Lauriver Chronicles

Chapter 81

"Talk to me." Oliver barked as he stormed into the Barracks to find John, Tatsu and Roy waiting for him.

"Shouldn't you be at home with your family?" John asked.

"Who do you think sent me here? Laurel insisted that she was fine with her dad there and Thea agreed. Besides, Frank Bertinelli's been free for far too long. It's time to cross a name off the list." Oliver said, since he still had his father's list, even if he'd veered from it over time, he hadn't forgotten about it, he'd just been preoccupied, though he'd already crossed numerous names off it before he became a more legitimate hero. Names like Ted Gaynor, Adam Hunt, Martin Somers, Justin Clayborne, John Byrne and one that his mother had seemed particularly smug about, Isabel Rochev, was currently in prison on numerous counts of corporate espionage, among other things.

"Well then, it's a good thing that you've a high level Argus agent who wants in on this op." Jake said, dressed not in typical Argus combat gear, but some kind of specialized suit.

"What do you have?" Oliver asked.

"After the hit failed, Bertinelli retreated to the old Dowry Hotel off South Boulevard." Jake said.

"That's his most secure stronghold. Like the place he goes when he's preparing for war." John said.

"Good, because he's about to get one. We're going in shock and awe. They have to know we're coming, so we're not gonna bother with stealth. I want Bertinelli on SCPD's doorstep by morning. Suit up." Oliver growled as they all moved to suit up.

Frank Bertinelli was currently pacing in the penthouse suite of the Dowry hotel after barking orders at his bodyguard to make sure that every floor was properly secured. He knew that if the Green Arrow wasn't coming for him, then Arcane would.

"We cannot leave anything to chance. I know that we were just following orders, but we didn't know that would essentially start a war. We've got members of the Justice League breathing down our necks and right now our best hope is that Green Arrow decides to keep this to his own Star City team and not bring any of the Justice League's heavy hitters into this." Bertinelli said, since he hadn't minded the initial order from the Kingpin of Star City's criminal underworld when it had come in, since while he'd been expecting police attention, he had not been expecting a founding member of the Justice League to take an interest in it.

"Don't worry Mr. Bertinelli, we've taken every precaution. The entire hotel is on lockdown. We've got our best guys on this floor, guarding the hallway and the balcony and we've got snipers on the roof of this building and every other building nearby, not to mention the crapload of hitters we've got positioned on every floor. I swear, it's like you've got more hitters tonight than we have and I doubt Arcane or Dragon would've loaned you any of their men." his bodyguard, T.J. said.

"An unrelated third party offered assistance. And they also provided me with this." Bertinelli said as he pulled out some kind of syringe.

"What is it?" T.J. asked.

"Some kind of super steroid. I don't know what it'll do, but the man who provided it has been very helpful. Bertinelli said.

"You trust an unknown man who provided you with god knows what?" T.J. asked.

"Considering the amount I made him pay for it, you can trust that it'll do what I promised." a male Australian voice said and T.J. turned to see Deathstroke standing on the doorstep.

"Deathstroke. I didn't know that you were here." T.J. said.

"When I realized there was a chance that I could wind up facing a masked freak, I figured it would be best to get one of my own. And while this guy was not cheap, my sources tell me that he's worth every penny." Bertinelli said.

"Especially since I have my own personal reasons for wanting to put Green Arrow down." Deathstroke said.

"Hey, I have no problem with it, since from what I hear, he's not the first masked maniac you've crossed paths with. But I doubt I'll need it. I was a champion boxer before I joined up." T.J. said.

"And Green Arrow can cut through you like a piece of bread. I can handle him, I'd think that you'd want more of an edge." Deathstroke said, since unlike anyone else in this building, he knew exactly how pissed Oliver was going to be after that stunt with his family. After all, he'd never shut up about Laurel and his baby sister Thea while they were on the island together and Slade knew that you did not mess with a man's family, especially his kids, unless you wanted a war. Which is exactly that Bertinelli had done.

"I can handle him and his merry bunch." T.J. said.

"No you can't. After all, he's the one who took my eye." Deathstroke admitted, lifting his helmet to reveal his eyepatch.

"Is that why you want him dead?" Bertinelli asked.

"No. I have a far greater reason than that. But I hope that you're ready, because right now, they're here. And they are not going to stop until everyone who works for you is in the hospital or behind bars." Slade said.

"You think they'll kill?" Bertinelli asked.

"I think the only people who need to worry about that are me and you, but more you, since I can take that kid with my good eye closed. You are defenseless against him." Slade said.

"Which is why I paid you so much for this serum. I just hope it delivers. Now both of you, go do what I pay you for." Bertinelli said and both of them nodded as they returned to their positions as the battle began.