Handler XX: Stock Maestro-Chapter 27: Food, Drinks and a Gun

He sighted her, seating in the driver’s seat with somebody on the passenger’s— Scarlet.

What the fuck is she doing here?

"Your keys" Elena muttered,

He handed over the keys and slid into the passenger’s seat, buckling the seat belt.

"What’s happening?" His eyes shifted from the side mirror, glancing at her.

"Kraven Intelligence— they’ve been on my ass since I left Icarden"

Scarlet’s car followed behind as she sped off. "We’ve gotta lose the tail"

He took his phone out and messaged Scarlet.

WHY ARE YOU CHASING A HANDLER?

She glanced at her phone as it buzzed. How does he know that? She glanced at the person besides her.

"Did you tell your buddies?"

"Of course not— they’re not my buddies" he chuckled, "what’s up?"

"Nothing" she grabbed her phone.

WORK— NOT YOUR BUSINESS.

He exhaled as he saw the message.

"Tell me everything that happened"

"What?" She glanced at him, "I’m trying to lose the tail right now— that’ll be hard, Hun"

"Now" He snapped. If Scarlet was after her, he needed to know what’s happening.

She tightened her grip on the wheel,

"Icarden and Faso are having a trade war because of a mine, and I’ve secured enough evidence that Kraven is manipulating them in order to cripple their economies"

"Everybody sensible enough knows Kraven’s involved"

"They don’t have proof— I do. Proof that could tear their alliance"

He looked at the mirror as she took a sharp turn. Scarlet was still in pursuit

"Why not go straight to base?"

"I couldn’t— it’s complicated"

His phone rang immediately,

"Hello, Twerp"

He glanced at her— too focused on the driving to hear.

"What’s happening? I’m kind of busy"

"Oh" Anton paused, "I’ll just get straight to the point— your little girlfriend’s in town"

He glanced at her, "I thought she was dead"

"I said she needed treatment— not that she died"

"You made me believe she died"

"Fair. She’s not— if she contacts you, don’t believe anything she says"

His chest tightened as she glanced at him, "why?"

"She went off-grid two years ago and surfaced in Icarden, stealing Kraven’s data last week"

"Can’t we take her back? Use the data as redemption"

Anton clicked his tongue, "Not after she killed some agents and disappeared"

"Don’t get involved" he sighed, hanging up.

Too late. He looked at her— too fucking late.

"Safe" Elena exhaled, as she looked at the side mirror.

Trent looked at his side, surprised. Did she really outrun Scarlet? He looked at his phone— a message from Scarlet.

CALL ME.

"Fifth Street— I’ve got a place there"

They headed into the building as soon as she parked. He messaged Theo immediately as he stepped inside the room.

FOOD, DRINKS AND A GUN.

"Ti roi..." She called out from the kitchen, "The veggies are spoilt— there’s milk and some rice. It’s a mess"

"I already asked a friend to bring some stuff, El" he smiled at her

"Not gonna call me Mama, huh?" She huffed, falling into the couch.

"Must be him" he turned towards the door as he heard a knock.

"Boss—"

He cut Theo off, crossing his forefinger on his lips.

"Here" Theo whispered, handing a bag, "I didn’t know what you’d like so I got some burgers, fries and pasta with a bow of chicken"

He nodded, taking the bag and hiding the gun on his waist. "Thanks a lot, Man"

"Ti roi... Is your friend gonna come in?"

"Ti roi?" Theo looked at him, surprised.

"Come in, say hi and leave, alright?" He whispered.

Theo walked in and greeted her. She introduced herself as Trent’s very close friend.

"Ti roi don’t mean close friends, Cap" Theo looked at him, brows raised as he stepped out.

"Well, it does today" Trent scoffed and slammed the door.

"Would you have the pasta— you’ve always loved pasta" she looked at him as he walked towards her.

"So do you— I’ll have the burgers. But first..." he sat down besides her.

She turned to him completely,

"First?"

"Why don’t you want to go back to base?"

She hesitated, turning her face away

"Is it true that you killed those agents?"

She flinched, facing him immediately,

"I didn’t. Who told you that?"

Their gaze locked for a while— complete silence and tension.

"El, tell me the truth..."

"That’s the truth— I didn’t. Don’t you trust me?" She shifted closer, placing her hand on his thigh.

"I trust you, El— I need to know everything that happened" he placed his hand on top of her’s.

She exhaled, leaning her back on the couch, "Volta— that bastard betrayed me"

"Wait— Volta? You mean Zayn Volta?" Trent’s eyes widened.

She turned to him, "Yeah... How do you know the bastard?"

He gulped, leaning back, "Tell me what happened"

Zayn Volta... His jaws tightened.

"Zayn— a true comrade initially. Hiding his snake-like behavior" she hissed.

"He set us up— everybody on the team" she clenched her fist.

"Why would a handler set his team up?"

She turned her head immediately, facing him,

"I didn’t say he was— how do you know him?"

"It’s a mission— you’re a handler so of course he is, no?" He turned his face away, "Continue"

She looked at him, hesitated for a bit,

"You’re acting weird"

"Am I?" He chuckled— cold and bitter

"Did you report me to the program?" She stood up, alerted.

"We wouldn’t be having this conversation if I did, El— Sit down" he pulled his gun out.

"W–What’s this, Trent?"

"Sit, El— just sit"

He pulled his phone out of his pocket as it buzzed— Marie.

WHERE ARE YOU? WE NEED TO TALK.

Elena dived at him as he stared at the phone. He dropped it immediately and punched her in the stomach, standing up as she fell to the ground.

"I’m sorry El— I’m not who you remembered" he squatted as she coughed on the floor.

"If Scarlet is after you— it’s bad"

She looked at him, surprised. She choked on her breath in pain. When did he get so strong?

Those eyes— cold, angry— this isn’t the Trent she knew.

"W–What are you?"

He looked at her and dialed a number— phone’s speaker on volume.

"You bastard..."

"Scarlet"

Elena trembled, eyes widened. She shifted backwards, away from him.

"Are you with her, right now?"

"Put me through to the Madam"

"You crazy... You don’t order me"

"Now, Scarlet." He ordered.

Scarlet fell silent for a while and connected the calls.

"Speak" her voice cut through as it connected.

"It’s me" Trent responded.

"I hear you’re with the traitor— you shouldn’t be getting involved at this stage"

Stage? Is this some play? He chuckled.

He looked at Elena, pointing his gun as she sat on the floor,

"Traitor?"

"She knows what I’m saying" the woman laughed, "Your little girlfriend didn’t tell you, huh?"

He flinched. How did she know that?

Anton? His jaws tightened.

"You—"

"We need those stolen data"

He looked at Elena, "Where is it?"

She didn’t answer— just hatred and anger in her eyes.

"Zayn Volta— equal exchange" he spoke back on the phone.

"That bastard is out— chasing a golden goose he said" Scarlet responded, clicking her tongue.

The woman thought for a while,

"He’s become useless anyway, how do you want him?" She chuckled.

"Diced? Fried? I enjoy boiled" Scarlet laughed from her end.

"Leak the fact that he’s a spy to the program— my branch— I’ll take care of it"

"...Deal"

"And I want her name cleared"

Elena sniffed as she heard him, she held onto the rug, heart pacing as the woman fell silent.

"That’s a different thing— you’ll owe me a favor"

She gulped, looking at Trent.

"Deal"

He didn’t even hesitate. Her grip tightened. Did he still care?

"D–Denny’s place—" she stuttered, "outside town. Room 3— inside the door knob"

"Find it, Scarl..." The woman ordered, "You owe me one" she chuckled, hanging up.

"Bye, Boss" Scarlet laughed, hanging up.

Trent exhaled as he dropped the phone, his back against the couch as he fell down.

He glanced at her, lowering the gun.

"I’m sorry"

She stood up, dust herself properly and walked off.

_________________

"Good morning" he greeted her as she stretched.

"I did some shopping this morning— got some medicine and stuff"

She sat up straight, leaning her back to the bed post.

He turned his face away as their eyes met, "I’m sorry about what happened yesterday"

She exhaled, holding her stomach.

"It’s alright— the whole situation was a bit too much"

"N–No. I’m really sorry"

She chuckled, watching him act so shy after what he’d done. "What’s the time?"

He looked at his phone, "10:20"

"What? I slept that long?" She gasped.

"Yeah— Must’ve been hard"

"Yeah..." She bent her head down,

"Something smells lovely— what’s that?" She looked up.

"Pasta— just the way you’ve dreamt— cheese, pork and a lot of veggies. Here" he threw a shirt toward her.

"I’ll be waiting in the sitting room— let’s catch up over breakfast" he smiled and walked off.

He heard a knock on the door as he stepped into the living room. Who’s that?

As he opened the door, the voice cut through— sharp and cold.

"Where’s she?"

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