Vi

I threw the outfit at Caitlyn before pulling my new jacket on, thanks to the assholes I just chucked into the dumpster. The girl was bent over leaning on the wall to catch her breath after following me down here, of course it took her a lot longer to get down here. But it gave me enough time to beat the shit out of the first two people who were looking for a fight.

I casually walked over to her, not even tired after scaling down buildings, jumping and sliding down the sides of them. "Welcome to the Lanes."

My smirk was wiped off as she angrily stood up straight, saying bitterly, "You almost got me killed." I rolled my eyes in aggravation, is she serious? Cry me a fucking river.

"My little sister could do that when she was seven. All us fissure folk can. Don't you want to blend in?" I said, before walking away from her. We had shit to do, I've waited seven years to get out and now that I have, I want answers.

But my stomach growled hungrily, reminding me I haven't eaten all day. I knew the perfect place to go, walking towards my favorite food joint. I ordered my usual from Jerichos, the huge one eyed monster made it up quickly and I dove in before he pulled his hand back after setting the bowl down.

I groaned in approval before holding up a blue piece of my "slop" as Caitlyn liked to refer it, after I tried being generous and offering her a bite. Jericho laugh after I spoke of how much I missed his food, I'm a bit shocked he didn't freak the fuck out when he saw me come up to his kiosk. But I shouldn't be, he's always been a nice guy who minds his own business, plus he's always been helpful when asked for a favor.

"Are you going to question him?" Caitlyn asked, glancing over at me as she hid under her hood.

"About what, the meat?" I asked acting dumb, before following Caitlyns stare towards Jericho. He stood with his back towards us while cooking and reached behind to scratch his ass, I huffed in amusement shaking my head. I don't give a shit how he cooks it, because has always been the best around here.

"Definitely not on board." I answered before she launched into an argument about how we should be questioning about Silco and how this was a horrible idea. I was hungry, give me a fucking break, does she know what prison food is like? Of course not, this girl was probably raised in a castle.

I hummed in content as I finished eating, sliding my bowl towards him, "Mm better than I remember." He chucked before turning around and putting away his butcher knife, he traded my bowl for a napkin. I lifted it up just a tad to see a the symbol of our next stop, I looked over at her raising a brow at her baffled expression.

I nodded to the one eyed chef in appreciation before getting up and starting my walk towards the brothel, not caring if the Enforcer was following. I walked down the street and around the corner, climbing up a flight of stairs realizing we were about to pass The Last Drop.

My heart lurched, as I leaned over the railing to look down at the place I used to call home. There was a smaller man arguing with two body guards, one of the two pushing the man away. My expression dropped, Vander never turned away anyone not even if they meant trouble, everyone was always welcome.

I breathed heavily as the memories started to resurface. I could see Mylo and Claggor pushing each other playfully after coming back from a successful job, Powder talking excitedly to Ekko about something she wanted to build and needed his help on. I saw Layla and I walking behind the group laughing as I gave her a piggy back ride, we'd stopped to walk her home from work and she complained about her feet hurting from dancing all day. I'd offered to carry her and she happily jumped on my back, she had her arms wrapped around my neck holding tightly as I spun us around not giving a shit who watched us. I remember how full my heart was hearing her laugh, I always got a weird feeling in my stomach after I made her smile or giggle.

A small smile lifted on my lips, picturing the six of us walking into the bar to find Vander and Benzo welcoming us back. But my face hardened as Caitlyn scoffed before whispering, "Well, that place does look like it has bodies buried in the basement."

I dropped my head, holding tightly onto the railing so I wouldn't backhand her for the comment she made that went straight through my chest like a knife. I pushed back angrily, glaring at her as I hit her shoulder with mine walking past her, "You don't know anything."

I clenched my hands into fists, tension building up in my body, I needed to hit something but it needed to be more than a wall this time. Shoving my hands in my pockets I continued towards the private brothel. I stopped at the door with the symbol Jericho had given me written on the eye hole, it slid open immediately after I knocked twice. The guard growled, looking between the two of us before reluctantly opening the door.

I looked down the narrow hallway hearing giggles emerge from within, "The place where all the secrets are spilled." I said before starting my trek down the long hallway, keeping my head straight as we passed the doorless rooms with multiple people enjoying themselves in different ways.

"How exactly do you propose we go about this?" Caitlyn asked dumbfounded as she followed me, I almost laughed remembering how proper she is. She must never have dreamed of coming to a place like this, I only came because the owner was a friend of Layla and I's.

"Make them think you work here." I said blankly, hearing her gasp and asking me to repeat my answer as if it was the craziest thing she'd ever heard. I turned around before walking slowly towards her, annoyed that she was so against doing what I'd suggested so we wouldn't get caught.

"You know what your problem is?" I asked, earning an eye roll from her.

"Oh please, tell me." She said, the opposite of excited to hear my opinion on her.

"You expect everyone to give you what you want. If you really want people to talk to you, you have to let them think you have they want." I said staying rooted in front of her, speaking honestly so maybe she'd understand through that thick ass skull of hers for a change.

She started back at me, confused as to what I was referring to, "And what do I have?" She asked questioningly.

I stared blankly back at her, waiting for the lightbulb to go off in her head. I rolled my eyes, not wanting to fill her ego anymore since it seemed so big already.

She's hot yes, but a silly part of me feels like I'm betraying Layla by telling some girl she's good looking. Which is ridiculous because I never actually had the balls to tell her how I really felt years ago. And even though she's gone I'm still not over her, and I am not thinking about getting over her by flirting with an Enforcer who I met a couple hours ago.

Fuck that shit. A guy wearing a mask, trying to walk around us stopped when I grabbed his arm, he turned to us nervously. His voiced was muffled as he stuttered, "I-I'm Pim. What's your name?"

I smirked at the guy before answering sweetly, "Matilda! But you can call her whatever you want." I gestured to a shocked Caitlyn, who gasped before retaining her composure and turning towards Pim.

"Ah, yes. Matilda. My parents named me Matilda, after my great-grandmother Mary..." She said stammering as her accent changed as she continued conversing with the guy, letting me walk away unnoticed while the two chatted. I smirked, wanting to laugh at how stupid she sounded, if I wasn't down here with her she would've been a goner before she even reached the bottom of the Underground.

I continued walking to the end of the hallway, pulling back the curtain before walking into the office I was aiming for. Babette sat at her desk in front of me, her expression fell as she blinked fast not believing I was standing in front of her. She was a little thing, with a swirl of red hair piled neatly on top of her head. She wore lots of makeup, just as I remembered, and had a long cigarette she always kept with her.

Yeah surprise, I'm back from the dead. Whoop de doo.

"Hi Bab," I said as she stood up, gesturing to the sofa on my right before taking a seat on the one across from it.

I sat manspreading, trying to act like it wasn't bothering me that the last time I sat here I had Layla sitting right next to me. I could feel her, like a ghost, I remember feeling her warmth next to me.

"How are you sweetheart? I was real sad to hear about Vander. And the kids, just horrible." She said sadly looking down at the floor, I took a deep breath before answering.

Trying to keep my voice calm, "By the looks of it, no one down here lifted a finger to stop Silco." I pointed to my side, gesturing towards the city before leaning my arms on my knees.

"A few have stalled Silcos plans, but he's got the muscle...and the money. He took over the last drop." She said softly, waving her cigarette around animatedly as she talked. "Things have changed without Vander looking out for us."

"Have you heard anything about Powder? I think Silco has her." I asked hesitantly, sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for answer from the little woman. Babette sighed looking like she was having an internal battle with what to say next, but she just shook her head before throwing me a sorrowful look. I shook my head before pushing up on my knees to stand, "I have to find her."

"Silcos number two is a regular. I can have Miguel tell you where to find her." She said making me stop to turn to her.

"I owe you, Bab." I said softly before waltzing out of the room, determined to find that bitch who betrayed Vander by joining the enemy. She whispered something but I was already halfway down the hall, so I didn't hear her. I kept my head down but perked up when I heard a familiar giggle, I looked to my right to see Caitlyn lounging on a couch with a beautiful woman with dark skin and a mask covering her face. Caitlyn had her head in her hand, staring at the girl with pure lust written all over her face.

I scoffed in amusement to myself before continuing down the hall and out the door. So the Enforcer bats for both teams, that's the biggest shock I've had today.

I pulled up my hood, stuffing my hands in my pockets as I walked to the garage where I knew Silcos pet gambled with some idiots who thought they could beat her. I passed kiosks and merchants, keeping my head down not bothering to look where I was going or stop to entertain the asshole who kept making comments about my appearance. I walked up to the corner, peering around it to find her smoking lazily as she gambled with some guys who looked like they were on something strong. She leaned back in victory as the guys started getting angry because they were losing. I balled my hands into fists, snarling as I looked at her lounging on the dirty chair without a care in the world.

Images of her standing there next to Silco, ready to enjoy watching me get my ass beat by Silcos goons with Vanders gauntlets on my hands.

She betrayed us, she watched when she knew he would stop at nothing to kill all of us. Vander trusted her, Layla cared for her and yet she didn't stick up for them when they needed her. Since I couldn't find her boss, I guess paying a visit to Silcos number two would sefice for now.

She threw down her remaining cards on the table before leaning back amused, she took a drag of her cigarette lazily. That was the last straw before I snapped, I charged for her so quickly she didn't notice me until I jumped up and shoved my knee into the side of her head knocking the cigarette out of her mouth. Her opponents grabbed their belongings before running away from us. I stood there seething as she sat up quickly, holding her jaw before looking at me. It took her a moment until she recognized me, she said my name in disbelief before we charged at each other. Pure hatred ran through me so strongly I saw red as I looked at her, ready to bash her head between her shoulder blades.

Oh this is gonna be fun.

~~~~~

I grabbed Sevika by her neck, hauling her face towards mine holding out my fist angrily. The adrenaline racing through my body as I asked, "Where's my sister? Where's he keeping her?" I kept my foot on her mechanical arm, putting all my body weight on it to stop her from getting up.

Her snarky reply made my heart stop as she stared at me through hooded eyes, "Keeping her? You mean Jinx? She works for him." Before I processed what she told me, her mechanical arm sliced through my stomach before I noticed she moved it. She leaned in whispering, "She's like his daughter."

My heart shattered as she pulled her hand out of my stomach, pushing me off of her and to the ground. I held my bleeding stomach as I tried to crawl away from her, but she stood up and walked in front of me. She grabbed my chin forcing my head up to look her in the eye, I groaned as she pulled her robotic arm back, the purple shining brighter through it.

"I'll give them your regards." She said, ready to kill me just like she's always wanted to. I didn't fight her because I was in too much pain and the betrayal I felt after hearing her words hurt worse than my bloody wound. But before she could do anything else, a bullet rang out from above making her step back and let go of my chin. I fell to the ground in agony as two more bullets shot at her, but when I looked up she was gone.

I sat back on my knees holding my wound, Caitlyn walked over to me not caring that Sevika was getting away.

"Why did you let her get away? Now he's gonna know we're here." I said gruffly, my adrenaline wearing off making the pain ten times worse.

She folded her gun before securing it on her back saying, "Whose fault is that? Don't you ever just say thank you?" She pulled down her top before staring down at me, I shook my head feeling my mind get dizzy from the blood loss.

"You're an all right shot, now ya wanna help me out?" I asked holding my hand so she could take it, I could feel her eyes rolling before she reached down and took my hand.

She pulled me up and threw my arm over her shoulder while her other went around my waist to help me walk, "I'm an excellent shot."

"Whatever cupcake," I said lazily, she told me to stop calling her that so I told her, "But you're so sweet, like a cupcake."

She chuckled at my sarcasm before telling me to shut up and surprisingly I listened.