Astraea

"Finally," An older man who is probably in his late sixties said with a proud smile. "I've been telling you for years to put up your own Bail Enforcement Agency and you are always reluctant to listen."

Lorcan sighed heavily. "I am still reluctant," He replied, making the old man chuckled.

"So what made you decide?" He asked. The old man used to work under law enforcement and had known Lorcan ever since he started bounty hunting. He also knows about his nieces who are in the profession as well. There are a lot of Bail Enforcement Agency who were trying to get Lorcan Under their wing seeing how competent he is but no one ever convinced him.

Lorcan always preferred to work independently but that doesn't make him less popular among the bondsmen and law enforcement. They had known him to be one of the best when it comes to investigating, researching, and getting information through persuasion and intimidation since Lorcan has always been an intimidating man whoever he is talking to.

When it comes to staking out the location and tracking people he never fails. He excelled in his profession with his resourcefulness, intelligence, and perseverance.

Lorcan replied with silence.

The old man shook his head. "Is it because of your nieces?" Lorcan remained silent as his gaze was in the dense forest in front of him that is covered by darkness. Earlier that night, he called his old friend wanting to meet him. As soon as he reached their rendezvous which is in a secluded bar at the edge of the mountain, the old man ordered a drink for the two of them. Which the old man was sure Lorcan needed right now.

"You of all people should know what your nieces are capable of. You trained them yourself. You watch them grow in this business. They have the same blood as you. Ruthless, fearless, smart, goal-oriented, and well-grounded."

Lorcan scoffs because he knows very well that it is not just that. His nieces were also stubborn, careless, and hot-headed.

"Why are you suddenly so worried about them? You were not like that before," The old man asked, then he drank from the bottle of beer on his hand before he placed it back into the table. His legs are crossed as he puts his hands on top of his knees.

"You heard about what happened to Ainsley?" Lorcan asked not looking at the old man. Ainsley is a veteran bounty hunter who was already preparing to retire. But when he heard that one of the criminals he apprehended before escaped the maximum-security prison, he promised to bring him back to where he belonged.

Little did he know that he was the very reason why the man escaped. To take revenge. Ainsley didn't have to look for him because the man searched for him instead and put a bullet in his head. Until now, the man is still on the run.

"Ah, that man! Everyone has seen that coming to him. It is not just me who advised him to keep his mouth shut once in a while. He is known to have a foul mouth. Offending every person he passed by even me! No wonder one of the fugitives he apprehended before got pissed and shut him permanently. It was not a surprise." The old man said then he looked in Lorcan's direction.

"Don't tell me you are worried the same will happen to you?" The old man asked with an amused smile. "You and Ainsley are polar opposites. You are the most prudent person I know in this business. No such thing as that will befall you."

"I'm not worried about me Addington, I'm worried about them," Lorcan said, finally looking at his old friend then he picked up his bottle of beer that he refused the drink earlier because it was too cold to his liking. He doesn't doubt his nieces' skills and capabilities, just like what Addington said, he trained them and watched them grow in this business. But one cannot deny the fact that their job is a dangerous one, it could take your life. And it is his nieces that they are talking about. And the fact that he helped in getting them involved in this business is making him guilty especially that he did that behind his brother.

His old friend will never understand his predicaments.

Addington chuckled and shook his head looking at Lorcan as he opened his third bottle of beer. "You are worrying for nothing. Have you heard about Bell's last hunt? He apprehended Chaol without any casualties but she left quite a mess in his gang's hideout." He heard the news from a friend earlier before he went to meet Lorcan.

Lorcan frowned because he hadn't heard about that yet. He knows that Bell was supposed to return today for that hunt but he hasn't got the time to check out on her.

"She left the place with four of them broke their faces, four with bullets in their shoulders and legs and two electrocuted. One almost had a heart attack. She must be a bloodthirsty one but she had never injured her target. And she never lays her hand on those that don't deserve it. You know that." Addington tilted his head and raised a brow at Lorcan to prove his point.

Lorcan sighed exasperatedly and brushed his hair with his finger. Bell's hot-headedness is actually what worries him. He is worried that one day it will all come back at her just like what happened to Ainsley. Though Bell did not offend anyone with her words, she beat them and possibly permanently injured them.

And not to mention the twins' carelessness that Addington might have not heard yet. "You know what, put them all under your wing and let them work as a team. And let them look after themselves while under your supervision."

Lorcan didn't say anything and just finished his fourth bottle of beer. Because it is what he was planning after all. If he put his nieces under his Bail Enforcement Agency, then he can monitor their every hunt. He knows that he cannot stop them from hunting so he would just look after them.

"You were already acting that way towards your nieces, I cannot imagine how you would react if it was your own child. When are you planning to settle down, Lorcan?"

But Addington didn't give Lorcan a chance to respond before he asked him again. "How's Lydia by the way?" He asked as if the questions were related to the previous one.

Lorcan tensed hearing the name knowing what his old friend is insinuating.

"Busy, I guess." He simply replied.

Lydia is the only girl aside from his nieces that could be seen around and close to Lorcan. There were speculations about his relation to the girl but to Lorcan, she is just a friend but to Addington who knows Lorcan very well, she could be more than that.

Addington clicked his tongue. "Always working too hard," Then he stood up and walked towards the railing of the balcony.

"Some old pal will be coming, you should stay and catch up with them," Addington said waving his hand to the waitress, planning to order more bottles of beer.