Oh boy…this was a random spur of the moment add on thought. Still it should justify Apollo's sudden compassion…
They travelled for a couple more days before crashing in a hotel again.
"Apollo…I mean…Wolf…am I the first hostage you've taken?" Ema asked.
"Nope, far from it."
"How many people have you kidnapped."
"I don't know…ten, twenty maybe." Apollo shrugged. He did it in a way as if he didn't care about the people.
"You said that like it meant nothing. Those people all have lives and family waiting for them…just like me…" She whimpered.
"I keep them safe, just like I am you."
"It doesn't matter! They still have people who care waiting for them."
"You're one of the hardest people I have ever had to kidnap…I'm emotionally attached to you – you are my friend after all…there's just one that beats you."
"Who's that?"
"An eleven year old girl…she was so sweet and innocent. Her father was killing people – torturing them just like Jigsaw would in the Saw movies. She didn't know of course…"
"…Why did you take her?"
"I used her to draw her father out. I told her as soon as I found him I would let her leave, she had to be a good girl. She called me the 'Big Bad Wolf'…when I found her dad, I told her to leave – she refused when she witnessed what her father had been doing."
"Where did you find him?"
"An abandoned warehouse, not far from the city's Red Light District – the guy had a thing for cheap women. Anyway, when I found him he was watching two people saw off parts of their body in the hope they could free themselves. She screamed, which drew attention to us. I told her to run…get away…"
"Then what?"
"I shot him…he didn't die instantly, Sabre ripped his neck open – that killed him." Ema glanced down at the wolf and shivered. "That animal is loyal." Apollo commented.
"What became of the girl?"
"I thought about killing her as well, but it goes against what little beliefs and moral value I have…she was innocent, not to mention female. She'd never harm anyone or anything – yet she wouldn't leave my side." Apollo looked down to Sabre. "Knowing I could never bring harm to someone innocent I asked her what she would like me to do. She could run away now, I could find a member of her family to give her to…I even considered just offloading her at a children's home…"
"What did you decide?"
"I took her to work with me. I told the boss I had shattered her psyche forever, the least I could do was care for her until she was old enough to fend for herself. I paid to put her through therapy – until she eventually erased all existence of her father…now she stays with me."
"I've never seen a teenage girl at your house?"
"She doesn't come home to often, she stays with friends or travels – as long as she behaves then I really don't mind."
"You took on the responsibility of her?"
"Am I unfit to do so?"
"No…I mean…"
"She is what has helped me realise just how bad my past has affected what I do today, she is the one who has helped me learn that I at least have some compassion."
"Does she not rat you out?"
"To her, I am her brother – she would never rat out her own family."
"Do you have a picture of her?"
"Yes as a matter of fact." Apollo opened his wallet and showed her the photo of him, Cub and a young teenager – who was admittedly beautiful.
"She looks almost like she is a blood relation of yours."
"Knowing I took all that girl had away, I try to care for her as much as I can."
"Can I ask her name?"
"Charlotte. I'll let you speak to her some time."
-x-x-
She couldn't contemplate he was caring for a twelve year old. Maybe he wasn't so bad…
"Welcome to New York my dear." Apollo declared proudly. It had taken ten days to get there but it was worth it. "Ah, we must visit the airport too."
"Why?"
"Well, remember when you spoke to young Charlotte, she asked if she could meet you – so a colleague of mine is flying her over as we speak." She had spoken to her only a few hours ago – the girl explained that Apollo showed no compassion normally – but she was just a young girl with no other family and Apollo respected that.
"It'll take a day or two to pin down the exact location of Cheetah or Klavier, so we're free for a while…just be careful – those bastards could be anywhere."
"I'll stick close to you then…"
"I might arrange something special for you later." He checked his phone, a text from one of Bear's hacker children. "We have a place to stay." Apollo drove through the crowded streets until he reached a hotel in Central Park."
"We're not staying there are we?" Ema looked up to the grand hotel – far more grand than any hotel she and Wolf had been in yet.
"One of the best five star hotels in New York as it happens." Apollo climbed from the car.
"I can see why you swapped the car." She whispered. An agent had swapped his car for a high class sports car which was worth more money than Ema's apartment probably was.
"Park the car please." He gave the keys to the porter.
"What about our stuff?" Ema asked.
"Leave it there. I'm taking you shopping with the company credit card. Come along now Sabre."
The joy of the hotel was they allowed pets in – no questions asked. Apollo booked the finest room for him, Ema and Charlotte.
"Can you get the porter to take these to our room?" The only cases Apollo had taken from his car were his laptop, a rifle and a sealed black suitcase.
"Of course sir. Here's your room key. Will you be dining with us tonight?"
"No I think we'll pass. The other occupant will be with us later on…"
"This place is huge." Ema leapt onto the huge round bed. The main room was bigger than her sister's penthouse – let alone her home.
"Glad you approve. Thanks pal." He handed the porter twenty dollars. "All courtesy of work. The fucking little bitches!"
"Excuse me?"
"They lied to me Ema. I'm gonna make sure they regret it."
"Won't they cancel the card!?"
"No, me and Bear are the best assassins they have – if I leave Bear and his family will too. Too risky for them."
-x-x-
"Apollo!" The shrill cry rang through the air.
"Char!" The teenager ran into his arms, she was a considerable amount smaller than him still. "I trust you were good for Hawk?"
"Ja she was perfect."
"You're German!?" Ema squealed.
"Ja." The blond, spiky haired man bowed. "I'm hawk, you must be Ema Skye."
"Hi! I'm Charlotte." For a girl who witnessed her own father's death, Charlotte was an incredibly bubbly girl with blonde and pink hair.
"Hawk…can I speak to you for a sec?" Apollo turned to Charlotte. "Charlotte, why don't you chat to Ema about me for a bit?"
"Yes sir! Wolf sir!" He led Hawk a considerable distance away.
"I can see why you think it's strange, you're his friend yet you never knew of my existence, let alone all the other stuff. I hope I've explained it to you." Charlotte smiled.
"He came across as being incredibly uncaring and uncompassionate though…"
"He is…normally."
"So! Who wants to go shopping?" Apollo declared.
He treated the two girls like princesses, for he knew this was the calm before the storm. Soon he would not only risk his fight in a 'tag' match against a fellow colleague he would also have to risk Ema's and quite possibly Charlotte's life.
"Courtney Anna…please guide my soul…"