Jessica’s display of strength stunned the entire restaurant.
Foggy instinctively leaned back, rubbing the back of his neck.
He spent half his life teasing Jessica because she looked so sweet and harmless.
Now all he could think was…
If she ever actually hit me, they’d be lowering my coffin into the ground by sunset.
Officer Michael, the older policeman, unconsciously rubbed his ribs with a pained smile, as though remembering an unpleasant lesson from the past.
Natasha was no less shocked.
Leaving a handprint in a slab of solid hardwood wasn’t something an ordinary enhanced person could do.
At least, she’d never seen anyone in SHIELD accomplish that through raw physical strength alone.
And yet…
There hadn’t been a single mention of Jessica in her briefing.
In fact, the intelligence she’d received about Peace Restaurant had been wrong from top to bottom.
At that moment, the restaurant door opened once again.
A middle-aged man in a neatly tailored suit stepped inside.
His hair was beginning to thin.
His smile was warm and genuine.
There was something immediately likable about him.
He walked calmly to the counter and inclined his head toward Alvin.
“My apologies for the trouble we’ve caused.” He extended a hand politely.
“My name is Phil Coulson.” “SHIELD.” Then he turned toward Natasha.
“Agent Romanoff.” “I’m afraid our intelligence was outdated.” “By nearly a year.” “The Purple Man left this area a long time ago.” “I don’t know how that happened, but when we return, you’ll be filing a full report explaining today’s…
lack of professionalism.” Natasha’s face remained expressionless.
She gave a curt nod.
Without saying a word, she turned and headed for the exit.
She wanted out.
Immediately.
She’d wasted an entire evening chasing an operation built on obsolete intelligence.
Someone was going to answer for that.
Alvin watched the famously good-natured agent with an amused expression.
The man who always seemed to hold the Avengers together.
“Do you really think…” He took a slow sip of beer.
“…that you can walk into my restaurant, let your people throw their weight around, offer one apology, and pretend everything’s settled?” His smile remained.
“But let me remind you of something.” “This is Hell’s Kitchen.” “This is Peace Restaurant.” “No one walks in here, does something wrong, and leaves without paying the price.” Before the last word had fully left his mouth…
Thud!
A muffled cry came from the doorway.
Natasha stumbled backward into the restaurant, landing awkwardly on the floor.
Thor stood in the entrance, lips curled back over bared fangs as he growled possessively.
Coulson reacted instantly.
His pistol cleared its holster in one smooth motion, aimed directly at the wolf.
At the same instant, Doom slipped silently inside.
Keeping close to the wall, the massive wolf circled until he stood at Coulson’s flank.
A low growl rumbled from his throat.
“Mr.
Satō.” Coulson’s smile vanished, though his voice remained composed.
“You need to think very carefully.” “Are you really prepared to assault a SHIELD agent?” “Have you considered the consequences?” He shifted his aim between the two wolves.
Alvin simply smiled.
“I have surveillance cameras.” “And audio recordings.” “They clearly document Agent Romanoff abusing her authority to threaten a law-abiding citizen.” His eyes settled on Coulson.
“And you…” “You walk in, apologize once, and expect everything to disappear.” “I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way.” He looked toward Matt.
“Counselor.” “If I sue them…” “What happens?” Matt calmly took another sip of lemonade before answering.
“You could sue for abuse of authority.” “Intimidation.” “Coercion.” He glanced toward Coulson’s drawn pistol.
“And now…” “Threatening a citizen’s pets with a firearm.” A faint smile crossed his face.
“Best case?” “Those two agents lose their jobs.” “SHIELD is forced to publicly explain why its personnel believe threatening ordinary citizens is acceptable.” “Especially when those citizens refuse to cooperate.” He shrugged.
“You’d probably receive financial compensation as well.” Jessica applauded enthusiastically.
After hearing SHIELD’s attitude toward recruiting people like Kilgrave, she had lost every ounce of goodwill she might have had toward the organization.
Coulson, however…
Actually began sweating.
He’d faced terrorists.
Supervillains.
Alien technology.
None of those things unnerved him quite like an attorney with the law firmly on his side.
Especially when SHIELD already had strained relationships with agencies like the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
Arguing wasn’t an option.
Not from this position.
So he lowered his voice.
“Mr.
Satō.” “What would it take…” “…for you to forgive my colleague’s poor judgment?” He looked sincerely apologetic.
“She’s bled for this country.” “She’s nearly died serving it.” “I believe you already know that.” Alvin waved a hand toward the entrance.
Thor and Doom immediately returned to their places outside.
He poured another beer and slid it toward Coulson.
“You’re right.” “I pulled her out of the ocean last week.” “I even called the ambulance.” Believing the tension had eased, Coulson holstered his pistol, sat down at the counter, and took a grateful drink.
Alvin looked at Matt.
“The ambulance bill…” “And the medical expenses I paid up front.” “Two thousand dollars.” He pointed at Coulson.
“Add that to the damages.” Coulson nearly sprayed beer across the counter.
One unnecessary sentence had just cost SHIELD another two grand.
“Oh, and Foggy.” Alvin turned toward the lawyer.
“You once mentioned knowing people in the media.” “Give them a call.” “I’m sure they’d love to hear how SHIELD conducts its operations.” He smiled.
“Count this as an official case.” “Nelson & Murdock gets twenty percent of any settlement.” Foggy rubbed his chin dramatically.
“Twenty?” He looked deeply offended.
“Going after SHIELD carries a certain amount of professional risk.” “How about fifty?” Alvin laughed.
“Forty.” “Not a penny more.” He pointed toward the corner of the neighborhood outside.
“How hard you fight this case will determine how good the equipment is at the daycare.” “And whether they can afford better teachers.” Foggy immediately snapped to attention and threw Alvin an exaggerated military salute.
“Understood!” “I’ll donate half my share to the daycare.” With that, he pulled out his phone and started dialing.
Coulson hurriedly reached across the counter to stop him.
As he did, he caught a glimpse of the number.
FOX News.
Specifically, the network’s public news tip line.
He sighed.
“Mr.
Satō…” “Let’s discuss this like reasonable people.” “Please don’t make this public.” “This was the conduct of an individual agent.” “It isn’t representative of SHIELD as a whole.” He leaned forward earnestly.
“Let’s negotiate.” “I’m sure we can agree on compensation that satisfies everyone.” Behind him, Natasha had climbed back to her feet.
She stood quietly beside Coulson, studying Alvin with growing interest.
No one she’d ever met had handled pressure from SHIELD this calmly.
Everything she’d assumed about him had turned out to be wrong.
At least the mission was over.
That much had gone according to plan.
But today’s humiliation…
She wasn’t about to forget it.
Once she tracked down whoever had nearly gotten her killed…
She’d be coming back.
A master spy settled her debts personally.
If you stumbled somewhere…
You returned there until you stood back up.
Alvin caught the look in her eyes.
A shiver crawled down his spine.
He wasn’t afraid.
Not exactly.
But being singled out by someone like Natasha Romanoff…
That sounded like the beginning of a very long headache.