Unshackled

Unacceptable

TW: violence, torture implied

It was after midnight when the two cars carrying Chang Gang pulled into the driveway of the Clean Manor. They parked amongst the other gathered cars, K's buggy and Ramee's Bentley squeezing into place near RUST and Mandem vehicles. The six CG members that had been tapped to come to the meeting spilled out of the cars, all of them together looking like an oil spill, dressed in black with their CG chains sparkling on their chests. 

K led the way, flanked by Ray and April, followed by Ramee, Vinny and Garrett. The entrance of the mansion was crowded with RUST, Mandem and former Cleanbois. Eyes drawn to their entrance, a path was made for them to pass, and they headed toward the dining area. They met Yuno at the table, and he gestured for them to follow him into the office. Vinny and Garrett took up stations outside the office, eyeing the rest of the crowd silently. 

The eyes of those in the office similarly were drawn to the darkly clad group entering the office. Yuno went to the desk and stood behind Lang Buddha's chair where the man himself was presiding over the affair. On one side of the room stood Raymond Romanov with his boys Chem and Perez. He gave Ray a smile, the skin around his injured eye already darkened into a bruise. 

Across from them, the Mandem  were represented by Tommy, with SK on his left and Patar on his right. He wouldn't yet look at Ray, but he nodded to K respectfully. Sparky met no one's eye, his gaze firmly planted on the ground. His expression was sullen, if not completely hostile. Obviously he thought he hadn't done anything wrong. K was not impressed by his attitude. But rather than get right into it, he acknowledged the owner of the house.

"Buddha, thank you for opening your home to us," he said. 

"It's my pleasure," Buddha responded, his eyes hidden behind round sunglasses. "Please, feel free to begin, Mr K."

K nodded in response. He walked forward of his group, between the two other gang leaders. "We're here to address the insult to members of our gang," he began, gesturing to his group. "A tweet was sent that essentially called Ray and April prostitutes and accused our gang of using them for monetary gain. These women are fully blooded members of Chang Gang. They are our sisters. Our daughters. Women that should be honored by everyone in the city. But they've been dishonored instead! And as valued members of Chang Gang, this dishonor will not be easily forgotten." He turned to Tommy. "While I will not dishonor them further by speaking this vile man's name, what does the Mandem have to say regarding this insult?"

Tommy stood up straight and took a step forward. "As the leader of the Mandem, I must tell you that our gang does not support this statement made by one of our members, nor do we approve of it." He turned and looked at Ray and April. "And as your friend, I will say I'm sorry that someone close to me has insulted and hurt you." Turning back to K he continued. "All I am here to do is bargain for his life, but I realize and agree that there must be consequences for the actions he has taken."    

"I agree," Raymond Romanov interjected. "Although I was also insulted by this man's tweet, I will forgo any claim for vengeance as long as the insult to Ray and April is addressed and properly... dealt with."

Tommy nodded. "I also wanted to apologize to you, Raymond. I realize you were also targeted by that tweet, and unfairly so. We might have... similar goals," he admitted, "but I would never agree to stoop to those kinds of insults."

Romanov merely nodded in reply, his arms crossed in front of him. K looked back and forth between the two men. Turning, he looked back at Ray, who reddened slightly under his gaze. "Ahhh..." he said to himself. "I see."

He turned back around and looked at Yuno. "As Ray Mond's brother, do you have anything to add to this, Yuno?"

"I am strictly neutral, here, Mr K," Yuno said, shaking his head. "Ray can fight her own battles. I'm just here to make sure it's fair to her and April."