8
They sat in the café with their coffee and plates of finger food watching the world blow by, John fiddling with a paper napkin as Owen watched Jack watching Ianto.
"So. You think she will …" John's voice died as Ianto's' phone stated to vibrate across the table.
"Bore Da?"
"Ianto?"
The speakers were top grade and everyone listened to her voice as it came through loud and clear, Ianto lifting the phone to speak to her "Yvonne? Hello there. Lovely to hear from you."
"You killed one of my people!"
"You are wrong there Yvonne and I am deeply hurt." Ianto said smoothly "I've actually killed a few."
Silence.
"Gina …she sort of gave you away in the end. I don't think she liked drowning but as her neck was broken and she was dying anyway … she didn't have a lot of choice. She was quite the talker in the end" he lied so easily, everyone around the table knowing the woman had died the moment the air bags deployed "It brings me no pleasure to have to teach you the rules here. I had thought the Family would have stood up to their side of our agreement and you would heed them but clearly either they did not speak to you or you did not care for their orders. Either way … you've made this incredibly personal and I do not like personal. Of course … I am very good at it."
Silence, then a soft snarl "You watch yourself little boy!"
"I am neither little or just a boy" Ianto replied as he watched the screen, Toshiko in there working fast with the connection "I am a man. A big strong … connected man who is fed up with your games. You see I never liked games. A dead bang sort of guy me and right now? You've pissed me off to the Nth degree."
"You carved this phone number into the chest of the woman you love!" she snarled "You've gone insane."
"Oh no ... I would never harm Lisa. You chose well there. She really did a number on me so ... one of my colleges actually tattooed the number... sort of giving one back. She did a number on me ... I do one on her. This being the age of equality and all that." Ianto smiled at John who grinned maniacally at the inside joke "my biggest worry was that he would get the number wrong and have to start again. You know ... I always pay my debts and paybacks are a bitch sometimes."
John snorted softly as Ianto stretched "This is your final warning. I can get you too. Your personal life, your fears and desires. You loves. I have all of them right here in my little palm and you fuck with me or mine … you will learn why the Families came to you and told you to cease and desist. You see … I am not on the same payroll as you and my resources are soooo much better."
"Listen here you little fucker, I will find you and I will kill you…"
"Yvonne, you are not Liam Neeison and the quote begins with something about a certain skill set. And we both know I am the one with a specialized skill here … you are just a blonde bitch in heels"
Silence, just harsh raspy breathing as he imagined her gripping the edge of the desk with anger.
"Will the Families be happy about your mess?" Ianto asked.
"Fuck the Families!" she spat "Fuck all four corners, all four heads can shove themselves up my arse for all I care. They don't control me! This is personal. You hear me you little worm? They can put up and shut up! I run this town."
"I hear you Yvonne" Ianto smiled as he looked at the screen that showed she had hung up. Unfortunately everyone heard her. The table full of people heard her, the crowd passing heard her … the waitress standing with the dessert menu and the ones listening on the conference call she just called into heard it too. "Although I must say … I don't think you will all fit up her arse all at once but you may all want her innards in view now. Have you heard enough?"
The silence was deafening then a voice came over the line "Yes Agent. This is true. It appears my co-members and myself need to have another chat with our operative."
"Well … good luck, she didn't sound like a very good operative to me at all" Ianto reached for the phone that he had placed on the table and leaned over it to say softly "If you ask me … she is very rude and should be placed over your knee for a good spanking or at the very least a time out."
"Don't' you worry Agent Jones … she shall receive the retraining she requires to be a good operative" another voice added, the feminine lit mixing with another soft hum of agreement. Three. He waited for the fourth voice, the head family.
"Good day Agent Jones, please consider this matter closed" the voice was deeper than Ianto thought it would be and he found himself replying with his own voice on a deep chocolaty tone.
"And to you Minister"
They all sat for a while staring at the phone as screen shone to show the call was disconnected then it went black.
"Well" John said after a few minutes "I want chocolate cake. Anyone else?"
Ianto smiled as John rose from the table and slipped inside like nothing had happened.
He grew on you.
