Lethal, page 13
He was quick to call his IT head, Jayson, and summon him to the conference as he and I proceeded the same way. I found Alistair and Feroz talking to each other and they looked up when we entered.
I quickly explained to them the latest revelation and once Jayson came in, Feroz was quick to take charge.
"I want a complete list of all Russian families currently residing in the States. Any recent developments that have taken place, any new Don, any new member rising among ranks- I want to know everything."
Twenty: Pancakes
Alexandra
I decided to walk home.
According to Jayson, it would take time to find out every bit of updated information regarding Russians operating in the States. My head was already about to burst with all that had happened since this morning, and I felt that a walk home, alone, would do me some good.
"Hey, hey," Alistair caught up with me in the lobby, "do you want me to drop you home?"
"Do you have an imaginary, invisible car that I'm unaware of?"
He realized immediately that it was I who drove him here after he was dumped at my building. Chuckling lightly, he scratched his head, "Right, I have to call someone to pick me up."
"I guess I'll see you later then." I waved, heading towards the door.
"Alex, wait!" he called out again.
I turned around, patiently waiting for him to speak up.
"About this morning..."
Heat rushed to my face and I averted my eyes, looking down at the marbled floor.
"Look, I don't want to make you awkward, at all," I could hear the smile in his voice, "but had we not been interrupted-"
"I know, I know," I moved forward, placing my hands on his chest, "I wouldn't have stopped either."
He smiled, raising his hand to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, "I know you want some space right now. Why don't you head home and I'll drop by to see you in the evening?"
"Okay." I smiled back, pulling away.
"Be careful, please. I don't want you getting attacked for the third time in ten days."
I walked through the bustling streets of the city, music blasting in my ears, hands shoved in pockets. People walked past- in a hurry to reach wherever, musicians played in one corner- struggling to make ends meet, cars honked- way too much.
I was immune to it all.
That was until I bumped into someone. I stumbled a little but caught the guy from falling. One of my buds fell out and I vaguely heard the guy let out a curse.
"Excuse me," I muttered, trying to push past with my head still down.
"Yeah, sorry," the guy muttered, "wait, Alexandra?"
I paused and turned around, forced to look at the person.
My eyes landed on someone who looked like some gentleman straight out of a movie. While I was used to seeing suit-clad criminals around me, this man was like a breath of fresh air with his crisp white shirt with its top buttons left open, dark pants, and a pair of sunglasses perched on his nose.
It was only when he took them off and flashed me a dimpled smile that he began to look vaguely familiar.
"Alexandra," he breathed, "Is that really you?"
"Gabe," I whispered in disbelief.
Oh my God.
"Oh my God," it was like he read my mind, repeating what I'd just thought, "it is you. Wow, the last time I saw you-"
"Was in the orphanage." I finished for him, still stuck on that dimpled smile.
For a moment, I just wanted to run away. It was like my life was playing this sick joke on me, turning itself around completely, bringing me back to the place I had hated so much.
Gabe surprised me by pulling me into a hug. I was expecting some tight, overeager embrace but he just squeezed me a little and pulled away.
"What-what are you doing here?" I asked him, and in a bid not to sound rude, I added, "In the city, I mean."
"I was here for Father James's funeral." his face turned grim.
"Oh, yeah." I nodded, reminded of the kind face.
"Tragic, isn't it?" his eyebrows scrunched up in genuine sadness, "God, he was such a good soul."
"Indeed." I nodded thoughtfully.
"I didn't see you there, though. I was hoping to run into you."
He gently pulled me a little aside, away from the rush of people shooting us annoyed looks for we were taking up the middle of the sidewalk. As we stood leaning against the building, I looked up at him, my eyes wandering over his face.
"I was barely there for five minutes." I answered him, and then hesitantly added, "Couldn't handle all the people and despair. And no offense to you, but I was kinda hoping not to run into anyone familiar." I said hesitantly.
"I understand that." he chuckled, "God, I remember how much you hated that place. And being the sole target of Raine's bullying didn't help either."
"She bullied you too." I reminded him, cocking an eyebrow.
"Yeah," he shook his head, and then excitedly added, "but on my last day at the orphanage, as a sort of payback for all the shit she put me through, and you, I egged her bed, poured green color in the expensive shampoo she'd bought after saving up and smashed her face in a pie topped with whipped cream."
I blinked once.
Then twice.
And then burst out laughing.
I leaned against the wall of the building we were standing by, cackling like a ticklish baby on crack. I had to wipe my tears twice while he just watched me, joining me every once in a while.
"That-" I pointed at him, "is the best fucking news I've heard, in a long, long, long time."
He curtsied playfully before me.
"You look good, Gabe." I complimented quietly once I'd sobered up, "I'm really happy for you."
"Thank you." he replied, smiling wide, "God has been good to me since I got adopted by genuinely amazing people."
His phone then began to ring and he fished it out of his pocket, muttering an 'Excuse me'. I observed him while he talked to whoever it was on the other side of the phone.
"Hey, I'm sorry." he turned to me after hanging up, "I have to run. But I would really, really like to have dinner with you sometime."
"I'd like that." I found myself answering, surprised at my own eagerness.
"Here," he fished out a card and began scribbling on its back, "this is my personal number. Call me."
I watched a sleek, black sedan pull up to the curb and the valet respectfully handed over the keys to Gabe.
"That's me!" he announced, "It was nice meeting you. Call me, Alexandra."
I waved as he drove away and then checked the card I was holding in my hand. On one side it had his personal number scribbled in black and I was impressed when I turned it over.
Gabe Wainwright- General Manager, Marksman Décor
I'd heard of them. It was an LA-based interior designing company. They were posh. Like expensive-crystal-chandeliers and-intricately-weird-vases posh.
Slipping the card in my pocket, I started on my way again, pushing the buds back in and cranking the volume. My thoughts wandered back to my days at the orphanage, remembering the chubby Gabe with curly hair and pearly white teeth. He was left on the steps of the orphanage when he was a year old. He was a good kid- cheerful, naughty, and unexpectedly kind.
Much, much later, I would learn that meeting him was no coincidence at all.
I rounded another corner on the busy street, intent on buying a muffin for Alistair. I was eager to see him this evening. Mainly because I was dying to continue with what we had started this morning.
The café came into view and as I began wondering what flavor to buy, a hand was suddenly wrapped around my bicep and I was pulled into the alley!
"What the fuck?"
My instincts kicked in and I instantly fought back. I threw a punch with my free arm and he dodged it, catching my knuckles with his fingers. I was surprised at the strength, though barely for a second because he suddenly pushed me around and held my back against his chest.
"Hush now, darling," he spoke in my ear, "let them pass."
I stopped struggling, trying to make sense of what he'd just said.
"What?" I sputtered, trying to turn around and take a good look at him.
"You were being followed." he whispered, his breath tickling my ear, "Considering the fact that you're on the brink of a war, taking a stroll through busy streets is a stupid idea if you ask me."
"No one asked you," I spat, "and if you don't let go of me in the next two seconds, your ball sack is going to suffer some serious damage."
Like every other man in the universe when faced with danger to their genitals, he obliged and let me go. I turned around only to see it was the same guy who had saved me from the Russians that night. I recognized him by the eyes. Those dark, dark orbs of an endless abyss.
Though I saw a spark of amusement in them today, excitement.
The lower half of his face was still covered with a black mask and he was dressed in black from head to toe.
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist."
Any other moment, I would've fangirled and cheered, and acted out the entire movie with him. I've done that with strangers at Comicon, believe me. It was especially hard to keep myself from smiling at the infamous line from Tony Stark.
"What? You're not the only Marvel fan out there."
"How do you even know that?" I asked, genuinely curious, "Who are you, really?"
"Come on, Alexandra. You know the basic rules of this job." he feigned disappointment, "No names, ever."
"How do you know mine? How do you know about the war? Why are you saving me?"
"All part of the job."
He imitated zipping his lips shut and throwing the key away.
"Charming," I commented, faking a smile.
"Oh, I know." he nodded.
"Who hired you?"
"Someone who knows you quite well."
"Alistair?"
He was my first guess.
"No," he rolled his eyes, "not lover boy."
I shoved him and he chuckled. He looked different from the last time I saw him. Somehow more casual. He didn't look very old now that I got to observe him in the light. He was young.
"Was it Feroz? Xavier?" I asked.
"Nope!" he answered, popping the 'p'. He stood there, rolling back and forth on his heels.
"You're annoying the shit out of me," I commented.
"I know." he wiggled his eyebrows, "Kinda fun."
His playful demeanor was contagious and I slowly found myself letting my guard down. I even chuckled when he pulled out a pack of M&Ms from his pocket, tore it open, and popped a few in his mouth. Most graciously, he thrust out his hand, offering them to me.
He shrugged when I declined, as if to say 'your loss'.
"You know, I've saved your ass twice now," he leaned against the wall, crossing his legs at the ankle, "I think you owe me something in return."
"I never asked you to save my ass," I replied, crossing my arms.
"Wow, the ungratefulness is mean." he feigned hurt, putting a hand on his heart.
I chuckled loudly, "Alright, I'll humor you. What do you want?"
"I could do with some pancakes. The café down the street has some really good ones." he rubbed his hands, "Maybe even a slice of cheesecake."
While every instinct of my assassin training forbade me from adhering to his request, I just agreed.
"But on one condition-" I said pointedly, "I need to know your name."
"I thought we were over this," he whined.
"Forget the pancakes then." I mocked, turning around.
"Okay, okay, fine." he grumbled, shoving his hand out again, "My name is Ozias, but you can call me Ozzy."
"Nice to meet you, Ozzy." I smiled in satisfaction, "I'm Alexandra. Though I believe you already know that. And a whole more."
He pursed his lips sheepishly, trying not to smile as he scraped the ground with his shoe.
After making sure that no one was following me anymore, something I'd conveniently forgotten while talking to this goof, we crossed the street and headed towards the café. We turned a few heads in our all-black ensembles, but we just headed for one of the corner seats and settled in. The waitress turned up to take our orders.
"I'll have the chocolate chip pancakes and a slice of cheesecake." Ozzy smiled at the waitress. He looked like a kid ordering ice cream.
"And you, miss?" she turned to me.
"Coffee for me, please."
We sat in a few moments of silence. I watched him keep his head down most of the time, fiddling with the box of tissues. Though he was hyperactive of his surroundings. He looked up every time someone entered the restaurant, and his body stiffened every time a customer or server accidentally brushed against him.
"You're an assassin, aren't you?" I asked.
His fingers stopped playing against the table as he slowly raised his eyes to look up at me. With over-exaggerated and fake shock, he banged his hands on the table.
"How in the world did you figure that out?"
I could help but laugh. His entire aura- the playfulness, the joking- was all so contagious.
"I don't usually treat murderous strangers to pancakes-"
"You really shouldn't." his shoulder shook when he giggled.
"But," I finished pointedly, "I like you, Ozzy."
"I like you too. You're cool."
Our order finally arrived. Ozzy's eyes lit up when he saw the steaming pile of pancakes. Then he did the one thing I'd been waiting for a while for.
He took off his mask.
He knew I was watching intently, taking in the face of the man who had pretty much saved my life on two occasions now.
And boy, was he handsome.
He looked like one of those boys you'd find teenager girls swooning and drooling over on Instagram. Sharp jaw, pointed nose, and luscious lips.
"Dude, I know I'm good-looking but can I please eat my pancakes without you staring at me like you wanna jump my bones?"
Embarrassed, I muttered an apology and focused on my coffee. He scarfed down his meal like he'd been famished, deprived of food for days. But I knew better than to ask when was the last time he had a proper meal.
Be it Xavier, or Feroz, or Alistair, they'd all immensely disapprove of me having a meal with a stranger. A stranger who had shown up, out of nowhere, on two different occasions and saved my life. But I also trusted my own instincts. And right now, they were telling me that this man was far from dangerous.
I patiently waited for Ozzy to finish his meal following which I paid, also asking the waitress for two muffins to go.
"I guess this is where you and I part ways," he muttered, putting on his mask.
I nodded, knowing that no amount of probing or prodding would be getting me any answers. He was trained not to divulge any knowledge to anybody, not even the person he was saving and not the person who just treated him to pancakes.
"Will I see you again?" I asked.
"Hopefully."
He was walking away now, backward and into the crowd.
Right when I was about to turn around and hail a cab, he said something that stopped my heart.
"And Alexandra?"
I turned around, "Yeah?"
"Your father says hello."
Twenty-one: Stay
Alexandra
While my mind was severely occupied by Ozzy and his parting words, I put on a smile and welcomed Alistair inside when showed up at my door at eight in the evening with a bagful of Chinese takeout.
He'd become quite comfortable in my home now. I watched as he placed the food on the counter, whistling to himself a merry tune. He then proceeded to take off his suit jacket and roll up the sleeves of his white shirt and loosen his tie. I had a weakness for the combination.
Leaning against the kitchen entryway, I crossed my arms and admired the view- watching him wash his hands, take out a couple of plates and begin setting out the boxes.
When he saw me, his smile widened and he made his way over to me, wrapping his hand around my waist and pulling me close. So close, that our noses brushed against each other.
Just when I thought he was about to kiss me, he pulled away with a cheeky smile on his face, "We'll have plenty of time for dessert. But for now, dinner is served."
I could definitely get used to this.
I obliged when he pulled me away from the wall and towards one of the seats around the counter. It felt cozy, the way he talked about his day, asked me about mine, leaned in to whisper something in my ears, even when no one was around.
Halfway through dinner, I decided to tell him about this afternoon.
"So, something happened today." I started thoughtfully, playing with the rice on my plate, "A couple of things, actually."
Alistair must have sensed that whatever had happened was quite unusual, and at once set down his fork and granted me his absolute attention.
"I ran into Gabe today." I started.
"Gabe, who?" he asked, his brows scrunching in query.
"From the orphanage."
"The curly-haired kid?"
I nodded.
"Wow." he whispered, "I never really talked to him, so I don't remember much."
"Well, I do." I nodded, "After you... left, no one in the orphanage was willing to be friends with me. Raine had sort of manipulated everyone, well, except for him. He was my only friend then."
"What did Raine do?"
"Her basic bullying just multiplied. Now that you were no longer there to protect me, she had free reign to do whatever she liked."
I saw guilt flash in his eyes and right before he was about to apologize, I grabbed his hand and laced our fingers together, "Hey, it wasn't your fault."
He looked like he wanted to argue but let go.
"So, what did you and Gabe talk about, today?" he asked instead.
"I actually bumped into him while walking home." I replied, thinking about how cliché it was, "He recognized me, we chatted for a few minutes and then he asked me out to dinner."
"Like a date?" his eyes narrowed.
"I'm pretty sure he was being friendly." I laughed.
