“Really old man? This is how we spend my 12th birthday,” said Adam in a hushed tone. He sat alone on the third floor of a parking garage, waiting for his time. “I know you’ve got the whole high functioning psychopath thing going for you, but fuck man could’ve at least gotten me a cake.”

He looked around, the cold wind stinging his face. The city street was completely abandoned. There wasn’t a soul in sight. “Fuck this,” said Adam digging into a bag.

Adam clicked in the audio jack of his headphones and pressed play, allowing the kick drum to start its intro. Then the keyboard started lightly, making Adam’s heart tingle a bit. The rhythm of the song made his cold veins spur into warmth. The peppy electronic song gave him the tiniest of feeling.

“Touch…In The Night,” he whispered along.

This song was the best for livening up chores. As the guitar kicked up, Adam swayed his shoulders and hips.

“I wanna feel your touch in the night.” In between lyrics he threw a handful of gummies in his mouth. Adam played his imaginary drums to the tune of the song and threw his head back and forth. He even added in a few hip thrusts just for good measure.

“I'm gonna feel the wrath of the king 'cause touching you was a sin.” Adam ran his hands through his blond hair and over his small body, trying to seduce his fictional audience as a gummy worm hung out of his mouth. Adam moved his head to make the gummy spin like a propeller.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement in the building across from him. “Oops,” said Adam getting in position and tearing the gummy worm with his teeth. Adam looked through the scope and serenaded his sniper rifle. “I can’t resist you no more.” A crack resounded and with it a perfect hit. Her jaw flew off. “Take me to heaven before I am gone.” A second shot and with it the big man went down.

With his chores done Adam got up and sung into his balled fist, continuing his dance. As Adam skipped around he put two gummy worms in his mouth, making them into walrus teeth. With his newly formed tusks, he walked like a lady of the night on the prowl. He was a sexy tiger, just looking for his next prey. As he strutted his hips to the rhythm, nothing could stop him. The dilapidated streets were his kingdom and the lustful men his subjects. “I’m a victim of my own desir-”

Something on the ground floor caught Adam’s eye. A horde of black vans came to a shrieking halt in front of the building across from him. Out of the vehicles came a small army of men all armed to the teeth. Adam slurped up his gummy worms. “Thash not good.” He swallowed his mouthful of candy.

“Better tell pops,” thought Adam. Still swaying his hips, he got out his phone and sent a text.

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Sinclair’s pocket vibrated. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off of his gloved hands and face. He got out his phone and looked at the message.

“Bunch of vans outside for you.”

Another message came in.

“Oops nevermind they are coming inside now. No cake for me so no saving for you.”

Sinclair placed the phone back into his pocket. Adam was being annoying and he had no time to come up with a proper plan. He weighed his options quickly. Sinclair looked towards the office window. It was the only decent option that had presented itself. He would need to wait for the exact right time. That coupled with that he would need to count on Adam getting over his grudge and providing covering fire. Sinclair looked back towards the door that went out to the hall. However, fleeing did not fancy him today. Sinclair reloaded his silver pistol. Chances of surviving were laughably low but he tossed these things from his mind. If this squad of men was god’s death sentence he would happily oblige their challenge. Sinclair stepped forwards, gripping his silver gun tightly. Even through the thick metal door, Sinclair could hear the sound of combat boots against the marble floor. The time had come. Sinclair raised his gun and for but a moment thought he felt the tiniest semblance of thrill.

There was a click and the entire hallway exploded like a dozen hand grenades being set off all at once. Twenty-two armed men all died in a massive boom that made the entire building shake. The metal door in front of Sinclair rattled, almost flying off of its hinges. The rancid smell of singed human flesh seeped into the office. As the ringing in Sinclair’s ears died down a smooth voice came over the intercom.

“A very good morning to you Samuel, I hope my bombs didn’t give you too much of a fright.”

Sinclair recognized the voice immediately. “Figaro,” said Sinclair. Figaro was the head of the largest drug syndicate in the entire city, as well as his only remaining suspect. The final member of the 17. The only one that yet lived.

“I suppose since you have done away with the She-Wolf and the last of my comrades there is no use hiding anymore. I am your Cicero!”

“What is he doing,” thought Sinclair.

The voice over the intercom continued, “I have quite enjoyed this game so far, so I urge you, just TRY and find me. If a man truly desires another man he will pursue him will he not!? Now CATCH ME my love and I will give you what you want!”

The intercom shut off.

What was the damn eccentric thinking? So much didn’t add up. Why did he save him? Why did a drug lord do all of this under the guise of Cicero? What interest did Cicero have in him? How did Cicero know that I would come to the She-Wolf and that his employers would try and kill him? Why plan all of this for a stupid game? Surely not all these questions could simply be answered by the fact that Figaro was clinically insane. There was way more to this than he knew and it was pissing him off not to know.

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Adam got into the passenger seat of the car, this time with a sucker in his mouth. Sinclair started the car and got them on their way, leaving the death stained building behind them.

“Did you really have to kill the receptionist?” said Adam rolling the sucker around his mouth.

“Do I even need to answer that?” said Sinclair.

Adam put his arms behind his head, “You’re always the one that fusses about killing innocents.”

“Anyone that plays a part within the 17, even a seemingly insignificant part is not innocent. I don't cry over the eradication of cancers.”

“There were no tears for Holly either, so, does that mean she was a cancer?” said Adam eyeing his father to see if he could spur a reaction.

“Is that you saying that you miss your sister?” said Sinclair, his face as blank as ever.

Adam ran his fingers over the string woven bracelet on his wrist. “No, not particularly. It means I don’t have to fake as much anymore I suppose.”

“Just don’t fall out of practice. Being genuine can be more of a hassle than it’s worth.” There was a short pause before Sinclair spoke again. “But to answer you, no, Holly wasn’t a cancer. Just in the situation, she was the lesser of two losses.”

Adam popped the sucker out of his mouth and examined its blue surface. “You owe me some Twin Snakes for today or I’m not helping you out anymore.”

“What are...?” said Sinclair almost sounding bored.

“It’s a gummy candy,” said Adam. Sinclair looked annoyed by the response. “Come on, you old fuck,” continued Adam, “it’s the least you could do for my birthday.”

“Fine," said Sinclair calmly, "but afterward it’s a straight shot no matter what.”

Adam smiled and put the sucker back in his mouth, “Good, then we’ll put your little boyfriend, Cicero, in a box.”