The Aurian Chronicles chapter 23: Worlds in collision

 Amanda walked into the NYPD in full uniform. She casually adjusted her appearance in the mirror and made sure every loose thread was off her. She brushed every stray curl downward and restyled to a professional bun. She walked into her office and tried to keep it together, not wanting to let anyone see she was on the verge of a breakdown.

"Nice to see you again, Lieutenant Cross." Said Dominic as he glared at her. Amanda stayed on her computer as she typed away at her desktop. "Is that how you've learned to address your superiors?" She asked emotionlessly as she stared at her screen. Dominic just grunted and stomped his foot. "You're my superior? Could have fooled me! It's been two weeks since you went on that date with Capryse, and you went from giddy schoolgirl to immediately picking up the slack! What the hell is wrong with you?" He demanded.

Amanda just stopped and pushed her keyboard forward as she breathed a shaky sigh, and then a harder one, and she immediately began to cry. "He knew who I was this entire time!" She said hysterically as Dom immediately pulled the blinds down over the door behind him. "What do you mean, he 'Knew who you were.' You mean that you were a cop?" He asked curiously.

Amanda just pulled some files out for him to read. "My last name isn't technically Cross... Well... It IS, but... My father's last name is Song, as in the Song family from the 99 Louts... a Chinese crime syndicate... While my Father and I were clean as far as the crime family was involved, we DID flee to America when I was young... If he wanted to, Antonio Capryse could literally do anything from having my reputation dragged, to turning my father and me over to one of the neighboring families... Sky's the limit there." She admitted nervously.

Dom Studied her closely. "Do you think he would, though? You talked like he was the man of your dreams," he said with a hint of bitterness in his voice. Amanda just put her hand on her head. "Do I think he would what? Essentially, have me killed? No... No, I do not... But I couldn't take any chances, I offered him literally anything... He said all I had to do was cover the cost of a favor to another acquaintance of his... I even signed a contract in red ink... No clue what that means, but he not only made his vow, he legally had both my father and me legally wiped from the Song family bloodline... We're worthless in the crime world... Thank god." She explained as she breathed a sigh of relief.

Dominic studied her carefully. "Okay? Then what is the problem? Mr. Capryse, if anything seemed to help you... So what? is it the cost thing?" He asked carefully. Amanda just nodded back at him. "He said the transaction will go down in a few days... And frankly, I am nervous as hell... Was this all I was? A bargaining chip... I should have listened to you, Matthews... I'm sorry." She said as she looked up at him. 

Dominic just looked at her desk. "Listen, I don't think it'll be anything too bad if your name was wiped.. If anything, he wiped the value he could have had if he himself were a crime lord... Tell ya what, let's hit Sound City after this and catch DJ Lytestryke's show! We'll have some drinks, some mozzarella sticks, and even dance a bit! If nothing else, it'll get your mind off of all this!" He offered.

"Officer Matthews, are you asking your superior out on a date?" Amanda asked sternly, causing Dominic to wince. Amanda just giggled softly and nodded. "Fine, fine, I'll get some clothes from Flawless Fashions and meet you tonight... For now, we've got other fish to fry." She said as she pulled up incidents going on near Farley Incorporated.

Dominic leaned in as he saw agitated workers around the building. "Looks like one of those strikes is finally about to happen, that moron is about to collapse under the weight of his own greed," he muttered. Amanda nodded, "I don't know what caused all this, but I want all the squads to be ready... my intuition is telling me something huge is going to happen, I don't want us scrambling when it does." She said seriously. Dominic nodded confidently at her words. "Good to have you back, Ma'am." He said as he left.

Meanwhile, Saryn was pouting as Mr. Capryse casually ate away at some Chicken and Dumplings Autumn had made. "Did it really have to go down so soon like that? We're just... Letting her go?" She asked with a crestfallen voice. "I wanted at least a little more time with her... The things we could have done!" She said with a grumble.

Mr. Capryse rolled his eyes and ate a dumpling. "Sadly, my hand was forced... Although the sacrifice of Amanda's full loyalty will ensure things go off without a hitch when Mr. Farley makes his move... And with that last stunt he pulled with Darkness, it looks like that will be very soon... So just relax, dear, while we take over yet another portion of New York." He explained while crossing his legs.

Saryn just let out a huff as she placed her hand on his. "Deal, but if it's possible afterward, I would like to try and smooth things out with Cross.. She was a lot more fun to work with than I thought." She said as she looked in his eyes. Mr Capryse just smirked and nodded. "Deal... I look forward to your next move in that regard." He said, even though he was halfway sure that was going to be impossible.

Saryn smirked back and sat back in her chair as Autumn laid out fresh fruit and whipped cream for dessert. "So what now? Do we wait in a bunker or something?" Asked Autumn curiously. Mr. Capryse just pulled his daughter into his lap and rubbed her chin, causing her to kick her legs adorably. "No, sweetie... Now? We simply wait until Old York burns to the ground, and we arise from its ashes."