Blood Oath (Ruby Rose/Ares fan fic)

Sixteen

"Hello boss, thank you for calling. What's new?" I pace the floor of Ares' loft impatiently nibbling on a cinnamon roll and sipping tea while she looks at me with disapproval. A piece of roll falls to the floor but it vanishes soon thanks to Josie, I have two wonderful vacuum cleaners... if they could only clean their own fur from the couch... The assassin gets my attention with a snap of her fingers and she points at a chair. I sit down heaving a sigh but my heel starts tapping the floor nervously. Her hand rubs my knee trying to soothe me in vain.

"Aidan Finn has got a wake-up call from the High Table because of his siege to the Continental. He also has some problems at home, other members of the Irish mafia aren't very pleased with his methods and they think he's blowing this whole thing way out of proportion... That was a poor choice of words, sorry. To be honest I believe he's a little crazy, his behaviour has been weird and erratic lately. Anyway, he's had to beat a retreat but I don't think this is over, he's an unhealthy obsession with you." Great, I have a psychopath after me. Am I lucky, or what?

"And what happens with my house? He fired a RPG to my second floor and he won't get a scolding for that."

"Nira, dear, you already know how the High Table works: we don't intervene in private matters. Aidan attacked you without any warning or provocation so you have every right to get your revenge, though I strongly recommend you a cautious approach to the issue. In other words: stay calm and quiet. Your response should be focused on Aidan and the men that helped him, if you start to screw some Irish mafia's deals they will turn against you and you know they have short tempers, like a leprechaun when you steal his pot of gold. Besides, now they seem to be on our side and will try to restrain their boss."

"What? You mean there's nothing I can do?" I cross my arms over my chest furiously. Honestly, I don't have inherent tendencies to violence but that bastard almost blew my second floor to the moon. It's not fair...

"Listen, this has an additional benefit." Ares smiles mischievously by my side, she knows what my boss is talking about. "Your bodyguard orders were to protect you in case your life was being threatened. Since Aidan Finn has attacked you first, Ares could shoot him as soon as he gets closer, just like that... even if he comes in peace to offer you a Guinness pint so the Irish won't go near you if he can help it. Nonetheless, he could order someone to kill you and that's why you're going to stay glued to Ares' butt until further orders." I go as red as a beet, I don't mind to stay glued to Ares' butt... in fact, I woke up this morning glued to Ares' butt, hugging her from behind.

"Whatever Winston, to be honest half of the time I don't understand this underground rules. Can I go back home?"

"But they're very simple, dear. Each action requires an equal reaction. You can't kill someone just because he stole your wallet, but you can stole his too, and you can't mess with all the Irish mafia if you have a personal problem with Aidan... but Ares can shoot him if he's a threat to you, and he's just proved that he truly is, so nobody will complain if one day you both come across on the street with him and she blows his head off just in case. And no, you can't go home. The second floor is ruined, some firefighters are cleaning it and then I'll send workers to rebuild it, but it'll take time. In theory, the basement should be safe but I don't think you want to live there with all that noise above your head. Can you work from... where ever you are hiding?"

"Not as fast as I'm used to, but I'll manage." I sigh in resignation. I like my bodyguard's home but staying here, in her own territory, while she's watching me all day in this open loft without walls makes me feel... nervous. Sometimes she stares at me lost in her thoughts and I can't help thinking about what she's up to and why I get the impression that, whatever it is, I'm involved.