Private Tales Money Talks

[Vincent]

"There's no convincing you, is there?" The fleeting contact of skin left a warmth fluttering from corner of Vincent's mouth that spread through his entire body. He only returned her smile and with newfound energy trailed several small kisses over her clavicle, pulling her tight to him as he did so. "Four days, then..." Vincent whispered into the base of Lailah's neck. "Then this will all be behind us."

Four quiet days passed, giving the two ample time to plan and (in Vincent's case) stress. The former pit fighter was meticulous in his planning, double and triple-checking everything he could. He'd never planned out an assassination, but plotting wasn't entirely unfamiliar to him.

When the evening came, the pair set out to meet with their allies and prepare for the ambush. Vincent walked swiftly, and couldn't help but let the anxiety stiffen his movements.

 

[Lailah]

Lailah had never slept so much in her life as she had for the first two days, her healing aided by the teas and salves that Ren had brought her. By the third day she had gathered a little more strength, and she ate and trained as best as she could. By the fourth day, she felt a little more normal, though her movements were still a little strained thanks to the healing but tender flesh.

Armed and ready, she followed after Vincent, wishing she could soothe the anxiety that practically radiated from him. "Van.." she frowned softly, a little breathless from trying to keep up with his pace. Her hand reached for his arm to grip gently.

"Promise me you'll win this fight.." she murmured quietly on the sleepy street.

 

[Vincent]

Vincent, who had been wholly absorbed in what was to come, had been pulled from his trance by Lailah. She was his anchor and the source of his strength.

He stopped on the street and looked up. The moons shone clearly and there was the gentlest of breezes that evening. His glowing gaze fell to meet Lailah's.

"Of course I'll win," He smirked and ruffled her snow-colored hair.

They arrived to the arranged spot near the tavern where their handful of allies waited. They briefly went over their plans, for everyone to approach the tavern at different angles to cut off any possible escape. Vincent would be the signal for everyone to move.

"We can cut off the snake's head here," he confidently said to the small group, "after that, the vultures will pick apart the rest."

With that, they scattered. Vincent and Lailah waited in the shadow of an alleyway. He needed her eyes to identify Alvaro.

 

[Lailah]

Lai nodded, believing that he'd keep his word, the smirk and ruffle of her hair easing her worries for a brief moment.

With the plan laid in place and everyone in their positions, Lailah held onto Vincent's hand as they waited in the alleyway. She'd hold on as long as she possibly could before they had to move. They weren't waiting long before the sound of approaching steps had them pressing back into the shadows. Vigo wasn't difficult to spot, the man was huge, and on his left a smaller but by no means less dangerous man who walked with the self assurance that he had earned.

Lailah squeezed at the hand she clutched and looked up at Van. "That's him.." she whispered, and reluctantly let go of his hand.

"Let's go.." she frowned. "I love you."

 

[Vincent]

"I love you," he echoed and stepped into the street. A quick signal to the handful of their allies hiding by the store's front, and the pair were soon flanked by a small group of fighters.

He stopped outside of the establishment and placed his hand against the door. He strained his ears to possibly hear anything inside, though it was to no avail.

"Kill Alvaro," he said to the small group, "Don't let him leave this place alive." Without wasting another moment, Vincent kicked the door in. Electric eyes were quick to take in the tavern's interior. He made a beeline for Vigo as fighting broke out in the tavern.

 

[Lailah]

She couldn't sworn that her hammering heart was audible. Every beat of it pounded in her ears as she took a moment to breathe outside of the tavern, her blades drawn and her eyes closed as she waited for Vincent to take the lead.

The second the door had burst open, Ren and the two other boys who had betrayed Alvaro turned on the men standing closest to them. Shock registered on their faces, and Lailah's gaze met that of the crime boss through the chaos, rage flaring in his eyes. She didn't know how he'd survived what she'd done to him, and by the way he looked at her, he had not quickly forgotten it.

Lailah's chin lifted in defiance, and Alvaro pointed toward her, his men surrounding him and backing him into a corner. "Bring that little bitch here!" he demanded and spat on the floor as he drew his weapons.

The man closest to her barged through the chaos and gripped hold of her shoulder, hauling her near off her feet only to scream out as she plunged three quick stabs into his side. He let her go, catching her with a hard, backhanded slap to the face before he crashed through a table and lay writhing as blood pooled from his wounds. The slap had her head reeling and dizzy long enough for her to have lost sight of the second man barrelling toward her, knocking down one of the boys in his path to reach her.

The brutish bastard grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her toward Alvaro, only making it a few steps before her blade slammed into his thigh and he roared furiously, letting her go only to bring his elbow down against the crook of her neck and sending her sprawling to the bloody floor. He stood on her hand before she could lift the blade again, and she let out a scream as her fingers broke under the weight of his twisting boot..