"Look at you, Thorne, all sharp and shit."
"Just part of the job," said Thorne, looking himself up and down in the full-length mirror in the operations room.
Noting how the tuxedo hung on his body, he couldn't help but think about how much he hated getting dressed up like this.
"Maybe this can be our new thing," said Mick, sticking his head in front of Thorne in front of the mirror and looking over his own formal outfit. "We can be the tuxedo mercs."
"Not a goddamn chance," said Jace. "Maybe you can pull it off in a tux, but I'm the one wearing a fucking full-length ball gown."
"It's a hell of a look," said Hoxson. "Makes me remember you're actually a woman."
"Fuck off," said Jace with a smirk.
Thorne wasn't in the mood for banter, however. The day of the Abruzzi gala had arrived before he knew, and now was the day that his job with Adelaide would come to a close. He'd hand her off to Cedric and the rest of the Abruzzi family, and hope to God they didn't suspect the child in her belly was his. He didn't even want to think about what would happen if he was found out.
But he put all that out of his head. All he cared about was making sure Adelaide got through the night safety. Whatever mercs had been after him knew better than to try anything at his headquarters, but the hall where the gala was being held was another matter. He knew that if whatever rival family was going to make a move, it'd be tonight.
"Where's the guest of honor?" said Corvo, adjusting his bowtie.
"Still getting ready," said Thorne.
He knew he needed to check up on her but seeing her on the night that he knew would be their last wasn't something he was looking forward to.
"Yo, Aurelius," said Mick. "You've been pretty fucking quiet tonight. Not looking forward to some hoity-toity elite dragon party?"
Aurelius stood leaning against the window looking out over the city, his arms crossed as he looked down in front of him at nothing in particular. He was dressed in a slim-fitting suit, his long, dark hair tied into a top-knot.
"Just eager to get this night over with," he said. "This op's been going on far too long; at this point, I just want to get paid."
"You and me both, man," said Hoxson, giving Aurelius a hearty slap on the back that he clearly didn't appreciate.
Thorne checked his watch and saw that the appointed time of the escort arriving was only a few minutes away. He knew it was time to check on Adelaide, but he wasn't looking forward to being alone with her, knowing it would only make the longing that currently gripped his heart all the more difficult to bear.
He gave the door of the bedroom where she'd been staying a knock and stepped it. Adelaide was there, standing in front of the mirror, dressed in the champagne-colored ball gown the Abruzzi had sent over. Her hair was up, giving him a full view of the lovely slope of her swan-like neck. The lighting in the room was soft, and Adelaide was perfectly in the frame of the window looking out onto the city behind her.
She looked so beautiful that Thorne could hardly stand it.
"It's about that time," he said.
Adelaide nodded.
"Then let's get this over with," she said.
Thorne's eyes flicked down to Adelaide's belly. Sure enough, the bump had grown slightly over the last few days.
"I see you're coming along," he said.
Adelaide placed her hands on the bump.
"I still can't believe this is happening to fast," she said. "I feel like I'm in a dream."
Thorne felt the same way. He didn't want to think about the fact that he was giving away both his love and his child in the same night, but he knew that he didn't have another option. He'd played with fire by falling for Adelaide, and now the best he could hope for was that they'd both get through the night without being found out. And this was hardly a certain prospect.
Before he could say another word, his phone buzzed in his pocket, letting him know that their ride was here.
"Let's do this," he said.
Adelaide walked over to him, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and looked deep into his eyes. At that moment, Thorne felt gripped by her beauty. Part of him wanted to damn the consequences, take her out of the city, and make a run for it.
But he knew what needed to be done.
They kissed slowly, both of them knowing that this very well could be the last time.
"Let's go," he said.
The group made their way outside where that same massive Humvee awaited them. After a brief drive, they arrived at the grand hall where the gala was already underway. The space was an elegant hall in the Upper West Side already packed full of the elite of the New York dragon society. Thorne scanned the crowd as he entered, noting that just about anyone who was anyone was there.
Before he and the rest of this crew could get their bearings, Harold and Marion Abruzzi, both dressed in expensive formalwear, approached them with beaming expressions on their faces.
"There they are," said Harold. "The day has finally arrived, and I couldn't be happier."
Harold gave Adelaide a kiss on the cheek before embracing her in a tight hug.
"Harold," said Thorne, giving the man a quick nod.
"Where's the lucky kid?" said Corvo, looking the gala over.
"Cedric is getting ready," said Marion. "We'll be presenting him and this lovely young thing together. So, let's get her out of here before we spoil the sight of the couple together for the first time."
With that, Marion grabbed Adelaide by the wrist and pulled her away from the group. Thorne made eye contact with Adelaide one last time before she vanished into a nearby crowd. He knew this might just have been one of the last times he'd see her.
"Well!” said Harold. "That appears to be the end of all that. I'd like to thank you all for your wonderful service. I think I just might include a little bonus for all your hard work. Along with some recommendations to some of my other close associates."
The crew shared pleased looks, but Thorne remained stoic.
"Not calling it a finished op until the night's over with," he said. "We got through the last week, but that doesn't mean whoever's got their eye on Adelaide isn't still planning on making a move."
"Oh, don't be such a little worry-wart," said Harold, clapping his hand onto Thorne's shoulder. "Enjoy the evening. Have a drink. Take in the music. Go for a dance with one of the lovely young women in attendance. You've earned it."
With that, Harold stepped off into the crowd.
"Maybe he's right, boss," said Mick. "Maybe we can finally chill out after being on edge for the last couple of weeks."
"Not a chance," said Thorne. "I want you all to stay frosty. You all packing?"
"Yep," said Hoxson. "As always."
"Good, because I've got a bad fucking feeling about all this shit. I want all of you to take up perimeter around the hall, with Jace getting high up in case we need some precision shots."
"Damn, boss," said Jace. "You're not screwing around."
Thorne wasn't about to ignore the feeling of dread forming in his gut.
"Get to it."
The crew headed off, and Thorne strode into the center of the hall. His eyes flicked around the doors, noting that guards were posted here and there. And above him was a grand rotunda of glass that afforded a view of the night sky above.
Something about all of this struck him as off, and he was going to get to the bottom of what it was.
He spent the next half-hour casing the joint, checking in with his team to make sure that nothing was out of the ordinary.
"Come in, crew," he said, speaking into his earpiece.
"Jace here; no sign of anything."
"Hoxson here. Same."
"Aside from a few dragons who can't handle their booze," said Corvo, "nothing to report."
"All's good here, boss," said Mick.
Thorne shook his head, wondering if this gut feeling was nothing more than his anger at losing Adelaide, giving her up just like that.
"Wait a minute," he said. "Where's Aurelius?"
He hadn't heard a word from the last member of his crew since the split up.
"Aurelius, check in," said Thorne.
Nothing on the comms.
"You guys seen him?"
"Nope," said Corvo. "Neither hide nor hair."
Tension formed in Thorne's gut. He knew this wasn't right at all. But before he could say another word or even move an inch, the orchestra began playing an upbeat, grand tune that captured the attention of everyone in the hall. At the top of the dual spiral staircases, Harold and Marion Abruzzi emerged from a tall set of doors and stood at the edge of the balcony overlooking the hall.
"First of all," he started, his voice carrying through the place as the music died down and all eyes turned to him, "I would like to say what an honor it is to see all of you here tonight. This occasion is nothing short of the dreams of this family come true, and to have such company is truly a blessing.
"And-"
But before he spoke another word, he stopped. Then, he raised his hand and turned his head away slightly.
"You know what? I had a grand speech planned and all that, but if you ask me, this day has been too long in the making. So, let's get right to it, shall we?"
He turned toward the two large doors flanking the large set of doors that he and Marion entered from.
"Allow me to present to you all, the future of the Abruzzi family: my son Cedric, and his lovely bride-to-be, Adelaide!"
The band picked up again as the doors opened slowly.
"Can you believe he's wedding his scion to a human?"
"Simply unbelievable."
"And we're meant to praise this or some such."
The voices of complaint sounded out all around Thorne. All he cared about, however, was the sense of dread that continued to grow in his belly. His eyes fixed on the just-opened doors, and soon the figures of Adelaide appeared in one and Cedric in the other. The music swelled to a triumphant crescendo as the two approached the center of the balcony. Once they arrived, Harold and Marion took the hands of the two of them and raised them up.
"Simply marvelous!" said Harold, his moment of victory at hand.
Or so he thought.
Before he could say another word, a low thud sounded out from the rotunda above. The first noise was ignored, but when the second sounded, followed by the tinny cracking of glass, the eyes of everyone in attendance shot upwards.
Thorne looked up as well and couldn't believe what he saw: on the rotunda were the forms of three dragons, each preparing to smash through the glass.
"Get out of the way!" Thorne shouted, hurrying out from under the rotunda.
A split-second later, the glass gave way with a deafening crash. Enormous shards came crashing to the ground, and Thorne only barely managed to get to cover. Once the rotunda had been broken through, three dragons swooped in from the night sky above, taking places in the hall.
Members of the crowd fled in a mad panic, and Thorne scanned the scene with eager eyes, knowing that the attack he'd anticipated had come.
And something else he noticed: one of the dragons was a gleaming, almost chrome silver.
That can't fucking be, he thought, preparing for a fight.
The silver dragon landed on the second floor near the Abruzzi family and Adelaide. As he did, another trio of gray dragons flew in through the smashed ceiling and landed among the crowd.
Fuck, fuck, thought Thorne.
"Boss, what the fuck!" shouted Corvo through the comms.
"Just stay put!" responded Thorne. "Don't do anything stupid!"
"Just what the hell is going on here?" demanded Harold, stepping up to the feet of the silver dragon, not appearing to fear the beast one bit.
Then the silver dragon shifted, a pair of grays flying to his sides. As the silver assumed human form, Thorne narrowed his eyes in anger as he realized just who it was.
Aurelius, his own man.
"Not a move, Abruzzi," he said, a smirk on his face that Thorne could spot even from the distance he stood.
But Harold wasn't in a mood to listen.
"You!" he shouted, recognizing Aurelius as a member of the Silver Talons. "Just what…the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"It's simple," said Aurelius, a smug grin on his pretty features. "I have a client who outbid you for the girl, and I'm going to take her with me. You didn't think that you were the only dragon in this city who knew about her and wanted her for themselves, did you?"
Thorne's eyes shot to Adelaide, who watched the scene in horror.
"Boss, what's the move?" said Jace, her voice frantic.
"Hold for now," said Thorne.
"You've just made the mistake of your life, you little shit!" hissed Harold. "You and whoever it is you're working for will pay dearly for this!"
Thorne scanned the room, quickly taking count of the dragons there. Along with Aurelius, he counted six in total. Nothing he and his crew couldn't take, but not if it meant risking Adelaide in the process.
"Hmm," said Aurelius, crossing his arms under this chest and tossing his loose, black hair over his shoulder. "Does that mean that you're not planning on cooperating?"
Harold strode right up to Aurelius until he was mere inches from his face.
"That's precisely what it means. You're a dead man!"
"Sorry to hear that," said Aurelius.
Then, nearly instantly, he shifted to his dragon form. He loomed over the Abruzzi for a moment, scanning them with his piercing blue eyes, which were now narrowing in a scheming expression.
Thorne realized instantly what was about to happen.
Aurelius tilted his head back, opened his mouth, and shot out a titanic burst of blue flame over the stage where the Abruzzi stood. The flame consumed Harold and Marion immediately, and with a slight turn of his head, Aurelius pointed the flame at Cedric, who was burned alive before he had a chance to react. When the flame subsided, leaving behind the scorched remains of the Abruzzi family, Thorne knew that the time for standing aside was over. Once he confirmed that Adelaide was still alive, he barked out a command to his crew.
"Now!" he shouted. "Take them out before he leaves with her!"
From their positions around the hall, the members of the Silver Talons shifted into their dragon forms. Within seconds, the crew took off, each of them making their way toward the nearest gray dragon. Soon, they were all in the midst of a fearsome battle.
"I was wondering how long this would take," said Aurelius, his dragon voice deep and resonant. "Thorne, where are you?"
Thorne quickly shifted into his dragon form and took flight, landing on the balcony just beside Aurelius.
"Explain yourself, Aurelius!" shouted Thorne, one eye on Adelaide.
"Thorne!" shouted Adelaide, rushing toward where Thorne stood.
Before she could reach him, however, Aurelius shot out his claw with lightning speed, snatching Adelaide up and holding her in the air. She screamed frantically as Aurelius held her aloft, and Thorne froze in place.
"I don't need to explain a damn thing to you," said Aurelius. "I've killed the Abruzzi, I've taken the girl, and now I hold all of the cards."
"What is this about?" demanded Thorne, his mighty heart pounding. "Money?"
Aurelius snorted dismissively.
"You think I would go to all of this trouble for money?" he asked. "I have money; you know who my family is."
"Then what?"
"An opportunity to get out from under your wing, so to speak. My clients offered me command of their personal guard should I be able to bring them the girl without a scratch. Such a role is much more fitting of my skills than taking commands from some low-born dragon like yourself."
Then he turned his gaze to Adelaide, who continued to wriggle in his grasp.
"Such a valuable thing for a being so fragile," he said. "All it would take is one…little…squeeze. Then, pop! Gone. All that ancient blood splattered on my feet."
"Don't you fucking dare," said Thorne. "I'd take you apart."
"Save the machismo," said Aurelius. "This thing is too valuable for me to do something like that. But still, knowing the power that I hold in my grasp…it's certainly something else."
Thorne stared him down for a long moment.
"Now, here's what's going to happen," said Aurelius. "I'm going to take her out of here. And if I see a single member of this fucking crew following after me, then I just might have second thoughts about finishing my job. Perhaps I'll give her a little free fall from thousands of feet above the city while you watch."
"You won't get away with this, you fuck," snarled Thorne.
"Watch me," said Aurelius.
Then, with a mighty buffet of his wings, Aurelius lifted into the air, Adelaide screaming in terror all the while. He flew up, through the shattered rotunda, disappearing into the night sky.
Thorne whipped around, watching the rest of the grays, who were still in the midst of combat with the Silver Talons, preparing to make their escape.
Not so fucking fast, he thought.
With incredible speed, Thorne lifted up and flew around the hall moving from one gray to the next and snapping their necks, one by one. Not a single gray escaped, and by the time Thorne was done, the corpses of the dragons lay limply here and there.
He then shifted back into his human form as his crew gathered at his side, his eyes on the ink-black sky visible through the shattered glass above.