Chapter 10

[Peter's POV]

Manhattan, IceEight Club.

I land on the opposite roof from my target. 

I observe the entrance for ten minutes, imagining how much it might cost to get in, and then a fancy limousine parks right in front.

A typical 1940s Italian gangster steps out of the driver's seat.

Opening the door, a luxurious blue striped suit, a fake rose in the outside pocket, and his head gleaming like it's supported with steel. 

Adjusting his tie, he calmly walks into the club.

I fly by the car carefully, stopping briefly to attach a bug to the side.

Of course, my performance was seen by the entire club crowd and passersby, I jumped onto a lamppost and made an announcement from there:

"Ladies and gentlemen, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man wishes you a great evening!"

I twisted a couple of times on the post in stunts, like a professional stripper, for the crowd's amusement, and then left.

I hope that distracted their attention.

I return to the roof and settle back into my spot.

Two hours later, the bastard finally decides to leave, accompanied by his girlfriend. 

He got into the car, and they drove off, and then I followed him.

After half an hour, the car stops near a high-rise complex.

Climbing onto the roof, I take up my observation position. 

After fifteen minutes, the light turns on, and Hammerhead's shadow flickers in the window.

I grab the edge of the roof and, spinning like a corkscrew, crash through the penthouse window, shattering it completely.

The girlfriend screams while Hammerhead himself rolls behind the bar counter, and two of his bodyguards burst into the room.

I web the sofa and throw it at the unlucky guards. One manages to dodge, but the other gets slammed into the wall with a satisfying thud.

At that moment, the "gangster" springs into action, crawling out from under the counter and firing at me with a 1911. 

I dodge and web the barrel, then close the distance with the second bodyguard and knock him out with a direct punch to the jaw.

Meanwhile, Hammerhead abandons his futile attempts to clear his weapon and decides to crawl out from behind the counter.

"So, what kind of freak are you?"

"I take it you're not aware of yesterday's incident?"

"Ah, so you're 'Spider-Man'? You know, you really roughed up Shocker, but he was always a wimp." 

Hammerhead said, circling around me.

"So you're not, then?" 

I mirror his actions.

"I'm not,"

He suddenly springs into action and charges at me like a battering ram.

I jumped up, but he abruptly stopped, grabbed my leg, and slammed me into the floor. 

I spring back up and shoot webbing at him but Hammerhead managed to dodges.

"That was unpleasant," 

I remark angrily.

"What else you got, Spider?" 

Hammerhead sneered, pulling out brass knuckles. He accelerates again, but this time I dodge.

I grab a chair and smash it over his back.

"Not bad, bug."

"Alright, enough with the jokes. Where can I find your boss?"

"Are you kidding? I'm just getting started," 

He moved in and landed a typical boxing combo.

"Last chance."

"Go to hell."

I use my webbing to grab a cabinet and throw it at him. He then hits the ground, covering himself with his hands.

I use the remaining cartridge charges, wrapping the criminal tightly in webbing. 

Hammerhead tried to tear through the restraints.

"Useless; I've taken every measure to make sure no one can rip it, and definitely not a guy with an aluminum wig on his head. Now, we're going to talk."

"Talk all you want, I won't say anything."

"Then we do this the hard way."

I grab the webbed-up Hammerhead by the chest and throw him with all my strength into the wall.

"Nice place you got here. Your boss must appreciate you if he lets you live in such luxury."

I grab a bottle of champagne that miraculously isn't damaged, popping it open with a foamy spray.

"That's quite the fountain!" 

I lift my mask just enough to take a sip. 

"Not bad."

I smash the bottle, leaving only a shard in my hand.

Hammerhead lifted his head with effort. He hasn't recovered, apparently still feeling the impact of his spine hitting the brick wall.

I jump up and press the "rose" to his face.

"So, shall we continue the fun?"

"You're crazy!"

"Maybe just a little. Are we talking now?"

"These cheap tricks won't scare me."

"Got it." 

I say, tossing the shard away. 

Then, grabbing his body again, I throw it onto the balcony, shattering the glass doors.

"Look what you've done to the place. What if someone gets cut?"

After carefully stepping across the floor scattered with shards, I approach the Hammerhead, whose face is already covered in cuts.

"You're really insane."

"Exactly. So, are you still going to stay quiet?"

"Throw me around as much as you want. In a couple of minutes, the cops will be here, and I think they'll be very interested to see a 'hero' like you doing such things."

He's right. I've lost control. Plus, this guy's tough, not easy to crack.

"Alright, then, the last thing," 

I grab Hammerhead, jump up to the edge of the balcony, and lift his body with both hands. 

"We're about twenty floors up. It's a long drop."

"HAAAAAAAAAAA!"

It looks like he's getting scared.

Silently, under the force of gravity, we begin to fall forward.

"Stop!" 

Hammerhead suddenly exclaimed.

I grab onto the smooth ground with my feet. 

"I'm listening," 

I said in a completely calm voice, but my heart was pounding with adrenaline. 

What were the chances of screwing this up?

"Think, kid. Do you really want to do this?"

"Don't test my patience," 

I shook him over the abyss.

"Alright, alright. The meeting's in a week, at the docks. It won't just be the big boss there. It's a generous offer, kid. So, are you letting me go?"

"Well, you asked for it..."

"That's not what I meant!"

"Ha, don't worry," 

I toss the criminal back. 

"The cops will be here soon, so..." 

I pull out a note and attach it to the Hammerhead's body with a web. 

"Have a good evening, Hammerhead." 

I add, then suspend him by his collar from the apartment ceiling before flying off.

...

[3rd POV]

Ten minutes later.

"Police, everyone stays still!"

Officer Casey entered the room, and before he and his partner saw several knocked-out criminals across the completely wrecked room. 

Then, a woman was trying to cut through some strange substance with a knife while the man she was trying to free from it was muttering swear words.

"Oliver, take a look—could this be Hammerhead?"

"Definitely him, Jim. Ma'am, please step aside and put the knife down," 

Casey moves toward the restrained criminal.

"Interesting, who did this to him?"

"Looks like we know the answer," 

Oliver Casey said, showing his partner the note taken from the criminal.

"'With best wishes, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man,'" 

Jim Orton read aloud.

"So, this is the same guy who stopped the drug deal yesterday?"

"Looks like it." 

Oliver replied, "Alright, call for backup, we'll start wrapping things up. Ma'am, do you mind answering a few questions?"