A Man of Service A John Wick Fanfic

Chapter 11

T/W – adult situations, swearing, angst.

Kate headed back to The Continental and was determined to face Winston. Where did they take John? Winston knew shit that hadn't even happened yet. He had to know where they would take John. Kate had to know if he was still alive. How anyone survived a fall like that was almost a miracle.

She entered the hotel, busy with people cleaning up the messes and headed for the roof, where Winston conducted most of his business. Kate threw the glass doors open and went to Winston immediately; she suddenly felt fearless.

Winston covered his other cheek. "Are you back to finish the job?"

"Fuck you," she barked at him. "Where are they taking John?"

He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "How would I know? I thought he was dead."

"You know when someone is just about to brush their teeth," she frowned. "You know where they took him."

Winston waved his hand and turned his back to her. "He's dead. Move on Kate."

Kate thought a moment and eased her approach. "Look, Winston. I spoke to him. He was alive after the fall. I want to make sure he's getting the care he needs. I need to find him. He's been a friend to you and now you could help him."

"I told John that it's always better to be killed by a friend than an enemy. I've done my bit."

"Then do it for me. Please," she pleaded. "Please Winston."

"Why should I? Have you been a friend to me? Did you take even an hour to have a drink with me? Did you?" he asked forcefully.

"No," she admitted. "And I'm sorry. But I wanted to be with John. Is that so bad?"

"Well, how has that turned out for you?" he questioned her cruelly.

Kate watched his eyes, powerful blue eyes that sparkled with malice and knew her approach was going to have to change if she wanted anything from him.

"What do you want?" she asked, pretending to act defeated.

Winston gave a victory smile. "I've always liked that question."

"Well?"

"Let's just start simply. Drinks and dinner."

"To tell me where John is, you want me to have drinks and dinner with you?" she asked, confused.

"And whatever else may develop," he added, coarsely. "You'll leave the door open now, won't you?"

Kate's eyes closed for a moment to soak this all in. "You, in other words, are hoping this will turn into sex?"

Winston's eyes opened wide. "Well, my dear, I'm only asking you to leave the possibility open. I certainly wouldn't FORCE you. That is repulsive. But I would find it stimulating to share a woman with John Wick."

Her jaw dropped open. "In other words, what you really want is to have me and hurt John at the same time?"

Winston didn't answer and walked away from her.

Kate thought a moment. "Fine. Drinks and dinner. And that's it. Then you'll tell me where John is?"

"Whatever," he spoke over his shoulder. "I still say he's dead....and besides, what are you going to do if I tell you? Walk in with a 'welcome to the neighborhood' apple pie and escort John away? These men aren't like the men you're used to. They kill at the drop of a hat and don't lose one minute of sleep over it. You simply don't get it and you don't know what you're getting yourself into. You're going to get yourself killed."

Kate knew he was right but wouldn't give him the satisfaction. "What time?"

"7pm in the lounge."

She turned her back to him and walked back through the glass doors.

Kate returned to her apartment and fell down exhausted onto the bed. Tears began to flow from her eyes and her cries turned into a full blown wail. Would she have to sleep with Winston to get any information about John? No. She couldn't do it. She couldn't do it and face John afterwards.

So much about this was completely unlike Winston. Shooting John and washing his hands of it. Being an absolute asshole with Kate. What was his fucking problem? Suddenly, she knew where her answers were going to be. Winston. He was up to something and if Kate had to sleep with him to find out what it was, she was going to bite the bullet and do it. The concierge, Charon, was in on it as well. He was much too nonchalant about the whole affair. He and John had to be friends or John would never have allowed Charon to take care of the dog. He seemed not to care as John fell off the ledge and plummeted to the street below.

Well, she was going to figure this out one way or another. She didn't care what she had to do. John meant more to her than anything but she had to prepare for him to turn her away. Maybe her heart would be broken, but she'd know that he was okay. And his well-being was what she worried about.

Then her mind wandered and images of John kissing her filled her brain. Kate closed her eyes and thought about his strong hand on her hip, pressing her body against his. His mouth almost crushing hers with feelings of need and want. His saying he loved her, but then leaving her.

Yeah, she was going to find him one way or another.

Kate arrived at The Continental at 6:30pm. She looked stunning in a champagne colored, knee length dress with her hair up in a twist and make-up perfectly applied to accentuate her eyes. She wanted to see how the band was doing, then thought better of it. They were probably ready to kill her as well and that led her to Anthony.

Being out in the open was going to make finding her a breeze for Anthony and his cronies. Kate had some protection being at The Continental but she really couldn't count on that. It made her a little jumpy and completely aware of her surroundings. It did worry her that she was literally all alone, with Winston turning to the dark side for some reason. There was always Gary, but she didn't want to be lectured on how he "told her so". It was "me, myself and I" and Kate took a deep breath and tried to pull up some nerve from her gut.

Winston appeared 15 minutes later and kissed Kate on the cheek as he sat down across from her. Kate imagined that if she had lunch, it would have ejected from her stomach right then, but she smiled and nodded. All she had to do was play the game.

Kate pretended she was on the stage, smiling when she should smile, chatting when she should chat, laughing when she should laugh. Sitting with Winston didn't make any difference to her but she was going to put on the performance of her life.

They shared a bottle of wine with a wonderful chicken marsala when Winston seemed to get antsy...looking around, shifting in his seat. He asked the waiter to send another bottle of wine to his room, then looked at Kate.

"Would you join me in my quarters for another glass of wine?" he asked, still seeming to look around the room.

Kate knew this was do or die. "Fine," she grinned with forced effort. "Fine."