The Hitman and His Consort

L - Loses

First Person P.O.V: VALENTIN HACKSAW

What the f*ck just happened? What just happened? What was the turning point exactly? How did we end up with this outcome?

I rubbed my temples, feeling a brewing headache just because someone decided that they’ll let their emotions get the better of them. I know that Arthur’s emotional spectrum extends into the endless space that is the universe, but I didn’t expect her to dump them on me, and I know I may have pushed her to the edge.

That was a lie. I was really trying to get under her skin by the end. In my defense, she was making me do it. I wouldn’t just stand there and not defend myself against those stupid notions of hers. She was being unreasonable.

She likes me. Otherwise, why am I still around despite everything? And there's a lot to consider.

I like her. Or I think I do. I destroyed a f*cking building for her what sort of intense devotion does she need to convince her I actually have strong affections for her.

And that bullsh*t about obsession not being equal to affection—I know that. That’s why I said I was obsessed and not f*cking in love or some stupid other words that still wouldn’t be able to move her otherwise. What is arguing with me about? She dated men worse than me. At least I wouldn’t treat her like sh*t or kidnap and surrender her to a domineering blonde c*nt.

What the hell is so wrong with me that she didn’t even give me a f*cking chance? Is it because she doesn't think I’m serious? Is it because I’m actually upfront about my issues? Would she rather find out about it later when I have already done something unspeakable?

“Oi… what the f*ck are you doing?” I heard Madeline’s voice called out from behind. His tone was pissed, disappointed, and annoyed all at once, like it was me who made a big fuss out of things.

I sighed as I spun to face him, “What the hell are you talking about? I didn’t do anything,” I argued.

He sighed and shook his head. I was mildly surprised because I really thought he’d react more feral than this now that I have unconsciously angered his beloved sister, but now he was way calmer than I thought he’d be,

He clicked his tongue before crossing his arms, glaring at me under his brows, “Are you like really stupid or something, what the hell was all that, you couldn’t have gone: ‘Oh, you’re not interested in dating men like me, I understand' and went on with your life?” He suggested and I frowned,

“Well… I don’t understand,” I disagreed,

“What don’t you understand? Which part,” he asked,

I tilted my head at him, what’s with this attitude? Is this another tactic of him to catch me off guard before he stabs me in the neck for making Arthur cry?

“Hey, I’m talking to you, Earth to Frankenstein’s monster,” He snapped, clapping at me to snap my focus back to whatever stunt he’s pulling at the moment.

“I don’t understand… why she had to stop now of all times,” I began and he scoffed, I raised a hand to stop him from whatever sh*t he’ll spout,

“I’m not done, because if she just told me that I’m not someone she’s want to date I’ll understand, I’ll still hang around her, I just wanted to establish a relationship between us so I have a reason to hang around her in the first place,” I followed, explaining my point more. I don’t know why I’m telling him this. He’s not the one I want to clear things out with in the first place.

He nodded and snapped his fingers at me, “That, that is why ya’ll ended up with such a heated discussion, because you have no tact and you don’t understand how hurtful you are, dude that’s my sister,” He paused, gesturing to the doorway that Arthur just left from,

“I mean, I’m just happy she got mad at you but I’m disappointed you’re that f*cking shallow, come on man..” he trailed off.

“Me? Hurtful?” I repeated,

I was the one hurtful in that situation? She was the one throwing out big words that are so damn passive-aggressive; I was only returning the favor and she couldn’t handle hearing the truth because that’s all I based on, I didn’t tell her things she didn’t already know.

“Dude, you’re a d**k,” he exclaimed as he gestured his hands at my whole stature. He scoffed again before taking a deep breath, “You’re what people refer to when they describe red flags in a man,” he began, taking a few steps to the side,

“You put your feelings first and since you can’t control your damn feelings, you make other people control it for you,” he followed.

By now I am just convinced that he’s really f*cking with me. He just described Arthur. That’s exactly how her outburst went. I rolled my eyes as I waved him off, “Get out of here, you’re not making sense,” I spat and he shrugged before doing just that.

I have so many things to deal with, an emotional meltdown would be the last on my list. I tapped my coat pocket to see if my phone made it through that whole ordeal, exhaling a heavy sigh, knowing that it did. I pulled it out and dialed Rodrigo’s number. It took a couple of rings before the line connected.

“Hello, Valya.”

“How’s things?”

“All I could say is, you were right,”

“Is Julian there?”

“Sure is,”

“Alive?”

“Just as you instructed,” Rodrigo assured, and I hummed as I glanced out of the kitchen and to the lounge. Arthur seems to be knocked out, I wouldn’t blame her, being unreasonable must’ve been tiring work. I focused back on the call,

“Good, I’ll head there, is your garage soundproofed?” I asked

“To some extent, but I’ll advice you that whatever you must do, do it quietly” He replied,

“Noted,” I replied before ending the call and leaving the kitchen, and heading to my room. I need a proper cover if I’m leaving for the city at this moment. I wore something more casual, a white button-down shirt matched by a beige trench coat, a maroon checkered scarf, a dark brown fedora to cover my head as I slick my hair back, and thick-framed glasses for the face. I kept the black slacks and the shoes.

I looked in the mirror and I suppose this is enough, I look like a boring bookshop owner.

After that, I went to our garage with an endless supply of disposable cars that my parents got as a precaution, seeing as we’re involved with this type of business. Once the car stops functioning or becomes impossible to be dealt with or used, I’ll just leave it somewhere… or drop it in a ditch, or burn it in an alley.

Just as I was about to enter the garage I felt a hand on my shoulder, “Hey, heading out again?” dad asked,

“I’m running away,” I replied, rolling my eyes as I peeled his hand off my shoulder,

I thought he was having a phase where he’s finally taking things seriously, but this man fell for my sh*t again and frowned with his mouth agape, “What? Running away?! Now? You can’t run away now, we could deal with this problem later, but you don’t have to run away—“

“Dad, I’m f*cking kidding, pull yourself together, also I’m 24 years old, I could have kids of my own at this age,” I reminded, pinching the bridge of my nose again,

“Please don’t—“

“Of course, I won’t I hate children...F*ck,” I spat, sighing deeply before looking at his face again, I’ve always known he’s old but with this expression he’s wearing right now, he looked like he’s way past his years and is finally resigning at a factory he worked 20 years at.

Just utter disappointment and regret. I hate that look.

“I’m only regrouping with the other people involved in this, Denis is out there too, I’ll make sure he’s still alive for you,” I said, answering his question seriously this time. Still, he didn’t look too eager to let me go,

“You’ll be coming back soon?” he asked.

“We’ll see,” I replied before entering the garage, “ah, dad… I’ll ask more about them, we can talk about it when I get back,” I followed, he frowned and I could sense he has some questions about what I just said but as I already said, I’ll talk about it when I get back.

I did promise my mother that I’ll talk to them about my biological parents. I need to think of a proper script before then because if another slip-up like earlier happens, I would have enough patience saved up to not let that turn into another argument and go two-for-two.

I got in one of the cars and left for the clinic. As expected, the city is in chaos. There were still helicopters hovering around. The cops were setting up checkpoints and searching on foot.

“Yeah, that’s going to work,” I said out loud as I realize how pathetic this looked. I went on another route to the clinic and got there, no problem. I parked the car and knocked on the door, it was August who opened the door,

“Ah, I’m sorry sir, the clinic is closed,” she answered with a flinch and started to close the door partway. I can’t believe she didn’t recognize me,

I wedged my foot between the door and scoffed, “Is that so, how dare you close this establishment I’m suing all of you,” I warned and I saw her eyes widen, but before she could speak, we both heard Rodrigo’s voice from the inside,

“Valya, quit hanging out there and get in,” he scolded, it was fun watching August realize who I was that she had to do a double-take before opening the doors. The moment I entered, I saw triple the amount of paper and folders on the coffee table from before.

They must’ve been busy.

Denis looked up from his phone and stared at me from head to toe, followed by a smirk.

“Hello, d**k Tracy,” he greeted, making Rodrigo chuckle as he nodded to Denis. Both seemed equally amused with my get-up in contrast to August, who was still trying to figure out if I was indeed Valentin.

“I don’t know who that is, you’re old and irrelevant,” I spat back making Denis gasp as he placed a hand over his chest. Rodrigo chuckled again, but that’s probably because he doesn’t take digs toward himself seriously. He told me about it once, something about being secure with himself and not being fragile. Just bogus in general.

‘He still gets mad when it’s about Diana, it’s bullsh*t’

“F*ck you,” Denis hissed before burying himself in his phone again. Whatever he was doing must be important. Rodrigo stood up and beckoned me closer as he walked towards his garage. As promised, in the garage was a bound piece of s**t named Julian. Lying on the floor, conscious and visibly agitated.

I loved how they already cleared the place that even the make-shift operating bed was disassembled. This prick must be so touched by all the effort everyone put in to make this experience worthwhile for all of us. I turned to Rodrigo,

“How’d you get him?”

“He threw a brick at the window, probably to lure us out, then he sneaked from here,” he began, tapping the garage floor with his feet, “He managed to keep silent here for a while, but I already knew he was in the here because…” he trailed off, smiling wide,

“I have cameras in this place and I can see them through my phone, that I gave to Denis which is why he was so focused on it, he was keeping watch in case, Julian, over here thinks of a funny little trick,” he finished, pretty damn pleased with himself.

I’ll admit that I am also impressed. What a sad turn of events.

“What’s wrong Julian, you seem down,” I started, looking at him as he shot daggers at me, making Rodrigo snort,

“Yeah, he seemed mighty upset,” He noted before snapping his finger as if coming to a conclusion, “Ah, maybe because his personal ties are pulling him back,” he finished and I couldn’t help but chuckle at that,

‘That was ok.’

“I’ll handle it from here, oh, Rod, where’s the stuff I left here? The stuff I got off the car?” I asked. He raised his index finger before leaving the room and coming back with the bag that I used to carry the stuff I got from my basement from the first time I brought Madeline to my house.

We gathered this when we were looking for Arthur because this b***h took her. Rodrigo handed me the bag and closed the door as he left, waving at Julian as he did. I took off my hat, scarf, and coat, hanging them on the hooks behind the garage door.

I crouched to his level and removed the cloth that Rod used to gag him, “My name's Valentin, by the way,” I told him before standing up again and preparing a chair for him.

“I didn’t ask for it,” he spat, as I carried him over to his seat,

“You’ll need it, it’ll be written as your cause of death,”