She honestly had no idea how this was going to go. Of course she had known something like this was a possibility, that was why she'd given Intelligence some of her toys and had been working on bettering her friendships here in the city but she still hadn't expected things would get this far. Certainly not this fast. If she'd known Ang was on the verge of throwing a hissy fit… well there wasn't really much she would've done differently. She'd given him the chance to hand over those girls amicably but he hadn't just refused, he'd been a total ass about it and it wasn't like anyone would have expected her to leave them in his care. And she had tried to keep the peace after that, had sent him a very nice bottle of Baijiu, a traditional Chinese liquor but apparently he hadn't appreciated the gesture. Even his henchman Walter Ng going to him surprised her; sure he didn't like Voight, he had sent his nephew to prison but he was the one who'd set him up to take the fall in the first place. Plus he had a notoriously strained relationship with his boss, resulting from his firm desire to work on his own coupled with the knowledge that Ang wasn't going to let him, a point he'd driven home with a few hard lessons. But if anything could draw two people together it was the dislike of a third. And fourth because this might not have escalated so far if Voight hadn't tried to handle it on his own. Or if she hadn't already pissed off Ang. But it didn't matter where the fault lay, though in her mind the majority was with the man who'd used his power so callously.

And so recklessly.

What did Ang think was going to come of this? If he was truly so far gone he wanted her dead, or at least was actually going to try to make his wish come true then he would have given the order to take her out but he hadn't. That he'd tried to take Intelligence out was wild enough, even without her. Was he trying to start a war with the Chicago police department? Did he truly think that wasn't going to backfire on him? Or was he so far gone he didn't care anymore?

Tess really wasn't sure but as Tao led her into his office she figured it out pretty quick. Not from the vicious and victorious looking smirk on his other man Lei's face, or even because there were a lot more guards in the room this time. Six, not including their leader. No, Tess knew that Ang had lost his mind because there was brazier set up beside his desk.

And that was not any old fire poker sitting in the flames.

"You sure this is how you want to play this?" She asked simply, keeping her face as impassive as his own as he gave a slow nod.

"It is."

It really was.

The light of the fire lit up his black eyes, highlighting the ferociousness that kept all these men in line. But this was more than that. There was a glint in his gaze that had nothing to do with the flames, with his status or any perceived slights, though sure as shit that was what was driving him. But she knew that look, was more familiar with it than she'd ever wanted to be. That was madness, pure and simple.

And destructive.

She could fight her way out of here if she wanted to, she didn't think she'd even need to kill any of them, but where would that leave them? Right back here, just with a bigger chip on his shoulder. And maybe it was the one on hers speaking but the idea that they could even just clip her with that iron… That didn't sit right with her. She was not so unaccustomed to pain she needed to avoid it.

"Alright then." His brows rose as she took off her jacket, everyone's did except for rockhead who just started smiling wider, his own maliciousness unable to be contained when she held her right arm out to him. "Get on with it."

The rest of the men stiffened as he grabbed the iron but she refused to look at them, though she could feel Tao's gaze locked fiercely, sadly, on her and distantly hoped no one else noticed.

A lot of people had died on her account, and she knew more would, but she didn't want him to join that list.

Searing heat pressing into her forearm brought her out of her head but Tess kept her eyes on Ang, even when his lunk pushed harder, practically growling because she wasn't giving him the satisfaction of showing her pain. They didn't deserve it. And it wasn't anything she hadn't already experienced. Just a bit bigger. A few more seconds and he ripped it away, definitely growling this time when the men beside him made him back off, though not for her sake. Ang had waved them away, still holding her stare, now with a mixture of victory and rage.

That was also familiar.

"You can go now. But you should remember this. And remember that I am not only the only one who doesn't like you."

There was something about that that made her blood go cold but she just picked up her jacket, running her eyes over him before she shook her head. "Not tonight, but soon you're going to regret this."

"I don't think so."

That rage grew when she shot him a mocking smile and even though she knew he would pay for it that glint of madness had her believing him. Not that it mattered. For now the situation was handled so she kept her head high and walked out, grateful her car waiting out front. The guards at the front doors had wide eyes at the debris covering it but she just hopped inside, already reaching into the glovebox for her first aid kit as it drove away.

"Cas, call Hao Tsin."

A soft ringing filled the car as she stared down at the melted skin on her arm, three connecting lines with the symbol of the organization in the centre. It was ugly, and was going to take a while to heal. And even longer to do anything about it.

"Lóng nǚ. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

She ignored the nickname, dragon woman, affectionately given but she didn't really feel like one right now. "Ang Feng just tried to take out Chicago's Intelligence Unit. When I intervened, he saw fit to brand me."

There was silence on the other end for a long moment, only interrupted by the sound of her opening some gauze before she applied a special ointment and then began to wrap it, and then,

"What are you going to do?" Hao asked calmly but she would have expected no less from one of the heads of one of the worlds biggest criminal organizations.

"I would like to request that you handle him."

There were some quiet murmurs as he caught whoever was with him up to speed, his co-heads Chen Tsin and Jun Nam Cas showed her which was timely. Chen liked her but Jun didn't, a point of contention in their relationship she tried not to exploit.

Most of the time.

"We'll see it done." Hao finally said, shutting down the thoughts of how she would get them to capitulate. "Any other requests?"

Several, but none she felt good about asking for. Except-

"One of his men. Tao. Keep him. The rest of them… Do what you see fit."

"We'll let you know when it's done."

Not caring to continue Tess hung up, giving her arm one last look to make sure it was properly bandaged before cradling it to her chest and slumping into her seat. She was going to have to take something for the pain, she may have been fine inside but she could feel herself crying now, but that was the least of her problems. Because now she had figure out how to explain this to Jay. And to his team.