Chapter 15 Nothing good comes out of a Nox
ADRIANA
With a hoodie over my bent head and the bag still strapped at my back, I walked down the bustling crosswalk. I stepped onto the sidewalk and raised my head, darting my eyes over the addresses written above the doors of the shops I passed.
My eyes fell on a number, and I reached into the black jacket I was wearing and pulled out a piece of paper that the cop had given me.
“21," I muttered and raised my head, staring at the number 21 boldly written on the top of the door.
I increased my pace and didn't hesitate to push the door open.
My heart clenched when I stepped into a dress shop.
“Hello, how may I help you?" A voice filled the room, and I swung my head in the direction the voice came from.
My eyes locked with brown, sparkling eyes, and slowly darted down to take in the man a few inches away from me.
Doubt crossed my mind when I sized him up. His protruding belly sagged in the white t-shirt he wore, and his short height made me want to laugh.
He didn't look like a man who could throw a fist, let alone fight for the Scorpio.
Perhaps I was in the wrong area or with the wrong person.
“Uhm… are you Harry?” I asked, tilting my head to the side as I waited for the ‘no’.
"Yes!” He blurted out, and my head jerked straight in disbelief.
I scanned his body again, confused.
"Do you want to make a dress?” He asked as he headed back to his station.
"Uhm…" I trailed, battling with the decision to stay back or just leave.
“Huh?" He hummed and lifted his eyes towards me, his gaze questioning.
“Yes," I replied and cursed under my breath before shuffling towards the table he was standing behind with a sewing machine on it.
“I'll need to take your measurements and show you the designs we have…”
The rest of his words faded as my eyes wandered around the dress shop.
Unlike other dress shops, there was no helper there. The shop was filled with beautiful clothes neatly hanging from rails. The shop was an enormous size for just a dress shop.
"Miss?” He called again, and I looked up.
"Your measurements?” He muttered.
"Ah… sorry, my female assistant isn't around,” he quickly added, “If you're uncomfortable, you can come back some other time for the measurements…”
"No, I'm comfortable,” I said and pulled off the jacket, then dropped it and the bag on the chair beside me.
The smile on the man's face faded as he saw my blood-soaked shirt.
Fear darted across his eyes, and his hand, which held a measuring tape, began to tremble.
"I got into a nasty fight with some thugs and got injured. I hope you don't mind,” I muttered.
He blinked and forced the smile back into his face.
“Of course not," he muttered and cleared his throat before forcing his feet to move closer to me.
I looked around the dress shop as he took my measurements.
“I know it feels weird to be alone here with me. I sent my staff on leave so I'm alone to work on some unfinished dresses before the clients come calling," he chuckled.
“I see," I whispered, darting my eyes across the room, taking everything into detail.
“Oh boy, your arm is a mess,” he muttered when he straightened up to take the measurements for my arm length.
"Were they after that?" He waved his hand towards the bag.
“Yes, those thugs in Rouge woods thought I had money stashed inside…” I paused, and my heart skipped a beat when I realized what I had said.
I jerked my head in his direction, and my eyes locked with his.
"Rouge woods? What would you be doing there?” He asked, and my throat ran dry.
Shit! I was sure he knew what was in that falling house in Rouge Woods.
"I…I… went treasure hunting," I stammered before I could think clearly for a perfect lie.
He smiled smugly. I could tell from his brown eyes that he didn't believe a single word I said.
“Treasure hunting? For animals?” He asked.
I clenched my fist, thinking of an answer.
"If there was a treasure buried in the Rouge woods, I would be the first person to know. I know all the unusual things going on in Detroit!” He laughed, and my chest clenched.
He stopped laughing when he noticed that I was still blank and unamused.
He muttered inaudible words and chuckled before continuing with what he was doing.
My eyes suddenly darted towards a part of the wall, and my belly knotted.
Right on that wall, peeking out from the clothes lined up before it, was the mark. I couldn't see it fully, but I would recognize even the slightest detail wherever I was.
He knew about the Scorpio. He was part of the Scorpio!
“What is your name, dear?" I almost jumped when his voice found its way into my thoughts.
He was scribbling something down on a paper as he bent over the table.
I took a deep breath and tried so hard to stop myself from snapping out the consciousness in him.
“Adriana. Adriana Nox," I blurted out.
I watched him freeze, and his skin slowly paled.
He turned his head, his eyes as wide as saucers.
“Nox?" He whispered my surname.
“Yes, Nox."
Fear and shock darted across his eyes so fast that you could barely notice the reaction.
“Oh, I once knew a Nox! It must be a coincidence,” he said, waving his hand in the air while laughing.
My eyes dimmed as I watched him laugh. I was sure he was talking about my brothers. They must have dealt with him so badly in the past for him to have that reaction at the mention of their surname.
“Lucian and Killian Nox?" I asked, and his laughter died down.
He straightened up and stared at me with darkened eyes and a stern expression.
“Or…is it still a coincidence?” I added.
His eyes got darker, and from the corner of my eyes, I saw his hand ball into a fist.
That didn't stop me from stepping closer to question him.
"Since you know every unusual thing around here, you must know then, about the thing in my bag and why I had been to the Rouge woods,” I muttered.
He scoffed loudly and glared at me.
"I don't know what you're talking about!” He snapped and pointed at the door.
"Leave right now!”
I huffed loudly, amused at the change of behavior.
"I came to make a dress. Why push me out?" I winced.
"I will have nothing to do with a Nox!” He spat, and I tilted my head to the side.
"Why?”
"Because nothing good comes of the Nox!”
For the first time since I walked into the room, a smile broke out on my face.
He threw his head back, his eyes narrowing in confusion.
"I just heard the exact words from someone an hour ago,” I muttered.
"Salvador? That scum told you, didn't he?” He growled.
"The scum I know is the one standing before me,” I mumbled, and his eyes widened.
I leaned towards him and placed my hands on his shoulders.
"Now, if you don't want me to prove those words of yours right, tell me everything I need to know about that mark on your wall,” I muttered.
A gasp escaped his lips, and he staggered back, falling on the table.
His hands shook, and his eyes bulged out of their sockets in shock.
"Never!” He spat, and my heart clenched.
My lips stretched into a grin, and my eyes darted to the measuring tape hanging around his neck.
"Alright, I will show you that nothing good comes out of the Nox bloodline.”