CHAPTER 9 - OPPORTUNITY STRIKES
ALEXI

Alexi groaned as some-one kicked him in the ribs, jerking awake on a tidal wave of panic. What had happened? He hadn’t felt this bad since the morning after he’d gone out to a pub with Louisa on his birthday and she’d drunk him under the table. What the hell?

He stirred, or at least, tried to stir, he could barely move. He was lying on his front, face down on the floor, nose throbbing as it was twisted against the concrete. He turned his head to one side, reducing the pain in his nose, but seemingly jarring every other muscle in his body. His arms and legs were screaming, his neck jarred, and his wrists felt like they were about to fall off, all capped with the agony in his jaw.

Why did his jaw hurt? He wondered, then instantly realised. He was gagged again, a large foam sponge had been forced into his mouth, strapped in place with what felt like a rubber ball on a leather strap, a buckle digging into the back of his head. Well he hadn’t read 50 Shades of Grey, but he didn’t have to to know what it was. A ball gag.

He sucked in a deep breath through his nose, and tried to take stock of his situation. He tried to move his right hand and felt his left leg be jerked in response... and he realised. He was tied like a giant X on the floor, both of his legs bent back, a short length of rope binding his right ankle to his left wrist, and his right wrist to his left ankle. He struggled fruitlessly, then forced himself to stay still, closing his eyes momentarily.

What the hell had happened? He remembered goading Roach, he remembered Roach and Jones leaving. He remembered trying to pick at the rope holding his thighs to the seat of the chair... then, nothing. Had he been drugged or something?

“Dear God, what did you hit him with?” Jones asked, voice seeming icily amused.

“The dick deserved it for making me make a fool of myself to the Chinese,” Roach snapped.

“You called her?” Jones burst out laughing. “I’m sorry Roach, but if you were a fool enough to call her, you’re the idiot here.”

So Roach had hit him? That explained the sickening throbbing near the crown of his head.

“Look, if you keep this up, you’ll give the guy brain damage,” Jones remarked reasonably. “Not that would particularly bother me, but we do need to keep him in one piece. So back off will you?”

Roach grumbled under his breath, but backed off. Alexi breathed a soft sigh of relief, then heard a phone ring grimacing as the Nokia ringtone pierced through his aching brain like a thousand red hot needles. If I ever make it to King, he promised himself. I am going to make having that ringtone a capital offence.

“Speaking of the Chinese,” Jones remarked, then the ringing cut off. “Yes Boss?”

There was a faint response, and then Jones gave a small sound of surprise.

“But that’s before schedule Ma’am. No, of course I’m not arguing with you, but... I understand that circumstances change, but... Ok Ma’am, understood,” Jones hung up. “Something to cheer you up Roach, we’re Oscar Mike.”

Alexi knew from Call of Duty what Oscar Mike meant. On the Move, and felt his heart sink slightly.

“What the fuck...”

“The Chinese thinks that one of the other bodyguards is onto her. We have to dump the van and get a new car.”

Alexi felt a jump in his stomach, a jump of hope. Who was it? It couldn’t be Dimitri, so who?

“Surely she’s being paranoid,” Roach groaned.

“Maybe,” Jones conceded. “But we’re not going to argue. You go grab us some new wheels, I’ll wipe this place down.”

“Ok,” Roach brightened instantly. “Wonder which bodyguard?”

“And wonder how long they’re going to last now Chen’s onto them,” Jones gave a soft chuckle. “That other guy didn’t last long.”

There were footsteps and Alexi was in turmoil. ‘The other guy’? Did they just mean Jonas, or Dimitri... or was it some-one else? Something more sinister. Alexi closed his eyes and prayed that whoever it was had enough paranoia to keep them alive in the face of Chen.  He waited until both sets of footsteps had faded, then gave a soft groan and leant backwards, fingers combing the air until they hit the fabric of his trousers. He could feel the rigid shape of the glass shard, still safely hidden in the turnup and smiled awkwardly over the gag.

With some awkward shifting, he managed to push the shard out of his trousers and caught it. He tested it, shifting his grip. Yes, he could reach the ropes. It would be awkward, but given time...

He quickly concealed the glass it in the palm of his hand, nearly dropping it as the sharp edge snagged on his skin, nearly slicing into the ball of muscle at the base of his thumb as footsteps approached.

The time was not now, he told himself grimly. He’d just have to wait for his opportunity. Whenever that was. He gave a garbled oath as he was grabbed by the collar and wrenched into a contorted kneeling position, a knee pressed into the small of his back to keep him upright. He grunted as he felt the ropes get tested, then found himself staring into the black eyes of Jones.

“You shouldn’t’ve goaded him,” Jones said conversationally. “He’s going to make your life a living hell.” He gave a low laugh. “Sorry, correction, even more of a living hell.”

Alexi met his eyes steadily, gazing into those souless eyes. Let me out of these ropes, he thought, and I could make your life a living hell. I could ensure that you were in agony for the rest of your pitiful life. And it wasn’t an idle threat.

Alexi’s eyes flashed to one side at movement, and before he could so much as flinch, the hood had been forced back over his face. Darkness descended and Alexi instantly went into overdrive, heart pounding so hard it felt like it would break out of his chest, squirming desperately in the hope he could get the thing off... but he froze as he felt the cords tighten around his neck.

“Just in case there’s any-one around that might recognise you. Not that you look anything like yourself at the moment,” Jones’ voice was muffled through the blue cotton. “Struggle and I will drop you.”

Alexi begrudgingly relaxed, and felt himself being hefted onto Jones’ shoulder like a bag of coal, bent backwards with Jones’ hand clamping down on his stomach to keep him in place. Jones set off at an almost jog, making Alexi hiss as his already sore muscles were jolted. Alexi screwed his eyes shut and set his jaw, biting down hard on the gag to contain a cry of pain.

He clamped down tighter as he was hurled into a confined space, barely big enough to contain him, not a single whimper escaping him. He felt around, trying to get his bearings, and heard something click above him, and the world go suddenly very quiet. It had been quiet enough through the hood, but now...

And then there was a soft purr and the space around him vibrated.

He was in the boot of a car. And as they pulled away smoothly, he smiled to himself inside the hood, flipping the mirror shard in his hand. Well, this made up for the failed opportunity earlier.  He gave a garbled curse as the car went around a corner and he slid slightly and his smile became wry. It was an opportunity. And a damn painful opportunity at that.