The Bowery King was a man who had built his way from the ground up, with nothing but a small loan from the Lyon family and his own pure will he had survived in a cruel world. Now he watched as his men drug in two wounded individuals who were partly responsible for his lot in life, Ruth Lyon and John Wick.. How the tables did turn.
As soon as they had been patched up the Wicks were led to the Bowery King who waved his hands wide with a dramatic air.
"As I live and breathe!
John Wick.
The man.
The myth.
The legend."
His eyes moved to Ruth and he smirked "And Ruth Wick. The Lion who married the boogeyman... You two are not very good at retiring."
John looked at his wife whose face looked like it was made of stone, Ruth hated when people she didn't truly trust knew things about her. So John just shrugged and replied, "We're workin' on it."
The Bowery King smirked and looked to his men "Mr. Wick doesn't remember, but we met many years ago, before my ascension... When I was just a pawn in the game. We met and you gave me a gift, the gift that would make me a king. You don't remember, but there I was, standing in an alleyway. I didn't even hear you comin'. You gave me this." He gestured to his neck where two scars sat and he gave a wry smile "Gift from the Boogeyman. Perfect for every occasion. But you also gave me a choice. Pull my gun,
shoot you in the back, and die, or keep the pressure on my neck...and live. And so you see, I survived."
Ruth moved forward "Do you want to tell him who found you in that alley?"
A smirk appeared on the King's face "The Old Lion King himself... Took me home patched me up, said he "saw something in me." So you see both of you gave me a gift, no one sneaks up on me anymore. I am all-seeing and all-knowing."
"Then you know why we're here."
"Santino D'Antonio, yes. Your contract went wide, John. That's bad for your health." He glanced at one of his men "What's the number up to now, Earl?"
"Seven million dollars apiece!"
"It's Christmas. We're going to Applebee's after this."
Ruth rolled her eyes in annoyance, this was what she hated about the Bowery King.. He couldn't stay serious. John stepped forward "We need your help. You have eyes begging for change on every corner in the city. I'm thinkin' you can find Santino. I need you to move me. Underground. Get me to him."
Behind Johns's back Ruth gave the Bowery King a look that spoke volumes.. He was in her family's debt, a debt that could never be paid... And he would do this thing. And he read her message loud and clear but the Bowery King had to keep poking at John
"How sweet it is The Boogeyman begging me for help. Well, of course, John Yes, John. Whatever you'd like, John.
Would you like a back rub with that, John?"
"You're going to help us."Ruth said stepping up to join John and the Bowery King raised an eyebrow in fake curiosity "Why would I do that?"
"Because we're the only ones that can help you." John told him making the Bowery King laugh "You're gonna help me out? That's downright upright of you, Mr. Wick. You sound positively magnanimous. But look around you." He gestured around his kingdom "How much help does it look like I need? It seems to me that the real question, Mr. Wick, is who in this cruel world of ours.. is going to help you?"
Ruth sighed but decided to continue John's thought "There's a storm coming. Not just for me and John. For all of us. For everyone under the Table."
"Yes, killing someone who has a seat at the High Table does create a problem. But it's your problem, baby. After all, none of my people sent Gianna D'Antonio... to the hereafter."
"That being said, Santino has her seat now. And he wants the city." John told him "When he's done uptown, you think he's gonna stop at 14th Street?"
"We'll just have to take care of ourselves."
"Oh, yeah? For how long? And how much blood?"
Ruth smirked "My father won't be there to rescue you this time "Bowery King"."
The Bowery King considered the two before John spoke "You kill Santino, the Camorra, and the High Table come for you. Ruth and I kill Santino, they come for us."
"He's offered $7 million apiece for your lives. That's $14 million dollars.. $14 million dollars is a lot of money, Mr. Wick."
John nodded "So I guess you have a choice. You want a war? Or do you wanna just give me and Ruth a gun?"
YOU ARE READING
Ashes to AshesJohn WickXOC
ActionThe Lyon family is basically assassin royalty, everyone knows you dont mess with them. They sit at the top of the business, if someone needs to disappear you go to them. Ruth Lyon was the first female born into the family in a hundred years she was...
