A Knife on His Lap|| Bodyguard AU

Tears

Warning this chapter contains violence.

~Alexie Ivanov~

I hummed serenely as I strolled toward the docks, the crisp cold air gently caressing my face. Parking my car adjacent to an abandoned factory, I whistled a tune, my steps leading me inside, where an irritatingly chirpy voice awaited me. "Heyyy Al-chan~~," the grating sound resonated throughout the vacant space.

With a sigh, I chose to ignore the source of the voice emanating from a tablet held by one of Handler's henchmen. Constrained by the council's imposed restrictions, all of his activities were under scrutiny until the judgment at the month's end. However, this did not imply that these novices could rein him in. He remained a maverick of free will, acting on his own terms and for whomever he pleased. My attention shifted to two men suspended upside down from the bars above, a smirk slowly etching its way onto my lips.

"Update," I commanded the henchman standing near them in my fluent Russian accent. The man stepped forward, handing me another tablet as I scrolled through their information, my brows quirking in annoyance.

"The man following you is Marcus Rodriguez, and the driver of the car that you hit is Kwame Osei," Handler filled me in from the background. "Both men recently hired rogues, affiliating with no particular group. I investigated their connections, and it appears to be a series of third parties with no definitive link, but—" he hesitated as I glared at the cowering men. Their fates were already predetermined once they got caught, but I wouldn't make it easy for them.

I clicked my tongue at his hesitance and spat, "Just spit it out, Handler."

"I think they are related to Li Mei Zhang," he continued.

I narrowed my eyes at the name, a bitter taste of blood rising in my mouth as I recalled the Hong Kong mafia princess. "Ugh..." I expressed in distaste. The relentless pursuit of money and power by that irritating woman bothered me beyond comprehension.

"You sure?" I asked as I proceeded to strip off my shirt, tossing it toward another henchman who skillfully caught it.

"Hmmm... gathering information is more of your expertise," he cooed in response.

I hmmed as I turned my attention back to the men hanging like the tarot card, The Hanged Man. "Do you know," I addressed the dangling men, "what the Tarot card, The Hanged Man, signifies?

"Hmm?" I looked at them, awaiting their responses, only to be met with confused looks all around. I turned toward the henchman, receiving the same response.

"Oh, I know, Al!" a chirpy voice intercepted.

I ignored the voice on the screen and cast another glance at the dangling men.

"Chooosee meee Allll Channnnn~"

Ignored.

"One implication can be Sacrifice and Surrender, meaning surrender to a situation or sacrifice for a greater purpose," I explained, taking in a sharp breath, my rage intensifying as my eyes pierced into the men. "Sacrifice for the tears that you cost my Nari!" I vociferated in anger, my voice echoing off the empty space's walls.

The men cowered in fear, the hysteria evident in my eyes. I looked at them once, urging one of the henchmen to bring forth the article I requested. He handed me a tailor's scissors as I nonchalantly stated, "I'll give either of you one chance." I asserted, "The number of tears that fell from Nari's eyes, I want equal payment."

I chirped in happiness as I could hear Handler's hysterical laugh echoing in the background. "So choose, it's a first-come, first-serve basis."

Instantly, at the thought of saving themselves, both men began to holler in unison, "Me!""Me!"