Chapter 31 On the Lookout
Wednesday, March 14th. Basement, Magnus Mansion. 11:15 p.m.
Alexei was rushing to where they were holding Arman Nikolayev, the owner and alleged driver of the van that had been captured on the recordings that corresponded to the time and date of the emails by which Xander was contacted to infiltrate the organization's system.
Hours earlier the henchmen had captured him under Yaakov's orders and he had already been transferred to one of the interrogation chambers. Alexei's patience was already running out, and the fact that he had this scumbag under his power only assured him that it was a matter of time before they got to the man who had caused the whole mess they have been up to their necks in since that fateful night in the port.
The procedure was the same: capture and then torture him if he refused to release the information. He was genuinely expecting him to cooperate without having to go any further, but there were times when the victims were strongly attached to their loyalty and pride, reluctant to become rats.
But in the end, they talked... They always did. Going into the corridors, as always waiting for him outside, there was Yaakov, lying on the wall with a cigarette between the fingers and a serious look on the face. When he noticed Alexei's presence, he straightened up and watched him approach.
-Sleeping and tied up - announces with a mocking tone, putting out the cigarette with the sole of a shoe -. Ready?
-Let's get this bastard to talk - Alexei grunts, his eyes flashing the colossal rage he was feeling.
Inside the room, two guards were setting up surveillance. In the center and just below the single lamp, with his hands tied behind the back and legs at the feet of the chair, was a sleeping Arman with the body leaning forward, head hanging between his shoulders, with a black cloth covering him.
At the side of the room, a long metal table with multiple tools on it and next to it a bucket of cold water, which Yaakov approached. Holding it in his right hand, he went towards the man, removing the cloak and throwing the water over his face, violently knocking him out of his trance. Arman coughs, spitting out and sipping the liquid that has drained through his nostrils. He blinked repeatedly to settle his vision, tried to get up, but then realized that he was tied up, and began to get nervous.
He tugged at the ties roughly without breaking free, only bruising the wrists and cutting off the circulation to the legs even faster. He raised the head and watched the men standing in front of him with a scowl, who assessed him carefully.
Realizing that Magnus Alexei himself was one of them, his eyes widened, the face paled and disfigured with terror, and he began to tremble frantically, as if amid a heavy snowstorm without any shelter.
-I see that I don't need to introduce myself - Alexei says, laughing sarcastically, the hard look in his eyes piercing him -. It's a relief, so we don't waste time on cordialities. Isn't that right, Yaakov? - turning the face towards his cousin, keeping the hands in the trouser pockets.
-Of course, we're going straight to the fun stuff - Yaakov nods, releasing a laugh that the man feels pierced to the bone.
-I don't understand what I'm doing here - Arman whispers, it's a miracle his voice came out so firm -. I didn't do anything - he glances between the two Alphas.
-Oh, oh. Here we go with the same old thing - Alexei sighs, looking bored -. This is the part where you tell me you don't know anything, then I threaten you to talk and tell me what I want to know, but suddenly you have selective amnesia and think I'm a charlatan who doesn't keep his word, then I introduce you to my friends... - He takes one of his hands out and points to the table, the man takes a quick look at all the utensils there and a chill runs down his back -. And after getting to know them better, you miraculously recover your memories and tell me exactly what I want to hear.
The frightened man remains silent, watching Alexei and the amused expression on his face. A large, dark stain appears on his black trousers at crotch level, spreading down his thighs, wetting the chair beneath him, the rancid smell of urine filling the gloomy room.
-Look, Magnus. You made him pee his pants! - Yaakov scoffs, laughing so hard that his body buckled and he had to rest the hands on the knees -. Damn, of all the people who've been here, you're the first, my friend and that it's just... Sad - straightening up, wiping the tears with the back of his index finger.
-Fucking deplorable.
Alexei murmurs with disgust, his countenance darkening. The whole body of the Alpha is in tension, as he watches the degrading image of the tied man. Anger begins to boil through his veins, his breathing stirs and the fists are clenched tightly, digging the nails into his palms.
-How about we skip all the bullshit and get straight to what I'm interested in? - he grunts and doesn't overlook the way the hostage is shaken by the barely concealed threat in his voice -. Well?
-S-sir... - Arman shudders, cold sweat from panic running down the back of his neck -. I swear to you...
-Yaakov - Alexei cuts him off abruptly in anticipation of what the man was about to say. His cousin, upon receiving the order, goes to the table and chooses one of the tools.
Alexei takes off the jacket and tie and passes them to one of the henchmen, who hangs them over his shoulder like a human coat rack. He then opens the buttons on his sleeves and folds them at elbow level, all the while scrutinizing Arman, who loses no detail in his movements.
He extends a hand and Yaakov gives him a pincer. He smiles as he watches the tool and then turns to Arman.
-Now, I'll introduce you to my first friend. We are quite close, it's one of my favorites - He holds the jaw of the captive and Arman, perceiving the intentions, presses the lips together, tightening them vehemently. Alexei laughs at his attempt and brings the weapon to his earlobe to exert pressure. Such that the flesh turns red, the skin stretches to the limit and ends up tearing and bleeding profusely.
Drops of the scarlet fluid get into the ear and slide down the neck. Arman, forced by the pain, opens up the mouth without being able to hold back the scream. When he gets the chance, the Alpha quickly pulls the clip into his mouth, grabbing one of the exposed fangs.
The hostage opens the eyes so wide that he thought they would come out of the sockets and notices Alexei's grimace and cold face, just before he felt the rip in the gums and the metallic taste of blood flooding his palate. The agony was unbearable, he screamed even louder and twisted violently.
Almost immediately the utensil is put back in, pressing another of his fangs to be equally pulled out in a wild motion, the red-tinted saliva dripping down his chin, staining the fabric of the shirt and binding with the urine drying on the concrete floor. Alexei takes a few steps away, breathing heavily, sweat running down his back, and wetting his forehead. The howls of torment echoed through the room and he alone watched as Arman moved and tears began to cloud the mess his face had become.
-Please, I'm b-begging you... - Arman mumbled, blurting out the words -. No m-more.
-Then cut the crap and tell me exactly what I want to fucking know! - Alexei roars, his patience draining away. Four pairs of eyes analyzed the man weeping in the chair without being sure how he would react. Would he still be reluctant to talk? Would he even do it? To everyone's surprise, except Alexei's, he did.
-Tell me... W-what do you want to k-know? - Arman mumbles, raising the face with difficulty to see him. A smile spread across the Alpha's face, part relief, part content that he had reached this point faster than he thought. He took a deep breath before answering.
-I think you know perfectly well what I want to hear, you fucking scumbag. Don't you?! - shouts, startling him. The man nods weakly, averting his gaze, all so as not to directly face the promise of hell reflected in Alexei's clear eyes.
-I was working for Mikhail Lavrov - he mutters incoherently -. One day I was contacted by a certain Pavel Dobrovolski to be his driver. I was undecided at first, there was something about the man that didn't feel right and for some reason, he looked familiar. But he offered me a ridiculous amount of money that I couldn't refuse. He said he would pay me the first half right away and then give me the rest at the end.
Arman pauses briefly, trying to control the tremors in his body and spitting out again the mixture of blood and saliva accumulated in his mouth.
-The first time we went to an abandoned warehouse south of town. He made me wait there for a long time in the car and then he came out and told me to leave it in the center of the city and go away. I still had the feeling that I had seen him before, but I couldn't think who or where - his irises are out of focus, reviving the memories -. The other two days it was the same, but in a building and a hotel, both deserted. He would stay inside for a while, then come out and tell me to leave him in the same place and go away. I can tell you the addresses...
-It's not necessary, I know the locations - Alexei intervenes -. Then what?
-He contacted me days later to meet me in a bar so he could pay me the rest of the money. He told me not to tell anyone about our deal and to leave town. Then he left, I had a drink and then I fled too.
-Did you finally manage to figure out who he was? - Yaakov demands. Arman sees him, then turns his frightened gaze on Alexei and nods slightly.
-Speak, damn it! - the Alpha shouted, neck red and veins bulging with anger and frustration.
-Rocco, sir - Arman reveals in a low voice, before clearing his throat and speaking firmly -. Rocco Giordano - the name echoed in Alexei's mind, the indignation in his body increased with more fury -. I recognized him because, months before, he had a business appointment with Mikhail Lavrov, in which I was one of his guards.
-Damn, I knew it! - Yaakov grumbled, running a hand through his short hair in irritation -. I never trusted that son of a bitch - then turned his gaze to Alexei, who remained silent, staring into a blind spot in the room -. Magnus? - he asked hesitantly, without getting an answer.
The Alpha's mind was filled with so many things while he was trying to put everything back in order. If Rocco Giordano was involved, that means his boss, Franchesco Graziani, was the commanding voice behind it. But if that was the case, then why did Abelard Kirchner, the decrepit old son of a bitch, run away? Taking the intricate trouble to move his base and taking all his men with him in the process.
Why didn't Franchesco run away too? Another possibility is that Rocco was working behind his back, pursuing his interests. But someone else must have helped him, someone with power, from the shadows. He doubted it was Abelard. The old man was astute, yes, but not very smart.
If he was part of the plan, it was probably because he wanted to remove Alexei from his position and climb to a higher level of the pyramid. No, it can't be possible. Although whoever caused it, Alexei was already one step closer to finding out.
-Something else you want to add? - Alexei finally demands, breaking the sudden silence. Arman is surprised at his question, but shakes his head frantically -. Are you sure? Perhaps I should introduce you to another of my friends, see if you remember.
Arman sobs, denying, again and again, hoping that the Alpha will believe him and not torture him any longer. Fear seeped through the pores of his skin, he shook again and began to move his extremities in a vain attempt to break free.
-You didn't participate in the port ambush, did you? - Arman suddenly froze, even his breathing seemed to stop. He was praying that Alexei would not go so deep into the interrogation, but when he noticed his reaction, sensing what he was hiding, the Alpha realized that he was right in that accusation.
-Well, well - Yaakov hums, clapping in surprise, a wide smile on his face -. I must congratulate you, Magnus. That was quicker than expected.
-P-please. I'm sorry, Mr. Magnus - Tears were streaming down his bloody cheeks, he was panting heavily from the effort of speaking -. I was forced, b-believe me.
A punch hit his jaw and just like that, many more came. One after another, after another, growing stronger and more brutal. His state bordered on unconsciousness by the time the bloody beating finally stopped. He could not open one eye, his nose was broken, the mouth was split in half, in the process he lost two more teeth and the cheekbones swelled until the flesh broke.
The entire face was covered in blood, an almost unrecognizable image of the man who had arrived at The Mansion a few hours ago.
-Take care of this, Yaakov - Alexei commands, breathing heavily. His knuckles were swollen and bleeding, the skin was throbbing around in pain, but he was so immersed in a blinding, adrenaline-charged state of rage that he could hardly feel it.
He turned and wiped his hands with the remaining water from the bucket Yaakov had used before. As he finished, he took a few steps towards the door, one of the henchmen handing him the jacket and tie. He took the clothes and hung them on his left forearm and left the chamber, leaving Arman's fate in the hands of his cousin.
He walked slowly, so focused on his thoughts, that he did not notice where his unconscious led him. By the time he stopped, he was standing outside Xander's bedroom. He stood there, static, for long minutes, debating whether to go in or not. Filling his lungs with air in a deep sigh, he took the doorknob handle and went into the small, dark space. It was a little difficult for him to focus in the gloom, but he could see the outline of the body lying sideways under the sheets of the bed, facing away from him.
He gently closed the door, wandered carefully to the bed, and stripped off his clothes, leaving only the boxer on. Alexei slipped under the sheets, gluing his strong chest to Xander's back, running the tip of the nose delicately across the skin at the nape, breathing in the sweet scent emanating from him.
One of his hands moved around that narrow waist and slipped under the shirt the Omega was wearing to proceed to trace patterns on his stomach with the fingertips. The other caressed the black, shiny hair. Xander sighed and shuddered at the touch.
-I thought you weren't coming - he muttered, the voice hoarse from sleep.
-I had to solve something - he answered, kissing subtly along his neck, the Omega stretched out to give him better access. Xander moved away and lit the small lamp on the night table at the side of the bed, turned around in Alexei's arms, and smiled when their eyes locked.
-You look exhausted - says the Omega, beginning to caress the cheek of the Alpha with a hand, and Alexei breathes a satisfied sigh at the contact.
-I am - he admitted without energy, closing the eyes, feeling his extremities gradually relaxing. It was funny how Xander could control his moods so quickly. He would calm him down when he was angry, relax him when he was tense, and turn him on so quickly that it was overwhelming.
-Why don't you sleep tonight and we'll save the action for tomorrow? - Xander suggests, a slight tone of mockery, kissing him gently afterward.
Alexei could not stop a smile from growing on his face. Even with the eyes closed, he knew Xander was watching him, but he didn't care, he liked having his attention. He put one arm around that waist again and the other under the neck to hold the Omega in a hug, who huddled even closer to his body, enjoying his heat.
-Sleep, Magnus. I'll take care of you - he whispered above his mouth, posing there another kiss, before placing the face on the Alpha's neck, inhaling his scent.
And like that, hugging each other, they fell asleep.