Chapter 11
Yelena looked over the gathered household gathered in the largest dining room in the new West Wing addition. It had been designed as a place all the Widows could eat in the same room rather than the numerous smaller dining rooms in the original mansion and the first two additions. It had been a success and though mealtimes were often sporadic with so many girls having their own training, dinner and downtown timetables, they made it a point to have one meal a week with all of them together.
Now the largest dining room would become the meeting place of the first Red Widow leadership council meeting and all the Widows were present.
Yelena looked glanced at Wanda next to her. Wanda was smiling but Yelena knew she was exhausted and in pain. The plates in her skull were giving her severe headaches. The magical healing and surgery on her back had not been completely successful. The nerve damage was somewhat healed as well as the fractures but the bones were weak. Some pieces had to be fused and needed pins to promote bone strength. She could move but was very stiff and had numbness in her legs occasionally. Topaz had left with Wanda’s gratitude and promised to learn more so she could improve her back. Her and Jennifer Kale had gone to seek out some sort of separate plane of existence ran by a woman known as the Caretaker. There Kale’s Tome could be protected from Doom and Topaz could learn more to help her.
Wanda had tried to heal herself in Wakanda after Topaz left. The pain was too great. Unlike when she healed her leg while fighting Thanos, the back and skull were trickier, especially with pins and plates holding it together. She lost concentration when the pain hit and had to stop.
That left Wanda with severe headaches, occasional seizures and a stiff back. All the healing had also restored Wanda’s body to her former physical shape, meaning she could no longer breastfeed. Yelena reminded her that her daughters could have lost their mother and that should be the least of her concerns but it was just another kick to her teeth. She maintained a positive attitude in front of her girls but Yelena could tell Wanda was not happy.
Finding out that Sable knew Doom had some skill in sorcery and never told her, nor mentioned he was interested in Wanda’s help with Mephisto had caused quite an argument behind closed doors between Wanda, Yelena and Sable. Sable defended herself, saying she never realized Doom was as powerful or as devious as he was and she had given her word.
Ava was also not happy with her mother and that caused more drama.
It had only been two days since they had all returned from Wakanda. Yelena declared the election would happen immediately. The girls would be sent a ballot on their personal laptops and would vote for 9 people for leadership council. Yelena had declared seven would be chosen to join her and Wanda then changed her mind and taken her and Wanda out of automatic spots. They were a family. They were no longer the lost sheep that needed Wanda to sleep near them to calm them or Yelena to make all decisions. The family could decide who would lead the Red Widows.
A part of Yelena hoped the girls would not want her as a leader. She knew Wanda was a given but she had made too many questionable decisions over the years.
Dima Belova stepped inside and placed a laptop on the table. He opened the program and checked the list. The names of the nine people who got the most votes out of each Widows nine nominated candidates would be announced.
He cleared his throat and the room quieted. Even the chattering youngest girls had quieted.
“Okay. Election is done. Anya is making many roast chickens tonight to celebrate democracy in the house. Not that it hasn’t been democratic before. This is official election though. Very impressive. When I call your name please sit at table. I guess you just want me to read the names don’t you girls?”
“Please Papa. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can eat then start video game tournament.” Yelena told him.
Dima nodded.
“In no particular order.
“Yelena.”
Yelena sighed, not bothering to hide her slight disappointment. Kate felt her tense and regretted that she felt that way but understood. Yelena had borne the weight of leading the Widows since she was first awoken from mind control by Wanda. The stress was what prompted her to have this election and take some of the pressure off herself. Kate hadn’t thought Yelena wanted to be completely taken out of the process but apparently that was the case.
“Bucky.”
“Me?” he asked, surprised. Bucky had led a team and knew the girls liked him but to put him on a committee to lead him was shocking.
Dima looked at the computer. “Yes, it says Bucky Barnes.”
Bucky had a seat.
“Ingrid.”
Ingrid took her seat and the others followed.
“Sonia.
“Gabby.
“Oksana.
Oksana opened her mouth but said nothing. She had never once taken a leadership role in the house. She had purposely done this, always having been aware of her status as one of the few girls in the house who had not been mind controlled. The idea that they had chosen her brought her close to tears.
“Ava.
“Chloe.”
Dima was confused for a moment and looked nervously round the room. He then looked at the computer once again.
“Uh. Okay. Everett Ross.”
“Me?”
Everett looked around the room but avoided looking in Wanda’s direction.
He took his seat slowly and met Wanda’s eyes, his confusion evident.
The room was suddenly very tense.
“Mama, shouldn’t you sit down to?” Nadeja asked, breaking the tense silence in the room.
“No, sweetie.”
“But you are the leader, right? You and Aunt Yelena.”
Wanda smiled at her and put an arm around her shoulder. “It’s your papa’s turn now.” She then addressed the room. “I realize Becca doesn’t technically need me to feed her since she is on formula but I have missed more than a week with her on account of being in a coma. If I’m not needed, I’m going to take care of her. You want to come or stay with Papa, girls?”
Nadeja and Nela took her hands. They had been very clingy since she had woken up and that had not changed. They were never far from her.
The crowd parted, none of them meeting her eyes, not that she looked. She slowly and stiffly made her way out and didn’t look back, planning to find Anya who was holding Becca while watching the chickens roasting in the largest kitchen in the house.
Bucky watched her go with a sinking feeling. “I should probably…”
“You got elected so stay. She can feed the children.” Yelena told him grumpily. “The Widows have voted. One hundred and twenty four Widows and at least sixty three of them did not have Wanda as one of nine votes to lead the house. They have spoken. This is what they want, so they can deal with it.”
She then looked over the room. None of the girls met her eyes but her disappointment was obvious. Where before Yelena’s face had been tired, now it was cold, masking a fury that was under her skin and threatening to rise.
“Really?” she asked the room.
“Yelena.” Ingrid spoke. “Let it go.”
Yelena locked eyes with Ingrid and raised an eyebrow. Ingrid looked away answering Yelena’s unspoken question.
Imi watched the entire meeting with her four fellow therapists. She was very surprised in some ways but pleased in others. She had sessions with most of the original Widows. She never would have thought out of nine people they would vote as leaders, two would be Black Widows who were never mind controlled and two men. It showed the maturity the girls had achieved and a departure from the pack mentality the younger Widows had in the beginning. The recognized Gabby’s experience and finally acknowledged Oksana’s work and dedication to their wellbeing. It also didn’t escape her attention that Gabby and Oksana had adopted two of the youngest children which may have caused the girls to consider them in ways they never had before.
Despite the shock of Wanda not being voted, she wasn’t completely surprised. She had heard enough in the sessions and from what her other therapists had said that the girls were all greatly shaken by Wanda’s near death. Being the most powerful meant Wanda had taken the most injury of any Widow still alive.
None of them wanted her at the front leading them into battle anymore. They wanted her here in the mansion, or in the back, so they could make sure she could return to her children, and to all of them. If Wanda had been put on the leadership committee she would have insisted on leading or going into battle alone against people like Doom, or demons like Mephisto or even an entity like Ultron.
They wanted Wanda here, in the Mansion, taking care of her children and trying to heal.
Imi even agreed with them. The question was how Wanda would take it. Wanda was a mess right now. It started with the discovery of Ultron, that led to her fighting a very strong demonic opponent to what could only be described as a traumatic event and near drowning that she will have nightmares about for the rest of her life. On top of that she was still in physical pain and Stephen wouldn’t give her anything stronger than maximum strength ibuprofen. She had demanded an explanation and when he told her it was because she was a recovering addict and would likely become addicted to pain pills she quieted and wouldn’t speak to him further.
Life here was never peaceful.
“One year from now we hold elections again.” Yelena stated. “Every year this date. The night before the meeting, you will vote. Red Widow meetings still happen and everyone can speak up. The only difference is if there are decisions to be made they will not be made just by me but by council vote. Tomorrow we have a meeting here. Sharon Carter and Bobbi Morse have found actionable intel on buyers in the Middle East keeping slaves. We also have to discuss what to do about Doom. According to Sable he isn’t planning on making a move against Mephisto for at least thirty days. Eleanor is out in the world. Many people we care about are out in the world. If he is as powerful as Sable suspects, everyone outside of our home is in danger of being used by him as a hostage to force Wanda to help him. This cannot happen. Meeting adjourned.”
Yelena stood and stormed out of the room. Only Kate followed her. Bucky was not far behind, wanting to get to Wanda as soon as possible.
The room was quiet.
“Congratulations to the elected?” Dima said uncertainly, picking up on Yelena’s mood and leaving quickly behind her.
Bucky found Wanda in their room. She was holding Becca and the girls were in their rooms packing bags.
“Wanda?”
“Yes?”
Bucky looked around her and saw the girls were moving in a hurry.
“Are we going somewhere?” he asked nervously.
Wanda nodded. “Yes. I want us to go home for a few days. I mean my first home. I need the space to clear my head. I’ll open a door so you can come back tomorrow for your meeting but other than that we are staying in Novi Grad for a while. I want to curl up on my old couch and pretend Mama is going to walk in with Chicken Paprikash to make me feel better.”
Bucky was silent for a moment. “I could make it for you. Not like your mama but I do remember watching her, or at least your memories of watching her. What do you need me to pack?”
“We have clothes at the apartment. Just pack the toiletries and the girls’ laptops so they can continue their studies. Bring anything you can’t live without for the next few weeks.”
Bucky paused. “A few weeks? Wanda, Novi Grad isn’t protected like the mansion. Doom could be making…”
“If I see Doom I’ll blink him out of existence. Something I should have done to Thanos but was too afraid to. Maybe I’ll pull his heart from his chest. Rip his spine out. Maybe I’ll crush his body in his tin-can suit. I’ll send him straight to Mephisto. I will deal with him when I am ready. Right now, I want to go home.”
Bucky thought of asking if she would like to talk about what happened but wisely decided not to. He knew everything about his wife and understood her. She felt she had been slapped in the face and he understood why. He felt that way as well. It made him angry but saying it aloud would only make Wanda angrier, and he didn’t need that. He needed to calm her and getting her to her childhood home always did the trick. It was her safe place.
Down in the bunker, no one was safe. Yelena marched down, fully suited up, weapons ready. The Widows who were working out and talking about the results quieted when she appeared and began leaving discreetly.
Yelena paid them no mind, going straight to the firing range. She unloaded a clip, then another clip and another. Target after target was set up. She was hitting with precision, moving with grace and speed. She pushed the target back thirty yards, fifty yards and still hit with accuracy using her handguns.
Pushing back to one hundred yards, she took her rifle and began firing, only making one hole in the target as the other bullets followed into that single hole with pinpoint precision.
When Yelena stepped out of the firing range some Widows were outside, having watched the display. When she saw them they left quickly.
She retracted her top and removed her pants, only wearing a sports bra and Nike shorts, then made her way to the weight bench.
An hour later she had worked herself into a sweat, her muscles were screaming and she was still agitated. She made her way to the bags and went to work, throwing kicks and punches for the next hour nonstop.
“You are taking a long shower before you get in bed tonight.” Kate told her. She had come down and some point but Yelena hadn’t noticed.
“I thought you were staying at your home tonight.” Yelena said gruffly.
“You are my home and you need me.”
Yelena waved it off. “I am fine. Go spend time with Eleanor. Maybe bring her here at night. At least let her sleep here so Doom can’t attack her in the dark. Remind her she is endangering Wanda every second she is in the world and vulnerable to Doom”.
Kate laughed, trying to make light of Yelena’s words but knew it was probably good advice.
“She said she wasn’t going to run from a Tony Stark, Stephen Strange wannabee. She has Jack to protect her. I’m sure he sleeps with at least two swords. He’s been staying over and I would rather not be there when he does. Wanna talk about it?”
Yelena sat on the floor and took the tape off her knuckles. “Talk about what? How ungrateful they are?”
“They aren’t ungrateful. Yelena, you know how Wanda has been lately. She wants to do everything on her own. She had a panic attack and was angry because the Widows backed her up at Avengers Compound. If she were on a leadership committee she would just insist on doing everything herself.”
Yelena was quiet for a moment, and it hit her.
“You didn’t vote for her.”
Kate shook her head. “She isn’t in the right frame of mind and everybody knows it. You are. You keep thinking you are making mistakes and wanted to hand over the reins, but they need you.”
“They need Wanda!”
“They have Wanda. She still leads the household. You know that.”
Yelena shook her head. “She doesn’t. How do you think she feels now? All you all have done is alienate her. On the leadership committee she would have been forced to work with everyone. Now she thinks she is not needed and will do what she wants. Do you not know her at all? Do any of you?!”
“Yelena…”
“Ingrid, Ava, they didn’t want her on either, did they? Everything she has done for us…”
Kate stopped her. “You wanted a committee to plan tactics. Wanda has never been good at tactics.”
“She is our tactic! Who do you think is going to face Doom? How do you see that going? A man who was strong enough to kill Mordo and confident enough to believe he could kill a skilled witch.”
Kate shrugged. “That’s what you and the council have to plan for. We have weapons that can hurt him. We had weapons that could hurt Thanos.”
“Because of Wanda and Agatha! Those demon killing arrows you have, who did they come from?! Who did our enchanted ammo come from? Wanda! We can kill human traffickers all day and night but the big threats? We have nothing without her! We are her coven. We are supposed to help her, not alienate her! Damn it, Kate!”
Kate cringed, knowing nothing she said would get through to Yelena and acknowledging that Yelena had very valid points. “Wanda isn’t going to stop giving us ammo just because…”
Yelena stood and raised her hand to stop her. “Enough. I need to talk to her. She is the only one I want to talk to right now! You have disappointed me. You listen to Ingrid but do not even speak to me about such a big decision. Maybe you should spend the night with Ingrid and Kristine.”
Kate grimaced. Yelena’s words stung. She hated to tell her the next bit of information.
“Ingrid, Ava and I tried to talk to Wanda. She is… gone. She left a note on her door saying they were taking a family trip and to only call if it was an emergency.”
Yelena screamed in frustration. She marched to the elevator and Kate stayed back, keeping her distance, giving her space. Yelena hardly ever became angry at her. Kate had thought if she could explain, Yelena might understand. She had underestimated Yelena’s anger.
Yelena didn’t bother with the elevator, taking the stairs. When she reached the living room, Ingrid and Ava were waiting for her.
Ingrid approached her. “Can we talk…”
Yelena struck her in the jaw, knocking her out and sending her falling to the ground. Then turned to Ava. “Do you want to talk also Sable Jr.?”
Ava shook her head and backed up.
Yelena went to her room. Thirty minutes later she came out freshly showered with Fanny by her side.
Kate was waiting for her in the library.
“I think you cracked her jaw. Where are you going?”
Yelena made her way to the red glowing door in the wall that led to Novi Grad. “I am going to see Pietro. I have to apologize again. I swore to him I would always protect her. I failed… again. If Ingrid’s jaw is broken, good. The next time we have a vote, people vote. They do not talk others into voting with them. This isn’t America with election commercials. People vote their own opinions. Widows have been told what to do their entire lives. A leader tells them how to vote and they vote. You disappointed me but the other girls… that is on Ava and Ingrid. I won’t be back tonight. I will be here for the meeting tomorrow. Don’t follow me.”
Yelena and Fanny walked through the door without a backward glance.
Kate silently cried until Ava put a hand on her shoulder. “We made the right call.”
Kate wiped her eyes. “I’m not so sure we did. I’m going home tonight. Yelena won’t be back. I’ll be back… when she wants me to be.”
Novi Grad, Sokovia
Yelena and Fanny walked out of the Sokovian Security Services building into the night. She suspected Wanda was at her parents apartment. She liked to stay there with Bucky and the girls at times and Becca had never been. She texted her and received no answer.
She texted Bucky who said she was in the shower and would call her when she was out. Yelena returned that she would leave her alone tonight and see her in the morning for breakfast.
After a thirty minute walk, Yelena realized Bucky was a very good liar. The girls must have been asleep or Wanda never would have gotten away.
She was sitting on the ground next to Pietro’s grave over the spot she would one day be buried. The headstone next to Pietro with Wanda’s name but no date of death always freaked her out, but Wanda wouldn’t remove it.
Yelena stayed back, watching her from a distance. She sent a text to Bucky letting him know she was watching Wanda in the shower.
Wanda sat on the ground even though it caused her to ache all over and the pain in her back flared. She sat cross legged with her hands on her knees and spoke in her native language.
“Hello, brother. Tomorrow I will bring your newest niece, but I can feel you around her always. Nadeja has picked up your love for speed and we bought her a dirt bike for her birthday. I wasn’t crazy about it, but I suppose I can’t protect her from every injury. I will watch her and not let her fall. It is what I am supposed to do. I’m a mother now. Twenty one years old, I’ve got a hundred years of memories of multiple lives in my head. I always felt older than my age and now my body matches my mind.”
Wanda leaned forward to put her hand on his gravestone but stopped short when the pain in her back flared.
“I am not in so good shape brother. Of all the things I have faced, it was a big boat and a hurricane that almost killed me. No Agatha to bring me back. Days, perhaps hours from brain death until another witch was found who could heal me. A nice girl. Very pretty. You would have loved her.”
She paused, realizing she could feel Yelena’s presence, but it was farther out. Yelena was giving her space. She should have known Yelena would come after her.
“Brother, I have another problem. His name is Doom and he killed Mordo. I hate that he killed someone I wanted to kill. Rude in my opinion. Ultron is also around and he has a crush on me but he also sent me into a fight so he could steal…why am I telling you this? I know you watch over me.”
She took a deep breath and fought back tears. “I don’t know how much more I can take. I thought after Thanos I would have some years, maybe just raise my precious daughters in peace. Love my husband in peace. I had peace while I was pregnant but since I had Becca it is like life is trying to take me out. I’m wrecked. My head hurts so badly I can’t think and my back is on fire all the time. I sleep on my back and every time Nadeja or Nela lay their head on me and shift in their sleep I want to scream in pain. I can’t tell them to sleep on their own. I would never do that. I swore I would never send my daughters away from sleeping with me, from giving them comfort from nightmares.
“So much on me, Pietro. I am certain Doom knows I am not in the best shape. He has so many ways to manipulate me to fight Mephisto for him. The girls have some foolish idea of sidelining me. They can’t though. I love them for trying but I can’t sit back. The girls need me to fight the battles they cannot. Sokovia needs me and as much as I hate to admit it, the world needs me.”
Wanda kissed her hand and stretched her arm to the top of his headstone, laying her hand on it.
“God! I miss you, brother.”
Wanda waited for a few moments.
“I need help standing.” she said, loud enough for Yelena to hear her.
Yelena and Fanny walked over. Rather than offering her hand, Yelena bent down, placed her arms gently around her shoulders and lifted with her. Wanda groaned but made it up with only a slight amount of pain.
“Why did you sit on ground? Why are you alone?” Yelena asked.
Wanda laughed. “I always sit on the ground when it is just me and Pietro. I’m alone because I felt like being alone.”
Yelena nodded already knowing that.
“I wish I was enough to replace him.” She said then closed her eyes, realizing she shouldn’t have said that.
Wanda touched her cheek. “You think I want you to replace him? You can never replace him. You are your own person, not my substitute for him. You are my Yelena. You are my sister as much as he was my brother. It is not for you to replace him. You know what you mean to me. Never think you are not enough. Every good thing I have in my life started with you. I have never wanted a replacement, I just want my sister by my side. That is what you give me. Never think you are not enough.”
Yelena began to cry and Wanda held her tightly. “Why are you here? Why tonight? Because I left? I assumed you would have gone to the apartment.”
Yelena sniffed and wiped her eyes. “I came to apologize to him. I broke my oath to him again. You got hurt. Badly. Nearly dead. I have only felt that helpless once in my life but even then I knew it would be okay. I knew no matter what, you would save Kate. This time there was no one to save you. Then I thought maybe she heals you and all will be good. But it isn’t.”
Wanda shrugged and winced, realizing just how bad her back was beginning to hurt. “Yelena, you cannot stop me from getting hurt. It is life. Even if I knew I would get ran over and nearly drowned by a very large boat, I still would have gone out there to save those girls. Pietro has no room to speak. He certainly wasn’t careful. He can’t blame you for my reckless behavior. My actions are not your fault.”
Yelena didn’t believe her. “I should have ordered an attack…”
“Enough. You second guess yourself constantly. You made the best decision for the hostages and the Widows. You had no way knowing they would be dumb enough to sail into a hurricane. It happens.”
The two stood and stared at the Maximoff graves.
“I’ll bring Becca here tomorrow with flowers.” Wanda decided. “Nela likes to pick the flowers out from the street vendors. When we return she will start growing her own and bringing them here.”
Yelena was quiet for a moment then spoke quietly.
“Ava, Ingrid, they talked the others into not voting you on the leadership council.” Yelena told her, not wanting any secrets. Ingrid and Ava could deal with the fallout. “Kate went along with it. Many people went along with it. I don’t know who else but I will find out.”
Wanda shook her head. “Why do you want to find out?”
“Because they betrayed you!” Yelena practically shouted.
Wanda didn’t seem upset. “They did what they thought was best. Yelena, the only reason you put the two of us up to vote was because you didn’t want to be a leader anymore. Am I wrong?”
Yelena shook her head. “No, you are not. Yet there I am and they betray the one who has given them everything.”
Wanda lifted Yelena’s hand and saw her knuckles. “Who did you hit?”
Yelena shrugged. “I hit the bag…. and broke Ingrid’s jaw.”
Wanda groaned. “Really Yelena?”
“She deserved it. I called for a vote. Not a campaign against you! She says another word to me I’ll break something else on her.”
Wanda shook her head and frowned. “Are we Avengers? I was there when Tony Stark shot Captain America because Steve wanted to take a moment to talk about the dangers in making Vision. I knew then that they would never last. Is this what we do now? We have factions and attack each other?”
Yelena said nothing, looking at the ground and feeling ashamed. “We attack each other all the time. It is just how Widows express emotions.”
Wanda disagreed. “Is that what Imi says? That it is okay to attack each other over agreements because that is what Widows do?”
“I get it. I am not proud, but she was not right to do what she did. None of them did. I shouldn’t have hit her but her actions still make me sick. Her and Ava and god help her if I find out Sonia was involved in this.”
Wanda shrugged. “I think they made the best decision they could. They voted people they would have never followed a year ago. Oksana, Gabby, Bucky and Everett. That was amazing.”
Yelena turned and took Wanda’s hand, gently guiding her away from the graves of her family. “There are no Red Widows without Wanda Maximoff. That is what they have forgotten. I suppose you will go your own way now? Take your own missions.”
Wanda was quiet for a moment. “Why do you say that?” she finally asked.
“I jumped on Thanos. So did Bucky. We stabbed him with vibranium knives. We can fight the strange and strong. Don’t leave us behind.”
“I won’t.”
“Then why did you leave tonight right after the meeting?”
Wanda shrugged. “It was too much. Too much tension, too much everything. I needed to get away. I needed to go to my first home, the place I felt safe as a little girl. I was practically brain dead not long ago and literally paralyzed. My back feels weak and my head… I just needed to get away, Yelena. The only reason I was there was because of that meeting.”
“I see. I don’t want to go back tonight. I will sleep in you and Pietro’s old room with Becca. I will ask the twins to sleep in there as well. I know they must be hurting you at night.”
Wanda shook her head quickly. “My girls stayed by my side for over a week while I was in a coma. I’m not sending them to another room unless they ask. I will be fine. You can sleep with Becca and if she wakes you can feed her.”
“It will be a pleasure.”
The two entered the small apartment and Bucky had dinner ready. He had a place ready for Yelena.
“I may forgive you for lying.”
Bucky smirked. “She wanted to be alone. I forgot there was no I in Wanda and Yelena.”
“You can learn then.”
Widow Mansion the next day
Yelena and Bucky walked through the crowd of Widows into the dining room. The rest of the leadership council was already seated. Yelena met Ingrid’s eyes and took note of her swollen jaw.
“Too bad someone isn’t around who can heal that for you.” she told Ingrid quietly.
Staci stepped through the crowd. “Has Wanda left for good? Aino and I are going to her team. We aren’t going to work with women who forget our purpose is to follow her into battle.”
Yelena sighed and looked up. “Wanda is taking much needed and deserved time in Sokovia at her apartment. She has not left. She would have gone there from Wakanda but stayed for the farce of a meeting we had last night. However, because she was not elected to the leadership council, any hope of getting her to strategize with her on taking on villains like Doom are likely gone and she will go her own way. Good job, everyone. “
Imi stepped up. “Yelena, calm…”
“Don’t tell me to calm down. I have given everything I have to the Widows. I have had bones crushed by mines, a cursed sword through my body, taken bullet after bullet, risked my life more times than I can count. If I want to express my disappointment I think I have earned the right. That is all I will say on it. Everett, tell us what your operatives have found out about this so called Madame Masque. Everybody wants a supervillain or superhero name in this world.”
Everett looked around the room. The atmosphere was tense. Another target was what these girls needed. Nothing brought Widows together like killing bad guys.
“Socialite Whitney Frost, daughter of Count Luchino Nefaria of Rome, a criminal mastermind. She was given to an employee of his named Byron Forst. He is a wealthy banker who worked as a financier for Nefaria. It is believed he hoped his daughter might be shielded from his criminal empire if she was raised by someone removed but close enough he could watch her.”
Everett put a small projector device on the table and a hologram of Frost appeared.
“After her parents died in an accident Nefaria approached her and for some reason had a change of heart. He told her of her true parentage and brought her into the Magia. He trained her in everything he knew. SHIELD took him down five years ago. He is one of the prisoners at the recently saved Raft. She took over the organization. Under her leadership it has become more ruthless and recently got involved in human trafficking.
Two years ago she was involved in a plane crash and her face was disfigured. Shortly afterward another big name criminal met with her by the name of Mordecai Midas. Obviously with a name like that he was obsessed…”
“With gold.” Yelena guessed. “Everybody has a gimmick.”
Everett chuckled. “Yes. He is a charmer. Even gave her a golden mask to cover her disfigured face. That is when she started demanding to be called Madame Masque. I am quite certain she has somewhat of a mental illness. Midas is a billionaire. He has billionaire friends. His friends pay highly for sex slaves, especially Brits and Americans. The younger the better. Sharon believes his organization has been trafficking for years but slipped under our radar. He never follows a pattern. He never kidnaps more than one girl in a city. He has operatives all over and the crimes are hard to connect. Sharon and Bobbi connected the crimes when Frost got involved. She isn’t as discrete as her friend.”
“She is selling to sheiks?” Ingrid asked.
“Shieks, oil barons, anyone in the hard to reach places that governments won’t prosecute because they are paid not to or are too afraid to. Frost did kidnap six girls, between 18 and 21 last month in London in only a few days. The pattern caught Morse’s attention, and they found a connection to a modeling agency they all auditioned for. They followed the money and found the connection to the Magia. That led to a closer examination of Midas. Sharon is tracking the money. We hope we can track down Midas customers but that will be difficult. We can track Frost’s victims. They are in the country that loves us the most”.
“Iran.” Sonia practically spit out.
“Yes, held captive by Alladohol Asroldad, an exporter who is worth $10 billion. He has a large compound in Nay Band. Heavily guarded and likely has the Iranian military nearby.”
The table was silent.
“The question is what are we going to do first?” Yelena asked. “Ingrid, Ava, any ideas?”
Both looked at her, very annoyed.
“We get it, you are pissed. Get over it already.” Ava said.
Yelena stood quickly and Bucky grabbed her and put her back in her seat.
“This leadership council is a great damn idea.” Bucky mumbled. “Who do we hit first? We have to get the girls out. We need to do it quietly. Hit the compound and leave no survivors. At the same time, we need to assault Frost. We can take her in and get information from her, find out her other customers and learn more about Midas. I suggest two assaults. When we kill this exporter its going to make the news. She is going to get spooked when she hears about it.”
“One team hits her, at least five teams take the compound.” Gabby suggested.
“I’ll take my team and go after her.” Ingrid volunteered. “Everett, do we have a current location?”
Everett nodded. “She won’t be easy to get to. She has a large estate in Rome. It is going to be very difficult to take her out discreetly.”
Oksana wasn’t concerned. “We wait till she goes to bed, Wanda opens a door into her bedroom and we bring her to the Security Services building.”
The room was quiet.
“Wanda isn’t gone. She will open a door into a bedroom. She isn’t going in. As far as Iran, we are taking jets.” Bucky said. “Anybody disagree?”
No one at the table said anything.
“Ladies?” Bucky asked, turning to the gathered Widows.
No one spoke but they all seemed happy.
Yelena nodded. “Then it is decided. Ingrid, I would begin planning a stealth mission to take Frost without being seen. In the event Wanda doesn’t feel like opening a door for you.”
Bucky bumped her shoulder. “Yelena, cut it out.”
“So, we have two missions to plan.” Gabby spoke. “I suppose we should get started. Any other issues?”
“Ingrid, if you decide that you cannot take Frost quietly without Wanda, you can ask her for her help. Explain to her you are her leader and you have orders for her.” Yelena told her. “Meeting over.” The blonde stood up and left quickly and the crowd parted for her, not meeting her eyes.
Bucky sighed. This was not how he wanted this to go but unfortunately it was how he expected it to go. Yelena had promised Wanda to behave. Yelena promised she would.
Yelena lied.
Novi Grad, Sokovia
Wanda had just sat the girls down for lunch with their sandwiches and chips. She knew she would have to eat something but she really wasn’t in the mood and her appetite hadn’t been present since she woke up from her coma. She was losing weight again.
Becca woke from her nap and began to cry.
“Sounds like little sister is hungry too.” Wanda told the girls.
She walked in the room and saw her bundle of joy looking up at her. She reached down to pick her up.
When she stood straight her back pain flared. She nearly collapsed and went to one knee. He had apparently cried out because Nadeja and Nela were in the room with her and Storm was licking her face.
“Mama! Nela, take little sister! Storm, go in the other room.” Nadeja ordered.
Nela gently extracted Becca from Wanda’s arms. “I’ll feed her, Mama.”
Nadeja stayed with Wanda, rubbing her shoulders.
“What can I do, Mama?” she asked nervously.
Wanda closed her eyes. “You can’t my angel. It will pass.”
“I’ll stay with you.”
Wanda shook her head. “No, help your sister. Nela can hold her and you can feed her the bottle on the counter. Can you do that for me?”
“I don’t want to leave you like this.”
“I’m not going anywhere and you will be in the next room. Storm, can come in and keep me company. Go, baby girl.”
Nadeja reluctantly walked out, leaving Wanda alone.
She managed to pull her phone out of her pocket and went to a bookmark page.
“Only take one or two every six hours.” She read. “I’ll take one. Just one in the morning and one in the evening. I won’t take more. I stopped drinking. I won’t become addicted. I’m stronger than that. I just need time to think, to relax, to take care of my girls without pain.”
Wanda whispered and the Percocet pill appeared in her hand.
Wanda swallowed one and stood up holding onto the baby bed. She limped into the living room and saw her girls on the couch, holding Becca and feeding her.
“Mama!” Nela called out. “Are you better?”
Wanda nodded, not feeling any better but determined to be brave.
An hour later, Bucky entered the door Wanda opened for him. He found her in the living room laughing with the girls and holding Becca. She had a radiant smile.
“Papa, Mama hurt her back!” Nadeja told him immediately.
“Traitor.” Wanda grumbled at her then winked.
Bucky touched her cheek. “Are you okay now?”
Wanda nodded. “I feel great! I think I just needed to stretch better in the morning. How was your meeting?”
Bucky looked towards the girls. “Pretty boring. Same old thing. We have a couple missions but nothing big. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“Great. I was thinking maybe we go out for dinner tonight? We could try that new restaurant in the City Square.”
Bucky was surprised. He tried to keep his face unsurprised but he couldn’t hide his emotions from Wanda.
“You think that is a good idea? What if you have problems there, a headache or a back spasm or a seizure…”
Wanda stopped him with a kiss. “You plan to keep me locked up forever? I won’t have a seizure. The anticonvulsants are working. C’mon Baby, take your favorite girls out tonight.”
Bucky wasn’t crazy about it but couldn’t turn her down. “You want to leave a big dog and two cats in the apartment alone?”
“Yes. No more excuses.”
“I’ll get my nice t shirt out of the laundry hamper.”
“Be still my heart.” Wanda told him. “Girls, pick some dresses to wear. We are hitting the town tonight.”
Bucky fed Becca while the older females of the house crammed in the small bathroom to do their hair and help Wanda with her makeup.
Nela tugged on Wanda accidentally and she stiffened, her back beginning to ache. She knew it was a matter of time before the spasms started.
She hadn’t planned to take another pill till bed but she wanted tonight to be a celebration. She had beaten death again and was with her family in her home city, celebrating with her people. She couldn’t afford to appear weak.
She shood the girls out of the bathroom and closed the door. Another pill appeared in her hand.
“I won’t take one tonight before bed. Besides, it is safe to take them every six hours, so long as I don’t go over six pills a day. I’m just taking the lowest dose. It’s no big deal.” Wanda told herself.
Then she took her second pill of the day and prepared for a night out.
The family sat in the restaurant, enjoying dinner. As their dinner ended Sokovians approached her for autographs. Wanda greeted them, took pictures with them and had a wonderful night.
Bucky was impressed by how well she was doing, how happy she seemed. He could only hope it stayed this way.
That night before bed, Wanda took her third pill of the day.