Faceless Instincts

Devil's Side

Nikolai helped me in dressing up and did my hair nice.

"For the love of God, let your hand heal." He said as he did my braid. "What am I, Nanny?"

I nodded pursing my lips, "I am not smacking it against the wall on purpose, you know?" I said and he stared at me in the mirror.

"I can not even with you." He heaved a sigh.

"Lost so quick?" I suppressed a smile and he tugged on my hair, "ow."

"I am going easy." He tied the braid and wrapped his arms around me, "when all of this is over and everything is good... You might not be so lucky." He said looking at me in the mirror.

"What if-"

"Not listening to your negative future scenarios." He stepped back and flicked me on my head. "Come on now we have a break in to plan."

I laughed, "remember when I made you break into your home?"

He was halfway out of the door and leaned back to look at me, "you are a bad influence."

"And you love it." I flipped my braid back and he rolled his eyes heavenwards.

"Oh my God, did I make a mistake?"

My eyes widened and he rushed downstairs.

Alice, Nikolai and I were sitting in the car with lights down, staring at Wembley's office.

"How many guards are out there?" Nikolai asked.

"There aren't any." Alice and I spoke in unison.

"What the fuck?"

"There's only one guard in the control room."

"Also, he's a psychiatrist, not a diamond merchant." I taunted and Nikolai made a scrunched face at me.

"Alright then, I'll go in first and disable the cameras just tell me where the control room is."

Alice directed him and he listened carefully, "thanks." He said and then looked at me, "don't move no matter what, keep your heads down and doors locked. Kiara gets in the driver's seat, drive away at the first sign of danger."

I started to protest but he raised his hand, "I'll take of myself, but I want you to be safe even when I am not around. So I'll give you a call as soon as I disable the cameras but if you don't get a call in fifteen minutes, drive away and call the cops."

I nodded and the sheer concern reflected in my eyes as his expressions softened. He assured me with the blink of an eye and walked away into the darkness.

We both waited and I kept checking the watch every ten seconds, "are you guys, together?" Alice finally asked.

I took a deep breath, "I am not sure if we are together, but I am sure we want to be."

She shook her head in understanding, "it's a blessing to find someone who holds your hand a little more firmly in the time of adversity while a lot of people leave it even at the first sign of inconvenience."

I smiled weakly, "you are right, he did stand with me through my dark, I just hope he's still there when the brighter days come."

"My heart says he will, these rough around the edges men love so well, it just doesn't reflect on their exterior, I can tell he was scared when he left." She glanced at me, "not for himself, but you."

I nodded, "that's one reason I want all of this to end," I glanced at the watch and panic struck it as fifteen minutes ended, "he hasn't called yet." I said and Alice placed a palm on my forearm, "relax." She said.