Kasumi scowled as she perused the images dispyed oop s. Her mouth tightened as she swiped between pictures—images sent from one of her scouts monit Axion's ret movements. They shoicture of Axion fighting off members of Salvatore's Adrenomancer crew in the Rust Market.

  Apparently, they fought to a draw—Axion mao get away while the Adrenomancers licked their wounds. Kasumi bit her lip. She couldn't tell which option enraged her more: Axioing away or the fact that she mao go toe-to-toe against five Adrenomancers.

  Five...

  Though Kasumi never fought against one, even she realized how formidable those monstrosities were. She would o get the jump on one and use her nanowires to immobilize and shred them—but that alone proved challenging.

  To face multiple? Impossible.

  But somehow Axion mao pull it off—which meant that she either got lucky...or she possessed powers far more advahan what she showed when they met at the pharmaceutical building.

  Was that girl holding out on her? It didn't feel like it. So...how? What happeo her during the retively short time sihey st fought? Would Kasumi be able to win a rematch?

  No.

  As much as she hated admitting that...it was likely she'd lose if she tried again—and lose decisively. And that pissed her off to no end. That Axion had the gall to stand above her...above the Neon Vipers...that alone grated her o Kasumi—it felt like an affront to her pride and authority. The notion that some amateur Super could best her? Disgusting.

  It shouldn't be possible...a here she was. The proof y in her image, dispyed clearly oop s. A photo showing Axion taking down Blitz and Raze as if they were fodder.

  Kasumi set her ptop onto a nearby couch. She grimaced and closed her eyes. She focused on evening her breath—deep inhales and exhales. Owo. Three. She released the air through her teeth in a slow hiss. Her scowl lessened ever so slightly.

  A small victory. Kasumi preferred not to dwell on things she couldn't trol.

  What happened—happened. W about the past was useless. Now all she had to do was fooving forward—finding solutions to her problems and adapting to overe new ones. As always. Life went on.

  Vaughn tapped her shoulder, interruptihoughts. "Cobra?" he called out warily.

  Kasumi ignored him, opting to rub her temples. Her stress headache would take more than a few minutes of meditation to quell. Vaughn was known to give the worst advice, and the st thing she needed right now was him rattling her brain with stupid ideas. She also needed a smoke break. Or at least some liquor to calm her nerves.

  "Cobra," Vaughed—this time with a hint ency.

  She shot him a withering gre. "What?" she spat irritably. "I'm trying to rex."

  Vaughn backed off, holding his hands up. "My bad. But our lookouts say the Echo Syndicate is snooping around the area again. They're getting closer to the warehouse. This time, they brought more people." He eyed her apprehensively. "If we don't send them pag soon, they'll start poking their heads around and figure out where we hold operations."

  Kasumi pihe bridge of her nose and sighed. The Neon Vipers didn't have the manpower ear to take on the Echo Syndicate head-on. She was too hopeful banking on the lie that Axion was w with them in distributing the Shiver drug. Too fident that she'd get an easy two birds with oone.

  Now Axion had gotten stronger...and she still had to deal with those goons from the Echo Syndicate. A nightmare sario. Nothing ever came easy in this godforsaken slum.

  "Get everyone ready for bat," Kasumi ordered Vaughn. "We'll ambush the first team we find. I don't care how many of them are out there. We'll keep hammering them until they run out of thugs and leave us alone."

  Vaughated for a brief moment before nodding. "On it." He disappeared around a er. His footsteps grew fainter as he climbed the stairs to inform the others.

  Kasumi rose from her chair and dialed Salvatore's number on her phone. She waited a few moments as the line ected with a series of buzzes. Oher side of the line, she heard an audible clid a scratchy voice.

  "Kasumi. You caught me in a good mood," Salvatreeted. "How are you doing on your end?"

  Kasumi leaned against the wall and propped herself upright. She adjusted the receiver close to her ear. "One of the majangs in the slums has been hounding our turf tely. They're out to destroy your produ facility. I need you to send backup. Anything will do."

  Salvatore remained silent oher end of the line. Kasumi imagined him stroking his —pting.

  "Well," Salvatore finally responded. "That's problematic. Are they a particurly bothersome lot?"

  "You say that," Kasumi replied. She drummed her fingers against the crete wall. "The Echo Syndicate. I've tangled with them twiow...they're a persistent bunch." She exhaled slowly through her lips. "I don't have enough men to hahem if they really decide to escate things...not without serious losses on our part."

  Salvatore hummed thoughtfully. "I'm sure you're aware...I prefer not to use my full strength for...such matters..." he began slowly. "It would be uo tip my hand before everything is ready."

  "I am," Kasumi interrupted impatiently. "That's why I'm calling for a favor here. If you don't help me out...I won't be able to protect your iment. Ohey find it, your produ facility's doomed." She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. Her headache still throbbed. "Just send...a small group or something. Those five Adrenomancers who tried to kidnap Axion should be more than enough to make those idiots back off—"

  "Two of them had already been killed in a," Salvatore informed her dispassionately. "Mirage is currently preoccupied. But I send Havod Voltaire over. Would that suffice?"

  What? Two of them were killed? By who?

  Kasumi blinked. She kept her toral. "I suppose. What happeo Blitz and Raze?"

  "Those two...proved to be disappointing iments. Let's just say I got what I paid for...but the result was less than ideal," Salvatore answered casually.

  Kasumi bit her tohis man...his ckadaisical attitude regarding casualties was discerting.

  More importantly, did Axion kill them? Doubtful. She didn't strike Kasumi as that type. No...someone else had to be involved. What other factor could she be missing? She chewed the inside of her lip in thought.

  Kasumi finally nodded. "Yeah—yeah...they should be enough." She slid the ptop shut and cradled the receiver between her ned shoulder. "Tell them to e quick."

  Salvatore paused momentarily oher line. "Ah...before that—Kasumi." He hesitated, as if colleg his thoughts. "Do you pn on making good on our arra? About you w under me after everything is said and done?" he asked. His tone was friendly and genial—the sort of voie used when striking a business deal with an old friend.

  The question threw Kasumi off for a sed. She sched her face. "Not ied," she snapped dismissively. "I told you. This was a oime partnership."

  "Ah...that's too bad," Salvatore tinued airily. "Very well, then. We'll go our separate ways once we've finished dealing with this st issue. As per your request...I will send Voltaire and Havoc your way immediately." A faint beep sounded as the li dead.

  Kasumi smmed the receiver down with more force than necessary. Her eyes narrowed as she scowled at nothing in particur.

  What a slimy man. His attitude...annoyed her. Everything about him grated on her nerves. She couldn't wait for all of this to end and cut ties with him forever.

  Still...this arra served its purpose. She got paid enough capital to fix her problem and bolster her gang.

  Right now, taking care of the Echo Syndicate was her main . Afterwards...she would worry about the future.

  She climbed up the staircase toward the warehouse's rooftop exit. She needed a smoke before their ambush began. Her headache hadn't gotten aer.

  Kasumi observed through binocurs as the Echo Syndicate thugs spread out into groups to scour the alleyways below. Most of them sported bats, knives, and tire irons—some even carried pistols and shotguns. She sed the rooftops nearby for their snipers—only to find none.

  Excellent. Less danger for her men to deal with. Still, she khey weren't stupid. The only reason why she caught them off guard st time was because she got lucky with the yout. This time...it wouldn't be as easy.

  She frowned in annoya least Havod Voltaire would make short work of these fools. That made things less plicated for her and the Neon Vipers. Her eyes flickered over to Havoc, who crouched o her. He wore a scowl that made it look like he bit into something bitter and sour.

  Probably didn't take the news very well that two of his colleagues got killed. That suited Kasumi just fine—she preferred angry people during bat—their wrath and aggression made them dangerous oppos to fight.

  Voltaire stood he edge of the building opposite hers. Unlike Havoc, he maintained a ral expression and merely waited for instrus. No fuss whatsoever. And while that didn't impress her...she appreciated his professionalism.

  The rest of her Neon Viper crew, including Vaughn, spread across the rooftops around her. All of them stayed low and away from the edge of the buildings' ledges. Some carried pipe rifles with suppressors while others opted to stay armed with melee ons. Others had set up various traps and makeshift barricades sisting of spikes or dummies ced with explosives.

  It wasn't the best group she could assemble...but beggars couldn't be choosers. These were the only able-bodied thugs she had avaible on such short notice. Even if some were a little green...they'd do. She needed everyone here for this ambush. The Echo Syndicate was bound to e prepared this time—and she couldn't afford to have them sniffing around any longer.

  "Alright," Kasumi ahe rest of the gangsters surrounding her. "The Echo Syndicate is onto us—onto Salvatore's iment. They'll try to destroy what they think is ours. We won't let them." She fshed her crew a fident smirk. "This isn't a iation. Shoot until you see blood or they run screaming. Stay in position until I give the signal to move out. Got it?"

  A chorus of nods and aowledgments rippled throughout the ranks. They kept their voices low. Everyone carried grim expressions as they checked their gear. Ohing Kasumi was grateful for about these goons...was their loyalty and respect for her. As much as they joked around with her outside of battle...when they operated as a team...they uood how things worked. It made her job easier when she didn't o worry about their petence.

  Her eyes flitted over to the two Adrenomancers waiting nearby.

  "You two." Kasumi gestured toward Havod Voltaire. "Make sure the Echo Syndicate don't escape once we start this fight. Make as big of an example out of them as you . There should be ten teams scouting this area." Her gaze hardened. "No survivors."

  Voltaire dipped his head in acquiesce. He appeared disied with his assighough his ckluster response didn't bother Kasumi in the slightest. His apathy meant he was obedient to a fault. Someone she could work with. A perfect yes-man.

  Havoc rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue. He g Voltaire briefly before log eyes with her. "Fine," Havoc spat in annoyance. "Just don't get in my way—or whine like a bitch when I start breaking shit. I got a boo pick with 'em anyways siheir asshat leaders turned down Salvatore's offer." He cracked his knuckles menagly. "That means I tear through their ranks however I want."

  Kasumi merely hat suited her just fine.

  "Let's make this quick," she ordered. "Everyone...get ready."

  She flexed her fingers as the nanowires ihe dispensers on her gloves twitched. The material's meisms activated—expanding to the tips of her fingers with a barely audible meical whir. The sensation reminded her of phantom limbs—except instead of flesh and bo was metallic threads.

  Kasumi watched with cold, unfeeling eyes as the Echo Syndicate gaured into their ambush point.

  Time to sughter.