Mike watched the woman in the Black Aces skirt and shirt sashay down the corridor, her hips bouncing enticingly. At least they would be to another man, but Mike wasn’t buying it. She glanced back at him to not only make sure he was following, but also to give him a come-hither look. Mike smiled politely and held the door open for her.
She stepped aside, though, and let him into the next room. It was a spacious lounge area for office workers to sit on break. There were no people this late at night, so the chairs in the room were in neat rows, four to a table scattered in orderly fashion through the lounge. Against one wall was a set of vending machines and a bank of microwaves. At one of the tables in the middle of the room sat a Black Ace leader, his tall cap tipped jauntily to one side, his long scarf hanging limply on his chest. He flicked the scarf so it fluttered in a false breeze, settling onto his back.
Mike sauntered into the room, ignoring the fact that the door had shut behind him. It had taken three days of negotiations to get to this point, and he wasn’t about to blow it now.
“Grimaulkin,” said the man. “How’s retirement?”
“Just because I don’t work Westside doesn’t mean I’m retired,” Mike said. “You’re Case?”
The man inclined his head. “At your service.”
“Good.” Mike flipped a chair around and straddled it. “Let’s get down to business.”
Case sat back, folding his hands on the table in front of him. “Yes. Leyt’s.”
“You have a teenager under your ‘command’ so to speak.”
“Probably.”
“Pillar is his name.”
“I know him.”
“I want you to leave him alone.”
“As long as he leaves us alone. That’s the deal.”
“That’s the deal right now. What if the Purple Gang or the Cobra LOrds start geting in your face? What’s to stop you from using him to go after them?”
“Does it matter? He’s still working within PRIMUS’ rules. Besides, you have my word.”
Mike smirked, “Which is as good as you are. What’s to stop a hero from taking you out?”
“I plan on staying in my position as long as possible. What do you want, a contract?”
“I want an agreement with all the Aces. As I understand it, Case, you’re up and coming, otherwise my contacts wouldn’t have put you in touch with me.” Mike leaned forward. “So what’ll it be? You tell all the Aces to lay off Pillar and his father.”
“Or?”
“Or I come out of retirement.” Mike grinned. “And I’ll hunt you down and give you to my demon for a snack.”
Case laughed, though it may have had a tinge of fear. “What’s Pillar to you?”
“He’s in my team. I’m responsible for him.”
“He’s got a father.”
“Who’s a real piece of work, but we won’t get into that here. I want more than your word.”
“What do you want?”
Mike jumped up and knocked the hat off Case’s head, grabbing a fistful of blond hair with his other hand. He tugged, the man yelped. Mike tossed him away, letting go of his hair.
“The fuck–”
“I got what I needed.” Mike put a hand in his pocket. “You hair. Longer lasting than blood, but just as potent.”
“You son of a bitch.”
Mike admonished, “Eh eh, we’re here under truce.”
“You just attacked me!”
Mike shrugged. “I didn’t feel like going through another three days of negotiation.”
Case retrieved his hat and clapped it on his head. “You won’t get out of here alive.”
Mike smiled that predatory grin of his and waved a hand, breathing out a spell. A tall demon appeared in a cloud of sulfur. “If I get out alive, you leave Pillar alone.”
“Deal,” said Case. He pressed something on his wrist. His laughter faded on the air as he teleported out of the room.
Just seconds after he left, two doors on either side of the room opened. The woman who had escorted him was now carrying a Qualaar gun at her hip, pointing it his way, while the other door spit out a King of Fists and three minions.
Mike laughed as the demon set them on fire.
