Strannick was about to lose his mind. Noah had been gone for two days and his end of the link was still closed off. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue, but this time it was different. Something about his being gone felt all wrong. Maybe it was because of the note, maybe it was because of what Strannick had said, maybe it was the look in Noah’s eyes when Kas left to get that bottle of whiskey. Something had shifted, something was different.

That something was causing him, for the first time in over three decades, to truly worry about Noah Albright. He walked down the street, cigarette in his mouth, pack over his shoulder, mind racing, the knot in his stomach like a boulder. 

Where the fuck are you, Noah?!

He continued to keep his end of the link open, continued to keep looking down to see when Noah would finally open back up to him. The second he did, Strannick would be off like a shot to wherever the angel was. He didn’t like this…he didn’t like feeling this way. Noah had caused him no end of grief and agony over the years, so he would think he’d be used to this by now…

He automatically turned down the darkened street that would lead him home. Maybe he was there…maybe he was waiting for him now… Strannick blew out a long stream of smoke, hand to his head. Yeah right…if he was, he would have opened back up to me by now…

“You really did get rid of your name.”

Strannick froze in his tracks, his blood turning to ice in his veins. She wasn’t doing it, either. She didn’t need to. All she had to do was speak and he was thrust back in time. Pinned to the ground in a casing of ice, trapped and beaten, the look of betrayal like a bitter poison in his soul pouring over him from both of them. From Toji…and from her.

Slowly, he turned his head in the direction of the voice that haunted his nightmares, his green eyes finding her leaning against the wall, ankles crossed, arms folded under her breasts, her blonde hair cut and hanging over one eye. She wasn’t smiling, there was no light in her blue eyes.

“Ynda.”

“Long time no see, Lukas,” she said, her expression hard and impassive. “Or should I call you Strannick?”

“Strannick. I have no name. Your brother made sure of that.” He forced himself to turn away. The last thing he wanted was to be anywhere near Ynda Helman or any other member of the family he was no longer part of.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

He stopped, his shoulders tensing. “Why? Has Toji come to collect his prize finally?”

She snorted. “Hardly. He has bigger problems to worry about than your pathetic ass.”

“Then why the fuck are you here?”

“We need to talk.”

He turned back to look at her. She hadn’t budged. 

“Where’s Noah?”

His breath caught and his eye twitched.

She shook her head. “There’s a bar down the street, isn’t there?”

He said nothing. 

“I’m thirsty.” She pushed off the wall and headed back the way Strannick had come. She didn’t wait for him. She didn’t have to. With a silent curse, Strannick gritted his teeth, tossed his cigarette, and followed her.

They walked into the bar and took a seat at the booth in the back. Jaques came over with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. Ynda watched him walk away after he poured them both their drinks, fascinated.

“He’s a quiet one, isn’t he?” she observed.

“That’s why Noah likes him.” Strannick drained his glass and poured himself another. “He’s his gardener.”

Ynda raised her brow, giving him a questioning look. 

“What, you don’t have one?” He wasn’t even going to pretend he didn’t know what she did. Noah told him everything. Ynda shook her head and he sighed. “Jaques takes care of him when he’s in town. Makes sure he’s surrounded by the right people, provides the nutrients he needs, and even sprays pesticide on the weeds when he has to.” He took another swallow as Ynda processed.

“He’s Noah’s assistant.”

“I guess,” he shrugged. “He doesn’t go out on jobs with Noah, just does his part when the mark is in this bar.”

“How often is he here?”

Strannick didn’t answer, just lit a cigarette, Jaques bringing him an ashtray and another bottle of whiskey even though they didn’t need it. Not yet, anyway.

“That often,” Ynda muttered.

“We both somehow seem to keep winding up back here. Even then, no matter where I am, he finds me.”

“How?”

Strannick kept his eyes down, running his finger over a cut in the wood. He was draining the glass when Ynda gave a breathy laugh of disbelief.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

“Nope.”

“When did you find out?”

“A long time ago. It’s not something we talk about. If anything, we avoid it as much as possible. Especially him.” His finger twitched, a look passing over his eyes that Ynda caught but didn’t comment on.

She sat back, shaking her head, taking a pull on her glass. She shuddered violently at the burn. “Oh my god, this shit is awful.”

Strannick snorted softly. “It’s cheap, it’s not meant to be good. Besides,” he added, refilling both their glasses. “You don’t drink it for the taste.” He raised his glass. “Cheers.” He didn’t wait for her to touch his glass with hers, he simply downed the booze and poured another. Ynda was amazed that he didn’t even flinch.

“What the fuck happened to you?” she asked.

“Is that a serious question or are you trying to piss me off?” His cold stare didn’t faze her. She’d experienced too much to let one bastard’s miserable attitude get to her. He shook his head. “I drink, I smoke, and according to Noah, I whore around when he’s not here.”

“Do you?”

“No.” He averted his gaze. “I’ve tried moving on a few times, but he always shows up and ends it.”

“What about him?”

“He’s not in them long enough for me to do anything about it. Well, except for the one, but even then…”

She did react to that one. “So he has slept around…”

He sat back, running a hand over his hair before taking a drag of his cigarette. “Not as much as you may have heard. He won’t let his marks touch him. Those he has, he’s had to in order to get the job done.” He gulped down the whiskey, setting the glass down a little harder than he had intended. Jaques glanced up at him once but turned away without a word.

Ynda watched him, taking in the slump in his shoulders, the way his eyes shifted to the side as though he were distracted, the constant movement of his leg under the table. Something was bothering him.

“Where is he, Strannick?”

“I don’t know,” he said, the tension nearly strangling his words. “Last time I saw him was two days ago. That’s not unusual, but this time…” He stubbed his cigarette out and poured another glass. “He said he was coming home and I haven’t heard from him or felt one damn thing since—” He stopped pouring, his eyes going wide.

“Strannick?”

Strannick leapt up from the table and nearly dove over the bar. “When was he here? Who was he with?”

Jaques gulped. “They left a few minutes before you got here. He was a mark…I didn’t…”

“Fuck,” Strannick hissed through clenched teeth. He didn’t look back as he ran out the back door. Ynda didn’t hesitate; she leapt from the booth and ran after him.

“Strannick, what’s going on?”

Strannick walked quickly down the street as though he were following an invisible cord. He almost darted right past the alley, gripping the wall so hard, chips of brick crumbled to the ground. 

Ynda caught up, confused by the sudden change in his demeanor. He was seething with rage, his body shaking with it. A sound drew her attention down the alley and her hand went over her mouth.

Pressed up against the wall was a tall young man with silver hair, his head buried in his arm. He raised it slightly as his body moved roughly back and forth, his red eye catching Kas’ gaze, filled with terror, pleading him for help.

“Kill him,” Strannick growled. Ynda ran after him. Strannick grabbed the man and yanked him off Noah so fast he flew into the building behind them, creating a good sized dent that spewed debris everywhere before he fell to the ground. Ynda pinned him down, a knife to his throat. 

“Take care of Noah, I’ll deal with this fucker.”

Kas pulled Noah’s pants up and turned him so he could look at him. Noah’s gaze was unfocused, his eyes glazed over, his words slurred. 

“Noah? Noah, baby, look at me!” Kas said, holding his head.

“K-Kas…” Noah choked. Something on his breath made Kas swear.

“He’s been poisoned.” He turned Noah over his arm, his legs already weak enough that Kas could get him down to the ground. “I’m sorry,” he whispered in Noah’s ear before shoving two fingers deep into Noah’s throat, pushing on the back of his tongue. It was the one time in their entire relationship he was glad Noah had a gag reflex.

Noah vomited instantly, Kas holding on to him as he purged himself of whatever the attacker had given him. When the first round was gone, Kas did it again, murmuring more apologies in Noah’s ear he was sure the angel didn’t catch. After the third time, when he was sure there was nothing left, he took Noah’s face in his hands, turning him back to face him, tears, snot, and vomit covering his beautiful face.

“Kas…” he gasped through his tears. “You came for me.”

“Of course I did, you idiot,” Kas said, brushing Noah’s hair off his sweaty forehead. “I’ll always come for you.”

Noah’s face fell, a brief gleam passing over his eyes as he wrapped his arms tightly around Kas’ neck. Kas picked Noah up, cradling the angel in his arms, and turned to Ynda. “I’m taking him home. Meet me there when you’re done.” He gave her the address and took off, running down the street, his chest burning with anger. 

Someone had touched Noah. His Noah. They’d tried to kill him. If Ynda hadn’t already done it, Kas would have killed the bastard himself. He just hoped she’d bring him the one thing Noah would demand:

His wings.

-*-