Kapitel 20: Partner

[Warning: Mention of Relationship Between Two Males]

Without waiting for a response, she strode past him, prompting a sigh from him.

He walked into the second elevator and took out his phone as the elevator descended. His fingers moved on the screen as he dialed a number and brought the phone to his ear, counting the seconds until he heard that deep, aggravating voice.

However, no one picked up the call, even after he called four more times.

"So irresponsible. Where did he drop his damn phone this time?" Han muttered under his breath, glaring at the phone in frustration. He stared at the unresponsive screen for a few moments longer, then sighed, knowing he'd have to go and inform the jerk in person.

Han's distaste for the man was no secret, which worsened after what happened between them a year ago. But orders were orders. He only hoped Alessandro wouldn't cause more trouble than the task required.

Han straightened his suit jacket as the elevator came to a stop, and he stepped out and walked to the awaiting sleek car.

He got into the back seat. "To El Barrio," Han instructed the driver without hesitation.

The car smoothly pulled away from the underground parking area and sped through the dark, winding roads leading away from the main estate. Han stared out of the window, his fingers tapping impatiently on his knee as the lights of the city flickered in the distance. The drive was quiet, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the space.

Though Alessandro wasn't the leader, his cousin was. But he might as well be the leader because his cousin had transferred almost all the power to him in the guise of assisting. Ever since the gang's control had been taken over by Master Lyle, Alfred didn't have the desire to run it anymore. He had asked Master Aelion to take it, but he didn't care about it, so he'd asked Alfred to choose someone to take over from him. Since Alfred didn't want to give the position to an outsider, he chose his cousin, who was a mercenary.

A year ago, they'd gone on a mission together, but something went wrong, and Han was injected with a deadly aphrodisiac that even drugs couldn't suppress. So Alessandro did what he thought was right.

Just remembering the scene he saw the morning he woke up two days later in a bed with that bastard made his temple throb, but he forced himself to calm down.

Moments later, the car stopped, and Han stepped out.

He stood in front of a modern, unassuming building that blended seamlessly with the upscale neighborhood of El Barrio. The facade was striking yet understated, made of smooth concrete and glass that reflected the city lights, giving it an air of sophistication. As he approached the entrance, the doorman nodded respectfully, recognizing Han from previous visits.

Inside, the lobby was elegantly decorated, featuring minimalist art pieces and a soft ambient glow. Plush seating areas lined the walls, creating a comfortable yet discreet atmosphere. Han strode to the sleek elevator at the back, tapping the button for the penthouse level.

As the elevator doors slid open, he stepped into a private lounge area, rich with dark woods and contemporary furnishings. Large windows overlooked the city skyline, offering a breathtaking view of the shimmering lights below. A bar lined one wall, stocked with an impressive array of spirits, and the scent of high-end cigars lingered in the air.

He walked through the living room and toward the door before knocking.

The door swung open to reveal Alessandro himself, leaning against the doorframe with a lazy smirk. His dark hair was tousled, and his shirt hung open slightly at the collar. The man exuded a natural, almost irritating confidence that Han had always found grating.

"Han," Alessandro drawled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?"

"Your phone," Han said curtly, not bothering with pleasantries. "Answer it next time."

Alessandro raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "And miss the chance for a personal visit from you? That would be tragic."

Han's jaw clenched, but he forced himself to remain professional. "There is a job for you. Jania's orders. You're to gather your men and bring Marcellus in by dawn."

At the mention of Marcellus, Alessandro's playful expression changed into a curious one. His eyes narrowed, though his smile remained. "Marcellus, huh? And why, pray tell, does Jania want the dipshit?"

"That's not your concern," Han replied, his tone icy. "Just do as you're told. The boss wants results, and Jania doesn't want any more delays."

Alessandro pushed off the doorframe, stepping closer to Han, his presence suddenly more imposing. "I'll do it," he said quietly, "but it's not my fault if something happens while we're bringing him in. Don't you think it would be better if there was someone to supervise us? What do you say, Han?"

Han didn't flinch, though the tension between the two was palpable. "I'm sure you're not a kid who needs supervision to get the job done," he said, turning on his heel to leave.

Before he could walk away, Alessandro grabbed his hand and pulled him back, their faces inches away from each other.

"Come on, or are you scared?"

Han felt the warmth of Alessandro's breath against his skin, and for a moment, he was caught off guard by the proximity. He quickly regained his composure, pulling his hand free from Alessandro's grasp. "Don't get ahead of yourself," he snapped, forcing a veneer of bravado over the unease brewing within him. "I'm not scared of you."

Alessandro's smirk deepened, a playful glint in his eyes. "Then?"

"Let's go and get this over with."

---

The tension between Han and Alessandro simmered as they left the penthouse, Alessandro gathering his men for the raid on Marcellus—Rico, as they now knew him. The ride to East Village was a mixture of uneasy silence and occasional banter from Alessandro, who couldn't resist throwing quips at Han.

"Still tense, Han? You know, I thought we'd be past this by now," Alessandro said, leaning back in his seat as their convoy sped through the dark streets.

Han shot him a cold glance, jaw clenched. "This isn't the time for your nonsense, Alessandro."

"Always so serious," Alessandro teased. "Loosen up a little. You're going to get wrinkles."

Han ignored him, staring out the window at the passing city lights. Alessandro's casual arrogance grated on him, but he wouldn't let it get in the way of their mission.

Their convoy finally pulled up a block from Marcellus's lair, a dilapidated building hidden among the other run-down warehouses in East Village. Han was the first to step out, followed closely by Alessandro, whose smirk remained firmly in place.

"Remember," Han said, his tone firm as he adjusted his suit, "this isn't a free-for-all. We need him alive."

Alessandro rolled his eyes but nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Just like old times, right? Except this time, try not to fall into any traps."

Han shot him a sharp look. "Just focus."

They approached the warehouse in silence, Alessandro's men flanking them as they moved in. Two of the guards at the entrance were swiftly taken out by Alessandro's silenced pistol before they even had the chance to react. Han signaled for the rest of the team to move into position as they advanced deeper into the lair.

Inside, the air was thick with the stench of cigarettes and stale beer. Rico's men lounged around, clearly not expecting any visitors. Alessandro grinned at the sight.

"This is going to be too easy," he whispered, motioning for his men to take their positions around the perimeter.

Han nodded. As they moved further into the warehouse, the sounds of casual conversation and clinking bottles grew louder. They were close.

Suddenly, one of Rico's men noticed the movement. "Intruders!"

Gunfire erupted, the sharp sound ricocheting off the walls. Alessandro was already on the move, diving behind a stack of crates and firing off shots with deadly precision. Han followed suit, darting behind cover and using the chaos to neutralize two more guards.

"Getting sloppy," Alessandro called out over the noise, flashing Han a grin as he reloaded his weapon. "You used to be faster."

"Shut up and focus," Han snapped back, his eyes scanning the room for Rico.

Alessandro laughed, clearly enjoying himself. "You wound me, Han. I thought we were a team."

Han ignored the comment, pushing forward through the chaos. The guards were no match for Alessandro's men, who moved with efficiency, cutting down Rico's defenses one by one.

As the last of the resistance fell, Han spotted Rico slipping through a back door. He gave Alessandro a quick nod, and they both sprinted after him.

The chase led them to a small, dingy office at the back of the warehouse. Rico was cornered, breathing heavily, his eyes wide with fear as Alessandro and Han approached.

"Going somewhere?" Alessandro asked, his voice dripping with mockery.

Rico glared at them, but the fear was evident in his eyes. He raised his hands in surrender. "Look, I don't know who you are or what you want, but you've got the wrong guy—"

Alessandro cut him off with a swift punch to the gut, doubling Rico over. "We know exactly who you are, Marcellus," he said, the mockery gone from his voice now. "The real question is, who hired you to kill a girl named—" he turned to Han— "what's her name?"

"Ephyra Allen."

Rico gasped for breath, clutching his stomach. "I—I don't know the name of the person," he wheezed. "It was a middleman. We were just hired to kill the girl."

Han's expression remained cold as he stepped forward. "Why?"

Rico glanced between them, his face pale. "I don't know why! We were just supposed to make sure she didn't make it home from school. That's all they told us!"

Alessandro glanced at Han, his eyes narrowing. "Well, you took the wrong job."

Han nodded, his voice calm but with an edge of menace. "Someone has a couple of questions to ask you."

"I already told you everything I know!" Rico protested, his voice rising in desperation. "I swear, I don't know anything else!"

Alessandro sighed dramatically. "Why do they always say that?"

Han pulled out his phone, typing a quick message to Jania to let her know they had Rico. "Let's get him back to the estate. Jania will take it from here."

Alessandro smiled wickedly as he hoisted Rico to his feet. "See, Rico? You're going to get a lovely little visit with Jania. She's much less patient than I am."

As they dragged Rico toward the exit, Han and Alessandro exchanged a look.

"Think Jania will be pleased?" Alessandro asked, amusement twinkling in his eyes.

"Not with you," Han deadpanned, shoving Rico into the back of the SUV. "Let's just get this done."

"Whatever you say, partner," Alessandro said with a smirk, climbing in after him.