So just like that, I left Maximum Caliber and his home. I had a somewhat negative feeling, I wouldn't go so far as to call it regret, about the situation, but I had no choice in any of it. Literally, and for two reasons. The first was that I was ordered to report to Delilah immediately, and I had a very hard time disobeying orders directly from my command key. The second reason, I did not know if Delilah would have me kill Max, but I did know I did not want to do that.

I took my time as I walked to the other end of town and by morning I was near my destination. I had stopped and sat on a nearby rooftop to wait until the sun came up. I looked out at the sun, my eyes unaffected by the intensity of the rays. I knew most people found sunrises and sunsets enjoyable, and I thought seeing one would help me prepare and think about my future. One thing was for certain, and it was unspoken between Max and I last night. I was now working for his enemy.

The wind blew my hair slightly and I zipped my hoodie up, not for warmth but for familiarity, perhaps even comfort. I stared out across the street at the house that would be my new home, the sunrising behind it. I thought about the loss of my former boss and occasional friend, but the timing did not seem right for grief. In fact, the seventy would have been very picturesque scene, had I not known the owner of the house was a crime lord. I paused for a moment, remembering not all criminals were monsters. Alistair had not been so bad, compared to the other bosses I had, and neither were Max or even Delilah's father. Sometimes people did what they did for a reason, sometimes they had no choice.

I sighed and laced my boots tighter and put the hood of my white hoodie over my head. I supposed I looked like a typical young woman from afar, had it not been for the fact I was jumping off the rooftop. I waited until I was sure nobody would see me and then began my quick descent. I landed softly, with no injury, on the sidewalk below, and continued my way across the street.

I went around the house and jumped over the back gate. The yard looked almost the exact same as when I had stayed here, except the lone dog house was now long vacant. I knocked on the back door and waited a moment or two. By the time the door opened, I was already thinking how my orders to come here were completed and now I could leave. Unfortunately, I had no such luck.

Delilah Ramos opened the door and to my surprise, was not in a pants suit or professional attire. She was in a grey too that cut off at her stomach and sweatpants, with her dark hair in a ponytail. Usually she acted and appeared much older than she was, but now she could pass for a college student. This was strange to me, seeing someone so high up in the crime industry wearing their casual clothes. Most of my other bosses did not let me see them be so vulnerable.

"Your orders were to arrive at this address, nothing more Eve Primera." She said with a sigh and held the door open to lead me inside.

"I assumed you wanted me inside the residence, not left in the street. Also, you are aware I have been here before." I replied and followed behind her anyway.

Though it was two stories high, the house was relatively small, but neat and organized. From the back door, we quickly passed through the kitchen and dining room. Not much had changed since I had last occupied a room in the house, but there were some obvious additions as we entered the living room.

"You have a child." I stated plainly. There were children's toys thrown randomly around and a young baby asleep in a crib. I did not even remember Delilah being pregnant, but then again I had not worked for her family in years.

"You were made to take orders, not assume what was implied." Delilah replied as she observed the sleeping baby. Delilah put a hand to his forehead head before continuing.
"And to answer you, yes I do have a child. His name is Miguel. He is two years old now, even if it is hard to believe. I would put him in his own room upstairs, but that is where all of my father's old belongings are."

The way she spoke and her mannerisms lead me to believe she was relieved in telling someone about her son. Which meant not many people knew he even existed.

"Was I meant to see him? I do not mean to intrude on my commander's personal life." I stated and took a look at the baby. He was wrapped in a dark blue blanket and had thin black hair. He was cute, I supposed.

"Must you always be on the job?" She asked, though I could not tell if she was joking or being sincere.
"You may not know it yet, circumstances have changed involving you and your so-called auction. I was there, I know what happened." She stepped back from the child's bed and sat on her sofa. The living room was nice, but did not have the usual luxuries that I was accustomed to from my bosses.

"I want to set the record straight on what happened, Eve. If that is alright with you." She said to me. I paused for a moment, unsure if she was actually asking for my opinion. After my initial hesitation, I nodded and sat on chair across from her.

"I won the auction fairly, using my money along with what I had recently acquired from Jason Briggs. I hold no ill will towards you for your involvement in that, by the way." She said and looked at me. I was unphased, even if she did hold a grudge she would just be one of many who hated me but could do nothing about it.

"My men and I had no involvement in the killing of Alistair Caliber. In fact, after my deal with Briggs I was going to make him an offer next. I managed to escape with your command key, but now because of the high bids, I am also out $8 million."

I was unaware my value had jumped so high, nearly doubling the last auction. The criminals must have been getting bold, they had both need of me and the currency to try and purchase my key. I would have to keep that in mind when I carried out missions. I knew in the "real" world I would be worth hundreds of millions to scientists and others, but since criminals first found me they kept me a secret and my value was low.

"I must tell you, and yes I order you to keep our conversation a secret, that I had set this plan in motion some time ago. I know I am not very popular, but I get the job done. However, there are those who want my position and power. After Miguel was born, I knew I needed to keep him safe. My father enjoyed having you around, but when things got tough we had to sell you."

"I am aware of the circumstance, it is alright Miss Ramos." I replied, unsure how to officially address her.
"I must ask, why are you telling me all this? My commanders usually think of me as just another gun or sometimes a soldier. You seem to be confiding in me."

She hid a slight smirk and looked at her child once more.
"Do not mistake my kindness for weakness, I can be just like all your other bosses. You may call me Delilah, if you wish. I am telling you what happened because you need to know. I want out of this business, for myself and my son. The only way I could do that was to earn enough money to acquire your command key. Whoever has you, regardless of territory or rank, really has the power in this city's underground. If you help me and my son, I will grant you your freedom."

I almost did not believe what Delilah had just said. I did not believe it was even possible for one of my commanders to think of giving my freedom, let alone actually say they'll give me it. I almost felt a sympathy for her story, we were more alike than I realized. Both of us did what we had to so we could see the day when we could do what we wanted to. The only thing was, Delilah was still a criminal mastermind and head of a cartel and arms imports for the city, not exactly a woman without secrets.

"I will obey you, even if I did not want to. You are in possession of my command key." I replied plainly. I was surprised even more by Delilah's response.

She pulled out her her phone and showed me the screen. I had always known what my command key actually was, but had not seen it up close in years. It was actually a computer chip that could be inserted into almost anything with electricity and a screen. It would then provide all the information needed to send me orders on the screen and let my commander know my status in both health and mission objective.

"If my son and I can get away safely, I will have no need of this. If we are successful, there will not be another auction. You may have this when our cooperation is done." Delilah said and put her phone away.

I almost smiled, almost, at the thought. Could Delilah Ramos be the one to grant me my freedom?

"Understood. What are your missions for me?"

"We must eliminate loose ends and earn back currency for expenses and myself. There will be bloodshed, but if we move quickly enough, none of it will be ours. Nobody knows who owns your command key yet, and I wish to keep it this way as long as possible. I apologize for this, but I have to order you to put an end to the heads of the territories that may know I have your key. That includes Yokozuna...and Maximum Caliber."