((Please see the OOC Thread for details regarding this plot and guidelines for joining))

Nick felt sick to his stomach. One would think he would be used to it by now; though it all becomes so very convoluted when you’re forced to improvise.

He carefully wiped the blood clean from the edge of the spade, the dark crimson rivulets standing out like crawling vines against the backdrop of his black leather gloves. The mark, an older gentleman who was clearly at the end of his miserable life, lay as a cast off rag doll perched in his rose bushes.

Nick’s hands shook as he slipped the poor gardener’s demise into a plastic zip lock bag. It wouldn’t be long before his widow would be back from her morning tea with the sweet old ladies from up the street only to find what appeared to be a long marriage viciously taken from her. It is a clear sign that it’s time to quit when the guilt starts eating away at your conscious.

But what did he have left of a conscious, Nick thought to himself. He came here with such lofty ideals, with dreams of carving for himself a better, peaceful life. Instead, the cruel vestiges of the Balkans had followed him across the oceans and brought with them his blood-soaked destiny.

Nick strolled through the cottage-like mansion of the lately deceased; his mind lost in a spring many years gone. Slowly he started peeling his gloves from his trembling fingers, slipping their soiled remnants in plastic coffins of their own. He made his way to the rear, to where he remembered the keys hung to the stately Lincoln parked in the garage. And that is where it all stopped.

Her lips quivered, he wrinkled face grew pale as Death itself. Two for the price of one it seemed. And so the last piece of his soul died.

The streets were definitely busier today than most, more than likely the fact that the weekend was only hours away had something to do with it and the very notion that summer sat just around the corner was a guilty reason as well.

Lara stared out her 44th floor window, intricately placed in the clear glassed high rise and took in the barrage of pedestrians that came and went in the late afternoon hour. The sun has just barely begun to lower itself to the west and were it not for the tall buildings that surrounded her she’d probably be getting blinded right about now by its rays.

“Anything exciting happening out there?” an endearing yet sarcastic voice entered in from the doorway.

Lara smiled, “Probably, but being 40 floors up, I’m pretty much out of the loop if there is.” She turned her head and gave a welcoming wink, then questioned, “What sort of jobs do you suppose those people have, that they get to be off at 3 on Friday afternoon and here we are stuck in this office til 5?”

She shifted her weight and moved her toned form back to her desk, straightening her skirt before taking a seat and crossing her legs in her black leather chair.

“Well that’s easy. The people down there have jobs that are putting them on the path to having jobs like us. But in the meantime, they read fascinating accounts of people like us, in jobs such as this, through the fabulous articles that you write.” He paused before sitting across from her, “It’s a vicious circle really.”

Lara let a small laugh leave her lips and as the two continued with their small talk about the latest office comings and goings, she made the decision that had been weighing on her mind for the past week or so. It had been too long since she had taken some time for herself and with spring in the air and summer ready to rear its chaotic head, she figured now would be much better than later.

“Seriously? Two weeks? Are you sure about this? I mean not that you don’t deserve it, hell you deserve two months but it’s just so…well, not you.” He gave an apathetic half smile.

“I know, and that’s precisely why I ‘m doing it or quite possible the next time I’ll be threatening to jump out that window, rather than just longingly look out it.” Lara gave a sly smile and relaxed her slender frame back into the chair.

“Let’s go already.” Derrick could be such a pest when he tried. Granted, he tried too hard at just about everything, so he managed to get pretty deep under Nick’s skin. Even though it had been nearly a year since he last accepted a mark, there were times he dreamed one would come to just take out the whole building. And he would save Derrick for last.

“You always do this... gosh…” Derrick moaned, leaning up with his back against the drafting table, arching it just so and touching his forehead with the back of his hand as he swooned. Nick scratched his head with a mechanical pencil, tangling his short black curls around the narrow shaft. It was Friday - in fact, it was actually closer to Saturday - but unlike his colleagues, Nick didn’t live for the weekend. Monday through Friday was his escape, his world away from the reality he silently endured. Coming home to no-one doesn’t hurt as much when all you can think of is sleep. And at least in his sleep there was still hope for his tormented soul - only in his dreams nothing had to make sense.

“You can be such a drag...” Nick mumbled, closing his portfolio folder and putting up his instruments. The weekends are an eternity long when all you have is your memories as company. His only solution came through self-indulgence, a 48-hour binge of every natural vice imaginable. It made it easier to forget until Monday morning when he could again start living what he tried to call his normal life.

”Oh, but you wouldn’t want me any other way.” Derrick cooed, resting his elbows on the table and his face in cupped hands. Nick crumpled up a sheet of scratch paper and tossed it at his associate. Don’t ask, don’t tell: it worked well for the two of them. They both had their secrets - although some were less guarded than others were - and they could accept that without question.

Derrick laughed as he batted the paper away and sauntered off over towards the door, grabbing his suit jacket and tossing it over his mauve covered shoulder. “I’ll go get the car so long, move your ass already...”

Nick acknowledged him with a flick of the finger, almost in salute, as he finished packing his briefcase. Just to forget, he reassured himself, straightening his patterned red tie and slipping on his pinstriped jacket. It was all just to forget.

As the cab continued down the avenue, Lara finished texting her colleagues that, ‘Yes’ she was on her way and that she would search them out once she got inside the bar. Honestly, they were lucky that she had even agreed to come for the night at all, it was the start of her two week vacation after all and she could have just as easily been packing her bags for her plane on Sunday. But, amazingly, coworkers were especially good about making one feel that the workforce owed them all a night out and it wasn’t just a night to drink but an evening to celebrate the victory of surviving another week in corporate hell.

Lara gave a small laugh as she stared out the car window watching the neons of the night come alive, remembering Ally’s excitement at her agreement to come out for a few drinks with them before she started her break.

“Ah to be 25 again.� She had said.

The cab came to a stop outside the club, ‘The Hill’, a swanky, uptown establishment that catered to the 20 & 30 somethings of the city. A place for the ‘up and comers’ could mingled with the ‘been there and made it’ crowd but harmoniously have a relaxing time.

Lara paid the cabby and stepped out into the warm evening air. You could definitely tell that summer was on its way just by the temperature at night now. She hadn’t bothered to go home and change, she simply left her suit coat at the office and grabbed the cropped, soft leather jacket that hung on her coat rack for instances just as this. Beneath the stylish coat she wore a lace trimmed, azure hued camisole, that in most cases one would assume was a piece of lingerie but Lara fantastically made it seem completely nightclub appropriate. Her black, form fitting, pencil skirt made her legs seem to go on for miles and the semi-high heeled shoes didn’t hurt either.

As she entered the bar and her lightly curled auburn locks were caught by the breeze that the indoor, outdoor transfer created she was immediately relaxed by the warm, rich amber tones that dominated the soaring ground floor, which boasted a long bar and seating area.

Indeed she agreed to herself, that it had been too long since she had had a good night out and upon seeing her crew off in a distant corner she figured tonight might yet be one heck of a good night. After all, she was on vacation.

The music was mellow, almost bluesish. The boys had set themselves up across the way in a corner booth, Nick having strategically staked the center bend, sitting as if at the head of the table, his arms stretched out to either side of the bench back. Derrick was blabbing up a storm to his right, Marcus took his left flank, a vivacious red head, leaning over the table and pretending to be interested in the mundane monologue commencing. And Aaron, tall and lean, completed this quartet; Nick liked him most – he kept his mouth shut and did his job without question, just like Nick.

The crowd was nothing of wonder this night, The Hill had its regulars and there was a hierarchy of sorts. Nick’s crew had long established their own, and although they appeared a colorful bunch, they emanated an air of authority. But they weren’t alone, other fiefdoms sprouted up around the dance floor, some established, some young and green. Nick enjoyed the latter most, especially on slow nights as tonight.

A lanky waitress sauntered over to pay homage, offering the table a round of Oude Meester Souverein. Nick smiled as the gem of Grace leaned closer to fill his glass, catching her eye and forcing her to glance away. Derrick elbowed him as the girl walked off, Nick retaliating with a tussle through Derricks golden locks. The boys were out to play and play they would.

Nick’s eyes remained locked on the young waitress as she bounced from table to table offering her wares on her way back to the bar. She cut across the walkway between the booths and bar, drawing Nick’s gaze to the opening bar doors. For a moment the world stood still, the thick bar air rushing to escape into the world. Nothing mattered as Lara made her way through the mingling crowd, separating before her as if in a choreographed dance. Nick sought out her eyes but found nothing but a resolute stare as she headed straight towards his table. He squirmed a bit, straightening out his back as he sat and reaching for his brandy. He thought she moved to speak, her lips parting ever so slightly. He arched towards her, begging as if saying, “yes?�

Lara turned off to the side, conversation sprouting from her lips as she joined up with her friends. Are you alright?� Derrick inquired confusedly. �No...� Nick murmured, his chest heaving slightly as he gripped his glass. �I just witnessed my salvation...� He continued, sitting back in his seat and turning his eyes to look upon Lara as she joined her company. �And I must have her.� Nick finished, raising his glass and emptying it of its lustrous contents.

“So you’ve been waiting all this time and you still haven’t ordered me a drink?� Lara’s voice taking on a sassy tone, as she slipped off her coat and draped it across the empty remaining high chair at the table.

“Yay you’re here!!! Finally.� Ally shrieked from the backside of the table, obviously already a few drinks in. “We were gonna get you something but we weren’t sure what sort of drinking mood you were going to be in. Do you want my Margarita?�The extremely smart yet almost too perky twenty year old always had a flare for the dramatics and of all the people seated at the table she was for sure going to be the one going home with at least a few numbers and for sure some hunky guy.

“Oh I’m in a fabulous drinking mood, just not a fruity umbrella type drinking mood.� Lara gave a playful eyebrow raised smile and turned to make her way to the bar. She looked for an opening or at least semi-open spot she could catch the bartenders attention. Making her way a bit further down she saw an opening and slid her slender frame up against the polished mahogany bar. The bartender moved over rather quickly to take her drink. “I’ll have a Jameson 7, lots of ice please.�

He gave her an impressed look and a wink before moving to make her order.

She felt a warm breath on the curve of her neck followed by an all too familiar voice, “Well, well, well, fancy seeing you here… and would I be correct in saying that you were alone?�

Lara rolled her eyes and turned to face the owner of the all too unwelcomed voice.

“Hello Jack. It’s so disappointing to see you here. I was planning on having a good night.�

He strummed his finger along her bare arm, trying desperately, to get flirty smile from her. “Oh but Lara, you still can my dear.�

Jack Reagan, internal analyst for the city department and long time whiner and piner of Lara. They had dated briefly and although he has some potential his ego tends to get in the way, as do young twenty something’s in barely there bikinis. The unfortunate thing about Jack was that he was amazingly handsome, fit and intelligent to boot. Again all these things however, are greatly hindered by the egotistical nature of his personality.

She pulled back her arm a bit and longingly looked back for her bartender to return with her drink. Speaking a bit under breath, “No, no I seriously doubt that.� She unenthusiastically turned back to Jack.

Jack gave a her a smug look, then returned with the charm.

�Keep that stare up and it may just get stuck that way.� Marcus said smirking, cocking his head to glare of his shoulder at his cohort’s most recent affection. Derrick chuckled, muffled behind his hand it sounded almost more like a giggle, and gingerly rubbed his shoulder against Nick’s. �Not to mention you haven’t yet drunk enough to have grown the balls� The table seemed to erupt into a round of boisterous laughter as would befit such a crowd of men, “Ohs� and other slanderous outcries seeking to further belittle Nick’s resolution. But he remained just that, unwavering.

His gaze followed Lara as she excused herself from the table, his companions ogling her as school boys and poking at Nick’s sides teasingly. Nick felt his heart, or rather his desire, ball up in his throat, a cough being forced to clear it, and a tenacious stare around his table to quiet his minions. �Forgive me if I see more in a woman than just her “ass�ets� Nick said coyly, winking mischievously around the table. �Oh, like you practically devoured that sweet little waitress when she walked away just minutes ago?� Derrick interjected, the table once again erupting in laughter and various whispers of the former subjects qualities.

It’s settled then. Nick stated, resting his hands on the table and rising from his seat. �Fifty bucks he crashes and burns.� Aaron finally murmured, his eyes glued on the stranger approaching behind Lara. For a moment the entire table fell silent as Jack made his move. And as he touched Lara’s arm, the table once again exploded in a round of jeers and jests.

�Look’s like you got beat to the punch, Nick my boy.� Derrick said jokingly, patting Nick on the back. �Hundred bucks I walk out with her in the next hour.� Nick responded, reaching into his jacket and dropping a roll of twenties on the table. The boys scoffed at the notions, each pulling their own currencies from various pockets. �And boys…� He continued, slipping out from behind the table, and glancing at each roguishly. �You may need to roll up your sleeves for this one.� He finished, smirking, and making his way down towards the bar.

Nick reached the duo just as Lara snubbed Jack’s initial advances. He grinned contently to himself, in the background the muffled jeers of his compatriots egging him on. Jack clearly didn’t know when to quit, not that he was ever ahead, but Nick had every intention leave him down and out before this evening was over.

�I think the lady’s done with you for the night.� Nick stated sternly, taking Jack by the shoulder and nonchalantly sliding in front of him and taking an open bar stool directly next to Lara. �Nikolaj Novak.� He introduced himself, forcing a deep Slavic accent to unfold in his words, taking her hand and in true form laying on it a gentle kiss. Jack, clearly fuming, shot out and grabbed Nick by the shoulder. But call me Nick.� He continued with a wink, grabbing Jack’s arm with his adjoined arm and turning it at an awfully awkward angle. Jack let out a painful cry before attempting a punch that seemed to sail aimlessly past Nick’s unflinching head. In turn, Nick spun around in his barstool and reciprocated with a well placed open handed punch to Jack’s chest.

Jack scuttled across the floor and landed square in the arms of an obviously aroused posse. �Shit.� Derrick exclaimed, jumping up out of the booth and ripping off his tie. �Show time, boys.� Marcus and Aaron were close in tow, both tearing off jackets and tossing them back towards their seats. Jack quickly recovered and prepareed himself for another strike. Nick simply nosed him off and spun back around to meet Lara eyes.

�You always attract greenbacks like these?� He asked coyly, a charging Jack finding another outstretched hand, this time straight in the face. Nick spun back around a third time, this time dismounting, and from a crouched position, delivering two deafening blows to Jack’s ribs. Derrick and the gang were immediately upon them, each targeting a couple or so, Aaron going as far as brandishing a barstool and meeting an unfortunate target square in the chest.

Nick turned back around to Lara, standing on a single knee, and reached for one of her hands. �How about we skip this joint?� He asked invitingly, kissing her hand again and getting back on his feet and giving a gentle tug towards the door. �Because I believe my welcome just expired.� He finished, slipping up in front of Lara again just in time to guard as Jack went flying over the bar and into a wall of liquor.

Lara was caught speechless by both the very clever introduction and by the onslaught of fists that followed. Seriously, why did all the devilishly handsome guys have to come with some sort of oddity; apparently this ones’ was fighting.

She had pressed her back against the bar as if to avoid being caught within the tussle of fighting figures and turned her head back in the direction of her coworkers who by this time were practically standing on their chairs to see what was conspiring over in her direction.

Lara mouthed over to them, ‘I have no idea.’ And then was once again confronted by the ever so ambitious and dastardly charming Nick.

She flinched and leaned into him as he guarded her from the flying body of Jack over the counter. “Oh my God.� She exclaimed in complete shock and amazement.

Lara lifted her head, looking into Nick’s eyes, “You do realize you’re completely insane right. I mean seriously…� her sentence was interrupted by a few more bodies pushing into them as a few more fists flew in their directions.

Just then three bouncers were standing in front of them with very unhappy looks on their faces.
“Alright, you two are done here. Leave now and we won’t have any problems.�

Lara was in a bit of shock coming to the realization that she was one of the two. “What? Oh I’m not with him. I mean it may appear that I am but I’m not…�

“Lady please, no guy throws this type of crap for a woman that he barely knows. Besides from your little embrace there, I’d say you know each other plenty.� The three bouncers began to escort the two out of the bar.

“Wait, can I at least get my jacket?� Lara was trying to be compliant and still remain dignified all in the same and as she went back to her table to retrieve her coat, her coworkers were in shock and in total wonderment over what had just transpired.

Once outside the club, Nick was once again rejoined with his crew, who also happened to being escorted out and while Lara was slightly flattered by his advances; her night had been cut way too short for her liking and she was still sober.

She tossed her jacket on and hailed a cab, “Taxi!�

Nick and his trio stood outside the bar, half of them with streaks of blood dripping down their collars. Nevertheless, they bantered playfully, reminisching of prior incursions at this very establishment. Marcus grabbed Nick in a headlock and ruffled his hair. �I think you lost my friend…� He said laughing. �I believe the bet was she was the suppose to leave the bar with you!�

The whole lot laughed at the irony of having their night cut so short and eagerly started to disperse Nick’s money as he wriggled himself free.

Just so, Lara emerged from the bar, a look of disgust as she wrestled to put her jacket back on. �The night’s still young...� Nick quickly exclaimed, straightening his jacket and making a dashing move towards the arriving taxi. �Double or nothing I get her phone number...�

Though there was little time for accord as Nick reached the taxi, slinking ahead of Lara and propping the door open for her. �Please, let me.� He said to her coolly, gesturing with his free hand for her to get in. He winked naughtily at his friends as he quickly slipped in behind her and got in the cab also.

Lara appeared to protest, but Nick was quick to appease her. �Please, let me make it up to you.� He almost pleaded, resting both his hands on her thigh. �Let me show you what this night is all about!� He grinned at her, though Lara seemed non to interested in his further ambitions.

Lara jerked herself away and notioned to the driver to stop. Yet as she reached for the door to get out, Nick grabbed her free hand again. �Please, I must. He whispered forlornly, arching forward to meet her turned face and placing a gentle kiss upon her lips. With his other hand he reached over her, pressing himself closer to her, prolonging their passionate discourse, and pulled the cab door back shut. The driver appeared to protest, demanding a destination, to which Nick extended a darting hand with a crisp 100 dollar bill in it, retracting it once it was relinquished of its bribe and resting it softly below Lara’s jaw.

Lara’s heart was racing a mile a minute, pulsing in excitement and complete astonishment at Nick’s actions. A kiss, above all things, was the last thing that she had expected from him as he followed her into the taxi.

As irritated as she had been at his actions before now, she couldn’t pull herself away from him. His movements were subtle yet encompassing all the same and my God could the man kiss. Lara swore that even from her seated position she could feel herself beginning to float and the more she tried to rationalize the happenings she found herself surrendering more to the moment.

The cab hit a small rise in the pavement causing their separation and a moment for Lara to speak, breathlessly but still audible, “All of that for a kiss?� her eyes searching his and in some way, expressing her flattery over his earlier actions.

There was a flash of lightning, as it seemed a spring shower was moving in and as the taxi turned the next corner, Lara made her move to thank Nick in return, allowing her lips to find his once again. She moved her hands to his neck, suddenly being overcome with desire for this handsome stranger who had turned her night upside down. She pressed her body against his, practically almost sitting on his lap, had the backseat been a bit larger.

The rain had begun to fall lightly on the car as it slowed to a stop outside her apartment, a renovated complex, meant to retain the old world appeal on the outside while being completely high end on the inside.

It took all of Lara’s will to pull herself off of Nick and as her hand grabbed for the car door, she felt his grab for hers. She turned back to him, “Well, I guess that means you’re coming up.� A playful smile spread across her lips as she pulled him out into the steady rain shower.

She couldn’t help but let out a playful shriek as the temperature had dropped causing the coldness of the rain to be utterly exhilarating and as the two ran for the safety of the lobby, she couldn’t help but feel a bit childish in her spontaneity of this all.

The elevator brought them up to her 4th floor apartment and although no words were spoken in the confines of the lift, one could cut the sexual tension with a dull knife if need be.

Lara could feel his breath on her neck as she fumbled with the keys to her place and inside said a small ‘Hallelujah’ as the door clicked opened without much trying. Once inside the darkened room and as she heard Nick, click the door behind them, she tossed the keys somewhere on a counter and turned to pin him against the door, leaving no room for misinterpreted intentions.

There was a sudden calmness that enraptured Nick’s very core. He sought out in every wake of life to test and exceed the barriers set before him, to question everything, to break convention. Yet Lara was not merely a prize for him to seek out, for him to conquer. Bets are meant to be lost and his modest fortune could afford him to lose a hundred fold over this night as long as he could remain here in this moment with her, if only for this night.

�But what more is a kiss than a man’s desire to be one with a woman.� Nick mustered, convinced that Lara hungered as much for this moment to persist as he did. He welcomed her as she approached him, resting one hand in the small of her back as she pressed him firmly into his corner of the cab, the other finding the nape of her neck.

The taxi came to a halt, the rain pattering more heavily now upon the steel top of the cab. Nick’s own heart beat grew faster as the heavens seemed to open, his vision growing narrower, bewitched by this god-sent cherub. And as Lara appeared to escape, he grabbed at her longingly, his heart stopping for a moment as a shot of lightning illuminated her pristine face. He could see her lips move but it was the gentle tug at his hand that led him up the stairs into the lobby.

The world seemed to rush by as they clambered into the elevator. Nick was unable to contain himself, Lara’s eyes fixed to the ascending numbers, his to her tiny, delicate hand still holding onto his. The doors no sooner slid open before they were once again rushing forward, Lara flicking her keys over to the right one; the sound of brass latching onto the tumblers echoed through his ears, the jingling of keys as they hit polished marble.

Lightning flashed through the opened drapes, Lara’s silhouette momentarily being illuminated in the pitch dark room. Nick slid close the door and had no sooner turned than to find his living Venus pinning him back up against its smooth veneer.

Nick lurched down slightly, cocking his head faintly, his long nose brushing over Lara’s ever so gently. His fingers trickle up along her thighs, playing at the hem of her tight skirt, toying with the idea to venture further, higher.

His hands slid over the lustrous material and grasped her taut behind, pulling her deeper into him. With a swift flick of his wrist, he slithered her lithe frame up along his, his fingers sliding along the tight contours of her finely cleft ass, spreading her legs out beside either of his.

Nick squeezed Lara butt tightly with one hand, lifting and lowering her once along his core, his other hand traveling higher and slipping in beneath the thin lace of her light blue camisole. Gently he coerced his hand into the small of her back, forcing her to arch backwards, his lips waisting not a moment to seize the chance to savor her outstretched, gasping throat.

The weight of Lara’s body threw Nick forward, his step awkward in the dark, unfamiliar room. He stumbled, yet found his footing again as they crashed into the dining room table. Letting go of his firm grip of her ass, Nick swept his arm across the table, clearing it of its glass fruit bowl, it’s fragile contents shattering to the floor.

Lightning illuminated the room again as Nick slid Lara deeper onto the table, his hands finding the sides of her face as he too climbed on top. Their lips met in a thunderous crash, Nick’s fingers braiding through Lara’s auburn locks. He tugged lightly at her hair as his free hand wandered over her heaving bossom, pausing as it reached her gasping apex and squeezing it firmly. Her neck outstretched from her hair being pulled back, Nick resumed his onslaught of her Lara’s delectable neck, kissing her down along her jaw, down, down, down, to along her collar bone; all whilst his mischievous hand slid ever lower down along her expanding ribs, once again finding the elegant lace that lined her sheer top.

Nick slid his body down between Lara’s legs, spreading them across the table as his lips traveled back up along her neck and settled nibbling at her earlobe. His other hand joined its wandering twin, sliding up along her lower back and arching her back into him as he raised himself up, sitting on his calves and pulling her onto his lap. And with a swift tug, his hands crawled higher up along her sides, Lara’s camisole caught by his thumbs, and slipping it effortlessly over her head.

Turning to putty under his touch and wanting more and more to feel his skin against hers, Lara effortlessly, moved her fingers to work on the red tie, even playfully pulling it through the collar with her teeth.

As Nick continued to kiss at her neck and collarbone, she suddenly had no time for patience and grabbing both sides of the tailored shirt, with one quick tear, she sent buttons flying throughout the room.

Her long fingers made quickly to slide the fabric off of his toned shoulders, revealing a wondrous playground for her lips to discover. The white tank underneath was simply one more piece of wrapping to the present beneath, although she did have to admit, she could have stared at him all day in that undershirt.

Letting her hands slide under the thin fabric she moved it up along, taking note of every ripple and mark that adorned Nick’s stomach and chest. Carefully, slipping it over his head, she drew in a breath at the man before her and with a coy smile she showed her excited approval, followed by grabbing the back of his neck and pulling his body on top of hers.

Feeling his skin on hers sent shockwaves through her system and she knew that she wanted to see how far she could push this man’s limits. She seductively slid her leg up along his and through some miraculous luck; she turned him to the bottom.

They both stopped, mostly because they were both surprised they hadn’t ended up on the floor but in playful fashion she returned back to his lips, only to move lower and lower and lower. Letting her lips kiss his stomach and the very beginning of his ‘happy trail’. As she heard Nick breathe in approval as if encouraging more, Lara slid her hands along his torso, playing a bit at his belt, down his pant legs, only to move herself off the table and begin a seductive, storm lit walk to the bedroom at the other end of the loft.

As she did so, her topless form meticulously began to unzip the back of her skirt and walk out of it just as she breached the door to her bedroom. She spoke no words, only moved her head back over her shoulder, just in time to be caught by a huge flash of lightning, as if to taunt him even more with her devices.

Nick exhaled deeply as he allowed his guard down, letting all his apprehensions slip away. He could feel Lara draw his soul out, milking his desires, his very need to be known for who he really is. He closed his eyes as her lips trailed down his body and let his body sink slowly down onto the cold top of the heavy wood table. He barely even noticed when Lara slipped away, his body utterly relaxed in its heightened state.

Nick sat up slightly, propping him up on his elbows as he watched Lara slip off into darkness of the room, only the flashing light of the brewing storm illuminating her sensual form as she swayed gingerly across the smooth floor, her hands trailing slowly down her body as she started to undo her skirt.

Nick hopped off the table, skipping across the floor and pulling his shoes and socks off one raised foot at a time; his belt offered little resistance as he zipped it out of its pant loops. He felt almost child-like as he skipped off after Lara, her swaying hips timing his deepening breaths as a pendulum. Slowly, he watched, as she drop her skirt to the floor, stepping out of the bundled fabric without losing a beat, her heels clicking melodiously across the bare cement floor.

The cold floor sent a chill up Nick’s legs as he slowed his step towards the bedroom, Lara’s silhouette having melted away into the shadows. A lightning strike illuminated the door frame leading into the unknown room ahead, the outline of a figure briefly jumping out at him from the darkness. He sighed deeply, shaking his hands, his body overwhelmed with jitters. Nick always kept his distance from those around him, it was the nature of his vocation not to get too close. Yet suddenly he wanted nothing more than to be intimately close to this woman. Goosebumps freckled his arms as he stepped into the door, his heart skipping a beat at the sight before him.

Lara sat deviously smirking at the end of the bed, her heeled legs spread wide before her, her arms stretched out and holding onto the rod-iron posts. Her breasts heaved gently under her breath, the rain’s cooling effect on the old brick-and-mortar building evident in her pert nipples. Nick unbuttoned his pants, zipping it down as he approached the bed, slipping it down his legs and kicking it to the side. He stepped up faster, Lara shuffling her body back into the middle of the mattress, forcing Nick to join her on the bed. He climbed up onto it, crawling on his knees, Lara perched up with her hands stretched out behind her, her legs still spread wide, inviting Nick to sink himself between them. He reaches out to her, taking her face into both his hands, and leaning towards her, kissed her deeply.

The king size bed became their playground as their bodies mingled between white linen sheets and cozy down pillows. Feeling Nick’s strong hands, gently slide her panties from her hips, then kiss her ankles and legs as he removed her heels, stirred a new desire in Lara that she had never before experienced. Something more than just a romp in the sheets with a handsome stranger was happening here, something that was unexplainable to her but all the more, something that thrilled her to no end.

Lara had decided earlier in the evening that she could have kissed this man forever but now he was bringing her senses to a new height with the tricks he could perform with those lips. Finding every crevice and curve that held so many all important nerve endings to send her lithe form into a stimulated frenzy. Ecstasy for the mind and body but with out the legal complications. Lara had never before been taken to the edge so many times and then encouraged to counter with the same energy.

Finding Nick’s intense eyes countless times, she swore she could read his soul and yet, they held such a divine mystery that wanting to know more about him created a longing in her that she had never known.

Lightening cracked outside her apartment and sent a rumbled through the lofted space; acting almost as their own personal orchestra. The rain poured harder against the large panes of glass only adding to the intensity of their carnal endeavor, creating its own applause of approval and excitement.

Lara found herself drawing her nails across Nicks’ back ever so lightly applying enough pressure to make him wince in exhilaration, only encouraging her to move her hands to his shoulders, down to his torso and below. Nick’s slight moans of approval as her supple lips found ear lobes to toy with and the most susceptible of cartilage to nip at; gave Lara just the signal she needed to once again roll him to the bottom. Moving atop him and feeling his strong hands on her hips and upper body she arched her back, letting her head drop, auburn tendrils fall back and her hands to roam freely about her own torso. Guiding his hands to cup her aroused breasts and drawing in a breath as the very sensation sent ripples of pleasure down her spine.

A small cry escaped her mouth and biting her bottom lip she swore she could handle no more of this intoxicating venture. She needed him, all of him, in one final cataclysmic moment; she needed to step off that edge…she needed to know the mystery.

Nick lurched up to meet Lara, pulling her hips tightly into him. She wrapped her legs around his back as he sought out her intoxicating lips, his hands running up her spine to below her shoulders. Tenderly, he slipped a hand over her scalp, his fingers mingling through her silky locks. With a gentle tug of her hair, he forced from her a pleading moan, his lips cupping her tender neck as he forced her body up onto his thighs, pulling her body firmly into his. His free hand slipped lower to her supple ass, cupping a cheek tightly in his hand. Nick slapped her ass once before grabbing her plump cheek again and slowly twisted her body around, laying her back down beneath him.
Lara's gaze sought out his intentions, yet Nick's eyes would not yet betray him. He leaned in to kiss her again, pulling her hips up to meet his as he thrust his pelvis into her. Lara let out a labored groan as Nick slid deeper into her, her nails gripping his back, pulling him in closer to her. His muscular chest pressed into her tender breasts, grinding her nipples along his taut skin.

The world slowed to a moment, ecstatic moans their opera, the thunder their orchestra, the pattering rain their audience, the entire room an endless stage upon which they were the centerpiece. Lara's every touch electrified Nick's body, her nails plucking at his back, strumming him as her guitar, his murmurs a gentle love song whispered at her ear.

Thunder rolled through in rapid successions, the storm engulfing the building in all it's fury. Lightning bombarded the room, every flash illuminating Nick's vigorous thrusts, his hips gliding up and down through her thighs; Lara's enveloping legs tightened around his waist, tensing pleadingly to draw him back in. Nick obliged, his hands tremblingly gliding down from her face, along her breasts, and squeezed her gently at the waist, arching her back into him, before sliding beneath her tight bottom. He raised her ass from the bed, driving his desire harder into her quivering aspiration, guiding her hips to meet his every thrust.

Nick buckled under Lara's touch as she reached her hands to cup his face and pulled him back down towards her, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. Nick sunk further yet into her, tiny cries slipping over Lara's lips as she buried her nails deep into his back. Nick gasped at the serene sensation, his back arching as he drove his hips steadily into her one last time.

In the distance a phone rang, a quiet, muffled ring that bore no importance to that present moment. Nick nestled his head in underneath Lara's chin, his arms slinking up to embrace her trembling body. He pulled her closer to him, holding her limp body as his saving grace. The storm subsided and the sounds of the city entered back into their little world as they lay quietly in each others arms.

Lara stirred a bit amidst the soft white sheets of her bed, which were now entwined between two bodies. She drowsily lifted her head to see which section of Nick’s body was being draped across her and smirked a bit as his muscular arm came into better view.

The sun had just barely breeched the horizon and was beginning to play artist to the freshly washed sky outside. Lara bit her bottom lip as she recalled the events of the night before and she could feel herself blush a bit. Slowly turning her head, she watched as Nick slept. He looked so peaceful, like a person who hadn’t ‘really’ slept in ages. A soft smile spread across her lips as she desperately wanted to kiss him and wrap her arms and legs around him but instead she carefully slid herself out from under his sleeping arm and lightly tip toed out of the bedroom searching for something to toss over her naked form.

She giggled to herself as she grabbed his ‘not so button down’ dress shirt up off the floor at the entrance to the bedroom and slid it over her lightly tanned skin as she continued to walk out to the kitchen. She was craving something sweet and citrus and if memory served her, she had a few oranges left in her fridge and water, God yes, water would be heavenly right about now.

Stopping short of the marbled countertop, a sparkle of glass caught her eye and she suddenly recalled the shattering of the fruit bowl that Nick swept off the table. Her slender hand covered her mouth in astonishment at the very idea of what she had done the evening before, shaking her head in amazement as she continued to look for something to help in her crossing of the sea of glass that now resided on the cement floor.

The kitchen towel did its job well as she shimmied herself back to safety with a bowl of oranges, two glasses and a pitcher of water. As she past by Nick’s pants that lay more towards the living area she could have sworn she heard something beep and figuring it was a cell phone she simply thought to inform of it when he woke.

Her bedroom was now softly lit with the morning light of day; her multiple layers of sheer curtains trying their best to obscure the start of the day but nonetheless omitting a dreamlike haziness to the room, making it easy for the large bed and the handsome body that they in it, to beckon to Lara once more into its embrace.

Setting the bowl and pitcher down on the night table, Lara slid her semi-clothed body in next to Nick and as he stirred a bit she settled herself in next to him, draping an arm and leg over his body, resting her head at the crook of his shoulder and torso, leaving reality at bay for a little while longer.

Dreams of wheat drenched fields stretched through Nick's subconscious. Laughter echoed across his memories, a calmness embracing an otherwise marred history. Faces flashed before him of people he had long forgotten, brothers and aunts and cousins, nieces and nephews, his parents, even the goats from the farmer along the ridge that would so often escape and steal into his grandmother's vegetable gardens. It was although he had gone home, away from the horrors of the city he now resided in.

He stirred a little as Lara wrapped herself around his outstretched body. He could feel the soft linen of his shirt brush along his skin, a smile crossing his lips as the night before came flashing back. "Good morning, sweet angel..."� Nick whispered with eyes still shut, draping an arm around Lara's body and pulling her closer to him. He breathed deeply, taking in the sweet smell of her hair under his nose mixed with the sensual odor of their night's love-making.

Lara nuzzled herself into his chest with a child-like giggle, running her hands across the raw welts weaving across his back. A shiver riddled his body as the salt on her fingers seeped into his battle-wounds. They both laughed at his sensitivity, and quick to go on the offensive, Nick rolled Lara over back onto her back, his body hovering precariously over her. For a moment their eyes met and Nick leaned down into her, kissing her sweetly on the lips.

He ran a hand through her gentle locks, looking her face over as though for the first time. His grinning face appeared almost boyish, so innocent and bewildered at the same time, like a child having found his first unusual bug. His hand caressed her blossoming cheeks, down along the neck he so enjoyed the night before, down along the collar to his shirt. Buttonless, he effortlessly slid his hand down over her collar bone in underneath the soft material of the shirt, Lara's chest heaving gently as his hands found the small engorged pearl perched at the peak of one of her perky breasts.

"Surely you must be God's Grace..." He said softly, finding her eyes looking back up at him, his voice hoarse still from sleep, his accent deep as though fresh of the boat. "...because by what other name could such an angel have befallen such a wretch as me?"� Nick closed his eyes again and laid his head down on her chest, his hand still meandering ever lower down her body, exploring her all over again.

Smiling at his attentiveness and boyish demeanor, Lara smelled Nick’s hair and squirmed a bit as his roaming hand began to search out secret places that could have told glorious stories from the night before. But thinking on his comment, she gave a small laugh and rolled her frame slightly out from his, as if to protest something or make a point.

She placed a hand on the bed, propped herself on an elbow and whist her eyes searched his, a dimpled smile spread across her face as she extended a hand, “I do believe before anymore of your devilish adventures begin, that I should at least do you the courtesy of a name.� she paused and laughed at herself for sounding so professional about it, then with a sigh she relaxed, “Hi, I’m Lara. Lara Avery to be exact.�

She shook his hand and then pulled him into her, kissing his lips and smiling at the strangeness of their whole encounter and situation. Her hands ran up his toned forearms to his shoulders, where she could wrap her arms around his neck as she kissed him. This morning felt very high schoolish at times but more over it felt so comfortable and familiar, as if it had always existed.

Separating from his lips, Lara spoke sweetly to Nick, “So is that how you always get a woman’s attention; starting a fist fight, getting her kicked out of a bar and then stealing her away in a taxi?�

Nick chuckled lightly at Lara’s nonchalant demeanor under the circumstances. �The pleasure is mine, Miss Lara.� He responded grinning, running the back of this hand across her cheeks and through some stray curls that lay across her face. �And I am Nikolaj...� He continued, his hand wandering back down along her collarbone and teasingly tugged at the collar and hem of his torn shirt, his eyes trailing down along her neck line, down to where her breasts met mesmerizingly between the folds of his shirt.

�Nick…� He said quietly, flipping the shirt up to expose her breast to his touch, his eyes momentarily locked there. �Nick Novak.� He said the words as though it was the first time he had ever had to introduce himself, his eyes locking onto Lara’s again. He leaned in, and kissed her.

�Let me make you breakfast!� He called out playfully, practically bouncing himself up off the bed with a shrug and a roll. Unfazed, Nick strolled across the bedroom, the shadows of the desperate morning sun playing delicately across his tone and muscular physique. Nick grinned to himself, Lara’s eyes practically burning a hole through his tight butt.

Lara found Nick rustling through her pantry and refrigerator, collecting spices and eggs and various remnants of meats, of which even she was questionable about their age. Nick paused for a moment as he watched her enter, his shirt splayed open, barely covering anything as she casually strolled into the kitchen and hopped up onto the counter next to where he was cooking. Nick leaned up and kissed Lara again, popping in some toast with a free hand.

The olives would be so plump and juicy… my grandfather was a great farmer.� Nick said, feeding Lara a fork-full of cheese covered, vegetable and meat filled omelet. The words flowed from his mouth as a fountain, his life suddenly a fairy tale. Lara would laugh as he at times struggled to find the right words, his own excitement bubbling out in his native Slavic tongue.

�Do you know…� Lara said, biting into a strawberry dripping in balsamic vinegar. �…you’re the first guy to have ever spent the night here.� Nick smiled mischievously, patting his lips clean with a napkin and pushing his plate aside. Lara’s gaze caught his stare.

�How about having spent the day?� Nick leaned across the table, Lara meeting him in the middle, his hands cupping her gently around her chin as he kissed her with regained vigor.

Sitting on opposite ends of the plush white sectional, letting there feet play a childish game of war, the conversations that passed between them as the early morning hours started to pass, were anything but typical.

“Seriously? Seven siblings? How did you not kill each other?� she laughed as he described the organized method of chaos that ran their household, stories of bets amongst them as to who outsmart another. Lara at one point had to ask him to stop, so she could catch her breath from laughing so hard. He spoke so nonchalant about them and while Lara was speaking of her simple, only child lifestyle, she could see that he went somewhere else in his mind. His eyes were seeing her but his mind was reliving moments and in that she found something sad and lonesome about him.

Laying back in his arms as he played with her hair, “ But doesn’t being a gypsie go against pretty much everything you were taught to believe as a Catholic?� she was fascinated at his rationale on such matters and at times found herself engaging in heated questions surrounding the issue. Nick of course would counter with some strange random comment like, “Yes, you’re absolutely correct…let’s move on.�, this of course easily causing Lara to dimple up a smile and jump into his lap, arguing that he couldn’t always use that change the subject.

Winging an orange at his head, which he amazingly caught without even taking his eyes off her, she tried her best to scold him, “Now, that’s not even nice. You know, some of those really need a place like AA.� She did her best to dash around some furniture as he gave chase to her protests. “And you simply sitting in, just to test your endurance to bullshit…� she stopped only feet from him, an ottoman between them and slightly out of breath, “that’s just inhumane.�

Nick lunged forward and catching her by the end of his shirt slowly, meticulously and playfully brought her down onto the soft furred area rug. Lara bit her bottom lip as she sank into his lap, “So Mr. Novak, what other little evil things are hiding in that amazing mind of yours?� She smiled at him, searching out his eyes and trying to catch her breath all in the same, as she wrapped her hands to the back of his neck and kissed his lips; his accolade for the chase.

Nick gently lifted Lara’s foot out of the water, the suds running seductively down her long shapely legs. �I could never have forgiven my pa would he had left us...� He said sternly, his eyes intently watching his fingers as they worked their way over her delicate foot. �The day of his ruin would have been his only perfect moment.� Nick continued sternly, a sense of resentment growing from deep inside of him. There was an intimacy that he respected, one between all human beings, one he tried to convey in all his pursuits. Even in engineering, the harmony, the closeness between concrete, steel, and man itself was so important, a failure at any point, as in life, was catastrophic. And also in death, he knew, without intimacy it was an ugly ordeal.

�It didn’t matter who he was that day…� Lara responded, taking a sip of champagne and sinking her body deeper into the steaming water. She giggled a little as Nick ran his fingers under the bridge of her foot. She sighed deeply as the memory of the day rushed back. �For that one day, I had his undivided devotion, all the love I missed up until then he showered on me that one day.� For a moment Lara’s mind left the two sitting in the large, Victorian-style porcelain bathtub. Nick paused for a moment, putting her foot down, and slipping himself in between her legs, wrapping his arms around her knees as he stared at her distant face.

�You have all my devotion right now.� He almost whispered, Lara’s eyes opening to meet his as he leaned down onto her body to kiss her. Water spilled over the edge of the bathtub as the two rolled around in their passionate embrace, Lara’s jovial laughter drowning their splashing with its sweet melody.

Nick was already slipping his pants back on when Lara emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her sensuous body, another roughly drying her long hair. She approached him slowly, tossing the free towel aside; he was tying his belt, look straight ahead of him, lost as though in some far off thought. She slipped in before him, noticeably shorter without her heels, and temptingly pushed him back towards the bed. Nick sat down at the edge, falling down onto his back as Lara crawled onto him and straddled her towel clad body across his lap. She smiled at him playfully, but his gaze escaped her, looking right by her up at the ceiling.

�I’m afraid…� He almost chocked on the words. Lara laid down on his rippled body, wrapping her arms around him as though she sought to protect him. �What will happen once we step back out into that world…� He paused, wrapping his arms around her now seemingly frail body. �What will happen to this moment… to us…?�

Lara gave a semi curious look and was touched by the sincerity in his voice as he spoke about where they essentially would go from here.

She leaned in and kissed his lips, a seal of assurance that this was not the end.

There was no way this would be the end, especially if she had anything to say about it. She had often asked herself in the past, how do people actually ever know when they have found ‘the one’. I mean, is it like a lightening bolt that just hits them or is it something that you have to discover over months and years? Or maybe it could simply happen after a random night of bodily abandonment and an entire morning of intimate conversations.

Leaning against the door frame as Nick grabbed the last of his belongings, she eyed him as he walked towards her at the front door. Still trying to be the sly devil that got her thrown out of bar last night but this time the stranger persona was completely gone, replaced by a face that drew nothing but quiet from her soul.

Nick pressed his forehead to hers as the two stood in the open doorway and played with her hands, making it obvious that this departure was not something that either of them wanted.

“Ok, so my plane leaves tomorrow around 3ish. If I get things packed up and settled here maybe we can do dinner? I mean, unless you strictly only do bar and bedroom transactions?� she bit her bottom lip and laughed a bit at her on joke.

Nick leaned in and kissed her lips, cutting the laugh short but igniting the mutual realization that she didn’t want this day to end anymore than he did. Lamentably he pulled his lips away and stroked the side of her face, lightly bumping the bottom of her chin, “I’ll see you soon. Promise.�

Lara smiled, “K.� she let her hand hold still to his as he moved out into the hallway, regrettably releasing it but keeping her eyes on him as he stood and waited for the elevator.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Your phone was beeped this morning. I’m guessing you have a message or something.�

Nick gave an acknowledging head nod as he enter the elevator and waved as the doors shut.

Lara closed the door behind her and as a sly smile spread across her face she let out a childlike scream of disbelief as she seemingly bounced across the room and flung herself over the back of her sofa, laughing to herself about this amazing encounter and how it had suddenly changed everything.

For a moment the elevator loomed once the doors closed between Nick and Lara, and he just stood there, his hand still raised as though waving good bye the sun itself. His face glowed in ecstasy, a grin practically dimpling his stubbly cheeks. He chuckled to himself, smiling as he pulled out his cell phone. He wasn’t usually one to overlook a received message, for him to have missed its arrival last night was almost unheard of; lives, after all, did hang in the balance.

He slid open the face of the cell phone and quickly accessed his message list, extending a nonchalant finger to select the ground floor. Nick recognized the sender immediately and it seemed as though the air in the elevator grew suddenly stagnant. The expression on his face faded to a stern glare as he opened the received message, the outlay displaying the standard information: general appearance of the mark, possibly his occupation, time of intercept, and location.

The ground level marker lit up and the doors slid open with a ring. Nick was still reading as he started to make his way through the lobby: It would be a woman this time – tall, slender, wavy auburn locks – and she was a reporter. Nick thought it odd to be assigned someone so insignificant as a muckraker and even more so at the deadline – tonight. Usually he was granted a few days, sometimes a week, to scout out the mark, get to know his habits, consider his options before moving in. Though they wanted this one out, and they wanted it done fast.

Nick stepped through the lobby doors and into the open. He reached up and shielded his eyes from the sun while he reached into this suit pocket to pull out some sunglasses. It was about 2:15 in the afternoon, the 7th and Boulevard bus pulling up right on time. “Seventh and Boulevard.� He murmured to himself, looking back down at his cell phone. He paused for a moment, lifting his gaze up at the stopping bus, the bright green street sign heralding its arrival: 7th and Boulevard. “Smith Co. Block.� He continued, his voice devoid of emotion, flat and blunt. He turned slowly, raising his eyes from the street sign to the four-story, turn-of-the-century brick building. Smith Co. Block use to house a textile mill and dye plant, the old smoke stacks that once dispelled the noxious gasses from the dying pots still ominously towering out behind the building.

For a brief moment Nick’s heart stopped. People rushed by him, and in the distance the gushing sound of air floated out over the buzzing traffic as the bus doors closed. The sign in the windows changed to Ninth and Avenue as the bus started to make its way across traffic to make the next turn. Tall and slender, flowing auburn locks, a reporter. The description kept playing through his mind as he stared up at the top floor windows. Up there she sat, unbeknownst that her card had come up, that her last moment of delight came of the hands of her demise. At that moment, Nick felt his heart die.

The room was dark though one could just barely see the outlines of the furniture scattered through the apartment. The setting sun played quietly with the shadows against the wall, ciphering through the thin, semi-translucent white drapes. The apartment seemed sparse, and unusually small. On one end there stood a bed with very plain linens, a closet filled with suits; a kitchen separated it from what appeared to be a living room , at least, it appeared to be a living room, with only two chairs, coffee table, and lamp filling the space. Nick sat in the growing darkness, a small arsenal spread out in front of him. He sighed as he reached for a knife, a simple stiletto, its blade reflecting the little light that remained. He put it back down and got up out of the chair. On the adjacent seat lay his suit jacket, for which he reached and slowly, almost miserably, pulled on. For a moment he looked over at the door, just standing there and watching, waiting. He pulled out his cell phone and looked at the time. Slipping it back into his pocket, he looked back over at the small switch blade. He picked it back up and slipped it into his pocket also.

Nick started towards the door, but then stopped again. What was he thinking? He couldn’t go through with this, his conscious yelled at him. To do this would be his own demise and he knew it. But a part of him had been dying a long time and it was due time to finish this hell he called a living. He turned back to the collection of bladed weapons and firearms. Nick picked up a Berretta, screwing a suppressor onto the barrel, and slipped it down his back. Two spare clips went into his coat pockets. At the door he pulled a single stemmed rose from a small crystal vase, bright red as his shirt and kerchief, a final gesture of his ultimate devotion.

Lara laid on the couch with the giddiest smile on her face for quite some time, replaying the conversations between them and recalling the little moments when nothing was said at all. The way Nick lightly chewed on his cheek when he wasn’t sure exactly how she was going to react to the story he was telling. The way his accent got thicker when he got excited about something and just couldn’t wait to share his eagerness with her. She actually reached down and pinched her arm to make sure she that this entire encounter hadn’t been some livid dream that she had yet to wake up from and when the pinch hurt, she let out a joyous laugh.

She had pulled out the large, nylon suitcase from under her bed and proceeded to pack some basic necessities for the island lifestyle that she would be living, for the next couple of weeks. Shorts, tank tops, a sarong or two, multiple swim suits, etc.

She had come across Nick’s tie that had somehow ended up between the bed and her nightstand. She plopped herself down on her down comforted bed and brought the silk fabric to her nose and inhaled. Her eyes closed as her mind went to picturing him, standing toe to toe with her at the doorway this afternoon; the way he bumped her chin as he left her side and that dashingly, devilish smile that seemed to make her melt even without him here. Lara flung her body back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, just a few more hours and she’d get to see him again. She giggled to herself, wondering what adventures waited for her this evening and not believing that anything could have topped last nights doings.

The sun was sinking a bit lower as a few of the city buildings already began to turn on their lights for the evening. Lara glanced out her large living room windows, as she finished placing her 2 suitcases near the entry. She wondered what he was doing, if he had had as memorable of an afternoon as she. If he had put much thought into tonight’s plans or not. She smiled then made a small dash into the bedroom to continue getting ready.

She gave her auburn curl a toss as she made faces at herself in the mirror; the sassy look, the innocent look, the casual laugh look, all the little scenarios that girls go through while they’re primping themselves for a night out. She smoothed out the front of her crimson colored, twisted single strapped dress and then turned on her toe to get a side view making sure everything looked put together. She grabbed the diamond stud earrings off the counter and headed for the closet in the hall, for her strappy shoes.

Pavarotti was just entering into the beautiful vocals of Nessun Dorma, when she heard the door buzzer. She grabbed her left foot and sort of hopped towards the door, as she tried to stretch the remaining shoe on without falling face first. Managing not to falter she pulled at her dress a bit before she reached for the entrance and with a click of a couple of locks, she pulled the door open, smiling as she saw Nick before her.

“Hi, stranger.�

Flashes of light illuminated Nick’s face as the subway cart darted down the tunnel towards the Seventh Avenue terminal. His face was empty, emotionless, as he stared directly ahead of him, standing and holding onto a support bar. His suit was pitch black with a thin pin stripe running through the fabric. He was tie-less, soft hues of blue reflecting from the smooth, silk shirt hidden beneath the heavy wool jacket. His free hand fiddled in his pocket, rolling some loose change gotten for the subway token through his fingers.

Once the train stopped, Nick just stood there a moment. He was mere blocks away from his destination. In her home, at her door step, in the one place she should feel no fear, he now had to bring death. Nick took a deep breath and let go of the metal bar, his knuckles a bright white from having held on so tightly. He stepped through the door just as they closed, the train pulling off again and disappearing into the dark recesses of the tunnel ahead. He had come this far, there was no turning back now, it seemed.

The sun was just setting over the city as Nick emerged from the substation, the sky painted a soft pink, joyful and inviting. The streets were already dark from the shadows cast by the towering buildings, but what light still reflected from the thousands of high-rise windows, one could still see clearly. Down the way he could see the pyres of Lara's building peering out over the city-scape.

The city was already a-buzz on this Saturday evening, the roads at near stand-still as taxis and buses crowded the way. Nick crossed the street right before reaching Boulevard, stopping at the adjacent corner of Smith Co. Block. Nick looked up along the magnificent structure until his eyes caught the light coming from the fourth floor. Lara was up there, just waiting for him, perhaps even excitedly. She would be embracing death with open arms. Really, he thought to himself, what more dignified way was there to die.

Nick passed through the lobby without a sound, his leather soled shoes gliding across the polish marble with hardly a click. He stepped into the elevator, somber and grim, alone, he turned and faced the lobby as the doors closed in front of him. In the gleaming metal doors he saw his reflection, and Nick suddenly felt sick in his stomach. He had killed countless, no, he remember every one of the nearly 500 souls he had took. And only one other time had he felt this way – his first time.

Maybe it was because he never quite felt this way before. Nick stepped to the back of the elevator and leaned up against the wall. He sighed deeply as he looked up at the fluorescent lights above him. It’s been a game all these years, the better half of a score. He had slept with countless marks, and many more he had merely killed in his mind. And now, for the first time, his heart was interfering.

Lara’s door appeared to be a million miles away. Nick walked slowly towards it, time seemingly standing still. The light click of the metal studs on his souls made an almost deafening echo in his head, as bells tolling. At her door he paused again before he looked down at the door bell. A hesitant hand reached out and with a quivering finger, he rang the door bell.

The door almost immediately swung open leaving Nick staring into Lara eyes as a doe caught in headlights. For a moment he said nothing, did nothing. He couldn’t… he wouldn’t…

Without missing another beat, Nick reached behind his back and pulled his silenced berretta out the back of his pants. He said nothing as he stormed into the door, slamming it shut, and grabbing Lara by the throat, the gun inches away from her head. He pushed her backwards, turning his head for a mere moment at the opened window in the dining room before finally reaching her bedroom.

Nick pushed Lara hard, forcing her back and onto her bed. He followed suit as she stumbled, firing two shots into the headboard, the muzzle flashes illuminating the room. He quickly crawled onto the bed and on top of Lara, pushing his gun-wielding hand over her mouth.

Keep quiet… Keep quiet. Nick whispered under breath, his eyes trying to seek hers out, hoping to chase away her fear. �Keep quiet if you want to live.�

Researchers have calculated that people have anywhere from 50 – 70,000 thoughts per day; spending anywhere from 15-18 hours awake, that factors into about 1 a second. However, it’s a good assurance that none of the subjects were tested while having a gun pressed their head. For at this moment not one was passing through Lara's mind. Nothing. A canvas of fear and shock had cloaked her mind, for not even the simplest of notions chose to rise.

If she had to go and think on the hundreds of ways that she had expected Nick to enter back into her apartment, she was pretty sure that this wouldn’t have entered her head. The dull piercing of gunfire still resonated in her ears as she stared back into Nick’s eyes, her own filling with tears of disbelief ; seemingly crying out to him, ‘Please no… no. This isn't you.’

Lara could feel his heartbeat; feel his breathing, which all the more made her want to fall apart beneath him. She tried to suppress the fear and the terror that was welling up inside her but she couldn’t distinguish its exact origins. Which was the bigger disbelief; the fact that her life was moments from ending or the fact that the messenger of death had only hours earlier lay in this very bed with her, bringing a whole new vision of life to her existence?

Lara closed her eyes; she couldn’t bear to look into his. Maybe it was her way of not witnessing the inevitable or maybe because it was simply too hard to erase all the feelings that had been expressed through those eyes. She listened to Nick speak and as familiar as the voice was to her, it took on a whole new persona for her now. Someone she thought would never hurt her, never make her feel scared or vulerable, was now that very thing. In a matter of seconds, he had become an entirely different person to her.

The hot smell of the gun wafted into her nostrils, making her sick to the stomach, amongst other things. It mingled with Nick’s cologne, a smell she had until then, associated with playful moments and content company. Adding salt to the wound was its only role now.

Music was the only sound to fill the space of her fourth floor loft; the painful and passionate aria of Pavarotti, echoed throughout the brick and cement of the apartment. Lara slowly opened her eyes, as the crescendo began its rise and she painfully stared back into the eyes of fate, in the cruel manner from which it chose to disguise itself.

‘For with the dawn you’re mine! You are mine! You are mine!’

“Look at me… Look at me.� Nick whispered almost pleadingly, putting the gun down beside them and taking Lara’s face in both his hands. “Please, just look at me.� His eyes betrayed his own uncertainty, his own fear in this moment. He was suddenly lost amidst a sea of emotions all crashing against what he had held to be his better judgment. There were rules, understandings, procedure you just didn’t break. He barely knew her, after all, she was nobody to him; yet, she was everything to him, and at the moment, everyone he forgone the chance to know.

“I don’t know why I’m here…� He went on, his eyes unwavering, his thumbs gently stroking Lara’s lips. “I don’t know why I’m suppose to kill you.� It didn’t matter, it never mattered before. Though this time it was different. This time it wasn’t his victim begging him for her life. It was something, someone inside of Nick that was crying out to stop, urging him to just walk away.

It was winter again. Snow blanketed the old Eastern European town. Only the cathedral with its majestic clock tower and the state building draped in billowing red banners stood out against the otherwise lifeless landscape. Soldiers marched through the streets, tanks sat at every major intersection. It was as if a battlefield, yet the war was against the people themselves.

Nick was barely out of grade school, not that he went to school much. He didn’t believe all those textbooks told him about the great Soviet empire and the evil of the West. If greatness was so cold and heartless, then what must this evil West be like? His uncle had told him not to ponder on such matters, that it would only get him into deeper trouble. Ironically, he always said it with a smile. He was a capitalist after all, and a much better teacher than those bureaucratic mongrels.

Nick lay perfectly still on top of the snow-white roof, his rifle and scope already adjusted for the light breeze wafting over the fresh powder. “Be patient.� He can hear his uncle telling him. “Remember to breathe. Don’t strain your eyes until you can see the mark. Breathe. Breathe. Squeeze.�

In the distance, a convoy approached, an open carriage with an accompaniment of cavalry. “You have three marks.� His uncle had instructed him. “One man, two women. They’ll be in a carriage coming down the main road through the town around noon. They’ll probably have a military escort. Eliminate the marks and report back to Lvov.�

Nick closed an eye as he trained his scope on the approaching carriage: one man, facing towards him; a woman, long blonde hair, sitting in front of him; and another, a young girl, no older than he, sitting beside the man. Nick paused and lifted his eye from his gun to peer out over the town. A family.

Nick breathed deeply and return to his sights. He took a deep breath and focused on the man. The shot rung out through the valley as Nick watched the man topple forward. A direct hit, right in the forehead. Nick reloaded, pulling back the bolt to expel the used cartridge. Quickly he realigned his sight and fired again, hitting the grieving woman right in the back of the head. She too collapsed forward, falling on top of her dead husband. He pulled the bolt back again, the steaming cartridge whirring past his head, and quickly shifted his sights to the little girl.

Nick paused for a moment. The little girl just sat there, grief-stricken, in clear shock. She didn’t move, she didn’t cry, she just sat there looking at her murdered parents. The guards around them were in a fury as they rushed to the carriage, some looking around in vain to try and find the shooter. Nick just watched the little girl. The clock tower started to chime, the first gongs of noon. It startled Nick for a moment, but he regained his composure. He looked back through his sight. There she was. “Breathe. Breathe.� The girl looked up at him. “Squeeze�

“You have to listen to me…� Nick whispered to Lara, his voice trembling a little, an apparent strain in his broad shoulders. “There will be others once they realize I didn’t kill you.� Nick intentions were now transparent. Any plans he had to kill her dissipated the moment he stormed through that door.

“You must trust me… we have to leave.� Nick took his gun and slid it back into the back of his pants. He got up off the bed and reached for Lara’s hand. He looked at her apprehensively. “I will not let them take you from me. I promise…�

The large caliber rifle lay dormant by the window, he watched through the binoculars as the second heat source moved into the room. Taking a brief glance at his watch he continued to watch, both targets still upright something wasn't as it should be. Dropping the binoculars in the bag he loaded the rifle with the AP round, the glass wasn't bullet proof but it was dense enough to withstand the heavier winds. Sliding the glass window open he pushed the rifle barrel into the gap and watched, there wasn't yet a clear shot he would have to bide his time.
Smelling the air he adjusted the rifle scope for the higher wind, and zoomed the scope into the target. Using a pointer at this point would only serve in giving him away, he also needed to be sure that the serviceman wasn't late. There was always a five minute error period, how many times had he cleaned up the mess left by others. Those were countless his medical condition dulled most of his senses, there was no feeling of touch and no feeling of guilt. The perfect warrior at least within his class, but the more able of any to kill a fellow recruit.

Another glance at the watch, two minutes had passed as he returned to the scope. This was one thing the agency asked was a quick kill, of course the press would soon find out. But another round could sort out any snooping reporters, at worst a slow death by viral infections. Laying out his six foot frame against the rifles recoil, clean shaven face and tanned skin face. Short hair brushed back over his head, he tensed every muscle in his average frame.
Her body came into shot as she stepped back slightly, tracing up the frame he found a neck shot. But the face of the other assasin was also in view, he had to wait for him to move. At least he was on the scene, "all he needs to do is finish the task" the thought ran across his mind. He was itching to pull the trigger, a fight of wills within holding the finger poised.

One minute to go

Lara’s lip was quivering and her eyes still streaming with tears, as Nick spoke to her. An alien language it seemed, all centering on the notion that she was to be killed. Her breathing was shallow, almost afraid that if she took too big of breath that might be enough for things to come to an end. The scent of him was making this all the worse as it, construed the tender emotions of possibility that she had let her mind play with all day and was now tainted with a sense of the unfamiliar.

She choked back the sob’s that wanted to erupt from her, but with him saying there would be another or more sent to kill her, she once again felt suddenly alone. Lara’s mind briefly roladexed through any of the current topics she had been working on at the office, for she had heard of things of this nature; threats and things, happening to reporters who got a bit too much information on issues. Nothing came to mind as she felt the weight of Nick’s body leave her own replaced by the weight of a decision.

She stared at his outstretched hand, looking to it and then back up to his eyes, as he swore protection for her. In her mind, there really wasn’t a choice anymore. If she chose not to go with him, then he might as well shoot her himself. Lara swallowed hard at that image and idea. It seemed for her, that whatever she was feelings at this juncture, her only option of staying alive, at least for awhile longer was to join him.

Lara’s eyes ached of fright and betrayal and she let it known to him as her reluctant hand reached out for his, trembling, heartbroken and as she felt the grasp of his palm around hers, for a moment she was transported back to this morning, with their playful banter and coy antics, finding every excuse just to be near each other or to touch the others skin. Nick lifted her with little effort and keeping one hand in hers and the other sliding to her lower back, as if to shelter her from harm, one could have almost mistaken them as the beginning gestures of a loving embrace.

And maybe it was because of those thoughts and because maybe for that one moment she wanted it all back, back to normal if you will, that she pulled herself to him and clenched her hand in his and against his chest. Like a child finding solace in the arms of her father, being enveloped by love and safety, looking for the humanity to stream back into his body and make the terror go away.

Lara lifted her tear streaked face up at his, her sapphire eyes pooling with a distant hope, as she let a small sniffle out and with a seemingly defeated look she spoke, “I pray it’s only them I have to worry about.�

She regrettably dropped her head unable to look at him, as emotions tried to force their way through again and like an obedient child, she waited for his instruction.

Nick took Lara by the chin as she lowered her gaze, and directing her eyes to his stare, he replied softly: �Praying won’t save you now.� He pulled her tightly into him with his free hand. He would be her sword, his body her shield, his very life her second chance. �But I will.�His eyes sparkled with earnest as he raised her lips to meet his and kissed her deeply.

The moment lasted all but for a moment before the somberness of his arrival overcame him again. Nick slipped Lara out of his arms and reached for her hand once more. �I don’t know how much time we have. He continued, keeping his voice down, a sense paranoia beleaguering his demeanor. With an eye to the opened drapes, he tosses the lights switch off.

Come. Nick said kindly, pulling Lara to follow him as he lead her across the darkened dining room towards the door. He turned to her a moment and grinned, a hopeful gesture that they may just escape this night alive.

As the light faded across the buildings, he took the only shot thought to be clear. It wasn't night so switching the the night scope would proove fruitless, a barrage of rando shots were fired into the building. Twleve rounds in total and then the barrel would be useless, the trouble with issued weapons was the use and destroy policy. Not that any of this mattered now, as the six shots pierced the glass and bit into the walls. Grabbing at the binoculars he turned on the heat sensitive view and watched the buliding, any sign of bodies cooling wouldn't be for a while so he had to confirm with lying bodies.
The flash suppresor and silencer would have kept the neighbours in there calm world, should the reporter be alive then he would need to make a move towards the building. Shadow Heart made the call to watch and observe, his cell turned off and lying in his pocket. Calling an evacuation wasn't really required yet, after all he had two bodies an no confirmed kill. Grabbing another clip of the six round ammunition he quickly changed the scope for the heat targeting, it's yellow and red glow always gave him a headache. But at least he could find the targets within the room, there was little motion at the time as he waited for them to move.

Adjusting the scope for the turbulant air, he watched the scene unfold before him. Body itching for a latte and mind racing with the need to read, all he wanted now was to confirm the kills. If he couldn't arrange that then he'd have to settle for the kill, but either party now within that appartment was his to claim. A rouge agent as it would seem, couldn't finish the task at hand. Maybe he had some issues in killing this woman, but if he had then the contact should have reported the issue to control for re-assignment.
Pushing a few of the scopes buttons, the scope moved in on the building and allowed him to get a clearer shot. He had used this rifle a thousand times in war zones, taking out militia and so called War Lords in the deserts. The recoil could almost dislocate your shoulder, if you had never been trained to fire it correctly. Thankfully he knew the art of a tripod with recoil supressors, one of the many perks in completing your tasks was a an arsenal to choose from.

What's taking so damn long?

Lara followed Nick’s lead, in any sort, what choice did she have and as the two breached the doorway a sporadic canopy of gunfire pierced the glass and beams in her apartment, sending both bodies hurling to the cement floor. Nick instinctively moved himself atop Lara, protecting her from the debris of splintering wood and fragments of glass.

She covered her head with her arms, the only comparable thing she new to do and was startled as Nick began to give her strict yet simple instructions as to their next move.

“2..3…Go!�

They scurried across the remainder of the dining room floor and as the doorway appeared to be a comfort, another barrage of bullets sliced through the apartment once again. Nick grabbed Lara and practically slammed her against the brick wall next to the door, pressing himself into her, shielding her from any stray projectiles that may be flinging about the place, bullets included. She couldn’t help but let out a small shriek as the strange reality of this whole ordeal suddenly became apparent. Nick’s hand quickly moved to her mouth, and in the settling quiet he again spoke calmly the next actions they would take.

Lara had an uneasy feeling of dread, knowing for certain that once the two of them broke the surface of her apartment door they would now be at the mercy of the outside world.

“Let’s go.�

Nick tugged her along as he smoothly slipped their bodies out into the darkened hall, offering a trusting smile along the way. Glancing throughout the space of hallway, she was thankful that there were no windows in the corridor and it made for an easier transition to the elevator but as the two were stepping into the lift, the stairwell door clicked open. Nick moved his hand to the gun at his back, pushed Lara to the back and moved his body in front of her, just as the elevator doors slid shut.

Not having to deal with a confrontation just yet, Lara let out a small sigh and slid herself to the corner, as Nick turned to face her.

Silence, save for the straining of the pulleys and cords that took the elevator from one floor to the next. She didn’t know what to say or better yet, how to say it. More over did she really want to say anything?

Nick stepped closer to her and seemed reticent to speak, like he wanted to or needed to but the words escaped him. He moved his hand and touched her forearm, a simple sign of familiarity, to which Lara cringed slightly and pulled away. Nick began to speak but Lara stopped him sharply and flat, her voice quivering and without the playfulness that once resided there, as her eyes along with her mouth simply pleaded.

“Don’t…just don’t.�

Nick slid down the elevator wall and sunk in beside Lara, a bitter distance between them as they descended in what appeared to be an eternity between floors. He rested his elbows on his knees and rubbed his head with both his hands, wondering how everything went wrong so quickly.

The elevator bell dinged and Nick slowly got back to his feet, reaching behind him and clasping his berretta. �Let’s go.� He said in a low voice, reaching to help Lara to her feet and then walking out ahead of her as the doors slid open, his weapon drawn and held in the small of Lara’s back as he guided her through the lobby.

At the main entrance, Nick paused for a moment, pushing the door open with his foot and peering out up at the surrounding buildings. In all honesty, if there were anyone there, it would have been futile, but he had hoped that were he just then shot dead, at least Lara would have another chance at escaping. Taking the coast to be clear, he ushered Lara out into the bustling street. Dusk was falling and the bright lights of the night added only to the confusion of the moment.

Hurriedly, Nick bounced from parked car to parked car, hoping to find one with an unlocked door. Cursing as he reached the end of the block without a means of transportation, he looks back at Lara in dismay. �They know where we are, we need to get out of the vicinity and fast.�

Amidst the rumblings of the brewing night life, Nick heard the growling of a fast approaching motorcycle. �It’s him.� He murmured, grabbing Lara by the hand and rushing into traffic in a last ditch effort of desperation. Jumping in front of taxi cab about to pull away at the light, Lara in tow, Nick raised his gun at the cab driver. �Out! Now!� He yelled, moving around to the driver’s side and opening the door, grabbing the flustered driver by the collar and tossing him to the curb.

�Lara, get in the back.� He said to her excitedly, jumping in the driver’s seat. …and keep your head down!� Nick threw the cab in driver amidst a soirée of honks and screams. He pulled away just as the light turned green for the crossing traffic, weaving precariously through the oncoming cars.

�Nothing I have ever told you has yet been a lie…� Nick started out of the blue, watching his mirrors frantically. �It is what I neglected to tell you that has tossed us in this mess.�

Nick takes a sharp left across traffic down an alleyway, hoping to throw any pursuers off. �I am an assassin… a hired gun… I get a call and I go and kill people…� He adjusted the rear view mirror to find Lara’s face. �I want you to know, that last night wasn’t business…

Lara’s body was thrown back into the cloth seat of the cab, as Nick sped off at the green light. The buzz of the motorbike suddenly became very real and Lara not dare take a peak out the back window to view their pursuer. Before she could completely situate herself, hunkered down in the opposite corner of the taxi, Nick began his confession.

Lara was stunned by what he was saying to her ‘assassin…hired gun…kill people’ and as she was about to interject he made his statement about last night. She swallowed hard and choked back the emotions that were once again bursting to come out. Another close call with the traffic outside caused a startled yelp to escape her, as she instinctively covered her face, as if blocking the view would make the situation disappear.

As the car maneuvered its way through traffic and she reached the front headrest to brace herself from becoming a ping pong in the back seat, she hastily inquired back at him, “Why me? Why am I to be killed?� her voice almost in protest, “Everything I’ve ever done has been legit; nothing has ever come from under the table informants or illegal transcripts or whatever other methods people use to get their information. Nothing.�

“Sometimes doing things the right way gets you noticed by all the wrong people.� Nick said, breaking sharply and pulling a hard left across traffic again, horns blaring. Nick was trying to cause as much commotion behind him as possible. He knew he stood little chance trying to outrun someone this time of night, but at least he could make it difficult.

�Anything can be filed under “Miscellaneous,� and sometimes the most dirt is just shoved into the corner. Everyone knows it is there, but nobody cares. Until someone sweeps it out and makes a fuss about it. Have you been making a fuss about anything lately?� Nick looked back at Lara through the rear view mirror. A weaving light caught his attention, a motorcycle quickly gaining. He needed an exit strategy, and fast.

The car ahead was casuing chaos enough to create attention, as he weaved the bike between cars at one point driving a straight line down the wrong side of the street. Nothing was out of place here as he mounted sidewalks, and pushed the engine ever closer to the much heavier taxi. There was no clear line of sight at this moment, but he was gaining ground on the target. Without a confirmation he wouldn't be able to fire a shot, not wanting to give away any position or motive he contnued to push beside them.

As the bike gained ground he could see the rear wheel arch, a shot would cause too much attention to the agency. And so he looked inside trying to find a target, the first assasin was driving this gave a little confirmation. But trafic was begining to build, this would make it harder for them to move. The bike was capable of navigating thinner passages, and long lines of traffic. He pulled back the clutch and shot pass the taxi, slowly removing the hand cannon from his back holster he moved the rear view mirror inorder to gain a viable target.

His clean shaven face a swept back dark hair rattled by the force of the wind, the tidy suit flapping about like a flag in a breeze. Perfect teeth and cold brown eyes, the brief glimpse of the killer sent to finish the job. V neck t-shirt flapped around as he undid his coat, a black simple shirt against the expensive suit. Well worn but polished boots completed the ensamble, as his hands began to burn from the cutting wind. As he pointed the hand cannon at the car, and watched for the next move to occur.

“Making a fuss about anything? I’m an editor, I have to make a fuss about everything but that’s merely type and format, before it goes to print.� Lara still feeling that this was all a little too ridiculous, tried to think back on the last 3 months at the major stories that found there way across her desk; it had been a dead late winter and spring, it generally wasn’t until the summer when things started to heat up.

Nothing…nothing big or unusual came into mind. Lara was key on remembering pretty much all of her stories and especially the ones that she took a special interest in but with it being a non-election year and the economy on an upswing, there really wasn’t anything of controversy to be writing about. Generally political turmoil, the mishandling or misrepresentation of federal funds or some other governmental mishap, created a buzz from coast to coast and was the topic of discussion for weeks on end; however, it seemed that for the moment the country had taken a breather and the best news to fly across her desk as of late was the latest Hollywood strike and that had already settled itself.

As Lara tried to maintain a clear stream of thought whilst Nick weaved the taxi through the Saturday night traffic, she had caught his eyes again as he glanced back to find her position in the back of the cab. Her feelings of hurt suddenly came rushing back and yet they were slowly subdued as she recalled the conversations from the night earlier and the familiarity of it all. The genuine tone and defenselessness that she felt and he portrayed in her presence. The buzz of a motorcycle fast approaching snapped her back into the present.

“It has to be a mistake. It has to be.� Her voice final and unwavering, “So you just have to call your people or whoever and tell them that they’ve got the wrong person; to recheck their information or however they go about setting a mark.� Her hands once again clasped the back of the front seat, like grabbing the bars of a jail cell; she choked down the fear of his next answer. “You can do that right? Nick…you can call them?�

�There was no mistake; you are marked to die, if not by my hands, then most likely by the man behind us.� A cleaner, it was clear now, this fate meeting was their destiny: that moment he saw Lara for the first time he knew it would change his world forever.

�There must be something… I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what you’re after!� He yelled at her, his focus purely on the task at hand and all manner of tact out the window. Yet in his moment of distraction, the pursuing killer took his chance. The motorcycle sped by the taxi as though it was practically standing still.

�Shit…� Nick cursed as he noticed the rider pulling out his pride and joy and aimed it right at them. Frantically he searched for an exit, but finding none, he realized they were dead in the water.

The shot fired, and Nick took a hard left, smashing into a passing car. Nick slammed on the brakes as the other car drifted forward and directed his car straight for a lamppost on the sidewalk. The airbags exploded with a mighty plume of powder. From behind, the screeching of tires broke the monotonous hissing sound of the busted radiator. Nick coughed, his eyes burning from the airbag powder.

�Lara… are you alright?�

Lara let out a frightened shriek as she heard the pop of glass from presumably a bullet and then the chaotic screech of braking tires as the taxi cab slammed into a light pole, sending Lara’s body into the passenger side back door.

Her head hurt slightly from the forceful thump it took against the side panel but her torso and shoulders had taken the brunt of the trauma, softening the blow just a little. Opening her eyes to refocus on her surroundings the interior of the cab had a misty fog to it, in all probability from the airbags.

Lara didn’t detect any immediate movement from the driver seat or from outside the vehicle and suddenly something in her mind told her that leaving was the best course of action at this juncture. Her hand reached over her shoulder and fumbled for the door release and as she slipped off her heels, knowing that making a run in them was basically pointless, at the click of the handle she heard Nick ask if she was alright.

Her gut sank momentarily, as she bit her lip to prevent herself from replying. How could he help her now? He had just told her that she was a dead woman and that there was nothing he could do to change that. Infact, at present, there were now two assassins set to kill her, staying with one of them didn’t seem to change matters. Especially, since he now believed that there was something she wasn’t telling him, refusing to cooperate, if you will. She swallowed hard, took a small breath and with that she pushed open the backdoor and essentially flung her crumpled up self onto the sidewalk, where the cab had so eloquently positioned itself.

The night air was warm and invigorating; a replay of last evening’s weather came to mind and a definite relief from the tense, stale air that had been building inside the taxi. Lara pushed herself up with her hands to a now standing position and moved her body a few feet away from the wreck, to once again reorientate herself with her surroundings. There was a mass of people swarming to get near the vehicles to see if the persons involved were alright, a few people on the sidewalk tried to approach Lara but she shook them off and continually distanced herself, unable to detect friend from foe.

She thought she had heard Nick yell her name, maybe even more than once, but as more people moved onto the scene she moved herself farther away and once free of the initial crowd, she turned and ran

Lara moved through the nighttime crowds seemingly with ease, which unfortunately for her wasn’t helping her disappear any faster. She had no plan, no destination; she just wanted to be free, away from the very idea that was to be her death. Thankfully she knew the downtown fairly well and it would be in its side alleys and quick passage ways, that she would have the best luck of losing her pursuer. Her breathing was heightened, both form the anxiety of possibly being chased and the running in general, the flush of air past her face caused her eyes to tear, that and the heartache from running away from the one person that she inevitably had seen herself forever wanting to run to.

There was an open air plaza up ahead and as she saw it coming into better view, due to its period authentic lights and maritime flags, she momentarily slowed a bit and turned her head back to see if she was being pursued. There was definite movement in the crowd behind her, sending an intense wave of panic through her body, that and the frightening realization that she was actually gonna have to come up with a plan.

Nick grabbed frantically at Lara as she struggled with the car door handle but to no avail. Between the choking smoke and entangling airbag, Nick simply couldn’t reach her in time, stumbling over into the back seat just as Lara managed to fling herself out onto the sidewalk.

�Lara… no… stop… Lara!� He cried in desperation, an outstretched hand pleading for her to turn around to come out. Tumbling out of the back seat, Nick staggered to his feet, still coughing from the dust. He turned for a moment to see where their assailant was, the assassin already having made his turn-about and was heading straight back at the hissing cab. Nick tripped over his own feet as he struggled to gain momentum through the thickening crowd, pushing onlookers aside as he started his pursuit of Lara.

Lara gaining ground, Nick paused again and turned to face the advancing hitman. Pulling out his berretta, Nick fired off a series of shots at the assassin, taking little time to steady his aim beyond missing any innocent bystanders. Nick stumbled again and landed himself against a wall, bouncing off and getting a jump back at running after Lara. If anything else, he hoped to create some more distance between her and their assailant.

It was practically dark already, the lights of marina looming in the near distance. Nick could hear crashing waves of passing water craft over the bustling of the city. If nothing else, Nick hoped to draw the assassin towards the water: at least there Nick new the killer’s bullets would count for much less once he hit the water. And with the low tide current flowing out, Nick may just have a chance to float away alive this night.

As the crash unfolded he began to return to the smash, the woman darted into the crowds as the oher half fell into the night air. Parking the bike he watched the crowd begin to gather, both driver and passenger now members of the crowd. Watching her move into the streets, he began to follow the other assasin. His shots rang out into the air, people began to run as he cleared the street. Shadow dived for some cover in a shop entrance, and slid his gun from the back holster. Loading the clip and charging the chamber, he took a single shot at the random firing of bullets. There was no aim in his shot, just something to buy him time more than anything else.

As the woman began to vanish into the darkness of the alleys, he took another measured shot at the other equally hidden target. Sirens were starting to make themselves known, time was growing short on this attempt. But at least he now knew the time frame, he waited for the blockade to make a run for it. If he was within the confines of a police cell he wouldn't pose much of an issue, there were ways for him to find the two again. All he needed was a phone call, firing another shot towards the hidden foe as the sirens became clear and loud. Remaining silent at this time was his best option, as the sound of sirens became the medics heading towards the crash scene. The police had yet to arrive, he began to consider his options of targets. At least one was within reach he waited for any return fire, and took a brief glance at the surrounding area.

Hearing shots ring out behind her, Lara covered her mouth in shock and stammered an immediate right down towards the waterfront. She pushed herself through a few bodies walking along the city boardwalk, as her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her throat from the urgency she was now instilling in her pace.

Her legs ached from lack of proper foot support, as she stopped briefly to quickly examine her choices in direction. She startled again as a few more random shots rang out and as she began to make her choice, like a gift from above, the whistle from the evening ferry blew, sending a bellow of sound throughout the boardwalk and pier area.

A small smile and minor breath of salvation found Lara’s lips as she pivoted herself and made for the ferry landing. The sounding of the horn had announced the last call for boarding and as Lara pressed herself in with the boarding passengers, she was utterly relieved when her feet hit the smooth surface of the boat decking. She turned her head back to see if there was any sign of a follower and as the attendee closed the gate to initiate departure, she felt a rush of emotion hit her.

Biting her bottom lip, she methodically made her way to the bow of the boat, refraining from going indoors as in her mind enclosed spaces seemed like a rather trapped place right now.

There were only a few people up front and even they were slowly moving their way back to the sides of the ferry. The breeze was a bit cool, especially considering she was wearing a strapless dress and barefoot. She found a wooden bench to sit on and tucked in her legs, wrapping her arms around them to for one: created warmth, and secondly, offer some sort of personal sanctuary from the outside world.

Lara dropped her head onto her knees and let the tears flow. She quietly sobbed. How could so much have gone so wrong and all with in a mere twenty-four hours of occurring? As if being shown heaven, by God himself and then mockingly having your chariot bring you to the gates of hell. She tried to wipe the tears away with the backs of her hands but it was futile and at the moment in her ‘soon to be’ short life, she couldn’t care less.

Nick flung himself around a corner, grabbing at the b