Vixen

Intruders

Chapter: Eight

Location: Chicago, La Ochoa

Lena had cleared the place out for the evening but it didn't erase the mess left behind. Empty glasses of wine from foreign vineyards rested on tables, chairs, and even the floor.

"You would think these people knew how to clean up after themselves," Lena huffed drawing her hair back into a messy pony tail. Without saying anything I joined her in the cleaning process.

Trey was no where to be seen and was most likely holed up in his room. The kid certainly had guts, that much I gave him credit for, but he was reckless. Lena couldn't afford another reckless member in her family. It was recklessness that had forced her father into prison.

The clinking of glasses to my left indicated Brooklyn's late arrival (she had followed me desperately) and her silent help. Her eyes drooped slightly and I wondered if the evening was finally taking its toll on her.

"So, what's this meeting for?" Lena questioned. She straightened to her full height, eyes casting a glare down on Brooklyn and I.

With careful precision I detailed what Clarke and I had discovered never once stopping in my task. The room began to retain some of its previous cleanliness. Only, as it grew pristine I became disheveled.

The ends of my fingers were stained with smudges of color caused by cleaning spilled wine. My hair fell in awkward and loose strands around my face and a slight sweat beaded on the back of my neck. The pleasure of exertion was always an odd thing.

"If I'm understanding correctly, the government made a huge plot to kill off important families. People who ran banks, politics, real estate, etc. so that the children of those families would grow up and take over their inheritance." Lena paused for a moment seeming to organize her thoughts, "When those children grow up they fight the criminals that 'supposedly' killed their families. Ultimately, having them wipe out the underworld that the government hasn't been able to do for years. Then, with the underworld gone, the government doesn't have an external financial or political threat."

"Yes," I nodded adjusting a chair, "and they'll have those children who own massive industries and financial power at their disposal. In the end, the government pockets control over all aspects of major economic and social influence."

"So my parents, and Niklas' parents, were all killed by government agents who might have hired other criminals?" Brooklyn had taken a seat at the edge of the stage where her head rested in her hands. It was a lot to take in, and as Clarke had been quite for some time upon this revelation, Brooklyn had done the same up until now.

"Yes."

"Good God," Brooklyn breathed. Her dark hair shielded her face from view but I could only guess that her expression was one of confused grief.

"But they're mad aren't they? That's why they tried to kill you and Clarke, it's also why they killed Dwyer." Lena pursed her lips in contemplation. "Which means anyone associated with you and Clarke, or Brooklyn and König, is also in danger. They messed up with the plan and want to get rid of their mistakes in order to start from scratch."

"Yes, they'll do anything to clean up the mess they made." Brooklyn's attention was captured by Lena's realization.

"I'm putting all of you in danger?"

"It's not your fault. I'm in danger as it is, and so is Clarke." My words didn't ease the other girl's concerns.

"Brooklyn, I-I'm starting to understand why you cleared your history. It's dark and dangerous and you probably wanted a bit of a fresh start." Lena cringed at her words never one to enjoy issuing an apology, "but it would have been nice to at least know the connection you had to König."