Chapter:11 Cleaning Up

"Now, for the rest of you,"

Anastasia addressed the trio that remained, her gaze shifting between them,

"Can I safely assume that the two of you are currently unarmed, provided my instructions have been diligently followed?"

She scrutinized Lizzy and Charles, her eyes keenly assessing their reactions. Lizzy and Charles nodded in unison, confirming that they had adhered to Anastasia's directive regarding being unarmed.

"Good,"

Anastasia continued, her expression unwavering.

"Now, the reason I've kept you here is that I have a specific task for each of you, but first I have a question for you Charles. Whose payroll are you on?"

Charles met Anastasia's gaze steadily, his face reflecting seriousness.

"Yours, Anastasia. Always yours,"

he replied, his voice unwavering.

"Good,"

Her attention shifted to her desk and the interface. Charles's Loyalty just did a nosedive from 43 to 39.

"Any allegiances? Loyalty? or Favours? Anything else that I should be aware of?" 

Anastasia's question lingered in the air as she waited for Charles's response. The room seemed to grow still as the weight of the inquiry was palpable. Especially since Charles hesitated for a moment and his eyes briefly flickering with uncertainty.

However, he soon squared his shoulders, meeting Anastasia's gaze again.

"No allegiances, Anastasia. My loyalty is to you and your family. No other favors, no hidden affiliations,"

he asserted a note of earnestness in his voice.

"Good,"

she repeated before her attention shifted to Lizzy.

"And you, Lizzy? Anything I should be aware of? Any hidden loyalties or alliances?"

Lizzy, standing tall, replied firmly,

"My loyalty is to you, Anastasia. No other affiliations, no hidden agendas."

Anastasia nodded, seemingly satisfied with their responses. However, her eyes betrayed a discerning glint, a hint that was quite evident to Amina as she drew her pistol without so much as a noise.

Her expression remained unchanged, but Amina could sense the unspoken communication between them,

"Very well then, Amina, if you would do the honor."

She motioned to Charles as she said those words. 

Amina acknowledged Anastasia's gesture with a subtle nod, she approached Charles with a measured pace, her pistol held with precision. Amina's movements were deliberate and soundless, the perfect reflection of her days as a member of the internationally feared assassins. Charles, despite the nosedive in his loyalty, maintained a composed demeanor.

She kept her gun trained on him, patting down his coat and sides for any concealed firearm. She then carefully removed an M9 from his belt, which had been concealed on his back, strapped to the inside of his belt, under the black leather jacket he was wearing.

As Amina efficiently disarmed Charles, the tension in the room seemed to escalate. The gravity of the situation was palpable, and every movement carried a weighty significance. Charles, despite the scrutiny, maintained his composure. His façade of loyalty had just taken a severe hit, but his seemingly unwavering commitment remained etched on his face.

Amina went forward and placed the pistol on Anastasia's desk before she turned her attention to Lizzy, who awaited her turn with a calm demeanor. The room was silent, the only audible sound being the faint hum of the city outside. Amina moved with precision and, checked her for any concealed weapons with practiced efficiency.

Lizzy's loyalty, unlike Charles's, remained steadfast, and Amina found no hidden armaments. As she completed the pat-down, she stepped back, holstering her pistol with a fluid motion.

"Both are clear, Ana,"

Anastasia nodded before turning to Charles,

"No second payroll, eh? No hidden allegiances? No second Loyalty?"

Charles met Anastasia's gaze directly, his demeanor unyielding.

"None"

he replied, his voice steady.

She smirked.

"You see, we have all the evidence we would ever need to deny that one word of yours,"

Anastasia said while picking up the M9 from the desk,

"Amina."

She called the woman, now standing right behind Charles, and before he could turn around she slammed her foot to the back of her knees, making him kneel in front of her desk. 

Reveling in the tension of the moment, Anastasia maintained her steely composure. She aimed the M9 at Charles, who now knelt before her, his loyalty numbers going steeper from 39 to 30. Amina stood by, her gaze boring into his back, her steel-grey eyes gleaming with a strange light.

"The thing is Charles,"

Anastasia began, her voice carrying a subtle edge,

"Loyalty isn't just a matter of words. It's proven through actions, and yours just did that."

Charles, still on his knees, met Anastasia's gaze with apprehension.

Anastasia continued to scrutinize him.

"You've been a valuable asset, Charles. But my business thrives on trust. I can't afford even a shadow of a doubt."

She sighed,

"Pity, and you were one of the useful ones."

As she appeared to be on the verge of pulling the trigger, Charles let out a loud shout.

"Wait!"

Her finger stopped, drawing out from behind the trigger and resting on the trigger guard's side. 

"What? Feel like talking all of a sudden?"

Beads of sweat were forming on his forehead, he took a deep breath before speaking, his voice urgent yet controlled.

"I uh... might've... might've let slip a couple of things."

Anastasia grinned,

"For a pretty lady or a shot of rum no doubt."

Charles returned the grin only to get a smack on the back of his head,

"So tell me, Charles,"

She said the name with a drawn-out tone,

"How much did they pay you? And who exactly did you tip off?"

Charles groaned before shaking his head, clearly taking too much time to make up a story. 

*WHACK*

Amina kicked him in his guts. Hard.

"*Cough**Cough*..."

He doubled over coughing and gasping. Despite her rather lean body, Amina did pack a punch.

 "Now, now, no need to dilly-dally. Just tell me what I asked for and I might let you keep your limbs."

Charles, still catching his breath, managed to stammer out an answer,

"It was... it was the Italians. They offered me a hefty sum to feed them information about our operations. I... I thought it was an easy score."

Anastasia's gaze hardened, and she leaned in closer, the M9 still trained on him.

"And what information did you give them, Charles? Don't test my patience."

His eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape that wasn't there. Amina's presence behind him, ready for another strike, only intensified the pressure.

"I... I gave them details about our shipments. The routes, the schedules. That's all I swear! I knew nothing of the bombing!"

Charles pleaded, beads of sweat rolling down his face.

Anastasia's expression remained steely.

"And the payment? What did they offer you? Who did you meet?"

Charles, still panting from Amina's blow, hesitated for a moment before providing the details of his meetings with the Italians. He disclosed the brothel they met at, the individuals who approached her, and the promised payment – a substantial amount of money and additional resources, a villa in Thailand, and a way out of the business.

Anastasia listened to him sing, her gaze unwavering. Amina, standing behind Charles, had a look of disgust on his face.

"You betrayed us for a bag of coins and a couple of false promises,"

Anastasia remarked, her tone laced with a mix of disappointment and contempt.

Charles lowered his gaze, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead onto the floor.

"I didn't know they were planning something like a bombing of the Falcon, Ana. I swear!"

he pleaded.

Anastasia's expression remained cold, but a calculating gleam flickered in her eyes.

"And how do I know you're not feeding me another batch of lies, Charles?"

Charles, desperate to salvage any semblance of trust, spoke earnestly,

"Ana, you've been the only one I ever worked for. The Italians offered me a way out, a chance to retire in comfort. I thought I could secure a future for myself. I didn't intend for it to escalate like this."

Anastasia remained silent, contemplating Charles's words. The room hung heavy with tension, the weight of betrayal lingering in the air. Amina, still standing behind Charles, awaited further instructions, her gaze unwavering.

After a prolonged moment, Anastasia sighed, the steely edge in her expression softening just slightly.

"Charles,"

she began, her voice carrying a mixture of disappointment and resignation,

"Now that I think about it, it was Neo who took you in from the streets right? Guess what happened to him."

No answer.

"He lost his legs, he won't ever walk again. Not to mention Munro or Juliana, they both are dead."

Anastasia's revelation sent a shiver down Charles's spine. Neo, the mentor who had once taken him in and guided him through the ruthless world they navigated, was now a cripple.

"You see Charles, life's a bitch. It has a strange way of catching up with you,"

Anastasia chuckled, her tone colder than before.

"It seems yours is just about to catch you. "

Charles swallowed hard,

Anastasia glanced at Amina, her eyes conveying a silent command. Amina stepped back, allowing Charles to rise from his kneeling position.

"It's such a pity isn't it." 

Murmured Anastasia, her gaze remained fixed on the rug beneath Charles, her mind processing the implications of his betrayal. The room seemed to tighten with tension as the seconds ticked by.

"You thought you could secure a future for yourself, Charles,"

Anastasia finally spoke, her voice cutting through the stillness.

"But in our world, loyalty is the currency that buys that future. And you just bankrupted yourself. You're a liability, Charles,"

Anastasia continued, her eyes meeting his.

"A loose end that needs tying. Loyalty can be earned, but trust, once shattered, is nearly impossible to rebuild."

She motioned to Amina, who approached with a cold detachment.

"Ana, please, I can make amends. I can help you track down the Italians, and expose their plans. I—"

Charles' plea was cut short as Amina swiftly delivered a blow to his gut, doubling him over in pain.

"Enough of your empty promises, Charles,"

Anastasia interjected, her tone firm.

"You've betrayed the trust of this family. Now, you'll face the consequences."

"Anastasia, please,"

he pleaded, desperation in his eyes.

She stared at him, her gaze unyielding.

"You had a choice, Charles. You chose betrayal. Now, you'll have to live with the consequences."

With a steady hand, Anastasia raised the M9, aiming it at Charles. The room held its breath, the only sound the faint hum of the city outside.