Chapter 51 The Spy
Someone had followed them secretly.
The phone call Julian received from Vincent earlier replayed in his mind, buried anger fighting to surface.
According to Vincent, he had heard footsteps but pretended and waited until he was close enough before he struck.
Vincent had caught the spy shortly after Julian left with the boy.
He had said the man refused to speak- wouldn’t reveal who sent him or who he worked for.
And Julian had only given one instruction over the phone.
“Don’t spare him.”
Now, as Julian drove through the dim industrial district on the outskirts of the city, his expression remained calm, but his mind moved impatiently.
Nothing about his exterior betrayed the violent storm of calculations unfolding inside him.
If Balto had sent someone…
It meant Balto was suspicious.
And if Balto was suspicious…
Then everything was accelerating faster than expected.
Julian’s fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel because he couldn’t conclude yet. In his kind of world, enemies were much, and he couldn’t impulsively conclude it was Balto who sent the spy.
It could have been anybody for another reason entirely. And he wouldn’t know until he gets to him.
He turned into the gated entrance of the underground facility he used when things required silence, dirty works, and total discretion.
The iron gate opened automatically.
He drove inside, parked, and stepped out.
The air inside the underground structure was colder than outside, thick with the scent of concrete and oil.
He adjusted his thick black gloves as he walked forward, his footsteps calm and measured against the hard floor.
When he got into the dimly lit room, Vincent came into view, then the spy.
The man was tied to a metal chair in the center of the open space, his wrists bound behind him, his body slumped slightly forward in exhausted defeat.
Blood soaked through his pants at the knee. Fresh and wet.
The liquid was still dripping faintly onto the floor beneath him.
Vincent sat casually in a chair across from him, one ankle resting on his knee, his gun loose in his hand like it had mastered being in his hold.
He looked up when Julian entered.
A tight smile appeared on his face as he rose to his feet to acknowledge him. To him, Julian was a god. His savior. His best friend.
“Boss.”
Julian’s gaze shifted briefly to the prisoner.
Then back to Vincent.
“Has he said anything?”
Vincent shook his head slightly, “No.”
Julian stepped forward slowly without a word, his eyes devoid of warmth.
The spy noticed him fully now. His breathing became much more uneven.
Fear flickered openly in his eyes as Julian crouched in front of him. He said nothing, only studying him. That unpredictable silence caused the spy’s breath to hitch. He knew Julian too well to know how crazy he could act, but Julian didn’t know him. Of course someone of Julian’s rank could never notice a mere info guy like him.
The man swallowed hard, his entire body trembling slightly.
Just then, Julian spoke quietly. “Why were you spying on us?”
The man said nothing. His jaw tightened stubbornly, sticking to his decision not to speak.
Julian tilted his head slightly, observing and waiting for him.
Finally, the man spoke, his voice coming out hoarse. “I won’t speak.”
Julian’s expression didn’t change as the spy continued.
“You’ll kill me anyway. So what’s the point of snitching…” He sneezed roughly, mucus coating the base of his nose.
Julian nodded faintly.
“You’re right. I will kill you. So there is no point.”
The honesty startled the spy. He watched in fear as Julian reached into his coat pocket calmly.
The man’s breathing quickened as he noticed him pulling out a small steel plier.
The moment it came to view fully, panic exploded across his face.
He began shaking his head violently.
“No—no—please—”
Julian grabbed his jaw firmly, his expression remaining same. Cold and detached.
He forced his mouth open, reveling in the sound of the man’s fearful screams.
Vincent watched silently with interest.
Without wasting time, Julian gripped one of the man’s front teeth with the plier, not moving yet.
The man screamed harder, his entire body convulsing in the chair he was tied on.
Good. Julian pulled with clinical force.
A sickening crack echoed faintly through the underground space as the tooth came free.
Blood flooded instantly from the man’s mouth, his scream turning into a wet, broken cry.
Julian released him.
The man sobbed violently, blood spilling down his chin, dripping onto his shirt. “Oh no!”
Julian sighed, watching him like he was a mere disturbance, then he spoke like he was explaining something simple. “I will remove all your teeth one by one. Eventually, you won’t have any left.”
The man whimpered.
Julian tilted his head slightly, leaning closer to him. “And by then… I won’t need your words anymore.”
The meaning sank in.
The man suddenly broke, fear winning loyalty.
“I work for Balto!”
The confession burst out of him in desperate panic.
Julian paused, then muttered a silent “I thought as much.” to himself.
Vincent straightened slightly behind him.
The man continued, crying openly now.
“He just wanted to make sure you weren’t moving funny. That’s all. That’s all.”
Blood bubbled at his lips.
He begged desperately.
“Please don’t kill me. Please. Now that you’ve taken the kid to Balto, there’s no cause for alarm. Please…”
Julian stared at him, silently doing some calculations in his head. Did this man truly believed it was the the right kid he delivered for Balto? Or he was trying to play smart and had seen it all?
Before Julian could interrogate him further, a gunshot exploded through the underground space. The man’s body jerked violently as the bullet hit him straight on his forehead. Then he went still. Dead.
Julian took a second to process what happened, then turned his head slowly to meet Vincent’s gaze.
Vincent’s expression was hard, gun still raised in his hold, and smoke curling faintly from the barrel.
Julian rose to his feet and approached him, his eyes hardening slightly.
“I hadn’t decided to kill him yet.”
Vincent shrugged lightly. “He was a threat.”
Julian said nothing as he waited for him to say more.
Vincent continued. “He saw Phoenix’s face. And now that we know Balto sent him, he’s better dead or Phoenix might not be safe.”
Julian processed it silently- the ifs, the consequences...
It didn’t take long before he made peace with what happened. He stretched a gloved hand and placed it on Vincent’s shoulder. Then he patted him there gently.
Vincent’s hard expression eased, knowing his boss was cool with him.
Julian continued, “Our next plan remains unchanged. Balto’s men are transporting Adrian tomorrow morning. We intercept and take the kid back before they could. Let’s hope Balto doesn’t question his abilities before selling him out. And even if that happens, I would be ready.”
Vincent nodded, then grinned. “Every mission with you is always a pleasure. I’ve got you, brother.”