The driver pulled into their designated spot; a shopping mall's parking lot filled with cars. Quickly they hopped out and immediately got into the waiting silver sedan. They exited Mexico City and got onto the plane sitting ready on the nearby airstrip.
The private plane, Fenrir had bought years ago was a constant lifesaver. Harry was always on the move these days, from Mexico to New York, Florida, Seattle and Atlanta. He didn't like staying in one place too long, and having the plane at his disposal made it that much easier to disappear.
In his seat next to the window, he closed his eyes and settled in for the flight. Of course, every time he did that, he saw Tom. The man haunted him. Which was why Harry tried to keep busy. Always on the go. If he sat still he'd fall into that trap, the one Tom had set for him.
The one where he relived every second they'd spent together and wished it were longer. Wished there were more. More touching.
He shifted in his seat.
Tom just wouldn't go away. He wouldn't leave him alone. He took up space. In his head. In his chest. Tom took up so much space.
In the seat behind him, Andrew's phone went off,
"Hey mom."
He whispered to his mother then ended the call before tapping Harry on the shoulder,
"I need to go see my mother when we land."
"Is she okay?"
Andrew nodded and then sighed,
"Yes… She had a doctor's appointment, and she wants to discuss it."
Harry sat up straight,
"The cancer… Has it gotten worse?"
Andrew shrugged, but Harry saw the fear in the depths of his eyes,
"She wants to tell me in person."
Harry noticed that Andrew's hands were trembling and slowly took them in his,
"I'll come with you."
He hadn't seen Andrew's mother in a long time, and he felt that Andrew could use the support. Andrew shook his head though and spoke,
"No. It's okay, I need to do this."
Harry let go of Andrew's hands and patted the top of Andrew's head,
"You'll let me know?"
"Yes."
"Take the time you need then."
"Ssshhh."
Tom wiped away the tear as it slid down the quivering woman's cheek,
"You did good."
He smiled and she shrank back. That made him smile wider,
"Very good."
"Don't kill me…"
She sobbed.
"Well, I make no promises,"
He told her,
"It all depends on your son, really."
A lock of her gray hair had escaped her loose bun so he twirled it around his finger before tucking it behind her ear.
"You-You're a friend of my Andy?"
Tears shimmered in her eyes and when she blinked, it dropped, sliding once again down her cheek creased with age. She was a good-looking woman, plump and smelling like warmth and welcome,
"Friend is a strong word."
He left it at that.
He'd barged into her modest house, just Lucius and him, over an hour ago. The rest of his men watched the exterior of the house, keeping a lookout for her son. He'd done his research on James' personal assistant… Andrew. Andrew had initially started working as Greyback's assistant and then he'd transitioned to James after Greyback's death. At first, he'd merely dismissed him as a lowly assistant but upon a little more digging, he'd discovered that Andrew was so much more than that and far closer to James then he'd ever imagined. James actually seemed to give a damn about Andrew.
That was the only requirement needed.
"You won't hurt him, will you?"
He liked her. Tied to one of her living room chairs, she still glared at him with fire in her wet eyes.
"Again,"
he told her,
"It all depends on how cooperative your Andy turns out to be."
He hadn't hurt her. They'd only scared her when she'd returned home. Lucius kept his balaclava on, Tom choosing to show his face.
"Does your mother know what you're doing?"
He pulled up a chair and sat opposite her,
"I didn't have a mother,"
he said while Lucius stood over in the corner, all silent and imposing,
"She died giving birth to me."
She watched him warily,
"Is that why you're doing this? Because you didn't have a mother to teach you right from wrong?"
He barked a laugh,
"Oh no. I just like doing this."
"I'll pray for your soul."
He cocked his head,
"I don't have one, but I thank you all the same."
He touched his knuckles to her cheek,
"I can see your love for your son,"
He murmured. Lucius's phone went off and he shifted in the shadows,
"He has arrived."
"Come."
He peeled off a piece of the tape in his hand.
"No. No."
She twisted in her bonds from side to side, but Lucius stepped forward, holding her steady so Tom could tape her mouth.
She sobbed, the sound muffled by the tape.
"Shh."
He nodded to Lucius who bodily lifted her and carried her to the back room. Keys jiggled in the lock then a second later a man in a dark charcoal three piece suit entered,
"Mom, I'm home."
He closed the door behind him.
"Hello, there."
The newcomer spun, gun appearing in his hand,
"Who are… Oh…"
His eyes went wide when he spotted Tom.
"Andrew, yes?"
"Where's my mother?"
He lurched forward, grabbing Tom by the front of his shirt,
"Where is she?"
"Now. Now."
Tom didn't pull his weapon. He didn't need to, not when he already had the upper hand,
"Your mother… lovely woman, by the way… is somewhere close. Alive… But not if you decide to pull that trigger."
Andrew's nostrils flared and he glared at Tom,
"I want to see her."
"Nope."
Andrew swore and pushed Tom away hard enough that he staggered,
"What do you want?"
"You know I did my research on you and it seems you're very close to James. He actually seems to care about you. But I wonder how he'll react when he finds out that I have you? Would he care enough to come and get you or will he leave you to die."
Andrew watched him as if he'd lost his mind,
"Killing Fenrir wasn't enough for you? You can't possibly gain anything by threatening him with my death."
"Not sure if you notice, but we're in something of a war, James and I,"
Tom told him,
"And it is expected there will be collateral damage."
Andrew scoffed,
"You don't really think you'll win this, do you? You're crazier than I thought if you do."
"Depends on your definition of winning."
He winked,
"Right now, I just need you to come with me."
The men from outside entered the room via the backdoor, and Andrew's jaw tightened when he spotted them.
"My mother…"
"Oh, don't you worry."
He smiled just as one of the men plunged a needle into Andrew's neck,
"She's coming with us too."