Ana’s face is severe as we make our way through town and toward the jail. I told her to rest but she insisted on dealing with this first. The townsfolk are still understandably wary of us, but we do get a few greetings as we make our way through. In particular, the slummier sides of Tekir worship us. Afterall, we gave them the power to free themselves from the tyranny of The Watch.
“Ana!” Omer cries as he runs up to us. “You’re okay!”
Ana smiles. “Couldn’t get rid of me if you wanted to.”
The boy beams before digging in his pocket to pull something out.
“Look! I got this for you! To help you feel better.” He holds out his hand to reveal a tiny sweet. Such a thing wouldn’t come cheap, and I watch as Ana grins, kneeling down to the boy.
“That is truly kind of you,” she tells him. “But you keep it, please.”
Omer shakes his head, “Please, Ana? I know it’s not a lot and it kinda melted in my pocket, but you saved us, and this is all I can do.”
I feel my own lip turn up slightly at the boy's gesture and can tell Ana is lost for words.
“Thank you,” she whispers, leaning forward to plant a kiss on the boy's cheek and taking the candy. Omer flushes a deep red before running off.
Ana chuckles as she stands, popping the candy into her mouth.
“Sweet kid,” I mutter, and she nods as she watches after him. “Now, let’s get this done.”
Ana’s face turns back to serious once more with another nod and we finish our walk to the jail, which only has one occupant at the moment. I left Ethan to determine the guilt of the others and it was quickly determined that none committed crimes grievous enough to deserve the punishments The Watch doled out. Jon stands out front, happy to have such an easy guard duty. He gives us a nod in acknowledgement as we enter.
“Down at the end,” I tell Ana, letting her take the lead. We turn the last corner to reveal Tahar sitting in his cell, naked and filthy. More than a few bruises and cuts cover his body, but I left him mostly whole. For now.
Ana looks down at the man in disgust.
“Why didn’t you kill him?” she asks me, and I lean forward to place a hand on the small of her back. Tahar grits his teeth toward us, an almost growl picking up in his throat.
“Too good for him,” I tell her. “I’ve found out a lot more about our dear captive here, including his proclivities toward young boys. Ceyda was all too willing to share some of her stories. Let’s just say I wasn’t too inclined to make it fast for him.”
I see Ana’s nostrils flare as she listens to me, hate etched into all the lines of her body. I wait and watch to see what she’ll do and my dick twitches in my pants at the thought of her gutting this fucker right here. We could even fuck in the jail cell for old time’s sake.
“Leaving it to your woman?” Tahar goads me, “Fucking pathetic coward. Can’t even…”
Ana places a hand across her belly and turns to me, ignoring him completely. The hint of a smile graces my lip when I notice the smallest smirk on hers, telling me she knows exactly how much it’ll piss him off to ignore him.
“Give him to those who deserve justice the most,” she tells me, not pausing further as she walks down the long corridor. “I’m sure Ceyda will know a few people who would love to get their hands on him.”
I grin, looking down at the man whose eyes are wide.
“Karma’s a bitch, then you die,” I tell him with a wink, before following behind Ana.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Ana
One Month Later
Sitting back in my seat in the familiar tavern, I listen to the familiar evening raucous with a smile on my face. Most evenings we all find ourselves here. Often enough, Pieter and Jon will come join us, both who have begun to idolize Ax since the whole thing last month. Though he complains about his followers, I think Ax genuinely enjoys teaching them things and sharing his love of knowledge. They often all meet up just outside town to practice various things. The group gets bigger by the day.
Currently Ax is telling Pieter different choke holds, practicing them on poor Brutus. I’m about to tell him to ease off a bit when a familiar voice calls from the doorway.
“You seem to catch attention wherever you go.” I turn to see none other than Crow walking into the tavern.
“Crow,” Ax says with a frown, dropping Brutus, “what are you doing here?”
The man grins, hopping up to the bar and waving for a drink.