fire a gun.

Alexandria ran a hand through her hair. On some level she knew that he was right. It wasn’t her fault but guilt still plagued her. If she had been more careful, more secure, if she hadn’t even opened up at all maybe this wouldn’t be happening. Still she was realizing that harboring this secret had become a weight that nearly suffocated her. Despite the worry of having this blackmailer so close being able to talk with Edgar and the others about it, even talking with Sam, has been a big weight off. She felt as though she could breathe again. Though she still worried that she was just selfishly putting that weight on them. A weight none of them deserved. 

Her head tilts toward him and nods faintly. “ You could be right. A way to watch over you, see what you are up to with your business. Knowing him he was probably expecting Fynn to report back some sort of failure, a way for him to swoop in and save the day in return for your favor. Bully for him that you are brilliant and have built a profitable business with a strong foundation in loyalty that even turned Fynn. I still find the man odd, he talked as though his father had always known Xavier but I know everyone who works at the winery..I’ve never seen him.”  She shakes her head softly. “I doubt he would, he seems eager to prove himself to you” 

Alex frowned at the thought, she hated the idea of involving Xavier in any way much less Edgar having to deal with him again. She raised her glass before swallowing down the amber liquid, “Here’s hoping we find him and that that doesn’t have to happen, if anything let me take the brunt of it. He’s going to be angry with me either way” 

Edgar nodded. Everything she was saying made sense. It was just like Xavier to want to control their lives even from an ocean away. “Honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t tried to weasel himself in earlier. It’s not really like him to wait a decade before popping up and being helpful. The long game isn’t really his style.” At least, it hadn’t been when Edgar had lived at home, but he’d been gone since he was eighteen. Who knew how much his father could have changed in that time. The thought was enough to give him shivers. “I’m not going to let Xavier or his pawn have an in here. We’ve got too much to lose. The crew’s family. They trust me. So, Fynn’s really going to have to think twice if he plans to do anything.” It wasn’t an idle threat. Edgar didn’t like violence but he’d do whatever it took to keep his employees and their families safe because they were so much more than just employees. “Xavier’s in for a war if he thinks I’d let him hurt anyone here.” He was thinking about Griffin and Dylan and their children. Isabella especially. He’d burn the world down if anything were to happen to that child. 

“That includes you,” Edgar added. “I’m not going to let him anywhere near you so you can just give up the idea of taking the brunt of anything. If he’s involved, he’s dealing with me.” It was a worse case scenario. Edgar would do everything humanly possible to make sure that Xavier never had to get involved. The less he knew about what was happening here, the better. “I genuinely can’t believe ma puts up with that man.”

Damien nodded in respect though let the subject drop. He knew the weight just a few seconds frozen could lie on someone. So many what ifs. He hardly wanted to put more pressure on the man, and words of ease never truly helped. It would be up to him to work through it on his own. He had seen the man fighting in the gym, even had the pleasure of sparring with him, as intense as it was. Camila had commented on his meditating, said it did him good and Damien could understand that. Despite losing his father by sea, sailing still brought a sense of calm too him, not that he’d managed to get out lately with the weather. 

He chuckles amused and nods. “Sam, and he’s my roommate, gave me a home when I needed so I’d say he’s been good to me and I’ve just turned the favor where I could. I wont lie, her being as good as she is with Sam is why I approve of her too” He smiles at the man’s turn of phrase and nods. “I’m sure she can. There’s not much to tell. Born and raised here in New York, my father died when i was young, my mother remarried and had my sister. I went into the military right out of high school and planned to stay, until I found out my sister had gotten into some trouble. That’s what brought me to the FBI, I was able to help her get out of trouble and bring her home. Hence part of why I’m here.” It was a quick rundown just the gist of his story. “How about you, you and Alex were born in France?” 

“I’m starting to think this guy’s a saint,” Edgar commented. Alex had only ever spoken fondly of her soldier friend which was why Edgar had never thought to meet the man. From what he’d heard, Edgar didn’t think that he was a threat in any way. Not that threats usually announced themselves, as they’d been reminded with Alex’s blackmailers, but Damien’s words just reinforced what Edgar already believed. “Alex will say I’m heavy handed, which, granted, I probably am.” It was a trait he’d unfortunately inherited from their father who seemed to want to micromanage every aspect of their lives less they embarrass him in any way. “But I do the things I do to keep her safe. I’m sure you’ve seen Robert around.” He followed the words with a wave off his hand as if it was simply an offhanded gesture to assign a member of one’s staff to guard one’s sister. “He keeps her safe. She can do it on her own, but it never hurts to be prepared. I’m saying that to say that I really never have to worry when she’s with Sam.” 

Edgar listened intently and nodded in all the right places. “Sisters,” he muttered in solidarity. There wasn’t a thing he wouldn’t do to keep Alex safe and happy, though her happiness came second to her safety in his mind. So, he understood shelving one’s plans in order to protect a sister. “Hmm, yes. We’re French by birth. Our mother’s Chinese. Our father’s not.” At least, his father wasn’t. It didn’t seem necessary to mention that Alex wasn’t Xavier’s child or that she was all the more lucky for it. “He comes from a pretty well established family. They’ve been in the wine business for generations, so you can imagine what our childhood was like. I moved away when I was 18. Traveled for a bit. Fell into security work when I was living in LA. Came to NYC and started Sun Wukong about five or six years ago and have been here ever since.”

“Oh! Morgan smiled. “So you’re the kind who just skips everything and goes straight for the reward. I see,” she smiled. “Well, in that case, you’re a lucky man. There are many boys and girls who don’t like foreplay and want to go straight to business.” She said pointing at the tavern were a few couples were dancing. 

“Who said anything about not liking foreplay,” Edgar questioned. He’d rested his chin in his hand as the conversation progressed but now he lifted his head, gaze turning in the direction she was pointing. “All of life is foreplay, wouldn’t you say?”

“Offer me one of the guys? That sounds vaguely like you’re pimping a man out to me now,” she teased. “How would you know what every women wants? Are you going to secure my hand in marriage for one of your boys now? Do you have a dowry set up for me?” Verity grinned wickedly. “Oh, he would just adore that.”

“Less pimping than offering my guys because I know their situations,” he clarified, a grin growing on his face. This was the most ridiculous conversation, but that was part and parcel with having Verity as an assistant. “Honestly, you should be paying me for my services considering I’m paying you to just sit around and annoy me all day.”

The reaction had Micah wondering casually what unresolved childhood trauma the man acquired in his life. Instead, he snorted, putting the money in his pocket. “I would’ve suspected someone who has eyes darting everywhere, scrutinizing everything, might’ve noticed me pulling it out of my pocket.” He blinked, smiling smugly as he stood, keeping his feet even on the ground, his knees bent. “I guess not, Edgar.”

“I wasn’t aware that you wanted to be embarrassed in public,” Edgar replied coolly. He wasn’t intrigued exactly, but neither was he annoyed by this interaction which was more than he could say for the majority of conversations he had. He simply had no motivation to keep up with anyone who was not his sister or part of his Sun Wukong Crew. “Next time I’ll be sure to call you out for planting evidence just so you can talk to me.”

With a cup of tea clutched in one hand -- some sort of lavender blend that he’d selected without much thought -- and his cellphone in the other, Edgar pursued this morning’s paper. After his holiday had been co-opted by Xavier and Daiyu Fortier, this was the first truly solitary moment he’d had in days and he had every intention of making the most of it. The words amicable and mutually agreed upon split starred back at him. It had been some time since he’d seen his own staring back at him from the pages of a tabloid. His PR relationship had been over for weeks now, but it had taken the PR teams weeks to work out a story that worked for both parties. “Never again,” Edgar muttered under his breath as he sipped at the quickly cooling tea. Without looking, he rolled the paper up and flung it in the general direction of the garbage can he’d noticed sitting in a corner earlier. 

“Only if you’re stupid enough to break stuff in my tavern,” Morgan said with a small smile, taking a glass and filing it with a red liquid and placing it in front of him. “But then again, I’ve met men who are complete idiots!” Since the first day she opened the tavern there had been trouble and it been like that ever since. Most of the time the guy or guys who would dared to start a fight ended up recieving a few punches in return, but nothing like that guy who left with a broken nose. “Be careful with that drink, my darling. I created it myself and I’m not going to tell you what’s in there, unless you can convince me,” she smiled. “And since you’re so popular with the ladies you can try your luck with me…if you dare.”

Edgar lifted the glass she’d set before him and give it a quick swirl before sniffing the contents. He didn’t much care what was inside. He could hold his liquor well, so there was no worry that he’d get drunk enough to embarrass himself. With a smirk, he brought the glass to his lips and took a sip of its contents. “And what if I’m not in the mood to play any games?” 

Between being in the military and the FBI he’d been in his share of stressful situations. Freezing happened, to rookies and seasoned soldiers. No one can predict how they will react in these situations, not even him. He’d had frozen a time or two over the years. He knew the aftermath of questioning what had happened, how things could have gone wrong or gone better had he not frozen, had he been more focused. “I don’t imagine that you do. It happens though, to the best of us. Been through battle enough to see it happen and experience it myself. But that’s why you have people that have your back. I had my squad, that night looks like you had me.” 

He chuckles softly at the man’s word and nodded. “That’s high praise from Ms. Fortier.” He didn’t know much about Alex, he’d only really met her through Sam. He knew enough to know that she was a skilled fighter, held herself composed like her brother, and cared deeply about Sam. To be honestly the latter was all he needed for her to be good in his book. Sam deserved to be surrounded by good people who cared for him. “Anything you’d like to know, I’m an open book, for the most part” 

He’d heard it all before, the justifications for freezing. It was one of the body’s responses, something involuntary that he couldn’t control, but Edgar liked to believe that he was always in control especially over his body, so the idea that it had done something counter to his desires, was not one that he enjoyed. “And I’m glad I did.” Edgar preferred to work with his team, but he had to admit that it had been reassuring to have Damien around, especially since the majority of his attention had been on ensuring that Alex remained safe. 

“She’s fond of that soldier friend of hers and you’re good to him, I hear. So if you’re good in her book, you’re good in mine.” Edgar trusted Alex’s opinions above everyone else’s. Anyone who’d won the Alex seal of approval was automatically a good person in his book. “I keep my circle of friends small, as I’m sure you can imagine. So, let’s consider this an opportunity to potentially broker some sort of mutually beneficial acquaintanceship. You tell me whatever you feel inclined to. Honestly, I’m almost certain there isn’t anything about you that Alex couldn’t find online if she was inclined to look.”

“Oh my God,” Charlie groaned, leading him through the club to the bar. “Literally, how are you such an old man?” She was teasing, grinning at him as though she might be able to change his mind. Of course, as they sat down, she quickly ordered him one of her favorites and it was quickly delivered, placed in front of the both of them with a quick precision. “I’m English, so my tolerance is quite high. Let me know if this isn’t strong enough for you.”

She winked, knowing full well that although she had a high tolerance for alcohol, that Edgar may have had her beat. With a sip, she watched him, still smiling at his next words. “And you, sir, are absolutely no fun. But we’ll change that.” Charlie shrugged. “After all, I never said I would ask you.” With a wiggle of her eyebrows, Charlie waited for the right song, leaning back in her seat as she sucked on the drink, eying him carefully. “Didn’t see you at Hadley’s party. Everything turn out alright for you?”

He’d been called worse. In the grand scheme of things, being accused of being an old man who was no fun was hardly even an insult. “We French are notorious for being uppity assholes, haven’t you heard?” He ran a finger around the rim of the glass, pushing it aside in favor of a glass of water. He could already tell that this would be a long night and he’d need his wits about him if he planned to endure Charlie for the duration of it. “I was there,” he replied heaving a sigh. He’d dissected every moment of the night ad nauseam and now he wanted to put it behind him. He had bigger mysteries to solve, after all. “Yeah. Got a little banged up but nothing that I couldn’t handle. I’m assuming you’re fine if you still have the energy to torment me tonight.” 

Her eyebrows rose when the man mentioned that and she couldn’t help but be curious about it. “Plenty of women in action? You must be popular with the ladies, then” Morgan said. “I’m affraid to ask,” she smirked and poured herself a shot. “Oh, he’ll try to come back, they always do, but not before probably go to the police station on the way home. There’s no point, everyone already knows who I am there,” she waved her hand. “Some men can’t understand the meaning of the word No and something tells me they like when I punish them like that. Humans have weird fetiches and I’m not against that, but it’s better for me so I can work on my punches, and my slaps and my kicks;” she shrugged. “What’s your poison, handsome stranger?” she asked him. 

Edgar simply smirk. Let her fill her imagination with possible interpretations for his words. “Anything that burns,” he answered. He wasn’t much of a drinker, at least, not outside of a social setting. He knew his wines and spirits because it was his job to. One didn’t inherit a winery if one couldn’t distinguish quality wine, but he tried to stay far away from anything that took control away from him. For personal reasons. Seeing as he was in a bar, though, it was simply easier to order something and pretend to drink it than to explain to the bartender his deep seated preferences. “So, what you’re saying is that you’re a regular at the precinct and that you have a tendency to beat up men? Should I be worried?” 

Alexandria smiled softly watching Edgar. She couldn’t fault him for working as much as he did. Neither of them really knew how to relax. The way they were raised, there wasn’t much time to rest. They were expected at all social engagements and between their schooling, martial arts classes, his meditation and her equestrian training it didn’t leave much time to rest. Then again in some ways that was by design, the less they were home, the less they had to deal with Xavier’s temper. It seemed that even though they were no longer in his home, the man haunted them like a ghost, enforcing old habits they never let go of. “I’ve seen the trailer, I’ll have to watch it. The idea of it looked intriguing. I’ve been working through Lost in Space. Its actually quite good” 

“Makes sense. I’d go just to make sure he’s actually dead. Maybe convince mom to give him a good viking funeral just so I can make sure he burns. We’ve seen enough horror movies to know that the bastard never stays dead” Jokes aside, she hoped for the day they’d be rid of him, especially Edgar. Alex understood his distaste for her, his rage, she wasn’t actually his. She hadn’t exactly come to terms with it all but the news had given her clarity. Edgar however was his flesh and blood and yet Xavier had belittled him all his life. She’d been so proud when Edgar had cut ties with the man, she’d watched him excel as a Yang, no longer hindered by the world of the Fortiers and her pride in him had only grown. 

Her back went rigged as he mentioned that he had called Xavier. The last thing she’d wanted was for Xavier to find out she was being blackmailed. Granted while he would do anything to protect himself, the wrath that would descend on her as the cause of it all made her sick to her stomach. She shouldn’t still be afraid of him, she knew how to fight back and yet some how she still felt like a little girl staring down a monster. The realization that Edgar hadn’t told the man the whole story dawned on her quick though, flooding away the fear if only for a moment. He’d had plenty of time while in down to come down on her and yet there’d been nothing more than his usual disinterest. “It’s likely the latter though. You have spoken to him in years. He’d be more interested in seeing if he had an in back in your life than in what’s going on with mine.” 

She rolled her eyes faintly at the mention of Fynn. It was no wonder the man annoyed her so much, granted that hadn’t stopped her from sleeping with him. “He could make a good double agent as long as we know who he’s loyal to. I’m still not entirely sure where he came from, I know most all of the winery staff.” At his words she frowned and shook her head. Adjusting forward she reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “You have nothing to apologize for, I’m sorry, I know it was a lot to put on you and I hate that this is what’s responsible for you even speaking to him again. If I had my way he’d never be near you again. Sadly you are right though, if anyone could figure it out it’d be him, but he’d need incentive, like protecting his own reputation.” 

Speaking about Xavier had a way of unsettling Edgar. He’d worked for years to put the man behind him, but he popped up in the most inopportune ways. Edgar saw him in his mannerisms. The way he cracked his knuckles when he was annoyed. The way he rested his hands flat on the nearest surface top and leaned in whenever he wanted to off center someone. The way he smiled while plotting a person’s demise, always five steps ahead. It was like Xavier was sludge flowing through his veins, too thick and too polluting to fully rid oneself of. 

“It’s not your fault,” Edgar offered. He’d forgive Alex of anything. Not that he had anything to forgive in his instance. He understood why she hadn’t come to him earlier. Had he been in her situation, he likely would have done the same. It was in their nature to try to handle situations on their own so as not to stress out the other. Had he been in a potentially dangerous situation, he would have wanted Alex as far from it as possible. She was his sister and he’d give his life to protect hers. Add to the fact that there was a level of embarrassment woven through the entire situation and he understood all too clearly why she’d kept it so close to her chest for so long.

“It was only a matter of time before he tried to bring me back in.” Edgar hated his father. Over the years, the reasons for that had grown. He hated that Xavier had never put effort into maintaining the facade of the happy family that he so desperately projected in public settings, hated him for the way he treated their mother, hated him for his involvement in Edgar’s one romantic relationship, hated him for the way he’d always made a point of othering his sister as if Alex could be blamed for the circumstances of her birth. “I think that’s why he sent Fynn to begin with. As a good will offering. At least on the surface.” Xavier should have realized that he’d raised his children to be just a bit too suspicious, especially when it came to peace offerings from him. “But in all seriousness,” his voice dropped and Edgar leaned in as if the words he was about to utter were too much to put out in the open... because they were. “He betrays us, I’ll put a bullet in his head.”

“I’m going to give Griff and the boys another week. Let them test the feelers they put out. See if anyone’s biting. Maybe bring Jason and his lot in now that they’re back. With their extensive network, I’m sure we’ll find something.” It was a last ditch effort. They’d tried almost everything he could think of, exhausted almost every avenue, and it was killing him that they still hadn’t found anything. Someone had broken into his sister’s apartment and he hadn’t yet put the bastard down. What kind of brother did that make him? “If we’re still groping around in the dark, I’ll suck it up and kiss daddy dearest’s feet.”

Verity shrugged. “If we really want to make a splash we could elope, I take your last name, and then we adopt a child together,” she replied, tapping her perfectly manicured nails on the desk top. “Besides, dear father would truly have a fit then and I’d really get a good excuse to change my name. Not sure how mom would react. Probably at least be a little happy that I caused some notable drama for her to revel in and actually finally found someone even if it is a debatable sham.”

“How about I just offer you one of the guys,” Edgar countered. “Robbie belongs to Alex and Griffin’s the perfect archetype of the devoted widower, but Trent is always an option. Doesn’t every woman want to be the wife of the stoic soldier type? I’m sure there are romances written about it.” With anyone else, Edgar would have changed the conversation, but the boys were as fond of Verity as he was, and he saw no harm in indulging her. “Or you could just marry Dylan and become a sister wife. I’m sure that would send your father straight to the grave.” 

Alex couldn’t help but give him a look. She knew better than to believe that. Then again she wasn’t much better. She’d often brought her work home or came home and would find herself bored and settled at the computer to code, small projects she tried to put together. Sometimes they were amping up her own security, sometimes they were for Edgar and his team. They were family she wanted to make sure everything was secure. Occasionally she’d manage to settle down enough to watch something but usually that didn’t happen unless she was spending time with Sam, her brought on a sort of calm that let her relax. “Oh really, what did you watch?” 

She understood his sigh all too well. Every international call that came to her phone left her heart pounding in her chest. On top of Xavier’s violent nature, she couldn’t help but worry about their mother’s addiction. She was functioning, for sure, but that didn’t mean there weren’t days they found her passed out from taking it too far. More than a few times she’d had to drag her to the shower to wake her up or watched over her over night just to make sure she was still breathing. “Stubborn runs in the family, however i can think of one funeral i would glad to be there for.”  She chuckles softly and shakes her head, “That’s not something I needed to see. and you’re not hunting him down if he makes her happy. If Xavier can have a side piece, so can she. Lets just keep it at the blackmailer for now and see how it goes with the boy toy.” 

Edgar knew that Alex didn’t quite believe him. He’d seen that particular expression enough throughout his life that know what it meant. Rather than replying, he rested an arm behind his head and smiled slightly. That was how people looked when they were relaxed, right? He couldn’t much say. Though he meditated every day, inaction was the bane of his existence. Edgar had trained himself to remain still and to be calm, but he was never relaxed. Not truly, at least. His mind was always running, always analyzing something, always trying to throw memories at him that he didn’t want to handle. It was an exhausting way to exist, but he’d grown used to it. “October Faction,” he answered. “Some new show about monsters and monster hunters. It wasn’t awful.” Actually, he’d enjoyed it, but unlike with his books, Edgar didn’t have high standards when it came to television. 

“If the old man ever actually kicked the bucket, I think I’d stay here. As a final fuck you, you know? It’d be just like him to die when we had something important going on. Just so he could control us from the beyond.” Edgar hated Xavier, had done so for as long as he could remember. Growing up, he’d wanted to be everything the man had wanted him to be, but he’d quickly learned that no one was ever quite enough for Xavier. Then he’d been a bit too heavy handed in his life and Edgar had finally had enough. He hadn’t contacted him since. Not until a few weeks ago when Alex had gotten injured. “I called him. Xavier. After your fight.” He felt awkward saying those words out loud. He knew that Alex wouldn’t judge him, but still, it felt like admitting a weakness. “Between your blackmailer and your injuries, I panicked. I figured if anyone could get to the bottom of it, it would be him. I figure that’s why he visited with ma. That and to see his chosen one.” 

Edgar rolled his at that. Xavier, as arrogant and heavy handed as always, had sent along a mole. Not that it had taken Edgar and Alex long to figure it out. “I don’t think he’s figured out as yet that Fynn doesn’t exactly work for him anymore.” The prospect of one upping his father amused him. “Anyway, I’m sorry. I know you can handle this and I shouldn’t have gotten him involved. I’m pretty sure he’ll pull back if I ask him to. Though, it couldn’t hurt to have access to his resources. It’s not like we’ve found out much and I’ve had Griff checking for days now.” That felt like another failure to admit out loud. “If I can’t hunt him, you’re going to have to stop referring to him as the boy toy. That’s not how I want to think about ma.” 

“Because you love me and I’m one of the few people that can stand you indefinitely,” she replied airily. He was one of her favorite people, but of course she always teased and let on like he wasn’t. The banter kept it all interesting. “Probably not, but if I did something bad enough he’d have to notice because then it would reflect poorly on the family.”

“Debatable.” At this point, Edgar was arguing for the sake of arguing. He was thankful for Verity. She kept his office running by doing the tedious tasks that he most hated. More than that, she’d been a constant in his life since childhood, and as his sister’s sister, she was practically family. “You could just emancipate yourself and change your family name. Take it from me, it makes for a much more interesting existence.”