Lightning

Chapter Six

"Aella I don't think this is a good idea. Maybe we should think of a better plan. "

I completely ignored Mason's comment as I checked if my gun was still loaded. Once done, I harshly snapped it back into place, shutting Mason up in the process.

"I-uh, I just think we should wait a little longer you know?" He tried to convince me again, but I simply ignored him.

"I don't have time Mason. It's either now or never" I mumbled before stabbing two knives in my boots.

"But-"

"Or I can just blindly go to the address I found with a greater risk of dying. What do you think?" I chirped innocently, this time shutting him up for sure.

He swallowed hard as if contemplating the odds. I knew he wouldn't try and physically stop me. He was nicely built for a guy his age, but strength was never something to stop me.

"Relax Mason. It's just a man" I chuckled.

"A dangerous man. "

"Well danger is my middle name" I flashed him a wink before hopping from my car.

A door shutting behind me completely grabbed my attention, and I saw that Mason was coming in my direction.

"We had a plan. I go and you stay " I gritted out, annoyed at his sudden rush of chivalry.

"I'm not letting you go alone. No arguments about it" he stated sternly before heading off in the direction of the house. I was completely stunned into silence. I've never really met anyone who challenged me as much as Mason has in the short time I knew him.

It slightly pissed me off, but it surprisingly piqued my interest too.

We left the car a few yards away from the huge house. I wasn't surprised that Eric lived so lavishly and secluded. Criminals like him always did.

We quietly crept behind a nearby bush, where I saw two guards standing at the door. They were armed and most likely dangerous, so the chances of getting past them were probably slim.

"Wait here until I'm clear" I quietly told Mason before quickly rushing to a statue closer to the door.

I fished one of my guns from my waist, quickly checked if it was the right one then fired two shots at the men guarding the door.

Once they were out cold, I tucked it back into my waistband before ushering Mason over.

"What was that? " He asked in a harsh whisper as he eyed the men on the ground.

I rolled my eyes but decided to answer him nonetheless. "It's a tranquilliser. They'll be out long enough for us to get what we want. "

"Where did you get that anyways? "

"The same place I got these earpieces that we are wearing now. So if you're done with twenty questions, I got something to do" I said as I ran the doorbell.

He simply watched me as if I was crazy. "What are you doing? "

"I'm gonna have a talk with my old friend," I shrugged.

"Are you crazy Aella he tried to ki-"

He was cut off when the door swung open, and we were met with a beautiful brunette woman who looked like she was in her early thirties.

"Can I help you? " She asked sweetly, but that sweetness turned to fear once she saw the guards on the ground.

She quickly tried to lock the door, but I shoved my foot in the space, stopping her movements swiftly.

"Please don't hurt me. I have nothing to do with my husband's crimes I promise you" She cried as she slowly backed up into the foyer.

"I wasn't particularly here to see you, but I guess you'll have to do" I taunted slowly, matching her slow steps.

I threw a look at Mason, hoping he wasn't looking sympathetic for the woman. I had zero intention on hurting her, but the scareder she is, the faster she spills. Luckily for both of us, he kept his face neutral and emotionless, something I saw for the first time and hopefully the last. It was scary, even to me.

"I- I swear I'll tell you anything you wanna know. Just don't hurt me. My daughter is- she's in the next room, she'll be traumatised " Her eyes pleaded for me to hear her out, so I did.

I stopped and straightened once we were in her large living room, and I lowered my guard just enough to ease her fear.

"Pack the kid a bag for a play date. My partner will take her to any address you give him. Then we talk" I commanded sternly as I folded my arms over my chest.

She quickly scurried away through the hall, and I kept a keen eye and ear for anything unusual. For all I knew, someone could open fire on us right then and there.

She emerged minutes later with the cutest little girl by her side. She hugged a doll close to her chest as she flashed me a weird look.

"Who are you? " She asked in pure innocence and curiosity.

I offered her a gentle smile before taking a step towards them. Her mother visibly gripped her tighter but I ignored the gesture and stooped in front of her.

"I'm Lightning " I said with a playful smirk. Her little eyes lit up so bright that I almost gushed.

"That's a cool name! I bet you're cool too" She grinned toothless at me.

"I betcha"

"You're not as cool as my dad though. He's the coolest!" She beamed admirably before placing her little finger on her chin as if she was thinking. "But I suppose we can be friends. I like the way you talk "

"Okay Milly let's go" Her mom urged, obviously disapproving of the friendship invitation by her daughter.

"Awwwe but I don't want to go to a play-date at Jack's! He puts his boogers on me! " She protested stubbornly, but her mom wasn't having it.

"You are going to Jack's and that's final! " She basically screeched, almost bursting my eardrums.

"Fine don't need to be mean about it" Milly mumbled before snatching a cookie from a jar and wobbling her way towards the foyer.

I couldn't help but chuckle as I watched her little form go. She had a fire in her that reminded me of myself.

Eric's wife, whose name I still didn't get, scribbled an address in a paper before handing it to Mason. "Please just don't get her involved. If you need a hostage, take me. Just get my baby there safely please " She begged as she handed the bag to Mason.

He simply nodded and shot me a look before turning to exit. I waited until I heard the door close before speaking.

"Everything about your husband's job. Spill now" I wasted no time in getting to the point, and she yelped in surprise when I took a threatening step towards her.

"He-he never speaks about-"

"Don't lie to me Karen! " I shouted, causing her to flinch.

"My name is Sophie" She whispered in a shaky voice.

"Quite frankly I don't care. Now speak before I make you" I kept my voice low and scary, having known just how much a threatening voice can do. I watched her try and secretly pull out her phone, but I quickly grabbed it before she got a chance.

"Seems like we have to do this the hard way Karen"

"It's Sophie"

I huffed in annoyance and reached for my knife in my boot, knowing it'll get her attention.

"Okay okay he's done stuff. Bad stuff. I know that's why you're after him" she started, and I slowly placed my foot back on the ground. "It's you isn't it? The woman who did that to his eye? My husband has a lot of enemies, but no one as bold as you"

"Tell me what he does" I ordered, getting real impatient.

"I don't know " she cried, but as much as she could've fooled anyone else with her tears, I could see right through them.

"The truth Sophie, or I'll start cutting your fingers off one by one" I warned lowly through clenched teeth.

"I said I don't know, okay! " She shouted, this time meeting my eyes with tears streaming down her face.

In that moment something shifted in me. I saw that I probably read it all wrong. Just because she's married to a monster doesn't make her one. From the minute I got here, all I saw was fear in her. But I could've sworn she had a little villain in her too.

"He does terrible stuff and that's all I know okay? I tried to leave him countless times but he...he wouldn't let me take Milly from him. We live like strangers in the same house. The only thing we have in common is our love for our daughter. I swear I don't know what you need from me, but that's all I know"

I sighed deeply, placing my knife back in my boot and ran my fingers through my hair.

She obviously knew nothing, which brought me back to square one. I could use her as a weakness against Eric to get him to fess up. Surely he wouldn't want his child motherless. So even if they were just co-parenting, he must care enough to try and save her.

But the poor woman seemed so scared that I wasn't sure if I had it in me. Of course I did, but I hit my maximum amount of savage for a day.

She remained quiet on the couch as I raked my mind for ideas, and just then my phone went off.

"Yea? " I answered Mason with an edge in my tone. It wasn't intentional, but I was pretty worked up.

"Just wanted to let you know that Milly is safe and I'm heading back now" He said.

"Okay thanks" I quickly ended the call and resumed my thinking.

"Was that uh- was that your partner? " She asked, watching me carefully.

"Yes. Milly is safe" I told her, but the minute those words left my mouth I regretted it.

All fear drained from her face as she stood to face me with a wicked scowl on her face.

"Good" She muttered before throwing a punch right to my face.

It took me completely off guard, so I stumbled back a little as I clenched my jaw for dear life. The pain and a metallic taste of blood  filled my senses as I tried to peer up at her, but I was kicked to the ground before I even caught my balance.

"I have to admit Lightning, I was scared for my daughter, she's my world. But my husband is a close second" She sneered as she connected a kick to my stomach again once I tried to get up.

"I couldn't risk you or your partner hurting my baby or hurting me in front of her to traumatise her sweet little mind. So since I know she's safe, I can finally kill you"

I quickly rolled away to dodge another kick coming at my side, and I grabbed her foot to throw her off balance and make her fall.

I quickly scrambled to my feet, welcoming dearly the sharp pain in my waist. I spat blood from my mouth as I glared at the women who almost had me completely fooled.

"You little bitched" I growled as I launched at her, completely tackling her back to the ground.

I threw punches at her face repeatedly, but a knee to the back of my head had me falling to my side again. She leaped at me in my vulnerable state, but she wasn't fast enough, not even close. I reversed her own move on her by bringing my boot to her nose, successfully kicking her against the couch. Hard.

She tried to crawl away in the direction of a vase, but I grabbed her by her ankle and pulled her back before jamming my knife in her thigh.

She screeched in pain as she clenched the area, and I did a double on her as I dug it deeper and twisted it around before taking it out. Her scream was almost deafening, and usually I wasn't this brutal. But she pissed me off a whole lot with her little stunt.

I climbed on top of her and held my knife to her throat. She watched me with so much hatred I couldn't understand, but I guess I didn't need to, since the feeling was mutual.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now " I gritted out with a new growl in my throat.

She didn't say anything. She didn't even move. She just watched me emotionless. Her breaths were just heavy and rapid, probably from the pain in her thigh.

"Where does your husband work? Who does he work for?" I asked softly, pressing the knife deeper to her neck. But just like before, she didn't even make a peep.

"Very well then " I huffed in frustration as I tore a strip of fabric from her top. I spun her on her front and tied her hands around her back, right before I collected another strip and tied it around her mouth, preventing her speech.

Quickly, I ran to the door to give the guards a second dose of tranquilliser before joining little miss cries a lot in the living room again.

She sat on the couch, motionless and emotionless. I didn't care if she wouldn't speak, because I knew I wasn't leaving without answers.

Using her phone, I dialled her precious husband's number. Blindy had no idea what was about to hit him.

"Hello? Honey, I'm on my way home. What do you want for dinner? " His calm voice rang through the line, completely oblivious to the situation he's in.

A smirk formed at my lips as I embraced the feeling of power that surged through me.

"Hello? Honey, are you there? " He asked when he didn't hear anything.

I sighed contently as I fingered a broken picture frame on the ground.

"Hello Eric...I believe you have something for me, just as how I have something for you."