DC Technomancer: Chapter 11

“Deigo, why are you here?” Stella asked with open hostility glaring at the man leaning over her. 

“What can't I have a nice meal?” Diego replied with a slimy smile before his eyes slid over to Victor who was openly glaring at him, “Is there a problem my friend?” 

Victor said nothing for a long moment as he looked Diego over, he had an average build and height with slicked back hair and a rather handsome visage with high cheekbones.

“You’re crowding my date,” Victor responded gravelly as he stared into Diego’s eyes that narrowed dangerously. 

Standing up right Diego straightened his jacket, “I’m sorry but I don’t think I’ve seen you before.” 

Victor smiled but the warmth didn’t reach his eyes, “I’m new to the city, and I asked Stella out to tell me about your lovely city.” 

“Is that so,” Diego frowned before he glanced at Stella and grinned viciously, “How’s your father doing?” 

“Hijo de Puta!” Stella spat as she stood up and slapped Diego across the face, sending him reeling back into his bodyguard. Picking himself up, Diego's eyes lit up with a malicious hate and Victor could tell in that moment Diego wanted to kill Stella, “You little whore!” 

Diego lunged at Stella, nearly knocking over the table in his haste to get to her. Standing up in a flash Victor slammed his shoulder into Diego sending him flying off to the side with a grunt. 

Spinning around Victor faced Diego’s bodyguard who already had one hand in his jacket, “I wouldn’t do that if I was you…” 

The bodyguard stared at Victor for a long moment before pulling out his hand thankful gun free and went to check on his boss. Throwing a handful of hundred on the table Victor quickly turned around and grabbed Stella before pulling her towards the door, “Come on we’re gettin out of here.” 

Shoving the front door open Victor heard Stella talking but he didn’t have the time to talk. By the time they reached his bike Stella was actively prying at his hand wrapped around her wrist trying to break free, “Let me go!” 

Turning around to face her Victor frowned, “What are you doing?! We need to get out of here!” 

Stella shook her head, “No you do! Diego might rough me up but he won’t kill me. He will kill you if you’re still here when he comes through those doors!” 

“Like hell I’m leaving you to get beat up! Now get on the bike!” Victor ordered not to let Stella’s wrist. 

Stella screamed as she tried everything in her power to shake Victor off, “Stop trying to be some knight in shining armor and leave already!” 

“There they are!”Victor and Stella looked over to see Diego standing in the doorway of the restaurant disheveled and red faced, “Do you think you can just sucker punch me and walk away!?” 

“Alright enough of this.” Victor grabbed Stella underneath her armpit and put her on his bike, “Hey put me down!” 

Sitting close behind her Victor made sure she was secure before peeling off the curb. Rocketing down the street Victor weaved in and out of traffic ignoring the slew of horns that faded the second the blared through the air and creating a dead zone around him blocking any potential 911 calls. 

‘Nex find us a place we can talk without people finding us.’ 

[Uploading directions as we speak]

Feeling the information trickling into his brain Victor took the next right, making his wheels squealing out in protest as he drifted around the corner. After a short drive without dipping below ninety miles an hour Victor spotted the abandoned parking lot Nex had given him directions to and he slowed before turning into the building and coming to a complete stop. 

“Alright we can talk here,” Victor muttered as he turned off his bike and sat up letting Stella turn around in her seat and glare at him, “Were you trying to kill us?!” 

“I could ask you the same thing,” Victor replied without any heat in his voice as he stepped off his bike, “Who was that guy?”

Stella huffed and crossed her arms underneath her chest, “It doesn’t matter.” 

“Like hell it doesn’t, I’ve seen enough guys like him to know his fragile ego can’t take any slight on his pride. He’s going to retaliate.” Victor countered calmly, staring Stella down. 

For a long moment Stella remained silent, before she sighed and practically deflated, “He’s the head of the Las Seis Manos gang.” 

Victor raised an eyebrow, “The six hands?” 

Stella nodded, only filling Victor’s mind with more questions, “How the hell do you know a gang leader?” 

Stella bit her bottom lip clearly not wanting to tell Victor the truth but did so anyway, “Because…my dad used to be the previous leader, until he had a heart attack and got put in the ICU. Diego used to be one of his captains, but no one expected him to throw a coup when papa was in the hospital.”  

Victor narrowed his eyes, “There’s something you’re not telling me.”

“....The doctors found traces of something in my dad’s blood work. I’m positive that the son of a bitch poisoned him to take control.” Stella cursed as a look of righteous fury crossed her face and tears welled up in her eyes, “They said it was a miracle he survived.” 

Victor stared at Stella for a long moment before walking over and wrapping her up in his arms as she started to sob, “I shouldn’t have slapped him…I didn’t mean to get you involved!” 

Victor made a soothing sound as he reached up and stroked Stella’s hair, “It’s all right, everything will be just fine trust me.” 

Stella continued to sob and Victor stayed with her physically but mentally he was somewhere else. 

‘Nex, I need to pull up everything you can on the Six Hands Gang, reddit posts, public records, police files, anything.’ 

[Affirmative, can I assume this more than just standard information gathering]

Victor’s eyes steeled over, ‘No why would you get that idea?’