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Ah. She wondered when Audric was going to notice that his little informant was literally right next to him. A smile tugged at her lips as she sipped her drink - whiskey on the rocks instead of the nice champagne everyone kept trying to offer her. Not that there was anything wrong with champagne, but the bubbling of it wasn’t really what she needed.

She snorted at his compliment, waving a him off with her manicured hand. Avery literally had texted him a photo of the dress she was wearing so he knew how to spot her in case of an emergency. “Oh he’s… fine,” Avery said, lightly. She pretended like she was more interested in her drink than she was in him, causally taking a sip of it.

“I’m not working tonight,” Avery said, glancing at him. At least, she wasn’t supposed to be. Raymond had specifically said this was for both of them to enjoy, no money needed. “I’m assuming your cell phone is charged? Send SOS if either of comes across anything… unsatisfying.” Or one of them got into trouble. “If you’re looking for a visual cue, I’d say run after the girl in the short, bright pink dress trying to rush her way out.” 

She paused. 

“You might have to leave without me. I am on a date, after all. I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough - maybe if you let me drive, though, I can give you a more concrete answer.”

Audric knew everything about tonight, at least as far as what Avery was wearing and whom her date was. He’d even sent her several one-sided jokes about it. He could have probably asked Avery to come himself, but since she was his informant he hadn’t wanted it to be that obvious. Avery also would have known his outfit, since they shared both to one another. However he couldn’t help the quirk of his brow. “Just.. fine?” He narrowed his eyes at her skeptically. Was she pulling his chain or serious?

He took a glance away from her and around the room before he met hers once more. “Look at you. A fancy dress and a day off.” Audric flashed her a juvenile grin, before it dissolved to look more serious. “SOS works, my cell phone is charged, but you know how Nathan can be.” He pondered and slowly nodded. “Actually, I’ll tell the crew the same thing. That should work.” Audric blinked at her and eyes went directly to what shoes she was wearing. “Well, at least we both know you’re well versed in running in those.”  He thought he was being funny, and was thoroughly amused with himself. 

Then he took a glass from the bar, taking a drink while she spoke. “Yeah... absolutely never driving the bike, Avery. Not going to happen. If you were somehow fatally wounded during this party, you’d still not drive the bike. If I’m fatally wounded, then my bike will magically just not fucking start for you.” He was being dead serious. “Oh, are you saying you like your date better than me?”

nathanluter‌:

Nathan was pretty sure that he had caught Audric in a lie. He really thought that he had taken care of this a long time ago. But he knew that Audric was stubborn and was probably plotting his death as revenge for his parents as they discussed the diamonds. Nathan wasn’t concerned about it, because he was doing the same. Not for the revenge, but because he couldn’t stand to have some weak  fool serving under him. He sipped his drink as the two former lovers (or possibly still lovers), had their fight. The party was certainly more entertaining now, and they hadn’t even brought out the ballet dancers yet. 

He laughed when Andrea mentioned not climbing into his and his lovers bed. He was starting to see why Audric fell for her. It was probably a task just to get her into bed. He half wondered how Audric had managed it. He was sure his under boss enjoyed a challenge. When she brought out the pen, Nathan was definitely sure that the stack of papers sitting in front of the other man were divorce papers.  Nathan turned his full attention to the man sitting beside him. He wondered when he was going to admit that he had messed up.  Of course Nathan couldn’t kill him here. It would be too messy and there were cops all over the place. Of course he could always make sure that he didn’t make it home tonight. 

Nathan finished his whole glass when Audric put the wedding ring on. It was hard to find mafia members who weren’t ready to put a knife in your back. He sat his empty glass on the table and shrugged his shoulders. “Well since we’re being completely honest now, my night was boring up until this moment. Thank you, Mrs Roux, for making this night better for me.”  

He held his glass up for one of his body guards to bring him another one. “You were always weak Audric.  So tied up in your emotions. You’ll soon find out that’s not going to get you far here.” 

The reveal stole the air from her lungs. It did something more too. Things clicked into place. Grief and happiness and raw anger she’d shut out, had the privilege and peace of the last month as labeling fake, they came rushing back with the newfound weight of being real. The tickets she’d booked to Africa for the two of them so they could attend Zuri and Miriam’s last rights - she remembered the quiet that that lasted weeks between her and Audric even as they crossed oceans. That had all been real. There was so much death between them - hadn’t she said yes to his proposal because she hadn’t wanted to face her mother’s wake alone? So much of their relationship was born of death.  

And really, it’d be a fucking miracle if they entered this new, enlightened chapter of their life without someone dying at this table. Andy had half a mind to lunge for Nathan’s jugular. Bodyguards be damned.

Audric had lied to her. And then Audric had lied to Nathan. And his parents were most certainly six feet under because of her. Andy felt like she was swimming in a muddy ocean, a sea of secrets and ambiguity where she could only see so far ahead over. His parents…her. She felt her stomach twist with pain and guilt. She was the kind of woman who could swallow it down, it would feel like swallowing razorblades, but her job had given her the skin to do it.

She could also feel Audric’s forest fire of anger all the way from her seat here. She knew that warmth cause the same sort flowed through her all the time. And Nathan, well -

Andy had this kill list, see? And she’d done a rather okay job of crossing names off that list over the course of her life. The ink that had scribbled off her father’s name, the first on the list, had dried long ago. There were plenty on that list, Viktor Valentina near the present top. And now Nathan Luter would be joining him. Did Andy agree with Nathan? Absolutely not. Did she still want Audric behind bars? Absolutely. But while she wanted the justice system to open its maw and consume Audric whole, she wanted to burn Nathan to the ground. And Andy, whose whole job was about choosing when to shoot first and understanding when it was and wasn’t justified, knew that Audric was in a better position to do that than her.

So she did something she didn’t do much: Andy talked. Bought a little more time, gave herself some time to think, and stalled for Audric in the hopes that he’d make his next move count. Because even in this divorce, in this moment, they were stronger as a partnership.

“Great. I was about to blow my brains out from boredom, so I’m always happy to liven up the evening. Let me know if you need me to throw a few punches - because I can do that.”

She folded up the half of the papers Audric had slipped her way. She wondered if he could see her knuckles turn white, belying her anger as she gripped them. She considered setting them on fire the way she has with the last pictures of his parents only a week ago.

Probably the last pictures of his parents, now that she was thinking about it

And there was that guilt again…

To be clear, none of this played on her face. She was a United States Fucking Marshal, you know? She’d be shit at her job if she let these things get to her while on the field.

“Oh and I prefer Ms. Shepherd. Never been one for the patriarchal standard of taking your husband’s last name. In fact, never even thought I was going to get married when I was younger. Which is why I gave myself this little number -”

She held up her left gloved hand, the one that covered her missing ring finger. Tapped the spot where her finger used to be.

“Hurt like a bitch by the way. But I got married cause my mother wanted me to. She was part Cherokee and the Cherokee have these traditional wedding vows about ‘forever growing young together.’ I think she knew death was coming from her. Cancer’s a bitch.”

She threw a glance at Audric, hoped her spiel hadn’t been for nothing.  

"Anyway, just so we’re all on the same page. He betrayed you by marrying me and so you killed his parents?”

Yes, she could lock away all the feelings that stirred in her. Andy flashed a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“I gotta say, I’m flattered that you think of me as such a threat. But next time, if you have a problem with Mr. Luter, I recommend you take it up with me.”

Her mother was gone, she’d shot her father down, her brother had been robbed of her and her husband, well, she had no husband. Andy was a woman with nothing to lose and that made her dangerous.

“Cause you know what I call people who can’t look me in the eye? Cowards. No special Native American saying for that.”

And she did one more thing. Her knee shifted, so that under the table it touched Audric’s. A silent signal. Multifaceted in its meaning. There for comfort, there to ground him, and also her. A promise, ‘I’m here.’ And a threat 'I hate this man. I’m going to do something dramatic soon if you don’t.’

Everything he had worked hard for in the past five years was coming to a boil. Would he be figured out? Was he already figured out in regards to the full plan? Blood for blood. He would have enjoyed Nathan  being dead, but the thing is he wanted Nathan to suffer first. Audric wanted to be there as Nathan was on the edge of death only to be spared.  On the edge of his own paranoid insecurities, one could say the hangman’s noose for his boss. Then brought to that same unpleasant  place over and over again. Every inconvenience. Every vile thing he had ever done. Don’t get the wrong idea, Audric wasn’t much better. He murdered people, but he hadn’t murdered the mob’s family. He would never murder to keep someone in place. Because his allegiance didn’t rely on something as fickle as fear nor did it with emotion. It rested on something more profound - humanity.

While Andrea spoke he knew it was a distraction enough for him to drive down deep into his unspoken ambitions. What was his move here? A birthday party for someone named Bunny wasn’t the time for his plan to unhitch.  What sort of benefit did it yield to try to take down his boss in a room of crowded people and other mafia bosses? None. He had his own successful crew within the Shadow Mob that followed him you see. However, that chaos he wanted to hold onto for a special event. It took him five years to get to his current station, and if someone thought he wouldn’t wake five more years to act publicly they were wrong. The Shadow Mob conducted much like shadows do, most of his plans formed within them. And the look on Nathan’s face, no matter how placid was a dead give away that Audric was able to pool the wool over his eyes for five years.

He breathed in again trying to relax his muscles. Normally he would excuse himself for a smoke, but it wasn’t the time for such affairs. When you’re married to someone for so long, you pick up on the small telltale signs. There were so many periods of time Andy and him hadn’t spoken, just sat in the silence using nothing but their body languages to convey what emotions were present at the time. Sometimes when you’re in such a long relationship, no matter how hard one tries to escape it – the empathy factor is there. Him running hot and admitting the truth of the matter, no doubt had her sizzling too. The white of her knuckles wasn’t lost on him, as he glanced over to his bodyguard of the three. Moving his head toward the table.

Anger was something neither of them were good at. They both had tempers volcanic and destructive in nature. First things first, he needed to get anything sharp away from the both of them. Audric reached while Andy talked to gather the silverware that were still tucked away, folded perfectly into the napkins and slid them over to the bodyguard. Even the utensils he had been using on his own. “I don’t care what you do with them, but get them away from here.” He murmured low to the bodyguard whom heeded his advice. There’s still his half of his divorce papers glaring at him.

The ring finger story was one Audric found personally to be bizarre, but it helped him think about what he was going to say. Then her next set of words lunged another dynamite into his overall plan. He would still wait though, giving her time which ultimately gave him time. The first problem had been the utensils on the table, and the second well..

Instinctively one of his hands went under the table to catch the knee that touched him. Sliding his fingers along the material, not being even the slightest bit dainty as his nails dug in. His hold paused when it gripped against her thigh just over her weapon holster. “That’s enough, Andy.” Audric replied sharply but gave her flesh a little of a squeeze. Communicating silently that though he did appreciate her surprising alliance here. It did no good with Nathan directly across from them. He saw this now. Touch had always lead to the same place in their relationship.  Now it was his turn to talk.

First of course he would address Nathan, “That’s where we disagree. If you really thought so you wouldn’t have promoted me to what I am. A weak man doesn’t get to where I am in five years’ time. A  real man establishes his connections and keeps them. My parents were loyal to both you and their marriage. When they came here from Africa, they put all their trust in you. They followed you blindly all for what? For their own death by a weak man who can’t herd his sheep properly. I don’t go around murdering our family , as you say,because of my emotions. So why don’t we discuss yours? I think the person you’re trying to make me be, is what you see in yourself. ”

 Audric turned to face his wife with a face shrouded in bitterness. His hand that remained on the table reached out towards her face. In an attempt to grip her chin and forcefully turn her to look him directly in the eyes. “I think you should leave now, Andrea.” There it is, giving her an out. He slides the other half of the divorce papers in a swoop towards Nathan. He had said before that half was for family, and now he had so many fires to put out that he had started. So much damage control, and his own vendetta this party just got more complicated. “Unless, Nathan feels like telling us all a story and giving us all the candid details about the murder of my parents.” He snapped his gaze back to his boss exchanging a bite of an unspoken dare.

It’s funny how Charles noticed how dangerously hot some of the women in the NYPD are. After sleeping with one, it wouldn’t be quite rational to flirt with others. Nonetheless he found himself talking to them while justifying that his actions are purely for the purpose of obtaining information. But who was he kidding, he’d pound them on his bed if he had the chance too. As he was busy working. Charles noticed at the side of his eye a familiar face he scorned to look at. He was momentarily paused as he saw him look his way. Charles clenched his jaw, he held on tightly at his glass of tonic wishing he’d use it to gauge Audric’s eyes. 

Charles hated Audric deep to the core, if he had one personal ambition he’d personally add “smashing Audric’s face to bits” as one of his personal goals. He was annoying in all levels, he was as arrogant and ambitious as he, thinking he was too good for himself. But he was in an event, and he had to work so he stayed in his position trying to calm his nerves. Charles cracked the knuckles of his fingers, trying to release some tension before a man approached him and motioned to meet Audric outside. 

Clearly this was a stupid idea, but he excused himself from the girls and went with it. The adrenaline was rushing through his face, he grinned like a wild man ready to chase its prey. If this man decides to kill him with his men surrounding him, he was a fucking coward. Charles calmed walked towards the supposed destination, he was being surveyed by some of his personal men. If this fight doesn’t go fairly, both sides will lose a lot of men. 

“Didn’t thought a pussy would urge a fight.” Charles said, taking his coat off. “Your head seems to be lurking in your balls.” 

Audric needed this release especially after the night he had. Get out all his aggression on stupid fucking Charles. His face just constantly shrieked rich white boy privilege at him, and he hated it with his entire being. This would be the highlight of this night if he could knock that smugness off the man. Hell, it would be bonus points if he could kick him off the pedestal that the man put himself on. He paced impatiently before Charles arrived. Burning some excess energy before the main event. 

There were far better times for such an event to occur. Such as not outside of Bunny’s party, but at this point neither of them seemed to give a fuck about that. Charles must have had his own reasons for accepting the challenge, and Audric wasn’t there to small talk to figure out what they were. He wasted no time placing the wedding band on his hand for extra source of ass beating. He could feel the extra eye son him, but that didn’t bother him. Let Charles’s bitches see what happened to this annoying bastard.

He jolted forward without much thought leaving the actions to his own adrenaline. Audric moved his knee and fist in succession towards Charle’s gut. Audric weaved his head slightly, “Tsk, same as always Charles. Never know when to shut the fuck up.” 

Marie sighed when she heard Audric, taking another drink before answering him, “enjoying a party is impossible with Nathan around. You should know this by now, Audric. I finding pleasure in catching small talk between some guest though.” Her brow raised at him and she shook her head, “nothing yet. I have a feeling there is another reason daddy threw this party besides his daughter birthday though, if you’re picking up what I’m putting down.” Her eyes staying on the crowd as she spoke to him. 

“It’s possible, but it’s definitely not easy. I’m sure he’ll be bugging you enough. I’m going to do another round maybe before I drop my report over to him.” Audric sighed mirroring Marie’s clear enthusiasm. “I have heard some things, but nothing solid. Nathan won’t be satisfied unless we get him all the information on a gold plate with gold silverware.” He took a minute to look over the crowd once more, before his eyes land back on her. “Yeah, I’m picking up what you’re tossing down. I think in all due time, we shall see what the real plan is here.”

Andrea’s interrogation had, quite understandably, worn Marcelo out to an uncomfortable degree. If there was one thing to be said about his housemate, she was one hell of a persistant detective when something bugged her. It was an admirable trait given her line of work; he just didn’t appreciate it much when it was directed at him. Despite having survived a number of intense combat situations in the past, the sigh of relief when she was well out of earshot was something that he felt was well-deserved.

And then somebody else showed up. God dammit.

This gentleman, whose sour mood seemed even worse than his somehow, was not someone Marcelo recognized, so the very fact that he had made himself at home at his table was already enough to raise eyebrows. The bodyguard had thought he was doing a fairly good job with the ‘fuck off’ aura, but apparently it wasn’t good enough. “…Hello?“ It came out as more of a question than a greeting. The confusion only escalated when the accusation was shot his way by his housemate’s…husband? 

“You must be mistaken, amigo. My housemate isn’t married.” Of course, he had never bothered to ask either, but the idea seemed surreal. Still, given that this was a man with a butter knife in his hand, it seemed as though he at least believed whatever it was he was saying. “I’ve been living with Andy for months now. She’s never mentioned you whatsoever. You sure we’re talking about the same woman here?”

“Your housemate most certainly is married to me.” Audric countered right off the bat. He remembered that stupid Craigslist ad he had tried to intercept, but his man was too late and apparently this man took it up. Or maybe this was Andrea’s new lover when she thought she was truly divorced. Was this why she was up his ass to sign the divorce papers? Who was she bullshitting here? He got increasingly agitated as he sat there. “Are we talking about the same woman..Well,.” He took a sharp breath and glanced at the butter knife. Tempted almost to throw it towards the man. It was the more simpler plan of eliminating someone close to Andrea, a situation that he didn’t like. 

“Andrea ‘Call me Andy; Shepherd. Missing her fucking ring finger, because she didn’t think she would get married. Let’s see, she’s a neat freak. You’d get more emotions from the face of a Lucky Charms cereal box. Diet consists of Scotch and Gummi Bears, except the ones that taste like pineapple. Hates those. Knows lots about art from her mother, whom was a curator. Fucking loves the Yankees. Treats her motorcycle and guns like her children, but will shoot first. Always. So no one can shoot her. Enjoys crossword puzzles. Enjoys midnight swims.  Enjoys jazz music surprisingly, plays the piano and the saxophone. Birthday is Halloween which means she’s a pain in the ass Scorpio. Keeps a baseball bat under her bed, so she can get the drop on someone before she probably reaches for her gun and shoots them.” Audric leaned back in the seat slightly still toying with the knife in his hands when his probing gaze turned back to Marcelo.

“So let’s try this again Fabio. Are you fucking my wife?”

Audric had made a beeline for the bar right when he had arrived at this party. Most people talked among the bar and it was easier to gather information there in his mind. Not to mention he had already spotted Andrea, and this spot was good for him to keep a low key eye on her. Nathan from what he could tell had already made his rounds, the only person he hadn’t came across was.. right fucking here.

“Avery. You look so pink.” He teased with a beaming grin, as if he hadn’t known what she was wearing to this damn thing anyway. “How’s your date?”  Audric asked in a quite manner trying not to draw attention for them. Avery was his informant, he didn’t need for it to be that damn obvious about it. Dark eyes loom around the room, there needed to be a plan B for if things erupted out of their own control.

“Listen. We need a sign for if shit hits the fan and we need to leave.” Audric brought the newly filled glass of Johnnie Walker to his lips to knock back straight up. “Should we just plan on meeting where I parked the bike? Unless of course you’re working here.” 

nathanluter‌:

Nathan had been trying to figure out just how much information Audric had on the diamonds. He had a feeling that he was keeping things from him, but it was nothing that he couldn’t figure out on his own later. He was picking up his glass to take a drink when he saw who he assumed was Audric’s ex wife storming towards them. He gave a look to his guards, silently telling them to let her approach them. He had a feeling she wasn’t going to do anything in a room packed with people. He was surprised when she dropped a stack of papers down in front of his number two. He glanced over to see that they seemed to be legal forms. Nathan was suddenly more interested than what he had been all night. 

“Nonsense Audric,” He waved his hand. “It looks like your ex-wife has something very important to speak with you about. What ever you have to say to him, you can say in front of me. I like to think of Audric as part of my family. I am sure you are familiar with the tragedy that happened to his parents.” 

He glanced over at Audric and noticed that he looked a little bit uneasy. “It was such a shame to hear that you two couldn’t work it out. It seems like nobody stays married any more.” 

For five years of her life Andy was played and she swore she would never let herself be put in such a situation again.  And yet, here he was, trying to stay two steps ahead when it felt like the ground was made of quick sand. What was Luter saying…. ex-wife? She’d always been under the assumption that Audric had shared everything with the ( alleged ) leader, but she didn’t even need all those years of at the precinct working in homicide to know that he - Audric - was trying to hide something from Luter.  

You know what? Never mind. She was done expecting the best of her ex. This was just Luter, playing into it all, fucking with her - 

She gave the leader a sharp smile. As she did, every unofficial report on the man filtered through her mind’s eye. There we go, that was the Andy she knew herself to be. The U.S. Marshal who put duty before all else. And sure she should be more worried about the line of fire she’d just put herself in, the harm he could do to her, and yet - the salt in his words might as well have been the gasoline to her fire. 

Whatever you can say to him, you can say in front of me. 

It was that though that made Andy’s lips press into a thin line, that and the talk of family. Well, she hoped Audric liked his new family. Seems like that had worked out in his favor. In many ways that’s what it came down to - he’d managed to find a new family and her? Left brotherless, fatherless, mothrless and now husbandless? That was fine, she’d persevere.

Besides - over the last few months, she’d spent so much time separating fact from fiction, there had been one grey morning where she’d just gone fuck it and decided to treat everything Audric had done - every tidbit, every insight, every I love you - as false. If her heart clenched at such a thing she ignored it. Andy steeled up the space her rib cage, made herself bullet proof so that she could withstand the exact same amount of bullets she actually shot from her gun. Luter bringing up his parents was unexpected. Car crash. Had they actually died in a car crash?

Not to mention, there was something about Luter that made Andy want to skewer him with the butter knife. Audric, with all his secrecy, was at least a demon she’d accepted to take on. Her own idiocy, her own foolish heart, her own stupid sex that she’d managed to be blinded by. It was a bed she’s made - a wedding bed she might have even called it, if she were a more poetic person - that Luter had no place in. Luter had no place in her and Audric’s bed. He had no place in their shit. 

Thin line turned into thin smile. 

“While I certainly appreciate the gesture, there’s some things meant to be left between husband and wife don’t you think? After all, I don’t climb into you and your partner’s bed." 

Her hand fished through her purse, looking for a pen and when she finally found one she wondered if it was smarter to keep the item on hand so that she could trache someone with it if things escalated. She didn’t, in the end. Andy let go of the pen, let it slip across the table because if her assessment of the man sitting across from her and Audric was right, there wouldn’t be a death here. It’d be on the way home, in some back alley, away from all these prying eyes. 

"Like I said, this will only take a second and then I’ll be gone.”

She tapped the papers in front of Audric and kept her eyes on Luter. 

“Then you can go right back to being one big happy family." 

Another tap.

"Come on Audric, I’m sure you’re a busy guy…. Though Mr. Luter does seem like he’d be a pleasant conversationalist.” Back to Luter. Painted smile. “How’s your evening going?”

“I am sure you are familiar with the tragedy that happened to his parents.”

The words full of restrained toxic coil around what would constitute to be his heart. For a second there he looks away from the company to try to find Miremba in this mess of a party. Away, she wasn’t even in view and that gave him a peaceful hope tied to this disaster triad spread out around him. Andrea hadn’t heeded his advice, but he couldn’t say he was surprised. Then there was Nathan making offhanded comments about how marriages don’t work. It was relevant, but he stubbornly wanted to be defiant about it.

Audric breathed in and remembered all the plans he had set into motion. Every single outcome he had thought about, but this moment that pen set in front of him looked better. He was going to die one way or another, and part of him toyed with the thought of injecting the pen through his flesh into his neck. Poisoning his blood with the ink inside the pen. He had grown incredibly quiet, unsure if he still had any cards to play in this game.

“Hm, well. I think we would have been married a long time.” He offered giving one last sign for Andy to fuck off away from him. He’s blinded in his spot now in the zone of thinking of his parents. The blindspot that was able to get just about anything out of him. A week ago, it caused him to go into a rage and burn the divorce papers. But now? It takes every inch of self-restraint to not pull out the wedding band and taunts Nathan with it.

Then there Andrea goes.

“Some things meant to be left between Husband and wife.” Fuck him with a chainsaw. She hadn’t even mentioned exes, and the one comment about his parents had him still on the verge of combust. Then came the icing on the cake. She thought that if he signed these papers he would go back to a big happy family? How fucking delusional had his wife become? Audric places a hand over the papers and pen, pulling it toward him. He clicks the end of the pen bouncing it on the table.

“You know my parents wouldn’t want me to sign this.” Audric replied honestly, as he looks around the room. “In fact, they deserve to be here tonight.” His tone surprisingly icy with the warm words. In a swoop he brings the papers in front of him and starts to rip the bundle of papers in his hand right down the center. An easy tape fix, and his eyes land on Nathan.

“Let’s change up the introductions to be truthful. Shall we?” The temper in his core had grown far more chaotic than the beginning of this party. “Andrea, is my wife. Has been for six years now. Nathan, Mr. Luter is my boss, and whom had my parents killed because I decided to marry… well, you. So both of you deserve one another in your dreams of divorce. Because there isn’t a chance in hell. I’m signing any divorce papers. So, here’s your copy.” One half of the torn documents slammed near Andy, with the pen placed on top of it. Then he stared at the half in front of him, nostrils flaring. He paints no smiles, and instead places the ring back onto his ring finger.  “And this copy…well.. this one is for family, right?” Audric’s cold eyes lift towards Nathan.  “I believe my wife asked you a question, how is your evening going?” 

@nathanluter

Audric still had a few rounds to do before he ended up plopped on the table across Nathan for possibly the remainder of the time at this party. He needed to find a perch to observe, but firstly he had to figure out what the other part of management knew about these so called diamonds. Not to mention every chance he got he whispered a little something into Marie’s ear. A pinch of salt, a pinch of guilt, and sometimes a pinch of wrong information.

He’s been paying close enough attention to know that he can’t trust her fully. If the coup happened, she’d likely flank him with a shank made out of her hairbrush. He stepped over to her, hands pushed into the pockets of his pants. Partly so he make sure his  wedding ring was still in his pocket.

“Marie, are you enjoying yourself?” He asked casually leaning forward closer his words dropping in level. “Hear anything about the diamonds?”

The minute his eyes landed on Charles was the moment he knew he wanted to kick that asshole off a balcony down into the pit of Sparta never to be collected again. The feeling seemed to be mutual whenever they crossed paths. Just hearing this asshole across the room made his head ache. Not only did he have to figure out how to undermine Nathan around all the other groups, but now fucking Charles was here to make things equally difficult. Audric tapped one of the shoulders of a soldier by his side and motioned to where Charles was.

By now Chuckie should know where they could be secrete of their hatred. No worrying about their bosses reactions or this party. Everyone was preoccupied, and he had been so annoyed at the sight of Charles that he actually stopped stalking Andrea with his eyes for a few minutes. 

The outside air was inviting and welcoming. He waited at the spot checking his phone every now and then, until the most annoying person in the vicinity of New York City graced him with his presence. Charles was more of a pain in the ass than Andrea and her divorce papers. He pops his knuckles and eyes the man with a grumble.

“Didn’t think you would show. Thought you’d run like the little bitch you are.”

Audric had been keeping his eyes and attention on many things that evening. The elusive diamonds were something that could propel his plan to overturn Nathan quicker than he had anticipated. However, there was an irritable itch at the back of his neck in the guise of his wife and the stranger she seemed to be speaking with. He didn’t know the man as Cole, which quickly turned the key to his jealousy. He knew he didn’t sign the papers, and that meant in his mind that Andrea was still his. He knew that she had put out  an advertisement for a roommate on Craigslist. Hell, he had almost had one of the soldiers unwittingly take it to keep his eyes on her .

This stranger had his blood boiling and his knuckles twitching with anticipation. Just like the mob he was the Underboss, he stepped back into the crowd. Away from the rest of his crew, apart from the NYPD that knew him as Cole. Until he had found the perfect moment to pounce. After his wife had exited the picture. Audric approached the table drink in hand, and his overwhelming irritation echoed with the audible ding of the glass on the table.

Dark eyes narrow at the man to his left. Hands move to twirl one of the butter knives not collected by the servers. “Hello.” He finally spoke through gritted teeth, his eyes move to make sure Andrea isn’t going to pop up like a wild Pokemon in the grass. Once he’s almost certain she isn’t, he speaks again. “Mind telling me what is the deal between you and my wife?”  Casually applying the pressure of his thumb against the tiny teeth of the knife in his hands.