"Yo, Andrian, long time no see," someone hissed. "I heard you were out of the game. What brought you back?"
Victor leveled a stare at Andrian. Two Red Vixen members were pinned behind him. Men in black shoved the beaten vixen into the building. Andrian cocked the gun again and tucked it behind his back as he stepped forward. "Victor, we need to talk."
Andrian climbed the stairs. "You've got two people I need. Give them to me."
"What are you talking about? Look around, it's only my men here."
Andrian unlocked his phone and showed him the photos: the two couples who'd framed Fidelia at the hospital.
Victor took the phone, looked at the picture, then frowned.
Seeing the reaction, Andrian watching him closely smiled. "Good. It seems we both know who we're talking about now. Release them."
"Sorry, Andrian, I can't."
"Victor, you're getting the wrong idea. I didn't come here to ask permission. I'm telling you: give them to me now, or things will get ugly. I won't back down. Trust me."
"Andrian, you know how this works. I can't hand them over — I was paid to keep them safe." Victor made a hand signal and the men behind him opened the door.
About five more Red Vixen members came out with the two couples between them. It was obvious they were protecting them.
"Victor, does it look like I care?" Andrian's expression was stone-cold. "Hand them over."
"Take them back the rear door and leave immediately," Victor commanded, but Andrian didn't flinch. He glanced to the side, toward where his own men waited.
"Don't let them get away," Andrian said.
"Yes, sir," they replied.
In a split second, Andrian rushed forward, taking advantage of Victor's distraction. He slammed his hand into Victor's throat, choking him, then kicked him square in the chest. Victor flew back, crashing hard against the wall.
Two Red Vixen members rushed in. The first landed a punch across Andrian's face. Andrian staggered, then blocked the next strike and countered with a brutal uppercut that dropped the man cold.
The second Vixen charged. Andrian slipped past his punch, stepped in, and locked an arm tight around the man's neck. He squeezed until the fighter's struggles weakened, then choked him until he went limp.
"Bring him to me." Two of Andrian's men moved forward and dragged Victor to him.
In no time the Red Vixen were down. Andrian sat, looking at Victor, who had bruises and was shaking with his men all on their knees.
"Who are you and what did you want with us?" one of the captured men demanded as he was dragged upstairs with his wife.
"Please let us go!" the wife screamed, struggling, but the men in black held her tightly.
"Great — everyone's here. Let me introduce myself. I'm Andrian Richardson, fiancé of Fidelia Crawford, whom you wrongly accused and framed." Andrian spoke calmly as they stopped in front of him.
"Andrian Richardson? The Richardson family?" The wife's leg trembled. Her mind raced: she'd messed with the Richardsons. "This is not good," she thought.
The man tried to deny it. "I'm sorry I don't know you. What does that have to do with—"
But he stopped when Andrian brought out a gun and set it on the man's leg.
"Please go on. But let's start again… do you remember me now?" Andrian asked, eyes cold.
"Y-yes, I do," the man stammered.
"Please forgive us. I'll tell you everything. I'll testify. I'll do anything you want. Just don't kill us!" the wife begged.
"You keep quiet, no matter what!" Victor roared in anger, but before he could do more, one of Andrian's men punched him in the cheek, knocking him out.
Andrian didn't bat an eye at the small fry. He was already getting what he needed.
"Good. Then I guess everything is settled. I only need one of you to do one thing for me. But who do I pick?" Andrian asked his men.
"I think the lady should do it since she started it," his driver said.
"Great choice. I was thinking the same." Andrian smirked, fingers finding the gun's trigger.
"Wait, what?" The couple froze, confused. Before they could react, Andrian was faster.
He raised the gun to the man's chest and pulled the trigger without a second thought.
Bang!!
"No — stop!" the wife screamed at the top of her lungs.