Chapter 6: His Soft Spot

Ajax worked quickly, wrapping gauze around the gunshot wound on Caius’ side. The bleeding had already stopped, and the wound was clean.

“Good thing it wasn’t fatal,” Ajax said as he secured the bandage. “He only fainted because he lost too much blood.”

Isis didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed on the blood bag hanging from the IV stand. “This is enough, correct?”

“Yes, my Lord.” Ajax stood straight. “It was easy to request blood from the Confederacion Head Quarter. Since I have medical experience, everything went smoothly.”

Isis let out a slow breath and looked down at his brother.

Caius lay unconscious on the bed, pale and still. Isis sat beside him, leaning against the headboard, gently combing Caius’ hair with his fingers. His face remained blank as he stared up at the ceiling.

After several quiet seconds, Isis spoke.

“I wonder why he is here.”

Ajax straightened. “My source said he got injured after stealing something from a Triad sub-Head Quarter here in the country.”

Isis frowned, his eyes darkening. “This is my territory, Ajax. If anyone should move against the Triad in Asia, it is me. Why is he here?”

“Maybe it was your father’s order,” Ajax replied, adjusting Caius’ blanket. “He’s hurt, and yet he came to you. It seems he still trusts you.”

Isis looked down at Caius again. “More like he had no choice.”

“Why not ask him when he wakes up?” Ajax suggested.

Isis’ expression didn’t change. “I am tired of being disappointed.”

Ajax breathed out. “Very well. I shall prepare your breakfast.”

“Coffee would be nice,” Isis said calmly.

Ajax stopped, stunned. “Forgive me, my Lord? Coffee?”

“It is morning.” Isis’ tone was flat. “Beer is not suitable for breakfast. So I want coffee.”

Ajax approached him and pressed a hand to Isis’ forehead. “No fever. For more than a decade of serving you, this is the first time you have ever asked for coffee.”

Isis’ face remained emotionless.

He wanted coffee because it tasted good when Xanthe made it last night. He wondered if Ajax could make it the same.

“Just make me coffee,” Isis said. “Do not make me repeat myself.”

Ajax bowed. “Yes, my Lord. Anything else?”

“That is all.”

Ajax left the room. Isis sighed and glanced at the clock on the wall.

7:42 AM.

Is Xanthe awake already?

He shook his head. Why was he thinking of her this early?

He exhaled sharply. He really had it bad. She was too kind, too kind that sometimes he fooled himself into thinking he was special to her.

But he knew the truth. Kindness was simply her nature. She treated everyone the same. He should not imagine anything more.

The door opened. Ajax returned and handed him a cup.

“Here’s your coffee, my Lord.”

Isis accepted it while Ajax placed two slices of cake on the bedside table.

Isis took a sip. His eyes closed slightly as he focused on the taste. “Not the same…” he muttered. “Ajax, my phone.”

Ajax immediately fetched the phone from the mini-bar and handed it to him.

Isis had already saved Xanthe’s number. Thanks to Maris.

He hoped she was awake. The call rang several times before someone answered.

“H-hello?” Xanthe sounded sleepy. “W-who’s this?”

“It’s Isis. My apologies. I may have awakened you.”

She yawned softly. “It’s okay, huh?” A short pause. “You… moved me to another bed?”

So she noticed.

“Yes.”

“Oh.” Silence.

“Sorry to disturb you, boss, but I need to ask something important.”

“What is it?”

“How did you prepare my coffee last night?” Isis asked. “How did you grind the beans? How long did you soak them?”

“Huh?” She sounded confused. “I didn’t do anything like that.”

“Then why did it taste good?”

“Um… I just put coffee powder in the cup and added hot water.”

Isis blinked. “That’s it?”

“Yeah.” She laughed a little. “You’re weird. Good morning, by the way.”

Her soft greeting made him smile. “Morning as well, boss. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

They ended the call. Isis looked up to see Ajax staring at him in disbelief.

“What?” Isis asked, expression blank.

“My Lord…” Ajax stepped closer. “You smiled. Genuinely. And, who is this ‘boss’? The last time you called someone that was before Lord Damian retired. You said you’d never use that word again.”

“Never mind that,” Isis replied, handing him back the cup. “This coffee is not good. The one I drank last night from her was made with simple coffee powder and hot water. No beans.”

Ajax blinked, then his eyes widened. “Ah! You mean instant coffee, my Lord. It’s… commoners’ coffee.”

“Commoners’ coffee?” Isis repeated, thoughtful. “Do Don and the others have that? I only saw coffee beans with them.”

“I will buy some instant coffee, my Lord.”

“Go. Now.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Ajax hurried out.

Isis picked up his phone when it buzzed with a message.

From: Xanthe (My Boss)

Did you rest well last night?

He smiled, then forced himself to stop. She was just being kind. Nothing more.

He replied:

To: Xanthe (My Boss)

Yes. Thanks to you. Hope you can be my pillow again.

He sent it. Minutes later, she replied:

From: Xanthe (My Boss)

We can arrange that. Just tell me when, so you can rest properly.

His heart raced. This woman… did she know what she was doing to him?

Before he could text back, Caius groaned. Isis immediately set his phone aside and turned to him. Relief washed over him when he saw Caius awake.

“Do not move,” Isis said firmly when Caius tried to sit. “You are still under blood transfusion. Stay still.”

Caius listened, but the silence between them grew heavy. Strangers. That was what they felt like now. They had been close once. Years changed that.

Ajax returned. Isis stood up and took the tray from him.

“I will be in the next room,” Isis told Ajax. “Nurse him back to health. He will not recover quickly if he sees me.”

Ajax nodded. “Yes, my Lord.”

Isis left and entered the room next to it. He placed the tray on the table, took the cup of coffee, and sipped. It tasted exactly like Xanthe’s coffee. Good.

He called his personal vengador while drinking.

“Keegan.”

“Boss.”

“Do you have information about the Triad sub-HQ Caius infiltrated?”

“None. It was a covert mission.”

“Find out what you can and call me.”

He ended the call and went to shower. After bathing, he wore faded jeans and a black shirt. While brushing his teeth, he paused and stared at his own reflection.

Xanthe had asked if he was blonde. He lied. She knew he lied. Yet she let him lie. What was with her?

His phone rang. Keegan.

“Yes?”

“I gathered a little information,” Keegan said. “Your father ordered Caius to steal some documents from Mr. Tatsuhiko Triad sub-HQ. He’s a yakuza.”

Isis knew Tatsuhiko well.

“What documents?”

“No information on that, boss.”

“How many survivors inside the sub-HQ?”

“More than fifty, boss.”

“Give me the address.”

Keegan relayed it.

Isis ended the call and walked into the living room. His eyes went to the two katanas displayed on the wall.

“My Lord, you are not planning on cleaning, are you?” Ajax asked from the stairs.

Isis picked up the katanas and headed for the door. “I am bored. I will play a little.”

Ajax smirked. “Then have fun, my Lord.”