The Place Where

by Rodion Pretis

  - Good morning! She smiled. “Does anyone know where my suitcase is?”

  - Hello! - the Wolf shone, looking at her figure. - Cool robe.

  “Not a word,” the Player confirmed, grinning, and Nick simply saluted her with a cup of coffee.

  “Would you prefer me to go out without him?” - the girl arched an eyebrow. - We can repeat it.

  - Carcass! - The wolf pressed his hand to his chest, and the player began to pound on the back of Nick, choked coffee.

  “Glad you're fine,” the Destroyer flashed a smile. - Now I'll bring a suitcase.

  “Thank you,” she thanked him and added, taking up one of the empty chairs at the table. “What have we got for breakfast?” I hope you haven't eaten everything yet.

  “You managed in time,” the Wolf moved her a plate of meat and vegetables, “another 10 minutes, and you would have been left without breakfast.”

  “There is even more coffee,” the player poured coffee into an elegant cup and passed it to the girl through Nick.

  - And what about sweets? - asked Alexei, taking up food.

  “Fruit or something like that,” the Destroyer replied, taking his place at the table. “I took the suitcase to your bedroom,” he added to the girl's questioning look, “there I left a couple of bundles that Tykan sent for you.”

  - What? - surprised Alex.

  “You enchanted him so much,” Nick grunted, “that he has already begun to bombard you with gifts.” Interesting ...

  - Nick! - interrupted the Wolf.

  “So,” the girl flashed her eyes, “if you have something to say, say it.”

  “Yes, there's nothing to say,” the Destroyer slashed with his hand.

  “Well, why,” Nick began, but fell silent under the heavy gaze of his friends.

  “Let's come to an agreement once and for all,” Alexei sighed heavily, pushed back her plate and looked inquiringly at each member of the team, “that there should not be any gaps or secrets between us.” We must fully trust each other . Without this, we may simply not survive here. So lay out what you have there.

  “Why is Taikan giving you presents?” What did you promise him in exchange for the recall of the capture group? - Nick said nevertheless.

  “God ...” Alexey rolled her eyes and laughed. - Guys, would you include logic or something. Okay, let me put everything in its place. First, after all, I saved the life of Tykan, so he could give me a present, but if I accept it, this is still an open question. Secondly, who do you think will want to stay at a hotel where armed guards attack guests? That's the same, ”she shook her head, watching the elongated faces of the team members.

  “I'm sorry,” Nick said, embarrassed. “I made the wrong conclusions.” Simply ...

  “... we are very worried about you,” the Player finished for him.

  “This is mutual,” the girl became absolutely serious. “You are right about one thing - I was ready to promise anything, just to get you out of attack.” And there, as if the map lay down - she smiled and changed the subject. “You said something about dessert there.”

  “Your dessert, my lady,” the Destroyer grinned and set a dish in front of her with some exotic fruit in iridescent overflows and ... sharp spikes.

  - Oh my God! - the girl looked at the fruits in surprise, and then she raised her eyes, in which cheerful demons hid. - They are spiky ...

  Chapter 8

  Still, Alexei left one gift to Tykan - it was a jumpsuit, an exact copy of what was on her the day before, and that was because there were no clothes in the suitcase as such, but it was necessary to get to the nearest store . As for the jewels, she returned them to him when he went to inquire about her health and found her alone.

  - why? - surprised Tykan, taking the jewelry box from her hands.

  “This is against my rules,” Alexey simply answered.

  “I don't understand,” he looked at her in surprise.

  “Just accept it,” she advised, “as a given.”

  “You upset me,” the man nevertheless made an attempt to persuade her.

  “Don't,” the girl shook her head, “it's still useless.” Better tell me how your shoulder is.

  “It hurts,” Taikan answered honestly.

  - What does the doctor say?

  “I have not been to the doctor,” he answered after a short pause.

  - why? - the girl looked inquiringly at the man who simply shrugged, or rather tried to do it. - Well, do not want to talk - do not. Let's better I look. Unless of course you are afraid, - after a long pause, she faked it.

  “I was afraid that I would shock you,” he sighed, carefully removing his jacket and throwing him into the nearest chair.

  - Shocking? - surprised Alexei. - With what? Unless with this uncomfortable bandage, she helped him take off his shirt and, when he flinched at her light touch, asked, “Does it hurt very much?”

  “Tolerant,” the man answered, taking a frantic sigh, and she frowned.

  “Sit here,” the girl pointed to the sofa, “I'll be right back.”

  A minute later, Alexei returned with a small metal suitcase, put it on the table and opened it. The suitcase turned out to be a rather large first-aid kit of a professional doctor. She took out a pair of scissors, and some kind of wet swab, and turned to Tykan:

  “First, I'll take off the blindfold.” It can be painful, so you have to tolerate it, ”the girl smiled encouragingly and set to work, trying to cause as little pain as possible. “Done,” she dropped the bandage directly onto the floor and, laying down the scissors, removed the tampon from the wound, sighed and shook her head disapprovingly. “You should have seen a doctor for a long time, Taikan.” This is not a joke, you have poison in the wound.

  - I thought it would heal itself, - the man breathed through his teeth, the pain mercilessly tormented his shoulder.

  “Well, yes, of course,” Alexei caustically remarked, turning her back to the medicine cabinet and rummaging there in search of a universal antidote. “Another day or two, and the poison would simply kill you.”

  “Damn,” colorful dots danced in front of the man's eyes, and he leaned back in the couch.

  “It will be better now,” the girl promised, turning around. “Here, put it in your mouth and chew it, do not swallow it whole,” she handed him a pair of poisonous red pills and leaned over her shoulder, spraying a liquid antidote on the wound. - How are you feeling?

  “Alyosha ...” the fog in his eyes told her that the medicine was already working.

  - Well, now we need to sew up, apply a healing foam and a bandage, - for myself I made an action plan for Alexei and got down to business ...

  * * *

  Meanwhile, Wolf, the Destroyer, the Player, and Nick examined the hotel and the surrounding area, looked into the library, went shopping, ordered business cards, and, having received an invitation to an evening banquet, went to choose tuxedos.

  “Couldn't they have come up with other evening clothes here,” the Player grumbled, fighting the naughty “butterfly”.

  “It's immediately obvious that you never wore it,” the Destroyer grinned, looking stunning in a tuxedo, and easily tied a bow tie to a friend.

  “You look wonderful,” the Wolf stepped out of the dressing room, buttoning his jacket as he went.

  “You all are so fit, catatori,” the young store consultant enthusiastically looked at friends who looked as if they were born in tuxedos.

  “We're taking it,” the Wolf smiled dazzlingly and held out a card, paying for the purchase. The others followed his example.

  “Let's go after Alex,” the Destroyer suggested, “she needs to choose a dress.”

  “Oh no,” the Player and Nick moaned in one voice, “it is still very early, and she will go shopping until night.”

  “Guys,” the Destroyer looked reproachfully at them.

  “We still need to buy something from the equipment and equipment,” Wolf said, he also did not smile at the shopping with the girl, even if
this girl was the leader of the group.

  “We will do so,” the Destroyer reasoned with an understanding smile, “you go further, and I will return for Alexei and go shopping with her.” I saw something interesting for her here.

  “You are our savior!” - The player literally bloomed with a smile.

  “Ask for whatever you want,” Nick said.

  “Buy a board 456A876E412,” the Destroyer took the opportunity. “I want to improve something ...”

  * * *

  Alexey closed the first-aid kit and set it aside. Everything went just perfectly, Tykan, stupefied with pills, did not feel anything and did not at all prevent her from dealing with his wound. The girl sank into a chair opposite the sofa and closed her eyes for a moment. Opening them, she met the soft velvet look of Tykan's dark eyes and smiled at him:

  - Hello.

  “Alyoshka ...” His eyes began to draw in fog again.

  - It's impossible! - the girl jumped up from the chair and ... ended up in the arms of a man, she was confused for a second what he took and kissed her ... but he clearly did not count on such a reaction - a series of blows to painful points literally immobilized him.

  “Even if the action of the pills has not yet completely passed,” Alexey's eyes threw lightning, “this still does not give you the right to do so.”

  “Sorry,” Tykan closed his eyes, fighting the pain from her blows. “You just said that I won't be able to shock you, and also your gentle touches ...”

  - Lord, where did I go! - the girl sighed. - Congratulations, you still managed to shock me. Did I really need to hurt you as much as possible so that it never occurred to you that I was going to seduce you?

  “Sorry, Alyosha,” he carefully straightened up and reached for his shirt.

  “Alexei,” she corrected, and he straightened up sharply, dropping his shirt and almost groaning from the pain in his shoulder. - Take care of your shoulder. Seams can break from sudden movements, ”Alex picked up her shirt. - Let me help you.

  “Do you hate me?” The man asked, taking her help.

  - Why do you think so? - She looked into his eyes.

  “You corrected me when I called you Alyoshka,” Tykan pressed her hand to his chest.

  “Alexey, this is my full name,” the girl gently released her hand. - I see no reason not to use it.

  “So you still hate me,” the man sighed heavily.

  “Nonsense,” the girl laughed. “Tell me, what difference does it make if I name you instead of Taikan, for example, Tay?”

  “If you call me Tye,” he took her hand and kissed, “you will have to tell me.”

  “That's how it is,” she smiled slyly, “then you can call me Alyoshka after I call you Tye.”

  - When will it be? - Hope sparked in his eyes.

  “We'll see by your behavior,” Alexei laughed gaily, noticing the man's dazed look. “It will depend on whether we become friends.”

  “I would really like that, Alexei,” Tykan said quietly.

  “Then satisfy my curiosity,” she looked at him inquiringly. - How long have you been fencing?

  - What? - he was surprised.

  “You have a saber wound, Taikan.” Her voice became very serious. “The saber blade was poisoned.” Sooner or later, this poison would kill you, even if you immediately went to the doctor, it is very difficult to recognize. You are just lucky that I know this poison, and that I had an antidote. How long have you been fencing?

  “More recently,” he answered, deciding to trust her. - An old friend asked me to get his younger brother out of clandestine fencing fights. I took a couple of lessons and went to that club, but I was not lucky, I not only could not see my friend's brother, but also received an unpleasant injury. I could not go to the doctor, there would be too many questions, and the club probably disappeared along with all the fighters.

  - Tell me, your friend never thought to hire professionals to pull his brother? - asked Alexei.

  “He repeatedly did this, but nothing came of it,” he ran a hand through his hair, “some returned with nothing, others never returned.

  “Can I talk to him?”

  “Why do you need this?” - the man was surprised.

  “We are, after all, mercenaries, extra-class specialists,” she said simply, “we could have taken up this.”

  “I thought you were here on vacation ...”

  “No, that's not so,” the girl shook her head.

  “What will your companions say?”

  “My word is enough,” Alexey said firmly.

  “Good,” agreed Tykan, throwing his jacket over his arm, “I will arrange a meeting with him tonight.”

  “Thank you,” she smiled warmly.

  “I'm not sure I want you to participate in this, Alexei, but ...” he sighed and headed for the exit.

  “Taikan,” she called to him, and he turned. - What is the most important thing in friendship?

  “Confidence,” he answered without a second's hesitation, and she nodded in agreement.

  “You can call me Alex, Ty.” She flashed a white-toothed smile. - Alyosha is a man's name ...

  Chapter 9

  The Destroyer went to the door of the room and, digging out the key in his pocket, extended his hand to open the door, but he froze - it opened on its own, releasing Taikan: a jacket casually thrown over his hand, an open shirt, disheveled hair, brightly sparkling eyes - all this suggested to certain thoughts. Tykan took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and, passing a hand through his hair and shaking his head, went to the elevator, without noticing the Destroyer, who knew how to, if necessary, becomes completely invisible, despite its more than impressive dimensions. The elevator left, and the Destroyer took a breath and thought.What he had just witnessed could clearly be interpreted as the departure of a lover, but nevertheless he was embarrassed by some little things that did not fit into such a picture.But most importantly - he did not believe that Alex could easily let anyone in, she is not like that. Deciding not to draw any conclusions, he pushed the door and went into the hall, where he noticed the girl - she was heading to the bedroom, and in her hands held ... a first-aid kit.

  - Hello! - Alexey smiled at the Destroyer. - Where are the guys?

  “Somewhere in the shops,” he shrugged, “we haven't bought everything yet,” not wanting it, he looked in her appearance for confirmation that she was with Tykan.

  - Something happened? - the girl noticed an inquiring look and frowned. - Something with the guys?

  “It's all right,” he reassured her, noting that her clothes were fine, although something akin to excitement flickered in her eyes.

  “It seems that in your gloomy thoughts I take the main place,” the girl grinned. - Spread it already.

  “There will be a reception in the evening, and we are invited to it,” the Destroyer decided not to tell her that he had seen Tykan leaving the room.

  “This is good news, the Destroyer,” Alexey rejoiced. “Techniques are just the perfect place to search for potential contracts and create an image.” I do not believe that the prospect of spending the evening in a tuxedo could upset you. ”She looked at him probingly and reminded her. - We agreed not to hide anything from each other.

  - I don't even know how to say ...

  - Straight.

  - We had guests? The Destroyer asked cautiously, using all his diplomacy and endurance.

  “You want to ask what Tykan was doing here,” the girl laughed, “and why he came out disheveled.” Am I not right?

  “Right,” the Destroyer sighed. “But how did you know?”

  “It's simple, you should have encountered him in the corridor, in extreme cases, in the elevator,” she explained, barely holding back a smile, “as soon as he got out, as you entered, you simply could not help but meet . ”

  “I really saw him,” the Destroyer confirmed, hanging a tuxedo case on the floor lamp and occupying a large armchair, “but he didn't notice me.” He thought about something and was distrac
ted. And I really wonder what he was doing here.

  “I dealt with his wound, she was poisoned, and the poison gradually killed him.” A little more, and it would be very late. - Alexei went to the sofa and sat on a wide armrest. - Then we talked a little about where he got it, about his friend who has problems with his younger brother, that our team is not on vacation here. He promised to introduce us to his friend, said goodbye and left.