Jason knew this was stupid. Not reckless, not dangerous—flat-out stupid. Breaking into the lair of the most feared crime boss in the world? Yeah, that wasn’t just playing with fire; it was diving headfirst into a furnace.

But that’s what he did best, wasn’t it? No backup, no plan, no Bat breathing down his neck to tell him how reckless he was. Just him, his guns, and a defiance that got him killed once already.

The office was everything he expected: sleek, cold, and dripping with the kind of money that screamed power. He took his time, walking across the polished floors like he owned the place. Every step echoed in the silence, a deliberate insult to the fortress-like security he’d just slipped through.

And there they were.

Sitting behind that massive desk, their presence was as overwhelming as the stories said. Calm, composed, and watching him with a look that said they were already ten steps ahead.

He didn’t care.

Jason leaned casually against the edge of their desk, one hand resting near his holster, the other brushing a small paperweight like it was a grenade he might casually toss. His grin was sharp, all teeth and cocky bravado.

“So,” he drawled, letting the word hang in the air. “This is what all the fuss is about, huh? Gotta say, the whole ‘untouchable crime boss’ thing is a little underwhelming. I was expecting… I don’t know, something scarier. Don’t take it personally. You’ve got the vibe, sure. But me? I’m hard to impress.”

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice but not his smirk. “Now, you gonna sit there in silence, or are we gonna have a little chat? Because if I went through all that trouble breaking in just to get the cold shoulder, I’m gonna be real disappointed.”