"Aye. "
"Where is it?"
"In my possession. " The male's English was similar to Xcor's - thickly accented - but there the comparison ended. That was a high-class drawl down there, not a rough brogue. "Have you my goods. "
"Yeah, we got it. Let's see the cash. "
"After I inspect what you have brought me. "
The man doing the talking took out a gun and pointed it at the vampire's chest. "That's not the way we're going to do this. "
Assail released a puff of blue smoke and rolled the cigar between the tips of his fingers.
"Did you hear what I said, asshole?" the human barked as the three behind him disappeared hands into their suit jackets.
"Aye. "
"This is going to be done the way we want, asshole. "
"That would be 'Assail,' kind sir. "
"Fuck you. Gimme the cash. "
"Hm. Indeed. So you have demanded. "
Abruptly the vampire's eyes locked on that human's, and after a moment, the autoloader in that meaty palm began to vibrate ever so slightly. Frowning, the guy focused on his hand, as if he were sending it a command.
"That is not how I do business, however," Assail murmured.
That gun muzzle gradually began to move, shifting away from the vampire and moving in a broad circle farther and farther afield. With growing panic, the man gripped his own wrist, as if he were fighting another, but naught of his effort derailed the changing trajectory.
Whilst the weapon was gradually turned on its own operator, the other men began to shout and shuffle about. The vampire said nothing, did nothing, remaining utterly calm and in control as he froze those three in place, locking their bodies but not their faces. Oh, those expressions of panic. Rather delightful.
When the gun was up to the man's temple, Assail smiled, flashing white teeth that gleamed in the darkness.
"Permit me to show you how I do business," he said in a low voice.
And then the human pulled the trigger and shot himself in the head.
As the body dropped to the pavement and the sound of the shot echoed around, the remaining men's eyes drew wide in horror even as their bodies remained immobilized.
"You," Assail said to the one closest to the sedan. "Bring me what I bought. "
"I-I-I. . . " The man swallowed hard. "We don't got nothing. "
With hauteur worthy of a king, Assail countered, "I'm sorry, what did you say. "
"We dint bring nothing. "
"And why not. "
"Because we was going to. . . " The man had to take another stab at swallowing. "We was going to. . . "
"You were going to take my money and leave me for dead?" When there was no reply, Assail nodded. "I can see the value in that. And no doubt you'll understand what I must do now. "
While the vampire puffed on his cigar, the man who had been speaking began to reposition his own gun, the muzzle ending up upon his temple.
One by one, three more shots rang out.