His Dark Angel

Chapter 4

Nyx's POV

I walked out the door and headed to my room, faintly hearing the sound of the door closing and hurried footsteps as the kid tried to catch up. I pushed my own door open and went straight to the bathroom, needing to wash away the grime and the sticky-sweet smell of blood. Glancing down, irritation prickled under my skin at the red stains blooming on my hoodie.

"Make yourself comfortable, kid. Be right back," I told him over my shoulder. He hovered awkwardly near the door, looking small and lost.

I shut the bathroom door and turned on the hot water, the pipes groaning in protest. Steam began to fill the small space. While the water heated, I faced the cracked mirror above the sink. My reflection stared back – something haunted, eyes cold, splattered with drying blood. A horror movie cliché.

And smack dab in the middle of a g**g war, a caustic thought surfaced. Really care, though? another part of me, sharp and restless, seemed to sneer. Complaining about being bored, weren't we? At least this is something.

Yeah. Something. g**g war or not, seeing the kid in that state... wouldn't have done anything different.

I peeled off the soiled clothes, dropping them onto the grimy tile floor. My reflection shifted. Scars crisscrossed my skin – pale lines, puckered tissue, ugly reminders. The restless voices in my head went momentarily quiet, a shared, unwelcome memory.

Three years... hands... pain... darkness... then rage... then escape... Fragments, sharp-edged and unwelcome, flickered behind my eyes. Not now. I shoved them down, hard.

The sound of shattering glass from the other room jolted me back to the present. Damn it. I quickly stepped into the shower, scrubbing fiercely until the water ran clear. After getting dressed in sweats, I headed out to see what the kid had broken.

He was bent over, carefully picking up shards of a cheap vase from the worn rug. He looked up as I entered, his expression worried.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "It wasn't intentional."

"Don't worry about it. Hated that thing anyway," I said, meaning it. He finished picking up the pieces, and I pointed him towards the trash bin. Watching him, I noticed the exhaustion pulling at his features, the slight tremor in his hands. He'd been through hell.

"Shower's free," I told him. "I'll leave some clean clothes on the bed". He nodded wordlessly and disappeared into the bathroom. I found a pair of old basketball shorts and a too-big hoodie, placing them on the single bed. "Clothes are out!" I called, settling onto the lumpy sofa.

Silence descended, broken only by the faint sound of the shower. The restless energy inside me settled slightly. For now.

A few minutes later, the kid emerged, wrapped in my hoodie, looking even smaller. He came over and sat beside me, almost hesitantly.

"Thank you," he murmured, the quiet words unexpectedly tugging at something inside me. Kids. Always the weak spot. I managed a small, genuine smile. "You're welcome, kid."

"Your name... it's Nyx?" he asked, remembering the kidnapper.

"Yeah. Just Nyx," I replied, feeling the internal stirrings again. Keep him? the thought whispered, oddly gentle this time. No, I shut it down.

"So... what now, Nyx?" he asked, meeting my eyes directly.

No. He has a brother out there, I reminded myself firmly. "Now? I take you home," I said. "Not tonight, though. Tomorrow. Get some rest. Besides," a cold grin touched my lips, "I'm kind of curious to meet the i***t who thought k********g you was a good idea".

He looked at me, a flicker of understanding in his young eyes, then surprised me by scooting closer and resting his head on my lap. I tensed instinctively, unused to the contact, but slowly relaxed, my hand coming up to gently stroke his hair until his breathing evened out in sleep. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.

Aiden’s POV

I stare out the floor-to-ceiling window in my study, watching my guards run around trying to look for my brother. I got back home a few minutes ago. Antonio's not in the places I searched on Roberto’s territory. I’m currently waiting on Marcus and Lucas, hoping they had better luck.

“Dammit, I’m gonna kill that son of a b***h,” I mutter to myself.

I promised my parents that no matter the cost, I would keep him safe. I always told him too that he would always be safe with me, but I can’t help but feel like I’ve failed him. It’s been a couple of years now since our parents' death and I became his only surviving relative and legal guardian. I always tried my best to take care of him as best as I could.

A sigh leaves my mouth

as I think of the alternative if we do not find him. If Lucas and Marcus don’t find him, then I’m going to call Roberto this afternoon. I cannot afford to leave him there till Monday. I wonder how he's doing. I’m sure he’ll be stressed out of his mind and worried too. I hope Lucas and Marcus bring good news. The sound of the door opening makes me turn around. At the sight of the look on their faces, all hope dies.

Lucas speaks first. “I'm sorry, Aiden. He’s nowhere to be found. We thought maybe Roberto might think to hide him in our territory, right under our noses, but it seems like he didn’t.”

“It’s fine, Lucas. I’m sure you've done your best. Maybe it's time to call Roberto. I can’t leave Antonio with him any longer,” I tell them as I make my way over to my desk to pick up my phone.

“Wait!” Marcus said.

I look at him and he has a thoughtful look on his face. “What is it, brother?” I ask him.

“Something just popped in my mind. I'm not sure if it’s possible, but there is a girl they call Nyx. She rents a room in a building on the border of our territory, almost into Roberto’s,” he says.

“So…?” I ask, not seeing where he’s going with this. It’s just a girl renting a room. How is it connected to finding my brother?

“Nah, bro, it’s not possible. Gangs in the area know not to conduct business near Nyx. She won’t blink her eye at most things, but everyone knows she doesn’t like kidnappings. Roberto ain’t gonna go there. Besides, it’s been checked and he’s not there,” Lucas says.

Marcus still has that thoughtful look on his face, but I can’t wait anymore. Since Lucas says it’s been checked, I go ahead and ring Roberto up.

“Heyyyyy, Aiden my man, how’s the search going?” Roberto says as he answers the call.

I force myself to calm down and keep a cool head, making sure to keep my voice neutral when I answer him. “I’d like to sign the contract today, Roberto. Bring my brother with you, and we’ll meet at the restaurant,” I tell him.

“Ahhhh, so fast, Aiden. That won’t work though. See, I’m currently not in town. Let’s sign on Sunday at the coffee shop. You know the one, yes?” he says.

“Yes, I do. See you tomorrow,” I grit my teeth and hang up.

“Something is up. Why didn’t he pounce on the opportunity to sign today?” Marcus asks.

I think over it but come up with a blank. Knowing Roberto, he’s probably just showing off because he knows he’s backed me into a corner.

“I don’t know, brother. We’ll know by tomorrow. Prepare the men. We’re going in full force,” I tell them and turn to face the window once again. I hope he’s fine. “Be good, Tony. You’ll be home by tomorrow,” I say out loud.