CHAPTER 34
One week later…
"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Rachel cried, stamping her foot on the floor. "Damn it, Noah! You need to keep up with my vocals!"
Rachel and Puck were trying out a possible duet for Nationals and it wasn't going very well. The rest of the New Directions, Mr. Schue included, were cringing at the music. Neither one was singing incorrectly, but Puck's voice didn't measure up to Finn's voice at all, and he knew it. Finn had a way of blending his voice to fit with whoever he was singing with, but with Puck, it was like him and Rachel were two bulls butting horns.
"Look, I'm sorry," Noah said, trying hard not to lose his temper and strangle the tiny brunette. "But you're pretending I'm someone else. I'm not Hudson. I'm never going to be Hudson. So rather than trying to force me to do something I can't do, why don't we find a song that I am actually able to sing. Or better yet, sing with someone else!"
Everyone was getting extremely annoyed at each other. They had two months until Nationals, and at the current rate, there was a better chance of pigs flying than them taking home first prize. Rachel was being intolerable, ordering Glee club meetings at least once a day - including during the weekend. It wasn't the same without Finn. When Finn was around, he had a calming quality to him that prevented them from getting to each other's throats, and he was the best singer so Rachel couldn't be too bossy. He wasn't there now though, and everyone felt it. Bella still felt horrible about how everything went down between her and Finn. He was one a suicide mission and it was her fault. She wouldn't know when that inevitable bullet finally takes him out. All she knew was that it was going to come, sooner or later. Every night, she would go home and cry into her pillow for an hour, and then stare up at the stars, hoping and praying that someway, somehow, she would see Finn again.
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That afternoon, Finn strutted into the one place where he knew he would be safe and where he could get some answers. It was the most well-known place in the Bangladeshi underworld: a 5 star hotel called the Continental. But this was no normal hotel. This hotel was a unique landmark in the underworld as it was a neutral-zone between the deepest, darkest criminals from around the world. It was a place where criminals could go in plain sight without the fear of being attacked or arrested. It was owned by an American man who Finn knew only too well and that guy kept insanely strict laws. If anyone broke the rules and attacked while on his property, they were severely punished. Normally, that would mean that rule-breakers would end up without a head. Over the summer, Finn had spent a couple of weeks staying at the hotel before his mission began to try and figure out where Bella was being held.
Finn walked into the hotel, nodding at a couple of people he knew. There was a Persian assassin in front of him who went by the alias of Ms. Perkins, there was an Israeli arsonist who went by Wrench in the corner of the lobby, and there was a gargantuan hitman named Tiny standing by the elevators. Finn walked over to the front desk and over to the front desk clerk - an American ex-grand larceny convict named Charon.
"I have you here for two nights." Charon said, recognising him instantly.
"Depending on business, maybe more." Finn replied.
"Of course, sir."
"So when did the old place get a face lift?" Finn remarked, looking around. Before, this place was an absolute dive but now it was a 5 star hotel.
"Around 4 months ago. But I assure you sir, it really hasn't changed much."
"Same owner, right?" Finn asked. Charon nodded.
"Yup. Same owner."
Finn smiled and paid him the money. The man then handed Finn a room key.
"Room 218." He said. "And as always, it is a pleasure to have you with us again, Mr. Hudson."
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That night, Finn sat on his bed and took out a single paper photograph of his family and Bella. They were the reason he was doing this. He didn't care if he came home alive or not, as long as he got the job done. Taking a deep breath, Finn put on his finest suit and stepped out of his hotel room. He went down to the hotel bar, where all of the criminals hung out. It was an eerie sight: so many extremely dangerous people, having fun as if they were random old friends. The only reasons why Finn wasn't slaughtered upon entering the bar was that there was the strict no violence rule that the hotel upheld, and the other reason was that he had protection from the owner of the hotel, an asset of the Americans, provided that they upheld his no violence rules while on his turf. Finn stepped into the bar and he immediately walked to the corner booth. He sat inside and ordered a scotch, sipping it slowly. Moments later, the man he wanted to see - the owner of the very bar - slipped into the booth.
"Hello, Hudson." The man grinned at him. Finn looked up and smirked.
"Hello, Jackowski." Finn replied. Jackowski was the owner of the hotel and an American asset.
"Now, as I recall, weren't you the one tasked to dole out the beatings, rather than receive them?" Jackowski remarked, pointing at the large scar on Finn's forehead - a battle scar from when the gang attacked him.
"Rusty, I guess." Finn replied.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Amir Asif." Finn murmured. "I'd like to talk to him."
"A talk, you say." Jackowski chuckled. "Look, I'm familiar with the backstory and their connection to you and your loved ones. So I want to ask you this: have you returned full-time?"
"Just visiting." Finn responded.
"Have you thought this through? I mean, chewed down to the bone. You got out once before. If you dip so much as a pinky back into this pond, you may well find something reaches out and drags you back into its depths."
"Where do I find him?"
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The next day, Rachel was in the local music store, searching for a song for this week's Glee assignment. After all of the arguing the week before, Mr. Schue had put a hold on Nationals preparation to try and build team morale. The theme of this week's assignment was 'Hello,' and Rachel knew exactly what song she wanted to sing. She opened the Lionel Richie songbook and flipped through the pages, until she reached the song. Suddenly, the book was gentle lowered from her face, to reveal a well-groomed, dark haired boy, who Rachel recognised instantly.
"Lionel Richie, huh?" He said, smirking at her. "One of my favourites."
"Oh my god, you're Jessie St. James." Rachel said, astonished. Jessie was the male lead of Carmel High's 5 time National Champions Vocal Adrenaline. Rachel started to blush furiously.
"And you're Rachel Berry." He replied coolly. "I saw you perform at Regionals. Your rendition of Make You Feel My Love was flawed. You totally lacked Adele's emotional depth." He took the book from Rachel's hand. "But you're talented." He winked at her and walked away. She followed him and he continued to speak to her over his shoulder.
"You know, this is one of my favourite bookstores. I like to come and flip through the celebrity biographies, pick up some lifestyle tips. I'm a senior now, so this is kind of my victory lap. Snagging a fourth consecutive National championship would just be gravy. I'm getting out of Ohio soon. I've got a full ride to a little school called the University of California, Los Angeles. Maybe you've heard of it. It's in Los Angeles."
Rachel nodded and smiled at him. There was a brief silence, before both of them simultaneously noticed the piano in the center of the room.
"What do you say we take this song for a spin?" He suggested, walking towards the piano. Rachel was shocked and nervous.
"H… here?" She asked. "I… I'm kinda nervous."
Jessie sighed.
"Ah… I remember when I used to get nervous. Come on, I do this all the time. I like to give impromptu concerts for the homeless. It's so important to give back."
Rachel looked at him. Was he flirting with her? Could she finally have a boyfriend? She tentatively sat at the piano next to him, and he began to play and sing.
I've been alone with you inside my mind
And in my dreams I've kissed your lips a thousand times
I sometimes see you pass outside my door
Hello, is it me you're looking for?
I can see it in your eyes
I can see it in your smile
You're all I've ever wanted, and my arms are open wide
'Cause you know just what to say
And you know just what to do
And I want to tell you so much, "I love you"
Oooh yeah
I long to see the sunlight in your hair
And tell you time and time again how much I care
Sometimes I feel my heart will overflow
Hello, I've just got to let you know
'Cause I wonder where you are
And I wonder what you do
Are you somewhere feeling lonely or is someone loving you?
Tell me how to win your heart
For I haven't got a clue
But let me start by saying, "I love you"
Is it me you're looking for?
'Cause I wonder where you are
And I wonder what you do (wonder what you do)
Are you somewhere feeling lonely or is someone loving you?
Tell me how to win your heart
For I haven't got a clue
But let me start by saying, "I love you"
With that song, Jessie had won Rachel over. It didn't matter that they were competing at Nationals. All she cared about was that someone wanted to date her. Someone who didn't care about her weight, nose, or anything. At the end of the song, both Rachel and Jessie leaned in. What Jessie didn't know was that that kiss was Rachel's first kiss since her break up with Finn. Another reason why she was so spell-bound by him. She didn't even see Mercedes, Tina and Kurt watching them from the corner of the room. Mercedes picked up her phone and made a call. The person on the other end answered. Mercedes took a deep breath and spoke.
"Mr. Schue, we've got a problem…"
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That night, Asif and Avi were sitting in the back of an SUV when Avi received a text. His eyes widened and he turned to his boss.
"Hey. Hudson's at the Continental." He informed him. Asif nodded.
"Welcome home, Hudson." He muttered.
"We have a contact there who's willing to take him out for us. Yeah?" Avi asked. Asif scoffed.
"How brazen." Asif remarked. "If they are willing to break the rules of the Continental, double the bounty…"