FSE

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Dirty Laundry

Chapter Twenty Four

By roofless

The wolves had hit hard and fast.

Taking their time, at first, Reese had tracked down every entrance and exit to the market that he was aware of and what he’d learned from Hart, the square faced wolf that had joined up with the others after Vicky’s club had been attacked. From there, Reese set his own plan into motion.

Sealing off every exit, the wolves had moved in through the few openings left while controlling the flow of traffic from them. Walking through the front doors practically. Reese had ordered everyone to dress up for the occasion, and they knew what that meant. It wasn’t for the holiday, no. The wolves were going hunting.

In black suits and ties, the wolves marched through the doors. Some even had sunglasses on, all had earpieces and the family bullet proof vests as they pushed their way past the crowds towards the front where they were stopped. Without evening bothering to show their ID at the door, they dropped their briefcases that snapped open and grabbed the gun inside.

A single howl was let loose. And all hell was unleashed.

The order was simple. Leave no one alive in their wake. No witnesses. No prisoners. No one that crossed their path was to be left standing. A flood of black and silver, brown and tan fur that crept along the floors as they poured inside like a raging flood once the front guards were taken care of.

“Bury them all.” Reese had ordered and the wolves obeyed.

If Reese wanted his peace, he needed this place to burn. To end this here and now. His orders were strict, and the other wolves were more than happy to follow this, their new alpha, in. No one questioned him. No one needed too.

This wasn’t a turf war. This wasn’t some plan to take over the market or take out the competition. This was nothing more than cold blooded revenge for what had happened. Their thirst for vengeance would be sated this night and their new alpha would be the one to thank for it.

Reese would take out anyone, even his own, if it threatened his peace even another day.

Barreth had taken charge of the other entrance they had left open. After recovering his sister’s minigun from the club that had burned down, he had outfitted it for the sole purpose. Of killing as many lion “bastards” with it as possible. He wasn’t a leader, he didn’t have the natural presence or fear Reese invoked. But Barreth was on a mission and he perfectly took command of those placed under him. Their orders were clear. To kill everyone, to burn it all down and to make sure Logan and Clem got out safely. Reese couldn’t care for the mayor of the city. He couldn’t care for the dog of a police chief. He wasn’t like Logan. He wasn’t thinking in the long term, right now.

And Barreth, like so many other wolves, had no problem with that at all as they indiscriminately open fired.

Lions, bears, wild dogs? Otters, sharks, orcas? Weasels, wolverines, minks? Cheetahs, snow leopards, Cougars? Hyenas, eagles, or foxes? It didn’t matter. Species, sex, race, nationality, religion… none of that mattered when you were dead. Shoot first and never ask questions. Burn down the stands, the stalls without trying to get anything from them. Salt the earth and leave nothing left standing. Bury this place to rot, forever, underneath the city above and be a warning to any who dared opposed them.

A mountain of bodies, if that’s what it took, would be the foundation Reese would build his peace on. He already had, in a way. Overthrowing his own brother, killing the alpha that would’ve replaced him, burned down his family home and tracked down the remnants of The Pack just to make sure none would be bold enough to challenge his dominance again.

No one expected the violence that came during the largest festival for the black market. It was a time of celebration. A mocking form of the holiday. To be “thankful” for what they had. To come and get your fill, your feast. To watch the fights, to enjoy the show. Stock up for the new year and celebrate being what everyone else feared you were. A carnivore. A predator. And every predator who believed they were on top, never suspected there’d be another out there to remind them where they stood in the food chain.

It was supposed to be a neutral ground where predators could hang out and talk, swap stories and exchange numbers. A sanctuary for those who preferred the red kind of meat…

And the wolves took full advantage of it all.

The mayhem they caused would be a stain in the history of the criminal world. A group scorned but not eliminated, a warning for future generations to follow. To make sure your enemy were truly dead and gone instead of just licking their wounds, waiting for the time to pounce.

The guards hadn’t been prepared. No one had warned them and by the time they knew what was abound them, the wolf’s fangs were already ripping out their necks. Claws slitting their throats. Silencers fired in their back. And their bodies hauled off and dumped in the center pit of the spiraling market underneath the city.

Bodies fell like rain up above, falling into the pits straight into the depths of hell as the wolves tossed them over one after another.

“Our radios are down.” Hart told Reese as the two moved in through the entrance, watching the wolves at work. It had been sometime since Reese had worked with others. The other wolves had poured out through the other doors. Whatever was left were here this night. Every wolf in the city practically. In the state. “We won’t be able to keep in contact with the others.” The red fur wolf went on.

Reese’s ear batted at that. He didn’t even bother to look over at Hart. Just watching as the wolves lit up the stalls, took down the merchants and erased this horrible part of their history. His history. The Pack had once owned the market, or at least had overall governing control of it. Controlling the flow in and out, getting paid a hefty fee as they extorted those selling, working or even coming here.

Bale had been a crafty alpha, making up for his physical deficiencies by being smarter than the competition. Bale was a businessman that had worn the mantle well during his time. Until he bit off more than he could chew. Reese wouldn’t make the same mistake. He’d just erase it all instead of trying to control it as others did.

“That’s fine.” Reese just said flatly, getting a look from the red wolf next to him. “Barreth will go after lions. Keep them occupied. The rest will take care of the market, for good… and this can be settled and done with.” The jet-black furred wolf pushed past Hart and moved down into the stands overlooking the market.

Reese could smell the blood. The smoke rising around him as he passed through the once crowded streets. Anyone wise would’ve ran the second they saw the wolves coming. Anyone who didn’t were lying at Reese’s feet. He kicked a body of a young sable out of his way. Their fur would’ve sold well here, on the market, Reese knew. He knew far too much about this place.

It was best to lay it all to rest.

Barreth had gone in through the “guest door” where the fancy clientele went to watch the shows. The animals wearing suits. Reese figured The Pride would be there, getting a kick out of whatever sick form of entertainment they were putting on for the holiday. Barreth and those at the club who survived would want to face the lions head on.

It was cruel but calculative. It was taking out two birds with one stone. Reese didn’t trust anyone of Vicky’s old pack that had joined up with him. There were very few who Reese trusted to begin with. Reducing their numbers would make things… easier, down the road. If need be.

Eliminate the competition before they even had a chance to know they were such.

His father, Mauler, had taught him well. Brought him to this place… him and Bale, back in the day. This place was bringing up memories Reese rather not dwell on. Bale always loved watching the wrestling matches they held here. Though far more violent and with far less rules than those up above in the city.

Seeing the place now, burning, brought a tug of a smile to the wolf’s face.

“It’s better this way.” Reese just said answering Hart’s unasked question. To burn everything wrong with this city, burn it to the ground so that maybe he could have a chance at a normal life.

One could only hope.

With a snap of his fingers, two wolves came up behind Reese. He didn’t like being shadowed but it was natural for the alpha to have his own personal guards keeping watching.

“Find Logan and Clem. Get them out of here.” Reese ordered and the two wolves obeyed without a word, vanishing into the chaos around them as they went hunting for the two. “Hart.” Reese turned on the square faced wolf who shirked away underneath that cold gaze. “Take me to Vicky…”

“What… what do you mean?” Hart asked as he backed away with folded ears and a tucked tail. There was a reason why Reese didn’t trust those who had so willingly joined up with him. Sure, some were seeking a new home. Others were just trying to increase their standings in their pack. The pack they still belonged too…

“Don’t play dumb with me.” Reese took a step closer, and the red wolf cowered back, ducking his head, and folding his ears and tucking his tail. All signs of submission. Reese could smell the piss from the smaller wolf even with the smoke and blood in the air.

Hart eyes widened as his face gave away his hand, his tell that Reese had hit it on the head. “Alph…” Hart said loudly, taking another step back.

“Alph isn’t with us, anymore.” Reese just rolled a shoulder and took another step closer. “See. That’s the thing about a wolf pack. You sniff out those who are looking to stab in the pack pretty quickly.” He spat to the side as another wolf came up behind him. “Tell Barreth I’m heading to Vicky.” Reese ordered and the wolf nodded before heading out without a word as they sneered at Hart with a dark laugh of their own.

“Anyone?” Hart begged, backing away.

“Logan was right,” Reese grumbled bitterly. “You were far too invested in us. In me. Didn’t make sense. I knew something was off. Logan just filled in the missing pieces,” and before Hart could move Reese lunged at him.

The black furred wolf grabbed Hart with his right arm and hit him against the wall, hard. He tossed him to the ground before grabbing the scruff of Hart’s neck just as quickly. Dazed and confused, the red wolf was helpless. Reese’s nails dug deep into his furry hide and the fat square faced wolf was lifted off the ground.

“You will take me to Vicky, so I can end this…” Reese snarled in his face, spittle hitting Hart’s muzzle. “And if I’m feeling generous, I won’t toss you headfirst into that pit!”

The red wolf just whimpered pitifully as he nodded and obeyed, knowing then. Who the real Alpha had always been…

…

Though taken by surprised, there was a reason why Lorrell had guards with her. Disposable males that she could toss in front of her like a shield to take the barrage of bullets that flooded the room as Barreth and his own squad of wolves hit the mock restaurant set up to watch the fights.

Drunk on their own superiority, no one had seen it coming. Even Lorrell had been taken with her guard down. But, then again, that’s why she brought the male lions, the meat shield, to do that job for her.

Lorrell tossed her men one after another at the wolves, throwing them at the problem until it was solved. Or at least until she could escape. Grabbing Enzo, Lorrell made her way towards the kitchen. Hissing and snarling at her brother who was putting up a fight as bullets flew overhead.

“I still need you!” Lorrell snarled in Enzo’s face as she burst through the doors into the kitchen as the gunfight continued behind them. “Barricade the door!” She ordered to the dumbstruck staff. “Are you deaf or just dumb? Do it!” She threw Enzo to the side, walking towards the dark gray plastic doors leading towards the walk-in fridge snarling the entire time.

The staff listened after several other lions made their way inside, blocking the door to all those outside the room. Some scrambled for the door, banging on it and pleading to be let in. Friend or foe, it didn’t matter. If they were too slow to follow, and thus were a hindrance to the family, they were better off dead than dragging down the rest of the pride.

What little there seemed to be these days.

“Mikhail!” Lorrell shouted as she burst through the side doors into the walk-in fridge, Enzo following behind. “Where the fuck is that tiger?” She hissed out, claws extending before retracting just as quickly. This happened several times as her tail lashed violently behind her like a beheaded snake.

Everything was going to hell in a handbasket.

“I paid good money!” Lorrell shouted into the empty room, spinning on her heels to stare around, looking for her hired gun.

The walk-in fridge was a large open room looking like a warehouse. Meat hooks hung from the ceiling hanging from chains that were attached to tracks that looped around the room. Several bodies were hung up as if on a sick display of art rather than the meat they were seen as. Some cold and limbless, others still freshly dripping. All had been made up. Some were wearing suits while others were stitched in mocking smiles. The ground was cement, matching the walls making it far easier to clean. Several metal racks had been set up with different brown packages carefully wrapped and placed equal distance from the other.

Everything had been set up, perfectly, for tonight.

But there was no sign of the tiger.

The workshop, this butchery, was immaculate. Not a single tool was out of place. Knives of all sizes, shapes and colors were set up along nearby table. Every stain seemed to have been purposefully done. Every pool of blood dripping from the edge of a table or shelf had been planned. It created the perfect atmosphere and even Lorrell was unnerved by the eerie silence in the room. Not even a single chain was moving as she stood there.

She stepped back, beginning to breathe heavily as if the walls were closing in as she looked around the dimly lit room. She stepped in a pool of blood, cursing as she almost slipped before collecting herself.

“Where is that damn butcher?” Lorrell hissed, unable to believe she was still relying on outside help. Having to clean up the mess. To fix this. She didn’t sacrifice everything she had for it all to be cut short! And she hated coming back to him, this male tiger. Time and time again…

“L?” Enzo asked, tugging on his sister’s arm. Lorrell shushed him.

“Big sis is working.” Lorrell just said tapping his hand twice for him to let go. “I’ll take care of this. I always have to take care of everything in this damn family! But I’m here, don’t worry.”

“What about Sloan…?” Enzo asked and Lorrell just patted him on the head.

“I’ll make sure to get you an extra strong dose tonight, for you’re medicine…” Lorrell grimaced at the thought, turning to leave the room.

Only as she did, only as her guard lowered and her back was turned did she hear it.

“Cute.” A warm, almost soothing voice purred from the side. Lorrell whipped around drawing her magnum and pointing the silver gun at the tiger who came around the corner on silent footsteps. “Family love. It’s such a cute, thing.” Mikhail smiled, not even looking at the two as he walked with a pair of bloody tongs in hand. He was wearing a blood-stained apron over the front of his maroon suit.

Mikhail set the device down, stripped the black gloves off and placing them next to the tool. He straightened them before looking over his equipment.

“Where were you!” She shouted at the tiger. The lion snarling at the tiger. A tiger that barely seemed to register her presence. At the lion who walked into it’s den.

“Me?” The tiger asked as if it were a strange question. “Why. I was enjoying the show.” Mikhail black lips pulled up in a smile. A smile that made Lorrell’s blood run cold. “What a show it was…” He huffed out, licking over his exposed fangs. “I never expected him to be so, capable, after all these years… Cold. Brutal. Efficient. Truly. Truly, a good show he put on for me.”

“The wolves are attacking!” Lorrell yelled at him as if blaming Mikhail for it somehow. As if the tiger weren’t aware what was happening.

“And?” Mikhail just asked, tilting his head as he looked over at her. “What does that have to do with me?”

“I hired you!” Lorrell clenched her jaw, taking a step closer and jabbing the gun at him as if to make her point.

“You hired me to clean up your messes,” Mikhail made sure to point out as he picked up one of the knives to inspect. A thin, stainless steel blade without a handle or hilt. It seemed small, fragile in the tiger’s large fingers as he blade with the cool steel. “It’ll be a shame to lose this place. I’ve grown rather… fond of it, over the years. But it’s outlived its usefulness.” Mikhail just noted looking around the room with a heavy sigh, taking everything in one last time.

“The only one who has outlived their usefulness is,” Lorrell lifted the gun threateningly. Her eyes widened, finger twitching over the trigger before the room itself shook.

The lions stumbled; Enzo fell to the ground as everything seemed to shift underneath their feet. The lights around them flickered and Lorrell, at first, thought it was an earthquake before recognizing the telltale signs that someone had just detonated a bomb.

A bomb underneath the surface, underneath the rivers above… that could only mean-

Before Lorrell could finish the thought or regain her footing she cried out in pain as a blade pierced her palm. The tiger closed the distance the second the dagger left his hand and was on the lion. Mikhail regaining his balance far faster than she had. A fluid motion of orange that pounced on the other feline.

She was thrown back against one of the racks causing several packages to fall off as the tiger gripped her throat to the point she couldn’t even speak, couldn’t even talk. Couldn’t even breathe. Mikhail holding her there for several seconds as Enzo grabbed his other arm, begging and pleading to let her go.

“She’s my sister!” Enzo pleaded, grabbing at him with clawless fingers.

Glancing at the smaller, burned faced lion… Mikhail let go of Lorrell, tossing her aside.

“Don’t blame me for your failure.” He just spat, wiping his hands off with a cloth from his pocket before tossing it aside, on top of the fallen lioness. “I did my job! It’s not my fault no one else is able too.” He turned away, walking back to his workstation. “You’re all just disappointments in the end.” He kicked the gun away from Lorrell’s reaching hand, keeping her disarmed. “I’ll be packing up and heading out, soon. I expect to be paid or you’ll be seeing me again…” Mikhail gave a low, deep growl as the tiger turned to look back at her.

Lorrell couldn’t meet those eyes.

The room shook again, and the tiger swayed on his feet as if they were on a boat rocking back and forth on the ocean. He snarled out.

“Fools couldn’t even wait.” Mikhail scoffed. “Everyone’s in such a rush! Can’t even enjoy a single evening.”

Mikhail’s voice was soft as he spoke, muttering to himself about the incompetence of the others here. He began placing the knives into a leather lined suitcase he pulled up from the side of the table. Stowing each blade away with far more love than he’d ever shown Lorrell or any of his other business partners. Quickly gathering his collection while the place around them seemed to be coming down.

“You have my number. Call me when you get your shit together.” Mikhail scoffed, turning away from her and walking towards the side exit with his briefcase.

“You can’t just leave me here!” She shouted at him, standing back up as she held her bleeding hand. “I paid you! Don’t you understand! You belong to me!”

“You paid me for the job.” The tiger stopped, glancing back at her from the side door. “I did my job. You’re the one who isn’t comprehending things.” Mikhail adjusted his tie and cufflinks. “This place is going up in fire and flame. Can’t you smell the smoke? Whoever bright idea it was to pull the fuse is going to flood whatever isn’t burned to the ground. It’s over, Lorrell. You can keep your market. I have a date to keep. It’d be rude to keep him waiting any longer than I already have… three years too long.”

Mikhail made his exit and with that, Lorrell was left stewing in the walk-in fridge as the tiger vanished as quietly as he had appeared.

“Damn him…” Lorrell clenched her bloody fist tightly, feeling the sharp pain of it. “I’ll kill him. Just like the others. Anyone who disrespects me like that…” She stood up, practically throwing her brother who was only trying to help her off. “He can wait…” She huffed. “Vicky. Vicky though, she knew this was going to happen. I’m sure of it…” Blood dripped from her palm as she clenched it tighter, teeth grinding. “That bitch double crossed me!”

“Who?” Enzo asked and Lorrell turned on him sharply, making the lion pull back. She raised a hand but just as she was about too, two lion guards walked in to check on them. Lorrell clenched that raised hand into a fist before bringing it down to pet Enzo’s face.

“Just an old… friend, little brother. Nothing for you to worry about. Come now,” Lorrell ushered Enzo out of the room as she followed her guards back into the kitchen. “We have an appointment of our own we need to keep while this place is still above water…”

…

Overlooking the market, the trio made their way across along the wall while dragging the police chief along with them. It would’ve been so much easier to ditch him, but Logan couldn’t himself to do so. He didn’t want to ask Clem to have to carry that burden, either. Despite police chief Barnard’s fuck ups, he still had been just a dog trying to do everything he can to protect the city he truly loved and cared for.

Logan could understand that. He made plenty of fuck ups along the way as well. He wanted to believe the police chief would repent, to change his tune and maybe… maybe they could achieve what his old partner, the old police chief Stanley, had wanted. Unity in the city as a whole.

Even if that meant making a deal with the devil…

An explosion rocked the room and the three held onto the wall for support, grabbing at the pipes embedded into it as the sound of rushing water could be heard from the other side of the room.

“Fire and the flood.” Clem almost laughed.

“Which idiot detonates a bomb underground? While being under it!” Sloan snarled out.

“Vicky…” Logan just said under his breath, unable to believe she’d be that mad. Maybe she wanted them all to drown with her. It was hard to say. He could never figure that woman out. Then again, Logan was far better with men than he’d ever been with woman.

“What now?” Clem just whined softly.

“There’s an escape hatch in the main room,” Logan frowned though. “I don’t think… he’ll be able to make it up.” He added looking at the saint Bernard as the trio moved into one of the side rooms out of the fire, the flames and now the flood.

Logan recognized it as a storage room for the central kitchen.

He brought up a mental map of the place from what Bosch had shown him. It wasn’t helpful. The jaguar really couldn’t draw, and Logan could only guesstimate where they were at this point.

The tunnel they had escaped from led to the holding cells. They would’ve been connected to the kitchen and, according to Klaus, there had been another way out that products could be brought in through. From the looks of it, they were heading towards the kitchen, again. It wasn’t exactly as helpful as Logan would like but from there, he could make his way back out from where he had come in from.

Hopefully.

“We can head back and hope to find out the exit Klaus had mentioned…” Logan just noted his thoughts allowed. “Or keep going. Hit the kitchen and try to get back out the secret side entrance we came in on…” He added, looking at the boxer who gave a short nod.

“You’re choice, boss.” Clem just said, stubby tail wagging as he was already willing to follow Logan wherever the human went.

“The only entrance I know is the main lobby but that’s, well…” Sloan didn’t need to go on. They all knew what he meant. They’d have to go through the other lions, let alone whoever was still standing after the gunfight ended.

That way was a dead end, in a more literal sense.

“Well, if we keep going we’ll probably run into some other unsavory company…” Logan stressed. He didn’t want to directly say it, but…

“You’re ex, right.” Clem brought up.

“Ex?” The lion gave him a look.

“Logan dated the butcher.” The boxer shrugged.

“What!” Sloan jumped, fur standing up as his tail stuck straight out. The lion quickly had to rub his mane back down with both hands, licking the back of one before grooming himself.

“He wasn’t the butcher back then!” Logan groaned, covering his face.

“Then…” Sloan took a second to calm down. “If we head this way…”

“Right…” Clem nodded and the three stood there for far longer than they should’ve. “We could head back…?” Clem offered but Logan shook his head.

“No. We’ve wasted too much time. It’ll be too dangerous for us not to keep going. We need to get out of here ASAP. Not fuss about just because…” Logan pressed but couldn’t finish.

He wanted to see Mikhail. He wanted to kill the tiger… and he also wanted to ask him why he did what he did. There were so many things he wanted from the tiger, his old friend, Logan wasn’t sure what was on top of the list. The tiger had kept his distance ever since that fateful night that Logan had lost his brother. He never got a proper answer, any kind of closure on what really happened.

All he knew was that Mikhail had been involved. Luring his brother into the tiger’s den…

Mikhail would send him gifts, leave him notes and messages but the tiger had never dared to show his face to the human since. It was hard to say if it was out of fear or regret? Logan wasn’t sure. Mikhail could just be mocking him the entire time. He didn’t know. Logan couldn’t know what that man, his best friend… was thinking to do what he had done.

If he ever really truly knew what Mikhail had been thinking back then…

And Logan was afraid of the answer he’d get when he did get one.

With such thoughts lingering, festering in Logan’s mind, they proceeded further inside. Ducking through the storage room, past the breakroom and staff lounge before entering through a side door into the kitchen.

It was empty.

The kitchen was completely void of life. The room across from them had been boarded up and blocked off with numerous boxes and kitchen machinery to seal it off. It looked as if the staff had just put whatever they could in front of it to keep whoever was on the other side from getting in.

It didn’t prevent them however from trying to claw their way in. The doors were half broken up, claw marks were on the exposed parts and there was a dead wolf lying in the opening making the three stop. If the door itself hadn’t been lit aflame, Logan was sure the wolves would’ve tried to get in this way too. There wasn’t any further movement and Logan could only assume everyone had evacuated.

“They really need to install sprinklers…” Clem muttered looking at the burning doorway and the corpse of the wolf before them.

“They could’ve jumped down through the arena.” Logan brought up, looking behind them as if expecting to see someone tailing them. “We should hurry… Good thing we didn’t go back…”

“Right.” Clem just nodded taking a step forward. The boxer looked one way then the other, making sure the coast was clear as he walked over to turn off one of the stoves they had left on. “What?” He asked getting a look. “The place is burning down enough without us adding to it!”

Logan rolled his eyes, gesturing for them to head out through the other entrance. It had been the way they had come in. They could use the chefs as canaries down a mineshaft, to see if this path was safe or not.

It was unlikely that everyone had been gunned down during the firefight.

“Let’s go.” Logan motioned towards the entrance he had first entered through so many hours ago. Sloan went first, carrying the police chief and Clem was close behind. Logan looked around the kitchen one last time in disgust before following.

But as he did so Logan caught movement from behind and spun around, gun drawn on the plastic flaps leading to the walk-in fridge. They shifted and moved slowly, and Logan could feel a cold draft blowing from the entrance. A breath of cold air that called for him.

“Keep going.” Logan motioned, “I’ll be right behind you.” He said taking a step forward, gun drawn as he didn’t dare blink. Moving over towards the flaps, he pushed one open with a hand before quickly ducking inside facing the blind spot. Spinning around, Logan faced the other way where someone could’ve been hiding.

It was empty. He didn’t dare lower his gun as he took another step inside. Logan thumbed his phone out, turning the light on and holding it before him as if it really were a flashlight.

There was a single light on in the room, everything else had been turned off leaving everything shrouded in darkness. Only the dark silhouettes of the racks, the hanging bodies and the tables could be seen as Logan swept the light over the room quickly looking for anything… orange.

Logan swallowed heavily, feeling the oppressive atmosphere of this place. The bodies hanging, swinging as if recently bumped… the sound of the chains rattling, the AC blowing cold air into the room and the smell… it smelled of cleaner, of iron and something that Logan was sure could’ve only been bile or barf.

Every instinct told him to go back. To get out of here but he couldn’t. There, before him, hanging from the ceiling on a meat hook… was a body. It had been pushed forward, in front of all the others with the soul light in the room on over it. Highlighting it. It was so obviously a trap, Logan couldn’t ignore it. As there, on the front, a note had literally been pinned to their cold corpse with his name on it. A brown burlap sack had been placed over their heads. Their legs were hanging, they were naked, and Logan knew they were a rat.

A fat. Black. Rat.

“No…” Logan only said as he moved forward quickly, lowering the gun as he pushed over a chair before hopping up onto it. It took him all of three seconds to remove the burlap sack to see who it was. Or who it had been. “Vinnie…” Logan should’ve felt cold or angry at the lifeless face of the rat he knew hanging there before him.

He just felt numb as he swiped the note off the front of the body of the rat, his friend, hanging there in the middle of the room.

“How are your scars?” The note read and just as Logan moved back towards the door he’d come in from, another light flicked on.

Jumping back, Logan lifted the gun to point at it. Underneath the light was a single chair, illuminated for everyone in the room to see.

And there bound and gagged, tied up was the mayor of the city sitting in a single chair in front of the station. She was motionless and Logan feared she was dead too.

“Toss the gun.” A voice said and Logan quickly turned towards it. “Toss the gun,” they repeated. “Or she gets it…”

“Milo.” Logan didn’t as he held the gun tightly in his hand. “How could you...” Logan glared at the darkness. All he saw were hanging bodies or at least, the silhouettes of them. Cold and lifeless as Milo’s voice was.

“I just want to talk,” the tiger said. It was too dark to pinpoint his location and Logan could tell Mikhail was moving. Slow, silent steps making it impossible to get a clear shot on him. “Toss the gun and she goes free. As simple as that. Then we can just… talk. It’s been so long since we last had a chance. Just the two of us.”

Logan toyed with the idea as he caught movement from the corner of his eye. One of the bodies were moving, slowly swinging back and forth but Logan couldn’t see who had done it. For all he knew… it had just been the wind.

“You’re not exactly the most trustworthy of guys,” Logan disdain was clear in his voice as the human carefully moved counterclockwise through the room. “First Robbie. Now Vinnie? You just planning on picking off anyone who gets close, huh?” Logan called out.

This was why he’d never dared to get close to anyone, not again. Not Domino. Not Sloan. He feared what would happen if the tiger ever caught sight of them, caught how interested Logan had been in them. How happy they had made Logan… And what Mikhail would do. Do to remind him.

That Logan was his… and his alone.

“Why not just come after me already?” Logan spat out, taking a step forward. Not because he thought it was a good idea, no. He knew it wasn’t. But keeping close to the racks and boxes left him open from the sides. It was easier to keep out in the open, like this, in hopes of getting a clear shot off the second the tiger did show himself.

Even if that meant the tiger’s claws would find the sweet touch of his supple flesh once again. So long as the bullet met his in return.

“I would never hurt you.” Milo brought up making Logan jaw clench, wanting to refute such a claim. “I could’ve. But I didn’t. There were plenty of times. I knew where you live. Where you moved too. Where you worked. Who you worked for. And I did nothing… I’d never hurt you, Logan…”

“My back says otherwise, ass wipe.” Logan just called him out, called his bluff. Keep him talking. Try and pinpoint his location…

“That’s a love mark,” the tiger chuffed. A sound of pure amusement, of pleasure and Logan even dared say… love. “Only those I care for, truly care for… have my touch.” The tiger teased back, changing up his voice as he moved. He wasn’t mad at the insult, he was just… amused. Happy, even, that they were talking again like this.

And despite it, Logan couldn’t figure out where the tiger was. It’d be suicide to run for the exit or for the mayor. Mikhail had the advantage on him in the dark like this.

Silent steps. Logan always hated that. Hated how Milo could sneak up on him like this and he’d be known the wiser until the tiger pounced.

“And my brother?” Logan shouted out, unable to hold back. Silence met his words. “He didn’t want to hurt anyone, either, Milo! He was innocent. A good kid! He didn’t deserve what happened to him. That hurt me too…”

The silence dragged on, seeming like hours instead of minutes as the two stood there in the room of bodies.

“You’re right. He didn’t.” Milo agreed with a soft voice. “What happened to your brother was a tragic… accident.” The tiger toyed with the word as if he were inspecting his nails, clearly uninterested in the tragic death of his younger brother. “An unintentional death…”

“Accident? Unintentional?” Logan scoffed at that. “Don’t give me that shit! You always hated Robbie! You always hated anyone who took my attention away from you.” He took another step, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end as he swore, he felt a breath against the nape of his neck.

Logan spun around to no one. He took a slow step back, trying to see in the dark room. He bumped into one of the hanging bodies and felt that creeping fear crawl up his spine like hairy spiders legs. His fears were getting to him. Despite himself, his survival instinct was going into overdrive, and it was making it harder to focus.

Logan could hear his breathing. Hear the rattle of the chains. He could feel the beat of his heart pounding in his ears and chest and throat and-

Then that body he thought hanging, moved.

There was a sharp blow to his wrist and Logan felt his fingers involuntarily open, releasing the gun as a paw padded hand gripped it the next second. The tiger interlacing his fingers with Logan’s forcefully as he spun the human around.

Mikhail was always stronger than he’d ever be. Ever could be. A silent deadly predator to a human. A human couldn’t match a tiger and as Logan felt the world shift, his feet leave the ground he felt something else that made his eyes widen and his stomach turn as he was shoved back against the wall.

The warm press of wet lips against his own, in the dark, as the tiger pressed his body up against him. Against the wall, holding him, kissing him, and letting his fangs brush over Logan’s face. Mikhail’s breath was warm. It was so hot Logan could feel himself sweating, feeling himself shift uncomfortably in this embrace.

An embrace that felt all too familiar.

“I missed you.” The tiger purred against the human with a cheeky smile.

“Milo!” Logan wanted to shout out, trying to kick at the tiger. But he was helpless against him. Against that strength. And Mikhail easily held him in place.

He was just a human. A human with limitations and to the tiger, he might as well have been a field mouse. Helpless before the predator that pressed those lips against his roughly once more. One of the tiger’s fangs cut Logan’s lip when the human tried to bite back and he shook. Logan shook as that large, warm body pressed him him. He tried to kick out but Mikhail maneuvered his legs to prevent it. He tried to fight but couldn’t stop Mikhail’s unwanted advances as the tiger held him.

It wasn’t a loving embrace. It was one full of control. Of when a predator pounced their prey. Toyed with them as they struggled and fought and tried, tried to fight something that nature itself had dictated would come out on top.

Logan was helpless and Mikhail knew it. Knew how helpless Logan was in that moment, as so many others had been. And the tiger loved it. Logan could feel the bulge against the feline’s jeans press against his front. Getting turned on by this. The power. The control. Logan muffled voice was lost against the tiger’s large, all-encompassing body pressing against him. Smothering him. Trapping him.

Logan had fucked up. He’d really fucked up this time.

“I never wanted to hurt you,” Mikhail huffed and panted as drool dripped from his lips as he broke apart, just enough for the two to talk. His arm was on Logan’s throat, keeping him pinned. Just enough, without silencing the human’s cries while making it very clear he easily could. “Robbie. It was all a misunderstanding. He was in the way. I just wanted him to give us some space. That’s all! I didn’t mean for what happened. Things happened and... And my grandparents. It was all a big misunderstanding that just led to one thing after another.”

The tiger kissed him again and Logan tried not to throw up. If he could breathe, that arm was pressing against his already bruised throat as the tiger forcibly stole his breath away; Logan might’ve.

“He was just a kid!” Logan tried to shout back but could barely catch his breath with the tiger pulled a half inch away.

“He wouldn’t stop crying!” Mikhail snarled, baring his fangs, looking away. “He was so loud! So annoying! He just. Wouldn’t. Stop… Until he did…” And the tiger eyes were unfocused as he recalled that single moment. “Just like the neighbor’s cat,” Logan’s eyes widened. “It was so… easy. To make that annoyance… stop.”

And Logan felt those words break him anew.

Logan wasn’t sure why he thought, maybe hoped, maybe prayed… that it hadn’t been. That Milo, his best friend, the person he trusted… that he really did it? Gone through with it? Just because, what, Robbie had interfered with them hooking up? Wanting his attention? And because of Logan’s carelessness, because he wanted to believe and trust that Milo hadn’t he was going too…

He really fucked up this time.

And this time he wouldn’t be able to-

“Logan?” A voice called out in the dark room making the tiger stop. Both their eyes widen before the tiger let out a low warning growl, eyes narrowing. “Logan where are you?” It was Clem. The boxer had come back for him.

It took him long enough; a bitter thought crossed the human’s mind before his rational brain could take back over.

“Cl-,” Logan tried to call out. To warn the boxer, his partner, but the tiger’s hand covered the human’s entire face muffling his cries. Logan wasn’t going to call for help, no. He was going to warn him about the tiger. Warn Clem about the tiger that was going to kill him.

The one he’d knowingly, willingly, walked into the lair of.

“Logan?” Clem hissed out, sniffing at the air, and letting out a soft whine.

“Don’t,” Mikhail warned. His voice was harsh, and it didn’t even sound like the tiger Logan had once known. The warmth Mikhail had a second ago was gone and all that replaced was a cold, icy warning that made Logan feel that fear bubbling up inside once more. “Don’t.” The tiger repeated in his ear, the breath washing over the side of Logan’s face, and he could smell… mint? Had Mikhail used mouth wash or something? “I don’t want to ruin our reunion… with another… annoyance.”

“Don’t hurt him.” Logan managed to say as the tiger moved his hand away just enough. “I’ll go with you. I’ll do anything. Just don’t hurt him.” Logan pleaded. “Please, Milo…”

The tiger eyed the human for a couple of long, drawn out seconds as Logan held his breath. Hoping. Hoping maybe…?

“Oh, Logan…” Mikhail whispered against the human’s ear once more. “We can’t have you thinking of anyone else, can we…?” And the tiger skillfully pulled out a rather large syringed filled with a semi clear yellow fluid. With his thumb, he popped the top off and pushed the bottom until the liquid seeped from the tip. It dribbled against Logan’s cheek. “One little shot and,”

That was when Logan kneed him in the balls.

Kicking off against the wall behind him, Logan rammed his knee as hard as he could against the tiger’s bulge forcing the large feline not only to drop the syringe that shattered on the concrete floor but also ease his grip on the human as Mikhail snarled viciously in return

“You,” Mikhail’s voice was up an octave and Logan managed to bring both his hands down, hard, on top of the tiger’s arm pinning him with as much force he could muster from the awkward angle.

It took three solid hits for the tiger to release him, just enough for Logan to gain some distance as Mikhail covered.

“Clem over here! Tiger. Bad. Shoot. Shotgun!” The human just said getting a look from Mikhail.

Mikhail hissed out, retreating as the boxer stumbled around the corner. Clem lifted the sawed off in hand and fired at the spot Logan was pointing. The shot rang out, taking a junk out of a nearby hanging body as the tiger darted across the room.

“Reload, reload, reload!” Logan insisted as he pulled out the switchblade he’d gotten from Domino.

If Mikhail had… then Domino? Sloan? Could he ever trust one of these predators…

Clem thumbed two more shells into the shotgun after popping the other two out. He lifted it up and held it in front of the two as Logan fumbled with his phone for the light once more.

“You could’ve made this so much easier for yourselves,” Mikhail said in the darkness and Clem opened fired on the spot. There was a flash of light from the gun, a blurred movement once more as the boxer reloaded.

Another movement, another shot and another reload.

“Last rounds.” Clem warned. Logan just nodded as he kept the knife up, his back to the wall. He wasn’t about to get caught unaware again.

“Thanks for coming.” Logan just said and Clem gave a single nod.

“Yeah. Yeah, of course…” Clem gulped loudly. “Sorry your ex is trying to kill us.”

“To be fair, only you.” Logan just said eying the floor real fast, looking for his fallen gun. “We need the lights on.” He just said softly, even knowing the tiger was listening in. Pacing in the dark, hunting them as he lurked just out of reach as always.

“These old buildings always have a switchgear.” Clem just said looking around the room for anything. He lifted the gun and made the motion to shoot but didn’t. “I only got one good shot left…”

“If you miss, use it to bash his head in. Find the light. We’re dead in the dark, I’ll distract him.” Logan just said taking a step forward. The human took a moment, breathing out before shouting out. “Cover me!” And ran forward.

Clem jumped at that, doing his best as the human took off running towards the middle of the room where the light was, and the mayor was bound up.

Logan figured Mikhail would use the mayor as a hostage and sure enough, the next second the tiger was lunging for her. Just as Logan was grabbing a knife from a nearby hanger.

“Catch this you bastard!” Logan shouted, getting the tiger’s attention in mid leap as he threw the meat cleaver as hard as he could at the feline.

Mikhail barely managed to dodge the unbalanced knife hurtling towards his face. Dropping to the ground, the tiger, on all fours, hissed out as Logan closed in. Mikhail was ready to meet him and there was the sound of metal against metal as Logan’s oversized wolf made switchblade hit against Mikhail’s curved, brass knuckle knife he pulled from his jacket.

With a swift kick, Logan pushed the mayor out of the way. Using the momentum to jump up and slash down at the tiger who met him with a wide smile.

Their knifes met in a sweet kiss of cold steel against cold steel. Logan’s silver blade meeting Mikhail’s curved black knife time and time against as the human tried to press the advance.

“That’s it.” Mikhail practically laughed jumping to his feet and swinging at Logan, forgetting all about the mayor as he met him in open combat. “Fight. Fight and struggle to survive!” The tiger laughed as their knives met once more.

A deadly dance between the two as Logan tried to stick the tiger in the chest who dodged, swinging overhead, and bringing his curved dagger down at Logan’s back. The human rolled to the side, landing on his feet and one hand just barely dodging. Knife up and ready Logan moved forward once more.

In the dark they’d be helpless against the tiger, Logan knew. He’d keep him occupied while Clem found the light switch. Then he’d have a chance to get a clear shot on the feline. Mikhail showed no sign of caring as his face broke in a massive grin.

“That’s it! That’s right, Logan! Fight! Fight on the verge of death! Fighting to survive! The look on your face, the smell coming from you! It’s so bittersweet.” The tiger smile only grew, and Logan was sure the tiger was getting hard again as Logan spun Domino’s blade around to block the heavy blow from the tiger.

Each hit had a weight behind it that Logan couldn’t match. The tiger wasn’t just larger than he was. He was stronger, faster, more agile, and capable. His species alone could always outmatch a human any day. Logan was really struggling just to keep up with the feline who he knew… was just toying with him.

His side hurt, his face hurt, his hand was hurting and beginning to plead from the heavy blows he was blocking from the tiger’s relentless assault. And still, Logan tried. Tried to defend himself as the tiger toyed with him.

One last time…

Mikhail movements, his attacks all of it were clearly telegraphed and Logan still did everything he could to block them. This was the difference between a trained professional like Mikhail and someone like Sloan who had fought on instinct alone. Taking a punch to his arm, Logan felt as those brass knuckles along the knife’s handle punctured holes in his skin. It hurt and all Logan could do was struggle.

Struggle to fight.

To survive as the predator closed in on him.

“I love the way you sweat!” Mikhail just shouted out with a joyous laugh swinging the dagger down and nearly knocking the one in Logan’s hand out of it. His fingers were growing numb and he was sure one of them were broken at this point. “I love how you look!” Mikhail brought up another punch, swinging it around and connected with Logan’s stomach, lifting the human off the ground and tossing him back. “I love the way you struggle…” The tiger licked over his fangs, lifting the dagger so the single light caught off the blade.

Even in a fair fight, Logan didn’t stand a chance against the tiger. Mikhail could smash the single bulb above them and, in the dark, Logan would truly be helpless. But then… where would the fun be?

“Yeah, well, you’re still an arrogant piece of shit until the end…” Logan spat blood, holding his injured side as he forced his legs to stand once more. “And I’m not alone.” The human smiled back.

The tiger didn’t have time to respond as the lights flicked on overhead, brightening up the dark room and half blinding the two.

“The fuck?” Mikhail cursed, covering his face with an arm as he pulled back and retreated as if the light itself burned him.

“The fuck you going?” Logan was already running at him. He jumped at the tiger but miscalculated and felt the sting of a knife slice into his side, forcing him to miss his target as he brought his own blade down at empty air.

Logan cried out as he slapped a hand over the wound, feeling the warmth of blood between his fingers as he rolled to his side, forcing his tired aching legs to stand once more.

“That look. Oh, how I’ve longed to see that look on your face.” Mikhail huffed, panting open maw as his lips lifted and the tiger took several heavy breaths. Tasting the air. Tasting Logan and breathing it all in. “The smell of it. Of you. Just like that time, our last time together…” And the tiger lifted a hand, his nails springing out. “Oh, how I want to taste you. To eat you. To let you be a part of me forever.”

Logan face blanked at that. “Uh… what?”

“I let you train underneath that jaguar.” Mikhail just laughed openly. “Becoming the best you could be. And how I loved watching it. Watching you grow as I nurtured it. Nurtured you. Baiting you, teasing you, throwing you the scraps you needed to keep… trying. Becoming who you are… until you’d be the perfect meal for me.”

Logan swallowed heavily at that, taking a step back.

“Oh, Logan. Logan. Logan… once you’re a part of me, I’ll be all the better.” The tiger licked over his fangs. “My mark? A mark I give only to the finest of… meals. How I want to mark you. Over. And over again… Until I feast on the warmth of your body and add it to my own.”

Logan could only stare at the tiger, lost for words at such a… claim. A declaration for everything he thought the two had.

“Don’t give me that look.” Mikhail chuffed. “It’s the greatest of compliments. I only ever eat... the best.” The tiger took a step forward as Logan took a step back.

“Eat this, you sick fuck!” A voice shouted out and Mikhail turned in time for a rather large sack to slam against his side. The hit knocked the tiger backwards and against the wall as the canine quickly moved in front of Logan.

“Clem?” Logan said before his jaw dropped. There, before him, stood a wolf in a suit that strained against his shoulders and sides. A wolf he instantly recognized but didn’t know how the hell he’d gotten here. Just in time, no less, to save his own skin from being someone’s dinner. “Domino? The hell are you doing here!” Logan winced, standing back up as the wolf stood before him.

“Reese sent me. Good to see you too, ass.” Domino glanced back at him, giving the human a playful smirk before turning back on the tiger who was getting back to his feet.

“Dog…” Mikhail snarled. “Time and time again… my meal is interrupted.”

“You’re injured!” Logan was both happy and terrified Domino had shown up. He wasn’t accounting for the wolf to be part of the raid, hoping Domino would be forced to sit out while he was recovering.

“You’re not in much of a better situation, either.” Domino just pointed out without daring to take his eyes off the tiger before them.

“Why didn’t you just shoot the fuck?” Logan just argued back. He was already looking for his gun, unable to find it even with the lights on in the room.

“If you haven’t noticed, there’s a freaking fight going on out there!” Domino gestured behind them. “Ammo isn’t infinite. Shit’s expensive.”

“How’d you find us, anyways?” Logan dared to ask, standing beside Domino as Mikhail looked the two over as if figuring out if it was worth the bother to stick around or not. Logan couldn’t risk him fleeing. Not again.

Not after finding out the truth of it all.

Domino just touched his snout. “I’d never forget your smell, Logan.” Logan tried not to blush at that as he lifted the keepsake Domino had given him. Something Dom noted. “You kept that, huh?”

“Was a gift.” Logan just said, fingers tapping on the switchblade in hand. Airing them out. His palm had grown rather sweaty learning his ex-wanted to eat him and not in the fun way.

Domino smiled at that, tail wagging once before facing the tiger who seemed to have it finally click for him. With a snap of his fingers, Mikhail drew their attention.

“Ah, that’s what this is.” Mikhail finally said aloud, breaking from his thoughts. “I knew you were seeing a wolf. I just didn’t expect one so… paltry as this.” Domino growled at that. “Just someone else to add to the list, I suppose...”

“Yeah, keep talking big.” Logan was the one to call out. “All you do is hide. Run away. Lurking in the dark and pouncing on those who can’t defend themselves! How about you man up for a change and face me instead of running away, you coward!” Logan just shouted at the tiger.

Mikhail took a second on that.

“You want me to… try?” The tiger face cracked and for a split second it looked like he was going to laugh. Then that smile turned into a snarl. “Fine. Let’s stop playing games. It was getting boring anyways. I’ll play for real.”

Standing to his full height, the two found themselves looking up at the tiger who began unbuttoning his coat. Ivory buttons made from previous victims. Just like the mink fur lined inside. Just like his cufflinks. Mikhail wasn’t one to waste and, as he shrugged the shirt off, the two realized just how literal that was.

Strapped to the suspenders hidden underneath the coat were several colorful knives. Each were tucked away in their own individually made sheath of fresh, warm “real” leather Logan instantly knew. And each knife, each sheath had a… memento to go along with it.

“This.” Mikhail said pulling out a rather large butterfly knife. Red and white fur had been threaded through the holes on the handle as he showed it off to the two. “Was a fox. A CEO that thought he didn’t need to pay back his dues…” The tiger brushed a finger over the hunting knife under it. “A polar bear that thought he was too good for his wife, or wives I should say… until they found out.” The hunting knife had white fur lining the handle. “But, my favorite,” Mikhail said as he put the others away and the tiger withdrew one from just above his tail.

The large, curved dagger made the two consider the decision to fight. The kukri had a hand-crafted handle with designs stemming from Mikhail’s homeland of India. And on the blade were three, matching, round furry ears hanging from the end of it. Ears that looked like the tigers.

“It’s a pity, my parents. My grandparents? Turned on me.” Mikhail spun the dagger around before facing towards the two and the ears bounced with the movement, swaying back and forth on strings pricked between them. “I hope we could just talk, Logan. Not that you’d turn on me too...”

“You’re insane.” Logan finally just spat the words. “What? Collecting trophies from each of your kills?”

“It’s a pity human don’t have such… keepsakes, to remember them by. Not that’d I’d have bothered remembering that retarded piece of shit you called a brother.” The tiger just chuffed, smirking at the two as Logan gritted his teeth.

“Okay. Now you die.” Domino was the one to snarl out and the three charged each other.