Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"J–Just connect me—"

"I'm afraid that's not going to be possible, Vagus." Trent cut in,

"You seem to understand the situation now,"

Trent walked to him and squared when he got to his front,

"You've made my friend really pissed." He smiled, glancing at Theo.

"Do you know how much he adores his nephew, Vagus?" He clicked his tongue.

"Why did you choose the nephew?"

"I–I was just doing my job, Man," Vagus turned to Theo,

"I got orders to—"

"Do you answer directly to Reagan Sinclair?"

Vagus froze for a second, eyes widened as he turned to Trent.

"You're not—"

"Answer the question?" Theo yelled.

"D–Damian... Sinclair— that's who I work for..."

"Of course your pathetic ass can't qualify to work for the Sinclair head," Trent chuckled, standing up.

"What was I even thinking?"

He glanced at Theo,

"Now, Vagus... You know what usually happens to people that step on my people?"

Vagus stared at him silently, his pulse quickening.

"I'm not going to kill you, Vagus." Trent laughed softly, "Not me."

"P–Please... my wife and—"

"I don't care about your wife and kids, Vagus. I can't care when you didn't care about picking my friend's nephew."

Theo looked at Trent.

I thought he meant to flip the script...

Was he going to—

"Theo..." Trent looked at him,

"Your decision. I don't see any profits in leaving this bastard alive and I think his kids are better off without him"

"P–Please..." Vagus turned to Theo,

"I... I'll do anything... anything you want. I'll—"

"What were your orders?" Theo cut in, stepping forward.

"I was ordered to blackmail you into becoming a spy for us."

"By us..." Trent cut in,

"Was he going to be linked to the Sinclairs directly?"

"N–No. I was supposed to handle him as a separate unit while getting orders from them."

Oh? How well planned... If a situation arises where I find out about Theo's betrayal in the future, I'll cut him off without finding out who he worked for.

"The lizard's tail," Trent muttered,

"They would cut you off too if I ever found out and maybe even offer it to me."

"What were you ordered to do if I didn't agree?" Theo asked, jaw tightened.

"I–I..." Vagus gulped, turning to Trent.

"We don't have all day, Vagus... I'm sure they're going to call soon."

"Talk." Theo's kick slammed into his side, dropping him to the floor with a squeal of pain as he clutched himself.

"My friend here doesn't have the patience to spare, Vagus... I'll be talking if I were you. That must've done damage."

"T–To... kill... you and—"

"You bastards!" Theo kicked his head this time, stomping on him continuously

"P–Please..." Vagus begged, holding his head as Theo continued,

"I... I didn't mean..."

"He's gonna die at this rate, Theo." Trent grabbed Theo's arm.

"Not yet."

"What do you mean not yet?!" Theo yelled turning to Trent.

Trent tilted his face and shook his head.

"Trust me."

He looked at Vagus and exhaled,

"You're supposed to call when you get him to agree, yeah?"

"Y–Yes... I was ordered to—"

"We don't care what your orders were," Trent interrupted, "Make the call if you want to see your family ever again."

Trent pulled his phone out and tapped Theo's shoulder,

"My Friend will take care of you if he finds any errors with the call."

"I..." Vagus rushed up, and reached for the phone, "I'll do it."

"Good." Trent smiled,

"I've got a call to make too. He'll be watching."

_____

Trent walked a bit from where they were and looked around

"Gramps..."

"What's up?" Thaddeus voice came through, "You should be a crime boss." He chuckled,

"You've even got the spunk."

"I need you to find someone for me."

"Alright... shoot..."

"I don't know the name she goes by but she's Elena. Handler from set Seventy-one. Currently stationed in Icarden"

Thaddeus fell quiet for a while,

"Should I connect you?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"H–Hello..." Elena's voice cut through the phone. She was panting,

"I don't know who you are or how you could call but I need you to send a message to someone—"

"What's going on, Elena?"

She gasped,

"T–Ti... Trent?"

"Yeah. What's up? You sound like you're in danger and what was—"

"Oh, thank the stars... Just who I wanted. I'm currently being chased by a terrorist group—"

"Gramps, Find it." Trent cut in

"What?"

"Not you." Trent muttered,

"Elena... Ackerman? You're currently being—"

"Whose voice is that?" Elena cut in.

"Don't worry... Continue." Trent muttered.

She's using Ackerman as her last name?

"You're being pursued by the Hectereo Organization— three SUVs and Four bikers. Go left." Thaddeus continued, his voice altered a bit.

"That's—"

"Take whatever turn he says, El..."

"A–Alright..."

"There's are street lights two hundred meters away in an intersection." Thaddeus continued,

"With your current speed, you will pass before the other cars coming reach... I'll turn the lights to red to stop them."

"I–I'm not supposed to head to that direction!" Elena shouted,

"I'm supposed to—"

"It's the direction of Mr. Vagus' family. I'll stop the cops—"

"Who the hell is Vagus?! I don't understand what—"

"Hey... Elena. Calm down..." Trent cut in,

"When you pass the intersection, they won't be pursuing you anymore. Isn't that right?"

"Correct," Thaddeus answered, "I'll turn all vehicles at the intersection off. Follow my lead."

"...I don't know what you're doing but I'll trust you, Trent... Don't get me killed."

"I won't." Trent chuckled,

"I need you to follow his instructions and call me when you secure who I want you to."

"You're hanging? How am I supposed—"

"Hello, Miss..." Thaddeus voice cut through from her stereo.

"How long should it take?" Trent asked

"Fifteen minutes tops..." Thaddeus answered, hopping back to Trent's phone.

"Alright." Trent cut the call and turned to Theo and Vagus.

_____

"He's made the call..." Theo said as Trent came closer.

"The orders were to observe and report on all your habits and possible weaknesses."

"How frequently?" Trent asked.

"Thrice a week." Theo growled, glancing at Vagus.

"What's the penalty?"

"They... take my nephew and Sister." Theo grit his teeth,

"I'm going to kill those bastards... I'm going—"

"There's nothing you can do to them," Trent cut in, "Yet."

Theo stared at him for a while,

"Yet?"

Trent winked and laughed softly.

"You hear those terms, Vagus? I think it's only right to give you something similar, no?"

Vagus gulped,

"M–My family... I need to—"

"A call is going to come in fifteen minutes... My end of this bargain." Trent waved his phone,

"We need your end of this, Vagy..."

"I–I'll do... anything you—"

"Without fear of the Sinclairs?" Trent cut in,

"We're just some young guys and you're saying you'll do anything for us against the most powerful family in Westeron?"

Vagus fell silent and just stared at them.

"A family man..." Trent laughed softly,

"You're not fit for this line of work, Vagy... I hope you don't mind me calling you that."

"N–No..." Vagus shook his head

"Thank you," Trent smiled.

"The terms— You'll be reporting in details every single day on any movement you observe of the Sinclairs and their affiliations."

"I don't have the—"

"We also do not care what you don't have, Vagus." Trent interrupted in a harsh tone.

"I'm sure you know what happens when you fail."

He stared at Vagus for a few seconds.

"I'm going to say it in case you're too slow to understand the severity of everything." He squat at his front,

"If you fail... I'm going to report your wife to Icardenian authorities as a spy and assassin with made up proofs that they will buy." He chuckled.

"I am not in the business of harming children but we've established that it is not a boundary both of us are unwilling to cross now, haven't we?"

He stood up, eyes locked on Vagus.

"Don't push me, Vagus. You will only end up regretting why our paths crossed in your lifetime."

"I... I'll do them..." Vagus stuttered,

"I'll do my best."

"You better. Because—" Trent paused, looking at his phone as it rang.

That's fast...

"I have them. I knocked out and tied the others for the cops to handle but there's a woman and two kids with me." Elena spoke.

"Good." Trent chuckled, glancing at Theo.

"Thank you... Hand the phone over to the woman please..."

"Okay..."

"H–Hello..." Vagus' wife's voice cut through as Trent put the phone on speaker.

"O–Olivia..." Vagus struggled forward, stretching for the phone.

"N–Nico... We've been taken by this—"

Trent cut the call and smiled.

"That's what I have on my end of the table, Vagy..." He chuckled, bringing the phone close to his mouth.

"Take care of Hectereo and tell her to lay low. I'll call back." He muttered before tucking the phone away.

"You better have yours ready."

Theo glared at Vagus before walking off towards the car.

"We're not taking that one." Trent chuckled looking at Theo,

"We're taking that." He pointed to Vagus' car at the corner.

"I'm sure you don't mind, Vagy..." He turned to Vagus and stretched his hand.

"N–No..." Vagus nodded.

"I look forward to this deal, Vagus."