Luciano was not intimidated by the Culebras, in fact, Luciano was intrigued in the spectacle that they created. Richard was obviously the strongest of the two Culebras, at least that's what he thought until he walked out of his office and went outside when the sounds of three blasts came quickly after one another.

The black blood was dried on the wall beside the entrance of it. A pile of ash was on the ground next to it that stood out against the light green of the lawn. It was a sad sight and Luciano instantly knew what happened to his security detail.

There was nothing left of any of them as Luciano looked around and heard the screeching of tires as they drove away.

"At least they didn't steal my car." Luciano grumbled and pulled his phone out to let his boss know.

"Yes?" The rich chocolate voice said through the line.

"They did not accept and they have escaped." Luciano informed and heard the line cut off and gulped as Maximilliano reached his side.

"We must clean this up." He grimaced at the ashes that were there and Luciano nodded and dialed another number.

"I have ashes for him. " Luciano spoke into the phone and looked at Maximiliano as he walked back into the house and away from the sunlight that filtered through the large clouds above.

"Grazie." Came the last response from the line before it hung up.

"He's gone." Archibald's assistant informed Miguel and he gulped and shook his head.

No! Not his friend. Not Archibald.

"There's no way!" Miguel yelled and shook his head again as he tried to focus on what the small blonde said but he couldn't concentrate until he heard a name.

Seth Gecko.

"Who?" He asked coolly and the blonde nodded and repeated.

"Seth Gecko, signor."

"He did it?" Miguel asked and the beautiful blue eyed assistant gulped at him and nodded.

"He's in Processing right now." She informed and Miguel nodded and turned away from her and left quickly.

This was his penance; helping Seth Gecko, the man he killed, his new boss.

"Come on!" Richard yelled over his shoulder at Kate who scrambled to catch up in her heels.

"Their coming!" She hissed and took off her heels and ran quickly to him.

"Through here!" Richard whispered as they entered a crowded club.

"Richie!" Kate yelled but he couldn't hear her. "Richie!" Kate yelled louder and Richard turned in time as a man with dark blue dress shirt and suit pants blocked his view of her.

What the fuck? Who the hell was this guy?

"Move it, she's mine!" Richard growled pushing the man aside and grabbed Kate's hand with a glare and the man stepped back with his hands up and winked at Kate.

The club was a lot bigger than Richard anticipated as he looked around for a back exit. The music thumped and thudded in Richard's ears and he found it hard to focus. He stopped mid crowded dance floor and Kate shook his hand to follow her and began leading them out quickly.

"Come on!" She yelled over the music and Richard followed blinking rapidly to get rid of the headache he was getting.

Kate lead them out the back door where dumpsters and large trash cans were standing. The footsteps sounded a few blocks back but Richard could hear them heading in their direction.

"We have to go!" He nodded at Kate and took his gun out and she followed suit. "Come on." He whispered low and began to run.

"Holy fuck!" Kate muttered as she felt her heart pound against her ribcage and ran faster to catch up.

"Here!" Richard turned around quickly and grabbed her right forearm and slung her body over his back. "Hold on!" A shot rang out too close to him and pierced his shoulder. "Fuck!" He grunted but continued running and Kate held on tightly around his neck.

Reaching a higher pace, Richard climbed the apartment building four blocks from the club and climbed up digging his fingers into the white material and Kate bit her lip to keep from squealing as she looked down and found herself too high up. Richard grumbled as he climbed over the railing and Kate jumped off of him quickly checking his shoulder.

"Next time a guy comes up to you like that," Richard stood to his full height in front of her with a hard glare. "You kick him in his useless balls!" He yelled and Kate rolled her eyes and looked over the ledge and found no one had followed.

"Stop being such an asshole!" Kate yelled back and Richard grinned with wide eyes.

"I'm the asshole?" Richard huffed incredulous. "You were the one that was not only smiling at the creep," Richard continued and stepping closer to her with his Culebra eyes flashing. "You were also lookin' like you were about to follow him out of the club instead!" He accused glaring down at her and Kate shook her head and sighed.

"You really think that in the fifteen seconds it took you to reach me," Kate glared back at him with anger almost making her want to throw up at the absurdity Richard accused her of. "I was flirting with a man I didn't know while my boyfriend made his way over?" Richard shook his head and began walking away to the door that lead them down through the building. "Richie!" Kate yelled and followed after him as they descended down the stairs.

Richard was mumbling to himself as he walked down the stairs faster with Kate not far behind.

Kate was so angry that out of everything they had just experienced, all Richard wanted to talk about was about a man she barley smiled at.

No. Kate did not flirt with the man, although it wasn't hard to smile at him. But that was all she did, whatever else Richard saw was completely made up.

As they reached the villa Richard looked around as he followed Kate inside with both of their guns in hand.

Richard nodded for her to go upstairs and check while he checked the downstairs. The kitchen was clear and so was the large bathroom and living room.

Kate checked the room and found no one an nothing. The windows were shut and the curtains were drawn like Seth had left them.

Seth.

Richard sighed and locked the door shutting the lights off and made his way up stairs.

"Kate?" Richard called out with his gun still in hand as he pushed the door open and found Kate on the floor sobbing softly with her head on her knees as she rocked back and forth.

"Hey now!" Richard sat behind her and pulled her body to his. "He's going to be okay." Richard whispered softly into her ear and she suddenly turned and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "I promise." Richard held her tightly and bit back the urge to groan as the pain in his chest began.

Fucking Seth! Why did he always want to be the damned hero? What kind of fucking complex was that for a professional thief?

"I know he will be but-" she sobbed. "What if he isn't?" She huffed out pulling back to look into his eyes.

"It's because he's Seth," Richard smirked despite the pain he felt in his chest.

Keep your shit together!

"That's how I know that he will be okay." Richard replied with a lopsided smile but Kate could see the sadness in them.

Richard would be in a horrible state. He needs you. Kate told herself smiled weakly at him.

"Okay." Kate replied and hugged him again.

It wasn't long before Kate fell asleep in his arms and Richard found the opportunity he needed. Setting her down on the bed, he pulled the covers over her and checked all the windows to make sure nothing was opened and all curtains drawn.

With one last look at her, Richard left softly closing the door behind him and felt pain in his chest and dread in the pit of his stomach. It felt like the Culebra inside of him was twisting and turning with razor blade scales digging into his insides.

The bottle of cognac stood next to three others and he took a deep breath looking from them to the bedroom door but instead of drinking or going to Kate, Richard sat and pulled out one joint out of the three he had ready in his pocket and pulled it out.

Lighting it, Richard took a long drag and coughed lightly as the smoke left his lips. He took another drag and felt hot tears on his cheeks but he didn't make a move to wipe them. He sat there looking at the destroyed couch next to him in the darkness and his lungs began to heave.

"You fucking idiot!" Richard grumbled as he began to weep.

The pain in his chest intensified and he took another drag of the joint with trembling lips.

Why would you do that?

Richard thought and then he remembered the first night he turned Seth.

"We are not good for her, Richard." Seth had said.

Could it be this asshole had it planned all along? Richard asked himself and began to piece every conversation since he turned his brother, together.

"Fuck!" He muttered to himself and shook his head as more tears fell.

Taking another long drag, Richard pulled out his phone and dialed The Commander's number.

"Si?" Came the response after the first ring.

"I need you to check something for me." Richard began.

"He got himself killed by who?" Piero yelled at Miguel who swallowed hard and repeated the information.

"By Seth Gecko." Miguel replied.

"Thank you for your time." Salvi stood from the large table and turned to Ugo who nodded, Piero who sighed with nothing else to say, and then looked to Simon who nodded quickly. "You may go and we will keep in touch with the following proceedings and for the mean time you will be reassigned the position you had before."

Miguel nodded and left with a slight bow in their direction and closed the large black double doors softly and ran to the temple.

He got his job back, but at what cost?

"As the Americans say," Ugo looked at them with wide eyes. "Wow!" He couldn't help but throw his head back with laughter.

"This is not a game you fool!" Piero yelled at Ugo. "People stay dead if they don't complete the Processing!" Piero yelled angry and stood quickly and left to his office.

The poor Kate was going to suffer so much more if the eldest Gecko didn't pass.

"What is next?" Simon asked after Piero slammed his large office door shut.

"If he passes," Salvi sat back down with a sigh staring at the space in front of her. "Then Seth Gecko would be the next Chief of Venice."

"There is no one here." The Commander informed Richard on the phone.

"No body?" Richard asked and took another drag of joint. "Are you sure?"

"Si." The Commander replied. "I am in the room indicated." The Commander looked around the small room and notice the blackness of smoke by the wall. "There is no trace of a body in sight but small traces of smoke."

"Fuck." Richard muttered and felt the pain in his chest tighten.

What was I going to tell Kate when she wakes up? How am I going to explain that Seth vanished?

"Thank you."

"Do you need anything else?" The Commander asked noticing the low tone his new boss had. "He did it?" The Commander asked and heard Richard take a deep breath.

"Yes." Came Richard's reply with a strain in his voice.

"I see." The Commander sighed. "I hope you understand how important this is for everyone." He sounded grateful to Richard. "He has taken out the worst in the city," He continued at Richard's lack of response. "And for that I thank you and him." The Commander heard the sniffles and then coughing as his boss tried to hide the fact his boss was crying

"I'll talk to you soon." Richard said before hanging up.