Chapter 60: Alliances
"Because I know what you want. And if it worked one time, why not try again?"
As soon as I said it, I knew everyone was listening. Especially my father. No one knew anything related to the fact that I knew Alexander before he suddenly became the head of this underground constitution of current, former, and future killers and assassins. It was news to everyone. Except Alexander and I, obviously.
"Go on." He said simply, ignoring all the wide-eyed stares he was getting. I could feel my father's eyes switch from the both of us, to just me, and I began to feel even more uncomfortable than the fact that I was actually in a room with the deadliest people in the world.
"Why don't I start off with something that everyone seems to have been asking recently. I'm on neither side. The Justice League, The Injustice League, your whole underground connection. I'm not part of any of that. But I have information regarding each side. If you give me what I want, I'll reward you with a piece of information regarding the people figuratively on the other side of the tracks."
"What makes you think that we believe you?" Alexander said slyly. His mouth curled into a smile as I was quiet.
"Because I know that you'll do anything to keep your secrets... secret."
There was a pregnant pause as Alexander and I just stared at each other. I could feel my father burning, anger flooding the room and him being the only flame. I was corrupting his path, his path to become head. And I knew that was a dangerous road to take, but I was taking it anyway.
Alexander looked side to side, staring at the rest of the people for the first time in the past almost ten minutes. I swallowed as I noticed that they weren't looking at him, they were looking at me.
"Leave." He said, staring at me. I rose my brow, like I was challenging him. But before I knew it, the room cleared out, my father being the last to leave as he cautiously stared at me.
"Now, please, tell me what information you're planning on telling about me if I don't agree to this little deal you have going on?"
"If I told you, you'd change it up. I can't have that, no can I?"
"Darling, you have the short end of the stick. You don't have much on me, and what you do have includes you." I swallowed. He was good. "But, I have to say, I miss having someone around who was different. Who stood out. Everyone here's the same. Cold, clueless killers. Tell me, what do you want that takes a meeting with us?"
"I want you to leave the Justice League alone. Anyone affiliated with it, anyone training with them. I don't want any harm to come to any one of them."
"That's a lot to ask. You do realize that we're the enemies of the Justice League, and that they have us on constant radar?"
"Don't tell me that you have yet to figure out a way to surpass the radar they have on you..."
"That was a long time ago. But what are you going to give in return if I just so happen to fulfill your wish?"
The question didn't catch me off guard, but it did send chills up my spine. I had known all along that that was the question I was going to be asked sooner or later, but I still had yet to prepare for the answer.
"You tell me." My answer shocked him, from the state of his facial expression, and it scared me. Alexander, like I had said, was the most ruthless man on the planet - as far as I knew - and I knew that my death was a huge possibility as I made my deal with what seemed to be the devil.
"I'm not a sentimental guy, you know, but I have to say, it's interesting what you find out about a girl when she pleads for her lovers safety."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Oh, you know, Patrick Harper. The whole coincidence that you show up here hoping we'll let the Justice League slide for the next few months - or however long you can keep us preoccupied - just as he joins them."
"Patrick would never-"
"Darling. You've been away from him for years. Things happen. He was just reunited with his little brother. Speaking of siblings, how are you taking your sister's death?"
His words hit me hard. I had purposely been doing other things to get her death off my mind. And it wasn't working very well. His lips curled, once again, into a smile as he stood up and walked toward me.
He looked down at me, the same smile plastered to his face. "Did I say something wrong?" I jerked back as I felt his hand on my hip. "Do you want Patrick to be safe, or would you rather him be lying in a casket by next week?"
I stared at him, my helpless self decaying at the thought. I couldn't let Patrick die. It wouldn't only kill me, it would kill Roy. And Roy was already pissed off with me, probably more now that I quit. I had to do this. For Patrick, for Roy, for everyone I loved. And ironically, they were now all dead or in alliance with the Justice League.