Natasha didn't stay in the airport for long as she and the rest of the party rushed through it and back home towards Ricci's mansion. She kept the new sunglasses, hoping they wouldn't be discovered. She dared not whisper anything, aware the men surrounding her might overhear.
Little did she know that they already suspected it, but at their orders not to interfere, and so they pretended to be oblivious to the truth. The shield agents were relieved that it cleared Natasha was OK, but it didn't help calm down, and a far smaller party continued to shadow Natasha and her escort.
Phil Coulson, for one, was glad they didn't have to intervene. He still remembered his last visit to Ricci's mansion and was glad they didn't have to get in conflict with his menacing guards.
Clint was also relieved yet kept alert as she was still worried for his friend.
The drive back to the mansion was quiet. No words were exchanged. The solemn atmosphere prevented even Natasha from trying to get any information out of Andrew.
She simply found that due to the atmosphere, it would seem too suspicious to try and start up a casual conversation and not worth the risk that she might get some answers upon arrival.
Upon arriving at the mansion, she noticed that security was far tighter this time, however, after only a cursory check where her party was allowed into the mansion.
A far different treatment from the first time she arrived when the checks she went through were incredibly thorough. She was relieved not to carry any spy equipment, as her previous thorough search left no part of her unchecked.
This meant that if things went sour, she wouldn't have an easy time getting out. Quite the contrary. The increased security included more men who were frightfully skilled and well-trained. The weaponry they all carried was also far more deadly this time around.
She even spotted a few ground-to-air missiles ready for deployment, leading her to suspect that many more were concealed. The level of resources and connections required to equip a private residence in one of America's most affluent areas with such heavy weaponry must have been staggering.
Then again this was the home of Overkill, the infamous vampire. Ricci is a man of many names, many titles, and much power and wealth. The question of how much of that power and wealth would remain now that he was dead remained to be answered.
The mansion itself was also crawling, with people rushing about in a hurry. This time, everyone was visibly armed. The pretty maids all had a holster at their hips as they rushed with their arms filled with this and that.
It is clear that the criminal empire is reeling from the sudden death of its leader. Perhaps this would prove an excellent opportunity to find out more about Ricci's lieutenants.
The man himself had kept a high profile in the underworld, allowing his lieutenants to hide his shadow unseen unknown. Now, those same lieutenants were probably going to jump out and fight for the head position.
Sure to turn her head and to try and look at as many things as she could, knowing that it was all being recorded. Sharing as much information with the rest of the Shield as possible.
She was led into an office, the same office where she had met Ricci the last time she was here just a day ago. The room looked exactly as it had done last time.
"Sit," the escort barked at her, pointing towards a chair.
As soon as she sat down, the escort wasted no time in locking her to the chair. She could have resisted, but she didn't. She knew that even if she could somehow overpower these few guards, she would never make it out of the mansion alive.
Once she was securely bound to the chair and unable to move, several more heavily armed guards entered the room, among them Markus, the head of security.
Then came the same woman she had seen on the screen last night. The new head of the Ricci family, a temporary head at least.
"I apologize for the bindings, Natasha, but my guards are naturally a bit on edge at the moment." She offered an apology as she sat down on her side of the desk.
"No, not at all. It's perfectly fine, I understand."
"Have you thought about my proposal yet? I do believe you would fit right in." Alexandra went straight to business.
On the other end, agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. received a live feed from the tiny hidden camera in the glasses, now positioned in the pocket on her chest, getting their first look at the new head of the Ricci family.
They couldn't help but be impressed and slightly in awe at the beauty of the woman. Though there was no denying that she was clearly related to Alexander Ricci.
"I'm afraid I haven't quite had the time just yet; I still have a few commitments I would have to deal with before I can start any new permanent position." Natasha started to deflect on the subject once again.
"You know Natasha, many would jump at the opportunity I've offered you, yet the very reason that you aren't is exactly why I think you're perfect for it. You would get to work with a lot of like-minded individuals; you'd fit right in."
Alex was highly amused after double-meaning her words. After all, should Natasha accept, she would end up working alongside the other rescued girl from the red room. Even her sister was there.
It really didn't get more like-minded than that, and she would fit in perfectly' 'cause they're all the same. They all had the same past and the same trauma.
Natasha naturally had no way of knowing this, and Alex was not bound to explain it either, knowing full well that everything here was being recorded and would be studied by Shield.
She simply took pleasure in playing around with them.
Natasha maintained her composed demeanor, carefully weighing each word before speaking. "It's a generous offer, Alexandra. However, as you know, my past... affiliations require me to consider any new alliances with caution. I need to ensure that my actions align with my principles." Her eyes darted subtly around the room, taking in every detail, every exit, every face that might later prove important.
Alexandra leaned back, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "Of course, Natasha. I wouldn't expect anything less from you. But consider this: our organization is at a turning point. With the right people at the helm, we could steer it towards a more... honorable direction. You could be instrumental in that change."
Outside the mansion, the S.H.I.E.L.D. surveillance team was listening intently. Coulson's voice came through the comms: "Stay sharp, everyone. If this goes south, we may need to extract her sooner than expected."
Back in the office, Alexandra continued, "I understand your hesitations, Natasha. But think of the resources at your disposal here. The network, the intelligence we have—it's unparalleled. You could use it to right many wrongs."
Natasha's mind raced. Joining the Ricci family could offer unprecedented access to criminal networks, a way to dismantle them from within. Yet, the risk of betrayal was high, and the moral cost of such an alliance was not lost on her. "I will need time to consider your proposal further. And assurances that my... contributions would indeed be used for the greater good."
Alexandra nodded, seemingly expecting this response. "Take all the time you need. We can provide you with whatever assurances you need. After all, I aim to not only ensure that my brother's work isn't ruined due to his death, I aim to ensure that his full vision can be made reality."
Alexandra reached into a drawer and pulled out a small card containing nothing but the Ricci family logo and a phone number. "Call me if you decide to join me." She said with a smile and handed the card over.
Natasha was still bound to the chair and was unable to accept it. Though perhaps that was never the goal as a guard took the card and put it in her pocket for her.
"Please see Miss Romanoff out." Alexandra said as she stood up and took her leave without another word.
The guards swiftly unbound Natasha from the chair, maintaining a firm but respectful distance as they escorted her out of the office. The atmosphere in the mansion was charged, a palpable tension that underscored the power vacuum left by Ricci's death.
As she was led through the opulent corridors, Natasha couldn't help but notice the heightened alertness of everyone she passed. It was clear that the Ricci family was on edge, wary of both internal and external threats.
Once outside, Natasha found herself alone for the first time since her arrival. She took a moment to breathe in the fresh air, feeling the weight of Alexandra's proposal heavy on her mind. The card in her pocket felt like a beacon, a reminder of the choice she faced.
She knew that the decision was not just about aligning with the Ricci family; it was about the world Alexander had talked about before his death.
Yet, the risks were immense. Could she trust Alexandra's vision, or was it a facade to lure her into a trap? And what of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Her allegiance to the agency had always been clear, but this situation presented a gray area that was difficult to navigate.
As Natasha made her way away from the mansion, she made sure to lose any potential trail sent after her. She even left her car behind and changed to another that was placed by Shield for this purpose.
Then she changed her clothes as well and used her glasses to record the number on the card before also discarding all that. And first, when she was sure there was no tracking beacon on her, did she speak into the glasses and to Clint on the other side
"Clint, I'm clear. Heading to the rendezvous point now," Natasha's voice was steady, betraying none of the turmoil that churned within her. The streets blurred past as she navigated her way through the city, her mind racing with the implications of Alexandra's offer and the potential paths forward.
On the other end, Clint's response was immediate, a mix of relief and concern evident in his tone. "Good to hear, Nat. We've been monitoring everything. Coulson's prepping debrief. What was all that about? Getting yourself a new job already?"
She sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "It's complicated, Clint. Alexander told me some stuff, but I'm not sure how much I believe of it, to be honest. Now, Alexandra made much the same offer.
She also wants me on board to help with her transition into power." Natasha paused, considering her next words carefully. "This is big, Clint. There's a bigger play here, something we need to unpack."
There was a brief silence as Clint processed the information. "Sounds like you're walking a tightrope, Nat. We need to tread carefully. Coulson's gonna want a full report. And we need to discuss our options. Alexandra's offer could be an opportunity, but it's also a massive risk."
Natasha nodded to herself, knowing Clint couldn't see her. "I know I also got a ton of Information about the Ten Rings. We'll have to go over it with the team. There's a lot at stake here, and I'm not about to make any decisions without a thorough analysis."
Natasha made her way into a dark parking garage where there were no people and no cameras. She stood hidden in the long, deep shadows when a car rolled up slowly, and she quickly got inside it.
Only the driver was inside the car. Clint leaned over and gave her a one-armed hug. "I'm Glad to see you safe; when I heard you were supposed to be on protection detail, I didn't think it would get this messy."
"Tell me about it. The one time I'm supposed to guard some immortal crime Lord, he ends up getting killed."
Clint chuckled dryly at Natasha's comment, easing the car into motion and navigating through the dimly lit garage with practiced ease. "Yeah, well, that's our line of work, isn't it? Never a dull moment." He glanced at her briefly, concern flickering in his eyes.
"But seriously, Nat, this thing with the Ricci family and the Ten Rings... it's not just any ordinary mission. This could change the power dynamics in the criminal underworld. We need to be smart about this."
Natasha leaned back in the passenger seat, feeling the adrenaline of the past hours begin to ebb away. "I know, Clint. That's why we need to debrief with Coulson and the team as soon as possible. Alexandra's offer and the information I gathered could give us an edge, but it's a double-edged sword. We could easily get caught in the crossfire if we're not careful."
The car emerged from the garage, blending into the night traffic. The city lights passed by in a blur as they made their way to a safe house for the debriefing. Natasha's mind was already racing with the possibilities and potential strategies they could employ.
Clint broke the silence, his tone serious. "The Ten Rings's involvement complicates things further. They're not known for playing nice, even with each other. And if they're making moves in conjunction with the Ricci power vacuum, we could be looking at a major shift in their operations."
Natasha nodded, her gaze fixed on the passing cityscape. "That's why we need to use the information I've gathered wisely. If we can understand their objectives, maybe we can find a way to disrupt their plans without direct confrontation. Alexandra might be key to this, willingly or not."
The rest of the drive was spent in contemplative silence, each lost in their thoughts about the mission ahead. Upon arriving at the safe house, they were greeted by Phil Coulson and the rest of their team, all ready to dive into the intricacies of the situation.
The debriefing would be long and detailed, with every piece of information scrutinized and every possible angle considered. Natasha knew that the decisions they made in the coming days would have far-reaching consequences, not just for the Ricci family and the Ten Rings, but for the balance of power in the criminal underworld and potentially the safety of countless innocents.