Alex Fatah was a rather simple man. Almost as young as his internationally famous cousin Hasina, coming up at a close twenty-five he"d taken to enjoying his youth and the many riches and privileges that came with being so closely related with the Leader of a nation.In his opinion, he"d be much better suited to running a business, perhaps a brothel, brewery or something that needed little supervision but reaped many profits.
Unfortunately for Alex though, his opinion was not one held in high regard…by anyone. Not even his brothers. After they"d all been shoved into being generals for the army and worse as placeholders for the previous controlling position of Marshal that Luciano held, his brothers suddenly stopped paying him attention.
In fact, he"d go as far as to say they actively avoided him. According to Loup, relation to him compromised the little success they had in getting into power as they wanted.
Well, how the h.e.l.l was he supposed to know getting into power was a goal of many in the family!
No one told him anything anymore and his position as general was even more placeholder than theirs as they even used it for their gains. Exhibit-A would be them only need his "a.s.sistance" when Loup was intent on defying Hasina. Though he had quite wisely cautioned the now on suspended General against calling out Hasina on literally anything, he was quickly dismissed and given the job of an angry onlooker.
Remorse for Loup was the last thing Alex had in his heart, in fact, when the man had practically snuck into his office like a thief in the night, all Alex had on his face and in his heart was joy. Joy borne of being superior for once and it felt terribly good.
"Ahaa, what do we have here," he began his teasing. Loup, on the other hand, had no intention of sustaining the role of entertainment for his cousin.
"Get it out of your system, Alex, we have work to do."
"Work? Aren"t you suspended?" Alex set in with a large s.h.i.t-eating grin on his face.
"Enough with that already. You know very well I"m not suspended, Luciano put in word for me and I"m simply working away from Sofia."
Alex let out a chuckle but soon recovered from his blatant mirth, "If you"re working away from Sofia what work do you have here then?"
"Are you kidding me? The single approved operation for the entirety of this war relies on YOU getting your hands on some device and you really think I"m going to leave it all up to your capabilities?"
Now that was just insulting.
"f.u.c.k you, Loup." The man in question was taken aback by the sudden verbal attack but soon recovered.
"I don"t think you understand the magnitude of what is at stake here. Have you even begun to reach out to the spies? Have you devised a plan? Have you spoken to Luciano?"
At his words, the anger that was boiling, ready to explode out to the surface began to simmer down. He was right, Alex had done not one of those things. He"d just trotted back into his quarters and eaten regularly after the meeting with Hasina, and that was a whole day ago.
Hasina. He felt a chill run down his spine at the thought of his younger cousin. Despite his babyish disposition, the man had a terrifying presence about him and the way he"d carried out all those executions and immediately decided to fire Loup. Alex wanted anything but to be on his bad side.
But it would seem that would be where he"d be if he botched the single real job he"d been given. Worse even was, Hasina was suddenly taking up residence in the base. Why was he just realizing all this now!
"Thought so," Loup"s smug and triumphant voice irritated him still, "I"ll take your silence as common sense finally kicking you in the nuts, I"m hopeful it"s enough to make you realize how ill-prepared you are for this."
"What and you are? How prepared can you be? The meeting only took place a day ago."
"Much unlike you, Alex, I know how to use the resources at my disposal. Maxime should be on his way with the means to contact the spies. I sent him to that Nizar man."
Maxime, his other deplorable brother. Older than him but younger than Loup. Loup was currently the oldest in the family aside from their aunts and various crippled uncles, and as such he performed the role of the Head of the family. He"d certainly done a good job of keeping everyone together and united against Hasina, as bad of an idea as that was.
His eldest brother leaned in, rather excitedly as well. "Listen here, if we manage to successfully pull Hasina"s operation off, we"d be a lot closer to him. I mean, you see how he displaced his own flesh and blood with Luciano and that lanky Matthias, he"s basically following in his father"s footsteps, but he is young and impressionable, just like my little Jean."
"Young and impressionable?" Clearly, Loup didn"t see the same Hasina he saw, "Are you deaf and blind? Hasina is not a kid at all Loup, he may look like one but he certainly isn"t. Those chiefs, do you not remember how he executed them all IN FRONT of their replacements?"
"Bah! You"re just proving my point!" he laughed out, Alex didn"t see anything fun in the matter but he kept shut for his brother to explain anyway, "Who do you think whispered into his ear to do such horrible things? Why Luciano of course. Just like Luciano whispered into his ear to pardon me. Young and impressionable I say."
Alex could only shake his head. "It"s this type of thinking that"ll get you fired for real, Loup. Hasina is…wrong." The best word he had to put it was wrong. Everything he felt from him felt wrong, how could a kid as young as he still be in power?
"If you really believe Hasina is impressionable, then Luciano or Matthias should have full undeniable control of the country now, not simply whispering in his ears. In fact, Hasina should be off in the Maldives having the time of his life with the money he would have been paid to leave the reins of the country to either of them. But guess what, it"s nearly been three months and he is commanding the entire country"s military in a defensive war against Madagascar."
It was Loup"s turn to have his mood soured. Alex may not be useful in anything practical but he"d always had good instincts with people, but this wasn"t something his brothers or anyone other than himself would recognize.
"Enough of that. Hasina is simply a figurehead for Luciano and Matthias, you"re just too dense to see it. If you"d listen to me for a second you"d know that a figurehead is the safest way to keep a good hold on power, even if you end up being tyrannical." He scolded. "Hasina is going to be the figurehead we use to hold power as well, and that"s why it"s not only paramount to our survival that this operation is a success, it"s a stepping stone to our climb to power, Alex. Take this seriously and stop making noises."
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Alex had gotten exhausted. He let out a sigh and practically slumped in his chair, "Fine, so what"s the plan?"
The grin he had on earlier seemed to have slapped on to Loup"s face at his words. "Well, first, we complete the operation, you"re going to need to get cushy with Hasina," Alex let out a groan at this, the prospect of getting buddy close with Hasina wasn"t one he wanted to put into practice.
"Oh enough of that," Loup scolded again, "Once the operation is complete Hasina is going to need to see you as a reliable military figure."
Alex shrugged, not at all getting why that was necessary, "And why is that? Why not you or Maxime. In fact, why not Luciano? He already has his trust and is second to Hasina in everything military."
"Because you were a.s.signed command over the operation." His grin widened, "And Luciano? Well, I already have a few plans for his permanent…disposal."