Jack Kadere watched Catwoman's half-smile gradually form.
Besides wanting to kill him, Talia al Ghul probably wanted to recover what he'd taken. So the question became: who in Gotham could get close to him and steal things, if not Catwoman?
He hadn't abandoned Selina Kyle. Their only encounter had been in Blackgate Penitentiary when he first arrived in this world. Her current stance—acting like a scorned lover tracking down her wayward man—didn't add up.
The Triad's China White was responsible for killing him. Catwoman was responsible for stealing. One overt, one covert, two objectives. No matter which succeeded, Talia al Ghul could escape the threat he posed.
Selina Kyle noticed Jack's strange smile and raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of reproach. "Aren't you going to invite me in? I stood outside for a long time so your girlfriend wouldn't get the wrong idea."
"Come in." Jack stepped aside.
Selina entered and surveyed the room.
Bang.
The door closed behind her. She chuckled and turned around. "Who would have thought that the man who killed Bane would be living with an ordinary girl in such a small—cough—you, what are you—let go of me—"
Before she could finish, Jack's hand closed around her throat.
Instant suffocation. Her body went light as he lifted her off the ground.
Selina's eyes went wide with terror. She clawed desperately at his wrist—iron-solid, immovable—her legs kicking uselessly in the air.
"Let... let go..." Her fair skin flushed red, her breathing growing shallower by the second.
"Is this interesting?" Jack asked.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about—let go—I can't breathe—"
"Do you think that just because you're pretty, boys will like you? Do you think that just because you're pretty, whatever you do will be forgiven? Do you think that just because you're pretty, I'll let you go?"
He's going to kill me. He actually wants to kill me.
Selina's blood ran cold. This lunatic—she hadn't even done anything yet.
She lifted her leg to kick him, but Jack yanked her close, eliminating the distance she needed to strike.
Face to face. Eyes meeting.
Jack smiled, almost charming.
"Let me tell you—all of that is true."
"Ah?"
Selina froze.
Then she dropped, crumpling to the floor.
"Cough cough." She clutched her throat instinctively, gasping for air, eyes blazing up at him. "You're a fucking lunatic. You almost choked me to death."
Jack shrugged. "It was just a joke."
"You call this a joke? You almost choked me to death!"
Jack smiled. "You had the nerve to come steal my things. So what if I choked you to death as a joke?"
Silence.
Selina, who had been furious and defiant a moment ago, felt like someone had squeezed her throat again. No sound came out.
He knew?
Looking at her stunned expression, Jack poured a glass of water and offered it to her. "Can't you take a joke?"
A joke? Who can take a joke like that? You're a psychopath—who the hell knows when you're joking and when you're not!
She cursed him savagely in her mind, but stayed silent and didn't take the glass.
"No fun." Jack clicked his tongue and dumped the water directly onto her face.
Selina flinched. Then fury and humiliation surged through her.
"You—"
"Do you think this is a joke?" Jack asked, eyes narrowing.
A joke my ass!
Selina finally snapped. "Jack Kadere, you're a fucking psychopath! You knew I was here to steal something, you still let me in, and now you're joking? Are you deliberately messing with me?"
Facing her furious, twisted expression, Jack smiled brightly.
"Yes. I am deliberately messing with you."
"I'll kill you—" Selina lost all reason and lunged at him.
Jack had anticipated this. He turned easily, letting her miss.
She landed, spun, started to rise—and froze with a muffled groan.
Jack's foot pressed down on her chest. He bent slightly, looking down at her with that same narrow-eyed smile.
"Can't take a joke, so you want to flip the table? You seem to have forgotten one important thing." His voice was light, almost amused. "You can't beat me."
Selina's rage extinguished instantly.
Seeing her calm down, Jack seemed to lose interest. He lifted his foot, turned, and walked to the sofa, dropping onto it lazily.
"Tell me. What conditions did she offer you?"