Hawk's face was cold and sharp as his mind replayed the night of September 10, 2009. In his blazing blue eyes burned an unquenchable fire of revenge.
Gwen watched the fury in his gaze but showed no surprise.
She already knew. That same night, when she had asked her father George for help, she had looked through the list of casualties from Hulk's battle with Abomination. The photo of the girl—taken when Hawk had just entered Midtown—was there.
Hawk had never spoken about her. But Gwen guessed the truth. And with Anya's features resembling Hawk's… it wasn't hard to confirm.
But—
"Abomination's already dead, Hawk," Gwen said softly.
Hawk didn't answer.
He remembered the movies, where Abomination was alive and well, sitting in a cell only to be sprung by some snowbound king for cage fights. He hadn't seen the later storylines, but he knew—Abomination would eventually be "redeemed."
If not for his own tragedy, Hawk wouldn't have cared.
But after losing Anya that night, the very thought sickened him.
Utterly disgusting.
The fire roared inside him, then he forced it down, rubbing his face until the fury vanished. When he looked back at Gwen, he even smiled.
"By the way, Gwen, why'd you come looking for me?"
The rage was gone, as if it had never existed.
Gwen's heart tightened at how fast he could bury it. But she could see he didn't want to dwell, so she didn't press.
She smiled faintly.
"NYU's coming to the school today. Mrs. Snow couldn't find you, so she called me."
"NYU?"
"Mm." She nodded. "She said today's the day they finalize their decisions. Let's go back."
Hawk started to agree—then his eyes landed on the golf bag lying nearby.
He turned to Gwen.
"You go ahead. I've got a meeting. Need to sell something."
Gwen followed his gaze, saw the bag, then looked back at him. Their eyes met.
She smiled.
"Okay. Then I'll wait outside for you."
"…Fine."
He held her gaze for a moment, then nodded, watching as she walked down the forest path and out of sight. Only then did he turn back toward the gravestone.
Anya's smiling photo seemed to show a trace of worry now.
Hawk smiled faintly, as though speaking to her.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine. And you'll be fine too.
Wait for me.
It won't be long before I come down to Hell and bring you home."
He inhaled, exhaled, and the softness vanished. Rising, he hooked the golf bag with one foot, caught it in hand, and walked away without a glance back.
There's a saying—"sorry for your loss."
Bullshit.
If you have the strength, make your enemies mourn instead.
Abomination.
Hulk.
Neither would escape him. And beyond that, Hawk would find a way into Hell itself and bring his sister back.
One day. Soon.
That vow burned in his chest as he left the graveyard. Not far down the path, he spotted a woman.
She had a wild aura, golden hair pinned back, icy gray-blue eyes, and the kind of height and figure that turned heads.
As his gaze met hers, she noticed. Their eyes locked.
Confirmed.
Hawk gave a slight nod.
Her eyes brightened. She approached with a smile, extending her hand.
"Anna."
Hawk shook it, feeling the calluses on her palm.
"Hawk."
Releasing her, he swung the golf bag around, unzipped it, and revealed the faint glow of five Chitauri weapons inside.
Anna's eyes lit up again, her hand reaching instinctively—
But Hawk snapped the bag shut first.
"Money."
"…Of course." She smiled and pressed a finger to the earpiece hidden by her hair, whispering in French.
Moments later, a man in a black suit and sunglasses appeared, tall and imposing, wheeling a twenty-inch carry case.
Anna took it herself, waved the man away, then returned to Hawk and pushed the case toward him.
"One million."
Hawk passed her the golf bag as he accepted the case.
Click.
The lid opened.
Stacks of crisp Benjamins filled it to the brim.
Hawk sucked in a sharp breath before he could stop himself.
Not his fault—poverty ran deep. A million in cash wasn't something you saw every day.
But he quickly steadied himself. No need to count or check for counterfeits. Anyone stupid enough to fake bills in a deal like this wouldn't live long against someone holding alien weapons.
Closing the case, he stood. At the same moment, Anna finished inspecting the weapons.
"Well then…"
Hawk extended his hand.
"Pleasure doing business, Miss Anna."
She smiled as they shook.
"Just Anna."
"Fine. Pleasure doing business, Anna."
"Pleasure indeed, Mister Hawk. And now that we're friends…" Her smile widened. "I've prepared a gift for you. I think you'll like it."
…
(End of Chapter)
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