It was a late night in November, the moon radiating brightly, it's reflection bouncing off the smooth water in the river. Cindy sat on a bench next to the river, her hands clasped together as she gazed at the pristine water. She had been going to the riverfront park a lot lately, especially at night. The silence and calmness of the water helped to ease the half-elf's mind before embarking on a mission. How many missions had she completed? Five? Maybe six? She had already started to lose count. Or, maybe she just did not want to think about it.

That night, Cindy was settling a matter of domestic abuse. A wife had paid The Fam handsomely in order to dispose of her husband. A kill worth fifty thousand, half would go to her partner, Kai. Or, at least it would have, if he was anywhere to be found.

Ever since the death of Elie, Kai was nowhere to be found. Aria had not returned either, after leaving to hunt down the remnants of the Red Dragons Mafia. It had been almost three weeks since then. Tensions were running high at headquarters as they prepared for an attack. That attack still had not come yet, the Red Dragons nowhere in sight up to that point. The number of contracts for the assassins received an increase, however. If there was any correlation between the two matters, it would be anyone's guess.

"Let's get this over with," Cindy sighed as she stood up from the bench. She noticed a tall figure in the corner of her aura shrouded eye. A familiar figure that had been following her ever since she started her contract work. "How long do you plan on stalking me, stalker man?"

The figure, standing firmly behind a big maple tree, stepped out of the shadows. Jack, the man that firmly berated Cindy and Kai on their weakness, confronted the half-elf. He was a very large man with brown skin, a bald head, and a deep scar across his face. He was sporting a thick, black trench coat. "Not fuckin' bad," Jack applauded, sarcastically clapping his hands.

"What do you want from me, creep?" she asked in a repulsed tone.

"Oh, nothing. Just waitin' to see how you fuck up again," Jack replied with a grin. "It's been a hell of a ride so far," he continued, taking a seat on the bench next to Cindy.

Cindy retreated to the left corner of the bench, Jack's large frame taking up the majority of the space. "Oh, go ahead. Please join me!" she retorted. "I'm well aware of my fuck-ups, too. If you're so angry with me, you should do something about it," she said with a strong glare.

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"Woah, I'm liking that attitude. Maybe there is some hope for you, girl," Jack said. "And angry? Are you kiddin' me? Yeah, you fucked up big time, but we finally have a goddamn challenge again! I should be thanking you, actually. It's been years since I've had to go all out. Everyone's probably feelin' the same, they just won't say it out loud," he smiled.

"Well... you're welcome."

All it took was my friend's death to get your little game...

"That was a bit insensitive of me, I apologize," Jack said.

Empathy? From this guy?

"Losing a loved one is hard, we all know that. You've lost two, plus your boy Kai's been MIA," he said, patting the half-elf on the back.

"Two?" Cindy questioned.

"Yeah, your son, right? You gave him up for adoption. Tough decision, but it was the right call."

"How do you know about that?"

"Your roommate spilled the deets. Me and Zel go way back," he replied, placing a small cigar in his mouth.

"I'll have to remind her about privacy later," Cindy said in annoyance.

"Yeah, Zel's always been a gossiper. Oaf never could keep a secret," Jack said, handing Cindy the cigar. "You want a puff?"

"Fuck it, why not?" Cindy said as she inhaled the lit cigar. She almost coughed her lungs out from inhaling too deep, much to Jack's amusement. "You trying to kill me or something?" she yelled, still coughing furiously.

"Damn, you're a hell of a character," Jack snickered.

"Same to you," Cindy said, a slight smile growing on her face. "Do whatever the fuck you want; that's one of the last things she said to me. I'm... trying to find a balance somewhere with that," Cindy said as her eyes dimmed slightly. "I-I don't know why I told you that."

"Acceptance," Jack replied. "You're learning to move on, while still thinking about your little friend. That's some damn good advice, too. She was probably a hell of a woman," he continued, taking a puff of his cigar.

"Thanks, doctor. Where'd you pick up your degree? A community college in the back of a mall?"

"Ouch," he said with a big grin.

"You're right, though. She was a hell of a woman," Cindy said with a soft smile. "It's been... oddly nice talking to you, but I should get this job over with," she said as she stood up from the bench.

"What soft ass assignment did the directors pull out their ass for you this time?" Jack asked.

"I'm... settling a domestic dispute, I guess."

"Ah, baby shit," Jack responded. "When'd they get so damn soft?" he groaned.

"Hey, take it up with Ben if you got a problem with that. I'm just doing what I'm told."

"You sure about that?" Jack questioned.

"Y-yes, I'm sure. Get off my back," Cindy demanded.

"Fine, fine," Jack remarked. "Mind if I join you? See how you operate?"

"I do mind, yes."

He's not going to leave, is he? And, I can't make him leave, since he's stronger than me. Fuck.

"So, where's your target?" Jack asked, completely ignoring Cindy's question.

Cindy just sighed, Jack's insistence exhausting her. "Right across there," she responded, pointing towards an apartment building across the river. "I have my eyes on them right now. They're having dinner."