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THE NEW BRATVA CAPTAIN

Chapter 6

"Yes," Felicity pumped her fist in the air.

The three other individuals in the room, a room with no windows located at the basement of the estate which was once probably a bomb shelter of sorts given the thickness of the steel reinforced cemented walls all walked towards Felicity's 'home' work station, all with eyes locked on one of the three big screens Felicity has placed on tables that surrounded her.

"What are we looking at?" John Diggle was first to voice what all three of the men were looking at but didn't know how to decipher the information.

"These," pointing to the file which she had enlarged, "are traces of large payments made through a bank account which I traced that I am 99% sure belongs to the Triad. It took me almost a week since they covered their tracks very well bouncing off the money all over the world but through a program I developed, I was able to isolate where the money initially came from and the last transfer which led me to Golden Yazaki International, a shell company that has the Chinese Triad written all over it. It appeared out of nowhere and it's one and only business transaction on record in the transfer of five million dollars which started the virtual trail I picked up and ended up with payment made to an account under the name of Martell Hook, a known international terrorist and mastermind of several terrorist bombings. I believe that Hook and his known associates," pointing this time to a second screen, "where responsible for the sabotaging of the Queen Gambit which led to your death except you're not dead but very much alive."

Robert Queen rubbed his temple at the information as if he was having difficulty absorbing it. "So based on these," Robert gestured to the information on the screens, "the Triad was responsible for the attacks? All the answers we were seeking all those years you were able to get them and confirm all these in the span of a week?"

"Well…yeah. I mean, it could have been faster, maybe three days tops but I needed to build my firewalls and ensure that the Triad or any other equally criminal organization couldn't trace it back to me, to us. After all, we have to ensure this will not be traced back to the Bratva. That plus the fact that I also had work to do within QC. Oliver assigned me to beef up the firewalls of QC too."

Robert smiled at Felicity's revelation, "so you and my son have been spending a lot of time together lately."

"It's been necessary for both QC and the Bratva, but nothing beyond that. I mean he's Oliver Queen after all, I'm sure he would rather spend what little free time he has left with the people he really wants to spend time with. His family, friends…"

"I think he made it pretty clear that he wanted to spend the most of his time with his girlfriend, his one and only girlfriend," John reminded her pointedly.

"Me?' Felicity asked him innocently pointing to herself.

"Yes you. Anyway, aren't you supposed to be on a date with Oliver in," folding his arm to peek at his watch, "an hour? As I recall, you have dinner with the Queens and the Merlyns tonight at the Merlyn Mansion?"

Felicity pulled her hair, "don't remind me. I don't know how I can get so easily roped into doing things that I don't really want to do."

"I know most women take longer than an hour to prep for a night out, at least that's what my wife always tells me," Andy stated.

"Felicity, go. You've done more in a week that all of us combined could do for too long. John will get us further confirmation on Martell Hook tomorrow thru our contacts. Tonight you are having dinner with my family and the family of one of my oldest friends. Enjoy it. The Merlyns are good people. Tommy Merlyn is my son Oliver's oldest and best friend. The fact that he is bringing you to this affair tells me my son wants you to meet the people who matter to him," Robert told her.

(a few days earlier…..)

He swiped the tablet twice before he looked back to the Asian woman with white hair.

"Andy Diggle and Felicity Smoak, they are your targets. It goes without saying that the extremest of caution is necessary. It shouldn't be traced back in a way or form to us. Payment is as previously agreed however a sweet bonus awaits you if you are able to accomplish this during the next three days. So if I were you, I'd start immediately. All the information you need is contained in that tablet," China White placed her sunglasses back on her eyes before she turned to walk away.

"Oh and I have no need to remind you that I have zero tolerance for incompetence," China White added for good measure.

"This is not my first rodeo," Floyd Lawton remarked at her before he turned his attention back to the tablet in his hands.

"Just get it done," China White finished before she left.

"He's here," John told Felicity. "I still think that just one tail car is a mistake."

"You don't like Oliver much do you?" Felicity asked him.

"It's not a matter of like it's a matter of your safety. As head of security I can't afford to make judgments hinged on who I like or not. Despite he being Robert's son and on face value someone who seemed quite honorable, I'd like to play a little hard to get at least until I see for myself really what kind of character the man has," John told her.

"That makes two of us. I still don't know how to read the man but unlike you I don't have the choice to not spend time with him." An Aston Martin pulled up on the driveway, "well, wish me luck."

"You won't need it. You'll thrill them with your charm just like you did with me," John said smiling at her.

Felicity gave him one last smile before she walked down the steps toward Oliver who had stepped out of the car he was driving to open her car door.

"Wow, is that Armani?" Felicity paused about six feet from him gesturing to his suit at his nod, "well, at least I don't feel like I was overdressed," gesturing to her red couture dress, "I didn't know what to wear to a billionaire's dinner. This is not exactly my thing."

Oliver had his eyes wonder over Felicity's form from head to foot, "for someone who's not used to these billionaire dinner things, you've done a spectacular job. You look really beautiful tonight Felicity and I would l love to show you off tonight as my girl."

Oliver helped her settle down buckling her in letting his arm deliberately graze the side of her breast over her dress, stifling a grin as he heard an almost quiet breath intake from her. He instead straightened up, "we should go we don't want to keep everyone waiting for us."

As Oliver started to drive away, John signaled for a black SUV to follow them.

7:30pm that same night

Oliver was driving his favorite sports car but keeping it steady at 80kph mindful of his passenger. In truth driving this car below 100kph was a crime, he liked his cars fast. Once upon a time Oliver was labeled a fast car, fast women kind of man and he thrived on that reputation, he even deliberately did outrageous things just to fuel it.

Of course all that had changed dramatically after the boating accident that killed his father. Not only was Oliver himself shaken by the experience, he made a vow to live up to the expectation of his father. Be the man his father always hoped he would be. The responsible son who would one day be at the helm of Queen Consolidated and bring it into the next generation further than even his father could have foreseen.

While his father had never wished for him to take over his responsibilities within the brotherhood, the Bratva was also Oliver's legacy. Whether the Queens had wanted it or not, the Bratva was forever tied up with the QC and vice versa until Anatoly or his heir would determine that QC had paid its dues.

Oliver was not unaware of what was happening between Robert Queen and Anatoly. In the months before his fathers and his 'accident', his father's stress levels had been at an all time high. When Oliver had asked his father about it, Robert had waved it off as nothing but the usual deals with the Bratva that were not Oliver's concern.

On more than one occasion, Oliver had walked pass his father's home office to hear him conversing in the russian language, voice raised. One particular time, he had walked in on his parents arguing about Robert's insistence on tripling the security around his family which his mother had objected to, loudly.

Words like, missing funds, Triad, threats, floated by, words that didn't really make sense to Oliver at that time. When Robert had noticed his son pause outside the door, he had swiftly covered the distance and closed the door to his home office on his son's face, something Robert had never done before.

The Day after, as if making up for the deliberate slight Robert had done the night before, he had seek out his son and told him they would go sailing, a father-son tradition that had been forgotten for the last two years in favor of pressing Bratva and QC business matters.

Oliver had no illusions why the invitation had come from out of the blue. He knew it was his father's olive branch. Truth was, he missed the father-son bonding. Just like his father, the last two years had Oliver focused on finishing college and apprenticeship under his father's best friend Walter Steele.

It also was a chance for Oliver to get away from the breakneck speed that was his life, the Oliver whose night time was filled with club and private party appearances together with his best friend Tommy Merlyn. A party was not labeled a party without a Queen or a Merlyn present and boy did the two young billionaire heirs make their presence felt.

But in one day everything had changed. His life two years after was vastly removed from the life he led a few years back.

Now he was running Queen Consolidated, for the first time he was all but all-in supporting the Bratva, well not so much the Bratva per see, more the woman on top so to speak, the Captain who was right beside him.

This was his life now. No correction, this was the life he had chosen now. For the first time in a very long time dating back to his life before that sailing accident, he unofficially had a girlfriend. A girlfriend who after tonight with her appearance by his side in a non-Bratva activity, during a very private dinner between the Queens and the Merlyn, Felicity Smoak would officially become his girlfriend not only in the eyes of his family and closest friends but in the eyes of anyone and everyone who had any interest at all in keeping up with his lovelife.

Oliver glanced at Felicity once again, "what are you thinking?"

"Nothing…everything. My mind has a tendency to work overtime if I'm facing the unknown. Like I said earlier I'm not used to this kind of soiree, billionaire family dinners, rubbing elbows with Starling City's 1%, I've done that once a few weeks back with Anatoly and this Bratva affair, it was awkward at best. Push a computer in front of me anytime I'll pass with flying colors, dinner with billionaires…..i don't know," Felicity said looking out the window a bit embarrassed.

Oliver tentatively reached out a hand and rubbed three calloused fingers on the outside of her palm that was sitting on top of her lap.

"If you don't want to go we can go somewhere else. I can easily make up an excuse for us to skip the dinner although in truth that night Anatoly paraded you around as the new Captain, there was not a trace of awkward anywhere. All I and every else saw that night was a woman who despite being an unknown carried herself quite well. In fact Felicity Smoak, you're actually quite remarkable."

Felicity inhaled then looked at Oliver sideways a faint pink blush appearing on her cheeks, "thank you for remarking on in. I really needed that Oliver, the confidence building support. Makes me feel I'm a little bit more than just a little ordinary."

Hearing her remark, Oliver abruptly pulled up on the side of the road despite being a mere kilometer away from the Merlyn residence, "Felicity, you are the most extraordinary person I know. What you do in QC, no one can do. Stepping into the Captain role in under three weeks and learning, understanding and now effectively starting to manage the affairs of the Bratva, there are no limits to how extraordinary you can be. I was stupid not to recognize what Anatoly probably saw the moment he saw you. You're that kind of woman, that rare kind of individual."

"You have to stop Oliver with the compliments, you're overdoing it. You got me at remarkable, extraordinary is kinda over the top," Felicity pfft.

Oliver searched Felicity's face for a full minute in silence before he focused back on navigating the car out of the curb and back into the road, "you're wrong Felicity. And I'm the person to prove to you that you are extraordinary. Mark my words, one of this days," Oliver took a few seconds to take his eyes of the road to steal a glance at Felicity, "I'll get you to believe that. I'm almost never wrong you know and this is not going to be one of the very rare times that I am"

Felicity was about the remark back before a view of the grand driveway of the Merlyn Mansion came into view and she was once again back to her nervous self.

Oliver brought the car to a stop to the side of the Mansion before he grabbed her hand and squeezed it, "don't worry, I got you. What kind of boyfriend do you think I am. I'll protect you. I won't leave your side, I promise."

About 10:00pm that same night

Andy Diggle parked in front of a supermarket a couple of blocks away from his house that was still open despite it being late in the night remembering Carly say earlier that they were out of a few items. His work had consumed him the last few days and he wanted to do something for his wife. Despite Carly understanding his hours, he still felt a little guilty for spending less time with her lately. But cramming Felicity's Bratva knowledge was important.

Andy stepped out and locked his car, taking a few seconds to survey his surroundings something his brother had made him do a few months back and was now second nature to him. The Bratva has its enemies and he needed to be on his toes every second.

After spending a total of fifteen minutes inside the supermarket and chatting with the cashier for five more minutes while she was running up his tab, Andy had his bag of groceries on one hand and was a few steps away from his car one moment fishing for his car keys inside his pocket the next one lying on the ground, eyes empty with a bullet right between his eyes the content of his grocery bag scattered off to one side.

From atop a low rise building, a one-eyed man was dismantling his rifle slowly. He had all the time in the world.

It was dark. The parking was all but empty save for about two other cars. No one was out and about. No one had been alerted to the fact that a man lied dead in the parking lot.

Andy Diggle's body wouldn't be discovered for another fifteen minutes at least if the calculations of Floyd Lawton were accurate.

Now he only had Felicity Smoak on his list. It was the day three, he did promise China White that he would get things done in three days and this was the last day. Before the light of the next day, Felicity Smoak will be as dead as Andy Diggle.

10:30pm that same night

Merlyn Mansion

"Ollie, I like your girl. Granted she and I have almost nothing in common, no one and I say no one has made me smile as much as I have during the last couple of hours. I think your girl has a devoted fan in my Dad, it's almost sick the way he's been hanging on her every word about technology. You better hang on to this one because if I know my Dad he's going to make an offer she wouldn't be able to resist and fuck the fact that our families have been the closest friends all these years," Tommy pointed his tumbler of scotch, his preferred night cap to the hushed conversation Malcolm Merlyn and Felicity Smoak were having in a corner of the Merlyn parlor.

Oliver tapped Tommy's back twice and smiled, "he could offer her your inheritance and she wouldn't say yes to him."

Tommy eyed his best friend with speculation, "you seem confident. In fact you seem a whole lot different, this," gesturing to Oliver's overall aura, "vibe you have its new, it's the vibe of a man who's happy. Come to think of it I haven't seen you as light as you have been tonight since you know, before. Am I correct to conclude your new girlfriend is responsible for this calm demeanor you now possess?"

Oliver just raised a brow at his friend, "come on let's rescue Felicity from your father."

Felicity saw Oliver and Tommy approach from the corner of her eye and gave a subtle sigh of relief. Malcolm Merlyn billionaire, father of Oliver's oldest and best friend, founder and genius behind Merlyn Industries was really pouring it on very thick about how impressed he was about Felicity's range of knowledge about technology. While she usually appreciated business men older and wiser than her who acknowledge her capabilities, Malcolm was vastly overdoing the praise.

Finally Oliver arrived by her side and sat on the arm of her chair, Tommy stood on her other side, "hey Dad remember the girl is taken, she's Oliver's girl."

Malcolm frowned at his son, "I wasn't trying to….I was just, I mean for a girl of her age, she's remarkably an expert in her field. I appreciate a good mind son, that's all" he finished flustered with a guilty smile.

"Well, I'm ignoring my other guests," Malcolm continued as he stood up and walked toward Walter and Moira.

"You've made my Dad fluster, a feat that was previously undoable, wow. Now I'm impressed. Just sorry Thea couldn't be here to see this she wouldn't let it pass," Tommy laughed.

"Yeah, school night. She knows the rules," Oliver reminded Tommy.

"Felicity," Oliver looked down on her, "Tommy invited us to the opening of his Club next Friday, if you're up to it that is."

Felicity looked up at Tommy who was giving her a look filled with hope that she would say yes. Since she and Oliver were now a 'couple' Oliver would go only if Felicity was with him, no more flying solo for his friend or at least that was what Oliver had told him earlier.

Felicity then looked at Oliver who gave her the same look as Tommy. Okaaay, Oliver wanted to go. Wanted to support his friend but would only do so if she was to say yes and go with him. Again another first for her, carrying the weight of a decision that was usually automatic between the best friends.

"A night club? Dancing, booze and the whole shebang?" Felicity asked Tommy.

Tommy smiled again, "the whole shebang."

"I've actually never been to a club in quite awhile. The last one was when I was in MIT, my classmates and I sneak out to a club although come to think of it, it wasn't really that kind of club although at the time, geniuses that we all were we thought it was. Thank god my friend Emily threw up without finishing her first bottle of beer because we have to leave early which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the place was raided about an hour after we left. Boy that would have been something, getting an arrest record." Felicity continued to babble unaware that both the men she was talking to were smiling unconsciously.

"I got an arrest record," Felicity turned to Tommy as he shared the information with her.

"You do?" surprised and a little in awe. She had always lived a straight line never skirting anywhere close to the darkside outside of that one time she hacked the MIT computers while in college with her friends.

"Yes I do. But I got nothing on pretty boy over there," pointing to his best friend, "why don't you look up your boyfriend's adolescent jail time. Now that's something to really talk about. But back to what's important, next Friday, my club opening. I'll make it worth your time." Tommy tried to bribe her.

"Really Merlyn, bribing my girl so you she's go to your club?" Oliver shook his head.

"Think of it as privileged window into the future. Our company has been developing a way to reengineer energy, clean energy…the wave of the future and all that stuff. I know this is more QC's kind of stuff not so much Merlyn Industries developments but, my father has been talking to me about a possible tie-up with QC for this project. I reckon that's the reason why he was so excited to sit down with you being the head of QC's special projects division. You see, I just don't run I night club, by day I'm also heavily involved in our family's business. So, sneak peek into MI's top secret project?"

Felicity was all but salivating at the prospect, "you sure this is fine, I mean its MI's top secret project. I don't want to be…"

Tommy brushed away her concern, "nah, it's fine. I think all I did was beat my father to inviting you for a consult. He would welcome the opportunity to pick your brains you know."

"I'd love that then."

Tommy clapped his hands then made a squeezing motion, "well that's settled then, see you Friday at Verdant. That's the name of the club by the way."

Felicity looked at Oliver for any sign of displeasure, seeing none she looked back at Tommy, "see you then."

"And regarding the other matter, I'll give Ollie here a call, I'm sure he's want to be there too. Like I said, my Dad sees this as an opportunity to collaborate. I think he's actually making a sales pitch right now to both Moira and Walter," gesturing toward the trio on the other side of the room.

After a few more minutes, Moira and Walter finally called it a night saying their goodbyes to both the Merlyns. A few minutes later, Oliver and Felicity followed.

They were about two kilometers to Felicity's estate when Felicity got a call from John Diggle.

Felicity smiled as she saw John's name appear on the caller ID and answered on the second ring. Her smiled however faded a second later and she instinctively reached out to grasp Oliver's muscled forearm making Oliver swerve to the side of the road.

"When? I'm still with Oliver, we'll proceed there immediately. No John, No. No…" Felicity was almost shouting at the phone. Oliver squeezed her hand then gently took the phone from her fingers.

"John, Oliver here." Oliver's eyes never left Felicity's the whole time he was talking to John. "I understand, I think it's best, yes your security team is still behind us. Are they aware? Keep us updated."

Oliver ended the call and turned to Felicity, squeezing her hand once again.

"John wants us, wants you back at your estate for your safety. Andy's gone. There is nothing more that can be done. John is at the crime scene right now. Hey, breathe Felicity."

Oliver unbuckled Felicity's seat belt and hauled her to him, rubbing his hands behind her back in a soothing fashion." It took ten minutes to calm Felicity down and stop her sobbing before Oliver felt he could let her go.

"Baby," he called out to her, "it's not safe out here in the open. We have to move." Oliver brushed her tears away, "hey, I won't leave you alone. We just can't spend any more time out in the open. We don't know if this is an attack against the Bratva or a personal attack on Andy as of yet.

Oliver gently pushed pack Felicity to her chair and buckled her up before he started the car once again.

They had traveled about a kilometer when Oliver lost control of his vehicle. Oliver heard what he was sure was a pop of the back wheel then the car did a spin around the road narrowly missing the black SUV tail car.

Gun fire ensured a few seconds after with Felicity's security team taking shots erratically still unsure who or where the enemy was located. One by one, the three men had gone down.

Oliver had pushed Felicity down instinctively then opened her side of the door, the door furthest away from where he thought the shots where coming from. Crawling out first he while getting his phone out to press an emergency number before pulling Felicity out of the car.

Oliver took out a hand gun from the glove compartment and started to fire back but his fire arm was not a match for the high powered gun that whoever was firing held.

Oliver finally heard tires screeched and hoped that it was the Queens security team that was coming to their rescue.

Glancing to his right he noticed a red dot on Felicity's chest and his natural instinct took over diving in front of her before a heavy feeling overtook him.

The last thing he heard was Felicity shouting his name before everything went black.

Ok, that's it guys. End of the chapter. Sorry I had to kill off Andy Diggle, I actually liked him. The next few chapters pick up before we say goodbye to this story.

Next update might take a couple of weeks.