One of the lords stood up, removed his mask, and spit in Garnier’s direction. The substance landed on Garnier’s jacket and smudged on his tie. Garnier said nothing, but looked at Justice. Rage in his eyes, an anger so deeply rooted in his heart that he considered attacking the man. His fists clenched at the wicked smile on the face of Justice. Yet, he made no action towards the goliath, seeing that Justice’s fists were also clenched, and each was another form of death. Garnier clenched his teeth and looked away.

“Look at us when you lie to our face.” Lin said. She knew much about Justice and had been his very first patron. She knew he was a brutal, disgustingly violent man. But if there was one thing he wasn’t, it was a liar. To him, lying was weakness and he didn't care to show any. She respected that about him, and it was why she knew there was a clear enemy in front of them, and surprisingly it wasn’t him.

“We follow this madness. When will we wake up!? This man is a monster!” He said, turning to Justice, “You talk about Corvino and him being a coward. You don’t go into the Evergarden! You send your men there to do YOUR bidding. Ripping animals apart from families, or just tearing them to shreds to sell them to your billionaire clients. You act surprised when someone stands up to you because you are a coward who hides behind us because you’re scared of the Covens. The same way Corvino was! You think killing one will do anything?!”

“He may have killed a Harrier but if it was due to betrayal then the fault lies not of him but the betrayer. Answer the question, did you do it?” One of the other lords asked.

“Do what? Betray this horrible mess of a fucking goliath? Of course I did! He’s going to kill us all with his madness and his pride. He wants to die! Don’t you all see that!? He wants to die and he is going to bring all of us with him. So of course I told a Harrier about him.”

The lords all looked at Justice now, who did not stare back, instead his face was pointed only at the traitor in front of him. This time he was not smiling, his face was emotionless.

“Justice. Where is this Harrier? What happened?” Lin asked.

“Dead. Didn’t you hear? That’s why you’re here right? Because you’re scared about a dead Miyamoto. Well I got to them before they were able to get back to their family. And you’re welcome by the way. As for you, you fucking rat, you think I wouldn’t know it was you?”

Garnier stood up and took out the pistol from his coat only to notice that in a flash the Goliath was already standing over him. Justice grabbed the pistol and crushed it in his palm. The click of the trigger made a soft thump against the crushed metal but nothing further. No explosion coming from the barrel. Justice’s face held the smile again and he cocked his head back then slammed it down on Garnier’s nose. The bone crunched underneath the force of the blow, knocking the man unconscious. Justice looked down at the man and shook his head in disgust. He then turned his attention to the council.

“We want to vote? That’s what you guys do right? Vote whether or not someone should be punished instead of just committing to an action? Let’s leave it to a vote. All who believe I should be punished for saving your asses, raise your hand!” Justice shouted, grabbing Garnier’s unconscious body by the wrist and lifting it high. “There’s one! Anyone else?” He said in a soft growl.

Not a single hand rose after.

Justice threw the body of Garnier down and pulled on his suit jacket, then fixed his cuffs. He sucked his teeth again and pulled a toothpick from his breast pocket.

“I love you all. I do. Even this idiot. You give me the opportunity to be the citizen I am. And for that I love you. My love will protect you from everything and everyone. All I ask in return is a little fucking respect!” He screamed as he kicked the unconscious man hard, “Is my love too much?” Justice said, emotion smothering every word. Not a single lord spoke in reply. Instead, it was Lin who stood from her chair and proceeded to bow. In response, all followed. Lords of crime were all bowing to the true power in the room. Justice did not smile at the gesture. He didn’t care about their respect, he already had what he wanted. Their fear.

Colette Garnier woke. His hands tied behind his back by chains that had been tightly fastened on his wrists. His head ached and his ribs felt like they had been split into pieces. He was still in the meeting room but the large table had been pushed to the side and the carpet underneath was also moved. His chair was sitting in the center and beside him there was one more. A chair with his wife occupying it. She had been under the same circumstances. Garnier screamed but the tape around his mouth muffled his cries and as he tried to reach out he felt the chains on his wrists cut into his skin. Blood started to trickle down his hands and he heard the trickle as the liquid hit the floor.

Garnier turned to look for help but instead only saw Justice. The goliath’s jacket had been removed, his sleeves rolled up, and his hand holding up a glass while the other gripped a pistol. Justice walked over and removed the tape from Garnier’s mouth and poured the liquor as a replacement. The lord wanted to spit it out, wanted to scream but knew that the only way he’d get out of this alive and with his wife, was if he cooperated. Unfortunately for him, Justice already wrote their ending.

“Not as good as a cigarette but I can’t stand the smell of those things. Not like this is much better I guess.” the goliath said, finishing the drink and placing it on the table beside him.

“You don’t have to do this. I’ve helped you in the past Justice that should count for something.”

Justice shrugged and pouted mockingly. “Oh, should it? It might have if you didn’t betray me. All I did was love you.”

“You’re a psychopath Justice. Love isn't something you're capable of. You were going to bring all of us down. I was just protecting the council. You know that I would have taken those measures against anyone if it meant protecting the families. Not just you.”

Justice broke out into laughter and pulled his seat close to Garnier and his wife.

“That so? Am I supposed to fucking feel something?”

“Fuck you.” Garnier said, his eyes filled with hate.

“You know what I think you little French bastard? I think you’re jealous of me. Because I'm the next Adrian Corvino and you’re just. Damn you’re just you I guess. Little ol' you. A ruler of nothing. Worthless and not even capable of fighting your own battles, instead you have to go to the enemy to fight them for you. A fucking worm, eating the corpse of your once great family. That's what you are.”

Garnier said nothing.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Justice said, looking at Garnier’s wife then exhaling.

“Sorry about this ma’am. Truly I am. Your husband here made a decision on your behalf, probably without informing you because that’s the man he is. Your husband decided to fuck with god himself. Ain’t that right Colette?”

“You’re no god.” Garnier said with malice.

“Nah. Not yet. But I’m getting there.” Justice said, releasing the magazine of his chrome pistol and seeing the bullets shine within. He slapped the mag back into the weapon and racked it. Colette felt his restraints loosen and leave him altogether. He then felt the heavy thud of Justice's pistol land on his lap.

“Shoot her.”

Garnier’s eyes grew wide as he turned his head quickly to his wife.

“What? No! Kill me! She had nothing to do with this.”

“Probably. But she made a life ending mistake. She married a fucking worm like you, and who am I to split up a married couple?”

Garnier had tears flowing down his eyes and as he grabbed the pistol from his lap feeling the bone grip in his hand. Feeling the twelve ways of dying in his palm.

“Come on Colette. Show me that you have some fucking courage in that heart of yours. Show your wife that you have what it takes to save her from me.”

Garnier tried to look at his wife but felt his head get yanked to the side and toward Justice, where only his wicked smile could be seen in the light.

“You got it in you don’t you? That ability to kill. I mean you tried to kill me, can you do it yourself I wonder?.” he whispered.

Garnier felt the heavy gun in his hand, knowing that he could easily turn it and pull the trigger, aiming not at his wife but at his captor. He thought about it for a moment, thought about what he had to lose if he missed. How a single action meant everything. Life or death.

“Do it.” Justice said softly, his smile wide as ever.

Garnier turned the gun and fired, aiming at Justice's heart but felt his throat close as a hand wrapped around it. He saw a flash of light before he heard the smashed bullet fall to the floor. A glimmer shined around Justice’s heart, a glimmer of magic he suspected to be Hex Armor. His heart dropped as Justice pulled the pistol from his trembling hands.

“My man.” Justice said, happy as ever. He grabbed the pistol from Garnier, keeping his face pointed at the man as he raised the pistol and fired three shots at Colette’s wife.

Garnier screamed as Justice turned and took a step away to pour himself a drink.

“You monster! You’re a fucking monster! I hope, I PRAY that the Miyamoto find you and kill you for what you’ve done. I hope they skin you alive!”

Justice sipped and placed the glass back down and clapped his palms together, the pistol still in his hand.

“You know Garnier. I gotta respect it. I gave you a choice. Make it quick, silence that beautiful love that was once your wife. Do it with YOUR own hands. Do the deed motherfucker do it! And what did you do? You turned it on me. Made this, this whole thing! About me. You know what, I do admire that.” He paused for a moment. “There are Harriers out there, hundreds, thousands maybe. All of them are going to be searching soon. And there’s only one me. Only one monster out here. But you got the whole story twisted brother. They aren't the death you think they are. Because when I squeezed the life out of that little vermin you spoke to. I realized something, they are just like everyone else. Weak. You thought they'd be the one to do it? Nah brother. It'll take a god to kill a motherfucker like me.”

Justice took another sip and tossed the glass.

“When you get down there, tell 'em to get a seat ready for me. I’ll need it.” Justice said, raising the pistol and emptying it into the man.

He wiped the blood from his mask and sucked on his teeth. One of his guards walked over with a rag and retrieved the pistol from his hand as his main guard walked up and knelt.

“What should I do with the body, my lord?”

Justice looked at him and patted him on the shoulder.

“Bury the woman somewhere peaceful. She didn’t deserve this shit. Get her some flowers and send the kids something nice. Him? Send his ass to the Miyamoto. Tell 'em the grinnin' man is waitin'.”