Three Hearts Left Intact

Chapter 63: Eavesdropping

"What about James?" Alex asked concerned seeing how terrified Zander was in his lap.

"E-earlier when you and Mallix were talking, Nina had to go the bathroom a-and she told me to stay here and to keep playing with the cards she had...b-but then when she was gone I saw James outside the window..."

Alex said nothing as he listened trying to picturing the moments happening in his mind. Just as Zander described he could envision what had occurred during his moment with Mallix on the couch.

"The window was open b-because Nina said she wanted some fresh air after the f-fight she had with James. B-but when she was gone I could hear him yelling out the window...I could see him on the phone. He was walking by the lake... and-and I don't think he saw me..." Zander looked nervous as his body began to tremble, he was staring straight off into space with shaking eyes before he looked down in his lap. "...but I could hear h-him talking to someone. He was y-yelling...and s-shouting... t-then h-he said..."

"Zander, buddy hey..." Alex softly said pulling him in closer to his body. For a moment there was silence between them, the only sound echoing through was from Zander trying to catch his breathe. His shaking only intensified and his eyes grew red.

Alex looked down seeing the awful look of dread on his boys face. Putting his hand firmly against Zander's head, he pulled him in holding his head against his chest. Alex hummed a rhythmical tune just barely loud enough for Zander to hear.

It only took a few seconds before Alex felt Zander's shaking cease. For the moment he was content to being held in Alex's arms feeling safe. "You don't have to tell me anything if you're not ready to." Alex broke off from his melody to calm the young boy in his arms.

Zander's lips trembled trying to contain his emotions. 'I have to...' Zander thought as he wiped his nose with the back of his hand seemingly reversing all of Alex's attempts to calm him down. However unlike before his shaking only worsened.

"Hey Z, please buddy you've got to calm down. Your making me worried sick." Alex let go of Zander's head and moved him so he could have a better look at his face. "Your shaking up a storm Z, this is pretty seriou-..." as he brushed Zander's hair out of his face, Alex could see how pale he was. Instantly the look on Alex's face had changed.

Seeing how scared Zander was brought Alex to reality. He was no longer just soothing his little boy. The intensity of the situation had finally dawned on him when he could clearly see how distraught Zander was. 'This is serious.'

Looking Zander straight in the eyes Alex felt his own voice beginning to shiver, "Zander...what.did.you.hear?" He asked having no room for anything else to be said.

Looking up slowly Zander met Alex's eyes, the mere sight of him was enough to feel himself getting chocked up. But he had no choice. It was now or never, he had to do it. Holding back information as big as this would only hurt them in the long run.

Zander spoke from under his breathe trembling with every word that came out. It was near to impossible to understand what the young boy said. Grabbing ahold of his hands tightly, Alex squeezed them feeling a tear rising himself.

"What?!" Alex's voice got louder as he grew more frustrated needing to know.

This only caused Zander to shake more, he was already nervous enough as it was. But after seeing how anxious he had made Alex only made matters worst.

"Z?!" Alex got louder as tears fell out of his own eyes.

Much to Alex's surprise, Zander got still. Like a deer in headlights he froze. 'H-he yelled at me...' was all that ran through Zander's head. Alex was always a softie when it came to Zander. There never was a need for him to get loud with the younger man. This hit him harder than he would've liked to admit.

"Zander!" Alex felt himself shaking as he waited for Zander's doe eyes to focus back on him. There was an obvious shift in Zander's body language. He was no longer trembling in fear of spewing the information he knew, instead he was trembling over Alex. The shy boy was mentally exhausted already. He wanted nothing more than to be alone to clear his mind. He tried to move with as much strength as he could find to climb out of Alex's hold.

As soon as Alex felt Zander move slightly out of his lap, he grabbed the boys arms keeping him down in place finally snapping out of it when he could see his handprint against Zander's bare arms from his strong grip.

Swiftly Alex loosened his grip on Zander. He let go staring down at his hands ashamed of his own actions. "Z...Zander...I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean that...I was just getting overwhelmed...and I didn't...I shouldn't have taken it out on you like that." His hands were shaking as he looked over at the fear in Zander's eyes.

Alex looked down in his lap too embarrassed to even look at his little boy in the eyes. He had hurt him, something he had never wanted to do. "I-I'm sorry." He held his hands to his face letting tear after tear fall.

He heard a mild whisper from outside of his hands. But it was too soft for him to make out what Zander had said. But the moment was too soon, Alex hadn't built up the courage to dare to look at how scared he made Zander.

Again there was a noise. A louder mumble than before, but still too quiet for Alex to make out. Only this time he was able to hear Zander had said this with more strength in his voice. It trembled with every syllable, but at least he was able to get it out.

"He said she was sold!" He finally said loud enough to catch Alex's attention. His eyes had never opened so wide before in his life as he brought his head out of his hands seeing the boy in front of him curled up against the headboard of their bed rocking back and forth. "James...he...," he threw his head around hating the thought of even saying it again, "...he said Kaila was sold!"
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Let me know if you were expecting that. Thanks Lexx signing off