This part is told in Dick's POV, and will be for the next chapter as well. I uploaded this much sooner than i thought I would. Honestly, I couldn't stop writing haha. I hope you all enjoy! Thank you for all the reviews.
Every headline read the same thing "Grayson's Girlfriend Captured by Maniac" or whatever else the reporters could think of, followed by the picture of us kissing. I was sick to my stomach, they really knew how to make a guy feel good. Two shots to my shoulder had me pinned up in Gotham General Hospital like a kindergartener's wall art.
Alfred wouldn't let me leave or move, or do anything that would prevent me from healing. Bruce promised he had the best of forces and himself working to find her. I felt protective over her, I was the one who let her get shot, who wasn't fast enough. All those years of practicing fighting and when it really counted I was useless. I hate feeling useless.
Telling Galfore was almost as bad as getting shot. He was a wreck and this huge man came into the hospital demanding answers while having tears in his eyes. My heart broke all over again. We both had no idea if she was alive or dead. Kori probably didn't even know if I was alive.
If only I had been faster.
"Dick calm down you're going to give yourself an aneurism." Babs said sitting in one of the hospital chairs.
"Why are you even here." I spat at her, knowing she didn't deserve it but not caring at the moment.
"Well gee thanks, glad to know my presence means nothing to you now." Her voice lacked the feeling of being hurt from my words, I could still tell it bothered her.
"I'm sorry. I'm mad."
"Would have never guessed that." Sarcasm laid on thick.
"You're not being helpful."
"And, you're being an asshole. They'll find your pretty little girlfriend don't worry." Babs had an edgy to her voice, like finding Kori was somehow a bad thing.
"What do you have against Kori Babs?"
"Oh nothing, how could I have anything against perfection." She crossed her arms and leaned back into the chair.
Knowing what this was about, I chose my words carefully. "Barbara, Kori is not perfect but she is important to me. You may compare yourself to her, but you are important as well. You're a good friend." I can't believe I had to say this last sentence, "but obviously, I'm a little stressed out about finding her." Surely, she can't be jealous of me wanting to know the safety of Kori.
"No I get that it's just, like, ugh never mind." I fought not to role my eyes, I cared for Babs but I just couldn't understand what she was thinking.
"God Babs what is it!"
"Well fine!" she said angry, "I'm mad that you can move on from me and the first girl you pick is a skinny little red head who thinks she's better than everyone!" This pissed me off at how wrong she was.
"Babs, she is nothing like that! She cares about everyone, you have no idea what she's been through. Do you even know who threatened to fucking kill us? Huh do you!" I was practically shaking with anger, my voice sure to be heard by the whole floor.
She shook her head, "it was her step-father. That's why she moved in with us, because he's a fucking maniac and abusive. So, don't you dare tell me she is stuck up, she is strong and has a beautiful heart and God knows I don't deserve her. But if you think you can come in here and say I just 'got over you' for her you're the crazy one. We broke up a year ago, you've been with plenty of guys before me. Look at yourself before you criticize me."
Babs was silent. I could see the hurt in her eyes, and the embarrassment at her assumptions. Truly I felt for my friend, that did not mean I was angry.
"Dick I—I'm sorry." Her voice was meek, and she could barely look at me.
I didn't want to say she was fine, because she wasn't. I didn't feel like telling her anything, in fact, I wanted her to leave. So many of Bruce's friends stopped by to give their condolences, hell even Kitten stopped by but she was immediately thrown out. Kitten only got in because she posed as a nurse, so now she is currently getting yelled at by the hospital or police. I don't really care. I was emotionally drained.
Massaging my forehead with my fingers I whispered, "please just go."
"What! Dick, no please I'm so sorry. I really am." She said spewing apologies.
"I just need to be alone."
Without further argument, she walked out. Although she let me know of her anger by slamming the door. I would have to deal with that later, I know. Right now, I had bigger problems to worry about. Like who her father might be, Slade Wilson was the man standing beside him when Kori first saw him.
Slade already gave off a bad vibe, but if Bruce trusted him, his record must be clean. Of course, that doesn't mean his hands are. In Gotham, you could find anyone that would do anything for money. Slade was definitely powerful enough to find and afford such people.
A soft knock came on the door followed by one of the nurses, her skin was a dark chocolate with hair pinned up because it was protocol. She was one of my favorite nurses so far.
"There's a man to see you Mr. Grayson, by the name of Mr. Wilson."
I nearly smiled at this, of course he had to hold up appearances and visit me. "Yes, Rebecca that's perfectly fine thank you." She nodded and behind her stepped in the man himself.
His grey black hair looked untouched, his suit probably worth nearly $10,000, clean cut and custom made. Golden rings on his fingers. He had muscles that you could see under his suit, but he was not stocky like some other men. I could tell he knew what he was doing.
"Good evening Richard, I'm so sorry to hear about your girlfriend. She was quite charming." He sounded so fake, yet also genuine at the same time.
"Thank you for you visit. She is very wonderful."
Slade walked about the room, "and so beautiful, she would make a beautiful model," he chuckled, "or dancer." I had a feeling he wasn't talking about the dancers at plays. This gave me further evidence he knew something about her, due to her former occupation.
My eye's narrowed. "Yes, her step-father was the one that captured her, you wouldn't know anything about him, would you?"
He walked around the bed to stand in front of me, "why do you ask that." He said it like a statement. Slade was only delaying what we both already knew.
"You were standing beside him when she saw him."
"Is that so? Hum, maybe I do know him."
"Stop playing games with me, tell me where to find her."
He laughed, "Patience Robin." I looked at him seething, "that is your nickname, isn't it?"
"Only my mother calls me that." My voice was low and dark.
"Yes, but she's dead," he clicked his tongue, "what a shame really. Kori's mother's dead too, isn't that funny. Except your father is a billionaire and hers is a psycho, the world's truly unfair." He almost sounded bored saying all this, as if him stating it was something everyone should know, so no point in restating it. Which I did, I did not see the relevance.
"What are you getting at!" I spat.
He curled his lip, "you insolent brat! Do not dare spit at me." He then regained his composure and threw an envelope at me.
I looked at the golden paper on my lap disgusted, "and what are these?"
"Look at them and see." He walked to where Babs had been seating and crossed his legs, patiently waiting for me to open it.
Information for Kori's whereabouts overwhelmed me and I opened the envelope shocked to find her practically naked. I flipped through all of the photos to fast, disbelieving.
"these can't be her," I whispered.
"They are, and if you want to keep her new-found identity safe you're going to make sure I get some money or those are going out to everyone."
"How did you get these." I knew the weight of the situation, but I needed answers.
"That's information you will not be getting. But I will tell you this, if you want her alive I better see the money stated in that envelope in my account within 48 hours or she's dead." He threw a new folder at me before walking out the room. In this one where photos of her too. Except this one she was strapped to a metal chair, the dress of the ball barely recognizable from all the blood and tare's in it. I was going to be sick from seeing her like that. Sick from knowing who did that to her.
I had to do something, I couldn't stay her any longer.
I reached for my phone and dialed the only person I knew who could help me get out of here.
"Sup," he said picking it up.
"Jason, I need you to get me out of here. We're going to get Kori." I could hear the smile in his voice.
"That's what I like to hear."
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Breaking out of a hospital isn't easy. You have to go through making sure no one can see you, no one stops you or questions you. I was being monitored because I was Bruce Wayne's son, and I had just been shot twice.
The shots themselves could be much worse. No surgery I just have to wait for the muscle to rebuild itself. Rest, yeah, I'll get plenty of that when Bruce finds out. I'll probably be dead from his anger. He'll be pissed at both of us for finding out what we are up to. When we were younger this a lot easier, he'd just be mad at yell at us. Finding Kori could get us killed, we both knew that. I'm hoping it won't lead to that.
"Do you have any idea where she is?" Jason said driving down 81 towards the secret entrance to the mansion.
I shuddered at the memory, "yeah it's at her old place."
"What, how can you possibly know that!" He said unbelieving.
"Slade Wilson knows her father, in fact, I think her step-father is working for him. He was the man next to him when she saw him, and he came to visit me." I gulped, shaken by what she had to go through to be in both photos. "He has naked pictures of her Jase, and one's in her room beaten. I…I could barely look." Jason's knuckles grew white on the steering wheel.
"That bastard." His voice was menacing, face contorting into an angry cowl as he accelerated quickly.
"Jason slow down we have to be smart about this, her life is on the line!"
"I am Dick, god I care about Kori too. She's the only goddamn decent person in this whole city."
"I know Jason, trust me. We must get Slade too, he's going to give the pictures to the media if we don't pay him. That means we have 48 hours to find her and get him locked up." I smiled as a plan began forming in my head, "I know how we're going to do it too."
We drove into the entrance off a mountain side. You wouldn't even know it was connected to the mansion unless Bruce told you. Here a cave was underneath the mansion. Bruce being the paranoid fuck he is, stocked it with intelligence software, battle gear, all kinds of weapons you could find and decked out bikes and cars. All thanks to our dear friend Lucius Fox.
"So, what's the plan," Jason said driving the car over a bridge that lead to the cave.
"We gear up, and sneak in. We'll need some weapons too like my bo staff,"
"—and guns." Jase smirked.
"We are not bringing guns!"
"Dude are you fucking stupid, that psychopath has guns and were going to walk in halfcocked without a fucking gun!"
"I won't kill anyone Jason."
"Let's hope it won't lead to that then."
"This is a rescue mission not an ambush." I said between sealed teeth.
"Yeah, but I'm still bringing guns." He said cocky, and jumped out of the car. I swear if I had both arms, I sock him right now.
Jason strutted to where the armor was kept, just simple Kevlar chest plates and heavy duty running boots. We both changed into blank cargo pants, and slipped the Kevlar vest under our black shirts.
"Dude I feel like a badass." Jason said after we both suited up and he held his guns for inspection.
I smirked, also feeling that way, but more concerned about what we were doing here. "Yeah we are, but let's focus on the plan. We're going to go to her place, scale up the roof of the neighbors and carefully, carefully Jason, break into her room and get her. Hopefully we don't have to knock anyone out,"
"or shoot someone." I glared at him. "What common, it's not like I wanna shoot someone." He sneered like he totally did, knowing Jason he wouldn't hesitate either living off the streets and all.
Both of us hand gone under martial arts training for fighting if necessary. Jason already knew some stuff just from street fights, but he fought dirty. I had strategy over him, both of us could get her out safe.
"I don't know what you boys are doing, but Master Bruce would surely like to find out." Alfred said from the stop of the stairwell, his manicured brow arched in a matter of fact way.
"Heya Al, care to join us to save Kori?" Jason said laughing.
"Mister Jason, I advise you to refrain from the jokes this evening. Mister Richard, I think it would do your best to sneak back into the hospital."
"Sorry Al that's not going to happen." I grabbed my bo staff and some other gadgets then headed towards the bikes.
"Young man you will not go on some suicidal mission to get this girl with a bad arm."
"Oh, sweet so I can go!" For probably the hundredth time tonight, I glared at Jason. "I don't have a broken arm." He said shrugging and hopped on a bike.
"Al, you don't understand I know where she is. My shoulders not broke, she's in danger."
"You do not know that. Leave this to the authorities." I threw him the pictures.
"Yes, I do. I'm not taking a chance with her. I'm going to be a cop, it's time for me to prove it. I also know who's behind it, so if you do want to tell Bruce anything, it's that I'm sorry and Slade Wilson is behind all of this. He wants us to give him money for Kori, I have 48 hours to get her to safety. She's strong but she doesn't deserve what she's enduring."
Hesitantly Alfred picked up the envelope and looked at the pictures of her beaten. His face matched my fear, "Go. Save her." Was all he could say as a few tears fell down his face.
I walked up taking the photos from him, "No Mister Richard. These photos I need to show authorities, and possibly Master Bruce."
"I'm sorry Al. I promise to be as safe as I can." He nodded and then hugged me before shooing us off.
"Yo Dick take this for the pain." I caught the pill in my hand, looking at it and Jason.
"Where'd you get this?"
"Hospital chicks are hot, she knew it was for a good cause." I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
"Jase no," he then held up the prescription bottle.
"There yours I took them from the nurse, so yes it's not illegal." Smirking I popped the pill in my mouth, knowing that it would subside some of the pain in my arm. It's not like I was taking it for wrong reasons either. My arm was killing me, being on this bike reformed that.
"Wait dude you know what we need?"
"What Jason?" I said irritated we weren't on the road already.
"Masks."
"No."
"Common it be so cool." He begged like a child.
"It wouldn't matter, they'd know who we were."
"Yeah, yeah, I just wanted to be like a superhero."
"Maybe in another lifetime." I said then began heading my way to Kori's.
The shooting pain in my arm was difficult to drive with, since the pain killers hadn't kicked in. Thinking of her being in any further pain made me forget about mine and let adrenaline kick in. All I wanted to do was bust down that door, knock everyone out and save her. That wouldn't be smart though. We'd risk getting shot, no matter that we are somewhat trained. Neither of us have much field experience, aside from the occasional stoppings of muggings and other possible crimes such as the first one I found Kori in. God, so much time had passed since then and I never thought it would lead to this.
She was capturing my heart in ways that I never thought I would feel before. To have her ripped from that happiness ate me up inside. As sick as it is, I hope this is only the worst thing she has experienced. To my knowledge, it is. I couldn't picture her being through this more, that picture in and of its self was horrific enough.
When I waited for Jason to help get me out of the hospital, I looked for clues on the photos. In the ones where she's practically naked you can see cuts on her face, that makeup didn't cover up. Her eyes are terrified, and her whole poster is reserved. I don't know what forced her into such a situation, but I was sure she'd never have to deal with that again.
With the few pictures of her beaten you can see her room, of which I remember briefly when I helped clean. It was a beaten down place, and yet it still held signs of the brightness that Kori had the magic of bringing everywhere. In the graphic photos, you can see that and what looks to be possible other bodies, they all look like men. Possibly ones working for here step-father and Slade, or innocents. Either way, and I.D on them will help pinpoint whose to blames for this. Not to mention all of those murders will wind him up in jail. Which reminds me, after we get Kori I'll have to make sure Jason or I call them.
Soon the exit for West Gotham came up, and Jason followed behind. I remembered exactly where here place was, which of course was the worst part of the worst place in Gotham. I didn't want to take a chance of us driving past the pizza shop and someone seeing us. So, I drove a few blocks back.
"Make sure you put your cloaking device on the bike or someone will steal it." I told Jason as enabled my bikes device.
"Okay where's this shit hole?" he said cracking his knuckles.
"Few blocks east, we should begin scaling the roofs fairly soon, stop to scope out the place first."
He gave me a two-fingered solute and followed me towards her place. The streets smelled of piss and rotting garbage. Beer cans, cigarette buds, condoms, and other trash were littered along the sidewalks. I saw some rats too.
"I can't believe she lived here." Jason said as a rat ran by his feet.
"I can't believe we live in a mansion and not even twenty minutes from center city, our citizens are living in this condition." He made a noise that agreed, while I grew anxious to be with her. I needed to take a few deep breaths to calm myself, and remember to be smart.
I tried pushing away all the fear I had, and let my brain take over. Thinking only in parts, I analyzed every possible scenario I could think of. It's completely likely we'll get caught, but if I play it right, we can get her out of there.
"Here's where we go up, it's the roof with the pizza sign. Stay close, no rash movements. I'm going to stop to scope it out first ok?" Jason nodded, his face was expressionless.
Climbing up the buildings and jumping from roof to roof felt invigorating, as we got closer and closer my adrenaline began kicking in. I practically forgot all about my arm and just focused the building ahead. Run, tuck, roll, run, tuck, roll. Jason did a good job of following close behind me.
"Okay tell me if you see anyone." I whispered as we were a building away from her's. I saw her window, there was no light. In the main room, I saw no light either. That's odd. They wouldn't leave, would they? Not if they have a hostage.
"I think we should go around, follow the shadows to her window." Jason whispered.
I nodded and began our way to her window, doing whatever we could to follow the dark spots. Touching the pizza parlor building I ducted in and looked around the side, no signs of anyone. Maybe they did leave. Still thinking that would be stupid, we needed to think of everything.
We crept to the window my heart beating rapidly the whole time. Peaking in you could see there was a faint light which only illuminated on her. She was sitting in a pudding of blood. If that blood was her own or the five bodies around her I don't know. She looked so defeated, my heart pinched in pain which only drove me to want to get her in and out as fast as possible.
"Holy fuck." Jason whispered then I could tell her cursed himself for saying something out-loud.
Checking to see if anyone heard and being relieved I saw no signs of anything, I moved the window to see if it was unlocked. Thankfully, it lifted up with little reluctance. The whole time I looked at Kori, and as the stench of the room caught my noise, I tried to breath out of my mouth as much as possible.
Beside the window was her bed, there was not a huge drop to the floor and it was easy getting in her room. I hid in the shadows waiting for Jason. It wasn't until now that I realized she would have to climb out the window to be free, and I cursed myself for the mental lapse.
Jason moved first, but I pulled him back and looked around. I brought an eye camera with me and quickly took some photos to anonymously drop off at the police station. I looked to Jason and he nodded knowing. Quickly we moved, he guarded the door while I picked the lock to her cuffs. She groaned a bit and I almost cried of joy knowing she was alive.
"No more…" she whispered, still some fight left in her.
"Sshh Kori, I'm here, I'm here." I said holding her face in mine, heart breaking even more to see how beaten she was.
Her eyes lit up with relief then fear.
"You should not be here, he is waiting." She whispered, parts of her speech wheezed as she probably had a collapsed lung.
I shook my head and began picking her up, she did not protest but tried to tell me to leave. "Kori please be as quite as possible." I begged and made my way to the door, a slammed door could be heard from outside and I looked to Jason in a panic. He readied his gun while I tried to make it over to the window. Kori was in too much pain, I know she was trying her best but there was no way she would get out the window without further harming herself.
Fuck.
"Move!" Jason whispered with urgency and then I made the decision that a little discomfort was okay.
Then the door handle jiggled and I helped Kori get one leg out the window. She was such a brave girl and tried her best to hind how much pain she was.
A gun shot out and both Kori and I looked towards Jason. I heard the breaking of wood as three guys kicked in the door. He was fast giving a right cross to the first guy who walked in causing him to stagger back, but the two other guys quickly rushed in grabbing him. I looked to Kori terrified for her and my brother.
"Please…help him." She breathed.
I didn't hesitate as I rushed towards the two men who were grappling with Jason. Before I could get there, the third guy rushed me, running up throwing a hail miry. My old Jeet Kune do training began kicking in. I silently thanked Bruce for allowing me to learn the same style as Bruce lee, having been obsessed with his movies as a kid. Raising my arms, I catch the swing. Simultaneously I delivered a quick jab to the man's nose before he could react, I followed up with a kick straight to the groin causing him to fall to the ground.
As I turn, my attention goes to Jason who has one of the men in a choke hold. While that's happening, the other guy is trying to hit Jason's head but Jason skillfully blocks his blows with his forearm.
Quickly, I run up behind one of the guys and deliver a jumping spinning back kick to the head. The man falls to his knees right in front of Jason as he knees him across the face. At which point Jason drops the man he had choked unconscious. We both smirk realizing we just kicked major ass, but then a look of surprise jumps across Jason's face.
"Watch out!" He then pushed me to the side just as a gunshot goes off.
These fuckers just wouldn't stop, the man I thought I had incapacitated had gotten to his knees and shot at us. Jason was quick with a gun and shot the man's hand, while I jumped up and spun in the air before delivering a knockout kick to the fucker's head.
"Anymore?" Jason said triumphantly, riding off the high both of us were experiencing.
"Jase we need to move now!" I ordered, knowing the necessity for getting Kori out of here.
"No you don't!" Said her step-fathers wicked voice, a minute later Jason was knocked out with a hit to his head with a crowbar.
"No!" Kori cried and tried her best to move from the window. Her breathing was heard from across the room. I turned to look at her, wanting her to not move, while also trying to make sure I'd stand in the way of her stepfather.
He put his hand to his chest as if in astonishment. "My darling I can't believe you would try to escape from me again. After you promised and all." The wicked smile etched across his face shifted into a cruel one.
"She's not staying with you." I said through my teeth, fists balled up at the sides. Standing in such a way that blocked her.
"Ah the boyfriend, huh I guess he does care about you. Must be a pretty good fuck then." Hysterical laughter feel from his mouth as my blood boiled.
"Shut up!" I then jumped at him, pinning him to the wall while he continued laughing. "She is more than you will ever, ever deserve for a daughter. You deserve to rot in a cell for your whole damn life!"
"Foolish boy." My eyes the widened as I felt the shock of a bullet hit my Kevlar and fell to the ground with the wind knocked out of me. Of course, I should have known he'd have a gun, and fuck these things hurt. I couldn't breathe right; the wind having been knocked out of me. My vision was hazy just from the force of the bullet that close to me. I'd definitely have some bruises along my ribcage.
Suddenly Kori was on top of me, this time she was wheezing. Her eyes barely stayed open and I could see how even a simple movement caused her great pain. 'No, no, no' I wanted to say but the words fell from my lips. Tears formed in her eyes, dripping down her cheeks which was crackling away at the dried blood on her face.
"No Richard, please be alive, please, please…" she cried holding my face. I tried to call her, let her know I was okay but I couldn't speak. I blinked in hoping that would help her know I was alive.
Her stepfather then kicked her off me, "stupid whiny bitch." He said as she fell to her side with a painful cry. I ignored the black spots in my vision, finding some breath in me again. I put my body over hers trying to protect her like she did to me. She was in even worse condition now, and I was on a warpath.
"Hmm I thought that would have killed you." He said tapping the gun on his lips, "I guess you're wearing armor. So maybe this won't hurt." Lifting the crowbar, I prepared for the blow but instead he hit the slowly regaining consciousness Jason. Jason then shifted to his side in pain, curling up his body to protect some of himself from possible more blows.
"YOU BASTARD LEAVE HIM ALONE!" I screamed reaching for one of the knifes in my belt. He spun around, crowbar raised to take aim.
"Oh! I think we should play a game! How many times can I hit the Wayne boys before one of them dies!" He then lunged for me, I was prepared and jabbed my knife into his side. He gasped in surprise and stood back, touching the cut I left in him and moving his blood between his thumb and pointer finger.
"Well that hurt." He said as if it didn't. The crowbar came swinging at me. I tried stabbing him again but he hit my wounded shoulder and I yelled out in pain. "Point one for Jack!" He then swung it again, this time I dodged it and pulled out my bo staff, just in time to block another hit.
Moving the bar away I thrusted the stick at his head to try to knock him out, but he skirted away, splashing up the blood from the ground. I reached for him again, refusing to give up. We then began a battle of dodging, blocking, and striking. I'd get a few hits on him which never seemed to faze him. He would then go about as if it didn't hurt, all the while laughing as I did so. As if murders and pain was fun and games.
A few times I could get a good jab to his face, or side but that damn crowbar was always in the way. It seemed almost glued to his hand, for every time I hit it he did not release it. Okay knew tactic, I could hear Jason rousing, hopefully he'd be able to help. Kori was knocked out or barely conscious and I did it my best to get this man away from them in the small space. I looked briefly seeing Jason get up and smirked, kicking 'Jack' in the stomach. He fell against the bed and Jason shot at his arm.
It barely grazed the skin as Jason cursed, however Jacks shifted attention allowed me to rip the crowbar form his grasp. I threw it out of the room as Jason then jumped on the man, punching him hard in the face and removing the knife he had in his pocket. I was tired and in pain from the bruise forming on my side and the exertion that fighting a psychopath puts on you. Jason seemed to have a handle on him but I didn't take the chance. I took my staff to knocking the man out. He gurgled a bit in his mouth, the blood from his noise dripping down his face moving away the pasty power on it.
His head flopped to the side, but Jason hit him one more time to make sure. "Give me the cuffs, I don't want him getting any ideas if he wakes up too soon." I threw the ones I kept in my belt at him and we cuffed him to the chair.
As Jason called the cops, I rushed to Kori. She was knocked out and barely breathing. Gently I reached for her face pushing away the hair, I opened her eyes to see if they responded to me which they did. Her heart beat was faint, time was of the essence. We couldn't take her on the bikes, an ambulance wouldn't arrive in time. All of that was of little importance though as I just wanted to get all of us out of here as fast as possible.
"Jason, we need to get her out now, I don't know how much time she has!" My voice rose in a panic.
"Let me carry her you can barely stand." Jason said lifting up Kori, and I followed him out the hall into the living room.
"Who the fuck are you." Said Jason in disbelief.
'What now?' I thought and looked to see Slade Wilson sitting in the living room drinking brandy out of a crystalline glass, looking completely out of place amongst the broken and old furniture.
"You boys look like you've been through a lot. Oh, and Richard with your poor shoulder." He took a sip of his brandy, making no face. This man could drink piss with a straight face.
"Is this the asshole whose blackmailing us?" I nodded. "Yo buddy fuck you." I rolled my eyes, yeah that'll teach him Jason.
"Blackmailing is a strong word."
"So is I have a gun, I have one yah know." Jason said with a dark sense of humor.
"That won't be necessary. I am here because you went against my wishes. The poor girl has had to suffer so much already, it's a shame."
"Just end this now. We can all walk away." I said trying to prevent Jase from saying anything stupid, and somehow change another mad man's view.
Slade shook his head. "That be too simple, wouldn't it? You all know too much already."
Fucking hell! I was losing patience and Kori was losing time! "Who gives a shit that we know anything, let her be. She's an innocent girl whose mother married the wrong man."
He nodded his head and spoke so fucking slow I was about to scream. "Yes, the girl is innocent but you boys are not. Breaking and entering, beating up someone. That's against the law."
"This dude isn't serious, right?" Jason said in the same disbelief I was at this man's idiotic words. I had enough I lunged for him. He was quick to respond, I was slow. My body beginning to shut down and lose stamina. Slade grabbed me by the throat and held me down by his foot pressing against my windpipe.
"So, impatient and disrespectful." His voice acidic.
"Now you made me use my gun," Jason said shooting at Slade. Slade moved quickly, kicking the gun out of Jason's hand. I cursed inwardly as he fell with Kori on him. This guy was a trained fighter, I recognized some of his moves no matter how brief they were.
Slade picked up Kori by the throat, she was lifeless like dangling a doll in a child's hand. I was terrified she was dead.
"Stop, stop please stop I'll give you the money. I won't say a word. Just stop."
He looked over to me nonchalant, "that's a lie if I've ever heard one." He's right of course, I'd never give him the money and the first damn thing I'd do is tell the police.
While I distracted Slade, Jason moved to get a jump on him but as I said, Slade was trained and quickly spun taking his gun out, and shooting him in the shoulder.
"I have a gun too." He then went over and stepped on the new flesh wound, all the while dangling Kori's lifeless body. Jason cried out in pain but still trying to kick the man. I struggled to get up. He spun to me and laughed, gun pointed to Jason's head.
"You boys just never learn now do you." I heard the click of his gun, I thought my world would be over. My brother dead before my eyes, the women I love barely holding on to life all for a couple million dollars.
"Don't shoot." Slade looked at me with a face a blank face that dismissed anything that came out of my mouth. It was worth a shot.
"Slade please, I have my phone. I'll transfer all the money in my account to yours." He hesitated, debating over the causes of that. Most likely, if he says yes, he'll just shoot us after the moneys been transferred. I couldn't let that happen.
"Nah I think I'd rather just shot you." His gun clicked again, just as the door busted open. Police flooded in pointing their guns and wearing heavy duty bullet proof vests. Following behind them and Commissioner Gordon was a royally pissed of Bruce Wayne.
The front door bust opened, police folded in followed behind by a royally pissed off Bruce Wayne. "Put the girl down!" the officers said to Slade, positioning their guns to his head. For the first-time Slade grew scared and dropped her, raising his hands above his head. Jason was quick to grab her, in hopes of diminishing the damage of her fall.
The police squad jumped on Slade, handcuffing him and reading him his rights.
"Is he the only one here?" An officer asked and I shook my head.
"The man that nearly killed her and us is tied in the bedroom, there are three other men unconscious." A group of officers then walked in to the hall way and bedroom, guns raised prepared for any movement. I heard some noises of groans and ruffled noises, as the three men that were knocked out became cuffed up, and walked heads down out of those house. With Jack, they put an extra set of cuffs on him and dragged his ass out as he began laughing.
Bruce walked up to me as he was being dragged out. His face was stoic as the maniac passed by.
"This was seriously stupid of you Richard, and if it weren't for Alfred you'd be dead right now." He sure doesn't hesitate.
"I know Dad, I'm sorry." He shook his head, letting me know apologi, es was not that time. "Let's get you all the to hospital. There's an ambulance waiting for her."
The nurses took Kori and Jason in the ambulance. Both of them in critical condition, of course more attention was on Kori as she was barely breathing, and the amount of blood loss was deadly. Jason, probably had a concussion and bad bruising, along with the shot to the shoulder. I was inspected briefly but the urgency was on the too. I wish I could have been in the ambulance with her, but I needed to stay back for questioning.
` I told them of the abuses Kori was subject too, verbal, physical, and how he forced her to work at a stripper bar. Saying everything was tough on me and Bruce for having to hear them. She was so good, yet the world had dealt her a bad hand. Bruce mentioned therapy, but of course that was up to her. I was hesitant to show them the pictures of her being used for blackmail, so I didn't, I merely explained. It was hard not actually knowing the full story to how she got put in that position, but based off recent events it wasn't hard to guess.
On top of that, the photos Slade gave to me of her being tied up as well as the carnage around her gave further evidence to commit him to life imprisonment, or if we were lucky death. Normally, I don't want to wish death upon others, however, if the jury found it a reasonable thing I wouldn't bat an eye.
"You should be a detective one day," said commissioner Gordon joking, after giving him all the information. He said this because he knew that's what I wanted. "Just next time call us, you could have killed yourselves." His tone going serious.
"I know sir, I'm sorry." Everything else was left to the professionals, and we were given the okay to leave. I told Bruce where the bikes were hidden, he was prepared with one of his trucks to put the bikes in the back. Lifting them was nearly impossible for me, as the pain of tonight began kicking in. Thankfully, Bruce was more than capable of doing it by himself.
We rode in silence to the hospital. Nothing much to say between us. What could we talk about? How nice the sky looked? That seemed idiotic in a situation like this. Conversation wasn't important all the time anyway. I just wanted to be at the hospital and see how she was doing, see how Jason was doing too.
Once in there we rushed to her room, doctors were flying around with a panic. Barking orders, and EMT's surrounded her. Her heart monitor began beeping with urgency the dropped.
My heart stopped.
I was too late.