The Hitman and His Consort

IV - Adversities

Third Person P.O.V: - - -

Valentin’s heart seemed to freeze for a millisecond after hearing those words, “what do you mean evacuate them?” he asked, his voice hushed.

The woman sighed, rolling her eyes under her pitch-black sunglasses, “The deaf play’s over you don’t have to—” she was about to tell him off for holding on to the ‘bomb threat’ despite blowing her cover but he just raised a finger to cut her off as Denis’ following words sent a wave of stress throughout his body.

“I’m looking at actual bombs,” Denis said, aghast as he gulped a lump in his throat, looking at the ticking timer at exactly ‘2:33’.

“f**k!” Valentin hissed as he surveyed the room, taking note of the people who need to survive and the people that he could just leave if it comes down to it.

‘I f*****g hate bodyguard jobs’

He thought as he stomped to the elevated platform where Mr.Hendrick currently stood, with the will in his hand. His waterloo would be keeping people alive which is much harder compared to making sure people were dead. Señor Georgio, along with everyone else in the wake, was startled, when Valentin threw the 54-year-old man over his shoulder like a sack of onions without a word.

Seconds after this, Denis barged through the room. Beads of sweat on his forehead, doubled over for a few seconds before standing straight as he gestured for the door in a gentlemanly manner, “You all have 2 minutes to run or you’ll explode with the building,” his tone was calm despite his pauses to gather his breath and it caught everyone out off guard.

A moment of silence passed.

“AHHHH!” is all that’s heard in the room once Denis’ words sunk in. Everyone ran to the door like it was a Black Friday sale, they were pushing each other, it became a stampede, children were crying and the adults were cursing as they struggle to run down three sets of stairs, the ones in the elevator were packed like sardines and some were to slow to run that they started crying as they somewhat jog to their inevitable doom.

“Mr.Hacksaw, I’d prefer if you also run if you would mind,” Mr.Hendrick excused, tapping Valentin's arm with his finger as he hung limp on Valentin’s shoulder, reminding Valentin that he was not explosion-proof. Valentin raised an unconfident thumbs-up at the older man as he watched the others run away, the stairs filled, the elevators filled...

He couldn’t possibly race ahead of everyone while carrying a man.

‘Should I just leave Mr.Hendrick here and take the will?’

“Please don’t” Mr.Hendrick spoke again, making Valentin furrow his brows,

“Did I say that out loud?”

“Yes,”

“I’m sorry,”

“You don’t look sorry Mr.Hacksaw, frankly you just look pissed that I heard you,”

“As expected of a professional liar,” Valentin joked in his monotone voice as he walked around the room checking all the windows,

“I am a lawyer, Mr.Hacksaw” Mr. Hendrick corrected.

“That’s what I said,” was Valentin’s retort as he pushed one of the large windows open.

“Please don’t tell me that you’re going to jump through the window,” Mr. Hendrick pleaded. He sounded hopeless, and he felt his heart stop when Valentin replied “Sure thing” before jumping out the window.

If Valentin paused for a moment, they would’ve been burned to ashes. If he didn’t jump just in time before the building blew up exuding angry flames inches from them, they would've been dead. Fortunately, the shock wave gave him just the right push to reach the next building’s conveniently flat roof.

Provided that he was carrying another grown man on his back their landing wasn’t exactly smooth. On the contrary, it was painful and Mr.Hendrck didn’t particularly seem grateful.

That is before his eyes land on the burning building next to him. Burnt and charred, there was smoke coming from every opening on every floor. The explosion was so strong that it created new openings in the building, and small chunks of debris followed them to the building. Some even reached further.

“…Dear heavens...” the old man sighed, placing a hand on his pounding heart. Valentin surveyed the scene and fished his phone from his pocket, dialing Denis’ number. Had to make that headcount.

He didn’t answer.

Annoyed, Valentin dialed again.

Denis still didn’t answer.

Now angry, Valentin stomped his way to the shed leading to the stairs, he paused in his tracks before walking back to Mr.Hendrick, snatching the will from his hands, “You should go home,” was his wise advice before he resumed storming down three flights of stairs joining the commotion on the road as he combed through the thick crowd of curious civilians and survivors.

Looking for a brunette man who can’t answer his phone in dire moments.

These are some of the moments Valentin enjoyed being above the average height since he could easily find Denis from an overhead view. He always thought his brother had a very noticeable head since it’s too big and full of unprecedented ego.

However, this time he can’t find the brunet’s remarkably shiny hair pampered with expensive products. A minuscule amount of concern and a furious amount of irritation ran through his head, sending him into a mild frenzy, pushing people along the packed sidewalk—no, the road, that's now dealing with congestion of cars on both lanes.

He tried standing still in the sea of people to even get a glimpse of Denis, but it was almost impossible. Ambulances and sirens are now heard in the distance. He’s seen some of the guests, he’s seen the injured, he’s even seen Señor Georgio, but he still hasn’t seen his brother.

“F*ck—DENIS!” he cursed under his breath as he resorted to yelling. “Denis!” he continued shouting amongst the other loud noises that were currently drowning out his voice.

“That stupid—who f*cking dies in an explosion? He’s survived more than this how immensely incompetent is he—ugh!” Valentin spun his head to pummel whoever it was that even dared to raise his hand at him, hit his head specifically, while he was busy looking for his brother only to find the missing brother himself: Denis.

Grinning ear to ear, he flipped his middle finger off to Valentin, “Get f*cked, I went missing for a minute and you start talking sh*t already?” he cussed.

Unamused, Valentin gave the brunette a weak slap, “Where’s your phone?” he asked in a harrowing tone, making the smaller, yet older brother, roll his eyes.

“I dropped it,“

“Stupid-ass idi—“

“Val, I was running! Do you think I’d have time to think, ‘oh, I need to put this in my pocket,’?”

“I did,"

“Good job! You want a medal with that?” Denis sassed, his hands on his hips as he raised his brows, lips tight, waiting for an answer to his rhetorical query. Valentin, despite being crass, knew that he better not push the issue further and only glared at the brunette in pure annoyance.

Now regrouped, Valentin once again fished his phone out of his pocket, making a show of it to rub it in Denis’ face that instinctively pocketing one's phone is actually possible, before dialing their mother’s number. Without even ringing once, the call connected.

“Oh my goodness—Valentin, sweetheart baby, are you okay? Diana texted me,” Vanessa's worried voice went through the speaker,

“Yes ma, I’m fine,”

“And Denis?”

“uhh…your other sweetheart baby is also fine,” Denis sneered at the phone,

“Okay, I can hear you just fine, you don’t need to use that obnoxious tone on me,” she replied with a chuckle, “Valya, do you have the will?” was her quick follow-up.

“Yes,” he replied. Vanessa hummed on the other line,

“Good job boys, regroup first, by that I mean take Diana, then bring it to Sandra,” she instructed, making Denis frown, “why her?” he asked.

Vanessa chuckled before humming, “Ms.Sandra gave us an extra tip you see, and she said she’d invite us to her wedding and ‘work’ with us in the future!” she announced, making Denis cross his arms with a sigh.

“I can’t believe it…She’s getting married?! I knew she had something going on with that horse-riding business dude!” The brunet gushed as he connected the dots on their unexpected client's private life.

'That's your issue?' Valentin thought,

“Right? Like I always knew they had something between them,” Vanessa agreed.

'Mom too-of course' Valentin mentally sighed as he watched the scene.

"I'll try to chat her up when we get there, ma," Denis assured, placing a hand on his hip, determined to get more info on his goss-no, 'their' gossip.

"Alright, honey, get back safe, see you later," Vanessa said, ending the call.

This finally lets Valentin send a message to Diana, their younger sister, to pick them up at a less crowded spot. In the meantime, both brothers surveyed the situation to assess how much damage was done.

The idea that they might have taken a part in what happened could be part of the facts but, in Valentin's defense, he was in charge of taking care of the will, and Denis was in charge of not getting Valentin into trouble, aka, moral support.

He wasn't going to be paid more if he did more. He's protecting a piece of paper, not a money-hungry crowd of pretentious snakes.

"Do you think Señor Georgio made it?" Denis asked, definitely not from concern. He just asked as he stared at the dirt on his fingers.

Valentin looked at the spot where he saw the large man earlier, but not to his surprise, Señor isn't there anymore. He might be sent to the hospital for some unnecessary treatment that can be done by someone without a medical degree but he supposed medical procedures and services can be a way for the rich to flaunt their wealth.

'Poor people can never do something like that.'

"I saw him earlier, he probably made it out," he replied, to which Denis only shrugged, visibly uninterested.

Much like his brother, Valentin couldn't care less about that man's state, rather he is mildly interested in the woman who, on the opposite end of the spectrum, seemed to have her sights on Señor Georgio.

Diana pulled up after a few more minutes with one of their disposable vehicles, rolling down the window from her spot on the driver's seat to throw a shady stare-down to her brothers.

"lame-ass dweebs..." she sneered, along with an eye roll.

Denis, who's born with the same genes as her, therefore sharing the exact same attitude, retaliated. "Was it fun standing on the sidelines, princess?" he mocked as he sat on the backseat, making Diana click her tongue in annoyance.

Valentin sat by the passenger seat so he could control the A/C.

After flipping Denis off through the rearview mirror, Diana asked, "Where to?" which sparked Denis' gears for sharing gossip.

"To miss Sandra Sandoval, she got them all fooled, she must've planned the bombing before she hired us—oh, and guess what, she's getting married, we got a homemaker over here~," he gushed making Diana's eyes widen in pleasant surprise.

"Oh my gosh, no way! She's really getting on the 'Strong-independent-woman' path huh? Wooh slay~" Diana cheered along with Denis.

"She's gonna use this as a way to extort the rest of her family members, maybe even future business partners, this will tip the balance of power in the Sandoval enterprise that could lead them to change the predetermined terms and conditions of their businesses, at the end of the road, she's basically walking on the path of criminal liability," Valentin added with his nonchalant tone as an attempt to join in his siblings' cheering.

"...w-woohoo?.." Diana cheered again, however rather than being even remotely uplifting, it sounded more questioning and uncertain.

"Valya, you'll make it sound terrible if you put it that way," Denis pointed out, leaning back on the car's upholstery, crossing his legs.

"How is that terrible? It's badass," Valentin retorted, clearly displeased that he got backlash when he's just saying the same thing as his siblings.

After an assortment of pop songs, the trio reached their destination. It was, predictably, a large manor with elegant plant arrangements surrounding a fountain and fancy brick-tiled driveways; it looks as rich and expensive as the next hundred or more rich people's houses. Following the same theme for their million-dollar 3-story cottages.

They were led to the living room where Miss Sandoval sat drinking tea, unscathed despite being in a building that's now in tatters. She smiled at them and gestured for them to take a seat.

"I hope none of you were hurt in the...explosion," she asked, carrying a hint of guilt that she might've put their lives in peril by not informing them prior to the wake which Valentin picked up as he stared at her up and down. Taking initial notes of her character.

"Oh, I wasn't even there," Diana joked.

"I left my phone there, I had good pictures on that phone...But can I have your number, just in case you know," he trailed off with a shrug before waving her off, "But before that, is it true you're getting married? Is it with that ..what's the word—'Equestrian' guy?" Denis trailed off before peppering her with questions,

"I, physically, don't die," Valentin added as he covered Denis' mouth effectively shutting his brother up.

Chuckling at their absurd responses, Sandra seemed to be more at peace knowing they were fine and offered them tea, and her number to Denis, but the siblings opted to go home soon and refused.

They need all their strength for tomorrow, today's event will surely be in the news and they need to keep watch and make sure that their family name wouldn't be wrongly involved in the story.

After a long day, they yearned for a little rest as soon as they arrived home but the second they plopped on the living room couch, Vanessa trudged to the room, her heels clicking as she stepped.

"Kids...we have a problem,"