Axel leapt out of the car just as a machine gun round screamed past his face and buried itself in the engine of a police cruiser.
More massive vehicles rolled into view, and the pursuing officers froze in disbelief. One by one, they abandoned their cars and scattered.
The lead officer ran while shouting into his walkie talkie, panic cracking his voice.
"This is way above our pay grade. They've got tanks, actual fucking tanks. I don't need backup, I need a miracle. Bullets won't do shit against armor like that. Get the Mayor on the line. Call the National Guard. Hell, call the damn Navy if you have to. Why the fuck are there tanks in Gotham? I haven't seen this many since I was a rookie."
He cut the call and ducked into a nearby shop along with the rest of his unit.
Outside, under the stares of dozens of civilians, the police raised their pistols awkwardly and pointed toward the street, trying to explain what was coming.
The citizens watched silently for a few seconds, then turned and pointed past them.
Toward the armored vehicles charging straight at the tanks.
The message was clear. The cops were not the brave ones here.
And those charging vehicles were being swarmed.
"Axel, over here. Say something."
"Is it true you shattered Falcone's grip on Gotham?"
"Are you Falcone's illegitimate son?"
"Falcone traveled overseas years ago. Did he leave a child behind?"
"Wraith, Fish Mooney kidnapped hundreds of students, Black, Latino, gay kids, girls, but not a single Asian student. Was she acting on your orders?"
"Go fuck yourself."
Axel hadn't planned to acknowledge the press at all. That question changed his mind.
He grabbed the reporter by the collar and dragged him forward, cameras flashing like wildfire.
"How the hell would I know who Fish kidnapped? Ask her. And last I checked, that school didn't have Asian students to begin with. If you're desperate for answers, take your dumb ass to Fish Mooney and ask her yourself."
Axel hurled the man onto the hood of an Aston Martin.
"Victor, tie him to the bumper. Take him to Evanston High School and cut through the Yakuza attacking the place. And make sure this idiot repeats his question to Fish before you're done."
Axel kicked him hard.
The reporter slammed into the hood, coughing up blood and collapsing.
The other journalists pulled back for half a second, then surged forward again, shoving microphones closer, filming every second.
Victor Zsasz sneered and nodded.
"Got it, boss. I'll deliver him personally."
A helicopter lowered a tow cable as Victor waved it in. Pickup trucks rolled in, and the Aston Martin, with the reporter still embedded in it, was hoisted into the air.
"Let's go, boys. Time to turn Akahara's crew into red paste."
Tanks and helicopters thundered toward Evanston High School, with most of the media chasing after them like vultures.
Once Victor was gone, Bartel stepped out of an armored vehicle and approached Axel.
"Boss, where to next?"
Axel laughed and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Not me. You."
Bartel blinked.
"This is your moment. Take the rest of the crew to Blackgate Penitentiary. Clean house. Every loudmouth, every problem maker, all of them."
"Yes, sir."
Bartel led the remaining men off as tanks crushed abandoned police cars and rolled straight through SWAT barricades like they were made of paper.
As the noise faded, cheers and engines rose again.
Axel turned and saw luxury convertibles flooding the street, music blasting, chaos and celebration mixing together.
Reporters spun their cameras again as a black Maybach stopped beside Axel.
Oswald Cobblepot stepped out, smiling like a man who had just won the lottery.
"Axel."
"Careful," Axel said, sliding into the back seat. "Sounds like you're about to curse me."
Falcone is gone, Oswald said, offering him tequila. "The family's in shambles. Gotham needs someone like you."
Axel took a long drink.
"I'm just a symbol. You'd still be running wild even without me."
"Bullshit. Without you, I'd still be guarding doors."
"Not anymore. Your brain's wasted on bouncing. You think bigger than that."
Oswald's eyes lit up.
"I knew it. Fish is unstable. Maroni's greedy. Falcone never listened to me. But you did. I fucking love that about you."
Oswald grabbed Axel's hand.
In the same motion, Axel drew a gun.
The smile vanished.
Axel pulled his hand free and patted Oswald's shoulder.
"You're smarter than Fish and braver than Maroni. But today, you made a move without calling me. That tells me one of two things. Either you couldn't reach me, or you didn't think I deserved a say."
He leaned closer.
"And I don't tolerate either."
The gun fired.
Oswald screamed as the bullet tore through his leg.
Axel pressed his fingers into the wound, twisting slowly.
"This is your reminder. From now on, anyone who mocks that limp, even the Mayor, you kill them. Tear off their ear and tell them the truth."
He leaned back, smiling.
"This leg isn't weakness. It's my mark. Proof I recognize you."
Axel's voice dropped.
"I'll be stronger than Falcone ever was. I'll protect you as long as you respect me. But if you disappoint me, I won't hesitate. I'm better at killing than he ever was."
He laughed softly.
"Don't forget that."