Chapter 34 Family
Los Angeles, California, 12: 35 p.m. 18 years ago.
The concrete jungle of Los Angeles has no comparison to the stagnant traffic of the Moscow pedestrian storm, although it's quite hot in comparison and wearing a wool suit with a tight tie doesn't help at all. He should have accepted a ride from the driver, but he stubbornly refused because he wanted to take a look around the city. Bad idea.
«Damn Yurik and his obsession with dressing well», Alexei thinks in frustration, picking up the pace. His destination was a luxurious restaurant in one of the most prestigious areas, called "The Embrace", where one of his mentor's partners was waiting for him. Rarely was he sent to represent him at a business meeting, but this time Yurik suddenly had to travel to China to attend the funeral of one of the sons of his closest ally who had been killed in an act of revenge against him.
That's why he was there, heading over to the table where Logan Parker was dining. The mobster was a 42-year-old man who used to work for the NSA[1] until he was fired on suspicion of manipulating information in one of the operations against a major cartel seven years ago. Since then, taking advantage of his corrupt contacts, he has rapidly escalated to a higher position, although many, out of caution, still refuse to work with him.
Yurik considered it long enough before finally agreeing to a meeting with the man, carrying numerous warnings on his shoulders from the other partners, some even threatening him with the dissolution of their business if he ever shook hands with the bribable American. Reluctant to withdraw his word, he sent Alexei on behalf of the organization.
The Alpha defended himself quite well in English, but his pronunciation in some words was still a little rusty. He walked right up to the man, who had just put a bite of food in his mouth. He makes a brief bow in the form of a greeting, before speaking.
-Good afternoon, Mr. Parker - with a straight and firm stance -. My name is Alexei Magnus and I'm here on behalf of Yurik Ivanov.
The man observes him, evaluating, chewing his salad morsel carelessly, until with a gesture of his chin, indicates that he should take a seat. Alexei places a hand on the back of the chair, tilting it back a little to give him room to sit.
Both men are sitting quietly in front of each other. When the processed bite finally slips down Logan's throat, he takes the napkin that was on his legs and passes it around the corners of his lips.
-It's a shame that Yurik couldn't join us today - he says, with what Alexei could call a feigned annoyance -. But if he sent a kid like you, I dare say you're suitable enough to represent his best interests.
The Alpha makes an effort not to feel insulted by that statement and even more so to not have it reflected in his face or body posture. If his mentor has taught him one thing from the beginning, it's that he should always appear calm, even when an emotional earthquake is unfolding inside.
-Don't worry, Mr. Parker - smiles, simulating serenity -. I assure you that I am worthy of your demands.
-I hope so - Logan takes a sip from the wine glass, savoring the liquid in his mouth, then raises his eyes and connects with Alexei's -. I imagine you're already aware of everything.
-That's right, sir - And indeed. Yesterday, prior to his departure, Yurik had updated him with the details, relating that he was about to move a large amount of cocaine from Russia to Germany in two days, via a train belonging to one of Logan Parker's contacts.
-Perfect - the contrary smiles pleased -. The train is now at our disposal and the route has been cleared. The only inconvenience is the checkpoint on the outskirts of Voronezh, but the guards are alerted - he pauses briefly before continuing -. Now, the reason for this meeting is due to the distribution of funds.
-What do you mean? - Alexei asked puzzled, frowning and folding the hands over the table -. Yurik informed me that this was already established, both for you and your contact.
-Well, let's say there's been a slight change of plans - he says, leaning back in the chair, crossing legs.
«What the fuck does he mean?», thought the Alpha with a grunt, looking straight into Logan's eyes, unintimidated. It was obvious that something was going on and he better have a good excuse or a strong reason for daring to change plans just days before the operation.
-My partner and I agree that the large amount of merchandise you want to transport requires great care in handling and camouflaging it. Not to mention the many guards that we had to bribe not to intervene - making a gesture with one hand when speaking -. As you can understand, it's a lot of work we're talking about, kid.
-The grounds for the transaction were discussed days ago, Mr. Parker - Alexei insists, his voice becoming crude and hostile -. It's a dirty tactic from you to come out with this now.
-Listen to me, boy - he grunted, leaning forward over the seat, his penetrating gaze not leaving Alexei's eyes -. I will not tolerate your insolence. If Yurik sent a poor jerk like you to represent him, well, fuck him. But right now I'm warning you: if things don't go my way, you can forget this whole fucking thing at once.
Alexei takes a deep breath trying to control himself. He was angry... Very angry. He could feel the anger flowing through his bloodstream, threatening to take over completely, which he could not conceive of. At least not yet.
-Well, it looks like we won't be able to reach an agreement, Mr. Parker - he says once he regains some self-control, taking care to keep a firm and confident tone -. The terms were already established. If you are not loyal to your word, the organization will not risk building a business relationship with you. Now, if you'll excuse me... - rolling back the chair to stand up, buttoning his jacket -. I have other business to attend to.
He could see the tension taking over the American's body, his shoulders stiff and jaw tight, showing the signs of his rage. He thought that the man would send him to hell, but instead he smiled, just before getting up with grace as well.
-Perhaps you'd like to see something before you go, Mr. Magnus - pointing to the back door of the restaurant -. I want to show you something that you might find... Interesting.
Cautiously, Alexei glances in the direction Parker had pointed, unable to see beyond the rear exit and the waiters who were wandering from place to place serving the other customers of the establishment. Something wasn't right. A voice in his mind whispered to him that he should not go, like a sixth sense warning him of imminent danger.
-I advise you to be quick to decide - Logan's thick voice with a light touch of mockery takes him out of his thoughts -. What I have to show you is time-limited.
Alexei breathes shakily, advancing at a hesitant pace towards where he was instructed. The employees move ignorantly by his side to avoid him, holding trays full of food and drinks. His pulse was racing in the protruding vein in his neck.
He remembered the gun in his back and calculated the seconds it would take to draw it and aim. Logan was on his heels, he could feel the piercing stare on the back of his neck, under the layer of cold sweat that created drops that slipped under his shirt, sliding down the spine. When he reached the door, he placed a hand on the knob and turned it.
The light beam blinded him for a few seconds, forcing him to blink to adapt. When he finally focused, he spotted a parked black van, surrounded by ten men dressed completely in black and equipped with semi-automatic weapons. But that was not what alarmed him.
Kneeling at the side of one car, with gags in their mouths and hands tied behind their shaky bodies, were Fredek Magnus, Yaakov and Katya Kozlov, the woman drowning her cries in the rigid cloth pushed between her teeth. Alexei's heart clenched tightly in his chest, so badly that he thought he might die at that very moment.
-As you can see, Mr. Magnus - Logan hummed, passing by him to stand next to the three victims -. We have something of interest to you. If you're smart, you know that you'll have to submit to our demands. Don't you think?
Alexei doesn't answer, he can't. His silence is quickly interpreted by Parker as a surrender, when the reality could not be further away. The Alpha's mind is clouded, immersed in a deep, dark sea of anger that consumes any hint of logical thought. He did not feel fear, dread or horror, he was not worried or tormented. He was pissed off.
His vision turned red, the claws extended into his clenched fists, digging into the palms to draw blood. Sweat collected on his forehead, his eyes changed to a deep blue that could hardly be seen because his pupils were so dilated. The fangs grew and the hair on the back of his neck stood up, announcing the coming change. Everything after that happened as it was in slow motion.
He rushed to one of the men on his right, slitting his throat in two with those powerful claws. The others stood on guard, but were no match for the speed of his movements. He reached behind his back with one hand, drew the pistol and fired, succeeding in piercing the skulls of two other men.
The rain of bullets didn't take long, but he was able to dodge them with some difficulty and took refuge behind the truck. There were now seven men left standing, excluding fucking Logan Parker. When there was a pause while the miserable cowards reloaded, he stood up and managed to bring down another three. «Come on, Alexei. You have four left», he thought, giving himself the courage to go out and face the remaining enemies.
So he decided to rely on his best ally and most reliable weapon: His wolf. He took a deep breath while feeling the change taking control of the extremities. His legs arched, his face now had a long snout, the body was completely covered by a thick, silky layer of hair that mixed shades of gray, brown and white, with faint touches of black in perfect harmony, along with a long, stout tail.
And, like him, his wolf was thirsty for revenge. He took advantage of the brief confusion of the men and jumped over the hood of the van, springing towards one of the henchmen, burying the fangs deep into the fragile neck. The metallic taste of blood flooded into his mouth, but that did not stop him.
He quickly diverted course, dodging another storm of projectiles with surprising agility and subduing two other thugs as well. His mouth was full of blood, drops of the red liquid falling from his coat onto the ground. Without caring or stopping, he faces the other man who was leaning against one of the walls of the building, trying to load the weapon he was holding with trembling hands, the expression of pure terror, desperately trying to get the magazine into the grip.
Alexei lunged at him as the snap of the gun indicated that it was ready, and by the time his jaw pressed against his shoulder, tearing a large piece of flesh, he realized that a bullet had hit one of his flanks. The pain spread with immediate speed, drawing out a groan in response. He walked away from the dead body, staggering and complaining about the damage.
He tried to recover and looked around for Parker, and when he could finally locate him, he froze on the spot. Logan had the right hand on Katya's thin neck, with the other hand pointing the barrel of the gun at the girl's head, who was shaking and crying inconsolably, pleading with her eyes to be rescued. Yaakov drowned out a lament and shook himself trying to get free from the solid rope of his wrists, in a desperate and failed attempt to come to the aid of his sister.
-Well, Mr. Magnus - The American seemed nervous and agitated, taking small steps to back up to the truck, dragging Katya with him, all while watching Alexei cautiously -. I seem to have underestimated you. But I strongly recommend that, if you don't want the situation to get worse, you should change immediately.
Alexei wanted to rush at him, he thought he'd have enough skill to avoid Katya without damaging her and kill Logan Parker before he could pull the trigger. But then he saw the look of pain on his cousin's face, who begged him silently not to do anything rash and to protect the girl. With a resigned sigh, he transformed back into his human form. Now he lay naked, slightly bent over, holding the bleeding wound opening a hole between the ribs.
-Good, now that we can communicate properly... - Logan continued to retreat slowly, having difficulty keeping the grip on the female wolf and the gun at the same time -. I'm afraid you've acted very recklessly, Mr. Magnus.
-Cut the crap and let the girl go now! - Alexei yells, moving slowly towards him, barely holding back the fury that seeped out of his pores.
-I don't think you're in any position to order me around, boy - Logan accuses him, laughing nervously, pressing the end of the gun to Katya's head, who was shaking and her cheeks were bathed in tears -. Now, you will let me go, or I assure you that a bullet will go through her pretty skull in less than three damn seconds.
-Let her go! - the Alpha warns again, with bloody fists clenched to his sides. Parker managed to approach the vehicle by the time he refocused on Alexei again.
-Wrong answer - Logan pushes Katya, the girl running into Alexei's arms with unsteady knees, Alexei eagerly awaiting her arrival. But then the echo of a shot stops Katya abruptly, her widened brown irises staring at Alexei in amazement, before collapsing to the ground.
He'd shot her. Logan fucking Parker shot at her mercilessly in the back and now he was aiming at him. When the finger pulled the trigger again, Alexei ducked, the projectile narrowly missing, grazing one of his temples, cutting several strands of hair.
He ran towards the American, reaching for the hand before he could shoot again. Parker was strong, he was pushing him with the whole body, trying to subdue the resistance of the Alpha. In the struggle, Alexei slipped on the pool of blood escaping from Katya's wound and taking advantage of his carelessness, the gun's barrel was dangerously close to Alexei's neck, who was desperately fighting to regain control.
He was losing, he could feel the cold metal rubbing against the skin. The fear of perishing made him flinch, and it wasn't until he heard his cousin's choking cry of pain, crying over his sister's rigid and inert state, that the will to survive gave him an injection of adrenaline straight into the bloodstream.
Applying powerful pressure to the man's wrist, he used the power of the shoulders and pushed. The weapon slowly moved away from his neck and changed its course, Parker's eyes almost popped out of their sockets as he realized what was next to reach his forehead.
-You should think about it... Better - Alexei roared, speaking hesitantly through the effort to master the fight -. Before... Try to fuck... With me.
Before pulling the trigger, Alexei rejoices in the expression of shock and fear that Logan returns, aware that he was going to die. Drops of blood stained the Alpha's face and chest, shoulders giving way, draining the tension as Logan Parker's lifeless body collapsed on the concrete floor.
Alexei tries to fill his lungs with air, turns to Yaakov and Fredek, and releases them from their bonds. His cousin immediately rushes over his sister's immobile, cold body, now surrounded by a pool of blood. He turns her over with great care and holds her in his arms.
-Katya? - Yaakov pats the girl's wet cheeks, failing to wake her up -. Katya! - He shouts in a broken voice, the answer to his prayers doesn't come. His eyes immediately begin to fill with tears -. Katya! - he shakes her, in a desperate attempt to get any sign of life -. Wake up, dammit!
Alexei, who managed to cover himself with the previously discarded trousers, approaches him from behind and places a hand on Yaakov's shoulder, feeling his agitation and the tremors generated by the heartbreak.
-She's gone, Yaak - he whispers regretfully, head down, offering support for his affliction -. We have to go. We can't stay here.
-No! - Yaakov insists, shaking the lifeless body again -. She's fine! Just... She just needs to change so she can heal. Help me wake her up, goddammit! - his voice fading, the tears sliding down his cheekbones. In the distance police sirens could be heard, announcing their early arrival.
-Come on, cousin - Alexei urged once more -. We have to go, the police are on their way - He turns to Fredek and gestures toward the truck. Nodding, the shaky Omega gets in and starts the engine -. Yaak...
-I know, damn it! - snapping his shoulder out of Alexei's grab -. Just give me a fucking minute.
Without another word, Alexei stands up and offers him some privacy. A few moments later, Yaakov lifts his sister and climbs into the back seat. The Alpha watches him and rushes into the co-pilot's place. The path to the base would be long and quiet. Occasionally Yaakov's sobbing could be heard, but neither Alexei nor Fredek dared to interrupt him. That, until he spoke:
-Alexei - his cousin stares at him, he'd be a blind man if he couldn't perceive the anger bubbling up inside him -. I'll kill them... I will kill them all - promises, his jaw tightly clenched, mumbling between teeth.
-That's right, partner. We will...
Since that fateful day, Yaakov joined the organization, pledging his loyalty to Alexei and obtaining revenge soon after for the death of his beloved sister.
[1]The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Government that deals with everything related to information security.