Eyes of the Midari

Part 4

Lucca

Lucca has been known to have a well of patience and yet Levi Weston was testing his limits. The man refused to stay by Lucca's side as they weaved through the town square. Shifty stall owners were trying to suck him into buying their overpriced goods left and right. By the eighth person, Lucca tugged Levi by his collar.

"I swear to God I will wring your neck, Weston, before whoever is chasing you has the chance."

Levi raised his hands, "What's wrong with looking? The other two are nowhere in sight and I'm bored."

Lucca scanned the vendors as he sighed, "Not a single one of these vendors is an honest business. Steer clear."

"Must be exhausting for you locals."

"What?"

"Not being able to trust a single soul." Lucca raised a brow as he continued, "How are we supposed to do this job if we don't trust one another?"

"You're telling me everyone in your country trusts each other?"

Levi is silent and Lucca added, "Listen, trust isn't essential at this point. Today just focus on keeping your head down in this crowd. I've already seen too many people in white."

Levi looked around, "What do you mean people in white? Is it after Labor Day or something?"

Lucca slapped a hand to his face, "Dear God, I'm talking about the Dove infestation that is sprinkled through this crowd."

Lucca turned Levi's chin toward two men in white suits and back toward a woman in a simple white slip.

"I bet there are a few Wastri here as well."

"What about those Sidra people?"

Lucca huffed, "Freya has all the treasure she would ever need in her market of death. If she does have people here, it's purely to gain ground on the Bane."

Levi whistled low, "It's like a crowd full of vultures."

Lucca chuckled, "For once, your analogy is spot on."

As Lucca scanned the crowd more, he spotted Aria coming toward them. Unlike how they pushed their way through, many people parted to let the former gang member pass. Lucca won't deny that Aria was a puzzling character. If the Bane favored her so much, he wondered what drove her to leave that kind of protection. Her hair was loose down her back and clung to her red bodice. Two pistols laid strapped along each thigh as she nodded toward us. How convenient for them if things go south, he was pretty sure they secured the Bane's weakness.

Lucca commented, "You just have an endless array of pistols, don't you? What might these be named?"

Aria smiled like a giddy child, "These are my twin babies, I call them Gemini."

Lucca hummed, "And where might the Shadow be?"

Aria smiled with pride, "Oh she's around. Don't worry."

Lucca instantly averted his gaze to the rooftops, but alas found not a single hint of the girl's slight frame. Aria intrigued him, but there was something about Jess that made him go a little crazy. It was from the very second, she dropped down on the table in the Den. He couldn't place it, but she made him uneasy and that took a lot. On the other hand, he couldn't stop scouring the rooftops hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Odd how a stranger can capture your curiosity so easily.