Second Assault — Bond And Treason — novel Chapter 21

Monday, April 15th. Oriol facilities, 10:25 a.m.

ALEXEI

We've been staying here for two days.

This facility has twice the security standards of Moscow. Contrary to a mansion as many would expect, the place looks more like a very advanced and exaggeratedly guarded military base and is not far from reality. Inside, though, the story is different.

Quite similar in its interior to The Mansion, it has a series of corridors, rooms, halls and gymnasiums properly adapted to fulfill any need.

There are almost no windows and the exits are limited. Bearing in mind that there is only one door at the front, quite narrow, and a panel at the back meticulously camouflaged and heavily guarded. Plus a small underground passage just below the living room desk that I designated as my new office.

After I managed to get hold of the property, I had it built this way in case of an extreme emergency, which I believe we are now. When we finally arrived on Friday, late at night, I made sure to leave Xander inside the vehicle while my men moved quickly to secure the perimeter and unload the trucks.

After that, the focus was on making the place habitable. Between Nikon and Adrik, the orders to the henchmen were assigned with speed and efficiency, Yaakov helped a very stressed Lev to carefully manipulate things when they were lowered from the cars.

Derek was stuck like gum to Xander, under my detailed specifications. And although the view was not the most pleasant, I forced myself to tolerate it.

Something happened that surprised me and made me happy at the same time. Everyone gave a warm welcome to Xander, albeit with a proper and respected distance after I made sure to leave that point clear when they heard about his rescue. Lev wanted to hug him desperately, but he stood firm and on the side, even though that wasn't the case with my brother.

Like a lightning bolt, he went and held Xander in the arms, even though his little body became rigid at once and tried to sneak away, in the end, he gave in and both of them cried for a long time, holding each other.

The scene moved me deeply. Right there, I saw two of the most important people in my life, rocking slightly on the spot as they let their restrained emotions flow freely. It was really beautiful and at the same time irreparably sad, considering the circumstances.

—Are you sure you want to do that? — My cousin consults me, obviously concerned —. I mean, I appreciate him rescuing Xander, but I still don't think we should fully trust him, Magnus.

—I know, but he's on the way. There's nothing to be done anymore — I feel his footsteps accelerating behind mine as we head to the meeting room for another reunion with the other members of The Gang —. My debt to him is immense, Yaak. He rescued Xander, offered him medical assistance, and didn't use him as a tool to take advantage. I am deeply grateful and I will never be able to pay him back for all he did for us.

—I understand, Magnus. But... — running a hand through his hair, pulling the strands between the fingers before releasing them —. I don't know. It's just impossible for me to trust a Zhukovski. I guess I'll have to get to know him a little better before I can let my guard down with him.

—Oh, no — I stopped on the spot, almost making him crash into me —. I didn't say anything about letting down our guard — I warned him —. I invited him because I think the way we left his house after all he did was a little rude and Xander insisted he wanted to remedy it. However, I didn't say anything about making us better friends.

—So? — he asks in confusion —. What are you supposed to expect from this meeting?

—Well — on the way again —. Xander will thank him properly, I will apologize for the abruptness of our withdrawal from his property and perhaps discuss some work issues. Nothing further than that.

—Do you want me to be there with you? — we turn a corner in the long corridor until we are in front of the door that will take us to our destination. I take the knob and before I open it, I look at my cousin.

—It won't be necessary, I can handle it — a slight wrist movement and we're already entering the spacious and slightly lit meeting room —. Good morning, gentlemen — I greet as I walk steadily and quickly to my seat, crossing one leg over the other —. Enlighten me.

—Well, I'm sorry to start the day with bad news, but... — Adrik's moving around uncomfortably —. The base in Moscow was bombed.

—Please — Yaakov moans —. Tell me you're joking — his tone is both sullen and resigned.

—I wish, but no — Nikon complains, snorting through bulging cheeks —. Another gift, courtesy of Dimitri Zhukovski.

—Damage? — I bite my tongue trying to contain the unadorned series of insults intended to curse Dimitri over and over again.

—Luckily the garage and the front yard suffered most of the impact — Lev announces diligently —. Although, part of the hall and some rooms were quite destroyed.

—Most likely they used missiles — Fred reveals and I believe him. If there's anyone here who can detect exactly one specific type of explosive, it's him —. The grenades aren't powerful enough to cause that much damage, let alone with the defenses The Mansion had in place.

—It's a fucking relief that you insisted on coming, Magnus — my cousin tells me, genuinely relieved —. Who knows how many of our men would have been hurt...

—Or dead — Nikon interrupts him suddenly —. You'll realize when you see the images I passed on to you, the place is a total ruin.

—Needless to say, it's time to act — I take a deep breath before continuing —. We've had enough attacks from that bastard without doing a damn thing about it. Well, that's all over now.

—What do you suggest? — Adrik questions, one of his eyebrows raised. But when I am about to answer, Vasily bursts into the room announcing Angelo Dalaras' arrival on the premises. I order him to let Dalaras in while I dispatch the others.

—Yaak — I'll call him before he leaves the room —. Tell Xander to come here — He nods and walks away. Soon after, the door is opened again, revealing a neatly dressed Angelo, with a faint smile on the face and a firm, upright posture.

—Good to see you again, Magnus — he approaches me and I stand up so I can shake his hand —. I was a little worried about you, I must admit I was surprised to get your call.

—Yes, about that... — I give him a gesture with my hand, telling him to sit down, I do the same —. I'm sorry things went that way, but I had to act fast to get Xander out of there safely, and I wanted to take advantage of the night's shelter for that. I told your assistant to let you know, but I still wanted to tell you personally.

—Oh, please, Magnus. Cut the formalities — waving a hand like he's scaring off a fly.

—. I did what I did without expecting anything in return and I'm glad I did it.

—What about your cousin? — I ask without being able to help myself —. Does he suspect you in any way? — He sighs and lies down on the chair, and looking at him more closely, I notice that he seems a little worn out, with bags under the eyes which are already beginning to turn of a pale purple hue.

—Well, I think so — he says finally, grimacing —. I'm being watched. Take it easy... — Raising the hands, stopping me, when he saw that I was going to reply —. I made sure many times that I was not being followed. And I used one of my men as a distraction while I was at it, so there is no danger.

—Well, don't get me wrong. It's just that it's hard for me to trust anyone these days.

—I understand that. The whole infiltrator situation, right?

—Yes, he was the cause of your cousin getting Xander and several of my men died because of him — I cross hands on the desk and lean in close to him —. I don't like to think about the possibility of you being on his side, but you're part of his family. It's hard to find a reason why you would do this selflessly — he nods slowly and his expression seems far away, as if he were thinking about something.

—You know, since I was seven years old, between my uncle, Dimitri's father, and mine, I have been forced to witness many things that still haunt me and cause me nightmares at night. My mother, one of the sweetest women I have ever known, fought constantly to prevent this from happening, but without success.

He stops for a minute and I try not to say anything so he doesn't feel pressured. He is completely free to decide whether he wants to continue with the story or not, no matter how curious I am about the rest of it.

—My father never raised a hand against her, but it wasn't necessary, the psychological abuse was enough — his eyes went down to his hands, twisting nervously in the lap —. She tried to kill herself when I was ten, but she was quickly taken to the hospital and they managed to save her.

Takes a deep sigh and continues.

—When I turned fifteen, I had seen so much and been forced to do much more than I can honestly count. My mother couldn't bear it and went to live with her sister in London, leaving me completely under my father's will. When I turned twenty, I managed to get out of there, and although the damage had been done, I swore that I would never be like him.

His hands interlock and his knuckles turn white from the heavy pressure. His face now expresses restrained anger, the skin is red and the veins sticking out of his neck and forehead.

—No matter what he forced me to do, I dedicated myself to following my path and helping those in need. But my cousin, let's say he embraced the darkness — his eyebrows furrowed and he raised his eyes, finding mine —. He and I are very different, Magnus. He enjoys doing evil, whereas my case is completely the opposite. I couldn't have lived with myself knowing that Xander was there and not having done anything to help him. I'm not like that and I never will be.

Well, fuck. Of all the possibilities that crossed my mind in a vague attempt to understand Angelo's compassionate attitude, I never imagined that I would be here, sitting in front of him sharing such intimate details of his past and... That I understood him perfectly.

—Your willpower will be broken and intoxicated only if you allow it, Angelo — I tell him with determination, he opens his eyes wide, obviously not expecting my answer —. I think it is a worthy and brave thing on your part to have been able to forge your path. Not everyone has the balls to do something like that — we remain silent for a few seconds until a faint smile is drawn on the corner of his lips.

—Thank you, Magnus.

The door is opened once again, this time Xander being followed by Fredek crosses the threshold. My brother holds a round, covered tray in the hands.

We both stand up and Angelo's smile widens when he sees my partner.

—Xander! What a joy to see that you are well — he stretches out the arms wanting to hug him, but quickly steps back as he remembers his refusal to be touched —.You look incredible, I'm so happy — Xander smiles and from his pocket, pulls out the notebook and begins to write. I grimace, I hate the damn thing.

He stretches out one arm, showing Angelo what he wrote, a few seconds pass in silence as he reads and I see the whole situation behind them.