Mobster Boy

12

The game is over in a flurry of activity. Ash is sent to retrieve the accountant from his hotel room. Not even an hour later he returns. "I got him." The taciturn man hands over the accountant, pushing him towards Chance with a firm hand on the center of his back. The accountant looks petrified, shaking from head to toe. It strikes a chord of sympathy is me. 'I was him not that long ago.'

"Relax. We're not the ones who want to hurt you." Chance shoots me a silencing glare, probably not happy I'd spoken for him. After all, if this accountant were working for Giovanni, Chance might not spare any pity for him at all...

"...Just tell us what happened." With shaking hands, the accountant tries to smooth back his hair.

"Your father..." Chance's face hardens. "G-Giovanni Santora knows I met with you. He sent men to kill me."

"And?" Phaedra asks, her tone deadly. I can see Ash's shoulders square up.

"I took care of them." Normally his presence is unobtrusive, like a shadow. But when there's tension, his whole aura sharpens into something that can fill a room. "He's lucky I arrived when I did." He crosses his arms over his chest.

"He might be able to help more, for the proof we need. After all, he owes us now. And Giovanni definitely doesn't want him." I offer, trying to help the terrified man out a little.

"But how much worth is a dead man's debt?" Marcus asks me, and even though I don't won't to, I'm inclined to agree.

"I already squeezed those files and reports out of you. Do you have anything else you conveniently..." Chance steps closer to the man, emphasizing the obvious difference in their height as the accountant is forced to look up. "...Forgot...to share with me?" He folds his arms, staring coolly down at the other man.

"Y...Yes...I mean no!" I want to face palm at the idiocy of this man.

"So you were holding out on us." Hideyoshi glares at him, and I sigh.

"No, I swear, I-I didn't have these then or I would have given them to you!" He holds out a briefcase to Chance, handle out. Ash steps in and takes it for him, opening it in another corner of the room. 'Does he think there's a bomb in there?' It's only after I think that, that I realize hidden bombs in suitcases wouldn't be too farfetched a threat. 'Does Ash know how to defuse a bomb?' Was my next thought after that.

"Mmm. Marcus, go over those and see if they're worth anything." Chance orders.

"On it." Once Ash is finished with the case he hands it to Marcus.

"What should I do with him?" Ash nods to the accountant. After thinking on it, Chance relents.

"He can stay here for a while, for protection." 'Well, doesn't that sound oh so familiar.' 

"Sure. He can take my spare room." Marcus offers, and I gape at him.

"Why didn't I get the spare room?" He gives me a teasing grin, almost smug.

"Spare rooms are for clients only. And you can't afford me." I know that's true, but that doesn't stop me from arguing.

"You don't know that! How much does it cost?" I ask, glaring at him.

"If you have to ask, you can't afford it." Marcus chuckles at me and I cross my arms over my chest.

"That's BS." Marcus just shrugs and leads the accountant away with the briefcase in hand. I look to Chance for backup, only to see he isn't even paying attention to us. He's smiling to himself, eyes lost in thought.