Chapter 2

She had no clue what her mother had in store for her with this silly little mission. She was of more use to her than just a meer kidnapper. She had been known by many names with her line of work, marksmen, assassin, thief, even a terrorist. Okay, mostly as a terrorist. But a kidnapper? Not something you'd like to brag to the kids back at the spot.

But with a sigh and a shove, here she is over a thousand miles on her brand new mustang just a day later in the big easy. A place she wasn't overly fond of with their constant mutant hate crimes and the silly way it sickeningly reminded her of her home sweet home. But mother must know best and she always does want mother says.

The toll the ride had on her was enough to put some to bed, but she was never the one to waste what little sun the good lord dished out and she wasn't about to break that now. With a fist full of the cheapest and largest cup of coffee in one hand and a dialing phone in the other she made her way out of the parking garage. She spotted the closest wifi hotspot and hustled in as neatly as she could.

"How's the bayou this time of year?" Avalanche joked as she itched the sweat from under her turtleneck. She had told the Grecian of her problem with being in hot areas in the summer time.

"As to be expected." She wasn't in a playful mood at all. The sooner this mission was over the better. The minute she arrived she had started a countdown to get the hell out.

"What, no welcoming committee for you? After all were you not from there?" He asked with a chuckle. But she knew he was more so genuinely asking.

"Close enough." She squinted around the small grill and bar she found affectionately called Donna's and looked for the nearest booth. "Get her on the line." She heard the sigh followed by the sounds of fumbling hands before hearing the voice she knew too well.

"You get to Lafitte or has all my voicemails been in vain?" She didn't even bother with a hello. Not that Rogue had expected it.

"You said New Orleans yesterday!" She exclaimed gaining the eyes of more than she was proud of.

"I said NEAR New Orleans. I knew I KNEW I shouldn't of trusted this mission to you. You half ass everything." She lectured herself never failing to make Rogue feel every bit smaller bit by bit.

"I got it, just forget about okay. I'll call when I got em." She hung up before Raven could finish her point. Luckily her wifi had just kicked into the laptop she pulled out and Lafitte was only an hour away from Google's opinion. She'd leave after lunch.

Her target was at least worthy of her time from the wrap up sheet Raven got from the embassy she was in: Hundreds of cases of master minding and over a thousand known robberies. He was a Con artist of the highest reputation. With Gambit as a pet name and a playing card for a trade mark he was all but set for his own autobiography from the looks of his accomplishments.

From the sound of it all she knew his weakness already, a man with an reputation as big as his also came equipped with a massive ego from her experience. She had already fetched a silly image of a Samson a story being played out.

She was well past uncomfortable by the time she made it back to her car. Her hair sticking and her feet slipping in her shoes. Her heavy layering now being her own hell. She quickly grabbed her bag and made a rushed job of changing to her street clothes she had put as a last resort should the heat get to her. She was just hoping she wouldn't have to get them out so soon. The feeling of her bare legs out and about for all the world to see was something she could never get use to. But the tank top that came with the daisy dukes was as if putting on an ice pack.

Her phone beeped six times by the time she got on the highway to Lafitte. She finally just shut the damned thing off and turned the radio back up. Reminding her of at least one thing she missed of her past. The amazing jazz channels 24/7. Nothing like a good radio station that played Louie all day everyday.

She felt like crying by the time "Cheek to Cheek" neared its last line. Her nerves shot and her eyes droopy as she neared the only gas station in Lafitte. She had an impression that Lafitte was a true town but now looking around her she got an overly secure idea that it was actually just a place full of houses wanting the nearness of the big city without the noisy neighbors of a night. The whole place consisting of one gas station and the puniest sub place if she's ever seen one.

She got out of the car and did her best to keep her limb close to her as she grabbed herself the next best thing to coffee she could find. She smiled however the minute the beautiful sight of a six gallon jug pleasantly labeled SWEET TEA on the counter next to the coke dispensers. She'd buy the whole jug had she had the time. She opted for two larges for the moment and walked to the counter.

"You new here?" The gas attendant asked as she popped her gum well past the necessary amount. Evidently no one came this way without having a residency badge.

"Got an aunt up the road. Just stopping by." She muttered trying not to show her timid hands as she handed the bills over. Even in tight lace gloves she found herself paranoid.

"And who be this aunt o' yours?" She turned to see the shady man in the back grabbing a case of millers. His trench hiding most of his face. She could only imagine how the weather must make that thing feel of a day.

"Miss Doris down the corner. She don't speak to me much." She spoke up before swiftly slipping out the place before he had any more time to ask another noisy question.

She looked down at her phone as the new text message flashed onto the screen. Raven was informing her of the house she'd be staying in. She frowned at the address. It was back in New Orleans.

"You lost Cherie?" She snapped her head up as she sensed the nearness of the person. She made a note of his matching leather trench.

"No?" She stammered as she tried to get her wits back from the startling stranger. His outfits being so similar to the man inside the gas station their hair being the most distinct difference, His more of a blondish brass whereas the others was going bald.

"You should pretty sure bout that." He teased showing his pearly whites in his own sarcasm. Her mind flashing warning signs as she sensed his wandering hands. He was a thief.

"You put a finger on my person and I swear-"

"Etienne Leave de petite to herself. She just be lost." She snapped her gaze to the new voice. Was it a dress code to wear leather or was this some biker gang? She quickly slipped into her car the moment Etienne lost his focus on her. She checked for her wallet before gunning her way back on the highway back to New Orleans.

Maybe an early night's sleep wouldn't be as bad as she thought.