SFSD-X Smackdown Challenge ✔️

4.4 Gangsta (Nothing Personal)

4 - Nothing Personal

It turned out that the FBI task force Uncle Lenny was working for was more like an international cop shop to hunt superhumans who had committed some sort of crime around the world. Apparently, not all of the global clans were as morally ambitious as ours. So far, Areena's crimes had been limited to petty theft and burglaries but by killing the guards, she got herself on the 'Most Wanted' list.

It took Uncle Lenny not even two weeks to track her down and instead of spending Thanksgiving with my beloved family and showing off my new girlfriend, I was forced to board a plane to Barbados. Now, you might think that's not too bad - after all, who wouldn't want to spend a few days in November in the sun and not the freezing city - but that is only because you never had any of my mom's home baked apple pie. That stuff is epic and only prepared once a year, so I was heartbroken that I would miss it.

On top of that, I got stuck with Scooter. Scooter was another one of those very distant relatives Uncle Lenny called cousins and lived in London, so he was not at all upset to miss a turkey dinner in lieu of the sight of gorgeous girls in flimsy bikinis. I have to admit, if I hadn't still licked my wounds over the whole Areena disaster, I probably would have felt like I was walking on cloud nine - even the best apple pie can't compete with a beauty in swimwear.

My heart soared accordingly when I saw Areena stretched out by the pool. She had changed her appearance again, her hair now the color of a shiny raven and cut in a spiky style, but her curves were more delicious than ever. The once pale skin had turned into a golden glimmer which I wanted to taste with hundreds of little kisses. I had to remind myself that she was a cold-hearted murder and lying skank to keep my body parts halfway under control.

She wasn't even surprised to see me when I walked up to her, probably able to sense my energy.

"Oh, Michael," she said, squinting up at me over the rim of her sunglasses. "Be a dear and put more sun lotion on me. I'm burning up."

Being the good lapdog I was, I actually followed her instructions. She rolled on her stomach and I began to squirt the oil on her, the light scent of coconut robbing me of my remaining senses. I wanted to show her my hotel suite more than anything.

"So are you here to collect your share?" she asked.

I started to massage the oil into her shoulders, my finger kneading softly her warm skin. "You know why I'm here. You broke the number one rule of our species."

She rolled on her back. "You're not really here to kill me, are you?" She pouted. "I thought we love each other."

The words cut into my soul like a knife. "You betrayed me, Areena. You left me behind to take the fall and I would hardly call that love."

She laughed in that way that had always driven me insane. "It was nothing personal. Besides, I knew you would lie your way out of this mess - that's just the kind of guy you are."

She apparently had more belief in me than I. "I almost lost my job and could have gone to prison."

"But you didn't. You never fired your gun, so there was no way they could ever prove that you intended to shoot anyone." Her fingers ran along my upper arm which turned my insides to burning coals, but I successfully stifled the urge to kiss her.

"If I hadn't pretended we were total strangers, they could have gotten me for Felony Murder. I just got lucky because I was a cop and they believed me."

She grabbed my shirt with both hands and pulled me closer. "That was all part of the plan." Our lips were only inches apart. "That's why we chose you. When we first met at the diner, we didn't stake out the bank - we came there for you. Every morning, you'd visit that place like clockwork - always coffee and donuts to go. The rest was easy peasy."

My lips twisted in anger when the full extent of her betrayal sank in and I pulled away. My eyes darted around, trying to find Vinnie. "So where is Vinnie?"

She rolled her eyes. "Off somewhere. Forget him - he has nothing on you."

I was sure she was just trying to lure me back under her spell to use me again. "So you're telling me you two are not an item?"

"Oh, we're an item alright." She smirked. "Technically speaking, he's my husband."

I almost choked on my spit.

"We tied the knot a few years back" - she beamed - "but have somewhat of an open marriage." Her eyes were devouring me. "You're much better in bed."

My whole skin prickled when my lips crushed down on her - she was like a drug. I knew she was just messing with my emotions, but in that moment, I didn't care. After everything I had been through, I deserved one more glimpse at perfection.

She purred like a kitten when I picked her up and carried her off to my room. Her arm was wrapped around my neck and she played with the tips of my hair, oblivious when I injected her with the little device that would prevent her from using any of her powers. An hour later, I was in heaven, holding her tightly in front of my body while she was twitching in her early sleep.

I waited until her breath was totally even before sliding out of bed. The gun was small and only held one bullet but that was all I needed. Without hesitation, I rested the silencer against her temple.

"Sorry, honey, it's nothing personal."

I squeezed my eyes shut when I pulled the trigger. The low pop was hardly audible and I watched for a moment as the blood spilled from her wound before trying to find a pulse with two fingers. She was dead. Somehow, I felt relief and I swore to myself that I would never stray from my duties as a superhuman again. Wanting to be a gangster had really been a ridiculous idea.