The next day the remaining members of the Scooby gang had gathered in the
library. Sleep was nearly not present during the last and the effects were
plainly visible on their worn out faces.
"So, what are we gonna do now?" Willow asked when they all had a seat.
"Well, I shipped all the parts of the Judge to Council," Giles said tiredly as he rubbed his eyes. "I hope that they are safe there."
"I didn't mean that," Willow clarified her statement. "What are going to do about Xander?"
"I have absolutely no idea," Giles admitted "I have no experience how to deal with such a situation."
"None of us has Rupert," Jenny said and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I know," he told her with a small smile. "This is just so frustrating. We can fight demons and vampires but we can't help a member of our group."
"Which do you mean," Oz asked calmly "Xander or Buffy?"
"Both," Giles told him. "Xander is devastated because he is bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life and Buffy because she put him in it."
"Correction," Oz interrupted "He is devastated because she put him in it."
"Yes, I think that also applies," Giles admitted.
"But what are we going to do," Willow repeated her question. "I mean, I can understand both their point of views. Even if I don't agree with Buffy reactions, she has a right to be angry at Xander. But Xander also had the right to kill Angelus to protect himself and us from further harm. And he also has every right to be angry at Buffy."
"I think you are asking the wrong question here," Jenny interjected. "They have been both wrong and right at the same time. But more important is that we help them both cope with the situation."
"This is leading nowhere," Giles exclaimed frustrated and slammed his hand on the table. "We are running around in circles. We simply don't know how to help them."
"One thing is for sure," Jenny said. "If Xander's outburst from yesterday is an indication for his current state of mind, then we have to be very careful what we tell him. Any comment that Buffy had any right to attack him might sent him over the edge."
"So, we have to tip toe around what we say," Willow muttered. "I hate this situation. I don't want to be forced into having to decide between my best friend and Buffy."
"Oh, don't worry about that," came the voice from behind them. The Scoobies turned around and saw Cordelia standing at the entrance. "You don't have to make this decision. It's already been made."
"What do you mean?" Willow asked confused.
"Xander," Cordelia clarified. "He's gone."
"Gone?" repeated confused, but then she realised what these words might imply. "Oh, god no," she gasped
Cordelia rolled her eyes at the shocked expression of the red head. "Not gone in the 'died'-way, but in the 'out of Sunnydale and never come back' -way."
"Could you explain that a little bit more in detail?" Giles finally asked.
"He called me today. Said that someone offered him a new therapy. It might help him to get the use of his legs back," she explained. "He had to leave immediately and couldn't tell me where he is going and...," Cordelia continued, but finally realised something important. "Why am I telling you this anyway? He is simply gone. Deal with it," she exclaimed angrily and turned to leave.
"Wait Cordy," Willow shouted and ran up to the cheerleader. "He said nothing? No address or a phone number were we could reach him? He really didn't say anything?"
"No," Cordelia said simply. "And I can hardly blame him for it. If I were him I would also try to get as far away from you all as possible."
"What are you talking about," Willow exclaimed shocked.
"Oh, you can't be that dumb Willow," Cordelia said and glared at her ."What's left for him here, to make him stay? Nothing. Not that hellhole he called home and definitely not his so called friends that sided with the bitch that crippled him."
"Cordy," Willow said and tried to calm the taller girl down. "You don't understand.."
But the cheerleader immediately interrupted. "Yeah? Okay, explain it to me," she said and crossed her arms over her chest.
Cordelia smirked as Willow struggled to formulate a response to her actions.
"I'm wasting my time here," she said and finally left the library, leaving also a disturbed Willow at the verge of tears.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
'Casa di Angelo' was probably one of the most well known Italian restaurant in LA. What few knew that the restaurant was named and owned by Angelo Puncinello, the head of the Puncinello crime family. Economically there was little use for the restaurant. It didn't make that much money. But it was the perfect cover for the weekly meetings Puncinello and his three goons held. These three bosses were also called the Trio, Puncinellos most efficient and brutal killers. They held LA in a vice grip, killing everyone who might be threat to their brutal reign.
The meeting had barely started when the assassin stopped his black BMW on the other side of the street. The young man stepped out of his car, took his briefcase and walked up to the entrance of the restaurant. The bodyguard who stood guard at the door scrutinized the newcomer with a doubtful expression. He was dressed completely in black. Black boots, black jeans, black T- shirt and a black leather jacket. To top it all he also wore a pair of stylish, black sunglasses. The guy just reeked of trouble.
"Excuse me sir," The bodyguard called out. "But this place is closed. There is a private celebration going on. If you would be so kind as to return tomorrow."
But the assassin didn't have any intention of leaving. Instead he calmly pressed the trigger on the underside of the briefcase's handle, sending a trio of silenced 9mm bullets into the direction of the bodyguard.
Two of the deadly projectiles entered his lower abandon, the other one went right through his forehead, killing him immediately.
The assassin never slowed his pace, calmly flipped the briefcase open and took the silenced M5k from the interior.
The death of the first guard didn't go unnoticed. There was some confusion in the restaurant, but no one was particularly alarmed. The other remaining bodyguards, just wanted to go check on his partner when the front door was suddenly kicked in. The assassin quickly stepped in a fired another burst at the bodyguard before he could even react.
Now things were happening very fast. While Angelo Puncinello crouched under the table in search for cover, the surprised Trio finally came out of their daze and grabbed their own guns. But it didn't do them any good. Faster than any human could react the assassin switched the MP5 on full auto mode and started firing, the three gangsters were mowed down before they even could fire a single shot.
That left Puncinello alone, who still hid under the table. The assassin slowly walked up to him, ejecting the empty magazine on his way. He just finished reloading when suddenly the door to the kitchen was ripped open and two more guards ran into the room.
They immediately began shooting, but their target moved out of their line of fire and dove behind one of the pillars .
The two guards took cover behind the bar and continued firing. When the guns ran dry the assassin fired his whole clip at them, but he managed to only hit the bottles on the shelves behind them.
He cursed under his breath and took another fresh clip from his pocket, this one had a red tape strapped around the base.
The guards meanwhile had reopened fire, but again only hitting the pillar, tearing pieces of stone out of it. The assassin watched as they again dove for cover, noting their position. He switched back on three round burst and fired twice, one burst at each position. The AP rounds easily went through the wood hitting the guards.
The assassin waited a moment,concentrating his sharp senses on the area behind the bar. The lack of heartbeat finally told him that the two guards were definitely dead.
But out of the corner of his eyes he saw that Puncinello was crawling in the direction of the exit.
"Hey," he shouted and ran for the mafia boss. On half of his run his jumped in the air, nearly flying over the fallen tables and chairs and landed directly in front of the dumbfounded mafia boss.
"Good lord," Puncinello muttered under his breath.
"Quite the opposite," the assassin told him with a cruel smile, before he put a single round into the gangster's kneecap.
Puncinello cried out in pain and clutched his wounded leg.
The assassin meanwhile was satisfied that his target wouldn't go anywhere and took a piece of paper out of his pocket.
"Could you stop moaning?" he asked Puncinello in an annoyed way. "I'm trying to do my job here," he said. The word had the desired effect. Puncinello still held his wounded leg, but now looked up afraid at the man "Well, that are the words my contractor wanted you to hear, so that you know who is responsible for your death. Dear Angelo," he began reading. "Please don't take this personally, but you are standing in my way, and business is business. So I contracted this nice man here to take care of you. Enjoy your journey to hell. Dimitri."
"What ever he paid you, I'm doubling it," Puncinello pleaded desperately.
"Sorry," the assassin said and dragged him by his good leg through the whole restaurant in the direction of the bar. "I'm working for the Brotherhood. And you should know that their contracts are always fulfilled."
He pulled the mafia boss behind the bar and into the growing poodle of alcohol that had formed on the ground from the broken bottles.
"Please, you can have everything," Puncinello tried again.
"Any last words?" the assassin asked calmly, as he flipped open his lighter, ignoring the pleas.
"Didn't think so," he said after a silent second and let the lighter drop. The flame immediately ignited the alcohol. The assassin had already turned around when the flames reached Puncinello, covering his whole body in fire.
The assassin ignored the agonized screams on his way out of the restaurant. He took the briefcase from the ground and placed the Mp5 in it. After his was done, he took a last look back as the fire spread.
And with this picture in mind, Xander Harris turned around and walked back to his car. It had been three years since he left Sunnydale for good. The Brotherhood of Taraka had kept their promise. He could walk again and he was stronger, faster and tougher than he has ever been.
He was now a man who could kill efficient and without a single thought, thanks to the soldier's and the Hyena's abilities. But even through all these changes, there were still certain traits that were the same. They were small, but still there. But the work in the grey areas has changed the once funny and goofy Scoobie.
And he didn't know if it was for the better or the worse.
Pushing these thoughts out of his head, he quickly walked up to his black BMW and stepped inside the expensive car. He took out his cell phone and hit speed dial
"It's done," he said in the receiver, even before the man on the other side could answer.
"Tony's bar, downtown, in thirty minutes," the voice said and then simply disconnected
Xander put the phone back in his pocket and looked for a final time at the flaming remains of the restaurant. Finally he started the car and drove down the street the sound of the first police cars echoing in the distance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Xander entered the seedy bar looking immediately for his contact. I didn't take long for him to spot the older man, sitting in one of the darkened booth at the other end of the room.
He quickly weaved through the crowd of people and slipped into the both, Mr. Jones looking at him with expecting eyes.
"So?" he asked "Did everything go according to plan?"
"Yes," Xander said and ordered a beer. "Killed Puncinello. In a very painful manner, as it was ordered."
"Excellent," Mr. Jones said. "I have already transferred the ten per cent into your account."
Xander grimaced. The regular assassins that worked for the Brotherhood received twenty per cent from the contract sum. Since he had a dept to pay to the organisation he only got half of the money. But it still was more than most people earned with a normal job.
"So, why am I here?" asked after the waitress had given him his beer. "Normally we don't meet in public."
"That's right, but something urgent has come up," Mr. Jones explained. "I've got another contract for you."
Xander thought about it for moment before he came up with the only suitable answer.
"No," he simply said.
"No?" Mr. Jones repeated confused.
"No," Xander said and smiled eviöly at the older man. "My time with the Brotherhood is up. The gig at the restaurant was my last contract. I'm a free man and work for no one if I don't have to."
"Yes you are," Mr. Jones affirmed. "Because of that I'm asking you to help us, not ordering you to do so."
Xander sighed and took a sip from his beer. "Let's hear what you've got. Maybe I'm interested."
"We want you to kill the slayer," Mr. Jones explained and immediately raised his hand to silence him. "And before you interrupt me: Not your slayer. The other one."
"The other one," Xander asked with a raised eyebrow. "Kendra?"
"No, her name is Faith," Mr. Jones said and handed him a photo "Our contractor wants her dead, and that it is done as soon as possible."
Xander looked momentarily at the photo before he returned it. "And why do you need me for this job?"
"You are the assassin with the most experience when it comes to slayers," Mr. Jones explained.
"Yeah, but I never killed one," with a slight chuckle. "Well, till now."
"Doesn't matter," Mr. Jones said. "You know what they are capable of. That's enough for us."
"You still haven't told me anything that convinced me to accept this contract."
"Well, our employer has put a 5 million dollar contract on her and since you are free man you get the same twenty per all the regular assassins get for a job," Mr. Jones told him with a smile. Xander whistled. "I think that amount of money should be a nice bonus."
"Okay," Xander finally said "Where is the slayer?"
"Here LA," Mr. Jones imply said. "It seems that Miss Williams here had a little run in with the authorities. She is currently in a correctional facility.
"A slayer behind bars?" Xander said doubtfully."Well, that's new."
"You are telling me?" Mr. Jones told him with a smile. "Well, she is going to be released tomorrow. An organisation in England with a lot of influence pulled a few strings."
"The Watchers Council," Xander said with disgust. "Their slayer can't save the world if she is in prison."
That earned him a nod from the older man. "Well, they are going to transfer her to Sunnydale PD where she will be released into the custody of a Mr. Giles."
On the other side of the table Mr. Jones could see Xander's teeth clenched and his hands turned into fists. "That's all?" he asked after he had calmed down.
"Yes, that was it," Mr. Jones told him and handed him a folder. "Here is everything we have on her. It's not much, but maybe it will help you. I also added the route of the prison truck, which might be you best chance to get her."
Xander took the folder and stood up. He quickly gulped down the rest of his beer. "Don't take it personally," he told the man over his shoulder as he left. "But I hope I won't have to see you again."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Author's note: The gangsters I described above are from Remedy's 'Max Payne'. You just gotta love this game.
"So, what are we gonna do now?" Willow asked when they all had a seat.
"Well, I shipped all the parts of the Judge to Council," Giles said tiredly as he rubbed his eyes. "I hope that they are safe there."
"I didn't mean that," Willow clarified her statement. "What are going to do about Xander?"
"I have absolutely no idea," Giles admitted "I have no experience how to deal with such a situation."
"None of us has Rupert," Jenny said and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I know," he told her with a small smile. "This is just so frustrating. We can fight demons and vampires but we can't help a member of our group."
"Which do you mean," Oz asked calmly "Xander or Buffy?"
"Both," Giles told him. "Xander is devastated because he is bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life and Buffy because she put him in it."
"Correction," Oz interrupted "He is devastated because she put him in it."
"Yes, I think that also applies," Giles admitted.
"But what are we going to do," Willow repeated her question. "I mean, I can understand both their point of views. Even if I don't agree with Buffy reactions, she has a right to be angry at Xander. But Xander also had the right to kill Angelus to protect himself and us from further harm. And he also has every right to be angry at Buffy."
"I think you are asking the wrong question here," Jenny interjected. "They have been both wrong and right at the same time. But more important is that we help them both cope with the situation."
"This is leading nowhere," Giles exclaimed frustrated and slammed his hand on the table. "We are running around in circles. We simply don't know how to help them."
"One thing is for sure," Jenny said. "If Xander's outburst from yesterday is an indication for his current state of mind, then we have to be very careful what we tell him. Any comment that Buffy had any right to attack him might sent him over the edge."
"So, we have to tip toe around what we say," Willow muttered. "I hate this situation. I don't want to be forced into having to decide between my best friend and Buffy."
"Oh, don't worry about that," came the voice from behind them. The Scoobies turned around and saw Cordelia standing at the entrance. "You don't have to make this decision. It's already been made."
"What do you mean?" Willow asked confused.
"Xander," Cordelia clarified. "He's gone."
"Gone?" repeated confused, but then she realised what these words might imply. "Oh, god no," she gasped
Cordelia rolled her eyes at the shocked expression of the red head. "Not gone in the 'died'-way, but in the 'out of Sunnydale and never come back' -way."
"Could you explain that a little bit more in detail?" Giles finally asked.
"He called me today. Said that someone offered him a new therapy. It might help him to get the use of his legs back," she explained. "He had to leave immediately and couldn't tell me where he is going and...," Cordelia continued, but finally realised something important. "Why am I telling you this anyway? He is simply gone. Deal with it," she exclaimed angrily and turned to leave.
"Wait Cordy," Willow shouted and ran up to the cheerleader. "He said nothing? No address or a phone number were we could reach him? He really didn't say anything?"
"No," Cordelia said simply. "And I can hardly blame him for it. If I were him I would also try to get as far away from you all as possible."
"What are you talking about," Willow exclaimed shocked.
"Oh, you can't be that dumb Willow," Cordelia said and glared at her ."What's left for him here, to make him stay? Nothing. Not that hellhole he called home and definitely not his so called friends that sided with the bitch that crippled him."
"Cordy," Willow said and tried to calm the taller girl down. "You don't understand.."
But the cheerleader immediately interrupted. "Yeah? Okay, explain it to me," she said and crossed her arms over her chest.
Cordelia smirked as Willow struggled to formulate a response to her actions.
"I'm wasting my time here," she said and finally left the library, leaving also a disturbed Willow at the verge of tears.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
'Casa di Angelo' was probably one of the most well known Italian restaurant in LA. What few knew that the restaurant was named and owned by Angelo Puncinello, the head of the Puncinello crime family. Economically there was little use for the restaurant. It didn't make that much money. But it was the perfect cover for the weekly meetings Puncinello and his three goons held. These three bosses were also called the Trio, Puncinellos most efficient and brutal killers. They held LA in a vice grip, killing everyone who might be threat to their brutal reign.
The meeting had barely started when the assassin stopped his black BMW on the other side of the street. The young man stepped out of his car, took his briefcase and walked up to the entrance of the restaurant. The bodyguard who stood guard at the door scrutinized the newcomer with a doubtful expression. He was dressed completely in black. Black boots, black jeans, black T- shirt and a black leather jacket. To top it all he also wore a pair of stylish, black sunglasses. The guy just reeked of trouble.
"Excuse me sir," The bodyguard called out. "But this place is closed. There is a private celebration going on. If you would be so kind as to return tomorrow."
But the assassin didn't have any intention of leaving. Instead he calmly pressed the trigger on the underside of the briefcase's handle, sending a trio of silenced 9mm bullets into the direction of the bodyguard.
Two of the deadly projectiles entered his lower abandon, the other one went right through his forehead, killing him immediately.
The assassin never slowed his pace, calmly flipped the briefcase open and took the silenced M5k from the interior.
The death of the first guard didn't go unnoticed. There was some confusion in the restaurant, but no one was particularly alarmed. The other remaining bodyguards, just wanted to go check on his partner when the front door was suddenly kicked in. The assassin quickly stepped in a fired another burst at the bodyguard before he could even react.
Now things were happening very fast. While Angelo Puncinello crouched under the table in search for cover, the surprised Trio finally came out of their daze and grabbed their own guns. But it didn't do them any good. Faster than any human could react the assassin switched the MP5 on full auto mode and started firing, the three gangsters were mowed down before they even could fire a single shot.
That left Puncinello alone, who still hid under the table. The assassin slowly walked up to him, ejecting the empty magazine on his way. He just finished reloading when suddenly the door to the kitchen was ripped open and two more guards ran into the room.
They immediately began shooting, but their target moved out of their line of fire and dove behind one of the pillars .
The two guards took cover behind the bar and continued firing. When the guns ran dry the assassin fired his whole clip at them, but he managed to only hit the bottles on the shelves behind them.
He cursed under his breath and took another fresh clip from his pocket, this one had a red tape strapped around the base.
The guards meanwhile had reopened fire, but again only hitting the pillar, tearing pieces of stone out of it. The assassin watched as they again dove for cover, noting their position. He switched back on three round burst and fired twice, one burst at each position. The AP rounds easily went through the wood hitting the guards.
The assassin waited a moment,concentrating his sharp senses on the area behind the bar. The lack of heartbeat finally told him that the two guards were definitely dead.
But out of the corner of his eyes he saw that Puncinello was crawling in the direction of the exit.
"Hey," he shouted and ran for the mafia boss. On half of his run his jumped in the air, nearly flying over the fallen tables and chairs and landed directly in front of the dumbfounded mafia boss.
"Good lord," Puncinello muttered under his breath.
"Quite the opposite," the assassin told him with a cruel smile, before he put a single round into the gangster's kneecap.
Puncinello cried out in pain and clutched his wounded leg.
The assassin meanwhile was satisfied that his target wouldn't go anywhere and took a piece of paper out of his pocket.
"Could you stop moaning?" he asked Puncinello in an annoyed way. "I'm trying to do my job here," he said. The word had the desired effect. Puncinello still held his wounded leg, but now looked up afraid at the man "Well, that are the words my contractor wanted you to hear, so that you know who is responsible for your death. Dear Angelo," he began reading. "Please don't take this personally, but you are standing in my way, and business is business. So I contracted this nice man here to take care of you. Enjoy your journey to hell. Dimitri."
"What ever he paid you, I'm doubling it," Puncinello pleaded desperately.
"Sorry," the assassin said and dragged him by his good leg through the whole restaurant in the direction of the bar. "I'm working for the Brotherhood. And you should know that their contracts are always fulfilled."
He pulled the mafia boss behind the bar and into the growing poodle of alcohol that had formed on the ground from the broken bottles.
"Please, you can have everything," Puncinello tried again.
"Any last words?" the assassin asked calmly, as he flipped open his lighter, ignoring the pleas.
"Didn't think so," he said after a silent second and let the lighter drop. The flame immediately ignited the alcohol. The assassin had already turned around when the flames reached Puncinello, covering his whole body in fire.
The assassin ignored the agonized screams on his way out of the restaurant. He took the briefcase from the ground and placed the Mp5 in it. After his was done, he took a last look back as the fire spread.
And with this picture in mind, Xander Harris turned around and walked back to his car. It had been three years since he left Sunnydale for good. The Brotherhood of Taraka had kept their promise. He could walk again and he was stronger, faster and tougher than he has ever been.
He was now a man who could kill efficient and without a single thought, thanks to the soldier's and the Hyena's abilities. But even through all these changes, there were still certain traits that were the same. They were small, but still there. But the work in the grey areas has changed the once funny and goofy Scoobie.
And he didn't know if it was for the better or the worse.
Pushing these thoughts out of his head, he quickly walked up to his black BMW and stepped inside the expensive car. He took out his cell phone and hit speed dial
"It's done," he said in the receiver, even before the man on the other side could answer.
"Tony's bar, downtown, in thirty minutes," the voice said and then simply disconnected
Xander put the phone back in his pocket and looked for a final time at the flaming remains of the restaurant. Finally he started the car and drove down the street the sound of the first police cars echoing in the distance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Xander entered the seedy bar looking immediately for his contact. I didn't take long for him to spot the older man, sitting in one of the darkened booth at the other end of the room.
He quickly weaved through the crowd of people and slipped into the both, Mr. Jones looking at him with expecting eyes.
"So?" he asked "Did everything go according to plan?"
"Yes," Xander said and ordered a beer. "Killed Puncinello. In a very painful manner, as it was ordered."
"Excellent," Mr. Jones said. "I have already transferred the ten per cent into your account."
Xander grimaced. The regular assassins that worked for the Brotherhood received twenty per cent from the contract sum. Since he had a dept to pay to the organisation he only got half of the money. But it still was more than most people earned with a normal job.
"So, why am I here?" asked after the waitress had given him his beer. "Normally we don't meet in public."
"That's right, but something urgent has come up," Mr. Jones explained. "I've got another contract for you."
Xander thought about it for moment before he came up with the only suitable answer.
"No," he simply said.
"No?" Mr. Jones repeated confused.
"No," Xander said and smiled eviöly at the older man. "My time with the Brotherhood is up. The gig at the restaurant was my last contract. I'm a free man and work for no one if I don't have to."
"Yes you are," Mr. Jones affirmed. "Because of that I'm asking you to help us, not ordering you to do so."
Xander sighed and took a sip from his beer. "Let's hear what you've got. Maybe I'm interested."
"We want you to kill the slayer," Mr. Jones explained and immediately raised his hand to silence him. "And before you interrupt me: Not your slayer. The other one."
"The other one," Xander asked with a raised eyebrow. "Kendra?"
"No, her name is Faith," Mr. Jones said and handed him a photo "Our contractor wants her dead, and that it is done as soon as possible."
Xander looked momentarily at the photo before he returned it. "And why do you need me for this job?"
"You are the assassin with the most experience when it comes to slayers," Mr. Jones explained.
"Yeah, but I never killed one," with a slight chuckle. "Well, till now."
"Doesn't matter," Mr. Jones said. "You know what they are capable of. That's enough for us."
"You still haven't told me anything that convinced me to accept this contract."
"Well, our employer has put a 5 million dollar contract on her and since you are free man you get the same twenty per all the regular assassins get for a job," Mr. Jones told him with a smile. Xander whistled. "I think that amount of money should be a nice bonus."
"Okay," Xander finally said "Where is the slayer?"
"Here LA," Mr. Jones imply said. "It seems that Miss Williams here had a little run in with the authorities. She is currently in a correctional facility.
"A slayer behind bars?" Xander said doubtfully."Well, that's new."
"You are telling me?" Mr. Jones told him with a smile. "Well, she is going to be released tomorrow. An organisation in England with a lot of influence pulled a few strings."
"The Watchers Council," Xander said with disgust. "Their slayer can't save the world if she is in prison."
That earned him a nod from the older man. "Well, they are going to transfer her to Sunnydale PD where she will be released into the custody of a Mr. Giles."
On the other side of the table Mr. Jones could see Xander's teeth clenched and his hands turned into fists. "That's all?" he asked after he had calmed down.
"Yes, that was it," Mr. Jones told him and handed him a folder. "Here is everything we have on her. It's not much, but maybe it will help you. I also added the route of the prison truck, which might be you best chance to get her."
Xander took the folder and stood up. He quickly gulped down the rest of his beer. "Don't take it personally," he told the man over his shoulder as he left. "But I hope I won't have to see you again."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Author's note: The gangsters I described above are from Remedy's 'Max Payne'. You just gotta love this game.