Tares City

91. Kennedy City

Luke Kennedy had to wait four more days until the elections, but that was just a formality at this point. The city saw him as mayor already. They saw him as their protector.

He enjoyed watching them attack Munson, watching him fumble over excuses and accusations. He saw the defeat in his opponent's eyes the moment they started questioning him. It was worse when he let it slip that he knew about their existence. Luke was able to turn that against him, further burying his rival. This was a race he'd already won.

Another victory in his bag was his over the organization. He'd taken apart what was left of the Berlin organization, leaving nothing but an empty building he intended to purchase. He wanted it all. And he would have it.

In the street, his hunters were free to accost any Lycans they came across. They walked with vaporized L-XV, sending any who were nearby into frenzied. Dangers to be removed. Under his campaign, Luke introduced training for first responders, furthering his impact and declarations to protect and help the city protect itself.

With all the L-XV they distributed, there were more sightings than ever. Playing perfectly with his plan.

All he had to do now was secure this alleged cure and Vincent Rockwell. Arrow Berlin was no longer a problem. She couldn't rebuild life as a hunter even if she tried. He had a close eye on her pets, waiting to track them straight to her.

The only unknown that bothered him was Elmaan Berlin. He had no lead on his whereabouts and no idea where to start on him, either. He figured his best shot was Arrow, but as of now, Elmaan wasn't a problem.

~

Beside him, his son Jerald said lazily in his chair, a cigar between his lips. Next to him was his sister Josie with a glass of wine in her hands. Luke himself had a glass of his now favorite bourbon while his youngest son, Josh, paced the room. "Josh, seriously. Enough with the temper tantrum." Josie sighs. "You need to give up on this girl. Seriously, how is she possibly worth all the trouble?"

"She is," Josh replies, coming to a stop. "I would have gotten through to her, I know it. I need to get that mutt out of the picture. Dad, you have to give him back to me. Let me kill it. Find another to be your camera pup."

"I've already let you torture the thing, Josh. Are you not sated?" Luke sighs.

"Does he look sated?" Josie fires back sarcastically.

With an angry groan, Josh barges out of the room, leaving the three of them. "Jer," Luke calls his son.

"Yeah, Dad?"

"This girl is a problem. She's a distraction. See to it, please."

"Yes, sir."

"What about Josh? He loves her." Josie asks sipping her wine.

"He will get over it," Luke says dismissively.

"That's what you get for spoiling him rotten." Josie murmurs, Luke glaring at his daughter.

~

In the sub-levels of their organization's main building, Josh walks up to the cage. "Jensen Carter." He whispers to the trapped Lycan who no longer banged at his confines. Burn marks and scarring covered his body, and he sat hunched over, panting.

"Look at me, mutt!" Josh yells at him. "She will be mine."