4 - Alexander

~Aleksey’s Point of View~

“Again! Keep your elbows high,” the trainer yelled. 

I continued to take jabs at the punching bag, letting out all my aggression. 

“I’ve never seen someone come in already so well trained, so tough. You float like a butterfly and sting like a bee,” the trainer said, impressed. 

I didn’t know if this guy was poetic or he was quoting something. It wasn’t like I got to watch TV very much.

“When you have to fight for survival you get tough,” I said, taking another punch.

“Let's take a break kid, I’m tired just lookin’ at ya. You got a name,” he asked. 

“It’s been Austin but I was recently informed it's Aleksey. Still waiting to meet the boss though,” I said, taking off my boxing gloves.

“Aleksey? Like that pit bull they shot a while back,” he said, shaking his head. 

“Something like that I guess. Let’s get some grub,” I said, dropping the gloves and smoothing back my hair. 

I was absolutely always in the mood to eat, and here … they always wanted to feed me. So who would turn that down?

I’d been pretty much left on my own the last week, waiting for the boss to get home. His idiot son bothered me now and again, but for the most part I’d just worked out or watched TV. I did however learn that the boss’ wife and daughter lived half the year in Russia, keeping an eye on things there. It was beyond weird to me that a man of his status would allow his mate to live halfway around the world for months at a time. 

“My sister Helen works in the kitchen. Let's see what we can do. I’m Joseph by the way,” he said, reaching to shake my hand. He wasn’t an overly large man, probably about 5’9 and 175lbs but he looked like he’d seen some things. He had a New York accent, not a trace of Russian unlike most I’d heard over the past week.

“Nice to meet you. Is this all you do here? Train fighters,” I asked, raising my eyebrow. 

“I handle different things, what the boss needs, why do you ask,” he said, leading me to the kitchen.

“Well uhm, I just got here last week but it seems I’m gonna be here awhile. You look like a guy who knows things. I was thinking you might like to teach me how to read,” I said, talking to his back. 

He immediately stopped and spun around to face me. 

“How old are you kid,” he said. 

“Fourteen, my birthday is next month though,” I said. 

“And you ain’t had a lot of learning,” he said, curious.

“Who wants to teach a nobody how to be a somebody,” I laughed.

“You sharp boy, I’ll give you that. Come on, let’s see what we can do,” he said, turning around to keep walking.

After getting a late lunch, one of the maids had me follow her, but I couldn’t understand a word she was saying. I guessed after I learned to read, learning Russian was going to be my next challenge. I very much would need to do both before I got my wolf.

One of the few joys I found in life was spying. I loved being a fly on the wall and hearing/seeing all that I could without being known. I guessed I was going to have the chance for a whole hell of a lot of that in this house.

“You sit,” the maid said, pointing to a couch. 

I nodded at her and she turned to leave. I was in a large library, plenty for me to borrow and practice reading. I kept hearing different voices near and far, up and down the hallway and thought someone would be coming in at any minute, but no one did. There was a large desk and it suddenly hit me. This was probably the boss’ office.

After a while I got bored and started looking at some of the books, in a limited way obviously … I couldn’t tell one from another. I made my way around the room and the view from the back window caught my attention. It overlooked the pool and a view of a large river. There were mountains behind it and it was simply beautiful. 

Without thinking much about it, I grabbed a chair nearby and got comfy in front of the window, putting my feet up on the wall. I looked up at the clear blue sky and thought of Emilia. I wished so badly that I was holding her right now. I hoped she didn’t hate me. 

“Like the way it feels to sit in my chair,” I heard from across the room.

The voice was gruff, like a heavy smoker. It was a thick, Russian voice which was no surprise. I lowered my feet and spun around in the chair to see a very large man, easily 6’3 and 250lbs of solid muscle. He was wearing a suit that probably cost thousands and was perfectly tailored to his body. He was clean shaven and had barely two inches of dark brown hair, meticulously styled. Several large rings on his fingers quickly caught my eye. Inconspicuous weapons, and something every foster kid is all too familiar with.

“It’s a nice chair, but that’s about the only use I have for it,” I said, getting up and moving it back behind the desk.

The man scoffed but then laughed.

“I’ve been watching you for a while Austin. I would think with your drive … determination, you’d want something more for yourself than scrapping at a petty fight. I think you’re capable of more, the question is are you ready to take it,” he said, pouring himself a drink from a cart I hadn’t noticed before.

Every single thing about his demeanor told me he didn’t fuck around. Every movement of his was exact, nothing was wasted. He was intimidating as hell, and all he was doing was standing there. His words weren’t threatening, but they didn’t need to be. I wanted that, the look. The body posture that says, “I’m in control.” But I had to also address the big question I had. 

“Capable of more? Yet you bought me to put me in the ring. You exploit your own kind. You would use me, my body to make a buck,” I said, in a mocking tone.

I laughed, falling on the couch.

“I amuse you,” he said, leaning against his desk and turning to face me.

“Your insinuation amuses me,” I said. 

I may not know how to spell it, but I knew the word and what it meant. I liked knowledge, I just didn’t have a ton of it. One of my temporary foster homes had been with an English teacher, and I tried to pay attention.

“Do tell,” the man said, lowering his eyes to me.

I bent forward on the couch, my elbows on my knees and my hands outward, in front of me. 

“You assume I had a choice in fighting, like I had a choice in really any facet of my life. Just like these fucking things,” I said, reaching for one of my diamond earrings. 

I took both of them out and he watched me carefully. I got to my feet and placed them on his desk, taking a quick look at the constant reminder of being owned, being tracked. I then turned and walked back to the couch.

“I see. Well, you won’t need those any more. You won’t run away here, and if you do it’ll be the last breath you draw. I invested in you, and I don’t like to lose money,” he said, quite seriously. 

I sat back down and resumed my same posture … casual. 

“Seems like everyone is invested in me but I don’t think you’re going about it in the right way,” I said, matching his gaze.

He immediately erupted in laughter then sipped from his glass. I leaned back against the couch and spread my arms along the top of the cushions.

I’d had a week to think about how I wanted to play this little encounter. I had even practiced and rehearsed both ends of the conversation in my mind and so far it was going according to plan … I had his attention.

“Yes little pup. I’d love for you to tell me how to run my business and how to run my property,” he said, setting his glass on the desk and crossing his arms.

His arms looked even bigger, more intimidating. I took a deep breath and knew I definitely had his attention, I just had to keep it. This guy could probably crush my windpipe in three seconds … I couldn’t risk pissing him off.

“Yeah I can fight. But I have a different kind of thirst. A different kind of desire. I can be more of a help to you in other ways,” I said, trying to market myself.

“I don’t fuck little boys if that’s where you’re going with this,” he said, shaking his head.

“Shit no that’s not what I’m saying,” I said, offended, throwing up my hands but leaving my elbows against the couch.

He waved his hand indicating I should continue. 

“Teach me what you know, let me work for you. But I don’t want to be seen, let me work behind the scenes. I’m sneaky, and I’m a quick learner. I value loyalty and fully understand that respect and trust are earned, not given,” I said. 

“What makes you think I’d just blindly trust some street kid,” he said, staring me down.

“I got nothing to lose and everything to prove. I don’t need friends, I need knowledge and opportunity … and I’m hungry,” I said simply.