Ding!
The oven timer beeped, signaling the pizza was ready.
Jason pulled open the oven door, releasing a wave of bubbling cheese and crisping pepperoni. The scent of seasoned tomato sauce mixed with the faint aroma of gun oil still lingering from last night's maintenance of his Beretta M9.
"The pizza's done. While I eat, go say goodbye to Lisa and the kids. And put on that Armani suit."
Paul glanced up, startled. Jason was not the sentimental type.
Wearing heat-resistant gloves, Jason lifted the tray and set it on the counter. "You've been with me for six years. You deserve to leave with dignity."
Paul swallowed hard. His throat felt tight. "...Thanks."
He wiped his face and walked toward the bedroom. His feet dragged, but the thought of his family kept him moving.
Jason watched him go, then smirked and took a bite of the pizza, its molten cheese stretching between his fingers.
---
Master Bedroom
Lisa sat by the crib, softly humming Rock-a-bye Baby. Their twins slept peacefully, lips twitching as they dreamed.
Paul sat beside her, his eyes tracing every detail of their tiny faces, committing them to memory. Regret coiled around his heart like a python.
Lisa turned to him, brows furrowing. "Honey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just need to run an errand with the boss."
"Is it dangerous?"
Paul forced a smile. "I'll be fine. Watch over them while I'm gone."
Lisa's frown deepened. Something in his tone felt off. Before she could press him, Paul suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace, inhaling the familiar scent of her perfume Chanel No. 5, the same one he bought her for their anniversary.
After a long moment, he released her. "Can you get my suit?"
Lisa hesitated, then moved to the closet and retrieved the tailored Armani suit, the one he rarely wore.
Paul slipped into it, adjusting the cuffs, then turned to the mirror. "Do I still look like a monkey in this?"
Lisa, ready to tease him as usual, caught herself. Instead, she stepped forward and straightened his bow tie. "No. You look handsome."
Paul smiled and kissed her, deeply, desperately.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked to the door.
He wanted to say something. I love you. Take care of the kids. Something.
But the words never came.
Instead, he just looked at her one last time.
"Goodbye."
---
Living Room
Jason was sprawled across the couch, pizza in one hand, TV remote in the other. An old rerun of Daredevil played on mute in the background.
"That was fast. No long, teary farewell?"
Paul's expression hardened. "Let's go."
---
Hell's Kitchen - Midnight
Paul's Ford sedan rumbled through the streets of Hell's Kitchen. Neon lights flickered against rain-slicked pavement, the city's filth and decay laid bare under the glow of buzzing streetlights.
Jason tapped his fingers against the dashboard. "Ever been to Wong's?"
Paul didn't take his eyes off the road. "The Chinese joint? Yeah. You took me there once. It was decent, but way too spicy."
Jason scoffed. "Philistine. That place serves the only real Sichuan food in New York."
Paul checked his watch. "At this hour? They're closed."
"We're not here for food. Park in the alley behind it."
Paul pulled into the narrow alleyway, the dim light barely reaching past the fire escapes above.
As the engine idled, Jason pulled out his phone and dialed a number burned into his memory one of New York's most notorious black-market arms dealers.
The call connected after five rings.
A raspy voice answered. "Well, well. Jason Todd. Thought you were dead."
Jason smirked. "Still kicking, Morgan. Unlike most of your customers."
The old man chuckled darkly. "That mouth of yours is gonna get you killed one day. What do you need?"
"C4."
A long pause. "…Jesus. How much?"
"All of it."
"There are five blocks in the warehouse. 300K."
"Done. Bring it yourself."
"You expect me to personally deliver military-grade explosives in the middle of the night? Give me a damn good reason."
"I have a $3 million bounty on my head. Can't trust just anyone."
Morgan sighed. "You're a pain in the ass. Fine. But this is a one-time deal. What's the detonation code?"
"Three long, one short."
"Got it. Be there in an hour."
Jason grinned. "Oh, by the way how's Vanessa?"
"…Go to hell, Jason."
The line went dead.
Paul had been silent the entire time. His hands gripped the steering wheel. "What… what exactly do you want me to do?"
Jason exhaled, leaned back, and smirked.
"Blood for blood. We're wiping out the Russian Mafia."
Paul's face drained of color. He swallowed hard. "A human bomb…"
Jason nodded. "Bingo."
Paul clenched his fists. "Damn."
Jason took another bite of pizza. "Relax. Compared to what Wilson Fisk does to traitors, this is a mercy kill. You won't feel a thing."
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, Paul muttered, "What's the plan?"
Jason grinned. "That's more like it. You're going to call Vladimir and tell him you found my hiding spot. Get him to gather every single one of his men."
Paul frowned. "How am I supposed to get inside their base?"
"You're worried about his leadership after last night's disaster. You'll demand to lead the operation yourself."
"Vladimir is arrogant. He won't"
"He will if it means avenging his brother."
---
Fifteen Minutes Later
Paul's car sat in the dark alley. He pulled out his phone and dialed Vladimir.
After three rings, a gruff voice answered. "Who the hell is this?"
"Vladimir. It's Paul."
A pause. "…Oh. Jason's lapdog."
Paul clenched his jaw. "You sound pissed. Can't blame you Jason slaughtered twenty of your men. Killed your brother, too."
A sharp inhale. "You"
"Relax. I called to help."
Vladimir's tone turned cautious. "…I'm listening."
"I know where Jason is."
A tense silence. Then: "Give me the address. Name your price."
"I don't want money. I want to make sure you don't screw this up."
"What?"
"I'm leading the operation."
Silence.
Jason raised an eyebrow, motioning for Paul to stay calm.
Finally, Vladimir exhaled. "Fine. But screw this up, and I'll put a bullet in your skull myself."
Paul smirked. "Understood. Now gather every man you have. Bring everything M249s, RPGs, the whole arsenal. Call me when you're ready."
"Done. But tell me… why turn on Jason now?"
Paul's lips curled into a grin.
"Who do you think betrayed him in the first place?"
---
[Ding! Quest 'Karma' Completed. Reward: 500 Villain Points.]
[Ding! Quest 'Strike First' Triggered. Objective: Eliminate the Russian Mafia Before They Find You.]
Jason leaned back, tossing his phone onto the dashboard.
"Well done, Paul."
Paul gripped the wheel, his fate sealed.
Jason just took another bite of pizza.
---