And Then, There Was Fire.

twenty seven.

Kurisch and Donnie entered the kitchen while Trey pressed against the marble island counter, leaning his elbows on the countertop as he continued looking around the open-concept kitchen and large living space.

Lauren continued to slowly glance around the expanded home, admiring the kitchen, the windows, the large living room with an ash-wood framed fireplace.

"So," Kurisch's voice sounded through the kitchen, standing on the opposite end of the long island counter from Trey. He slipped a small remote out of his hand, pressing a button shortly before Trey and Lauren began to hear a faint, ambient noise within the walls as they then noticed steel panels scrolling down every window. "this, threat that you speak of."

Trey was glad that he wanted to get straight to the point, for once. He continued to stare at Kurisch as he clasped his fingers, but not before realizing just how secured Kurisch's house was.

His eyes looked around the home while keeping his face towards Kurisch's direction, pointing his finger out as he began to ask, "What's with the dooms day windows?"

Donnie walked past Trey to the fridge, going directly for a specific drawer as he pulled a glass bottle of German beer out. Trey watched him slide the bottle to him before grabbing one more out.

"Similar to my office earlier, however this prevents any RF energy or signal being transmitted into and outside of the house. Hopefully, soon, I won't have to keep doing this just to discuss these kinds of matters." He answered, taking the bottle that Donnie slid down his long counter before popping the top off with his teeth.

"Now, this threat." Kurisch wanted to get back on topic, noticing that Donnie didn't grab a beer for her, so he walked over to his tall, refrigerated spirits rack that was enclosed in custom ash wood.

"Is there any reason why Nev would have enemies?" Trey immediately asked, watching Kurisch pull a few bottles out to read the label, finally choosing a yellow-shaded white wine for Lauren as he held it up at her with a questionable look. She smiled with a nod, slipping her hands out of her jacket as she stepped onto a black and silver stool at the counter.

"I mean, what powerful and high-statured man doesn't? I need specifics." Kurisch replied brutally, delicately pouring the wine in a large tumbler glass for Lauren before sliding it to her.

"Well, it's now obvious that me and Lauren's existence seems to be some secret. As if you two are the only ones to know, theoan wise, I want to know why?"

"Tremaine," Kurisch began as Trey now noticed the seriousness in him by calling him by his given first name for the first time. "What....... threat... are you referring to?"

Donnie now climbed into another stool besides Lauren at a distance, placing his cold bottle in-between both palms.

"Well it's definitely known that we exist to two others over in the states as we speak." He quickly answered. "And quite frankly, if they know, I'm sure others do as well."

"Who?" Kurisch felt the blood rush from his face, as Donnie's blood wasn't too far behind. Donnie sat up in his seat, turning his body to angle towards Trey's direction who stood at the end of the long counter.

"These two named Aubrey and Alexia." He named, watching the confusion on Kurisch and Donnie's face.

"Who are th-" Kurisch began to ask before Trey interrupted him.

"Two people, who are students at the college that we attend. People that we've known for some time now. Alexia was my ex, as Aubrey was Lauren's." Trey immediately detailed.