Jennifer's scream caused the trio to turn and look at her, their attention and guns momentarily diverted away from the injured man.
I watched everything in slow motion. As the heads began to turn towards the scream, Alexander smirked and kicked out his leg. His foot connected with the shin of the leader, sending him crumpling to the ground. Before the other two could react, he pulled out two guns. There was a blast as Alexander shot the leader in both his forearms.
The henchmen turned to train their guns on Alexander, but he had already moved from his position by the door. The second to go down was the woman. He grabbed her long hair, bending her backwards, while simultaneously twisting her arm until she dropped her gun. Kicking the gun away, he backhanded her in the face. Her body crumpled.
The second man, who had had more time than the others, had managed to fix his gun on the one thing he was sure to hit. I watched as a gun was pointed at myself for the third time that night.
Moving faster, Alexander reached the man just as the gun went off. I winced as I felt the bullet shave my shoulder.
Alexander was less kind to the man, kicking him in the ribs. The sound of cracking bone reached my ears.
The man dropped the gun as pain raced through my body. Backhanding the man like he had done the girl, Alexander watched the man for a moment before looking up at the pair he'd come to save.
"Ryder, tell the police to come upstairs, the fourth door on the right."
It took me a moment to realize that Alexander was speaking to someone over a headset. Alexander's dark eyes scanned the pair before him, checking them for injuries. Nodding at something that only he could hear, Alexander walked up to Jennifer.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
As if she were a puppet whose string had been cut, she slid to the floor, shaking violently.
Taking her lack of response as a good thing, he turned towards me.
"Are you okay?"
I smiled gratefully. "Apart from the gunshot wound, I'm sure I'll be fine."
I watched as the man resisted a smile in response. "I'm sorry you had to get shot, although you seem pretty… unfazed by it. Let me see your shoulder."
I shrugged out of my dress' sleeve—poor beautiful thing had cost a fortune and now, not only was it torn, but also soaked in blood—to allow Alexander better access to the wound. As Alexander bent closer to examine to wound, I stiffened.
The movement that had brought the man closer had also brought with it Alexander's scent. I felt my pupils dilate for a moment as I breathed it in. Violent heat flooded my stomach.
Just as quickly as he had moved in, however, Alexander moved away.
"It'll be fine. Just have the paramedics bandage it up," he said.
I nodded my head automatically, my mind suddenly hyper alert.
There was a noise from the doorway, causing the three to turn. The police and paramedics had arrived upstairs and were now taking in the scene. The person in charge spotted the three by the wall.
"Don't you three go anywhere. We'll need to take your statements." He peered closer at their faces. "Linette Rose. Jennifer. And—"he paused in surprise. "Well, if it isn't the man himself."
Alexander bowed his head in greeting.
"Inspector Kim. How're things?"
The inspector nodded absentmindedly, sharp eyes focusing on Alexander. "Fine, fine. I expect that you'll be disappearing sometime during the night, before giving your statement, as usual. Will I be getting a report from the company?" he asked tiredly.
Alexander nodded. "Of course."
The Inspector sighed and waved his hand. "Whatever. Just take those two and get out of here."
Alexander said nothing as he helped Jennifer up and led the way out of the room. Once they'd reached the top of the staircase, he turned to Jennifer.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to go take care of a few things now. I'll send you home with the guard and give you an update in the morning. Try to get some sleep. I recommend some strong sleeping pills, if it'll help."
Jennifer seemed to come out of her stupor. She nodded. "Of course."
Alexander turned to go.
"Wait, Alexander!" Jennifer grabbed Alexander's arm and turned him back around. My friend then turned to me. "Linette, I'd like you to meet Alexander Day. Alexander, this is Linette Rose, a dear friend of mine."
Alexander watched me with unreadable eyes as he stretched out his hand in greeting.
"Nice to meet you," he said in a smooth voice.
I shook the offered hand with a smile. "It's nice to meet you too. I owe you my life, Alexander."
Alexander tried to pull his hand away, but I held on to it. "It was nothing."
I shook my head. "Not at all. You're not being paid to save my life." I pinned Alexander with a look. "You can fully expect me to repay you for this." I released Alexander's hand.
With that, Alexander turned around and made his way down the stairs.
I watched him go.
It's nice to meet you too, yes indeed.
*
Alexander's jaw cracked loudly as he yawned, stretching backward in an effort to relieve his cramped muscles. Nothing could beat sitting in front of a computer typing up reports after a job. The tediousness. The burning eyes. The sickly pallor that accompanied sitting in front of a computer for hours. The inevitable hunched back from the slow, downward progression of his spine.
Just lovely.
Unfortunately, however, reports were a part of the job (although no one had been kind enough to inform him of this very important aspect when he'd first signed up) and Gustavo would be damned if Alexander got away without doing them.
Clicking the save button, Alexander pushed away from his desk, glancing around furtively. Standing up, he peeked out of his office across the hall. Connor's back was to him, focusing on something on his computer screen, headphones plugged in.
Seeing Matthew walk past, Alexander grabbed his jacket and slipped it on.
"Going somewhere?"
Alexander cringed at the sound of Connor's voice. Damn it. Just when he thought Connor had forgotten about him.
Alexander turned and looked down at the small man. "I'm going to the bathroom." He raised his eyebrows. "What, I can't even do that?"
Connor narrowed his eyes, not trusting Alexander's explanation, but nodded anyway.
"Hurry up. But…" Connor stuck out a hand. "Jacket."
Alexander took off his jacket and handed it over, not hiding his disappointment. Now he would freeze when he eventually got outside. "Can I go now?"
"Wallet."
He grimaced, handing it over. Now he'd be cold AND poor.
Connor stepped aside, allowing Alexander to pass by, throwing the jacket back on a chair.
Feeling Connor's eyes on his back as he walked down the hall, Alexander continued until he entered the bathroom, allowing a small smirk to settle onto his lips. Poor Connor. No one liked the task of ensuring that Alexander finished his reports.
After the first attempt, when Alexander had hijacked the system computers, effectively shutting down the building for three weeks all because Gustavo had threatened to freeze his fieldwork if "you don't complete the damn report!" the job of ensuring Alexander's promptness with reports had become a game among the rest of the members. The loser had to face the wrath of Alexander until the report was handed in.
Alexander shook his head. He really liked Connor, even though the man had never cracked a smile at any of the members. In fact, his frosty demeanor seemed to be the only thing he ever showed anyone. Sometimes, however, Alexander liked to believe Connor was less frosty towards him. They'd both ended up at HAN Securities within a few months of each other and had offices next to each other. Although the man was tiny, he'd ensured that no one overlooked him at HAN, glaring at the first person who'd made a noise resembling "How cute!" (It'd been Matthew, who steadfastly denied that he'd been planning on saying anything of the sort). Not that Connor had to worry about anyone belittling him at HAN though. Rather, everyone was afraid of facing him.
Alexander looked at his reflection in the mirror, fixing his hair. Regardless of frigidity, though, it was still a fact that it has hell for anyone to get him to complete his reports.
He smirked.
No way in hell was he going to make it easy for his coworker.
There was the flush of a toilet as Matthew stepped outside one of the stalls. Seeing Alexander, Matthew grinned in welcome. It was no secret that Alexander was one of Matthew's favorite people at the company. The two tended to get into more trouble than they were worth at times.
"Dude, when'd you get back from your assignment? How was the pop star? I heard that you saved some top model's life."
Alexander froze for a second, remembering how Jennifer's friend had looked at him when they'd shook hands, before he grunted, pretending to continue fixing his hair.
"I got back this morning. As for the pop star, to say the least, she constantly had a stick up her ass and made sure that I was reminded of this fact every hour of every day. There were moments when I really had to consider whether or not to just shoot her myself and blame it on her stalker. Unfortunately, I was reminded repeatedly by Ryder that he'd get no money if I killed the client and framed someone else. Which would effectively crush his plan to buy a new pair of designer jeans."
Alexander paused with his preening, taking a moment to study himself in the mirror. "And when I finally get back, Gustavo immediately sends me to go get my report done. I've been going at it for god knows how long and I feel like my eyes have been burned out."
Matthew turned on the tap and ran his hand under the faucet, looking at Alexander in the mirror.
"That bad, huh?"
Alexander shrugged. "It could be worse. I feel bad though."
Matthew turned to dry his hands on a towel. "About what?"
Alexander glanced at Matthew. "It's just that Connor is stuck with making sure I finish my report and he's been sitting at his desk for longer than even me." Alexander saw Matthew's confused face. "He pulled an all-nighter last night," he whispered confidentially. He sighed. "I just wish he would go get something to eat at least. I don't think he's eaten yet."
"…He hasn't eaten yet?"
"Not for the past sixteen hours at least."
Alexander suppressed a smile when he saw Matthew's eyes light up with understanding. Nothing better than an eager newbie that's easily tricked. If it was no secret Matthew liked Alexander, then it was a well-known fact that Matthew's other favorite person was Connor, although for completely different reasons.
Matthew gave Alexander a distracted pat on his back, an idea already forming in his head.
"We'll talk later, hmm?" he said, opening the door, a determined glint in his eyes.
"He's a sucker for Chinese food!" Alexander called after the retreating man.
Grinning, he opened the door a peak and watched as Matthew approached Connor. He chuckled as Connor noticed the other man's approach, his eyes widening for moment in surprise before he turned to face the other direction and began walking away. Seeing his target escaping, Matthew sped up, managing to catch the older man by his elbow.
Covering his mouth to muffle his laughter, Alexander took the opportunity to slip out of the bathroom and make his way away from the dysfunctional pair. Deep down, he did feel some pity for Matthew and his failed attempts at trying to befriend Connor. He'd even admit to feeling momentarily guilty at using the poor kid in his plan to escape. No doubt Connor would dig into him later on when he found Alexander gone. And then Matthew would call Alexander crying over the fact that Connor wasn't going to talk to him ever again. Alexander felt his guilt deepen as he imagined Matthew's sad face.
All thoughts of guilt disappeared, however, as soon as he spotted the exit sign. Whopping silently at yet another successful escape, Alexander picked up his pace. Only three more steps and then…
"There you are, Alex." Alexander resisted the urge to stomp his foot like a child as someone grabbed his elbow and dragged him away from the door. "I've been looking all over for you."
Alexander looked at his freedom getting further away from him and glanced at Gustavo desperately.
"Yeah, can we talk later? I really need to…"
"I have a job for you," Gustavo said, pulling Alexander around a corner, ignoring his friend's request. "Someone came in this morning asking for you specifically." He shot Alexander a sidelong glance. "She said you know her."
Gustavo didn't usually show personal interest in people who came asking for specific members. Unless the members, like Alexander, had a reason why no one should come looking for them. Taking one last look at his freedom, Alexander sighed and pulled his elbow out of Gustavo's grip, falling into step with the older man. Freedom would just have to wait.
"Who is it?" he asked, his tone immediately serious.
Gustavo gave him another glance. "I thought it would be better if you saw who it was for yourself."