Shivers

Chapter 3

The streets of New York were filled with people as usual, making the walk tense for the two. Crowded places meant it would be easy for someone to get close to them and cause unwanted damage. Although, Lukas kept a close eye out for any new contracts on them. And lately, nothing has come up on either of them. Arianna stopped at the door leading into the large skyscraper and looked around for anyone following her. He would have to be here or at the hotel, she thought. They both walked in and was greeted by a granite faced wall with a plaque dedicating the building to an "unknown source" who saved his life. Arianna passed the granite and the plaque unamused by it's glory and rounded the corner. The front desk was being manned by a young lady with ash blonde hair and deep brown eyes. Arianna observed her closely, noting the slight bulge of a small handgun in her garter underneath her pencil skirt.

"Hello, ma'am, how may I help you?" she inquired.

Arianna pulled out her right hand and showed the woman her ring. It was a sapphire blue with a silver band and on either side was two lions. The woman then looked to Lukas who revealed the same ring and she nodded. "I will tell him you both are coming up." she said while directing them to the "private" elevator. The elevator was like any other, only it had a scanner for the rings that they wore now. Only people he held in very high regard wore that ring and allowed to use his private elevator. The ride up was calm, filled with classical Bach that Hammon adored. The elevator stopped and the two stepped into the hall. There were many meeting rooms, an assistant's office and his. If you were to be standing in the hall, they would look so out of place. A woman in black steel toed boots, gray hoodie, and ripped jeans standing next to a boy in gray pants, blue shirt, and high top converse, in a hall of glass and refined polished granite.

Arianna did not even hesitate when she opened the door to his office. Inside there were four men, an Asian man, an African American man whose neck was snaked with tattoos , and a white male who had a scar running from the top of his cheekbone to the corner of his lip. And in the center sitting behind his desk was Hammon. He had chocolate brown hair and the eyes to match, he, too, was in formal attire. From where Arianna was standing, he looked unamused by the meeting until they had entered. His eyes flashed up and took in her appearance. All the men turned there eyes on the two and eyed them like dogs on a cat.

"I am sorry to cut this meeting short, gentlemen, but I have some other business to attend to." he informed the men, seeming regrettable, though, he was ready for them to leave.

They all stood and shook Hammon's hand before leaving. And as each of them passed, they glared deep into Arianna's eyes, and she returned it right back tenfold. Once the door was closed, all tension in the room was gone. Hammon grinned from ear to ear and opened his arms. "Arianna di Antiago." She approached him and was brought into his embrace.

"Alexander Hammon," she replied back into his gray business coat.

"Lukas," he cheered as he released her and brought the boy over to him with a strong handshake. "I hope Arianna is teaching you well."

"She tried killing me with a drink." he complained and Hammon turned curiously over to his female friend.

"The boy can't handle bourbon," she explained which caused Hammon to laugh.

Hammon returned to his seat behind his desk and the two sat down. "What is it you two want to talk about?"

"It's about, Il giorno in cui non parliamo." she explained to him.

Hammon's face became stern and he looked to Lukas. "Lukas, how about you go in the other room until we are done?"

"Why? I need to know this stuff." Lukas complained.

"This is personal, Lukas, not business." he scorned the boy. Lukas gave up his stand and left the room. The tension had enveloped the room like a fog. "What about it?" he investigated.

"I have been given a job, I am unsure if it is a good idea to take it or not." She replied.

"But what does that have to do about that day?" he pressed further. His eyes had become seriously concerned for his friend's safety now.

"Iolev Shakrovk, has offered me a job. His successor, Alessio Petrov, is in need of protection until the coronation. My uncle, Arturo, says that if I keep him alive until the coronation....he will accept me back." she explained.

Hammon took a pause to think this over. He wanted Arianna to have that piece of herself that she lost so long ago, but he also did not want her to risk her life. "Do you think he is lying?"

"He says Arturo swore on his mark," she blurted.

This information surprised him more than anything. He had only heard of one other person to swear on his mark, and that was the biggest mistake he ever made. By swearing on one's mark, if you do not uphold it, you are not in any protection at all -no matter status- from the person you lied to. If Arturo were to go against his word if she succeeded, she would be allowed to hunt him down like a lost lamb in the savanna. "That is very desperate of him isn't it?"

"That's what I was thinking." she sat forward more. If anyone could give sound advice, it would be Hammon.

"I know one thing for sure, Arturo and Iolev have some sort of arrangement. They both want someone they can trust at The Table. Even Arturo's apprentice supports Iolev." He informed her.

"Who is his apprentice?" Her nerves had gotten a hold of her. If he had an apprentice then that meant she would not get her succession that Lukas hoped for.

"Camilla di Angelo. He took her in after he removed you. He needed someone to take his place. And who better than an orphan who doesn't have any other clan to support her but Arturo." Hammon was blunt about his explanation.

"Well if he has her then why would he say he would take me back?" Arianna wondered, looking down at her hands.

"Bait at the end of the hook?" Hammon shrugged. "Arianna, I have trusted you with my life for years. I trust you to make a sound decision. "

Arianna nodded and stood from her seat. She gave Hammon one final hug and thanked him for his ear. Before she could get out the door she heard Hammon call her name.

"Arianna, did you like the plaque I had put up for you?" He teased.

"I think it's a bit too flashy and bold for my taste." She laughed full heartedly.

"It may be your plaque, but it's my building." He jeered back.

On the way out she looked back at him, had it not been for Arturo she would have never known him as her friend.
Arianna opened the door in the meeting room and snapped her fingers at Lukas. He jumped up and was at her side like a puppy. They walked to the elevator and rode silently to the ground floor. Lukas finally spoke up after they had gotten back to the car.

"Well?" He quizzed. She knew that Lukas was dying to know what her answer was and she grinned at his innocence.

"Get in the car and shut up. We are going to the hotel, I need to have a talk with someone." She seethed through clenched teeth.

"Is it Iolev we are going to see?" He asked her.

Arianna looked straight ahead at the road. Weighing out her morals in her head.