The Hitman and His Consort

XIX - Avenues

First Person P.O.V: VALENTIN HACKSAW

The next morning came and the first thing I did was get breakfast. I’m not idle today since today is going to get considerably busy. Not my choice, it just happened to be so. Denis was also ready to give me a fresh serving of his emotional intelligence bullsh*t for the day, and I was inches away from choking him the minute we locked eyes while he had that obnoxious expression on his face.

I got dressed and checked on our current freeloader/hostage. He’s still alive.

‘Funny enough, I don’t know his name, but it’s too late to ask now,'

After that was an early drive to Javier’s warehouse. Denis and I got there first before him, which is unsurprising for someone who’s titled a ‘young, fit, and handsome, eligible bachelor’ at age 33. I didn’t mean that as an insult if ever he’s a role model.

Look how much freedom he’s indulging himself in without having to face stupid consequences.

Denis, on the other hand, had the opposite sentiment about that, and more often than not he expresses those stupid biases which I don’t think compels Javier to accept them. I’ve long established that my brother is what the society would call, informally, a ‘man-w***e’.

In a more deeply rooted term, a chronic fornicator, yet you’d find him talking about marriage and matrimony and ‘settling down with a family' with the passion of a 30-year-old salaryman who prepared a retirement plan for when he turns 40.

… despite introducing himself multiple times as a toilet seat because gets *ss and all that, but honestly, the only connection he has with a toilet is that they’re both filled with sh*t which explains his sh*tty ideologies and habits.

“Oh, good morning guys,” Javier greeted once he finally entered his office, clad in his usual get-up of all black slacks, chelsea boots, turtleneck, and leather jacket. He also wore his cool earrings today. Javier has always worn plenty of jewelry that it took over his whole left ear, from spike studs along the outer part down to dangling chains on the lobe.

“I found abo—”

“Where the hell were you, it’s late, do you usually turn up in your office at this time?” Denis scolded, cutting me off from doing my job.

‘Excuse you, the f*ck?’

With a disbelieving frown Javier gently took his seat on his big-businessman chair and leaned to his desk, fingers linked, “Denis…what the f**k is up with you now?” he began gesturing his hand to Denis’ whole persona making Denis gasp and place a hand on his chest,

‘Oh my God, this is going to take long…’

“Is that any way to talk to a concerned friend? Things were going well with Geraldine, right? You should start fixing things around here, who knows you might just settle down soon it’d be a shame if this one runs away too once she sees how messy your sh*t is,” he said in a rapid burst, really manifesting the power in my mother’s voice every time she tells us off.

Still frowning, Javier rubbed his temple before snapping his fingers at Denis to make him stop, “Denis, Denis, Listen… I’m f*****g 33, I know how things work you’re seven years too young to be lecturing me,” he argued, in the meantime, I took a seat because my legs are going to be spent today, might as well take rests while I can,

“That’s what you always say—well why don’t we call Chris, he’ll—”

“Don’t bring Chris in this, of course, he’ll side with you, having this weird knack of patronizing me—”

“Don’t play as the victim you know why we get this way about you—”

“I’m not playing the victim, I just got kidnapped once! Y’all make it a big deal—”

“Keeping this attitude up is the reason why you get kidnapped—”

“You’re too f*****g protective, Denis, I’m 33!”

“You look and act like you’re f*****g 17, sit down!” Denis yelled, veins started popping off of his neck, which seemed enough to sit Javier down,

I didn’t even notice him standing up. I get intense boredom when they repeatedly talk about that ‘bad history’ they experienced as a group when Javier was kidnapped.

I forgot the details, but it’s something about his line of business that got him caught up with it and it was around a week or two that he went missing and he’s allegedly on the brink of death during those times.

I still couldn’t understand why Denis acted like that, I think Christopher was also in a bad shape, at that time, I hardly see that guy and when I do see him, he always just seems like he’s having the worst day of his life, Chris was hardly around but he’s also pretty emotional which is why he gets along best with Denis.

All I’m certain about that event is it was Denis who acted like he was the one on the brink of death, crying and sh*t and telling everyone that he’s an irresponsible ‘brother’, they call each other brothers like some stupid fraternity, for letting something like that happen. In conclusion, it was like an overreaction from Denis, and he's already dramatic enough as it is. Javier was retrieved, obviously, and he had security for quite a while.

‘Javier and I agreed that it was lame,’

Back to this current squabble, Denis seemed like he’s pretty calmed down, so he also took a seat before gesturing at me that it's finally my turn to speak to Javier.

“There’s five of them—and I forgot to ask their names but they’ll turn up eventually I have one of those guys at home, he’ll talk no problem, but in terms of where your stuff is going… weirdly enough it’s going to a f*cking laboratory,” I narrated recalling a f*cking rookie mistake on not asking the other people involved in this, how did I even manage to forget that?

‘Literally, one of the most important parts what the hell…’

Javier seemed to think the same as he looked like he’s just completely puzzled the moment he heard what I said, not sure on which part but hopefully not the part when I forgot to ask the names, that wasn’t my priority at the time, I'd feel stupid to defend myself about it.

Leaning back to his chair he took in a breath before not so subtly looking around the room, looks like he’s not sure what to make of all that, “I’m... not sure I follow, Valya,” he began, still wearing that puzzled expression on his face,

I leaned my elbows on my knees, “Yeah same, it’s the Mariella labs, I know the lab has a dark undertone about drugs or something but I don’t know what the f*ck they’d want to do with guns,” I began,

“And I couldn’t just stride in there since they have crazy high security, but my guy said there’s a soldier involved, they’ve been ordering military-grade s**t,” I added which didn’t seem to clear up anything on his end,

“They are but… that’s still a lot less than the amount I supply to the military on a normal basis, this—are they creating a secret specialized unit or something?” he asked, his eyes widening as something inside his head clicked, looking at me expectantly but I can only offer him a shrug,

“I don’t know…”

“Right, thank you for the help Valya, although I would appreciate it if you can provide me the names of those five traitors so I can… you know, fire them,” he said, sighing before clicking his tongue and pulling out a red envelope from his drawers and placing it on the desk, sliding it to me.

“Pleasure doing business with you, Valya,” he thanked,

“You make it sound like I’m your personal mutt when you say it like that,” I replied, taking the thick envelope and checking it inside. This man really has nothing else to spend his money on, doesn’t he? I know he’s also very generous, but this is just too much.

‘I love it,’

“I mean, the offer is still out there, you know, I’d be more than happy to have you—”

“How dare you attempt to headhunt my brother right in front of my face, the dis-f*cking-respect!” Denis interjected, standing up abruptly and spreading his arms wide between us as if drawing a line and creating a distance. This is why I didn’t tell him that I almost accepted Javier‘s past job offers.

I was too money-hungry for someone who doesn’t even know how to spend money other than food and therapy sessions.

Javier grimaced at Denis, “dude, why you are being so f*cking high-strung today?” he asked, took him long enough to get fed up with Denis’ designated attitude for the day, I don’t know how Denis just goes on to decide what kind of bullsh*t he’ll force people to suffer with but whatever it was ‘this’ shouldn’t be one of his options.

“He’s always high-strung,” I corrected,

“I’m always high-strung!” Denis confirmed, at the same time as I, which seemed to convince Javier. Then again, he’s been friends with Denis for a damn long time, he knows. He just probably wants to, occasionally, b***h about it because it warrants him at least that much.

Once again he rubbed his temples and sucked in a deep breath, dragging his hand over his face as he gave Denis an exasperated expression, “Look, Denis wherever this attitude came from let’s just acknowledge it next time, I need to do something important today,” he begged, that’s how it sounded like,

Denis crossed his arms and sniffed with a scowl etched on his face, “I hope that involves getting security again,”

“It’s doesn’t,” Javier spat,

“oh, get f*cked,” Denis shot back with the matching hand gesture as he left the room. I just nodded to Javier as I followed Denis, who’s stomping the whole way back to our car.

He wasn't speaking, preferable.

He’s eager to get out of here, efficient.

He drove fast, but he’s concentrated, focused.

He’s doing everything in a way that I personally favored. I hate it when he gets like this. What he makes in his efficiency in things like this meant the price to pay was to deal with his sh*tty mood along with it. I don’t know what triggered his foul mood, but I don’t want to involve myself to the point I'll find out.

The car ride was silent which was a given he driving for the directions back home, I checked the time I guess it’s too early to get lunch outside; I hope he at least cooks at home since we’re not exactly a family that can easily hire people to help us out with housework.

We all have trust issues.

Once we arrive home, the first agenda is to identify the rest of the staff involved in these backdoor deals. We got off the car that Denis parked perfectly, might I say, and headed straight to the basement. Just me though, Denis went off to his room to probably stare at the ceiling to bask in his emotions.

“Oh, you’re back… I thought you’ll leave me to die,” the man greeted,

“Ew, no, that would stink up the room," I refuted, "Tell me the names of your other colleagues,” I said, getting straight to the point,

He flinched and threw me quite the defiant look until he recalled where he is, “Ah… right, well there’s Jacob Abbot, Kyle Creed, Lesley Brettman, Matthew Elon, and me,” he listed,

“Who the hell is ‘me’?” I asked. I wish I was this air-headed, he seems to live quite a worry-less life,

“Oh, yeah I’m Niall Dominique,”

“Right,” I said as I pulled out my phone, listing the names in a text message for Javier.

“I think we got something again tonight, you can try to catch them then, although we five always go together they’ll probably still pull through tonight, thinking they’ll get fired soon anyway, I mean we all panicked when you started chasing us last night,” he followed up in a rant.

….

‘What the—does he get like long interval genius spurts like a f*cking spontaneous influx of brain cells?’

“You just made the worst and best suggestion of your life, what would your friends think?” I told him, crossing my arms, I’m not even going to hide the fact that I was elated with this development,

He shrugged, or at least tried to despite his current state, “It’s not like I’m in any position to be dignified, I mean…I know when to give up, I’ve already spent the night here thinking of a way of escape but all I managed to do is fight my bladder and not piss myself,” he replied.

If there was ever an instance where the best possible hostages are put through a reality show about which of them would be more ideal to work with, this guy, Niall is going to win by a f*****g landslide. The progression of this interaction is sent to me by God himself,

“…I might just keep you alive, f*cking hell,”

“Now don’t bring my hopes up like that,”

“No, I’m serious—tell me the details of the deal tonight and I’ll let you go, given you’ll be one of my living targets and you’ll get to spend the rest of your life watching your back that’s good enough, right?” I offered again, he looks like he’ll agree with this in a heartbeat.

‘This man went through the night and thought ‘I’m ready to die’ and just waited. His fighting spirit expired quicker than I was used to,

“And if my friends hunt me down for snitching?” he asked,

“I’ll kill them before that happens,”

“Sh*t—this is kinda compelling,”

I scoffed, nodding along, “Right? Let me ask you something, do you even like those pals of yours?” I asked, and he blew raspberries.

“F*ck no we’re co-workers, of course not,”

“So?... what’s the f*cking hold up for?”

“You know what…you’re right, fine! Tonight is at the same time or later maybe, I mean they ought to be rattled from yesterday, they’ll be driving two cars—I mean what you saw yesterday is just the same as tonight, probably,” he narrated, it didn’t give much, his informative skills are s**t but the guy has a peculiar survival instinct that works for him, I’ll give him that.

“Got it, I’ll set you free tonight when I leave,”

“Oh for sure, no rush,”

I almost chuckled, to think the most agreeable person today would be the f*cking hostage, for the meantime, I need to figure out how I’ll go about it tonight. Do I just catch them in the act, maybe torment them a little before pulling the trigger? Or do I use this opportunity to…

No, why would I still think about infiltrating the place? I’ll just find the details involved in Javier’s case and that’s it.

‘But the f*cking hyper-fixation is still here, what the hell is wrong with my head now?’

I thought, it’s difficult to think like this. I’m not used to countering myself. I have flawless intuition. Arthur will be the cause of my demise at this rate, things get progressively wrong ever since I met her, I guess my 'flawless intuition' crumbled along with that because if that were true I wouldn’t have accepted helping her in the first place.

Still, while I haven’t decided yet, like a f*cking moron, I texted Javier about the details of my follow-up plan, he replied that ‘I shouldn’t have troubled myself’ I texted back ‘I just want to do it,’ so he won’t think some self-indulgent thing like that again I’m not doing this extra bit for him—ahh s**t… I AM DOING THIS FOR ARTHUR.

‘I’m f****d, I need to get through this case I need to talk to Rodrigo about this before I become a serial killer,’

I might as well just ride whatever high this is and go ahead with the infiltration. I’ll meet them ahead of the actual dealing so they could bring me along inside. I’ll see what I can do from there. I need to change my appearance a little too. I don’t know how much Pierre knows from the last time he sent his guards after us.

The clock couldn’t go any slower until I waited for nighttime. I got my white streak dyed black with wax-like what Art did before and loaded up on extra ammunition. I have precise aim and hardly need more than one bullet per head, but who knows how many brains I’ll need to put holes through tonight?

I almost look forward to it.

Heading back to the basement, I unsheathed my knife and slowly sliced off the excessive amount of duct tape that I bound him with.

“After this, you’ll know nothing, no one, none of this happened, but keep these list of rules because if my name got out of the mouth of yours I’ll really kill you, and your boyfriend too so just shut up and you’ll have a relatively easy life,” I explained and he’s more than eager to listen, nodding at my every condition.

Now that’s been settled, I knocked him out cold and tied his hand and feet again before throwing him in the backseat of the car I’ll be using. I texted Javier to leave his traitorous staff to their devices again tonight, so the plan transpires, more or less, faultless. He confirmed that those men were present and they’ll probably go through with tonight, so I just went ahead and waited in a hidden alley near the lab. I’ll intercept them around here.

I got out of the car and grabbed a smoke, thinking just how far I’ll go for this sh*t— there’s a person-

“What the hell are you doing here?” a voice called behind me. I already had my gun aimed at them by instinct, but I slowly lowered it.

“None of your business, Inka,” I replied as I watched her figure emerge from the shadows. She crossed her arms and glared at me, was my response too rude? Certainly.

She walked closer, gesturing to my cigarette, “Lend me a light,” she said, and I threw her my lighter as she used it to light her own stick before throwing it back to me,

“Are you following Arthur?” she asked,

“…the world doesn’t revolve around her,” I replied, although lately, my mind is doing that exact thing,

“It’s a yes or no question,” she pressed,

“It’s a no,” I answered coldly, matching her tone,

“…I have nothing against you, Valya, but for the sake of the mission and Arthur's stability, I’d prefer if you keep your distance, she needs to focus now more than ever,” she began speaking, puffing smoke after.

“I didn’t ask,” is all I replied. I’m not really present in this conversation. I’m still looking out to the highway, waiting for my targets.

She sighed and tapped the ashes off her cig, “Man, don’t be petty like this—her brother sent her a letter, alright? She’s so close—”

‘…wait what?’

“He’s given us clues on to make it work for his escape and I can’t have Arthur falling head over heels for you at the moment—”

‘What the f*ck—No, wait—’

My thought process couldn’t follow her words at the moment and just like a cruel twist, the moment I whipped my head to face her as she spoke, I just missed my targets who were now heading to the Mariella labs.

“f**k!”

“Whoa…dude there’s no need to yell—”

“Get in the car! No time to explain—get in the car!” I yelled, interrupting and catching her off guard enough to make her do just that as I sped through to catch up to my targets, my mind more in a haze now than ever but I need to go through this, otherwise, I’d beat myself up over it. I’ll cross other bridges when I get there.