Chapter 14 Captured
Saratov. Tuesday, February 22nd. Xander King's apartment, 7:35 a.m.
The sun's rays would sneak through the thick curtains of a small apartment in the center of Saratov, which was quite simple. It had a simple living room, a well-equipped kitchen, a bathroom, and two bedrooms. Everything was compact, perfect for a person with few demands.
A little Omega occupied one of the rooms, immersed in complete darkness. He was sitting in an Indian position in front of a desk with several monitors leaning over him, furiously typing commands that an ordinary person would not understand. With calm breath, drinking from a freshly made Caramel Mocha, and enjoying a delicious Bagel.
So he spent several minutes in tranquillity, until suddenly the door gets opened, letting in blinding flashes of light that momentarily stunned him. He blinks several times to accustom his eyes to detect the perpetrator, who was casually lying on his shoulder in the doorway.
-Damn it, Xander. I'm tired of telling you to at least turn this light on - sighs with regret -. Sitting in front of those monitors all day will end up screwing up your vision. You wanna go blind too? - scolds him with an accusatory tone.
Xander simply shrugs his shoulders without taking his attention off work. The man approaches him from behind and watches what he's doing, although it's useless because even if he put all his effort into it, he wouldn't be able to understand half of what he can read on the screen.
-Did you already have breakfast? - asks after a few minutes in silence.
Xander stops typing for a few seconds to raise his coffee glass and Bagel over his head, as a brief statement.
-Well, at least you remembered to do that - ironizes, gently snorting a chuckle -. Did you finish the last job you had?
To which he gets a rigid nod. The man sighs heavily, squeezing the bridge of his nose with his fingers.
-Fuck, do I have to remind you of manners, too? - tapping him lightly with the back of the hand on the shoulder -. You can talk, can't you? Or did a mouse get your tongue?
He laughs at his bad joke, as he gets no reaction from the Omega. He sighs again and heads for the door.
-Well, I'm going now, little one - lets him know -. I'll leave the door open, and you better keep it open, Xander King. I'm serious - using a warning tone, even though he knows the Omega won't listen to him.
-Derek - Xander calls him, his voice rasping from disuse.
Derek Von Kleist, a 36-year-old big Alpha of Siberian tiger, was the closest thing to a friend Xander might consider. They'd known each other for five years, and since then the two of them have developed quite a close relationship.
Derek worked as a bodyguard for a big mobster who was based a few streets away from his apartment, so he could afford to visit him constantly. He had many contacts in the underworld, sometimes being the key intermediary in several of Xander's businesses.
-Well, until you finally say a word - Derek ironizes, smiling contentedly -. Tell me, little one, what am I good for?
-I will go to Moscow today - announces with neutrality.
-What? - Derek asks strangely -. Really?
Xander practically never left the apartment, he lived in that narrow room surrounded by monitors, with his fingers on the keyboard, all fucking day. He only went outside to wash, because he even fell asleep there, on an uncomfortable couch next to one of the walls.
-I'm meeting someone, it's for a job - he kept entering unintelligible codes in quick succession -. I'm leaving in a couple of minutes.
-Why? - Derek demands, approaching again -. Since when do you meet your clients personally?
-This case requires it - excuses himself, rotating the chair to find his gaze for the first time since he arrived -. It shouldn't take long, I'll let you know if something comes up.
Derek watched him, analyzing and processing the magnitude of that revelation, but soon found himself lacking in thoughts or common sense.
There was something in Xander's deep blue eyes that always captivated him. He'd been trying to win the Omega's heart for years without any success, just getting into his bed once in a while, which drove him crazy.
His friend was a very sexual individual, erotic and if he was frank: insatiable. On several occasions, he had come to the apartment just to be a witness as he said goodbye to a new love affair with which he never connected again. He assumed that he was contacting them through the Internet, since he never went too far from his home.
This made Derek very nervous. Because of Xander's dangerous work, they could take advantage and target him, but to his relief that had never happened.
But at the same time it made him sad because he wanted to be his only, his Alpha, his protector, his lover, to leave his permanent mark on that pale neck of his... But the Omega never let him.
Still, there he was, worried about Xander's safety, hoping that one day he'd realize, he'd tear down the high walls he'd built around him and finally accept him as his mate. With someone like him, though, it was hard to keep hope alive.
-Okay - agrees, looking at him with a hint of nostalgia -. Don't forget your suppressors. And you can call me for anything, Xander. Not just to let me know if you're in trouble. You know you can count on me for anything, kiddo - caressing his knuckles on the other guy's cheek.
-I know - he smiles so slightly and so fleetingly that Derek almost missed it, before turning back in his chair, resuming his work.
The Alpha looks at him for a few long seconds, deciding to turn around when he assumed it would be strange if he continued to do so and left the place.
Not knowing that, from that day on, nothing in both their lives would ever be the same again.
Moscow. Magnus Mansion. 9:15 a.m.
Alexei sits behind his desk, listening to the knock on the door, before Yaakov bursts in as usual without waiting for confirmation.
-I'm on my way out to meet the spy, Magnus. Do you need anything before I go?
-Just to do your job, that's all - he answers sharply, taking a cigarette to his lips to light it and inhale a puff -. When you get there, let me know. I'll interrogate him myself.
His cousin watches him closely for a few seconds with a scowl and fists clenched at his side, as if to say something but not knowing if his words will reach their goal. He ends up nodding, turning his back to walk out of the office.
-Yaakov - Alexei calls him, although, from the tone in his voice, he could tell that he did it on impulse -. I know you're angry, but if you do your job properly and don' t screw it up from now on, you' ll be able to resume your benefits - assures him in a low but firm voice and he believed him. Alexei Magnus could be anything, but once he made a promise, he always kept it.
Yaakov stands there saying nothing for a while, then turns to look at the Alpha and nods, signifying both understanding and acceptance. Then he leaves, determined to vindicate himself. He was still angry with Magnus, but he couldn't help putting himself in his shoes.
He knew that he was partly right and that was precisely why he would do everything possible to correct his mistake.
Moscow Transport Office. Parking lot, 11:59 a.m.
Xander was cowering as unnoticed as possible in one of the corners of the parking lot. He'd arrived ten minutes ago to take a brief look around before meeting his contact. It was quite large, with many light entrances, located on the fifth floor of the building, which sucked because if he had to run, only one fucking exit was available.
The reliable laptop in his bag had already offered him everything he needed to know about the facility, so he leaned back on one of the walls and waited patiently. Nerves fluttered like butterflies in his belly, he was not accustomed to revealing his identity to anyone.
Despite wearing a mask and a long coat covering his simple white short-sleeved shirt with worn-out black pants, he felt equally exposed and vulnerable. He was an Omega, which many had the absurd and ill-founded belief that made him weak, but he embraced his nature and could cause serious harm when he set his mind to it.
He watched every few seconds the clock as if it worked to make time go faster. After a few more minutes of not discovering anything alarming or suspicious, he finally detects a black van in the distance approaching his position with caution.
He stares at it with suspicion until it stops right in front of him. His restlessness worsens, his breathing becomes agitated and his body begins to sweat, all while the scene seems to be unfolding in slow motion. Then a tall, broad-shouldered man, thin and dressed in a polished black suit comes out to confront him.
-Are you King? - Xander nods, suppressing the urge to run away in terror -. King Phantom? - the man insists.
-Yes, it's me - thank God he took his suppressors, otherwise, he could smell his disturbance for miles.
The man puts one of his hands inside his jacket. In the face of the action, Xander instinctively takes a few steps back intending to walk away, and he must have listened to the tinkling bells in the back of his mind, warning him that this was all a bad, terrible idea. Especially when he sees himself being held at gunpoint, he promised himself that if he came out of this unscathed he would never, ever be that stupid again.
-Yaakov is my name. You've given me enough trouble, you little shit - the stranger roars at him and Xander feels frozen under the seizing power of his gaze -. Believe me, I'm anxious to know what Magnus will do to you once he lays his hands on you.
And that's when Xander understood everything, the pieces of the damn puzzle fell into place. «Damn Kirchner, I knew I shouldn't trust him», was the last thought that crossed his mind just before a tranquilizer dart was shot in his arm and everything turned into black dots, falling on the hard asphalt floor.
Yaakov signals to the van for the henchmen who came with him to rush and pick up Xander's inert body and leave it in the trunk. It was all so easy compared to the calvary the little piece of shit put them through. He was anticipating witnessing all that Alexei Magnus would do for him in contribution.
Magnus Mansion, 2:00 p.m.
Alexei was heading for the basement with the two bodyguards who always followed him around behind his ankles. As soon as Yaakov showed up, he sent him a message telling how successful his errand was and now he wanted to check on the son of a whore who had caused them so much trouble.
Once he turns around in one of the corridors, he sees his cousin leaning against the door that leads to the cell where the man was being held. Yaakov straightens up at the sight and recognizes him with a slight nod.
-He's knocked out and tied to the chair. If you want to talk to him now, I'll wake him up.
-Any trouble?
-Not at all. It was ridiculously simple, compared to all the shit I was in because of him - then he proceeds to give the details that surely Alexei will want to know before going in -. He's about 5'10", maybe a little taller. I think he' s probably still in his twenties, looks pretty young. He didn't have any kind of documentation on him. In his bag we only found a laptop, a Pendrive that I already sent to Reiji to check and the keys of a vehicle - listing things with his fingers as he pointed them out -. I imagine it must still be in the parking lot, so I sent one of our men to get it.
-Perfect. Anything else? - Alexei requests after processing the information.
-Hmm, yeah. Although I don't know if it's relevant - Yaakov hesitates at the end.
-What is it? - with a raised eyebrow, curious despite everything.
-He's an Omega.
-An Omega? - Yaakov nods -. Do you know what kind?
-Yes, a Margay[1].
-A Margay - Alexei mumbles, a bit shocked -. I thought they were extinct.
-No, but almost - confirms, returning to his habit of lighting a cigarette in the middle of the conversation and then continuing -. Their natural habitat has been affected. There are not many of them, but there are still a few left - then points to the entrance -. Shall we?
Alexei nods and both men proceed to enter the cell. As soon as he walked in, the captivating smell that seeped through his nostrils made him inhale so strongly that he felt his lungs expand to hold all the air. A very sweet smell, like cinnamon and hot chocolate with marshmallows. It was the most intoxicating scent he had ever felt, he wanted to tattoo it on his memory... And his body.
He started to become anxious for some strange reason that couldn't be named, his wolf was stirring restlessly inside him, howling in desperation, scratching the boundaries that contained him and forbade him to take control, all to locate the source of such sweetness that was driving him crazy. There was a whirlwind of unexplored, undefined emotions blossoming in his chest.
Doubt, excitement, shudder, desire... All these sensations hit him with the power of a speeding train, destabilizing his sanity, making him a little dizzy before he was able to recover his posture and remember why he was there, ready to bathe in the blood of those who dared to challenge him.
He had to put the hands inside the pockets of his pants to hide the slight tremor generated by such sensations. He blinked a couple of times trying to focus on his surroundings again. The murky room was dimly lit because the only source of light was the lamp hanging precariously above the man tied to the chair, who was still unconscious and with a black cloth over his head.
Alexei examined him carefully for a few moments, trying to calm down. He nods briefly and rigidly in Yaakov's direction to indicate that it was time to engage in the long-anticipated conversation with the hacker who had screwed them over big time and without lubrication.
His cousin removes the cloak and Alexei's heart skips a beat when he sees the face of the hostage. He had beautiful and delicate features, puffy cheeks, a pointed jaw, firm cheekbones and cherry lips, as full and seductive as he had ever seen in his life. He had a piercing in them, near the left corner, to which were added two more over his right eyebrow and several in his ears.
His hair was as black as coal, straight and shiny. A white short-sleeved shirt clung to his narrow waist, and the loose collar showed a series of tattoos that ran from his shoulders to glide fluidly down his arms. He had two on his neck too, ending up just below his little ears. Alexei couldn't help but want to find out if he had more of those artworks on other parts of his body, but for now, he just tried to breathe normally and keep his dick still inside his pants.
Yaakov approached the man and threw a whole bucket of cold water over his face to wake him up. Alexei grunted underneath, puzzling himself immediately at such a reaction. He should not give a damn what happened to him, if the subject was there it was to be the recipient of a vengeance he had every right to impart. But the fact that he was slightly irritated at the abruptness with which his cousin proceeded contradicted that reality.
The Omega begins to cough up scandalously because of the large amount of liquid that has inadvertently entered his nose, trying to make an effort not to choke or discharge his stomach contents onto the floor. He shook his head from side to side, wringing out the moisture from his face as his wrists were tied behind his back.
Blinked a couple of times, looking back and forth across the darkroom, trying to remember how the hell he got there. Attempting to move, but immediately noticed the restrictions that condemned him to the uncomfortable chair he had been left in. He inspected the situation and finally realized that he was not alone.
He quickly captures the silhouette of the two men in there with him. Two Alphas, to be exact. One of them, he remembers him as his abductor, but the other... He couldn't get his face in focus because he was at a point in the cell where the light wouldn't land. However, he didn't need to see it to know that the man was watching him too, could sense it in his bristly skin.
He sat up as straight as he could and took a deep breath that instantly awakened all his senses. The smell of fresh rain and lush forest impacted him in such a way that he was transfixed, struggling to get more detail from the Alpha standing in front of him in the twilight.
All his body trembled and began to sweat cold. «What the hell?», he thought, puzzled by the wave of sensations that was unfolding inside him. He felt chill but a burning heat at the same time. He was frightened but extremely calm as well, which was confusing as shit.
After a few long minutes loaded with overwhelming tension, the Alpha moves in slowly. Xander followed his every move and the image obtained made his dick throb inside his underwear, which was fucked up considering the bloody situation he was in.
The individual was much taller than him, with shiny tan skin, broad shoulders, and he could conclude that he had pronounced muscles from the way the shirt hovered over the arms and the way the trousers clung to his thighs. Dark brown hair and God, the closer he got, the more pungent the smell was, making him want to get up and bite off his clothes.
Their eyes locked and for a moment Xander felt his soul leave his body, as if he were floating, even feeling the restraints oppressing his extremities. Suddenly, his mind cleared up so quickly, that he cursed himself for not noticing it right away.
He knew who he was.
He was perfectly aware of whom the man was and the wave of fear inside him grew so fast that he could feel the bile burning in his throat. «Fuck, it's Alexei Magnus», thought, afraid that was the sentence of his death. The imposing Alpha began to move his lips, babbling words of outrage.
-Till you finally fall into my hands, you little punk - Alexei articulated after regaining a degree of composure from his senses -. You don't know how much I was anticipating this moment. Did you think you were going to screw me without repercussions? Did you think you could hide and I would never find you?
He could perceive that the Omega saw him with an obvious gesture of confusion wrinkling his face, shifting his gaze from his lips to his eyes, repeatedly.
-Why the fuck aren't you answering? - claimed impatiently, feeling his irritation growing -. Shit, doesn't he understand what I'm saying? - demanded to Yaakov.
-He understands our language perfectly, Magnus. He knew what I was telling him before I brought him here.
-Then why the fuck... - was beginning to exclaim in exasperation, the moment he was interrupted.
-Mr. Magnus - Xander mumbles, low and serious. The Alpha thought his voice was beautiful and scolded himself for even considering it -. I ask you to please speak slowly, articulating each word carefully and looking straight at me. Otherwise, write down what you have to say so that I can understand - Alexei senses the reason for his request, but asks anyway.
-Why should I? - the Alpha still obeys. What's the point of talking anyway if he can't know what the hell he's saying?
-Because of the water, my BTE's[2] got dama.
[1]The tiger cat, Margay, maracayá is a species of carnivorous mammal of the family Felidae widely distributed in America, from Mexico to the south of South America with populations in Uruguay, North of Argentina and South of Brazil.
[2]Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids are worn outside the external ear. A small tube directs sound into the ear canal and can be used by people with different levels of hearing loss, ranging from mild to severe.