Old Wound

< A private audience request from Zack is concerning, to say the least. > Thought Alex, as she was heading to the Playground. Larry and Tanya walked right behind her, the latter still lazing around in Alex's home and The Crib instead of working.

"How long do you plan to leech on me?" Alex asked, turning her head to Tanya.

"As long as I see even a tiny bit of chance for you to fuck up majestically." She replied, linking her arm around Larry's. 

Alex understood the not so veiled hint, but didn't pressure the topic more. Tanya got the ridiculous idea of setting them up romantically. Although Alex told her repeatedly that she has zero intention of playing along, Tanya did not budge.

Once she set her target on something, she was like a pitbull. Never let go until she got what she wanted. Currently, Alex was more worried about Zack's business, so Tanya's antics were secondary.

As Alex opened the Playground's door, she noticed not only Zack, but also Mikey inside. The blond young man was actively begging for something, even ignoring the trio's arrival.

Zack on the other hand turned to Alex immediately, dropping to one knee, hanging his head as low as possible.

"Coffee is a tea made of beans." He said his safeword loud and clear.

Alex stopped in her tracks, slightly taken aback. She underestimated the situation big time. Zack rarely complained, because he already felt indebted due to his peculiar situation. He never once used his safeword ever since he joined the pack.

"Mikey, get out. Now." Alex instructed, and continued her walk toward the throne.

With Mikey gone, Zack rose to his feet, and relocated to sit down in front of Alex.

"What is this about?" She didn't waste any time.

"I'd like them to leave as well." Said Zack instead of answering. 

Even though the safeword placed the two of them on equal grounds, Alex found his behaviour hard to follow. She almost reprimanded him for misbehaving. A moment later, she changed approach.

"I understand your concerns, but I assure you that not one word will leave this room. Would you please let Larry and Tanya stay?" She asked in an honest, humbled tone.

The tension on Zack's face seemed to lessen somewhat. He had a soft spot for Alex. In the end, he couldn't go against her wishes even now. He reluctantly nodded.

"Thank you, Zachary. Now please take your time and tell me the reason you are so nervous. This isn't like you." She let her worries seep into her voice. The time of theatrics was over.

"Seth came to my work unannounced and scared away customers to get into my office without waiting. I can put up with a lot of things, but if I get a bad reputation, I won't have any clients besides his thugs." Zack started out with a matter-of-fact tone, but his anger rose with each sentence.

"Thanks to your patience and guidance I learned to stand up to myself. I'd like to do exactly that, but outside of this house, Seth is a different man." He said, his fingers curling into fists.

"I am aware of his personality." Alex wanted to say more, but Zack interrupted her.

"His personality, maybe. What about the power he holds?" He barked the question at Alex, but regretted it the next second. "Forgive me. I shouldn't blame you." He apologised.

"It's okay to be upset, Zack. I promise to interrupt you only if I have questions." Alex tried to reassure him. 

She realised Zack wasn't simply angry. He was afraid. After many years of therapy, his only way to cope with that feeling was still aggression. That connection was so deeply ingrained in him that being aware of his patterns wasn't enough to overrule them.

"You probably know about the legal side of his business, being a martial instructor and all. But he never left the underground arena either. He has a private army by now, formed from his so-called disciples. The last time he bragged about dirty cops coming to him for lessons too. He didn't join any gang so far, because he doesn't need to. With the cops in his pocket, he can offer his thugs as bodies to rent." Said Zack, as helplessness overtook him. 

"He came to the clinic alone, but if I don't do what he wants, he can easily put me out of business. In more sense than one." He sounded desperate.

"What does he want you to do?" Asked Alex, while trying to ingest the news she got.

"He wants Larry gone. Told me to deny pleasure from Mikey until he agrees to stand on his side. He has some plans for Rob and Rick too. He thinks that if we present a united front, you'll send Larry away." Zack confessed.

"When did this happen?" Alex wanted to know how much time she had to find countermeasures.

"A couple hours ago. When he came to the clinic and threatened to break a few bones." He said, hating himself for his cowardness. He felt he should have protected Alex better from all this.

"Did he say anything about his plans for the others?" Alex needed more information to get a clear picture.

"Nothing at all. He thinks I'm too dumb for complicated errands." Zack went along with the interrogation. As Alex led him with questions, he managed to keep his calm.

"Does he know you contacted me?" It was crucial to act without making Seth suspicious.

"I don't think so. I saw him leaving the building before sending you the message." He reassured her.

"That's good. That means he thinks of you as an ally. We can use that." Said Alex. Getting wind of this plan early on helped a lot. She'll make sure to reward Zack appropriately.

"I'm leaving." Replied Zack with determination.

"Yes, you can leave now. I'll talk with Richard and let you know the next step in time." Agreed Alex. There wasn't much more to discuss now.

"No, Alex. I'm leaving the pack. And the city too. I would rather be a coward than a dead man or a convict." Declared Zack.

Alex fell silent. She honestly doubted Seth would pull strings to hurt Zack as long as he's part of the pack. That was his only defence in front of Seth's wrath. 

"Do you think that's necessary, Zack? You know he won't seriously harm you while you are in my care. He wouldn't dare." Said Alex confidently.

"How can you be so sure?" He asked. "He already went behind your back when he didn't quit fighting. He kept building his business for years while he played good boy for you."

"Now that you mention, why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" She asked, although she could guess the answer.

"Because it was a loyalty test, obviously. If anything got back to you, mine would have been the first head to fall." Replied Zack. "I didn't think much of it that time. His visit today broke my delusions about being safe on his side." He admitted bitterly.

"Would you mind answering a few questions of mine?" Larry joined the conversation, addressing his words to Zack.

"Depends on the question." Zack's distrust was apparent. 

"Does he have experience with guns?" Larry didn't beat around the bush.

"How is that relevant?" Asked Tanya. She didn't plan to stick her nose into this, but if Lawrence had liberties, then so did she.

"Muscle for hire business doesn't grow or survive purely on muscles. If he really operates a mercenary guild, there must be weapons involved. It wouldn't make sense to hire them otherwise." He pointed out something that slipped even Zack's mind.

"Fuck, man, I have no idea. Never saw him carry, at least." Said Zack, recalculating the timeline of his exit plan. He needed to leave soon, real soon.

"Alex, I'm sorry for being a coward and not protecting you better. It would be nice to stand up for myself, as you taught me, but this is no joke. I'm getting out of here tonight or in the morning at the latest." Added Zack, visibly losing the last of his nerves. 

"What is your exit plan? Can I help you with anything?" Asked Alex, giving up on him staying. It would be cruel to even ask after such an honest confession.

"I have an old friend from physio school. He works at a hospital in LA, constantly short-staffed. I can start anytime, and he offered a couch too, until I find an apartment. I'll be back in the private business in no time, don't worry about me." Said Zack, and got on his feet to set things in motion.

Alex also stood up and stepped closer, hugging the dark-skinned giant tightly. Zack came a long way in therapy and in his career too. He needed some guidance, but ultimately he was the one who worked hard.

"I'm proud of you, Zachary. Your efforts bore fruits, and you grew a lot. Don't you dare lose my number! Call me anytime, you hear me?! I want monthly reports at least!" She hated goodbyes. Especially forced ones.

Alex considered an apology for a moment, but she skipped it in the end. Neither of their decisions were inherently wrong, and neither of them could see these consequences before it got too late. 

"I'm sorry it ends like this, Alex. I liked it here with you and the guys. Hell, even the kid grew on me." Said Zack with a slight tremor in his voice. "Be careful, Alex. Don't let him ruin your home."

Before his determination could weaver like his voice did, Zack turned around and left the Playground. After gathering his most personal belongings, he put his black keycard on his desk, and left The Crib for good. 

Meanwhile, Alex was pacing up and down, discussing their options with Larry and Tanya. She felt horrible. She heavily overestimated her grip on Seth, and a sub in her care suffered a great loss because of her arrogance. 

On the positive side, Zachary's decision gave Alex the last push to do something she should have done years ago.

Seth was an old wound Alex let to fester too long. It was now time to cut the infected flesh out.