There were multiple exchanged gunshots as everybody expertly took cover. This round resulted in the death of the crony who'd fired at Budd. It seemed Budd had shot back with much better accuracy and now the black suited man lay on the pavement, sprawled out on his back and quite dead.
Bob had taken a shot in the forearm, difficult to tell who from. He was now crouched behind the back bumper of an ugly green pickup truck. He was clenching onto his bleeding appendage, his gun still held in his injured arm's weak fingers. He was clenching his teeth against the pain and perhaps also at the sight of so much blood on his designer suit.
Bill had thrown himself over the hood of his car the moment he saw what was happening, rolling over the top of the hood, and landing somewhat painfully on the concrete.
Things had now just gotten a whole hell of a lot trickier. He could see the spreading pool of blood and the dead white hand of the crony from the gap underneath his car. The other crony was most likely alive, along with Bob, and who knows who else Bob had brought along.
Bill could hear both Beatrix and Budd close by; the sounds of their breathing reaffirming him that they had both survived that volley of shots. He checked his corner with a quick glance...nothing except for rows and rows of car bumpers.
Beatrix had dodged behind a second row of cars behind were Bill had dodged. Budd was close by but as to exactly where was unsure. After the array of gunshots the tall blonde warrior was fully adrenaline pumped into killer mode and that wasn't hard to do in the seconds she had. She was now stealthily crouched down on the pavement, back plastered against a car door, and firearm pressed tight to her chest. She strained her hearing to catch familiar and unfamiliar breathing and movements.
The entire parking lot was eerily silent, so that if a tumble weed brushed by it wouldn't have been completely out of place. This lasted for a total of two minutes until there was a cluster of noise from behind the row of cars Beatrix was behind. That's where Budd must be with his lacky buddies. She shrugged it off and repositioned herself.
She craned her neck down to stare under the car and off to the side. It was easy to see the crimson pool trailing down the sun baked concrete. With as much skill as a snake Black Mamba slinked down her row of cars until she came one car behind were Bob was dealing with his injuries. Another risky and spontaneous action was displayed. Beatrix had splayed herself out on the cement, lying on her side, arms extended in front of her, hands clenched to the firearm, and fingers clenched to the trigger. She spoke up effectively, "I could put a bullet in your fucking ass."
Bob reacted to Beatrix's words by letting out somewhat of a very unmanly yelp. Apparently she'd completely snuck up on him unnoticed...like a snake in the grass.
Formerly immersed in his injury, he sprung up, moving his ass quickly out of firing range from Beatrix's vantage point. "I would prefer you didn't," he hissed back, already on his feet and making a run for the next row of cars. Of course, Beatrix was on him and Bob knew it. He also knew it was not the wisest move to run, but he had to find a safe place to collect himself...and thus far, this entire parking lot was far from safe.
Bill meanwhile, was making a sneaky ducking prowl through the maze of cars, his gun clasped confidently in front of him.
He had heard Beatrix speak to Bob, which was rather funny, but it was hard to tell, staying so low to the ground, exactly where she was. He could get the direction...but the distance was trickier. When he sprawled down on the pavement, he couldn't spot any moving feet and only managed to get motor oil on his shirt...which pissed him off.
Panting, Bob's rather frantic flee from Beatrix paused as he came to a halt behind a huge brown full sized van...the type that most likely had shag carpet in it's interior. This time he didn't crouch, not wanting to take that risk again. He knew Beatrix was hot on his heels and he had to come up with a plan...and quick. Still clutching his injured arm, he pocketed his pistol and flipped open his always nearby cell phone. Speed dialing, he spoke a few barely audible words into the phone and just as quickly flipped it shut.
Bob wasn't so stupid as to not come without some sort of reinforcements after all.
But, this had cost him a few precious seconds. He spotted a brief blur of blonde out of the corner of his eye and once again pulled out his pistol. Mainly to cause a disruption, he spun around the corner of the van and shot a few rounds into the general direction of where he'd last seen Beatrix.
Bill lifted his head at the sound of more gunfire and made a sprint to the next row of cars...which incidentally took him across the large lane that divided the parking lot in half. Just as he was nearly across, a black BMW came flying around the corner, wheels squealing...one of the tinted windows slowly began opening and the barrel of an AK-47 emerged out of the window.
This was no East Detroit or South Central L.A., but it appeared Bob had taken a page or two out of the gangsta's handbook. His reinforcement had arrived.
Bill swore viciously, being the victim of a drive by shooting not his choice way to die and he threw himself over the hood of yet another car just in time. He was getting far too old to be doing those sorts of stunts and he certainly felt it as he landed on the pavement. Nevertheless, he could look over that fact, as his leap saved him from a dizzying spray of bullets that no amount of skill of Bill-like mojo could have saved him from. Instead, only a shower of glass rained on him, as the AK shattered all of the windows above and around him. Of course, he was wise enough to duck down and cover his head from the down pouring of sharp glass.
Hearing the distinctive sound of AK fire and that of shattering glass, Bob chuckled from his location behind the van. "You hear that Miss Kiddo?" He called loudly, knowing she was near, "Either Bill or Budd just got the capping of a lifetime...how fitting..."
Beatrix popped out from behind that very van that Bob was trying to hide behind. The hard stoned expression on her features showed she wasn't entirely thrilled with the gangsta style drive by. She was sure that Bill and Budd had survived just fine and even if she was concerned that wasn't evident in her demeanor.
The only concern she had was not seeing Bob on the concrete ground with blood oozing from his cranium in the next ninety seconds. She could have hit him off right then but he was facing away from her and she didn't want that.
She said smoothly, "Turn around, Bob, so I can watch your face as I put this bullet right between your eyes."
Bob froze in place. For a few moments, he just quietly stood there...facing away from Beatrix.
Over Bob's deadly silence, there was the sound of screeching tires. The black BMW came to a stop. Then, the duel echo of two opening and closing doors, as the car's two occupants got out and began to prowl the parking lot.
Bill meanwhile, was ever so slowly crawling out of the layer of shattered glass that was now covering him. If he moved too quickly he was going to acquire quite a few more unwanted cuts. He could hear the footsteps of the two CPA assailants who'd just got out of the car...and they were a little too close by for comfort.
Bob licked his lips. Slowly, he put his gun in his jacket pocket and turned around to face the blonde killer. He regarded her, and the muzzle of her gun, with those cool grey eyes. His thin lip twisted, "Miss Kiddo...", his voice dripped with a forced politeness, "...I don't think you have it in you...you're not Bill. You wouldn't shoot me like this, point blank." A broad, but somehow oily smile crossed his face, "So, why don't we just skip over that part. How about I offer you a better deal then you've got here? I know you are a good assassin...I've seen it. You kill for me like you kill for Bill, and I'll give you more money then you could even fathom." He tilted his head, "What do you say to that Miss Kiddo? And besides, you might find...with time, that you'll become just as fond of me as your current boss," another twist of the lip, more suggestive this time, "Hrm?" He held his arms out at his side, like some suited sacrificial Christ, quite sure of his own immortality.
Beatrix laughed and menacingly at that. First, Beatrix could never ever be persuaded by money. Hell, everyone could use a couple of extra bucks but she never killed for the money, the money was a bonus and she wasn't necessarily greedy either. Second, didn't Bob already hate her? Why the fuck would he want her to work for him now? And, thirdly, there was Bob's suggestive twist. Did he think of her as a slutty secretary fucking her boss for the 'bonuses?' This brought back a familiar sensation of aggravation and irritation in the tall blonde as certain co-workers had made the same assumption. She wasn't sleeping with Bill for that.
She had made it her highest priority over the past years, subconsciously, that if she ever slept with Bill it'd be different. It wasn't going to be a one night stand, a secretary wanting a raise, or alcohol induced sex. Both Bill and Beatrix had made it clear when they made their challenge they wanted it to be special and it had been, every single fuck.
Her fingers flexed on the trigger as she caught the shuffle of shoes on pavement a few feet down. If she hesitated then things could turn ugly and if she hesitated even further she wouldn't be a very good killer. Her façade froze. "You're right, I'm not like Bill…but I'm pretty goddamn close." And with that she sent two bullets into Bob's chest cavity, puncturing vital organs that would leave a clean and efficient bleed out. But, with this action came the consequences and they would come the second Bob collapsed to the pavement in a bloody heap.
There were a few brief seconds, where Bob had one thought before he died...and it was that Beatrix Kiddo was one hell of a bitch. He would have told her that too, if his throat hadn't suddenly filled up with blood. Sad that that was the last thought of the great and almightily...BOB...leader of the Certified Private Assassins and one of the most successful contract killer organizers of his time. Now, Bob was dead.
But his lackeys were not...and once they saw his body, they were going to go ballistic. And one of them had an AK.
More gunshots and Bill didn't give a damn anymore about some glass. He quickly brushed as much of the shattered glass off of him that he could and broke into a sprint in the direction of the shots.
The two CPA lackeys were running in the same direction, a few rows apart from Bill. The third lackey, that original who'd shown up with Bob was nowhere to be seen...presumably killed by Budd. Budd had thus far remained rather sneaky.
Bill found Beatrix before the two lackeys did. He rounded the corner, partially out of breath and glanced briefly at Bob's sprawled out body, tiny shards of glass falling out of his hair as he turned his head. He didn't say anything about Bob for the moment. "I can't stress enough how fast we need to get the fuck out of here Kiddo," he panted, although there was some good humor there...most likely due to seeing Bob dead.
Just then, there was the sound of duel footsteps and the clanking of a not so small gun. Bill spun back to Beatrix, "My car," he barked and took off past her, snatching her arm as he flew by her...more out of habit then any sort of rescue attempt. Beatrix needed to be rescued just about as much as Bob needed to come back to life.
If they could get back to his car...then they could take care of this problem. It was just a matter of getting there without twenty holes being put in each of them.
Why were diners so fucking crowded during brunch hours? It was getting fractionally harder for the two killers to make a mad dash through rows and rows of tight packed cars driven by Mexican assholes who had trouble parking in the line. The sound of quickened footsteps behind them was emphasizing the need to find Bill's car fast. And they finally came to where Bill's car was parked….or…had been parked.
The two skidded to a stop at the sight. Beatrix's went agog. "Where the fuck is your car?"
At this precise moment Bob's now irate lackies were a few feet down from the vacant parking spot, one brandishing a dashing looking AK pointed at Beatrix and Bill, both with their not so dashing handguns. They were cornered, like snakes, literally.
But they weren't worried. A shout of warning came from the far right followed by the screeching of tires and quite suddenly there was Bill's car! And, it was driving right at the men with the daunting firearms. The men tried to dodge out of the way before becoming road kill and the car came to fashionable and convenient halt in front of Bill and Beatrix. Budd was in the driver's seat.
Beatrix was still agog but blue eyes were shining. "Just get the fuck in," Budd directed before either of them could pipe up.
Bill had just had another of those rare shocked expressions on his face...first, over the lack of his car in it's parking spot...and then more predominantly when his brother used his car to run over the two last CPA assholes about to gun them down.
Budd could be a real piece of shit...but, he always seemed to redeem himself in the most crucial of situations. And this one might have topped the list.
"Jesus fucking Christ!" Bill swore, the intention behind that somewhat vague, as he jumped into the passengers seat and slammed the door shut. He hated being in the passengers seat...unless Beatrix was driving, and he was in a good mood. But...he supposed he could make an exception...this one time.
The moment they were in the car, Budd squealed out of the parking lot. Bill cringed at his, glaring at his brother. "Do you have any fucking clue what kind of mess my front grill is going to be in now? You're picking the bits of bone and brain out, not me!" He warned with a finger. But after slumping silently against the door for a few moments, Bill smirked at his brother and turning to the backseat, gave Beatrix a lopsided grin.
"Well then...where should we go for lunch?" He teased.
Beatrix gave Bill a classic look from the backseat with arms crossed over her chest. She casually turned her head to the driver's seat. "Considering the likely-hood of Bill admitting it, I will," she began casually. "That was really cool, Budd."
The cowboy didn't reply but the blonde caught the appreciative eye contact she received from him through the rearview mirror and that was enough.
Although, the events after brunch had been hot, everything had simmered down by the time Budd, smoothly, pulled into the circular driveway of Bill's hacienda. All three got out of the car and Budd threw Bill back his keys. Where Budd had gotten the keys to begin with was a mystery. Well, it was one of two things. Either, Budd found that secret spot were Bill left the spares, something only a sibling knew, or Bill dropped them at some point, most likely it was the first. Bill was too fucking protective about his cars to drop his keys.
"I'll be 'round the back getting the hose," Budd said indifferently with a hand motion to the pathway leading around to the backyard. He didn't much care that he had to get the minor blood stains off the car. It required a quick hose down and he could go home.
Bill gave his brother a quick nod. It was simply Budd's lot in life, that no matter what he did, no matter how cool it was, he was never going to get a completely warm and accepting reaction from his older brother. While Bill was aware of this, he was perhaps partially unaware at the extent of it. In some ways...Bill treated Budd much like Bill's mother had treated him. But that's another story.
Bill and Beatrix went inside, where Bill spent a good ten minutes removing the last small chunks of car window glass from his hair and shirt. He'd acquired a few small scrapes, but nothing to care much about. It was far better than acquiring a few bullet holes.
He smirked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror as he did this, Beatrix leaning on the doorframe nearby. "So Kiddo...," he grinned, "...you killed Bob after all. I'd pay you extra for doing that...if you cared." He tossed a few chunks of glass in the trash can in the corner. "Asshole." He frowned, obviously going back to Bob, "I can't believe he had the nerve to show up like that...what a fucking moron...heh….well, was a fucking moron." He leaned forward to inspect a scrape on his forehead, under the soft florescent lighting, "I don't know where he got his information from...but whoever it was...I'd like to thank them for helping put that jackass out of business." Bill was mostly talking to himself of course, reasoning through the whole bizarre ordeal.
"There," he tossed another glass chunk in the trash can and turned to Beatrix, "I think I got it all." He took a few steps towards her and leaned his shoulder against the wall close to her, "It's days like this," he said softly, eyes focused on her, "...that I once again realize, there is no such thing as normal."
Beatrix had a coy smile on her face with her head tilted against the doorframe. She held an expression that read; and you are just realizing this now? But she didn't voice it as her eyes spoke volumes. She nonchalantly stretched an arm out to him and snatched off a shard of glass that he'd missed. Luckily she hadn't endured any substantial injury except for a black and blue mark from crawling around on the cement.
But of course she agreed with Bill. It wasn't every day one finishes breakfast and takes in a blood fest afterwards. She wasn't complaining, she enjoyed it, the adrenaline rush, the thrill, there was nothing compared to her job. She tossed the glass shard in the waste basket and turned her attention back to him. "With Bob…deceased…that puts you drastically higher on the chain." As to what chain she was referring to could range from bastard, murderer, or all out profession wise. Arms moved up to cross over her chest in a placid but somewhat haughty demeanor. "So now, you are the deadliest man in the world."
"Bob was not the deadliest man in the world," Bill corrected her with a raised eyebrow, "He thought he was the deadliest man in the world, but as you saw, he was a better businessman than a killer...more adapt at picking out a good suit than anything else." He smiled, "But yes...you're right, with him out of the way...my position has been drastically improved...much thanks to you Kiddo." He took a step towards her, "I'd like to think…..I've been the deadliest man in the world for sometime actually," his voice dropped as he drew closer to her. Just he was about to continue, there was the sound of short flustered footsteps coming down the hallway.
Nikishi came around the corner, obviously very, very upset. She was not prone to be very emotional, but at the moment she was far from stoic. She threw herself down rather pitifully at Bill's feet, stammering away, her English faltering more in her upset state, "Bill, please forgive me! I so...so...sorry...he...he...I didn't know…..he try to kill you...I had no idea...I did not mean to...Budd told me what happen...I did not know...," she then broke into a equally babbling line of Japanese, that translated to basically what she'd just been saying English. She clapped at Bill's jean clad leg with desperate fingers.
Bill watched her with a completely unreadable expression.
Nikishi's actions might have seemed rather strange, but it was partially from a different cultural perspective. Not only that, but she'd been around Bill enough to have seen him be extremely nasty to those around him...herself included. She genuinely feared for her wellbeing...and not without some very substantial evidence.
After a moment, Bill crouched down and clasped onto her narrow shoulders, "Nikishi," he spoke softly, "Look at me." She hadn't looked him in the eye thus far, and even now she had turned her head down. "Look at me," he repeated with more force. Slowly, she tiled her chin up to look at him, eyes still turned down. He tilted her chin up with his palm, forcing her to look at him. "Look...I'm alive...Beatrix is alive...Bob's dead. I'm not angry with you...OKt? There is no need for this. I accept your apology, but I am not upset. Do you understand me?"
Very slowly, Nikishi nodded her head, some of her fear dissipating. She let Bill help her to her feet, her head once again tilted towards the floor. She turned to Beatrix on her own fruition, eyes once again downcast. "I am very sorry Beatrix," she spoke to the tall blonde in a humbled tone. Her demeanor was far less frantic or submissive as it had been with Bill, but there was a definite air of humility when she spoke to Beatrix. "Forgive me for my mistake...I put your life in danger...for that...I am so sorry."
Bill was watching Beatrix over Nikishi's much shorter frame with an intense look. Nikishi had never addressed any of Bill's employees like she was addressing Beatrix at the moment. She always treated them with respect of course, that was expected. But with Beatrix...there was something more, she was almost treating her like she treated him, as if Beatrix had risen to a higher level and thus deserved a higher level of protocol. Bill, having lived in Japan for sometime, understood this language and he hoped the Beatrix could decipher through it enough to realize how much of a compliment it was to her on Nikishi's part.
Beatrix stared at Nikishi for a brief moment but not in the mannerism of being rude. She was registering the display she had just witnessed. The tall blonde was more than familiar with Japanese customs and she did feel honored. She recalled this new found respect she received from Nikishi was given some months back when her relationship with Bill was going through rocky terrain. It was almost as if Nikishi was the only one that had been there 'behind' the scenes of some drastic points during the course of several years, and that created an understanding of sorts. It was hard to say what was there, but what was there was nice.
The tall blonde put on a warm façade that was anything less than threatening. She chose Japanese tongue to reply, "Accepted." Beatrix didn't need a long monologue to get the message out that she forgave Nikishi for a small slip up and when she could she much preferred using short sentences, this was a known fact to anyone. Those cool blue eyes didn't look at Bill but she knew he was watching, scrutinizing her. It was irritating. but she knew he wasn't doing it on purpose, that was Bill.
The Japanese woman still seemed ill at ease and the blonde decided to add in English to lighten it up, "You don't have to worry about it. I should be thanking you, considering that we finally put that fucking asshole out of his misery. You did us the favor by bringing him to us."
Nikishi gave Beatrix a small bow, "Thank you Beatrix," she replied in that same tone of humility, not returning the tall blonde's casual attitude...that just wasn't' Nikishi's style. But she did seem much calmer, probably because of Beatrix's presence. Bill would always intimidate her, even when he wasn't angry...but the femininity of Beatrix seemed to calm her. "Thank you," she said again, with a small smile, looking at Beatrix in the face for the first time since she'd walked in. She looked like she was going to say something further to her, but then she just bowed again and giving Bill another low bow, left the room.
Bill watched her leave with a neutral expression and then turned back to Beatrix. He came back to her side, a warm look replacing the colder one he'd been expressing with Nikishi. He laced an arm around her waist, "What were we talking about?" He seemed to have dismissed the whole Nikishi thing quite quickly, which for Nikishi was a very good thing, "Oh yes…..of course..," he smiled, "I find it highly comforting knowing that the deadliest man in the world is now with the deadliest woman in the world." Bill had mocked her with that title before, but he was using with the utmost affection now. "Perhaps," he raised a brow, "….there is some fitting justice in the world. You killing Bob today further proved that." He pushed some strands of hair from her face, more out of an excuse to touch her than actual need.
Beatrix tilted her forehead to settle against his to help his need, not that she didn't want it herself. Blue eyes sparked pensively but that was only a mask to cover other emotions. "And to further prove this justice I'm sure you can come up with a much more...substantial method of paying me than money." There was a suggestive arch in the slender crease of her brow.
Bill returned the suggestive brow arch, an unmistakable glint in his eyes, hardly as good as diluting certain emotions as Beatrix was. He drew closer to her...freezing within centimeters of her lips.
"You're talking about me buying you a new car right?" His lip twisted, but he quickly realized he couldn't keep the lame joke running standing this close to her. Instead he kissed her, the action brimming with intentions of finding a method of substantially paying her back.
As it tended to happen with them, this kiss seemed to take on a sense of lost time, and when Bill finally pulled away, he realized that they'd somehow walked themselves out into the hallway. Perhaps they both subconsciously realized that the restroom was not the most...romantic of locations.
Bill didn't ponder this movement long, as he quickly went in for another kiss. But halfway there, there was suddenly the distinctive loud noise of the front door being opened.
Bill froze, moving his lips over to Beatrix's ear he spoke softly, "It must be Vernita...I told her to come by after noon to fill me in about her last assignment." There was no mistaking the sound of disappointment in his voice.
"Bill?" It was Vernita all right, calling loudly but casually from the living room, "I'm here...," a pause and the sound of her shuffling around, "I'll be stealing some food from the kitchen..." Her voice dropped off as she went into the kitchen.
Reluctantly, Bill pulled away from Beatrix. A hand strayed up to her cheek, his eyes warm with affection. "We should go back to Paris," he smiled, a touch of remorse there. Squeezing her hand, he took a few grudging steps backwards and finally turned around and made his way into the kitchen.
"Yes Vernita….." he spoke in her direction, his tone of voice completely altered.
Beatrix didn't follow Bill, but turned and locked herself in the bathroom she had just previously departed from. Inside she used the facilities and then proceeded to wash her hands in the porcelain sink. As the warm liquid spilled into her cupped hands, suds of soap beginning to brim, the tall blonde stared absent mindedly at herself in the wall mirror. Her features looked fine and the only conclusion she came to from inspecting herself in the mirror was her hair was getting longer. Blonde locks were far past shoulder length and her bangs weren't as clean cut. She took a mental note to cut her bangs in the near future but perhaps she'd let her hair length stay at the increased length.
Well, enough about looks, Beatrix turned off the faucet, dabbed her hands on the towel, and raided Bill's medicine cabinet. Since they arrived at the hacienda she felt the irritating thudding in her temple, which if not taken care of, would develop into a nasty head ache. Not that she couldn't handle it, she just chose to take the easy way out for today. She popped the aspirin, threw out the paper cup, and stepped out.
As sandaled feet padded down the hallway she could hear the distinct voices of Vernita and Bill speaking casually to one another. She began to wonder if it was safe to intrude but seeing she had given them enough time to get in 'private' matters it was as safe as it was going to be.
When Beatrix entered the living room, Vernita was seated at the bar. Her muscular arms, revealed by a sporty looking red tank top, were crossed over her chest, warm up clad legs wrapped around the legs of the stool she was currently sitting on.
Bill was sitting on the couch across from her, in his typical dominating but casual attitude, cowboy booted feet resting on a sleek Oriental styled footstool.
They both turned to look at the tall blonde as she entered, their conversation pausing momentarily. Bill smiled, Vernita glowered...although she didn't seem all that surprised that Beatrix was around, it was becoming pretty expected as of lately.
"Kiddo," Bill started, "I was just telling Vernita about this assignment I'm going to send you on tomorrow. Mainly because, the assignment she just came back from...eh...Rebecca Cho was her name...has a direct connection."
Vernita nodded silently, not really caring all that much about such inane details. She'd done her job, she'd told Bill about it...she honestly didn't give a shit that her assignment had a connection to one Beatrix was about to do. Bill cared about that sort of shit, she didn't.
"Which reminds me," Bill dug into his jacket pocket, revealing one of those familiar manila envelopes. He tossed it at Beatrix, who of course caught it with expert ease. "We'll go over it later...but just a heads up."
Vernita shifted on her stool, dark eyes on Beatrix...before turning back to Bill with a more pristine expression.
Just then, Bill's cell phone rang. He pulled the small flip phone out of his pocket, the ring tone playing a recognizable but amusingly inaccurate version of The Eagles "One of These Nights" He looked at the caller ID, "I've got to take this..." he mumbled and opening the phone, he stood up and walked out onto the back patio, already speaking in Mandarin.
Vernita watched him leave, and then leaned back a little, eyes falling back on Beatrix. "How ya been Bea?" she quarried in a distant and rather uncaring tone.
Beatrix rounded the bar counter in a slow saunter, setting the manila folder on the edge for later reference. "I've been fine," she responded keeping a similar tone of voice to Vernita's. She was going to be civil but she sure as hell wasn't going to be overly pleasant. The tall blonde looked as if she were to say something else, lips parted, but she did a ninety degree turn to the refrigerator to take out a carton of orange juice. After such retrieval was taken she questioned, "And how have you been?"
Vernita gave a little shrug of her sleek dark shoulders, "I've been well," she replied civilly, but devoid of any of the warmth that used to be there when her and Beatrix had been close. "Working...the usual," she paused, a slightly conflicted look coming over her face...as if she was trying to stop herself from saying something. Finally, she gave in to the temptation. "I met my doctor," she said suddenly. There was no missing the excitement and quiver of perhaps girlish giddiness behind her voice. "I met him while I was...on suspension," her voice grew momentarily darker at this, but she quickly regained her tone of excitement. She felt weird, talking to Beatrix about the sort of things they'd used to talk about...but she was too happy about this new turn of events to care at the moment. "He's a surgeon...makes a shitload of money. He lives in San Jose right now, but he's thinking of moving to a different hospital in The Valley." She smiled to herself, obviously relishing some recent fond memory of him, "He's only a few years older than me...which is really surprising for a surgeon….of course, he's brilliant and hella good looking." Her smile turned a little devious; now it was time to truly rub it in to Beatrix, "Best thing is...he wants kids, right away." She examined her short nails for a moment, "I think he's going to ask me to marry him the next time I get out to see him...I just have that feeling..." She trailed off, lost in her own thoughts of marital bliss. "Hrm, that's right Bea...pretty soon...I'll have that dream."
Vernita, of course, was getting a little ahead of herself. Bill had no clue about any of this and she wasn't exactly sure how she was going to try to convince him to let her leave. But, she was hell bent on it happening.
For a brief daunting second Beatrix thought Vernita was going to play nice and then she went and did that. She could literally feel her body freeze over. That was cold and much uncalled for. In the past she may have been happy to know that Vernita found that good old doctor she'd been on the hunt for. Beatrix didn't give a fuck about what Vernita did when it came to her personal life, once she may have, but not now. Vernita was free to go elope, quit her job, buy a house with a white picket fence, get married, and have kids and Beatrix would go on with her life, but what made the tall blonde bruise was when she referred to it as 'that dream'.
But, she wasn't going to allow Vernita the satisfaction of knowing she got to the blonde. Instead she put on a taut lined smile and poured herself that glass of orange juice, which she was in the midst of doing. "Good for you Vernita," her words were coarse like sandpaper as she capped the carton. She kept those cool tempered blue eyes at a downcast level. She stared at the carton for a moment before turning without another added word to put it away.
Of course, Vernita was very, very aware of how much of a low blow that had been on Beatrix, and she didn't give a shit. She was glad Beatrix was hurt by that...and while the tall blonde was doing a damn good job of playing it cool, Vernita knew her well enough to recognize the slight tightness in her shoulders as she put the carton of orange juice away and the gruff edge to her voice when she spoke.
Vernita wanted Beatrix to throw a fit, get really upset...but she also knew Beatrix was a true protégé of Bill...in more ways than one. And while Vernita truly loathed Beatrix at this point, she had to respect her cohort's success in that category. Beatrix was as close to being Bill as Bill could have hoped for in any of them. And perhaps...just a tad, Vernita was jealous of that...not jealous in the way Elle was, but jealous on a professional level. But, her jealousy quickly died away when she thought of the lifestyle she was going to have...and knowing that lifestyle was what Beatrix secretly wanted as well.
That being said, she knew Beatrix wouldn't give her the reaction she really wanted and Vernita stood up, stretching her legs...obviously getting ready to leave. She'd said what she'd wanted to say to Beatrix, there was no point in enduring further tension.
Just then, Bill reentered the house through the patio doors.
"I was just heading out Bill," Vernita said, back to her polite tone, "Call me when you've got another job."
"Of course I will," Bill responded coolly, taking Verinta's place on the stool she'd just vacated.
Vernita headed for the door, she turned to look at Beatrix, "See ya on the other side Bea," she gave the blonde a wicked shit eating grin before sauntering out the front door and shutting it.
Bill cast a dark glance at Beatrix, far more aware of Beatrix's body language than Vernita was. He pursed his lips, raising his brows at her, "Whatever it is Kiddo...it's not worth your anger."
"I'm not angry," she muttered. Her back was turned to Bill and she was still hovering over the refrigerator, even though the juice carton had long since put away. Long white fingers were clenched deafly tight on the handle but it didn't last long. She switched and casually released her grip letting the door methodically seal shut. She could easily and quite enjoyably spill the beans to Bill about what Vernita was thinking about doing. She could play that wicked game but she didn't. She wasn't a hundred percent sure why but it wasn't the right choice.
Bea took a step back to the counter, her anger dissipated, but her head ache only increased, and she took a long sip of her orange juice. Her mind worked but she didn't voice them. Bill was watching her and she finally looked at him with warmer eyes. He obviously didn't want her dawning on what transpired so she moved on to the next best thing. She extended an arm and slid over that manila folder as a direct clue.
Bill surpassed a smirk, like hell she wasn't angry. But he didn't prod, he knew better and she seemed to quickly shove whatever it was aside for the moment. Watching her closely, he thought...briefly, that there was more going on than she was letting on. But again, he knew better and he'd learned not to push Beatrix with certain things.
Instead, he lowered his gaze to the manila folder she'd just pushed across the counter. He took the clue, and picking up the folder, he neatly removed the contents and arranged them on the marble toped counter.
"Lisa Wong," he began, sifting through the variety of papers, "Los Angeles..Chinese underground boss. She's big time." He found what he was looking for, pushing a glossy color picture towards Beatrix. It was a snapshot of a very pretty Chinese woman in her early 30's, clad in all black. While certainly pretty, she was far from angelic, possessing a cold and calculated savagery in her feline eyes. "She tends to hire only female assassins...I can relate," he quipped, "...mostly Asian...younger crowd." He picked up a dossier sheet, "She's involved in just about everything the West Coast has to offer...drug trade, black market guns, some prostitution, extortion. Her particular crime syndicate has come under suspect of a certain client of mine. This client also wanted Rebecca Cho out of the way, Vernita's last target. But Cho is small time compared to this Lisa Wong." He glanced over the piece of paper at Beatrix, "I worked in the San Francisco Chinese underground for awhile...when I was younger and believe me Kiddo….you don't fuck around with the Chinese underground. They're smart, cold and relentless. Being careful is just the beginning when you're around this sort." He set the dossier down, "Of course, I know you can handle Lisa Wong...but I assure you, she's going to have protection around her." He picked up another photo, "Her headquarters...in North L.A." The photo was of a very fancy looking nightclub with a large sleek red dragon design on the front, brimming with crimson red lighting. "From my sources, she can usually be found here during the night hours...I recommend getting in and out of there was quickly as possible. There's going to be a lot of good looking Asian women carrying around concealed firearms...try to avoid them if you can."
Beatrix gave a tight nod of understanding. She had during the course of Bill's lay out slipped into the stool beside him. Her arms were folded on the counter top, her back was arched forward, and her pretty blonde head was tilted down to view the paperwork. She was well aware of the risks on this assignment. It was a high stakes one, considering the target she had to go after, not to mention LA was a shitty place to work in. There was so much fucking security in LA it was hard to get by with an alias and that only made the entail hit for the professionals. Beatrix sure as hell was professional and although it would be hard she knew she could pull it off.
The tall blonde warrior was already beginning to sort over her tactics. She wasn't going to pack her katana, considering this Lisa Wong appeared to like to play with bullets. She didn't mind since she could always play with her other sharp object, knifes. She took in another quick skim over of the dossier before sitting up to a more proper posture with a placid façade. "I'll leave early tomorrow morning and be back before you know it." Her lips curled into a softer smile, designating that she was clearly over what happened with Vernita and set back to more pleasant thoughts.
Bill returned the smile, putting the paperwork back into the folder...in an orderly fashion. "Of course," he replied with confidence. He knew this was a risky assignment, but that was exactly why he was sending Beatrix. She'd had riskier throughout her years of working for him and she was best suited for this assignment. O-Ren would have been a good choice as well, but at the moment, she was in Tokyo.
He set the folder aside, and spun his stool towards her, their knees touching. He leaned an elbow on the counter, gaze resting on her. He watched her for a moment, the entire house relatively silent in the quiet noon hour. "I still need to repay you for killing Bob," he said, a sly smile creeping onto his face.
Behold men and their one track minds. Beatrix's smile flipped into a smirk and a slender brow came to crease ever so slightly. "Yes, you do," she replied in a lower tone. So, without further hesitation she leaned in and locked lips with Bill in an all out affectionate and wanting display. Hands slipped up to cup his cheeks in habit as the kiss lasted a good length of time to prove certain feelings.
Her hands dropped and she broke the kiss. The demeanor she now displayed was a mixture of warmth and hidden chills but it was hard to miss the side tilt of her head as she stared at the man before her. "Fuck," she muttered suddenly, and not in the context of suggestion but out of realization as if she had just been tricked. "You're supposed to be paying me…and I kissed you first," her words hinted on the playful side. "That wasn't nice."
Bill laughed both good naturedly and somewhat sardonically, "It was an unintentional ruse I assure you," he replied, voice all silk and seduction, "although...," he raised a brow, "I won't deny my role in the whole torrid affair." He never passed up an opportunity for dramatics and wordplay, "Playing nice is not my forte. Then again," he leaned forward, "...you're already well aware of that fact." He smirked, lips touching hers with the expression, "Let me set the record straight then..."
Beatrix wanted to be paid back and her desired method of payment was one that Bill needed no convincing to fulfill. This also meant that she'd set him up for a challenge of sorts, and Bill loved challenges just as much as Beatrix...and for him, especially those that potentially involved sex with a beautiful woman that he loved.
With that in mind, he set out to do just that. At this point, he knew pretty much every little thing that Beatrix loved...and perhaps, hoped to find a few more. Gathering all of these snippets of information into his mind, like bits of precious data for the world's most pleasurable thesis, he put them together.
The bar stools sufficed for a few minutes, but soon they proved to be somewhat uncomfortable and hindering. Besides, Bill knew Nikishi was still around the house...and she'd seen him do quite a few things, but he had to draw the line somewhere.
He and Beatrix moved into his bedroom, which was lit in an airy mild light in the midday sun streaming through the partially shaded windows.
Making love in the middle of the day was always different than at night. The whole mood was different...not either better nor worse than night….that was like comparing well...sex and sex...but it certainly held a different flavor...so to speak. Bill couldn't help but be reminded of his younger days, when he actually had the time to do this sort of thing during the day on a somewhat regular basis. There was a reminder of spice and endless summer to it all. Amongst everything, there was a certain level of amusement between him and Beatrix during all of this, and at one point he murmured into her ear something along the lines of, "...well, I can say for sure now, I'm certainly glad you killed Bob Kiddo..."
Bill took his time, not wanting to disappoint when it came to such an important payment. He made sure Beatrix had to do as little as possible, always the pleaser...and even more so in this case. He just hoped when all was said and done she be happy with her choice of payment. Although, he didn't have to hope...he pretty much sure as hell knew.
Author's Notes
Hi everyone! How are you? Good?
Anyway, just here to tell you the story is….not over! Mel and I thought it'd be a good idea to inform you since some may be confused since we have already mentioned the 'dreaded' name…Lisa Wong…
Now that you are aware, we have one more chapter to go…Yes, ending Bill and Beatrix's last day together having sex is all well and good but we Mel and I decided to be nicer to our reader's than the characters. So, one more to finish it off….and then you can go watch the movies…or do you? Hmm…okay…being quiet now. Don't worry, next chapter will be upin a few days.