Number 06 │ A Leverage Fanfiction

The Inside Job | Part 1

The warehouse smelled of gun oil and metal. Under the flickering light, Xiang Ji stood before me, flanked by two men who looked like they'd rather be breaking bones than selling merchandise.

"They're new models, just came in." His voice was thick with a Beijing accent as he gestured to the table lined with weapons.

I picked up a Beretta Nano, rolling it in my palm. Compact. Sleek. Nice weight.

"Lasers? Scope?" I asked in Mandarin, testing the slide.

Xiang Ji smirked, amused. "Magazines, stabilizers, all here. But tell me, this is a lot of firepower for a girl."

I shrugged. "A girl can have hobbies."

He chuckled. "Hobbies?" His men joined in, their laughter low and mocking. Then his expression hardened. "Do you have my money?"

I tilted my head toward the heavy duffle bag slung over my shoulder.

"Great," Xiang Ji said with a grin. "You can leave it here."

Then—a chorus of clicks filled the room.

All three men had their guns aimed at me.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk... this is not how you do business, Mr. Xiang."

A swift pivot—I slammed an elbow into the nearest man's jaw, twisting his wrist until his gun clattered to the floor.

The second guard moved to shoot, but I kicked off a crate, using the momentum to land a well-placed jab to his throat. He choked, staggering back. Before he could recover, I wrenched the gun out of his hand, twisted his arm, and sent him face-first into a stack of ammo boxes. The metal containers rattled as he slumped against them, dazed.

Xiang Ji cursed and fired. I twisted, the bullet grazing past my shoulder as I closed the distance in three strides. His eyes widened—too slow. I grabbed his wrist, redirected the gun upwards, and slammed my knee into his stomach.

The first man was back, swinging a baton. I caught it mid-swing, yanking him forward before delivering a sharp headbutt that sent him sprawling.

Then—my phone rang.

I ducked a punch, snatched the phone from my pocket, and answered—one-handed, mid-fight.

"Yup."

Even as I spoke, I parried a punch, driving my elbow into the second man's jaw. He crumpled.

Sophie's voice crackled through the speaker. "Sky, Parker's in trouble. We need you at Parker's Place."

I grunted, when a fist drove through my stomach, barely feeling the pain before I caught the attacker's arm and flipped him face-first into a crate.

"Yup. Be right there."

"...What?—wait, what are you doing? What's all that noise?!"" Sophie asked, hearing the distant grunts and impacts.

I grabbed Xiang Ji by the collar and slammed his head into a crate. Wood splintered. His body went limp.

The warehouse was silent now, all three men unconscious at my feet.

"Shopping," I replied smoothly, grabbing the duffel bag of weapons and slinging my own bag of money over my shoulder.

I turned on my heel and walked out.

"On my way."

<>

The deep rumble of my bike engine faded as I pulled up in front of an old warehouse, the exterior worn down by time and neglect. Cutting the engine, I pulled off my helmet, shaking out my hair as I swung my leg over the seat.