Chapter 4 : In My Business, I Only Slash.

Mafia's Nemesis:

"Okay, since you asked" Antonio said silkily, stretching out his hand.

Grinch stepped forward and presented his trench knife to him.

"Blade Knuckles?" Captain Morgan & Jordan gasped.

"Surprise!"Antonio asked with the corner of his mouth curled upward.

He stared at dumbstruck Morgan for a moment longer, then smiled faintly

"I have always known that something isn't right about you", Morgan mumbled. "But I never imagined it to be something as big as Blade Knuckles".

As Morgan spoke, Antonio's thumb slowly traced the edge of the blade.

Without hesitating for a slight second, he leaned forward and slashed Morgan's throat in two cuts.

"Slash! Slash!. And the smell of blood filled the air.

The blade was overly sharp and slitted the Captain's throat without any resistance.

Morgan's neck was a nauseating sight to behold.

The sharp knuckles had done more damage than the blade.

Its sharp steel end had hooked into the Captain's neck, and pulled out his carotid artery, ripping it apart.

With a gesture of his wrist, Casso released the Captain's hands.

Propelled by survival instinct, the Captain held his hand to the slash, but no amount of pressure he applied on it, stopped the blood from gushing between his finger

Jordan trembled as the Captain's gurgling breaths filled the room.

Antonio wiped the blood from his hands, slow and methodical, as though it were nothing , afterwards he and the boys exited the building without a second glance.

"Sir, when will I get my pay?" Jordan asked Grinch nervously.

Antonio heard it and turned to face them. "Silence him".

Jordan's eyes widened at Antonio's command, "This wasn't part of the deal", he argued.

Antonio stood with one hand in his pocket, the other lazily holding a tobacco,

"A man, who'd sell out a whole department, wouldn't hesitate to double cross one man".

"I swear, I won't tell anyone what happened here", Jordan pleaded , his voice rising, but Antonio was already in the car.

The errand men circled Jordan like vultures, their knuckles cracking one by one. His screams echoed as they descended on him, beating life out of him.

Afterwards, they dragged his unconscious body back into the building and set the remnant of the station ablaze.

Flames roared, consuming the Hi-Tech station and erasing the evidence.

*****

Meanwhile in the car , Lucas passed Antonio an envelope.

“Deal with Vincenzo later, for now…you need to go to Arizona”.

Antonio meticulously scrutinized the profile of his next target, he tore out a picture from it and slid it into his pocket.

"Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is crowded during this time of the year...so be careful", Lucas educated, leaning back in his chair

"That's where it will happen," Antonio stated, each syllable dropping like the toll of a funeral bell, final and inescapable.

***After a few hours.***

The Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport bustled with the usual energy of arrivals and departures.

The automatic doors slid open and Antonio 'Blade knuckles', dressed in an impeccably tailored Black suit, strode through the terminal like any other passenger.

His polished leather shoes clicked softly against the tiled floor, his demeanor calm and composed.

Behind him, the passengers from his flight began to trickle out, each heading toward the check-out gate.

"Are we good to go?"Antonio asked Grinch 'consigliere' in a composed tone.

"Yes", Grinch muttered, flowing along.

The arrival board flashed updates, announcing the touchdown of Flight 372, from Bulgaria.

But it wasn't like the usual routine landing, words had spread through Phoenix Sky Harbor security channels, that an international fugitive was onboard.

So the flight was flagged long before it landed.

As the passengers from Flight 372 began disembarking. Security officers moved into position.

They had orders to screen every single passenger from the flight.

A voice crackled over the officer’s radio: “All passengers from Flight 372 must proceed through secondary screening. Keep it tight and professional.”

Meanwhile as Antonio approached the security checkpoint, his pace slowed.

The terminal gate for flight 372 just opened and passengers were filing out in a single line.

He leaned casually against a nearby column, his sharp eyes fixed on the crowd for his prey.

And then, he saw him. 'Detective Brandon'.

The man walked amidst the throng of passengers, his expression weary but alert.

He carried a worn woolen bag, his eyes sweeping the terminal like a man who could never quite relax.

He was in Arizona to testify against a corrupt Commissioner, so he had taken the Bulgaria airlines to Arizona, for anonymity sake.

But, Lucas has already collected a bounty on his head, hence sending his Hitman Antonio 'Blade knuckles' to complete the job.

Brandon’s broad shoulders and determined stride stood out, even as he tried to blend into the scrutiny.

Nevena followed after Brandon, blending in effortlessly, despite her distinctive fair skin and marigold.

"Target locked" Grinch whispered into his ear pod.

"Action!"Antonio whispered back, but a clearing staff interrupted him.

“Mr Hunt, welcome. We’ve been informed of your arrival. Please, step this way for clearance.”

Blade smiled faintly, his eyes betraying none of the storm beneath his calm exterior.

"Of course,” he replied smoothly, handing over his diplomatic credentials and passport.

The process was swift. The officer scanned his documents, nodding in deference. “All in order, Sir. You’re clear to proceed.”

Antonio gave a curt nod, while Grinch retrieved his belongings .

Meanwhile, a team of officers converged near Brandon,

"Sir," the lead officer, a tall man with a calm but firm demeanor, stepped forward.

"You need to come with us."

Brandon's sharp eyes flickered toward him, with cool acknowledgment.

“I expected as much,” he replied, in an even tone. He followed them without a word.

Antonio, seeing that, immediately pushed off the column, adjusting the cufflinks on his sleeves with deliberate precision.

"Excuse me Miss!, can you please show me to the restroom ?". He asked a female staff, in a composed masculine tone.

The lady glanced up and her lips curved into a faint grin, "Yes Sir".

As a globally renowned tycoon, Antonio's face was one that turned heads, and today wasn't an exception.

Staff members at the check-in counters and security gates exchanged whispers, as the lady led Antonio to their designated private restroom.

"Here we are, Sir" the lady announced, pointing at the sterile restroom.

Antonio flashed a killer wink at her before she left. He walked into the bathroom and met the janitor cleaning the floor.

With a single motion, Antonio knocked him out and switched clothes with him.

He carried the Janitor's cleaning cart and exited the bathroom, heading towards the cordoned-off room.

On the other hand, Brandon made it out of review. He proceeded down the empty hallway to the baggage claim area, only to collide with Antonio in the guise of a janitor.

"Hey, watch it! mop jockey!" Brandon let out a sharp cuss, flinging his leg out to shake off the water that splashed onto his shoe.

"I'm so sorry Sir", Antonio apologized, crouching to clean Brandon's shoes.

"Move it, janitor. Some of us have places to be." Brandon grunted, "Just show me to the bathroom" .

"Sure Sir," Antonio nodded leading the way.

Brandon followed Antonio with urgency, unbeknownst to him, that he was walking to his own death.

Meanwhile, Antonio's mind worked methodically. He subtly scanned the area for cameras and security personnel, before taking Brandon into the bathroom.

Brandon leaned forward to clean his shoes, Antonio took that opportunity and struck him at the back, making him stumble over.

"Damn it!" Brandon let out a growl, "Do you want to start a fight?"

"No, in my business we don't fight, I only slash", Blade said, holding out his knuckles knife.

He and Brandon engaged in a little scuffle, but Antonio succeeded in slitting Brandon's throat.

He walked over to the sink and washed his hands.

Taking a moment to peer down at Brandon still form, he straightened up and walked to the door.

"Is that bathroom clean ?", an armed officer asked Antonio on his way out.

"Yes Sir", Antonio replied, stepping past him.

Turning the knob and stepping inside, the officer's gaze landed on Brandon's grisly mutilated body.

He clenched his jaw, "Damn it!" , he throated with a hiss.

Reaching for his radio and holster at the same time. He bolted out of the bathroom, shouting into his radio.

"We’ve got a murder in the bathroom!, male, late 30s, with slitted throat." The officer reported, scanning the hallway for the janitor.

"Suspect is a janitor, probably in his early 40s—lock down the exits! NOW!'".

Antonio was tying his shoelace when he heard the buzzing sound of the automatic exit locking.

"Holy sh*t!", he cussed, sliding his knuckled blade into his customized sole.

The bathroom door pushed open, just as he was about to get rid of his hand glove.

He turned sharply, his gaze narrowing as Grinch walked in.

"Situation is getting out of control, we need to move," Grinch mumbled, pulling out a lighter.

Antonio frowned but nodded, slipping the glove into his pocket.

"I thought you were supposed to cover the cameras," he said, his tone low and sharp.

Grinch smirked, ignoring Antonio, he lit a cigarette and stretched his arm up toward the fire detector on the ceiling, holding the cigarette directly under it.

The fire alarm started blaring, the shrill noise echoing through the airport.

Moments later, sprinklers burst to life, drenching everything in sight.

Grinch stuffed the wet cigarette back into his pocket. "Fire protocol overrides lockdown."

Together, they stepped out of the closet, the sprinklers giving them just enough cover to escape.

Meanwhile Nevena and others were filing out when the fire alarm and sprinkler chaos began.

A stampedee broke out among them, everyone rushing towards the balcony in a desperate attempt to get out.

In the mad rush, Nevena was pushed and she tumbled over the balcony, barely managing to grab hold on something tangible.

"Help!" Nevena screamed, clutching onto a rail.

"Someone please help me!" she pleaded, taking in the sight of the tiled void below.

"Hold onto my belt," a masculine voice echoed into her ear.

Nevena looked up and saw a Mexican man suspending his belt towards her.

She trusted him without questioning, releasing her grip on the rail.

She clutched onto the belt and glued a thankful gaze on Antonio.

The sound of boots and shouted orders echoed closer, as security scrambled towards them.

"We need to go", Grinch gritted at Antonio.

"Not without saving her", Antonio snapped. He grabbed onto a pillar and pulled her up to the balcony.

By the time she was up, the securities were already within sight.

Obstinate Antonio grabbed her hand and bolted down the stairs, blending with other passengers.

"Thank you Si—", Nevena paused, darting her eyes around for Antonio.

"Where did he disappear to?" Nevena thought inwardly, unable to locate him.

A buzz of chaos hung in the air, as travelers stood by the gates, screaming for the gates to be opened.

Immediately the gates opened, Antonio and Grinch trouped out along with the crowd.

When the airport resumed its usual rhythm, the janitor realized just how strategically a murder had been pinned on him.