“You’re gonna be really stubborn, aren’tcha pal?”

Through his partially toothless smile and gasping breaths, the little twerp laughed. “I already told you. I’m not some kind of rat that you can just beat til it squeaks.”

Axum rested one hand on the man’s shoulder, pushing the beastly black hair from his scarlet eyes. “A rat would know when to talk so it can actually go home in one piece. You’re acting more like a mouse here, my man.”

“Mouse schmouse. I ain’t talking.”

Axum sat down in the chair across from the man, leaning back to take a deep breath. “Listen, it’s not like I’m asking for anything hard. A simple informational exchange.” He leaned forward. “Is that too much to ask buddy?” Axum politely fixed the man’s collar the best he could, despite it being torn on one side.

“Ain’t. Talking.” The man emphasized. “Trust me, giving you information on where the Black Cats hangout isn’t a ‘simple informational exchange.’ It would be stabbing them in the back.”

“I’m trying my best to make this easy on you.” Axum replied, the cool bronze of his brass knuckles grazing the man’s peach fuzz. “Trust me, if the Miss’ comes down here, she ain’t gonna-”

“I ain’t gonna what?”

Axum stood up and turned around, lightly shoving the man’s face to the side. A grin broke out from the corner of his lips. “I was just saying that you ain’t gonna believe the amount of cash we’re gonna get from this when we’re done with our exchange.”

“I thought so.” The source of the voice stepped into the light, the fabric of her long cocktail dress swaying with her hips as she walked in. “Because I’m getting a bit impatient. You said this was gonna take only an hour.”

“I said it was gonna take at least an hour.” Axum corrected her, running his fingers down her peach colored cheeks. “This one’s a tough nut to crack.”

‘I’m sure you’d busted a couple of good nuts that were harder than this guy, baby.” Her ocean blue eyes darted to their guest. “And had a better time doing so too.”

Axum stroked her blonde hair. “Indeed I have, but pleasure will come after the reward.” He removed his brass knuckles. “He’s not talking, no matter how hard I hit ‘em.”

“Who’s the waitress?” The man joked, coughing up blood as he laughed. “I didn’t know that you had a maid here.”

Turning his head, Axum raised an eyebrow. “Maids are for the man who can’t commit. This here is my wife, and queen of my heart.”

Mia giggled, playfully pushing Axum away. “You big softie. Do you have to always have to introduce me like that?”

“Hey, if the shoe fits, wear it.”

“Speaking of which, I need some new shoes. The heel on my pump broke while was I was out shopping earlier.”

“Consider them replaced.”

Mia crossed her arms across her bust, turning her attention towards the bruised man. “So, tight seal on those lips.”

“Mum’s the word.” The man grinned.

“Uh huh.” She leaned onto the chair, pushing a lock of her hair behind her pierced ears. “Well, I betcha I can get you to talk.” She smirked.

The man huffed in down, his eyes looking over the curves of her figure. From her soft lips to her thin waist, which gradually slipped out to her wide hips and thick thighs, Mia Haslyn was the crown jewel of Axum’s empire. She was what every man went after, but only one ever achieved. She was one in a million, though her body wasn’t the peak of her skills.

She strut around the chair, leaning over so they were face to face. “Someone’s looking a bit flustered.” She stated in a flirtatious voice. “Getting hard to keep your cool, big boy?”

“I don’t know what’cha talking about.” He turned his head.

“Your pants say otherwise.”

The man didn’t respond. Knowing she had a hold on him, Mia pushed harder, kicking a leg over and dropping herself down on his lap, her palms against the man’s bloodstained dress. His heart was beating fast, his breath heavy with each inhale. He was breaking, she loving every second of it.

She tapped against his chest in rhythm to his heart. “It must be hard, huh?”

He peered over. “What’s hard?”

“Oh you know exactly what I’m talking about.” She brushed his face. “Being stuck down here, beating halfway to hell by the scary man with the red eyes, right? I mean, if you don’t wanna talk, you don’t wanna talk. I can respect a man with that kind of attitude, you know?”

He turned his head to look at her. “Really now?”

“Indeed I can.” She ran her hand down her thigh, her prisoner enjoying every second of this. Mia let the cross strap on her dress droop, revealing a small but seductive amount of cleavage for his pleasure.

The man smirked. “Well, I can respect a woman who can respect me.”

“So this works both ways then.” She laughed. “But you wanna know what I respect even more?”

“What’s that, dollface?”

Before he could even blink, Mia held a knife up to the man’s neck, his eyes shooting open.

Mia’s sexy smile turned into an evil grin. “I can respect a man who tells us what we wanna know.”

“Wha-what?”

“Sorry pal, but these legs are only for one man, and I’m married to him.” She pushed the knife further into his neck. “Now spill!”

“Alright, alright!” He wheezed. “Southside of Goldenrod at the harbor! They have a hideout there on the abandon houseboat! It’s by Warehouse 16!”

“What else?”

“That’s all I know! I swear!”

Mia paused for a second, looking for lies in his eyes before lowering her knife and concealing the holster with her dress, making sure to deliver a swift kick to the man’s crotch before fixing herself up, adjusting her breast so that they were snug inside her dress, the man screaming in pain. “That was for having your john make my seat uncomfortable!”

Axum smiled. “You got him to talk. Thanks, honey.”

She flipped her hair, walking over to her husband. “Hey, it’s the least I can do for my man, although I can’t believe I had to do that on a creep like him.”

“I know, I know. “ Axum put his arms around her waist, pulling her up against him. “But I wasn’t gonna let it go too far. If he tried anything, I would’ve stepped in.”

“I know.” She smiled, looking up at him. “We still going out for dinner?”

“Jones’ as always.” He replied. “Your favorite.”

“Just making sure.” She giggled, then winked at him. “Though, it looks like we might have to skip the reservation and go straight to dessert from what I’m feeling.”

“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow. “That being?”

“This.” She replied, her hand reaching down and grabbing his stiff member through his pants. “Something tells me that my little interrogation worked a little too well, huh?”

Axum blushed. “I liked what I saw. You can’t blame me.”

“Well, I’ll show you more after you put this guy out with the trash, alright?”

Axum laughed. “Alright.”

“Good.” She let go of him. “I’ll be waiting.” With that, she walked off, Axum watching her leave, a smile of anticipation breaking out across his face.

The guest looked up from his pain. “That’s one hell of a girl you got there.”

“Yeah, she is.” He turned back to look at him. “Too bad you ain’t gonna be seeing anymore of that ever again.”

“I know.” The man smirked, then quickly became confused. “Wait, say what now?”

Before he could react, his vision was engulfed from the flash of light released from the gun barrel, everything slowly going black.