Jughead watched Ghoulie's headquarters. He was mainly looking for one guy, Malachi. He knew that he liked to hide in the shadows, keeping himself out of sight, but he wasn't out of Jughead's mind. Jughead was currently watching the place through a pair of binoculars, waiting to see if Malachi would appear.

Jughead had to admit he was pissed as hell that this goon – this goon – was the one who got the jump on his girlfriend. It was infuriating to think about. How could he be the one to cause the formidable Betty Cooper to fall? It didn't make sense to him, and he didn't think it would.

Watching the front of the building, Jughead saw Malachi exit the warehouse, keeping his eyes on his phone. Now would be the perfect opportunity to attack; to ambush, but Jughead didn't have any of his men with him. And he wasn't stupid enough to attack without them.

Malachi walked around the side of the building, disappearing, and Jughead drove off. He sure as shit did not want to get caught in the parking lot.

XXX

Pulling up to the apartment complex twenty minutes later, he got off his motorcyle, looking around the grounds. No signs of Malachi or any of his men following him. There was good in that at least.

Bounding up the stairs, he typed in the passcode and was granted entrance to his own home. Walking inside, he spotted the various Serpents in different parts of the house, but only had his sights for one. Seeing her in the living room, talking quietly to Hiram and Veronica, Jughead hurried towards her. "Hey, Betts."

"Hey," she greeted him with a gentle kiss to his lips, pulling back a moment later. "Was that, okay?"

She was so good.

So, so good.

" Yeah, baby. That was more than okay," he was quick to assure her. He looked at Hiram. "Malachi isn't surrounded by a lot of people in the morning. I think it's our best time to attack."

Betty looked at him in alarm. "Did you go see Malachi? On your own?"

He sighed because he wasn't going to lie to her. He wasn't ever going to lie to her. "Yes, I did. And I know that scares you, but I promise you, I was safe."

Betty sighed quietly, nodding her head the next moment. "That's the most I can ask for. Thank you."

He took his turn to press a kiss to her lips, cradling her neck as he did so. Then he was looking at Hiram, who was calling for the other Serpents. Once they had emerged and converged in the living room, Hiram spoke. "Jughead has found a weak spot in the man known as Malachi Gomez."

"Shit, you went on your own?" Sweet Pea huffed. "Where's the fun in not telling us? We could have made it a party."

Jughead laughed, shaking his head at his righthand man while Ronnie laid a hand on his arm. "What did you find out, Jug?"

"He's alone in the mornings," Jughead said. "From about eight to ten in the morning, he's not surrounded by any of the dicks he works with. I think it's our best time to ambush him."

"And" Betty asked. "What exactly are you going to do when you ambush him?"

"Easy, blondie," Sweet Pea sent her a wolfish grin. "Hit him where it hurts."

"Sweet Pea," Betty said, tone somewhat patient. "I appreciate that even after two years you're still protective as fuck of me, but Malachi doesn't care who he hurts. And he has the means to hurt us all."

"Blondie," Sweet Pea drawled. "Shut the fuck up and accept the help we're offering."

Betty glared at him, with the taller smirking at her kindly, and Hiram was speaking in quiet tones a moment later. "So, Mija. The question is, what do you want us to do?"

She looked at Toni, then Ronnie, and Jughead watched as her resolve became steely. "Do what you have to; what you must. Just don't get yourselves killed in the process for the love of God."

Jughead laughed, pressing another kiss to her lips then her forehead. "Ye of so little faith, baby."

Joaquin barked out a laugh. "I'd literally kill to see Malachi try and end us."

Sweet Pea cracked the window, lighting a cigarette the next minute. "Me too. The guy is an idiot, and he'll never know what hit him when we catch up to him."

Jughead knew how much truth was in Sweet Pea's words. Malachi was an idiot and he'd be begging them to end him by the time they were through with him. Jughead didn't take kindly to anyone threatening his girl, let alone beat her and shattering her knee so badly, she had to walk with a cane.

She looked at Toni. "What do you think?"

Toni looked at Cheryl, smirking slightly the next moment. "I mean, I think I know what I would want to be done on behalf of myself. If these men – and women – can protect you, then what's the harm in it? You always said you wanted revenge on the ones who hurt you dearly."

Betty sighed, thinking about her friend's words. Then Ronnie spoke up. "Let us do this for you, Betty. Let us help bring you closure. It's been two long years without you and none of us – not one – want to see you leave again. Trust us to handle Malachi and the matters that concern him."

Betty looked around at all of them, studying them in kind, before she tucked herself under Jughead's shoulder and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Do your worst."

The worst they would do.

And Malachi wouldn't know what had hit him when they did.

Jughead, for one, couldn't wait for that fucking day.

Author's note: Now this one. I don't know if I'll get anymore updated today or not – I think I'm battling a sinus infection – but I hope you like this and, as always, leave me your thoughts! Xx