Chapter 15 You're Part of the Business
Tuesday, February 22nd. Interrogation room, 2:19 p.m.
-Wait, what?! - Yaakov's jaw almost hit the floor, with the eyes wide open because of the impression -. Fuck, Magnus! Now that I didn't expect.
Alexei approaches the man even nearer and watches as he presses the back fully into the chair, trying to impose as much distance as possible. The Alpha is so close that his legs are rubbing together.
With his hand holds firmly the jaw of the Omega and tilts his face to the right side, noticing that a flexible, almost transparent earpiece was indeed attached to his ear. Then proceeds to confirm the same with his left side, only to discover it again. The devices were so small that they went unnoticed, also because they fit perfectly into the back of his ears.
He turned his face again so that now they were looking at each other, Alexei still holding his chin, feeling hypnotized by those deep blue eyes that stared back at him without hesitation or intimidation, challenging him but at the same time with a certain caution.
Alexei was in a position in which he had sworn many years ago not to fall again: feeling vulnerable. Which was ridiculous, considering who had captured whom. «He's just a simple Omega», tried to convince himself in his mind, failing to understand how a man as small and insignificant, but bold and dangerous, as this one could affect him so much.
He took a step back, releasing King from the tight grip when he heard Yaakov quietly cough for his attention, realizing the long seconds he had been trapped by the captivating irises of his potential enemy.
-Get a pencil and a sheet of paper- orders his cousin, who quietly leaves the cell to serve -. All your life or through some accident?- curious despite his judgment, following the guidelines given to him, speaking slowly, and articulating every word.
Xander analyzed the movement of his lips, frowning a little due to concentration, trying to understand what he was saying.
-For seven years now - he reluctantly reveals, certain that if he reserves the answer a punishment would come to extract it with brutality.
-How? - but before Xander had a chance to respond, Yaakov returns, holding a small notebook and pencil in his hands and gives it to his cousin.
Alexei opens the notebook and begins to write quickly and concisely the words he wants to communicate to Xander, then he places it in front of his face, tilting it slightly upwards so that the light properly illuminates the letters in neat calligraphy.
-"You gonna explain to me who the fuck hired you and how you broke into my security system" - King slowly raises his eyes to meet the Alpha's.
-Some Viktor Vasilyev contacted me nine days ago. He told me that he needed to access the network of someone who was supposedly planning to steal a shipment he would receive in a Moscow port on Saturday the 19th - Alexei doesn't miss any of his facial movements while he's talking. He seemed a little scared, but that didn't stop him from maintaining a firm tone while expressing himself -. On Wednesday the 22nd was the first time I managed to access your system, as you well know - raising his eyebrows a little as a question, to which Alexei merely nods -. Once I logged in, I proceeded only to get information about the alleged embarkation, which I found detailed in one of the folders - paused briefly to swallow hard, his throat was suddenly very dry -. I passed on everything I got to the so-called Viktor that very morning. I didn't get an answer until 10:00 a.m, the same Wednesday morning.
He notes that Alexei writes again in the notebook and stops to wait for him to finish.
-"Did it cross your mind to find out who this man was?"- reads in the paper.
-Of course, Mr. Magnus. You may have realized by now that I'm not a rookie - he had been caught for being a gullible fool, yes. But in his job, he was a bloody genius -. But the email I was contacted by was constantly changing. If I managed to track down where he was, I would end up discovering that it was some abandoned warehouse or ruined building belonging to the state. Which left me with nothing at all.
Alexei gestures with his hand for him to continue explaining. The Omega nods before proceeding.
-He gave me all the information about the arrival of the shipment and told me that I should break into the system again that same Saturday to prevent an ambush- shooks his head, pressed the lips together and looked at Alexei again, bleeding honestly. In this case, it was better not to be too clever and simply give them all they wanted from him without any resistance -. Honestly, I knew it was only a matter of time before you found me, so I didn't even do anything to stop you. I didn't move, I didn't delete my information. I just waited.
The Alpha has a mixture of astonishment and disbelief in his features, unable to decide if the boy was a brainless jerk or suicidal to have been waiting without resistance for his possible death. Then he sees Yaakov and realizes that he is thinking the same way. Quickly writes again and holds the sheet in front of his face.
-"What the fuck do you mean? If you knew, why didn't you try to run? What makes you think you'll get out of here alive?".
-On the day of the embarkation, when I infiltrated into your system again, which I must admit was pretty fucking easy- King snorts, shakes his head and even laughs a little, letting the Alpha know that it was as simple as taking candy from a baby -. I knew immediately that something wasn't right. If it was an ambush you were planning: why were your men, your equipment, and your transportation in the area?
That's when Alexei realized that, if the piece of shit wasn't lying, he had been tricked into believing that they were the ones who were going to carry out an ambush, when in fact it was them who were assaulted.
«It means that the person behind all this, saw all of us like fucking idiots», he thought, before hearing King speak again.
-I see you figured out where I'm headed with all this. Just to make sure my intuition wasn't failing me, I accessed the only folder I could find that was mostly protected, only to discover that it was you, Mr. Magnus. But by then it was too late, I had already disabled the cameras and cut off communication - he looked down at the floor, furious that he had fallen into the trap.
Alexei writes a new sentence and shows it to the Omega.
-"You haven't answered me: Why didn't you try to run? What makes you think you'll get out of here alive?"
-Because, Mr. Magnus - he sighs deeply, preparing to release the only card up his sleeve that could well be his salvation... or his downfall -. Like you, I have been deceived. So I'm offering you the chance to enlist my services to find out who the hell is causing this whole shitty mess.
Alexei is not sure how to react to that testimony and when he takes a look at Yaakov, he notices that he is also surprised. He didn't expect this turn of events, he thought he'd get the information and get rid of the damn hacker as quickly as he came into his life, but... There was something inside him that was reluctant to let go of little Omega.
He wanted to keep him close, he wanted to continue inhaling his sweet smell, he wanted...
-Magnus - his cousin's voice abruptly tears him out of his fantasy -. Can we talk for a moment?- he nods and both men stand in one corner of the room so they can talk -. I don't think you're such an idiot to trust him, are you?- Yaakov accuses him, frowning and narrowing his eyes.
-I don't trust him, but we could keep an eye on him- he answers in a low tone, just as a precaution -. His skills far exceed Reiji's, and if what he says is true, he also has reason to discover who is playing with us like fucking puppets - by taking a quick look over his shoulder at the Omega, who stood with his head down, staring at the floor.
-Come on, Magnus. You've got to be kidding me. What makes you think he won't screw us? What makes you think he's telling the truth? We can't just let him go, it's too risky- while he gets more and more exasperated, trying to convince him.
-I didn't say we'd let him go- corrects him casually, waiting for Yaakov to come up with the answer himself.
-You're fucking with me- he finally deduces, his eyes big with amazement -. You're bringing him to The Mansion? Are you crazy?!- almost screaming at him, which his cousin doesn't even flinch at.
-I'd be crazy to let him go. We need him under surveillance at all times and what better way than to have him around? - shrugs his shoulders -. Prepare one of the rooms without windows, without locks on the inside, and tell Reiji to put cameras everywhere - orders without encouragement to receive more complaints, being stopped by a hand on his arm.
-Even in the bathroom?!- Yaakov exclaims with a horrified expression.
-Of course not, asshole- laughing a little -. Just make sure there's nothing he can hurt himself or us with. Let me know when it' s ready.
Yaakov nods and exits the room, leaving Alexei alone with King, whom he watches carefully before approaching, taking the notebook and writing:
-"Do you have proof of the deal you made with the alleged Viktor?"- Xander reads quickly so he can answer.
-Yes, sir. Everything is on my laptop, if you give me a few seconds with it I can show you everything.
Alexei analyses the situation before acting. The man is inside a mansion saturated with armed men willing to risk their lives to protect his skin, as well as the remote area, far from the civilization where it is located and he would be watching him all the time. Without a doubt, he ordered the laptop to be brought into the room via his phone. It was only a few minutes before one of the henchmen came in with his order.
Alexei placed the laptop on the table, opened it to turn it on and moved it closer to the Omega. He surrounded the chair where he was tied up and released his hands. King rubbed his wrists as his blood circulated again and he regained sensitivity. Within seconds he started moving the fingers on the keyboard, all under the watchful eye of Alexei, who was still standing behind him.
-Here it is. He used three different email addresses to communicate with me, all over the nine days - informed him, showing the information reflected on the screen.
Alexei read carefully everything that was reflected there and, indeed, in all the texts the subject identified himself as Viktor Vasilyev. He confirmed word for word what Xander had told him.
-I can help you, Mr. Magnus - Xander breaks the silence, whispering with hope -. I have reasons for knowing who orchestrated this disaster. After all, he put my life at risk too- his low, hoarse tone, which completely seduced Alexei.
He circled the chair and pushed the table away from Xander to prevent him from trying something dangerous. As much as he was attracted to him, he could not allow himself to be driven by instinct and risk the well-being of what he had worked so hard to build. He had to control himself and be cautious.
-All right - concedes, looking into those deep blue eyes, taking care in the pronunciation of his words -. But you will do exactly as I say.