time we get back, everything should be ready," he said, already heading toward the light.
Isaac followed with an easy grin, clearly in high spirits. "You know what I'm doing with the money? I'm heading to Hawaii this year. Sunshine, beaches, women… hell, I'm gonna enjoy myself properly this time."
Jaden rolled his eyes, a smirk tugging at his lips. "All you ever think about is having fun. But hey, I've got something better for you. Fifty grand gets you promoted to sheriff. A hundred thousand makes you captain. You interested?"
Isaac stopped mid-step, eyes widening in disbelief as he turned to look at him. "You serious? Don't mess with me like that."
Jaden let out a short, dismissive snort. "If you don't believe me, go waste your money in Hawaii. Just remember—when you come back, you'll be calling me sir."
Isaac frowned, suspicion creeping into his expression as he crossed his arms. "You're not just trying to scam me out of my money, right?"
"I guarantee it," Jaden said without hesitation, his tone firm. "Three months, and you'll have the badge. If it doesn't happen, I'll refund every cent."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Isaac's face, the weight of the decision pressing on him. After a few seconds, he clenched his jaw and nodded. "Fine. I'm in. I'll give you the fifty thousand, and you make me sheriff."
"That's the spirit," Jaden said, patting him on the shoulder with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Once you've got the position, making that money back will be easy."
Inside, he was already calculating. Thirty thousand per promotion, sixty thousand total, and he'd still have forty thousand left over. Enough for his own vacation.
Yeah… Hawaii sounded pretty good right about now.
Above them, on the rooftop of the adjacent building, Rex Viper watched everything unfold in silence. He stood still, blending into the darkness, his gaze fixed on the two officers below. Tonight, he hadn't put on the Demon Face. This wasn't about fear or mystery.
This was personal.
He wanted them to know exactly who was coming for them.
Movement near the back door of the pub caught his attention. Several figures were hauling crates out, loading them into the police car with practiced efficiency. Rex's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint glimmer of amusement flickering across his face.
"Let's make this a little more interesting," he murmured under his breath.
…
Elsewhere, far removed from the filth of the alley, Wilson Fisk had finally secured what he had been waiting for—a date with the woman who had captured his attention.
He arrived in a sleek limousine, stepping out with measured confidence as he escorted Vanessa into an exclusive rooftop French restaurant. The setting was refined, elegant, designed for those who valued both privacy and status.
Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the space, offering a sweeping view of Manhattan's glowing skyline. The city lights shimmered like a sea of stars, reflecting off the glass and casting a soft glow over the diners inside.
A well-dressed waiter led them to their table, positioned near the center of the room. It wasn't the best spot in the house, and Vanessa noticed it immediately. For a brief moment, disappointment flickered in her eyes before she smoothed it away.
They sat, surrounded by quiet conversations and the gentle melody of a violin drifting through the air. Fisk carried himself with calm authority, his presence commanding without effort as he began to speak.
He told her about his past, his ambitions, his vision for the future. His voice was low and steady, every word deliberate, filled with conviction. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty—only clarity.
At first, Vanessa had been drawn to him out of curiosity, intrigued by his presence. But as he spoke, something deeper began to take root. Admiration. Respect.
There was something undeniably compelling about him.
Something dangerous.
The air between them shifted subtly, an unspoken tension growing, like the quiet beginning of something inevitable.
…
Back in Hell's Kitchen, Jaden and Isaac returned to the alley, coffee in hand. The back door was already shut, the area empty, just as expected.
They didn't question it. This was routine.
A quick glance at the car confirmed everything—the vehicle sat lower than before, the weight of the cargo pressing down on the suspension. Fully loaded.
Without wasting time, they got back in and began their rounds, delivering the shipments along their usual route.
Unseen behind them, Rex followed in a battered, modified junk car, keeping his distance while tracking every move. He waited patiently, watching as they completed all six deliveries, one after another.
Only when the final drop was made did a satisfied smile spread across his face.
Then he acted.
The roar of an engine cut through the quiet as a car surged forward and slammed into the back of their vehicle.
"Damn it—fuck!" Jaden shouted, stumbling out of the car as anger replaced his initial shock.
His heart pounded, a flicker of fear quickly suppressed. Thankfully, the cargo had already been delivered. Otherwise, this could've turned into a disaster.
Isaac stepped out as well, already reaching for his gun. He didn't rush in blindly, though—training held him back, forcing him to approach cautiously, weapon raised.
Jaden banged on the driver's window, his frustration boiling over. As the glass slowly rolled down, his expression froze.
Recognition hit instantly.
"It's you… you piece of trash," Jaden said, his voice twisting with disbelief and contempt. "Isaac, come take a look. This guy's still alive. Thought he'd have been dead by now."
Isaac circled around, lowering his weapon as he got a better look. His face stretched into a mocking grin. "Damn… Hell's Kitchen must be getting soft if even you can survive here."
Rex stepped out of the car, smiling faintly as he faced them. "Been a while," he said casually. "Miss me?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere shifted.
Isaac's hand drifted back toward his gun, a cold smile forming. "Jaden, last time you said it wasn't the right moment. What about now?"
Jaden nodded slowly, his expression hardening. "Yeah. Right time. Right place."
They never got the chance to move.
Rex blurred forward, his speed explosive, and drove two brutal punches into their sides. The impact was immediate and devastating, forcing the air out of their lungs as they doubled over in agony.
"My—my kidneys—" Jaden gasped, his voice breaking.
A second later, two sharp strikes landed at the backs of their heads.
Everything went black.
…
When they woke, it wasn't gentle.
A surge of electricity tore through their bodies, forcing them awake with violent convulsions. Their muscles locked, their vision flashing white as pain flooded every nerve.
Jaden's eyes snapped open, his breath ragged as he struggled to focus. He realized quickly that he was hanging, his arms bound above him inside a rusted metal container. Isaac was beside him, equally restrained.
A dim light swung overhead, casting erratic shadows across the space. A camera was set up in front of them, its lens fixed directly on their helpless forms.
And beyond it, hidden in darkness, stood a figure.
"You two," Rex's voice came from the shadows, calm and controlled. "Let's play a game."
Rage surged through Jaden instantly. "Fuck you! Let us go! We're cops—you've already committed a serious crime. If you don't want to die, you'd better—"
Another electric shock cut him off.
His body seized violently, foam forming at the corners of his mouth as the pain overwhelmed him. Fear crept in now, undeniable and sharp.
This wasn't a bluff.
The man in front of them meant it.
"You're going to listen carefully," Rex said evenly. "If you don't want that to happen again, you're going to cooperate."
Isaac's voice came out strained, his breathing uneven. "What… what do you want?"
A low chuckle echoed through the container.
"Simple," Rex replied. "Every thirty seconds, you tell me a secret. Something real. If you lie, or stall… you already know what happens."
The two men exchanged a glance, silent understanding passing between them.
Rex's voice turned lighter, almost amused. "Clock's ticking. Ten… nine… eight…"
"I'll talk!" Jaden blurted out, panic breaking through his composure.
He clenched his teeth, glancing sideways at Isaac before speaking. "My partner here… he's Black, but I've always been a racist deep down."
He threw Isaac a quick, subtle look, trying to signal him.
Isaac caught on immediately, playing along. "You piece of shit—we've worked together for years, and you're telling me this now?"
The electricity hit them both again.
Their bodies convulsed, screams tearing out of their throats as the current surged through them.
"Don't waste my time," Rex said coldly. "Do you really think I didn't look into you beforehand? That kind of garbage won't work here."
The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating.
"Last warning," he continued. "If you want this game to last longer than a minute, stop trying to be clever."
A pause.
Then, calmly:
"Thirty seconds. Your turn."
....
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