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My stomach did a 360°. I lost the strength in my legs and almost puked. It was a single thought doing. A thought that hit me stronger than any punch ever before.

After a moment I pulled myself together and just started running. Target, as before, was Velvet Lotus.

Hailwic was sitting on the stool next to the entrance, eating a sandwich, with ax leaned over the wall behind her, in arm's reach. Nobody else was around, it was obviously too early.

- Wow Peter, you want to see her so badly, that you run all the way here? - she asked with a big smile, but quickly realized I'm not in the mood for jokes, and her expression got more serious. - Go inside.

I nodded and opened the door. The pink-blue duo was playing dice on the bench on the left, but there was nobody behind the counter. They didn't pay any attention to me, so I went further, past the curtain, to the main hall.

Vesa behind the bar was slowly preparing for the opening. Moving bottles with alcohol. Haf and Shavonne were cleaning the floors. Aisha, Nadia, and Alice were sitting around a single table, talking about something with papers in front of them. By the few words I caught before they went silent, I deduced it was about the supplies for today.

- Peter? - Aisha looked at me. - What brings you here? Nadia is busy right now.

- I'll wait - I responded, and went to sit by the bar.

- So how many do we need? - Aisha continued the interrupted conversation.

- I think we should start with ten more bottles. It might be just an occasional thing. Usually, people preferred whisky, bourbon, or vodka. They have been asking for sherry only since two days ago - was Nadia's answer.

- Ok. And how about the food?

- I counted, and we are actually using less of everything. This place becomes less than a restaurant, and more like a nightclub.

Vesa smiled at me when I sat in front of her.

- Want a drink? - she asked.

- No. It's way too early.

- Ok. So... Why this early?

- It's... It's a mess.

- What happened?

I opened my mouth to say something, but then my own brains stopped me. There was no reason to tell her.

- I just need to talk with Nadia.

- You look pretty nervous - she switched to whispers. - Don't tell me you want to break up?

- No... It's... It's not that simple. We just need to talk.

- Did something happened between you and Hailwic this past month? - she frowned, clearly showing bits of anger.

- What?! No. It's something else.

- I swear Peter if I ever...

- Just stop! Nothing fucking happened, ok?

She shook her head and left me, to work in a different part of the giant counter. She was obviously upset. I clearly can't understand women - I thought to myself.

The business meeting went on for some time more, and finally, Nadia joined me at the bar.

- Hey, Peter.

- Hey. Can we talk somewhere?

She grabbed my hand and stood up, to lead me to the back room. Others watched us carefully.

- What's going on? - she asked after closing the door, with a very serious expression.

- Blue paid me a visit today. He wants to cooperate, but that's obviously just another of his games. The thing Is... His visit made me realize he could target you if he finds out about us.

She smiled and touched my cheek.

- I'm safe here, and I don't go out very often. It'll be fine.

- He is smart. Very smart. He will find a way, he always does. Maybe I should have just snapped his neck.

She smiled, pushed me a bit so I leaned my back against the wall, wrapped her arms around my neck, and kissed me deeply. Her lips were soft, delicate, gentle. Such a contrast to the roughness around me, I was used to.

- It'll be fine - she whispered, and bit her lower lip slightly.

- I'm not so sure.

- If he wants a truce, he won't try anything. If he tries anything, you will do what you will do.

- Why are you so confident?

- I just know. I might be awkward with people, but I'm used to pressure and difficult situations. You might worry all day for nothing, or just not, and deal with the situation that is gonna really happen when it happens. I'm fine here. If Blue really is that smart, he won't do anything to me. At least not until he is confident he can deal with you, but if that ever happens, we are all screwed, aren't we?

- Yeah. I guess...

It was hard to think with her so close. My mind was going primal on me.

- You are not as bad with people as you say. This kiss... I think you are getting more confident - I continued.

She smiled, and lowered her gaze, while her cheeks went red. I grabbed her chin, and rose it a bit, to kiss her.

What happened next is private, but I bet you have a good idea.

When we finally left the back room a whole jury was waiting at us, sitting behind a few closest tables. Smiling suggestively. All of them except Hailwic, Aisha, and Zoë.

Nadia looked at me covering the lower lip with the upper one. Her eyes were wide open, and she was as red as a tomato. I didn't really know how to react, so in the end, she panicked and just ran away.

- So... - started Alice, leaning over the table with a wide grin. - That's why you stormed here like that?

- No. That's because... Why the hell I'm even explaining myself to you?

She laughed.

- You don't have to explain anything. At least as long as she is happy.

- Yes, and if you hurt her, we will break your legs - said Shavonne.

Others nodded.

- I won't - I said, and stormed out.

Lough accompanied my exit.

- That was fast - said Hailwic the moment I hit the street.

I ignored her, and just kept walking. I needed to clear my head. The childish threats and jokes annoyed me a lot, but since I was bad at expressing myself, they probably didn't notice.

The good memories flooded my mind soon and made me smile. I experienced everything again. Her soft lips, warm breath, and gentle touch. I never felt like this before.

It was ended abruptly by thoughts of Blue and his schemes. Maybe I should really consider the truce? Just to get a better understanding of what he is doing. I could deduce his plans. Was it even possible for me?

I kept walking arguing with myself about this idea. There were definitely some benefits to cooperation, even a fake one. If only I could get past the resentment I had towards that guy. Or maybe he predicted I won't accept his offer, and that was his purpose from the beginning? But why? Was there something I couldn't see?

There was also a possibility of it all being just a smokescreen. Maybe he wanted to confuse me? Focus on figuring the riddle, while he proceeded with achieving his goals in the meantime.

I was clearly too stupid to deduce the answer. That was the conclusion I made after solid few hours of thinking, interspersed with relieving the sweet moment me and Nadia were together.

Then I decided to head back to the city center, and have a conversation with Hatta. Unfortunately for me, he was still away, and I was forced to wait. He returned by the evening and from the get-go invited me to his office.

It was dark there, but he lighted up the olive lamps one by one, using fire magic.

- Nice trick.

- Thank you. It's a new pickup from today's hunt. Why did you want to talk?

- Blue visited me this morning with a proposition of truce and cooperation.

He laughed while taking his seat. I came closer to get the spot in front of him.

- It's obviously just some bullshit. Smokescreen or something, but I can't figure out why would he propose it. What good would that do for him? - I continued.

- Maybe he really wants it? We've been limiting him pretty hard. Even Aisha said we should cut him some slack.

- She said that? Anyway, it's good. That's what we should be doing. He can't get out of our control.

- I agree, and in this case, we should say yes to his proposition.

- What?! Are you nuts, Hatta?! - I was so shocked, that I just stood up.

- Calm down, Peter. Look... We accept his proposition but then demand proof. He won't be getting any more points than he already got. If he says no, that means he didn't want the truce from the beginning, and we lose nothing. If he says yes, then we bought ourselves peace, at least until we come back from the journey to Uhm's.

- We can't drop our guard down.

- Who's saying anything about dropping the guard down? We still do what we did before. We are not throwing our weapons, but just putting them back to sheaths. We should talk with him, and discuss the matter.

- What the heck happened?! You used to be so damn afraid of him, that I practically had to force you to be in the same room! Now you are proposing this?!

He smiled, got up, and started to walk around.

- I know. Fear blurred my judgment to the point I started being irrational, but I got stronger. A lot stronger, and now I'm confident I at least stand a chance with somebody like him. I'm not helpless anymore, Peter. My gut tells me it's an opportunity. We can buy time, or get a better view of what he is planing. Let's take it.

- Ok. It's your call. Let me grab Will.

And I went outside.