"When are we leaving?" Maya asked as we entered the motel.

I looked at my phone. "In two hours. You can change, for now, I'll pop over to get some food."

"Pizza?" She looked at me with hope in her eyes.

I don't blame her for being hungry. The food at Dave's wedding was disgusting. I will never look at caviar in movies as I did before.

"I was thinking onion rings, but if you want pizza..."

"What no!" She stopped me when I was leaving. "Onion rings and pizza."

"Can you get any more unhealthy?" I was joking.

"Says a guy who stinks of cigarettes." She crossed her arms over her breasts.

"Says the woman with the package in her purse." I smiled.

"Get out." She laughed and pushed me towards the door. "And beer!" She screamed as I closed the door.

I shook my head and laughed. I wonder why she has to be so perfect.

Perfect? First beautiful and now perfect? Get it together Sebastian, you're beginning to act like a high school student that has a crush.

*****

I came back about half an hour later, with two boxes of pizza, one container full of disgusting onion rings, and four beers.

When I opened the door, Maya was nowhere to be found. I put everything on the table under the window and only then did he hear her from the bathroom.

"You did not." I heard a woman's familiar laugh. Julie.

"Oh yeah, I did." Maya laughed. "Right in the crotch. But he deserved it." I walked closer to the ajar door.

"I'm so proud of you, you can't even imagine."

"Stop it, I'm starting to blush." She changed her tone of voice to a flirtatious one.

"But you felt amazing, didn't you? You finally told him to his face."

"It was liberating." She breathed a sigh of relief. "Shit Julie, what kind of makeup did give me, it won't come off."

"Don't complain, Mimi."

"Julie." There was a warning in her voice.

"What? Sebastian can call you that. Why can't I?" She sounded offended.

"Because. Don't ask stupid questions."

I shouldn't listen to their conversation. I am not included in it. I reached for the handle to open the door and let her know I was there when Julie spoke again.

"Are you going to tell him?" At her words, I pulled my hand away from the handle.

Tell me what?

"What are you talking about?"

"Why did Abby think his name was Christian." She spoke a little more cautiously than before.

"Why should I? First of all, he didn't ask. Second of all, he has nothing to do with it. And lastly, I can't just walk up to him and say, 'hey Acker, remember when my new stepmother called you Christian? I'm sorry but you got me mistaken for my ex who passed away by the way. Good chat, would you like a beer?'''

I stood stunned in place, unable to say anything or at least move.

Maya has an ex who died?

Suddenly, a lot of things started to fit together.

"You're right, bad idea. But you know you're going to have to tell someone one day, right?"

"You know about it."

"Yeah, because I knew him, that's different. What about your brother? Maya, he was a big part of your life, it's changed you, you can't just erase it."

"Want to bet?" She said with humor in her voice.

"Maya..." Julie started.

"I know." She exhaled heavily. "It's not healthy."

"At least you're aware of it. But seriously, aren't you going to tell Sebastian?"

I shook everything out of my head when I heard my name.

"Again, why?"

"Isn't it obvious?" There was silence for a while, so I assume Maya was shaking her head. "Oh, you really don't know." She said in surprise. "Maya, that guy is into you."

I am not.

"He undresses you with a look when you're not looking." Okay, maybe I do that.

"Julie, most guys do that." Truth.

"He beat up Paul when he tried to take advantage of you. He brought you home, he stayed with you because of the stalker, he brought you food when you were on your period, and..."

"Hold on." She stopped her. "I never told you anything about period. Julie!"

"You're missing my point."

"Not really. You're wrong, I'm not his type." I regretted those words the moment I said them, but right now I hate them.

"Maya, my best friend, honey, love, my soul mate, you're everybody's type. Have you seen yourself?" I couldn't help but smile at her words.

Julie is absolutely right. Show me one person who wouldn't turn their head while walking past Maya and you will be lying to yourself.

"You're funny." Maya laughed. "But seriously, me and Acker? That's never going to happen."

"Was that disappointment what just crossed your face?" She poked her. "Maya, Sebastian is your type. And I mean 'guy from your dreams' type. It's like he set the type."

Oh really? My ego just went through the roof.

"You're exaggerating."

"Trust me, I'm not. I've known you forever."

"Few years." She mumbled under her breath.

"You're so alike it's scary. Why not give it a shot? I bet the sex..."

"I have a bad influence on you." She jumped into her speech.

"You found that out just now?" She laughed. "But seriously, why not try?"

Well mainly because she's Theo's little sister.

"Because he's my brother's best friend. That's why." As if she could read my mind. It is possible?

"You do realize you say that a lot, don't you? That's an obstacle you put yourself in there. Give me a real reason and we'll never talk about it again."

She was quiet. I could imagine her biting her lower lip while she tried to think. I could hear the wheels turning in her head.

"You see, you can't because..."

"Just let me think." She interrupted her, but after a moment of silence, she only exhaled heavily. "It's a bad idea, Julie. It would never work."

Wait, is Maya really thinking about this?

"Are you afraid because you might have feelings for him?" What?

"Now you're crossing the line, you know very well I can't." Can't? Not that she doesn't want to, but she can't. Why?

"Well, at least you get sex out of it. Is it that bad?"

"I really destroyed all that innocence in you, didn't I?"

"Stop." She laughed.

"And by the way, what was so important that you couldn't go to San José with me?" Julie fell silent at her question. "Julie?"

"I had a date." She almost whispered.

"What? With who?"

"It doesn't matter..."

"Yes, it does." She jumped into her speech. "Julie, why didn't you tell me anything?"

"It was a disaster, so it doesn't matter." She sounded sad and for some reason, I wanted to punch someone for making her sad. "And I don't feel like talking about it. Maybe later, okay?"

Maya took a deep breath before speaking. "Okay, I'm not going to push you into anything."

"Thank you, Maya."

"I should go, Acker will be back in a moment and..."

"You want to jump on him before he can close the door?" She finished for her, already sounding normal. "I can imagine you arguing during sex. It would be hot."

"Okay, we're done here. See you tomorrow." She said with a laugh and I heard her starting to move.

I quickly went to the front door, opened it, and closed it again.

She doesn't need to know that I heard a really big part of their conversation.

"Acker, is that you?" She shouted.

"Yeah, I brought food." I stood next to the boxes and waited for her to walk out the door.

"Oh, that's exactly what I need." She walked towards me and opened the top box where the onion rings were. When she moaned after eating one, I clenched my jaw. "What?" She frowned at me when she noticed how I was looking at her.

"Nothing." I swallowed hard and moved her box so I could pick out the pizza.

"Okay." She said in between eating another and looked at me suspiciously.

"So what's your plan for the remaining..." I looked at my phone, "hour?"

"Resting...I guess. Why?" She frowned.

"Just asking." If you happen to want to relax in another way, where my tongue would end up between your legs.

"Maybe I'll take a nap." She shrugged. "I'll see."

"Okay, okay...okay." I nodded.

"Okay, what's wrong with you?" She put the onion ring back in the box and dusted her hands.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"If it's because we behaved civilly today and weren't killing each other with stares, we can easily get back to it now." She put one hand on the table and the other on her hip.

Shit, why does she look hot even in a simple t-shirt and jeans?

"Earth to Acker." She waved her hand in front of my face. "Are u there?"

"I need to know." This caught her by surprise and suddenly she was not as relaxed as before.

"Know what?"

I took a step towards her. "If what happens in San José stays in San José."

"It matters...what are we talking about?" She unconsciously ran her tongue over her lips, which only made me take another step toward her, trapping her between the table and my body.

"Yes or no, Maya." I looked between her eyes and lips.

I don't know what I'm doing, but I don't really care at the moment. My brain can take time off, I don't need it.

"Acker." She almost whispered, her face so close I could feel her breath on my lips.

"Maya." I leaned towards her and her lips briefly touched mine. As if a little spark appeared in that exact place.

But it ended there.

We broke apart as the door swung open and someone burst in.

A woman, according to her figure, in a black hood. She quickly closed the door behind her and rested her forehead against it before exhaling.

I automatically pulled Maya by the hips, behind me. One hand remained on her hip while the other was in my fist.

"You have five seconds..." I started but stopped when she turned to us and threw the hood off her head. She picked out her short brown hair from under her sweatshirt, which she straightened. "Nyx?" I narrowed my eyes.

"Hi, Sebbie." She smiled at me, panting. "Nice to see you, how have you been?" She walked over to me and closed the blinds. "Oh, food." She opened the pizza box and took a slice. "Hmm. That's what I needed."

"Nyx, what the hell are you doing here?" I frowned.

"Um." With her mouth full, she tilted her head and looked behind me at Maya. "Work?"

"Jesus." I shook my head and dropped my hand from Maya. "Who's after you now?"

"Um, hello?" She nodded her head at Maya.

"Maya, this is Nyx." I moved a little to the left so she could see her and pointed at her. "Nyx, Maya, Theo's sister."

"Huh." She measured her with a glance. "I didn't know he had one. Are you as tense as your brother?" She raised an eyebrow.

Maya opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off. "Nyx, back on topic. What are you doing here?"

"Well, after your brother finally got his love back." She rolled her eyes. "There are still a few white snakes left who aren't happy that someone wiped them off the map. So I ended up here." She pointed around.

"How did you find me?"

"Sebbie, I can tell what porn you watched when you were fourteen. Don't underestimate me."

I heard Maya laugh behind me and gave her a stern look, at which she only raised her hands in a defensive gesture.

"Unfortunately, things didn't go according to my plan and now I have a problem."

"Are you kidding me?" I walked over to the window and pulled back the curtain enough to look around. "What were you thinking? Maya, pack up. Now."

"Um..." She began.

"Now." I raised my voice.

"Okay, Jesus." She walked over to the bed and threw the bag on it.

"You, with me." I grabbed Nyx's hand and started pulling her into the bathroom. I slammed the door behind us.

"Don't you think you're exaggerating a bit, I mean..."

"I don't know who's after you, but I don't give a shit. You put Maya in danger right now. What the fuck were you thinking?" I said pissed.

"Calm down big boy." She crossed her arms over her chest. "No one knows where I am. I lost them in the next town. And I didn't know you had company."

"Nyx..." I walked towards her.

"I just need a place to keep my head down for a while. Nothing will happen to you or your girlfriend."

"Maya is not my..."

"Oh, yes, it definitely looked like that." She snorted. "Close your blinds next time, will ya? Anyone could see you almost fucked on the table." I froze at her words. "But hey, I'm not judging." She shrugged.

"Jesus Christ." I ran my hands over my face.

This woman has always irritated me terribly, but now it's on another level.

Wherever Nyx goes, she brings chaos. Chaos, that can now hit Maya. As if we don't have enough on our plate.

"I promise nothing will happen. I was careful."

"Oh I'm sorry, but that does not comfort me." I breathed heavily.

"I'll leave as soon as possible. Maybe an hour, two, no more. Plus, your whole family owes me. This is the least you can do for me."

"We're going back to Seattle in a few. You can stay here." I leaned against the sink with my hands and butt. "But I swear to God, if anything happens to Maya, because of you, I will...."

"Oh please." She cut me off. "Save those threats for someone weaker than you. We both know I'd kill you before you tried anything." She leaned against the wall. "But nothing will happen. Stop worrying so much."

"I'm responsible for her." I pointed to the door. "If anything happens to her..."

"I get that." She pushed herself away from the wall. "Ackers and their rule that no one touches your family. You're getting annoying with it." She grabbed the handle and opened the door.

It had to be Nyx. She always chooses a good time to visit.

Her timing really couldn't have been worse.



Another chapter, why not right?

Nyx is back 🥳. Well, at least for a few chapters.

And for those who don't know Nyx, she a character from His assassin.