Business Arrangement

Part 11

Author's Note:

Hello, my beautiful readers! I am dedicating this chapter to @Nalu_Thurston.

CHAPTER 11:

I DRAG MY dagger from his neck and sheathe the weapon. I check the perimeter, "Hurry, you can't be seen here." I instruct.

"You shouldn't be terrified of the useless gangster, even if he's eyed you like he'd strip you of all your clothes and perhaps other stuff, Little Bee. You still have not demanded to know why I'm here." He mentions, I knock his arm forward.

"I don't care why you're here, I care that you leave. I'm working. You don't interrupt a Bee in the middle of a nectar extraction." I taunt, grinning. I felt that tickle of sparkling freedom, even if it was in the sights of a frenemy. A partial ally that I could trust to not attack me, but could also see him throwing a knife in my back someday. Though, not many of them had troubles with us Bees.

He chuckles with a glittery smile before the Lion in him grabs ahold of my chin and pulls me a breath away from him, "Cute, but not enough to distract me." He taunts, canines showing. I trail my fingers up and brush strands behind his ear. He purses his lips and let's go in frustration.

I giggle, "Remember who you're talking to." I shake my forefinger at him, aligning view with his Yamaha motorbike. Skipping over to it, I run my fingers along it. He watches me with his arms tightly folded and eyes narrowed.

"Don't fuck with me, Lyra. Not this night. Astrid was removed." He mutters, harshly. The sharp inhale and worry in his brow, even when he tries to hide it has me narrowing my eyes at him and using a key observational tool to determine just what I'm up against and I don't like what I see.

He snaps his eyes to mine, "What?" He demands, hot temper and all.

I tap my manicured fingers against my forearm, "She's been returned to the academy, then. Summoned, most likely. We will be soon when our time is right. Why are you fretting? It only means you have a task to do, once that task is done, you will likely see your Bee." I amuse myself, twirling around with trees as far as the eye can see.

"That's not good enough!" He snaps.

I turn to face him, "Keep it down, would you? My almighty, you wither away without your favourite bee. Don't deny it, Lion. I can see right through that act of yours," I point to him, handing him his helmet, the Lion logo on front, "Do your task, you'll likely be summoned at your usual rendezvous point once it's done." I sigh, stepping around him and eyeing the black fog beneath the trees. How odd?

"Don't say anything. To anyone. Promise me?" He grabs my arm, giving me a look as he pulls his jacket over his shoulders.

"I won't, but the faster you get your task done, the sooner you get to see her." I instruct, inform, clarify. He purses his lips, slips on his motorcycle and the helmet, before kicking off his stand and hitting the road. I stand and blink at the sight of the moon in the sky, the distance it created-the hollowness of it making me bristle.

I would've been back on the grass had I not heard a sharp stick crack under a boot. I snap my eyes to the trees. Overhearing a breath hitch. Maybe more. I would've heard it better if it weren't for the sound of another motorcycle. Another Yamaha motorcycle with no brand on his helmet. This one slowing down to a rolled stop.

I tilt my head as he kicks off the stand, "What are you doing in the middle of the road?" That automated voice echoes, he glances around before turning back to me, "Fuck, you're drunk, aren't you, piccolo ragazza?" He calls me 'little girl' in Italian.

And he just gave himself away.

I giggle, twirling. He steps closer, "Why don't we move closer to the house?" He suggests.