A Syndrom of Neurotic Insecurity

chapter 3 : The robbery

- We won't be long, said Nathan after Rafe parked.

He cut the engin before replied :

- I'm coming with you.

He didn't trust them enough to let the three of them alone just before such an operation. And of course it was the only reason why he didn't stay in the car. He wasn't curious where Aiden had spent the afternoon. Not at all.

They stepped out of the car and headed towards a small alley stucked between two buildings. It led them into a cobbled courtyard gratified by a purple flowerbed. The club's sign above the entrance was unpretentious, but freshly renovated. Rafe tossed his head back in surprise.

- A karate club ?

- She tried her hand at dance, but uh... it wasn't her thing, scoffed Sam.

- For her defense, she's very good at it, remarked his brother.

His agressiveness was thinly disguised. Cute. Rafe waved his hand in a pacific gesture and retorted :

- I didn't say anything.

Two girls walked through the door, prevented the brothers from adding anything. The first one was unknown to him, but the second one, cheeks rosy from the effort, twinkle in her eyes, clammy skin and dishevelled wet hair, was none other than Aiden. They stopped talking when they saw them all dressed in suits. The random girl became beet-red and stammered something that sounded like "see you later" then dashed into the alley. Straightening her bag's strap over her shoulder, Aiden exclamed :

- Don't tell me I'm late. I didn't even take a shower !

- No, you're just in time, reassured her Nate.

Then Rafe and Sam apparently noticied as the same time that the red blotch on her left cheek wasn't just a blood flow. Her older's hand came up to her head.

- What's... ?

She stepped back.

- That's fine. We were training to fight two to one. It's always a little bit more inten... hey !

She grabbed Sam's arm to hold him back while he was trying to walk into the club.

- What are you doing ?

- Is he still here ? This bastard gonna regret this.

- Wow, wow, Sammy ! I told you it's totally fine. It doesn't hurt and it won't even leave a bruise, okay ? Besides, he has already paid for that.

Her older relaxed slighty and Nate smiled with amusement :

- Did he ?

- I unvoluntary strained his fingers.

Rafe sigh and reminded them :

- C'mon guys, we don't have time for this. Let's go !

They went back to the car and, this time, Nate rode up front, letting his older sat in the back with Aiden. Rafe retained a sigh and started with a great rush. Simply hear the roar of the engine had much more effect on him than he would acknowledge it. Suddenly he became far less preoccupied by the three circus freaks in his car, as his black Ferrari raced fluidly on the asphalt. Once the town left behind, the road soon became nothing more than a long deep blue strip meandering through a black and golden palette. Casting a glance at his passagers in the rear-view mirror, he saw that Aiden had half-opened the side window so that the air was blowing on her forehead. The dusk gilded her little hair and bronzed her skin. Her eyes sparkled. She had the look of someone enjoying the speed.

And it was definitly not why he accelerated.

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