The Nanny // Faye Yoko AU

Chapter 37 Until then

Lyon

Val's gaze swept over the shattered glass, toppled chairs, and the splintered wooden counters that lined the once-thriving establishment. The metallic tang of tension in the air mingled with the acrid scent of burnt upholstery. Her fists clenched at her sides as anger boiled beneath her calm facade.

"What happened?" Val's voice was low, steady, but it carried the sharpness of barely restrained fury.

Nico turned to her, frustration etched deep into the lines of his face. "What's it look like? Lavigne hit every business under our thumb." He kicked a broken chair out of his path, eyes flicking around as if expecting another blow to land at any second. "She may be a dinosaur, but she's got a lot of manpower."

Meanwhile, in a corner near the bar, Yoko sat, her face lit by the cool glow of her laptop screen. She was hyper-focused, fingers flying over the keys as lines of code and video footage blurred past her eyes. Mikey sat beside her, legs dangling off the high barstool, sipping her chocolate milk with furrowed brows.

"Facial recognition confirms it was Lavigne's crew," Yoko stated, not lifting her eyes from the screen. Her voice was calm but carried an underlying current of urgency. The soft hum of the laptop's fan filled the silence that followed.

Mikey's eyes darted between Yoko and the mess around them. The faint glimmer of fear threatened to surface, but she held it back with sheer will. "Why would Louis' mama break the truce? Did we do something?" Mikey's voice was small, unsure, a hint of betrayal lacing her words. Her gaze met Yoko's, searching for answers.

Yoko hesitated, glancing at Faye, who stood a few feet away, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her eyes cold and calculating as she surveyed the damage. When Faye remained silent, her jaw locked in quiet rage, Yoko took a steadying breath and turned back to Mikey.

"Just a misunderstanding, I bet. They'll work it out." Yoko forced a reassuring smile, though the heaviness in the air made it feel fragile.

Mikey's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in them. She wasn't convinced, but she nodded slowly, taking another sip of her chocolate milk.

Sensing the tension, Yoko pushed her laptop shut and stood. "If that's all, we'll be going to the park," she said, her tone deliberately light as she moved past Faye, the statement more of a declaration than a question.

Faye's gaze followed Yoko, eyes softening for just a moment. "See you at home," she said, the words laced with an unspoken plea that only Yoko seemed to hear.

Yoko's heart clenched as she felt the weight of the situation, but she nodded, placing a protective hand on Mikey's shoulder as they walked out, leaving the shattered remnants of Faye's world behind for the time being.

Val's eyes darted back to the graffiti, the stark, red letters painted in a scrawl that screamed hostility. The air around them was thick with the scent of spray paint and tension. She clenched her jaw, guilt and frustration twisting together inside her.

"I shouldn't have left. I should have gone with you," Val's voice cracked slightly, betraying the steeliness she usually carried. She balled her fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms as if pain could ground her.

Faye stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Val's shoulder. Her touch was warm, steady, a lifeline in the storm of doubt. "It was nothing you could have prevented," Faye said, her voice soft yet resolute, as if willing the truth into Val's heart. The determined glint in Faye's eyes held a promise, one she didn't need to voice aloud.

Val let out a shaky breath, eyes searching Faye's for reassurance. "Let me reach out to my contacts, talk to Lavigne's people—" Val's words came out rapid, fueled by desperation.