Chapter 29

Ever since Oliver found out about Brandy marrying Kadienne's father, her deceased best friend's husband, she was an instant suspect. Nothing could ever be proven she was involved in the Vertigo fiasco…until now. She stood beside Ramsey Myer, an abusive strip club owner who took pleasure raping the women that worked for him. Oliver knew all about it, having done extensive research and investigating on Ramsey Myer after setting his beady eyes on Kadienne. It was hard to believe Roy Harper had worked for this creep and everything he'd told Oliver was the truth. What was Brandy's connection to Ramsey though? Oliver couldn't figure that one out, staying where he was and let the adrenaline he felt surpass the pain in his head. They wouldn't touch Kadienne unless it was over his dead body.

"H-How do you two know each other?" Kadienne was the first to speak, remaining by her father's side crouched down and staring at her stepmother baffled. She did NOT expect to find out Brandy and Ramsey were together, not in a million years.

Ramsey kept the smirk on his face, wrapping a possessive arm around Brandy's shoulders to pull her close to his side. "Do you really want to know the answer to that question, little girl? It might be too much for your mind to absorb. Or maybe you've already pieced the answer together and refuse to accept it. Allow me to open your eyes to the hard truth." Sliding his tongue up Brandy's cheek, he forcefully turned her head until his lips captured hers in a soft kiss. "Mmm delicious as always, my sweet."

"Glad you approve." Brandy murmured in reply, gazing lovingly at him before turning cool dark eyes on her stepdaughter and still unconscious husband.

Kadienne felt the chunks rising in her throat and managed to somehow keep them from spewing out of her mouth, feeling incredibly nauseous. "Why? If you wanted to be with him, why pursue my father?" She had to know the truth, no matter how much it would hurt to hear.

"Explain yourself." Oliver ordered, keeping his voice low and neutral and clenched his fists tightly at his sides, daring Ramsey to make a move toward him. He didn't miss the gun he had either, but Oliver had learned long ago how to disarm someone. "You owe her that much."

Brandy had hoped Patrick would be awake for this explanation, but the drug dose she gave him must've been too much. "I have nothing against your father, Kadienne. But he is far too trusting and wears his heart on his sleeve; it was easy to take advantage of."

"Answer the damn question!" Kadienne snapped, emerald eyes turning acidic as she slowly rose to her feet to stand behind Oliver while guarding her father. "Why did you pursue my father and marry him?" All this time, she presumed Brandy had married her father for money and power; it looked like her assumptions were spot on.

"Your family fortune, of course. Why else would I marry an old bag like him?" Brandy flipped her hair over her shoulder, giggling wickedly. "Of course, Ramsey came up with most of the plan, but I must say I played my part perfectly."

It was Oliver's turn to demand answers. "How do you know him? Do you know what he's done? How dangerous he is?" He dictated in a growl, not taking his eyes off of Ramsey for a second. It would be a fatal mistake if he did.

There was no point hiding the truth any longer, especially since the last part of their plan was about to come to fruition. "Isn't it obvious, Mr. Queen?" Ramsey slid his finger down Brandy's arm, devouring her with his eyes before looking back at his prey. "How we met was in my strip club. She worked for me…and I didn't have to force her into my bed like the others. She did it willingly; she was smarter than the others and knew when to simply bow down and do as she was told – to give me what was rightfully mine. And when I found out her deep connection to the prestigious RICH Young family, well…I had to exploit that, didn't I? I ordered her to pursue your father after we disposed of your mother, Kadienne."

"W-WHAT?!" Kadienne felt her chest constrict painfully, tears swelling in her eyes and covered her mouth with her hand.

"You sick bastard." Oliver hissed, not feeling an ounce of sympathy for Brandy because she willingly went along with this plan to eliminate the entire Young bloodline. It all made sense now. "It was you that made Emma addicted to Vertigo." There wasn't a reason to question it anymore. "You killed your best friend all for money…and Ramsey…"

"Vertigo is a huge moneymaker in my club, Mr. Queen. Though I'm sure you've finally figured that out." Ramsey snorted, slowly turning the small 9 MM in his hand. "It was too easy sneaking it into Verdant too, though I did have help." He eyeballed Brandy with a wicked smirk, reaching down to squeeze her firm backside through the thin dress she had on. "With all the commotion and lack of security, she just slipped right in and framed her stepdaughter to get the ball rolling. And it was even easier to alter the security footage to make it look like Kadienne was the one to bring the drug into Verdant."

Oliver snarled, hoping Diggle was on his way to the mansion due to the tracking device hidden in his shoe. Ramsey had taken the rest of his weapons off of him, but neglected to check his shoes, which made Oliver confident in believing they would survive this. However, it was all up to Diggle and if he'd left the Foundry and even suspected his disappearance. His only hope at this point was his baby sister calling his bodyguard to tell him what happened and Diggle quickly putting the pieces together on where they were located. How Oliver longed for his quiver and bow just so he could send an arrow straight through Ramsey's black heart. Ramsey was oblivious to the cavalry coming to the rescue, thinking he had everything and everyone exactly where he wanted them.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

"And what about Kadienne's party? I'm assuming you planted the bag of Vertigo in her room in order to keep her trapped in the mansion?"

Oliver had to keep them talking, eyes narrowing at Brandy's nod and noticed she remained quiet throughout Ramsey's explanation. Perhaps she was afraid of him? It still didn't excuse the travesties and pain she caused the Young family, especially Kadienne. She would also pay for her crimes and possibly have an arrow sent through her heart as well as her despicable lover's.

"It was the only way…" Brandy didn't want to do it this way, but Ramsey had been adamant about Kadienne staying in the mansion. She was an easy target that way. "I'm surprised the police fell for it to be honest, but that was before I found out what Ramsey did to the security footage at Verdant. Then it made more sense on why they didn't believe anything she said."

Kadienne was right the entire time about her stepmother. Why she married her father and everything in between. "My mother loved you like a sister…and you betrayed her." She whispered, feeling an overwhelming anger surging through her body and would've attacked Brandy if it wasn't for Ramsey holding them at gunpoint. "I bet she didn't even realize what you were giving her either…"

"Of course not. Emma trusted me wholeheartedly and was stupid for it. Her blind faith and trust in me made me sick." Brandy spat, planting her hands on her hips and curled her upper lip in a sneer. "I told her it was medicine to help with her migraine headaches. Though it did help, the dose I gave her anyway. There are variations of Vertigo and Ramsey made sure he gave me a version that would mask the addiction while helping her so she wouldn't become suspicious. Not that she would because – well, blind faith and trust as I said."

Recalling her mother complaining about her lethal headaches, everything suddenly became crystal clear to Kadienne. "So the night she overdosed, she just thought she was taking medicine to quell a migraine. You purposely gave her a lethal dose and there was no chance saving her. You knew that. You knew help wouldn't arrive in time and she would die as soon as she took it." Tears slid down her cheeks in rapid streams, Kadienne not bothering holding them back. "Mom…"

"Mom." Ramsey mocked nastily, laughing maniacally at how much torture they caused the only Young heir. "She's dead, little girl. But don't worry, you'll soon be joining her along with your old man and Mr. Queen."

Oliver's heart went out to his girlfriend, wanting to pull her in his arms and comfort her, but now wasn't the time or place. His first priority was protecting her and Patrick; there would be plenty of time for comforting and letting her cry on his shoulder later. Of all the nights not to have Diggle at side…Oliver took a step back when Ramsey took one forward, holding the gun up with his finger on the trigger.

"I think we've chatted long enough and its time to get down to business." Ramsey looked over at Brandy, contemplating handing the gun to her so he could have a little fun with Kadienne in front of Oliver and Patrick, who was slowly stirring awake. "Kadienne, come to me or I will kill Oliver in front of you."

"Kadienne…" Patrick's weak voice called out, his eyes slowly opening and let out a rough cough. He heard every word from his wife and felt his heart plummet to the depths of his stomach. So she had used him this entire time, just as Kadienne warned and he ignored it like an idiot. "D-Don't hurt my daughter…"

Ramsey snorted, waving the gun at Oliver and extended his free hand out toward Kadienne, ignoring Patrick's plea. "Don't think I won't kill them and take what I want anyway, little girl. You can do this the easy way or-"

"Go to hell." Kadienne hissed, refusing to follow any kind of order and screamed out when a bullet pierced Oliver's shoulder, watching him crumble to the floor yelling in pain. "OLIVER!"

"I told you I would do it if you didn't come to me." Ramsey stepped over Oliver, snorting and towered over the Youngs, pointing the gun at Patrick next. "He'll eat a bullet next if you don't take my hand. Better think hard before making your choice."

This man was crazy and Kadienne wanted nothing to do with him, unable to look at Oliver without crying. "P-Please don't do this…" She whispered, deciding all she had left to do was plead for their lives, though it wouldn't make a difference. Not with this lunatic. "D-Don't hurt my Dad…"

"Then do as I say." Ramsey planned on shooting him anyway, but first he wanted to have a little bit of fun with the fiery redhead. "Take my hand. I won't say it again."

Just as Kadienne shakily reached her hand up to obey him, Brandy screeched out as Oliver grabbed Ramsey from behind, his arms wrapped tightly around the man's throat. "NO!" Brandy wouldn't let him hurt Ramsey, grabbing the gun her lover had dropped and blinked when Kadienne rushed forward to kick it out of arm's reach.

"I don't think so." So many times Oliver had protected her, it was Kadienne's turn to return the favor. She plowed her fist forward, striking Brandy's nose and sent the woman stumbling back, blood pouring out of her nostrils. "I've wanted to do that for a VERY long time."

Brandy touched her nose with her fingertips and pulled them back, seeing the red liquid staining them, her brown eyes igniting in rage. "YOU BITCH!" She shrieked, ignoring the fact her nose was probably shattered from that punch and tackled Kadienne to the floor, beginning to pound her with her balled up fists. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

If Oliver thought a mere sleeper hold would be enough to stop Ramsey, he was sorely mistaken. He powered out of it, a lot stronger than Oliver realized and elbowed him in the face, sending Oliver stumbling back. The fight was on. Ramsey preferred doing this the hard way, an evil smile stretching his lips as Oliver charged at him, arms and legs striking with precision. Ramsey was gifted in martial arts and had a black belt, not a pushover by any means, but Oliver had survival training. He knew exactly what areas to strike on a body to make someone immobile.

"OLIVER?"

His head snapped up at the sound of Diggle's voice and Ramsey took the opportunity, sending Oliver flying out of the panic room door. Then he went for Kadienne, who had Brandy down and bloodied from their own fight, wrapping a fistful of hair around his fingers to yank her up to her feet against his body. She would pay for touching Brandy, an angry snarl flowing out of his mouth. Kadienne screamed, struggling with every ounce of energy she had and could see Oliver slowly rising to his feet just as John Diggle and Roy Harper arrived on the scene. John wasted no time, tossing Oliver his quiver and bow while Roy had a gun in hand, all the weapons pointed at Ramsey.

He was outnumbered and lost, but Ramsey wouldn't go down without a fight, yanking Kadienne to stand in front of him with his arm tightened around her neck. His eyes landed on the bow and arrow pointed at his heart and Ramsey laughed out loud, the sound echoing throughout the panic room. So Oliver Queen was The Hood – The Vigilante of Starling City? He cackled, sliding his nose up and down Kadienne's soft cheek, groaning in her ear at how delectable she felt against him.

"I wonder if you taste half as good as the beautiful blonde I killed." Ramsey locked eyes with Oliver, feeling Kadienne begin to tremble and ignored the guns both John Diggle and Roy Harper, his ex-employee, pointed at him. "I recall that particular blonde working for the Vigilante. And I thoroughly enjoyed making her pay for it by taking what I wanted and then spraying her blood all over her apartment. Such a shame, she was quite the beauty and had the brains to match as well. And now, you're about to lose another person in your posse, Mr. Queen."

"No I'm not."

Ever since Felicity's murder, Oliver had searched Starling City high and low for her murderer, not believing he finally found who took her away from him. He stood right in front of him and Oliver felt a sense of both vindication and sadness, trying not to let the anguish wash over him. Plenty time for that later. Without warning, Oliver sent the arrow flying from his bow and watched it pierce through Ramsey's eye out of skull. He'd blocked every other part of his body with Kadienne's, so going for the eye was his only option. Kadienne felt Ramsey's hold on her cease, feeling the speed of the arrow against her cheek right before it went through the lunatic's eye. She immediately stumbled back, bumping into Brandy's unconscious bloody form and rushed over to where her father had stayed to check on him.

Patrick couldn't believe his eyes or the fact his daughter was dating the Vigilante. Oliver Queen was the Hood. He immediately pulled Kadienne against him, letting her cry her heart out while Oliver and his team took care of the bodies. Brandy was still alive and would pay for her sins against the Young family by spending the rest of her days behind bars. Ramsey wasn't so lucky. Oliver lowered himself on Ramsey's side, setting his bow down and noticed something the man had on him he didn't before his confession. Felicity's necklace – he recognized it anywhere and ripped it from Ramsey's neck, stuffing it in his pocket before his eyes moved to Kadienne and her father.

"Oliver, are you hurt?" John demanded, walking up to stand alongside his partner and planted a hand on his shoulder. "You're shot…"

"Kevlar held. He didn't get me." Oliver wouldn't have been able to shoot the arrow correctly had his shoulder really been pierced. "You need to get out of here before the police arrive. I'll take it from here." His eyes landed on Roy Harper, nodding a silent thanks in his direction. "Take this with you." Handing over his patent weapon of choice, Oliver rose to his feet and kept his distance from Kadienne and Patrick.

A few minutes after John and Roy made their escape from the Young mansion, the SCPD arrived.