Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 69: Hank's Words

Alex could feel his breaths coming quicker, his pulse beating faster, and his eyes dating between the pair of men on either side of him. He should not be nervous or worried, but yet everything felt wrong about this situation.

What was going on? Why were they doing this to him? Could he trust both of these people that meant the world to Hailey?

"Alex..." Hank's deep voice repeats once again, laced with a mix of seriousness and softness. It sounded like he wanted his utmost attention and there was no way out of this, but yet also the sweet caring soul that he heard the boss could be from both Jay and Hailey. Why was he doing this to him if that was the case? 

"Alright, alright," he caves in, though keeps a hand on his pocket where his cellphone was, knowing a touch of a single button would connect him with Hailey. It should not be necessary with Jay and Hank, but could you blame him given the surrounding circumstances? He slowly gets out of the truck, his eyes still darting between the pair underneath the moonlight. "Could one of you tell me what is going on? This feels like a set-up. What is going on?" 

"There's a reason that you are here," Jay states quietly, part of him wanting to cave in and give up the ghost in the plan he had concocked with the boss. He knew of Alex's anxiety from the time they spent together. It wasn't fair to be messing with that right now. He could already see the lecture from Hailey once she found out, and perhaps CJ too. "There's something that you need to hear." 

"You both could've just told me without sounding like you are holding me up." Hank almost wanted to smile as that was part of why they had decided to go down this road. The message was certainly spreading as clear as he wanted it too.

"I wanted to make my point clear," Hank states as he puts his hands on Alex's shoulders, holding him by the truck. Alex looks towards the silos, followed by glancing across at Jay. He remembered what he had told him upon driving up to the property and seeing Hank's Dodge Dorango. Nothing felt right as much as he tried to relax himself over the words being said.

"I know you both care about Hailey," he comments as he tries to focus back on Hank in knowing that was the person closest to him. "I know that you have been there for her, helped her through a lot. But I told you - I will not do anything to hurt her. I love her and I care about her. She means the world to me, Hank." 

"Even though she is my ex-wife, I care about her a lot still," Jay starts, catching Alex's attention. He could see the nerves that Alex was experiencing and did not need a panic call to Hailey or a reason to get his ass kicked invoked. The sooner they got this message shared, the better. "So we both want to make a point clear to you. If you dare hurt her ever, we will find you, and we will be meeting here again." 

"It won't come to that..." Alex's voice was shaky in his response but that did not deter Jay as he kept his eyes only solely focused on Hank. He knew there was no way they were leaving until teh boss said so.

"It better not because you don't want to meet us here again on a bad day. This place..." Jay takes a deep breath, the past memories flashing through his mind once again. He swore he would never step foot on these grounds for that reason. "You don't want to become the next Silo Secret."

"You don't want to have to dig your own hole and lay in it," Hank adds, not allowing any distance to form between where he stood by Alex right now. If Jay was going to mention Silo Secret, then he could fully say what he had on his mind. It was why his hand reached into his pocket, and the gun slipped out. "We both know how to make a body disappear without a trace. If you dare hurt Hailey, this is a promise that you will return here without a single question." 

"I told you both - I am not going to hurt her," Alex repeats once again, his eye catching a glimpse of the shine by Hank's pocket. He then looks toward Jay, a mix of shock and anger. "Did you know this was going to happen when we pulled up here? Are you seriously allowing this to happen?" 

"If you hurt Hailey, you will find out just how involved Jay is in the whole process. He will be apart of the reason why your body won't be found. Just tell me that I've made my point crystal clear. Are you in full understanding of what I am saying right now?" Alex quickly nods his head as Jay reaches over, placing a hand on top of Hank's. He could see the anxious look growing on Alex's face, and heard it in the question he asked. 

"Alright, he's got the message and knows what you will do if he hurts Hailey," Jay states as he puts a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Just breathe and relax. I promise he won't do anything to you tonight. Alex, count to 10. Breathe....in for 6, out for 4..." Alex begins to follow the instruction as given to him by Jay, eyes locking together as he follows suit. 

"I did not mean to scare you," Hank states, feeling bad as he watches the scene unfold before him. He wanted to make his point clear, but also saw how much Hailey did love him. Being the reason he was panicking right now did not seem fair. "I just wanted you to understand how much she means to us. I figured this was the only way to properly display that." 

"Call it Hank's evil initiation to the family..." Hank gives Jay a look in response to the comment, but the laughter that escaped Alex in the small comment as the panic broke was all they both needed.

"I don't think he will be forgetting about this night anytime soon. It's a good reminder that will stick all those miles away from here. Just as long as you don't tell Hailey about our little secret here, or else she may kill us both."