In a quiet coffee shop in Smallville, on the outskirts of Metropolis, General Lane stared blankly at the phone his daughter had just hung up.
Louise, sensing her father's tension, handed him the disconnected device.
"That call… it must have been from Miss Haino Lawrence," she said quietly, "the one Axel kidnapped last night. She… she seems almost… like she has Stockholm Syndrome?"
"Stockholm my ass," General Lane snapped, rubbing his beard in irritation. "Don't give me excuses for her. You know how that works—it takes time, communication. Axel kidnapped her less than an hour ago. One hour. That's it. She's either brain-dead or completely insane."
Louise hesitated, then added cautiously, "But her mother… Michelle Laurence… she's important. She holds a lot of influence in the Department of Defense."
General Lane's expression darkened.
"Yes," he admitted, "Deputy Secretary of Defense is her limit for now. America's never had a female Secretary of Defense, but if any woman could become the first, it's Michelle. She's smart, ruthless, and influential."
Louise frowned. "Can Haino's opinion influence her mother? Could she actually cause you trouble?"
General Lane waved a hand dismissively. "Haino? Please. She's a child. And Michelle may be influential, but she doesn't scare me. My only concern is that she controls the Army's budget for the next two years, which makes things… slightly inconvenient."
He straightened and called over a nearby guard.
"Monitor every entrance and exit in Smallville. Focus on vehicles that could be carrying Haino Lawrence. If she appears, tranquilizer darts only—she's not Axel. I don't want unnecessary provocation. But controlling Haino? That's solving a problem for Deputy Secretary Michelle."
The soldiers dispersed, spreading quietly throughout town.
Just then, Louise's phone vibrated again. General Lane's frown deepened, and he handed it to her quickly.
Meanwhile, on the Robert H. Kane Memorial Bridge in Gotham City, Axel's phone rang.
He answered casually, a playful grin on his face. "Liv, what's up? If this is just to cheer me up, you're gonna have to take off your clothes for a video call."
"Axel~" Liv's voice was drawn out, teasing. "I have eyes on Zas, and I tracked you after you handled Yuri. You wanted that tracker, so I couldn't resist keeping an eye on you."
Axel smirked. "Planning to hit Metropolis, huh? I'm on the Kane Memorial Bridge now. What's your warning this time?"
Liv's tone turned serious. "Listen carefully. The reporter you're meeting, Louise, has a father who's a powerful Army general. He deployed the Department's new sonic weapons last night and stocked potent tranquilizer darts. He even brought classified viral agents. Axel… these toys aren't for you. You should be thanking him, not mocking him."
Axel whistled, amused. "Thank you, my dear~"
He leaned back in the car seat, grinning. "Your intel's top-tier. Did Falcone help you set up this network?"
Liv sipped her wine at the Iceberg Lounge, shaking her head. "No. I've been working with Falcone for eight years. He trusts me completely. Gotham's thirty million strong, Axel, and with just my wit, I can achieve almost anything."
"Impressive," Axel said smoothly. "I'm genuinely impressed, Liv."
Liv chuckled. "Just one more thing. The guy whose legs you broke? Honorary police officer, chosen by Gotham two years ago. He'll make the police hold a grudge. Don't expect them to greet you kindly in the future."
Axel laughed, leaning back. "Racial discrimination can get you an honorary police rank? That guy must have won awards for beating people of color. As for the cops… when have I ever been harmonious with them? Let them try. I'll thank them for the effort later."
He glanced ahead. "Enough chit-chat. Almost over the bridge. Know any good barbershops in Metropolis? Hair's a disaster."
"I'll send you the location. Be careful, my Wraith Boss~" Liv said, then hung up.
Axel handed the location to Bartel for a quick glance, then dialed Louise.
"Hello, this is Louise."
"Good," Axel said smoothly. "You kept your promise and didn't hand the phone to anyone else."
"I… yes," Louise stammered.
"No need for more. Send me your location. I'll change clothes, fix my hair, then come see you."
Louise hesitated, then whispered her location. "I'm not actually in Metropolis. I have a temporary interview assignment—"
"Wait!" Axel interrupted. Silence followed.
Louise's brows furrowed as she looked at her father, unsure. General Lane opened his mouth to speak, but Axel cut in again.
"Even if you're on a military base, I'll be there. No need to explain why you're somewhere else. As long as nothing is said, there's no deception. We'll talk when we meet."
With that, Axel hung up and sent a simple text:
Location!
Louise swallowed hard, sensing Axel's unique presence. After a deep breath, she texted back:
Smallville, Aile Cafe. Good luck!
Axel grinned at the message, muttering to Bartel, "This girl's naive. 'Good luck'—she's warning me without even knowing it."
He slipped the phone into his pocket and gazed out at the Metropolis skyline. Gotham and Metropolis were closer than anyone realized. When Batman's signal lit up the Gotham sky at night, citizens in Metropolis could see it too.
_____
Read Chapters in advance, Become a supporter 🌷
And join the journey
Patreon.com/Zphyr
Countless chapters await you🥀 (Check Comment)