Everything was going smoothly and Amelia loved it. She loved that every single part of the party was going well, and she absolutely loved to be in every detail. That’s why she was standing there, glass of champagne in one hand and her sight surrounding the place and while she was doing that, an initial shock passed through her body when she saw her. Approaching towards her, she grabbed another glass of champagne and handed it to her. “Sofia...what brings you here?”
“I don’t know Sof...I might have been a bitch and a really bad person because on this life everything that was precious to me was taken away. And I’m tired. And afraid. My memories are a reminder of how good life was...I clearly am paying for something I did in my previous ones.”
Lately Nix was having a hard time wrapping his head around what his life had become. A few short weeks ago everything had been so incredibly simple. He spent his time quietly running the speakeasy that he invested so much in, watching as people with different and clashing affiliations passed through. He'd talk to a few of them, the ones he considered himself semi-close with, here and there, but it was never anything more than a bit of friendly banter, small talk. Quick, simple, and enough to keep up appearances. Getting involved in their affairs wasn't something that interested the twenty-seven year old man, the most he tied himself to any one of them was by the deal he had going with his friend, Vincent, to supply the Mockingbird's alcohol. It was a business arrangement, kept hush, to assure the success of his establishment. The only thing he owed the Vitollos was money, nothing more and nothing less, and he planned to keep it that way.
Beyond that there was only one other person that Nix considered himself close with, one other thing that occupied his time, and that was Sofia Castiglione. She frequented his establishment, looking as gorgeous as ever each time, and one night he decided that he couldn't keep himself from her any longer. The possibility of shooing away good business be damned. The girl was incredibly tempting as she sat at his bar, all he needed was one night with her and then he'd move onto the next as he did with so many others. Or so he told himself.
Sofia wasn't complicated, which was most likely the reason that Nix was able to get along with her so well. She knew as well as he did that their relationship was about booze and sex, they gave each other what the other needed with no questions asked. With a few playful words in-between the two of them had an arrangement the other couldn't deny. If he was having a rough day and he couldn't pull someone from his place of work, he turned to Sofia, if she needed an extra drink or two after last call, he provided it. Was it healthy? No, not in the least. But he couldn't find it in him to care.
The one time that Sofia hadn't been around when he needed her on that Sunday afternoon, had been the time that caused this domino effect in his life. Instead of going home frustrated and dealing with his issues by other means, he stumbled across the youngest of the Cohen sons who made him an offer that he couldn't decline given the state his mind had been in. Now Gale Cohen, who he flirted with more than he probably should have, cared about more than he'd like to admit, was living at his place while he recovered from nearly being beaten to death. By who, the eighteen year old refused to say, but Nix could tell that it was much bigger than he was letting on and it made him incredibly uneasy.
Which is why, Nix figured, he ended up making his way over to Sofia's place, in search of something that was less complicated than what was waiting for him back at home. A couple hours, maybe more, with her to clear his head, that's all he needed and he'd be fine. Or so he kept telling himself. With a deep breath, and quick roll of his neck, he brought his hand up to push the button to buzz her apartment.
