All Deals Don't Work Out

When was the last time I shed a tear?

I honestly don't remember.

And I don't plan on breaking my "no-crying" streak anytime soon.

A slight ache rises up my wrist all the way to my shoulder. It's been a while since I shot someone with a gun.

"Madame Achlys!", I heard Farabi yell as he ran out of the warehouse. "What was that sound-"

He gasps. "Is that…Mr. Burton?", he asks in a very calm voice.

Damien rushes out of the warehouse with his pistol in hand ready to eliminate any threat. The weapon slips out of his hands when he notices the dead body of the old hag on the ground.

"I told him I was gonna let him live to see one more sunrise."

I feel a hand firmly rest on my shoulder. The misty rainforest cologne gave away the fact it was Kuro. "...Are you ready to go, Madame?"

My eyes remain unwavering from the body. His skin must still be warm, right? "Give him a proper burial. He would love to be left to rest by his

daughter."

Kuro nods and signals Damien to make the call. He then escorts me to the car with Farabi.

A very awkward silence fills the car as Damien drives out of the thick forest.

"Farabi."

"What is it, Madame?"

"Do you remember the night of the fight?"

"Which fight, Madame?"

"The fight where Juli died."

Farabi looked out the window. I noticed how the air around him shifted. "Of course I do. That's a night I'll never forget."

"Please narrate it to me."

. . .

It was very long ago. It's been probably 4 years. I was on my way back to the house from the headquarters. It was an awful day at work and I just couldn't wait to go home and eat the delicious dinner Juli has made tonight.

My stomach growled embarrassingly loud as an image of Juli's special lasagna appeared on my phone screen.

Come back soon before the boys devour it all <3

I smiled at the text and quickly typed in a reply.

Can I have dessert later? ;)

You can have the whole thing :3

I audibly gasp. Juli sent me a selfie from a very…suggestive angle. I can catch a glimpse of the white lace bra she's wearing underneath.

Will be home soon love <3

I send that text and shove the phone in my pant pockets, my brain replaying that selfie on repeat. Ugh! I can't wait to go to bed with my baby in my arms.

The headquarters was a good 45-minute walk away from home, 30 minutes if you take the shorter route. But I ain't no scardey cat. The shabby dark alley shortcuts cut down the time to only 15 minutes. Crazy, right?

Before you come screaming in my ear, "But Farabi, that's dangerous! What if those drunk alley gangsters kill you?" Honey, this is Farabi Hasan you are talking to. Not a single soul in the entirety of Miwori would dare to put a single scratch on my body.

I look around. Ah, I am almost home. Just this one left turn out of this alley and I'll be stuffing my belly full of the divine lasagna my girlfriend has made. Will be leaving some room for dessert of course! That's the best part.

*kring! kring!*

I tsk my tongue annoyingly and whip out my phone. Shit, it's a call from Achlys.

"Achlys, I'm almost home. Please don't send me back to the headquarters. I don't want to miss out on lasagna."

"Im Mingyuk! He's attacking us!"

"What?! How many people are there? What weapons do they have? Did you call backup?", my heart rises up to my throat at the thought of the safety of one particular person. "Where's Juli!? Is she with you?"

I hear a couple of gunshots over the call. Sounds like they have sheriff guns with them. They're absolutely not here for bloodshed.

"I ordered Juli to go and hide under the bed.", Achlys replied. I hear her mumble a curse word under her breath. "Enter through the back door and catch them off guard! Damien and Kuro are holding the front!"

I cut off the call and take out my pistol from my back pocket. Deep breaths, Farabi. Deep breathes. Damien and Kuro are already fighting them. Achlys probably already called backup. No one will get hurt. Juli will be safe.

The nearer my feet take me to the house, the louder I hear the gunshots. There are three jeeps parked right behind the house. Maybe I should clear this area before entering the house.

I tiptoe quietly towards the cars, careful to not step on any dried leaves or branches. The windows are black-tinted so I couldn't see anyone inside but, if I get close enough I can surely hear if someone was inside.

"Yeah, I sent in everyone. I just got intel that Farabi Hasan and Juli are not anywhere to be seen.", I heard someone say from inside the car. "Should we retreat and check the headquarters instead?"

I don't know who he is, nor do I want to know. All I know is his motive is something related to Juli. This bastard even knows where our headquarters is! I hide perfectly by the car so he can't see me.

"No you shithead!", another voice screams from the other side of the radio transceiver. "The girl is probably hiding somewhere in the house with her Romeo. Go in yourself and check all the rooms, you coward!"

"But Mr. Im-", he was about to say something before he got cut off. "No buts! I want Juli Ford alive!"

"Just imagine how Mr. Burton and his little pawns are going to break down. That Farabi guy will go absolutely crazy. We can finally eliminate our biggest threat by hitting their weakest spot.", the other man says and breaks out in a burst of manic laughter. "I don't know how you'll do it but, I want Juli kneeling in front of me for mercy here in Islydena."

The man mumbles out a quick 'Yes, sir.' and jumps out of the car. He says something in a language I don't understand and starts moving towards the house cautiously with a gun in his hands.

And this is when the cobra, a.k.a me, strikes his prey

I launch myself on him from behind and demobilize him in a headlock. "Give me your name or I'll make you taste a bullet for your last meal tonight."

The man struggles to get out of my grip, that is until he tilts his head back and sees my face.

I hear him curse under his breath. "Mr. Fa-Farabi! I swear I am not here for trouble! I am just doing what I'm told!"

"Who sent you and your fucking minions here? Why are you attacking us? Why do you want Juli?", I blurted out questions and held my gun next to his face. "You better answer them while I'm being nice."

He gulps, "Im Mingyuk sent us here. He wants us to kidnap Juli Ford back to Islydena and distract Mr. Burton from the upcoming peace treaty between Trose and Rudhopia."

Aha, so that was that bastard's motive.

"Listen, I'm offering you a deal here.", I tap the gun against his head. The deal-making skills Achlys taught me better work here. "You go in the house right now, recall all your minions in there and scurry your arse's back home. In return, I'll not throw you around my torture chamber like the ragdoll you are."

"Yes! Yes! Yes!", he agreed without a thought.

Here we are now, me taking cover behind the already-shot-so-many-times random door in the house while the man went in to recall all his minions to get out.

If you ask me how I felt about that deal, I will say that was the worst deal I made in my life.

You never make a deal with a man whose native language is something you don't speak without the presence of a verified translator.