Reyna stared at the ceiling above her. She moved her gaze to her watch. Two weeks. Two fucking weeks she had stuck in this bed, clinging to life. The damage had been so bad that her body practically shut down. She had almost been comatose, but Will's healing kept her from falling over that edge.

Reyna still spent most of her time sleeping, injected with enough drugs to put down a horse. She had been unable to sit up, let alone stand. And she learned exactly how embarrassment felt when Will had to help her piss using a bedpan.

The last two weeks were spent fluttering in and out of consciousness, not remembering much. Will tried to heal her the best he could, but the man had other patients and only so much he could do.

She knew that Nico stopped by every day. Half of those times were to check on Reyna. The other half was to see Will. Apparently, Bianca had stopped by as well, stating that it was her fault Reyna had been hurt. But it wasn't. It was the fault of Clarisse La Rue.

The only thing that kept Reyna from ordering her men to tear apart the city to find the vigilantes was the fact that she wanted to be the one to put the bullet in Clarisse herself. She wanted to make that bitch pay. No one hurt Reyna in her own city and got away with it.

A list of injuries ran through Reyna's head, and it made her sick. Internal bleeding, a ruptured spleen, bruised kidneys. And that was only the beginning of the list. Her ribs were badly broken and had pierced her lungs. Her neck was bruised and sore from being choked. Her knee was fucked. All in all, Reyna was broken.

Will called it a miracle for her to be alive. How could pain like this be a miracle? No. It wasn't a miracle. It was a curse, one that she had bared upon her shoulders for years. Reyna should have died from her father's abuse. She should have died to her mother's final beating. Her rise to a gang leader was filled with moments where she should have died.

But, Reyna didn't. That was because she was the curse. The curse set upon this city for whatever reason. Reyna didn't pretend to understand it. She didn't pretend to have a higher calling, but if it was a miracle that she was alive, it has to be because she was meant to curse others and hurt them.

Reyna felt these thoughts swirling in her mind as her eyelids grew heavy once again, and she slipped back into unconsciousness.


The fourth week was when Reyna started to feel slightly better. She could eat and digest food just like she used to. She was able to make trips to the bathroom, only needing an assistant to walk. Octavian visited her every other day, listening as she gave him orders.

Reyna was no longer interested in playing with these vigilantes. She cut back on the crimes her gang committed, only making sure everything they did was a success. Her plans allowed her gang to corner the vigilantes multiple times, but they could never kill them. It still worked, though. The vigilantes failed to show up for half of their plans, and they only managed to stop a fraction of the schemes.

Reyna wondered if this was what a god felt like. To snap a finger and have her problems disappear just like that. To wave a hand and have a brutal lesson brought about. And when she found Clarisse, it would take a single pull of a trigger to send a message to these vigilantes.

"No one has spotted them for four days," Octavian reported. Reyna studied him. She was sitting up now. The only thing that really kept her in bed was her knee. Surgery had been done a week ago to repair her knee cap. Now, it was mostly metal. Will said it would work like new, just ache like a bitch while it was raining.

The rest of her body was almost back to normal. There were still plenty of aches and pains, but the damage to her organs had been mostly healed. It just hurts to piss sometimes. And breathing still caused an ache in her ribs. She would have to use crutches for her knee as well, which only added to her irritation.

"Good," Reyna said, glancing at Octavian again. There was a triumphant grin on his face like he had brought about this success. Reyna smirked. Octavian had a lot to learn, but if he wasn't careful, he would not have a long life to learn it. "Who were the last ones the men saw on the field?"

"There's been two more," Octavian began. Reyna's eyes shot up.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Reyna demanded. New vigilantes? New players on the field? Reyna should have been told the second her men found out. They would have told her lieutenants, and they would have told Octavian. That man was quickly running out of rope.

"I wanted to do some research on them first. One seems to be able to manipulate the earth itself. The other can change forms," Octavian explained. Reyna glared at him. "I didn't want to waste your time."

"You're wasting it now," Reyna snapped. "I should have been told the second you found out. You do not run this city. I do. Keep that in fucking mind. Got it?"

"Understood," Octavian huffed. He bowed his head. "We have not seen the one who nearly killed you or the one that can use lightning. Not since Nico brought you in. The rest have been working with the two new ones."

Reyna let out an angry sigh and shifted. She tried to think, but Octavian was so fucking stupid. Who the hell did he think he was? Reyna would deal with him later. For now, she needed to focus. It took her a few moments to push aside her anger, "I will be leaving this hospital next week. Until then, I want everything that happens to run through me."

"Of course," Octavian said with a small bow. Reyna waved her hand in annoyance. "Can I ask you something before I leave? For advice?"

"Whatever," Reyna muttered. She watched the man closely. Octavian studied her back. Reyna could never understand what Octavian was feeling, let alone the expression on his face.

"If someone is threatening my... our power, what should I do?" Octavian asked. Reyna slowly met his eyes. She always knew that Octavian would turn on her, but she didn't think it would be this soon. And, how brazen was he to ask Reyna directly for advice?

"Take them out," Reyna replied. She smirked. "It's like cutting the head off of the snake. Simple. Now, you always have to be careful. If the target has close family or someone who will want to avenge them, you take them out first. The target will be so mad they come straight for you."

"Thank you. That helps a lot," Octavian said gratefully. Reyna nodded. She knew her advice would be useless for Octavian. If he did know about her sister, he would be suicidal to even think about hurting her. Reyna didn't have anyone else close to her.

"Yeah," Reyna muttered. She slowly laid back down and gritted her teeth. Octavian turned and left the room. Reyna stared at the ceiling and slowly grabbed her phone from her bedside table. She sent a text to her lieutenants. Then, she closed her eyes and tried to relax.


Three hours later, Reyna was sitting with her legs draping over the bed. Her three lieutenants were standing around the room. Gwen leaned on a wall and studied Reyna. Dakota was supported by another wall, playing with his flask. Leila stood to Reyna's left and seemed to be studying her knee.

In the shadows stood Nico. He had a scowl on his face as he watched them. The other lieutenants didn't say a word. They knew to keep their mouths shut. The three of them were absolutely loyal to Reyna. That was something she knew.

"Octavian is going to make a move against me," Reyna stated. She focused on her knee.

"We can take him out tonight," Gwen promised.

"Just give me thirty minutes," Nico said. Reyna smirked.

"No. I'm curious about what he will try," Reyna said. "I don't have definite proof either. Has he had meetings with any of you?"

"Nopes," Dakota said with a hiccup. His breath reeked of alcohol. "Just big ol' Kahale. Runss everyshing through him."

"I heard him take credit today," Leila began. "He said that he has been planning our jobs ever since you have been hurt."

Reyna chuckled and spoke, "What a smart prick. Everyone will think that my plans failed and succeeded on the flip of a coin. When he is apparently in charge, most of the plans work. I can't wait to fucking have his head on a platter."

"Reyna, we can kill him today," Nico began. Reyna held up her hand.

"No. I need to know who all supports him, so they can be weeded out. Then, I'll execute the bastard myself. Until then, the three of you keep up the good work. Everyone is dismissed but Nico."

"Get better boss," Gwen said as she pushed herself off of the wall and walked away. Dakota staggered to his feet, saluted, and stumbled away.

"Call if you need anything," Leila offered as she followed behind the other two. When all three of her lieutenants had left the room, Reyna groaned and collapsed back against the bed.

"You know you're not the boss of me, right? I could have just left with them," Nico said, but it sounded like he was teasing her.

"You're in my city. I am the boss of you," Reyna said. She slowly scooted back against the bed, and Nico gently helped her lift her leg and prop it up. "What does Will want as payment? He keeps telling me I don't owe him."

"Will isn't going to let you pay him back," Nico stated. He sat by Reyna. "I already talked to him about it. He told me that you saved his life and paid for his clinic, so you pretty much paid for your treatment."

Reyna groaned and laid her head back. She slowly spoke, "How much for pizza from your sister's restaurant?"

"Our restaurant," Nico corrected. Reyna rolled her eyes. "And, doesn't she still owe you one?"

"Oh fuck, she does. Can I get that pizza now?" Reyna asked. Nico smirked.

"I'll be right back," Nico promised. He stood and left the room. Reyna closed her eyes and tried to relax. Her mind felt like it was racing, but it wasn't from concern. Octavian wasn't worth even a minute of thought. He would be easy to take out.

Reyna was just irritated that he was going to turn on her. Did he not realize how great he had it? He was second in command to the leader of the city. He was given a nice chunk of every heist, and it wasn't like the man had to pay for much anyway. An angry noise left Reyna.

And turning Kahale against her was irritating. Kahale was an amazing asset, and Reyna would be so pissed if she had to kill him. It took her a moment to open her eyes, and she rubbed her face. Reyna labored into a sitting position, and the door in front of her opened.

Reyna was surprised that Nico was back so quickly, but her eyes widened as she saw Thalia standing at the door. The vigilante had her mask on, but there was no misidentifying her mask or jacket. Reyna grabbed the gun on her belt and gripped it.

"What the fuck do you want?" Reyna growled. Thalia raised her hands to show that she was unarmed.

"I want to talk," Thalia began. Reyna chuckled and pulled her gun out of her belt. She flipped the safety off. Thalia tensed. "Wait."

"Your friend almost fucking killed me, and you want to talk?" Reyna demanded.

"I saved you. Ask that man that was threatening the doctor and I with the gun," Thalia said. Reyna remained silent. Nico told her everything that happened. How Nico pretended to threaten Will unless he complied, just to hide the fact that Will worked with them. How Thalia gave Reyna CPR to try and save her life.

"Why?" Reyna asked after a few moments. "If your friend attacked me, why would you save me?"

"Because it's not right to kill someone. Not even if they're like you," Thalia stated. "And, you and I have unfinished business."

"Do we?" Reyna hissed. She didn't trust Thalia, not anymore. How could she trust that one of these vigilantes wouldn't try to hurt her again or that Thalia was just trying to get close to her to learn more?

"I recall you were about to fuck me before we were interrupted," Thalia said. There was a small grin visible through her mask.

"If I wanted a cheap whore, I would just hire one," Reyna sneered. Thalia was silent for a few moments, from either anger or something else. Thalia finally shook her head.

"Good thing I'm not a cheap whore," Thalia said. Reyna shook her head. "Reyna, I have feelings for you. It's not just some simple crush, or those feelings would have gone away a long time ago. When I thought you were going to die, I was so worried. I was so... scared."

"Don't bullshit me," Reyna snapped. "Just get the fuck out of here."

"Reyna, listen to me," Thalia insisted.

"Get. The. Fuck. Out," Reyna growled. When she looked at Thalia, she felt this yearning in her chest. She wanted Thalia like a starving man wanted food. She needed Thalia. But, Reyna could not be distracted anymore. She needed to secure her empire, and who gave a fuck about feelings anyway? Reyna didn't need them.

"Reyna," Thalia whispered. Her voice sounded like glass about to shatter. "Please just listen to me."

"Get out before I put a bullet in your head," Reyna warned as she aimed the gun. Thalia looked down and then turned away. Reyna watched Thalia disappear behind the door, and she slowly lowered her gun. A shaky breath left her, and she felt something trickle down her face. Reyna slowly wiped away a tear. Why was she crying?