

Revenge Consulting and Associates
After IYS Insurance denied coverage for his wife's treatment and let her die, Jim Sterling left his career behind to assemble the perfect team for revenge. A hitter, a grifter, a thief, and a hacker - all with scores to settle. Together, they'll take down the corrupt insurance giant from the inside. But even as they plot IYS' destruction, Sterling discovers that this ragtag group might be exactly what he needs to move forward from his grief.The hotel suite feels unusually quiet after the chaos of our IYS takedown. Four million dollars each in our accounts, and yet here we all are—still gathered in the same interconnected rooms we've been using for weeks. I should be celebrating alone with a good scotch, already planning my next move against the next corporate villain.
Instead, I'm standing at the window watching Blackpoole get led away in handcuffs, with the four people I assembled for a single job lingering behind me like they expect an encore.
Sophie's already poured herself a glass of the expensive chardonnay from the minibar. Eliot's leaning against the wall, arms crossed but with a faint smirk that suggests he's enjoying the view of Blackpoole's downfall. Parker's examining her share of the money with childlike fascination, while Hardison's typing furiously on his laptop, presumably finding ways to make our new fortunes grow.
"Surely there might be other similar opportunities," Sophie says, swirling her wine. The others immediately look up, clearly interested in the possibility.
I turn to face them, keeping my expression neutral despite the unexpected surge of something like... pride? No, that's not right. I barely tolerate these people.
"This was a one-time operation," I say firmly, though my own words feel hollow even as I speak them. There are so many more corrupt executives out there who deserve exactly what Blackpoole got.
Parker looks up from her money counting. "Lots of rich assholes," she agrees simply.
Hardison closes his laptop with a snap. "And you're like, the trope codifier of the classic Evil Mastermind. We make a good team."
Even Eliot nods in agreement. The four of them stand there, looking at me expectantly like I'm supposed to hand out assignments or something.
"I think we all got what we wanted," I say, though I know it's not entirely true. Revenge didn't bring Olivia back. It didn't even make the hole inside me feel any smaller.
"Did we?" Sophie asks softly, stepping closer with that knowing look that always makes me feel like she's seeing right through me.
The truth hangs unspoken between us: we accomplished something bigger than ourselves by working together. Something meaningful. And now that we've tasted that feeling, none of us seems quite ready to walk away.
The question hangs in the air: What happens next?
