Three Hearts Left Intact

Chapter 64: Inside Job

"What did you just say?" Alex asked out of breathe as he sat up with disbelief in his eyes.

Zander's hands were shaking as he looked down in his lap. "James...when he was outside...I-I heard him tell whoever was on the other end of the phone that Kaila was sold." His voice got softer as he saw Alex slump down in his seat.

There weren't even words coming to mind in Alex's head. He was just shouting out a jumble of sounds getting out his frustration as he ran his fingers back through his hair. He froze with his head hung down low as he grunted.

"I'm going to kill him, that traitor! How could he do that to Mallix! To Lain! They've done nothing to him in all these years! They even let the rat work for them when he had no where else to turn to! And this...this is the kind of respect their shown!" He growled slamming his fists down onto the bed several times. Zander couldn't stand to watch. Alex was whispering threats towards James as he began to strangle his blanket. It took him a few minutes before he had settled enough for Zander to pay attention again.

"How am I going to tell Mallix?" he said as he rubbed his temples in frustration. Looking up he saw Zander still curled up with his knees to his chest as he rubbed his hand nervously up his arm. "When was this again?"

"Uh, well after Mallix was yelling with James and he stormed out, Nina took me to her room to give Mallix some space. She opened the window when she brought out a stack of cards with pictures on them for us to play in the meantime. But she said she had to use the bathroom, and so I was just sorting through them while I waited. That's when I heard James yelling outside. He was shouting all kinds of bad names...and-" Getting more comfortable Zander unwrapped his arms around his legs.

"Z, please buddy. To the point."

"Oh right, sorry. Um...after James stopped yelling he was quiet for a while before he said that she was sold. That was about as much as I could hear, he got too quiet after that." Alex groaned putting his hand on Zander shoulder as he shook his head.

"What would we do without you Z?" He asked with a sad smile and ruffling up his hair before he pulled his hand away.

Zander just sent him back a small smile, still sad to have had to been the one to deliver the news.

Alex sighed, "this makes things so much more complicated. I guess Mallix was wrong about who he was on the phone with," he shrugged.

"What do you mean?" Zander faced him.

Alex internally facepalmed realizing what he let slip out. Just when he was about to make up a lie to coverup his mistake he caught an innocent look of curiosity across from him. He frowned already feeling horrible about even thinking about lying to Zander's face.

His frustration only grew as he growled getting closer to Zander, "alright listen, you do not repeat anything that I'm saying, got it?"

Zander nodded his head listening closely.

"Back when I was talking to Mallix, he was telling me about...well, how he thinks James is in it with the Fendly's."

"Wait! You mean he's a like a spy!" Zander yelled scaring Alex. He put his hand over his mouth looking at him with a scary face. Watching as Zander's face grew red, Alex pulled his hand away as the poor boy gasped for air. As soon as the color returned to his face, Zander leaned in whispering again, "he's a spy?!"

"No...well yes...just look. Mallix just had a suspicion. Well I guess it's pointless now. It's confirmed now, thanks to you. Now everything is making more sense. After the half ass story about how he escaped his captors and how he's always picking a fight around here, it's all coming full circle."

Alex inhaled sharply as he sat with his back against the headboard besides Zander. The small boy put his head down on Alex's shoulder, wrapping his arms around Alex's.

"We should tell him, and Nina." Zander suggested.

Leaning down Alex put his hand against Zander's head to hold him still as he placed a small peck on his head. "No, not we buddy. I'll tell them and you stay here."

"What? But I was the one who found out-"

"No." Alex said sternly grabbing Zander's chin and lifting it to see his eyes, "look, we are lucky you were there to hear James confession. But this information is going to start even more drama. James is in for it as soon as they both know. I already have my own exchange of words that I would like to share with him...and so the three of us going at him...I don't want you to be in the middle of it all."

"But that's not fair, I can take it."

"Zander I said no."

"Alex please I can handle it."

"Zander enough."

"But I wanna be there-"

"Zander I said enough!" Alex moved away from Zander sitting on the edge of the bed looking out the window. "You are staying here and that's the end of this. If James is really in on all of this then he's capable of some dangerous things. And...and I can't have anything happening to you."

Alex felt a part of the bed dip behind him, not looking away from the window he felt two small arms wrap themselves around his neck. He sighed patting Zander's small hands right over his Adam's apple. For a moment the two of them sat still, Zander rested behind Alex as they watched the sun set outside their window.

Grabbing Zander out from behind him, Alex pulled him into a hug. "You stay here and lock the door. I'm going to go tell them now. The sooner they know the better. And in the worst case scenario, at least I'll know your safe." Alex pulled out as Zander looked down nodding.

In a matter of seconds Zander was left all alone on the bed as Alex stood outside their bedroom door looking back at him. "Remember, lock the door." He whispered to Zander as he shut it behind him.

Waiting by the door for another minute, Alex could hear the lock of their bedroom door. Taking a deep breathe he walked through the halls trying to get to Nina's room seeing as it was closer. The cabin was quiet. Alex curiously looked out towards the living room noticing all the lights in the cabin turned on, but no one in sight. 'Guess James is asleep already. Makes this easier.'

Finally knocking on Nina's door, he noticed their was no light poking out from underneath. Inside he could barely hear any noise. After a minute of no answer he knocked again, getting angsty he turned around tapping his foot with his arms crossed. It only took a few extra seconds before it opened.

"Hey Nina..." Alex dragged out as he turned around but was surprised to see James standing in the doorframe.
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Let me know what you think. Thanks Lexx signing off