Hawk's raised hand froze mid-air.
Betty Ross, dressed in simple loungewear, opened the door. Her face calm, she glanced at him, then stepped aside.
"Come in."
As if she had been expecting him.
Hawk lowered his hand, studied the woman before him—no fear, no trembling, only the composure of someone facing death—and chuckled softly. Then he stepped inside.
The door closed behind them.
Betty walked toward the bar.
"Drink?"
"No. I'm in a hurry."
Her steps faltered at that. She inhaled deeply. "…Then may I have one last glass of whiskey?"
Hawk considered. "Fine."
"Thank you."
She retrieved a bottle, poured herself a measure, and lifted the glass. Her eyes were steady, her expression calm. But the slight tremor in her hand betrayed her heart.
No one truly faces death without fear. Not even Hawk.
"Early choices decide later ends," he said flatly.
"You killed my father." Betty met his gaze, her voice level. "I only sought revenge. The same way you avenged your sister."
Hawk gave a dry laugh. "Exactly. Which is why you get this—your final drink."
"Thank you."
She sipped again.
"I'm curious," Hawk asked coldly. "What was your plan? Kidnap Gwen, force me into suicide?"
"No." Betty's eyes darkened. "Kill her. Record it. Send it to you."
Hawk arched a brow. Madness.
A lunatic's scheme.
But madness carried no immunity here.
He smiled faintly. "A clever idea. If you couldn't kill me, you'd kill the girl I love. Even if I came for you, Gwen would already be gone."
"Yes," she admitted. "But you ruined it."
She drained the glass, set it down, and looked at him with a self-mocking smile.
"She's lucky. Her luck is your misfortune."
"Indeed," Hawk replied coldly.
In a blur, he appeared before her, seized her throat, and slammed her against the wall.
His grip tightened, then loosened just enough. "Your last words."
Betty gave a chilling laugh. "I'll wait for you in Hell."
Hawk's lips curled. "I'll be there. My sister's still waiting for me."
His hand snapped shut.
Crack.
Betty Ross's face froze in a mask of venom and hate. Then her body collapsed to the floor, lifeless.
Hawk's eyes shifted to a wedding photo hanging nearby—Bruce and Betty, smiling in their finery.
He studied the corpse, then chuckled coldly.
"So this is your play? Enter the game with your life?"
"Fine. I'll grant you that chance."
Because Betty couldn't kill him. She had gambled instead that her death would ignite Bruce Banner.
Banner might not avenge a father-in-law who once hunted him.
But a wife?
A wife's blood could fuel vengeance.
Perhaps she had even hoped to be pregnant, to bind Banner further. But Hawk knew she wasn't. He suspected she had intended to wait for that… until impatience or despair drove her to act now.
It was a gamble.
And Hawk wanted to see if Bruce Banner would take the bait.
Because a part of him regretted killing only the Hulk.
The Hulk was dead—but Banner still lived. Who knew if he could transform again?
Now, Hawk would find out.
He left.
Hours later, Banner returned home.
And froze.
Betty's body lay cold on the floor.
It was as if a hammer struck his skull. His mind went blank.
Victoria Hand, who had followed him upstairs, stood in the doorway. S.H.I.E.L.D. had tracked everything by satellite, but she had waited until Banner arrived.
"Betty!"
Banner collapsed beside her corpse, clutching her in his arms, wailing.
Victoria stayed silent, watching him sob from morning light until dusk fell. Only then did she approach, guiding him aside as agents carried the body away.
"Condolences, Bruce," she said softly.
His head lifted, red-rimmed eyes blazing. "Who."
"What?"
"Who did this."
Victoria met his gaze. "Hawk."
She explained everything—Betty's black-market deal, the failed attempt on Gwen, Hawk's retaliation.
At first Banner's fury burned like wildfire.
But as she spoke on, the fire faltered.
It was the truth. Betty had struck first. Hawk had simply answered.
Bruce fell silent, his eyes hollow once more.
"Condolences," Victoria repeated quietly.
Banner did not respond. His gaze had locked on the wedding photo, hanging above the empty room like a cruel reminder.
…
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]