NOVEL WEB Chapter 13: Strike Back
"Since we're now one big family, I thought I should let you know—someone tried to rob me last night," Angel said, his voice calm but carrying weight.
"They reached out wanting to buy some pills. I sent two of my men to handle the drop, and I haven't heard from them since."
"That's unfortunate," the commissioner replied. "But I hope you're not implying it was one of us. Because if that's what you're suggesting, let me make this clear—nobody here would pull a stunt like that. Especially with today's meeting already scheduled."
"Of course, I wouldn't dare accuse anyone unjustly," Angel replied with a thin smile. "Well it doesn't matter because I mixed in some fake pills, just in case the deal fell off. So whatever they took, it was basically worthless. Either way, I figured I should give everyone a heads up."
All the while, Madame Freya was boiling inside. And from the way Angel kept looking at her, she was certain he already suspected something. It was like every word was aimed directly at her.
Still, she kept up appearances.
"Well, thank you for the warning," she said, forcing a smile. Then she turned and exited the warehouse, while biting her lip hard enough to draw blood.
Outside, two men were unloading bags from the black van that had followed them to the meeting—bags filled with the drugs Angel had just sold to the association.
Each group took their share, with Madame Freya receiving the lion's portion.
"She knows the real value of these drugs," Angel muttered with a smirk, watching from a distance.
"Vinnie, can you drive?" he asked suddenly, tossing Vincent a set of keys.
"I can… but I don't have a license," Vincent admitted.
With Jay absent, Vincent had become the default driver. He felt small beside Gutter, whose presence was menacing and primal.
'But that beast can't drive', Vincent thought dryly.
Still unsettled, Vincent took the chance to speak up. "Boss, that woman earlier… She's the same one from last night. I didn't get a good look at her face, but I'd never forget that voice."
"I thought as much," Angel replied coolly. "I didn't say anything because I didn't want her feeling threatened and ruining my chances of joining the association. I need them to carry out my plans."
He paused, then added, "But don't worry—she won't go unpunished, if that's what you're worried about."
They drove in silence until Angel said, "Stop here."
They were on an overpass. Empty, dark, and silent. No other cars in sight.
Angel picked up a phone call from Jay. "Is it done?"
"Yeah, boss. They'll be heading your way any moment now."
"Good. Meet us at the rendezvous point."
As they waited, Angel explained the plan. The black SUV they were expecting carried four bags of the drugs Angel had sold to Madame Freya. After Jay blocked their original route, they'd be forced to use this quieter road.
Soon, headlights appeared. The black SUV slowed as Gutter stepped into its path, forcing it to a stop.
"Get out," Angel ordered the driver.
"Who the hell are you people? Do you even know who you're messing with? We work for the Tria—"
Before he could finish, Angel punched through the window, grabbed the driver by the collar, and yanked him out in one clean motion.
The second man jumped out with a hatchet, but Gutter met him with a punch. The man blocked it, holding his ground.
"Boss, looks like these guys are pros," Gutter said, grinning.
"I can see that," Angel replied, still calm.
The driver, now fighting back, wrapped his legs around Angel's neck while gripping his wrist in a tight submission hold. But Angel wasn't fazed. He lifted the man like a sack and slammed him against the car, then unleashed a storm of punches.
He didn't stop, not even when the man went limp. Not even when his skull cracked open like a watermelon.
His bloodied hands only dropped when there was nothing left to hit. All the while, his face remained unreadable—no hesitation, no emotion. Just blank. Blank, as if he were merely out for a walk.
Meanwhile, Gutter had overpowered the second man, choking him until his neck snapped with a loud crack.
Watching all this made Vincent realize the gravity of what he had just gotten himself into. He had mentally prepared for it, but seeing the real thing unfold before his eyes almost made him bolt. They had killed the two men without a shred of conscience, like it was nothing.
He shivered, but forced himself to stay calm as Don Angel shot him a glance. It was clear he was checking for a reaction.
Just then, headlights approached. Vincent tensed, but relaxed when Jay stepped out.
"Perfect timing," Don Angel said. "Jay, Vinnie—you two clean this up, do it just like we discussed. Gutter, let's go."
The boss drove off with Gutter, leaving Jay and Vincent behind.
The air grew tense.
"Get the bodies into the car," Jay instructed. They did, then torched the other vehicle—the one carrying the drugs.
"Wait… shouldn't we take out the drugs first?" Vincent asked.
"The boss said to leave them in," Jay replied. "That way, they'll know it wasn't a robbery. We want them to know they were attacked—just not by us."
They walked away from the burning wreck.
Watching Angel and Gutter kill so easily left a strange weight in Vincent's gut. This world wasn't for the weak. Every day was a gamble with death. Those two men probably woke up this morning thinking it was just another job—just like Archie had.
If Vincent wanted to survive—if he wanted to rise in this world—he had to be ready for blood.
They drove for miles, nearly exiting the city limits, until they reached a desolate, overgrown clearing—silent, forgotten. Not even streetlights dared to follow them out here.
Jay stepped out first and popped the trunk. He handed Vincent a shovel without a word.
Then they started digging.
And digging.
And digging.
The ground was dry and stubborn, but they worked in silence. At first, Vincent's enhanced strength and speed helped. He dug faster than most men could, but strength alone wasn't enough. His stamina lagged behind, and before long his muscles were screaming, his breaths sharp and ragged.
Still, he didn't stop.
With every swing of the shovel, he whispered a vow to himself: Next time I get points, I'm investing in stamina.
Jay finally broke the silence.
"Vincent… why'd you join the gang?"