Cornered

Cornered
“Can we have a minute with her?” one of the guys smugly asked Vince, who was obviously unintimidated. He was keenly analyzing the situation from all sides to prepare for any movements that the guys would make.

They seemed to form a letter U, obviously blocking the way for Scarlett and Vince. And her curiosity was answered. 

They were after her, not him!

“Do you know them?” Vince's right arm wrapped around Scarlett's shoulder as he softly whispered to ask her. A view that looked to the guys before them, these two are not just business-related.

“Nope!” batting her lashes at Vince, Scarlett answered with a loud popping sound of her lips to emphasize the p of the word she just said. She was enjoying how things seemed to take place. And honestly, she felt the romantic feeling of a guy protecting a woman, his woman, from a danger they were facing.

Vince smiled sweetly at her antics. Then he made his face stern as he looked at the group of gangster-looking men.

“Sorry, she doesn’t know you,” Vince answered calmly. He is overwhelmed by the number of men who are blocking their way, but as a man with a lady, he is also aware that he has to be brave and courageous. He was confident the lady with him was not a burden because she could fight for herself, and maybe if it came to the worst, she would be the one to keep him safe.

“We didn’t say she did,” retorted the guy who seemed to be the leader.

“Either way, I am not giving that minute you were asking to have with her,” Vince firmly replied. “What do you think, honey?” He sweetly asked Scarlett with a wink.

“Honey, how about you call for a ride on the side while I give them a minute or two?” Scarlett didn’t want to drag Vince into bigger trouble, but she knew they had to get rid of these annoying men right here, right now, or they might follow them everywhere they go. She led Vince to a safe distance where she could clearly see him while dealing with these scumbags. She just hoped they would not use him as their leverage to trap her, and she hoped he was not that weak to fight and defend himself for safety.

“Are you sure?” Vince asked with hesitation. Although he knew she could fight, it was still worrisome to watch her from the side while he only called for a ride.

“Yes, I am. Do you trust me?” She kissed him on his right cheek as she whispered. “Call a ride to get us out of here the soon as possible. It will be quicker this way.” Scarlett peeked at his lips before she turned around to face the men seeking her attention. She was grateful for making her feel as sweet as her knight in shining armor, and she expressed her gratitude with a quick peck on his lips. Vince was dumbfounded. This woman had been making him feel dumb a few times already. But as idiotic as it may sound, he is not complaining. He shook his head as he watched her walk slowly away from him.

She pulled a cigarette box from the back pocket of her jeans, and she walked towards them with axiomatic confidence. She clipped the smoke with her left hand's fingers and, keeping its hold, brought it to her lips, and with her right hand, she playfully flicked her lighter open and shut. She kept walking at a slow pace, but until she reached a few steps' distance from the man in the front row of her enemy, she did not light her cigarette.

It was dark already. Although lights from the streets, nearby buildings, and establishments brightened the place, it was still dark to see that her cigarette was not the ordinary kind of smoke to find in any convenience store.

She asked the guy as soon as she got closer.

“Who are you?”

The guy just answered with a smug smirk.

“Who sent you?” Scarlett asked again.

“Guys, take her down and tie her up,” the man confidently ordered.

She unceremoniously placed the smoke back into its pack, and with the lighter, she swiftly put it in her pocket. She needed her bare hands to deal with this arrogant thug.

“One last chance, who are you?”She asked again. But Scarlett’s hand flew in the air, and a loud sound of a slap deafened the guy.

“What the f…!”

Pack!

Another, more brutal slap cut his words. All he could hear now were buzzing sounds from both his ears. He looked around to glare at his men. But he was beyond frightened to see them all down, holding their neck on the ground. There was no one left standing other than him. All seven of his men were down with bubbles bursting out of their mouths.

“Do you want to talk, or you wanna join them in eternal peace?” Scarlett feigned a yawn as she felt she had been waiting for so long. She was about to slap him again when the guy hurriedly answered.

“Rogers!" He squeak.
The man was startled to see his men dying around him. He couldn't believe seeing everything what was going on.
Everything happened too fast. He didn't see what she did to them.
Did she even touch them? She didn't even get within an arm's length close to them! Fear made him react quickly.

"Rogers! Rogers sent us!”He answered hurriedly.

Scarlett knew well who Rogers was. He is the successor to the Mafia leader, Amir Petrov, her last target. She was paid to be sent to hell through a sniper shot. One bullet between his eyebrows. Rogers must have wanted to get rid of traces connecting him to the late Mafia leader's death.

“Make sure my message gets to him,” Scarlett held the guy’s hair fisted by her left hand while a knife made minor cuts on his throat with the other hand. “I will not make his death as easy as his predecessor.” Then she knocked the guy out.

She turned around to see Vince standing as if he were watching a very entertaining scene. He even clapped his hands when she walked in his direction.