Bloodlust (John Wick) *COMPLETED*

Chapter Ten

JOHN

I could see the emotions running through Lydia's mind as soon as she stepped foot into my room, her eyes gave her away. Shock, disgust, betrayal, sadness and anger the very same emotions I was currently going through at the situation I'd found myself in with Perkins of all people. When I opened my door only minutes earlier expecting Lydia, Perkins pretty much forced herself into my room and started to kiss me. If Lydia had just stayed I could have explained this had nothing to do with me and that Perkins had to be up to something, but I had to be honest with myself that if I was in Lydia's shoes I too would have run away.

'What the hell Perkins,' I hissed, shoving the assassin off of me.

Perkins pretends to wipe her lip, a victorious fire in her eyes, 'oh John I never expected it to be this easy. I thought you'd be harder to crack.'

I straighten my tie, 'who sent you Perkins? Tell me!'

The next thing I know Perkins pulls a knife out of her waistband and throws it at my head, but I'm able to dodge out of the way and pull my gun, 'Viggo sends his regards,' she laughs, throwing her head back.

Before I can pull the trigger Perkins lunges at me, pulling another knife seemingly out of thin air. It was against the rules to conduct business in The Continental, yet Viggo had managed to pay Perkins to break the rules and kill me. I drop my gun as the knife comes down at my throat able to catch the blade between my hands, cutting both my palms.

'You don't want to do this Perkins,' I growl, trying to wrestle the knife from her.

'But I do John,' she snarls, putting more force on the knife handle which inched ever so closer to ending my life.

Bringing my knees up I grunt as I extend them and manage to kick Perkins off me, the knife falling to the ground next to me. Perkins groans as she tries to get up, but I roll over and land a punch in her face knocking her out.

Taking a few seconds to catch my breath, I stand up and examine my hands not bothered by the blood because the cuts would heal over time. I rush over to the phone and pick it up dialling Winston's number.

'Johnathan--'

'We have a problem Winston,' I gunt, cutting him off.

'What's the problem?' Winston asks, voice calm.

'I'm the problem,' Perkins snarls from behind me.

Something heavy comes down on the back of my head sending me dropping to my knees, dropping the phone. After a couple more hits, I find myself blacking out.

-Time Skip-

When I come back around to the land of the living I grab my head which was pounding and sit up, expecting to be still in my room, but I was in Winston's office. Blinking a few times to ease the pain I take note of white bandages around both my hands and in front of me on a glass table was a glass of whiskey.

'Nice to see you awake Johnathan, getting sloppy having your back turned against an assassin,' Winston jokes, sitting behind his desk sipping his own drink.

I grunt and pick up my own glass and down the contents, 'Viggo paid her--'

'Perkins will get what's coming to her John, rules and consequences. I knew you wouldn't intentionally set out to hurt Lydia,' Winston cuts me off, voice no longer jokey but deadly serious.

I gulp, 'where is Lydia? Is she safe?'

Winston shakes his head, 'she checked out, said she'd stay at her dad's until she could make funeral arrangements before going back to England.'

I put the glass down forcefully nearly shattering it, not wanting to be the reason Lydia left New York again, 'tell me what to do Winston.'

Winston hums, 'go after her, she loves you and you love her. Don't mess up your second chance at happiness Johnathan. If you do end up hurting her again then watch your back.'

I don't need to be told twice about my actions having consequences, I needed to get to Lydia and explain everything. Grabbing my jacket I slip it on and stand up. Winston simply watches me with some amusement behind his eyes. I could rely on him to deal with Perkins, after all, he had a reputation to keep if he wanted to keep his hotel.

My car is already waiting for me outside, and I tip the employee, though I suspected Winston already had this prepared, always two steps ahead of all of us. 

The drive doesn't take me long, and before I know it I'm stopping outside Marcus's. The house looks fine from the outside though no lights could be a bad sign. I bring my gun out and make my way inside unnoticed by anyone on the sidewalk.

The house was empty, Lydia was nowhere in sight, though she couldn't have been gone long since the kettle was still warm and there was an empty mug in the drying rack. I enter the dining room and find a bunch of crematorium leaflets scattered across the table, but only one catches my interest since Lydia had taken the time to circle the name.

Marcus was adamant about being cremated since he didn't want anyone to be able to do stuff with his DNA once he was deceased, so Lydia was abiding by her father's wishes. Lydia also wanted to be cremated, not because of DNA but because the idea of bugs eventually entering her coffin and eating her didn't appeal to her. I was unsure what I wanted when I died, I guess assassins lived with death hanging over us, maybe I was in some sort of denial that death would struggle to get me. If Lydia and I ever resolved our issues she'd nag me to make plans, and I'd probably let her nag me.

The house phone rings, making me drop the leaflets and pick up the gun. I edge towards the ringing phone wondering who could be calling Marcus since he was dead, and as far as anyone was aware Lydia was staying at The Continental. I pick up the phone and a familiar Russian voice clears their throat.

'Ah Johnathan, I take it Lydia is occupied. I've decided to go back on my deal with her, one less assassin in the world who could come after me in the future,' Viggo speaks matter of factly, before hanging up the phone.

I slam it down, of course, Viggo would go back on a deal, but exactly what kind of deal had Lydia made with him? I didn't have time to dwell on the details I needed to find Lydia, and I take a stab in the dark assuming she was at the crematorium she'd circled. I just hoped I could get there before Viggo.