Chapter 12: After Lights Out

It was 22:30. The neighborhood was quiet, and most lights had been turned off.

Through the cracked window beside his bed, Lucian could hear the occasional bark of a dog or the distant sound of a car passing by, but nothing else. The city had gone still.

Lucian lay on his back, staring at the stained ceiling, feeling the slight pull of fatigue but ignoring it.

He turned to his phone again. The time hadn't changed much. He had been watching the minutes pass for almost an hour now. Everyone else in the house was asleep.

He sat up and reached for the clothes he had placed earlier. A black hoodie, dark jeans, and clean but worn shoes.

He dressed in silence, taking care not to step on the creaky floorboards. His goal wasn't to train or waste time tonight.

He had already made up his mind, he was going to visit the address Diego gave him.

Waiting for tomorrow didn't feel right. The more he sat around doing nothing, the more the anxiety built.

Lucian walked to the window and pulled the curtain slightly to the side. The street was empty.

He pushed the window open slowly. It creaked faintly, but nothing loud enough to cause concern.

He slid his leg through, then the other, crouching a bit as he landed in the patchy backyard. The air was cool, but not cold. His hoodie was enough.

He stood still for a moment, looking back at the house. A part of him felt wrong for sneaking out, but it wasn't guilt.

It was the thought of Scarlett waking up and realizing he was gone.

He didn't want her worrying, but if he had told her, she wouldn't have let him leave.

Lucian made his way to the back gate, careful not to step on the gravel.

He kept his head low, listening closely for any sign of Jamie waking up or the front door opening. Nothing happened.

He opened the gate and stepped out into the street.

He didn't take his phone out or put on earphones. He needed to stay alert.

He didn't know what kind of neighborhood this Crystal woman lived in, or who she was connected to.

All he had was a name, an address, and a warning to never mention the deal.

Lucian adjusted his hoodie, shoved his hands into his pockets, and started walking.

If this woman could help him make money, he would listen. If not, he'd keep moving.

What mattered now was that he wasn't sitting at home doing nothing.

He had no plan, no criminal experience, and no backup. But he had one lead. And that was more than he had yesterday.

Lucian had walked a long way, but he never stopped to rest. He didn't feel tired.

At one point, he paused, not because he needed a break, but to check if his breathing had changed. It hadn't.

The streets were quiet, lit by scattered lamps that hummed faintly above.

He stayed on the sidewalk, walking with his hands in his pockets. Up ahead, a woman was walking alone on the same path.

He glanced at the time on his phone. It was late. He didn't want to waste any more of it.

As he got closer, he noticed the woman glance over her shoulder. A second later, she picked up her pace.

Lucian did the same without thinking, more focused on reaching the address than anything else.

The woman looked back again, clearly anxious.

Lucian frowned. That's when he noticed the building he was looking for, it was across the street.

Just as he stepped toward the edge of the road, the woman darted into the street ahead of him, crossing without hesitation.

He stopped, confused. She looked over her shoulder again, spotted him still walking her way, and broke into a run.

Lucian raised an eyebrow, unsure what just happened. Maybe she thought he was following her.

He shook his head and crossed the street calmly. The pawn shop was right there, the only building with its lights still on at this hour.

A flickering sign buzzed above the door. The front windows were barred, and the inside looked cluttered.

He double-checked the address. This was the place.

Lucian stepped toward the store, checking his surroundings. The street was quiet. He didn't see anyone nearby.

He reached for the door and pushed it open. A small bell above it rang, catching his attention. He glanced up at the sound, then stepped inside.

The air was cool and clean. The scent of fresh flowers hit him immediately. He blinked. This wasn't what he expected.

Soft instrumental music played somewhere in the background. The shop was filled with potted plants, floral arrangements, and neat rows of vases on wooden shelves.

It was a flower shop, not the kind of place he thought someone like his father's contact would run.

Lucian walked slowly, turning his head as he took everything in. The shop felt peaceful, almost too peaceful.

Then he stopped.

Behind the counter, a woman stood watching him. She didn't speak right away. Her posture was relaxed, but her gaze was sharp.

"This is the first time I've seen someone that impressed with my store," she said.

Lucian looked at her directly. She was calm, but there was something in her eyes that made him feel tense. It wasn't fear. It was instinct. Something about her told him not to mess around.

He didn't reply. He just nodded once, keeping his hands still at his sides.