Preparations

[Nox]

This was not going well. Ayden grabbed his wallet from him and proceeded to ask for him. He was more than capable of doing this, but it was just like all the others even with the fiery red head trying to be sweet and caring, which she failed at miserably. Every time she mentioned him her face screwed up into this expression like she'd just eaten a sour grape. He rolled his eyes, but this vendor like all the others who had seen Aurora had seen her weeks ago.

Where the fuck was she? Nox could feel the fear running through his body, this was not good, not good at all. Nox held the little pup close, it was really the only thing keeping his sanity in check, the shivering puppy that Aurora had obviously saved. He'd save her, he had to, if he could only find her.

They were leaving the last vendor when the door jingled and Ayden's boyfriend stepped through the door. The relief and smile on his companion was palatable, had he been such horrible company. Whatever it didn't matter. Connor was here and maybe he could help, maybe not. Nox didn't want to talk to Borovsky but he was likely going to have to, he had to think up some lie or another about Aria though. That was the hard part.

Nox let the couple have a moment alone before he walked over with a smile. He knew it looked forced, he wasn't exactly in a happy place with the worry over the only two people he could call family, and then there was Bas... What the fuck did he get involved in.

They were around the corner from Lucas' shop might as well get that done and over with. Nox held out his hand to Connor, "Connor. Pleasure to see you again. I have one more place I need to check, we can talk in there, the keep won't mind as long as we don't stand around too long."


Nox walked around the corner, something felt wrong...

He opened the shop door and the familiar jingle was heard, but the guns were silent, there was no shiver of fear. Sergei walked out from behind the beaded curtain and frowned. "I'm sorry we are closed right now."


Nox nodded. "Okay, but, is Lucas around? I need to ask him something. It's about Aria."


Sergei paled at the mention of Lucas' name. "You haven't heard,"
he said quietly. After a moment, he continued. "I found him here this morning. He was..."
he trailed off as if he had forgotten what he was going to say, his eyes drifting off to the side, lost. He came to himself after a moment and grimaced and took a breath. "I found him. Dead."


Nox's heart sank. His stomach churned. Nox could feel the bile rising inside. He fought back the reaction. He fought with himself. Nox sat down with his head in his hands, the little puppy curled up underneath him licking his hands. He looked up at Sergei, "How?"


Sergei seemed lost. He looked at Nox confused for a moment and then seemed to realize what he was asking. "Honestly, I don't know. They said it was a heart attack."
Sergi shrugged and Nox really was at a loss for words, there was no way a guy like Lucas died of a heart attack at 23. No fucking way!

"Thanks, man. You need anything just give me a call."
Shit always happens in groups. First Aria is taken, Aurora went missing, Bas is being hunted and now Lucas was dead...What other fucking shit could happen.

Nox looked up at the two who came with him. "I need to go home. You can come with or we can talk later. But I need to be home right now."
Everything in his body seared with pain and he wanted to let it go, and he couldn't do that in public, he needed the safety of the warehouse.