0 comments/ 33094 views/ 36 favorites 180 Degrees-Tae & Vicky's Tomorrow By: MercuryLove31 I sat in that hotel room and watched her...watched as she told her story, watched as she cried, watched as she grew exhausted and, finally, watched as she slept. I knew she only slept because I had strongly encouraged her to take a few sleeping pills...she really needed the rest. She'd been carrying a huge weight on her shoulders, that's for sure. She was dating, and running drugs for, a man that would certainly hang her out to dry. And ultimately, she was working for Jimmy L, one of the biggest dealers in New York. It so happens he was also a problem for me. He just happened to be the number two guy under the man who had once tried to kill me. I shook my head, grabbing my car keys, scribbling a quick note, and leaving a room that suddenly seemed too small and stuffy. As I folded my rather tall frame into my trusty Toyota, I shook my head again. I found the entire situation to be utterly absurd. And I wondered if I could save this woman...if she wanted to be saved. My mind was running a mile a minute as my foot pressed heavily on the gas. I felt the need for cool air against my cheeks, the feeling of freedom as the car made its way down a pretty deserted highway. I wasn't sure which direction I was driving in...I wasn't sure I cared. I was more amused that I had a knack for falling for women who wound up in trouble with gangs in New York City. Over a decade later and I was in the same situation. How had I turned my life completely around, turned it 180 degrees from where it had been when I was 19, and still wound up back in the same situation? In between a beautiful woman and the Netas. I laughed, but I didn't really find anything funny. She was in trouble and I was not sure I could help her. Not without radically changing my life and possibly ending my career. Because to help her, I would most likely need help from my grandfather. And I had been very careful to put a lot of distance between my job and my grandfather. Contacting him, asking him for guidance, and maybe even for protection, would most likely get me kicked off the force. You can't have a criminal as a close relative. And my grandfather? I had checked once I was hired. He'd been indicted for murder at least three times. No way would my supervisors let that one go. So, once again, I had to ask myself, was my life work risking for a woman? For this woman? I sighed. I didn't know. I just didn't know. 180 Degrees-Tae & Vicky's Tomorrow 02 The ride home was filled with tension, both women lost in their own thoughts. Vicky wasn't sure how to feel...what to think. This woman...this silent, brooding, strong, attractive woman had pretty much just saved her life. She'd made it so that she wouldn't have to leave, give up her name, her job...her identity. She might be found guilty when she spoke to the ADA, and she would probably take a plea...or maybe she would only get probation considering it was her first offense. She could move back into Dylan's house, considering he'd put it in her name, and she could move on. All because of the woman sitting beside her. She turned to look at her a few times, but Tae didn't respond. She seemed...distant. Maybe even angry? Perhaps all of this, calling in favors, having to deal with her family, had angered her? Had made her resentful? Or maybe Tae was annoyed because Vicky had not offered her anything? Other than one bout of sex, she had pretty much been taking, taking, taking and offering nothing in return. The thought upset her. There had to be a way to make things right. Once they arrived at the hotel, Vicky set about looking for one of the purses she'd brought with her from Dylan's house. She found it after a few minutes and approached Tae who was sitting on the bed watching television. "Here," she said, handing her a bankbook. "What's that?" Tae asked. "It's something I should have given you a while ago." She watched as Tae opened the book, frowning, "what is this?" Vicky shrugged, not sure how to interpret Tae's question. "You pretty much saved my life...I just wanted to—" "And you thought I would want you to give me every last dime you have as payment?" Tae snapped. "N-no...no. I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to—" Tae tossed the bankbook across the room. "I don't want it." Vicky sighed, ignoring the bankbook lying on the floor. "Well, what do you want? I mean, you've been ignoring me since we left your Grandfather's place. What do you want from me? Why are you so angry?" Tae snorted, standing and snatching her jacket. Vicky watched as she headed toward the door. "No—" Vicky grabbed her arm to stop her, not really shocked when Tae slammed her back against a wall. "Just—" Tae struggled for the words, found none, and turned to leave again. "No! Talk to me damnit!" Vicky grabbed her arm again, stopping her. She watched as Tae closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Just give me a few, okay?" "No, I can't! I can't sit here while you disappear again! I can't—" The panic registered. She didn't want it to, but Tae could hear it. She took another deep breath, tossing her jacket onto a chair and turning to take in the woman standing before her. She was trembling...open...exposed...and damn if she wasn't incredibly fucking sexy. All that soft, honeyed caramel skin, the intense, amber colored eyes, staring up at her, asking...begging...those delicious, full lips... This woman just reached down deep and grabbed at something inside of Tae. Something that just made her... She didn't know if she'd made the conscious choice to kiss her. She only knew a moment later she was capturing those lips, taking possession of them...plunging in. She couldn't seem to get enough. Enough of the taste of her, the smell of her, the feel of her... She pulled her closer, roughly, not caring if she bruised, her tongue invading, tasting, savoring, staking claim. She inhaled the sweetness of her as she pillaged, stole her most prized possessions...her sanity...her heart. She forced her backwards, lying her down on the bed as she removed her clothing like a woman obsessed. She needed to feel her, to taste every inch of her, to possess her in a way no other ever had, no other ever would, spoiling her for every other person she would ever meet... And she set about doing just that. Licking, laving, atoning, glorying in every nibble, every bite. She felt consumed by an incomprehensible heat...this woman...lying beside her, beneath her...she was starved for her, her body filled with a desperate need...desperate to please, frantically seeking the next moan, the next gasp, the next incoherent plea. She expertly molded flesh until it hardened in response, her fingers dipping, invading , exploring until Vicky was a quivering mass...and then she continued, urging her on, pushing her forward, forcing her to new heights... She'd lost count of how many times Vicky came. She only knew if she didn't find some release soon, she would implode. She grabbed Vicky's hand, forcing it into her jeans, squeezing her thighs together as Vicky took control, caressing, manipulating, breaking down her defenses and sending her into an agonizing orgasm. She felt her body shudder violently as the pressured released...and then, finally, she slept. *** ONE YEAR LATER... It was dry. It was so dry...and hot. It didn't matter that everyone said such heat was unusual for this time of year, it was still hot...and dry. She drank bottle after bottle of water, trying to quench a thirst she couldn't seem to quench. But what did she expect when she was relocated to New Mexico? When she left Pennsylvania, it had been raining. Lots and lots of rain. Cool drops that splashed on your face, snuck into your collar to slide down your back. It was a rain that promised to cool off whatever heat might have been threatening. And it left behind green, lush bushes and trees, and air filled with the scent of freshly cut grass... But not here. Not in this damn...desert. There was dirt, and clay, and red rocks...and prickly little parts of plants that hurt when they clung to you. There was very little green, very little water, very little life. At least that's how it seemed. Even after a year, it still seemed that way. The people were nice. They spoke with a weird, Southwestern, Hispanic twang. They were kind and generous, although most of them were quite poor. There were cattle, goats, chickens, donkeys and horses moseying around the property they'd rented for her. Some "landgrab" agreement where livestock were still allowed to freely roam the area and people were allowed to live as homesteaders. The entire life, from the brown, drab, dry heat to the adobe houses and farm animals, made no sense to her. But this is where they'd stuck her until she testified. She could remember the evening they returned from the meeting with Tae's family, Tae's well-connected criminal family, like it was yesterday. Tae hadn't said a word to her on the drive back to the hotel. Then she'd ravaged her, erased every thought from her brain...and then disappeared. The next time they saw one another, it was a few days later and Tae was picking her up for the meeting with the Assistant District Attorney. Another silent car ride, and then they were sitting in a conference room as she told her story to a relatively young, white male who was prematurely balding and wore a suit that didn't fit very well. But he wasn't interested in hearing about Dylan's petty crimes. He kept pushing, kept asking questions...and she kept talking, ignoring Tae's warning glare. When she was done, she'd told the ADA everything and his eyes had brightened at the thought of arresting someone so high up in the Neta organization. She could directly link Dylan to Jimmy L. and, ultimately, to Marco. That's the testimony he wanted. It had all happened so quickly. She was talking with the ADA, then with the Federal Marshals about witness protection...and then she was packing a few bags and moving to New Mexico. Her only stipulation? She wanted Tae with her. They'd bulked at the idea at first. She and Tae weren't married, they weren't even really a couple. And Tae was a state trooper, they couldn't really find a place for her. But when Vicky refused to back down, they agreed to assign Tae to her and Taegan Elba Marie Gonzalez was sworn in as a federal marshal. And their relationship, or whatever it could have been, ended there. That was their condition. No fooling around with anyone assigned to her. No exceptions. And so she and Tae became protector and protectee...and nothing more. Tae took the assignment seriously. She stopped talking to her in any context other than as a marshal assigned to protect her. So she had no idea how Tae had explained things to her father and grandfather. No idea how Marcos and Jimmy L. had taken the news. No idea what happened with the Netas when Dylan, Jimmy and Marcos were arrested a few weeks after she had been relocated. All she knew was that she had violated the agreement Tae's grandfather had brokered. And that probably meant all bets were off. So, not only had she risked her own life, she'd put Tae, her father and her grandfather at risk as well. * She sighed as she dressed for work. Although she was a protected witness, she had not gone into the witness protection program officially. So, she'd kept her first name, but not her last. And they'd given her a new social security number. And they'd placed her in the field of education, although probably as far from her college teaching as possible. She was now the director of a day care facility. Not exactly her cup of tea at first, and certainly not what she'd planned to do with her MSW, but she had warmed up to the position. Now she worried about the kids at her center as much as any parent would worry. She was careful about the women she hired to work with them, followed up with any problems her students might express to their teachers, and she met with parents often, either in her office or in their homes. She had become a dedicated professional, a change she felt she owed society for giving her a second chance and keeping her out of prison. The change in her was clearly indicated by the simple white blouse, slim navy skirt and black pumps she wore. She typically wore a lightweight blazer, but the weather was threatening to dazzle New Mexico residents with triple digits and she knew she would be soaked through with sweat if she wore one. She checked her simple make-up once again, amazed at the change in the mirror. Her skin was still silky, but the honeyed caramel had darkened a bit under the New Mexican sun. Her cheeks, decorated with deep dimples when she smiled, were a little more pronounced from her recent weight loss (just 15 pounds, but it made a difference) and her eyes, still the color of deep, rich amber, reflected a qualified, serious woman, certainly different from how she saw herself when she was dating Dylan. And now, she wore a natural colored foundation and just a hint of color on her lips. The package, she'd been told more than once by interested parties, was quite attractive, including the curves upon curves hidden beneath her professional attire. She'd also let her hair grow. Instead of short, tight curls that used to frame her face, she now had a dark, rich mane that brushed her shoulders. She typically wore her hair in a bun or a ponytail these days. It was easier to maintain it that way. She sighed. But what difference did it make what she looked like when the only person she wanted to notice ignored her? She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. Okay, she had a full day today and she needed to get started. Shaking her head to clear it, she shoved the files she'd been reviewing into her oversized purse and grabbed the car keys, making her way to the front door. Her hand was on the doorknob when someone knocked, startling her. She glanced at her watch, wondering who would be at the door at 7am. Cautious, as she always was since relocating, she checked the peephole, sighing when she saw Sam's face, one of the marshal's assigned to her. When she opened the door, her smile quickly faded. His face was tight, pale, his green eyes worried and quickly assessing everything around him. His typical smile was missing from his thin lips. Something was wrong. "What is it?" He took her in, nodding as he remembered she left for work around this time. "No work today. We have a breach and we need to move you. Now." She hesitated as the words sunk in. A breach? Move her? Where? Now? And where was Tae? "A breach? What do you mean?" He closed the door behind him, leading her over to a sofa and trying to sit her down. "I just need you to pack a bag—" "Tell me what happened, Sam. Please." She pleaded, refusing to sit. He paused. He could see she was not going to move until he told her what was going on. And she hadn't asked the one question he'd been expecting. "Vicky, Taegan is gone. I went to pick her up this morning and—" He was pacing, combing his fingers through his hair as he tried to explain. "There wasn't anything wrong. Nothing out of place, no sign of a struggle. She just—...she packed some of her stuff and-and...she's gone." She sat. Her heart was pounding in her chest suddenly, her hands trembling. She closed them into fists to try and stop them from shaking. "She didn't contact you? Anyone? Leave a note?" The words sounded absurd even as she asked them. Tae would not leave a note. But she also wouldn't just abandon her. Not without good reason. "There wasn't anything. And until we find out why she broke protocol, we move you to keep you safe." She was still having some trouble following his logic, "you think she would put me in danger? She wouldn't." He nodded, "I believe you, but it's procedure. So please, you've gotta pack—" "I need to go to New York." The words startled him and he paused for a moment. "What?" "I need to—...I have to go to New York." He shook his head, slowly at first, more passionately when she failed to understand. "Vicky, you can't go to New York. There are people trying to kill you there, did you forget that?" She nodded, "I understand that, but I still need to go." He knelt in front of her, taking hold of her hands. "It will never be approved Vicky. Just...just let me get you somewhere safe and then—" "Then I'm opting out of the program." He paused again, this time for much longer. He stared at her for a moment, surprised. Then he stood, combing his fingers through his hair again and again. "Sam, it's okay. I understand that you're not responsible if anything happens to me. I just have to do this. And if they won't let me go..." She watched him as he began to pace again. She waited a few moments before standing. "Make the call, Sam. It's okay. Just tell them I'm out." Finally he turned back to her. She could see the resignation on his face as he realized she was serious. "Okay, okay...just wait. Uh..." She watched as he struggled with the words. "Just give me a day—" She was already shaking her head. "A few hours then? Let me try to find her, okay? Before you make any drastic decisions." She hesitated, reluctant to waste a few hours, but then nodded. She would let them try to locate Tae first. If they couldn't, she'd hidden most of the money she'd taken from Dylan. And she was pretty sure she could find that brownstone in Manhattan. She would go there, even if the Netas wanted her dead, to make sure Tae was okay. *** She waited exactly three hours before she began to pack. She took only what she needed in one carry on bag, including the cash she'd hidden at Tae's suggestion, before leaving a note for Sam and making her way to the airport. The only flight she could get to New York left in three hours and had three layovers. She wouldn't arrive until after midnight. She knew she would be exhausted, but she didn't care. If Tae's father, or grandfather, didn't know where Tae was, then...She didn't want to think about it. She knew she should be worried about her own safety, but she wasn't traveling under her own name. It would take the Neta's some time to realize she was in New York...she hoped. And that time should be enough time for her to find Tae and come up with a new plan. She realized, once again, as she ate breakfast to pass the time, she was putting a lot of stock in Tae taking care of her...again. Assuming she could find Tae, of course. She shook that thought from her head. She would find her. She had to. * It was late, and much colder, in New York when she arrived. She regretted, for a moment, not grabbing a jacket before leaving the very warm state of New Mexico. She found a cab and gave them what she thought was at least the right city block. She'd probably have to walk around a little in order to find the brownstone. When the cab dropped her off, she realized the area looked more familiar than she was expecting. She found the building easily, making her way up the steep flight of stairs leading up to a massive front door and what looked like a pretty intricate intercom system. She was about to press the button when the front door opened and a huge man, the color of warm bronze, with tattoos decorating both arms and the area of his neck visible above the tee shirt he wore, stared down at her. "¿Que tu quieres?" He barked at her. She didn't speak Spanish, but she assumed he was asking what she wanted. "I'm looking for Tae? Taegan Gonzalez? My name is Victoria Long—...uh, I mean Victoria Cummings." He continued to stare at her for a moment before barking her name and some other words in Spanish into a cell phone. She waited anxiously, not sure what response he would get. Considering she hadn't listened to them before, perhaps they would turn her away. Or, perhaps they had made arrangements to hand her over to Marcos if she dared show her face in New York ever again... But none of those things happened. Instead, after a few moments, the huge man pointed her in the direction of the elevator. She rode up to the second floor alone and was greeted by one of the most attractive, young, Hispanic women she'd ever seen in her life. Skin the color of olives and a figure to die for, the woman indicated she should follow her. She recognized the room the woman led her to, closing the door behind her and leaving Vicky alone with her thoughts. She didn't have much time to think about the choices she'd made in the last day before the door opened. She turned, expecting to see the broad forehead, thick, pudgy nose, and full thick lips of the plain looking, caramel-colored woman that haunted her dreams most night. But it was not her impressive sight, raspy voice or intense gray eyes that met her. Instead, she was staring into the face of the older man she'd met only once before. Very attractive himself, he looked older than she remembered just a year ago. He was dressed in an impressive silk shirt and slacks, his ever present cane in his hand, his hair just a little grayer, his eyes dark...and haunted? He looked tired...actually more worn out than tired. And his limp was more pronounced. He didn't speak to her immediately, instead walking to one of the huge windows and staring out of it, his back to her. Finally, when she thought she couldn't hold her tongue for another moment, he turned back to her and raised a brow. "What are you doing in New York, Ms. Longman?" So he did remember her, she thought. She licked her lips nervously. "I'm looking for your grand-daughter. She's missing—" "No, she's here." Relief. That was the emotion that first registered in her mind. Relief that she was okay. Relief that she'd found her. Relief that she was with her family and not beaten, shot and bleeding to death somewhere. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. When she opened them, Don Carlos was watching her. "Please, can I speak with her?" Vicky finally managed to ask. He hesitated for a moment before indicating that she should sit down. "She's not here at the moment. Have a seat. Rest a little. I'll have someone bring you something to eat." And then she was alone again. She sat down heavily, a weight lifted from her that she hadn't realized she was carrying. Tae was in New York and she was okay. She couldn't imagine hearing anything else that would change how she felt at the moment. 180 Degrees-Tae & Vicky's Tomorrow 02 *** When she woke from the sleep her exhausted body had slipped into, hours had passed. They'd fed her, kept her comfortable, given her a remote control for the huge television that was hidden from plain sight in one of the exquisite mahogany cabinets...and had done everything else but produce the woman she had traveled 2,000 miles to see. After freshening up in the small, private bath the lovely young Hispanic had pointed out, watching a bit more television, and staring out of a window for an immeasurable amount of time, she was about to leave the room and hunt for Tae herself when the door opened. She turned, half expecting to see one of the young women who had been catering to her every need. Instead, she found her breath hitching and her mind fuzzing over as she lost herself in a pair of stormy grey eyes. She swallowed as the tall figure entered the room, dwarfing it with her size and presence. They stared at one another for a few moments before Tae finally spoke. "What the hell are you doing here?" Vicky blinked, taken aback by the cold, harsh tone, wrapping her arms around herself self-consciously. "Y-you disappeared. You...they couldn't find you." She knew her voice sounded weak and pathetic, almost childlike, but she couldn't help it. What did she think would happen when no one could find her? Did Tae really think she wouldn't look for her? After everything Tae had sacrificed for her? She watched as the tall woman seemed to digest her words. Still, the words didn't melt her icy disposition. Vicky watched her, confused...hurt. What the hell was going on? "I faxed my resignation in a few hours ago." Tae informed her curtly. Vicky nodded. Okay, that resolved one problem. But it didn't explain why this woman, who had gone against her family to be with her for the past year, had left suddenly without a word of explanation. And it didn't explain why this woman, who typically had to struggle to maintain a sense of professionalism around her, was treating her like a stranger at the moment. No, not a stranger, a threat...an enemy. She took a step toward her, only to feel steely fingers grip her heart brutally when Tae took a step back. She swallowed, trying to keep the tears at bay. "Tae...?" She could think of no other words. She had absolutely no idea what was going on. No idea why this woman, who had been her only source of support, strength and comfort for so long, was behaving this way toward her. "I don't understand—" "Look, you need to go back. They told me you opted out, but I explained it was a mistake and I would have you on a plane tonight. Just go back, okay?" She watched as if through someone else's eyes as Tae turned from her, her hand reaching for the doorknob. She didn't know how she crossed the room so quickly, and she wasn't sure what to expect when she grabbed Tae's arm, but it wasn't the repulsion that seemed to cross the woman's face before she masked it. She removed her hand, stunned by Tae's reaction, more confused than ever. "Tae, what's going on? What did I do?" The tall woman turned from her, her broad back the only part of Tae visible for a long moment before she turned to face her again, those gray eyes cold and withdrawn. "They killed my father." No. The word reverberated through her mind although she didn't speak it aloud. They killed him. Marcos' people. They'd found a way. And it was because of her. Because she'd broken the agreement. Because she gave them Jimmy and Marco as well as Dylan. Because she'd saved her own neck and put everyone else at risk, people who had been trying to help her. Now she understood. The hostility...the hatred. Tae must blame her. She certainly blamed herself. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to swallow down the bitter tasting bile that seemed lodged at the back of her throat. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry Tae. I'm sorry about everything. You don't have to worry, I won't bother you again." She'd left the huge brownstone and was in a cab before she realized it. Tae had not moved a muscle, or said a word, to stop her. *** She didn't go back to New Mexico. What was the point? Her promise to testify had triggered a war between the Neta sects and now Tae's father was dead...all because of her. There was no way she was going to testify and cause Tae more pain, more problems. They would release Marco and Jimmy, maybe even Dylan. And maybe they would let things lie, maybe things would go back to normal and Tae could get back to her life as a trooper. Maybe... She didn't know what would happen. She only knew she could not hurt Tae again by actually testifying. So she took the money Tae had encouraged her to hide from the marshals and she ran. They would issue a warrant for her arrest. Of that she was certain. And she would be facing quite a number of years in prison, she knew that as well. But the risk was worth it to protect Tae. She only wished she'd thought of it sooner. Before Tae had been orphaned. She shook her head as she drove the rental car. God, how had all of this happened? She'd had her head buried in the sand so deeply that she actually thought she was happy with Dylan. She was teaching, he paid all the bills and had bought her a new car...she really had never thought of the problems carrying the 'package' could cause her. And she'd never thought Dylan was using her. It was just the nature of their relationship. He'd asked, she refused, he cajoled, teased and harassed, and she finally agreed. Anything to keep her man happy, right? She winced at the thought. She hadn't even really complained when he asked her to carry more and more over the years. He made it all so simple, the pick-up, driving his nice car, not involving her in the distribution piece of his little business. It was all so neat, tidy and...simple. Life couldn't have been any better. Until she met Tae. From the moment they met, she'd started worrying, wondering...doubting. The woman had forced her to open her eyes and look in the mirror. Had forced her to ask the hard questions. And how had she repaid her? She'd forced the woman to quit her job and put Tae's family in harm's way. This woman that had been there for her, risked her life for her, this woman...this woman... This woman she'd fallen in love with. How could she have hurt her in such a way? These were the thoughts that plagued her as she drove and drove into the night. *** 180 Degrees-Tae & Vicky's Tomorrow 03 I wound up in, literally, a one-horse town in North Carolina. A town I'd never heard of whose biggest achievement had been opening a Walmart about 6 months ago. There was a Community College, a psychiatric hospital and, shockingly, about 4 different prisons surrounding the tiny town. Within the first few months, as I waited tables at a diner, I met the mayor, a few of the council-people and an assemblyman. That is how small the town was. Everyone knew everyone, everyone's family had lived there for generations, and there really was only one good diner. I just happen to be lucky enough to be working at said diner. I was renting a room from an elderly woman who has having trouble making ends meet with her pension check. I was glad to help out. In fact, I started doing her grocery shopping, picking up her many prescriptions and cooking two nights a week for us. Life was quiet, there were not many places a thug could hide if they were looking for me...and there was no chance of bumping into Taegan Elba Marie Gonzalez. No chance in hell. I will say that as a plus-sized black woman, there was no lack of interested parties. The few single men in town, and a few of the married men, went gaga for my soft caramel skin, my amber colored eyes, the dimples in my cheeks and the generous curves hidden beneath my blue and white waitress uniform. But for the first three months, I wasn't interested in dating. I only wanted to spend time with one person, and she was not available. After that? I don't know...I realized I was a little lonely. And I was hoping that perhaps a distraction would help with...well, help with...you know. And so I dated. Really nice guys who were intrigued by a relatively attractive stranger. Men who typically wanted more than just the casual fling I was interested in. How odd, right? Usually it's the woman that wants a serious relationship, a pledge, a commitment. But not me. My heart was already imprisoned. It wasn't available for anyone else. I'm not sure it ever would be. * What I liked about Bridgewater, North Carolina was the simplicity. I didn't have to think about what I'd done. I didn't have to worry about an impending trial. I didn't have to think about putting anyone at risk. The Netas weren't interested in anyone here. And I'd read in one of the local papers, a newspaper that was much better than I would have imagined, Dylan and Jimmy had been released since the D.A. no longer had a case without their star witness. I had quite a bit of guilt about that, but I believed it was for the best. Tae and her family would resolve their issues with the other Netas and she would be able to move on with her life. And as long as I kept my head down, they would not look for me. I was no longer a problem they, or she, had to solve. I was a nobody. They would forget I ever existed...right? I mean...it made sense to me. And so my only job was to figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. It certainly wasn't waiting tables in a tiny town, no matter how nice the people were here. I was thinking I would move to Santa Fe. The city was far enough way, and big enough, to hide me. Perhaps I could return to teaching. I wouldn't be able to list my last job, since I'd left them in a lurch (no positive letters of recommendations would be forthcoming), but I think I had the qualifications and experience to find a part-time teaching job. And I knew there were at least two universities within driving distance from Santa Fe with Social Work graduate and undergraduate programs. I might be able to piece together enough work that would allow me to live modestly. And I still had some of Dylan's money. Enough for a used car as well as first and last month's rent on an apartment. I didn't really like the idea of returning to such a dry, brownish-red part of the country...but what options did I have? I could not stay in the Northeast. It just wouldn't be smart. * But I didn't do any of that right away...it was a plan, but a plan that I wasn't sure when I would put in place. See, in Santa Fe, there would be no news about Tae. In North Carolina...well, I was close enough to New York that if something major happened with her, or her family, I could read about it. Like when her Grandfather was indicted, but then the charges were dropped because they couldn't find anyone to testify against him. And like when someone sprayed a restaurant with semi-automatic weapons while Tae and her Grandfather were inside. It took two days before they reported that no one had been killed. And it took a lot of willpower, on my part, not to rush to New York...but I didn't. I mean...she wouldn't have welcomed me anyway. And meanwhile, I'd met Gerry. Gerald Moore. He was 15 years my senior, divorced, no kids, and a correction officer at one of the local prisons. Gerry was solid. Solid milk chocolate brown, solid muscle that stood 6'4" tall...a solid guy all around. Honest, not pushy, ready to marry for the second time and settle down. I was honest with him, telling him I wasn't ready for a serious commitment and I wasn't sure I wanted kids. He was disappointed, but still interested. I'm pretty sure he thought he would be able to change my mind. And it was nice having someone who was interested in me. Not because I was doing them any favors, or because my name was clean so they could use me to hide their assets. And not because I needed to be rescued. He just wanted to spend time with me and get to know me...and I appreciated that. And so I dated Gerry. And I read books. And I watched television. And I read the paper. And that was my life. For eight months, that was my life...and it was okay. A little boring, but certainly better than pounds of uncut cocaine, violent, coked-up boyfriends, witness protection and dangerously attractive former New Jersey State Troopers. * "You almost ready Vic?" I was staring in the mirror, finishing with my make-up. I liked the dress I'd ordered online. It was a rich, cranberry that hugged my shapely hips, emphasized my breasts and showed a little of my curvy thigh. I had pulled my hair back into a tight bun and was coloring my lips with a shade that matched the dress. I had already wiggled into seamed, sheer stockings and slipped on three-inch heels. I looked good and I felt good. It was our three-month anniversary and Gerry was driving us to a larger, neighboring city so we could have a "nice" dinner. His words. I really hadn't taken the time to explore any of the neighboring areas, so I wasn't familiar with the restaurant or the larger city. I didn't really care. I also really didn't care that he had been acting a little weird lately. A little withdrawn...a little cooler toward me. It was odd, and I'd meant to talk to him about it...but today, he'd shown up with a dozen white roses (he said he didn't want to pressure me with red roses) and the sweetest charm bracelet. He'd only chosen three charms, a pair of handcuffs (he smiled, promising that was the only symbol of a correctional institution he would ever give to me), a star (he said I was his shining star in what had been a pretty bleak, dark life) and an infinity symbol. Again, he assured me that he wasn't trying to pressure me, but he wanted us to be together forever and he wanted me to know that. He then handed me a small booklet of their other charms and said he had pre-paid, so I could pick out three more over dinner. It was a kind, thoughtful gift. It should not have weighed a ton when he fastened it on my wrist...but it did. Not literally, figuratively. And I thought about that as I finished my make-up and paused a moment to stare at myself in the mirror. What the hell was I doing? "Vic?" "Uh, yea, give me a few," I finally called out to him. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair. She probably never even thought about me. She'd probably moved on with her life. But as I stared down at that bracelet, I could only think of Tae. I'm not sure why. No, that was not true. I didn't want to celebrate my three-month anniversary with Gerry. He was sweet, and attractive, and generous...but he wasn't Tae. I wanted her to give me a bracelet. I wanted to spend that night laughing as I sat across from her at a "nice" dinner. I wanted to feel her lips against mine as she kissed me goodnight. I wanted to drag her into my small apartment and surrender to the spell she'd cast over me. I wanted her hands on me, her lips on my body, her body pressed against mine... And it wasn't getting any easier after eight months. Wasn't it supposed to be getting better? Wasn't it supposed to be getting easier? But it wasn't. I still thought about her all the time. I still worried about how she was doing. I still longed for the feel of her. And it just wasn't fair. It wasn't fair to me...and it wasn't fair to Gerry. I sighed again, finishing up and then turning off the light. It might not be fair, but it's all I had at the moment. Gerry was all I had at the moment. And that would have to be enough for now...right? * It was a nice restaurant. Very nice. The appetizer, a clam dish, was quite delicious and the starter salad was fresh and crisp with an excellent dressing. Even the wine Gerry had selected was wonderful, complementing the clam dish nicely. Gerry had turned up the charm and had me laughing and relaxing in no time. He really was a good guy. They had just set our entrées in front of us, refilling our wine glasses, when Gerry asked me a question that almost made me choke. "So Vic...everyone has a secret. What are you hiding?" The fork, with the stuffed flounder, had been on its way to my mouth when I returned it to the plate and just looked at him. "What makes you think I'm hiding anything?" I asked, probably a bit defensively. He shrugged, diving into his lasagna. "My ex-wife had really bad credit, which she failed to tell me about before I married her. In fact, I'm still paying off some of her debt. But that taught me a lesson. So now, when I'm interested in a woman, I do a little digging. I couldn't find much about you on the Internet. So, I had a friend of mine at the police station run your name. You seem to only have existed for about two years..." I was staring at him now, totally dumbfounded. He'd done a background check on me? Really? And of course he hadn't found anything. I was using the name from the witness protection program, not my real name. They'd warned me that the name would hold up against a rudimentary check, but not a "real" background check. But I hardly thought I had to worry about that in this tiny little town. I used the napkin to wipe my mouth and took a hefty drink from my wine glass. I was torn between telling him my story and demanding he take me home. I wasn't sure if I was relieved or outraged. Maybe both. And for the life of me I could not remember what the marshals told me I was supposed to say if this ever happened... "How long have you known?" I asked instead, stalling. "A couple of weeks." He'd really spent some time digging. And that would also explain why he'd been a little distant lately. "And it's odd, you showed up here, right around the time that an APB was put out for a missing material witness...one the fits your description to a tee." More shocking news. They'd put out an APB for me? I guess it was stupid to assume they would be perfectly fine letting me leave the program. But I was still having trouble processing the fact that this was happening. "But it wasn't the APB that really caught my attention. It was the fact that the Netas in New York were offering to pay quite a lot of money for this same witness. I mean...it's amazing, the things you hear in prison. It's better than The New York Times." And that is when my heart, literally, stopped. Just for a moment. Had he really just mentioned the Netas and my name in the same sentence? Was this a joke? A horrible, sick joke? A moment of silence passed...and then I realized that I needed to leave. To get away from this man that I'd assumed was sweet just because he appeared to be. I ripped his bracelet off my arm and tossed it onto the table in front of him. "I'm sorry, I have to go—" But he grabbed my wrist, brutally. "Sit down Vic." It wasn't a question and he continued squeezing until I did as he demanded. I knew I would have a bruise there later. I watched as he continued with his meal. He ate in silence until he looked over as if he'd just realized I wasn't eating. "I've had the flounder before, it's fantastic. You should eat something before they get here." This could not be happening. It's the refrain that kept repeating in my head. This could not be happening. It just could not. I didn't try the flounder, but I did finish the wine in my glass, filling it up again all the way to the top and downing that just as quickly. He was giving me to the Netas? How much money had they offered him? And what the hell was I supposed to do now? "Gerry, you have no idea what you're—" "Doing? I think I do. You saw something, or know something, or did something you shouldn't have and now they want to kill you. I get it. But $250,000 is a lot of money Vic. And if I didn't turn you over, and somehow they found out, that would mean I was their new target." I shook my head, "but how would they find out? I mean, they don't know I'm even here," I rationalized, trying to give him an out. "Ah, but I had to ask around the prison to find out who to contact. So, some of them suspect I found you. And even if we don't have any actual Netas in the prison, we have some people who are affiliated...and it's not worth risking my life, you know?" I just stared at him, trying to figure out what I needed to say to make him change his mind, trying to figure out what I could offer him, when suddenly he looked over my shoulder and something, or someone, caught his eye. He stood suddenly, holding out his hand. "Hey, what's up? Here she is, as promised." And that was it. I was going to die...tonight. If he turned me over to the Netas, when he turned me over to the Netas, they would kill me. I closed my eyes, wishing this away, praying for some type of deity to intervene on my behalf. Anything. Please, anything... But nothing happened. I kept my eyes closed, even as I heard something drop on the table, probably a bag of money, and then I heard the chair across from me scrape against the floor as my knight in shining armor took whatever was on the table and left. Left me sitting at that table in the "nice" restaurant, my executioner standing directly behind me. My eyes were still closed as the person walked around me and took Gerry's now vacant seat. My heart was racing, my breaths clogged up in my throat. I didn't want to die. I didn't want to die... "What the fuck Vicky?" And the tears I'd been holding back, the tears of fear, of horror, of dread...and now of relief, started to trail down my cheeks. I opened my eyes, slowly, still scared my ears had deceived me. But I knew that voice. Had memorized it. Had used it to lull me to sleep at night. That voice was a part of me. I knew when it was concerned, when it was joking, when it was aroused...and when it was pissed, like now. And as I took in the person sitting across from me, I felt my heart start to beat erratically for a different reason. She always seemed so much taller, so much larger than life, whenever I was close to her. Her presence, coupled with her flawless, soft brown skin, the full lips, pinched into a flat, disappointed line, and those hauntingly, beautiful grey eyes...so stormy...so powerful...so very, very angry. But I could not bring myself to react to her anger. I wasn't going to die tonight. And she'd come looking for me. Had just paid a quarter of a million dollars for me. I was...confused...but there was also a part of me that was totally thrilled to see her. To take her in, sitting across from me, even as she stared, seemingly waiting for an answer to her gruffly asked question. When I didn't respond, she sighed, tossed some bills on the table and stood. "Let's go." And I did as she demanded without hesitation. I was so happy to see her, no matter how annoyed she was at the moment. This could have been the last day of my life. If he had contacted Jimmy or Marcos, I would be dead. No doubt about it. And so she'd saved my life...again. It seemed something she was destined to do. I followed her, silently, from the restaurant. She handed a ticket and a large bill to the valet and we waited, in silence, for him to bring her car. I couldn't see the make and model, but it was a nice car, silver, a sedan, a luxury model. Certainly not the Toyota she'd been driving before. The valet held the door open for me and I slid into the passenger's seat as Tae made her way around to the driver's side. Moments later, we were driving away from the restaurant. I wasn't at all sure where she was taking me. "I can't fucking believe you didn't go back to New Mexico. When they called me...I mean, what the fuck were you thinking? Marcos will fucking kill you on sight, do you not understand that?" "They don't have a case without me," I told her, sharing my logic. "Yea, but as long as you're alive, there's always the possibility of a case. Get it?" The way she said it...it made sense. Even if I didn't want it to. They would not rest until I was dead because I would always pose a threat. And they had contacts everywhere. Why hadn't I thought of that before dating someone with contacts in a damn prison? Jeez, I was an idiot. "I'm sorry, it made sense at the time," I said softly, apologetically. "No. It didn't." It was all she said to me for some time, before she pulled into a parking lot. I realized it was a hotel parking lot, one of the 2-star types. Best Western I think, or something like it. I was starting to worry about how much time we spent at hotels. It was the strangest feeling of déjà vu. She parked and stood from the car, slamming her door. I stood to exit the car more slowly. I could almost see the rage radiating off her. "I've been going nuts trying to find you! What the fuck did you do, just drive until you ran out of gas?!" She'd raised her voice and I could see her struggling for control. So I didn't respond. I mean, what would have been the point? I was a fuck-up when it came to this situation...when it came to this woman. It seemed I always would be. She was always trying to help me, save me, rescue me...it was getting tiring. And I was certain she was more tired than I. When I didn't say a word, she pounded her fist into the hood of the car, startling me, and then took off for the side entrance to the hotel. I glanced at the hood, wondering for a moment if her hand hurt considering the size of the dent. Then I followed behind her, keeping my distance since I could not recall ever seeing her so angry before. I was still standing a few feet away from her when she opened her hotel room door and motioned for me to enter. I did, reluctantly, making my way to the windows on the other side of the room to keep a little distance between us. She tossed the key card on the dresser and then went into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. I sighed, kicking off my shoes (my feet hurt after the semi-jog from her car to the hotel and up one flight of stairs) and wrapping my arms around myself. I hadn't thought things through clearly enough...except, I didn't hear her say anyone else was at risk, just me. And hadn't that been the point? To keep her family, to keep her, safe? It was too late for me to help her father, but I could protect her. I stared out of the window, ignoring the typical decorations in the typical hotel room. Two full-sized beds (great...I guess), a dresser, a wardrobe, which I assumed held a television, etc. I didn't really care. There was a part of me that was so disappointed that I'd not thought everything through. And there was a part of me that was thrilled that clearly my choice had at least kept Tae safe. And finally there was a part of me that was singing, dancing and celebrating the fact that Tae had been looking for me. Had found me. And had come to retrieve me herself. Surely she could have sent someone else to pick me up, but she hadn't. She hadn't. She'd come for me herself. And I don't care how much of a fuck-up I was, nothing could take that away. At least not at the moment. 180 Degrees-Tae & Vicky's Tomorrow 03 When the bathroom door opened, I tensed a little, not sure what to expect. I imagined she wanted to yell at me some more, to tell me how careless I'd been, to tell me to go back into witness protection. I imagined she had a lot to say. Except she didn't say any of that. She didn't say a word. I heard her approach me, felt her hand on my arm, turning me around roughly to face her, and then her lips were covering mine. I was stunned, but only for a moment. My body recognized her, the feel of her, the taste of her, and it responded before my brain caught up. I inhaled of her, deeply, enjoying the sweet feel of her lips, even as they angrily crushed mine, brutalized mine, devoured mine. Her hand slid behind my head, pulling me closer to her, her lips softening just a bit...now tasting...enjoying. I slipped my arms around her waist, pressing my body to hers, absorbing her strength, her warmth. She sighed, releasing my lips, her forehead resting against mine. "God, I was so fucking worried about you." And those words meant more to me than anything else she could have said...almost. I absolutely melted against her when she kissed me again. The heat, the tension in my body as I felt her hands on me...my breath caught. Her lips grazed my chin, making their way to my neck, nibbling in a way that brought me up on my toes. There were delicious sensations spreading throughout my body and I closed my eyes, giving myself over to her. I think she knew when I let my guard down completely, because her hands were suddenly everywhere, touching me, stimulating me, arousing me. I moaned, deep in my throat, as she walked me backwards, laying me down...lying down beside me. I let her do as she pleased as she lay half on me, kissing, licking, nibbling, biting...my nipples ached by the time she pulled down the neckline of my dress and took one into her mouth, my back arching. She moved my panties aside and slid two fingers into me...deep...hard...my body following her lead...moving against her...with her...my chest tight...my body taut and willing. I clung to her, afraid she would disappear again, thrilled she was with me now, as she drove me hard and fast toward an orgasm. I shifted so I could feel her, opening the front of her jeans, sliding my hand against her, my fingers sliding into her. She moaned as she brought her lips back up to mine, her fingers bringing me closer and closer as she kissed me senseless. I couldn't concentrate, could not focus on whether or not I was pleasing her, but she was moving against my hand, inviting my fingers to delve deeper...my thumb brushed against her clit, causing her to suck in a breath...it was close, the release I sought, the release I so desperately needed. It would be agonizingly sweet...it would be wonderful. Still, I was not ready for it when it slammed into me, my keeling wail bringing a smile to her lips as I moved beneath her. I didn't recover quickly, but it was fast enough to prevent her from cooling down. My hands resumed their task, pumping deeply into her, toying with that bundle of nerves that was every woman's downfall. But she didn't go quietly into the land of oblivion. She took me with her, her fingers going deeper, her strokes smoother, her manipulations of my body far superior. Within moments we were both panting, violently, as we climaxed, clinging to one another. I lay back, spent, as our breathing slowly returned to normal. Then she pulled me against her, her arm tightly curved around my waist, and we slept. * Her voice woke me, deep, throaty, right above my head as she spoke on her cell, her arm still around my waist, holding me close. "Yea, I got her...she's okay...Yea, they found him...no, it was clean. They got it all back...hmm...I haven't told her yet, probably in the morning. Yea...okay." I shifted slightly as she disconnected and placed the phone on the nightstand. "Hmmm...where you going?" She asked huskily, pulling me closer. And before I could answer, those talented hands were bringing my body to life again. Her lips, her tongue, those wonderfully long, wonderfully nimble fingers...she shifted our positions, licking a path down my body, and I suddenly could not think, could not process a thought...the feeling of her mouth at my core...licking...stroking...savoring...driving me nuts. I cried out as she hummed...teased...sucked...blew... my fingers grasping desperately at the sheets as she kept me on the edge, teasing me, torturing me, until moments later, when I was almost completely unraveled, she allowed me to explode in her mouth. I felt like limp noodles as she shifted again, her lips covering mine. I could taste myself on her, slightly salty, slightly sweet...mixed with her delicious flavor...it was intoxicating. She let me rest, at least I thought she might, but then I felt her lips on my throbbing nipple, her fingers between my thighs...and the thrilling ride started again. She kept me there, a prisoner to her lovemaking, for hours. Getting her fill of me as if she'd been starved. She breathed me in, drank from me, feasting on my flesh, demanding everything from me. I was in heaven, lying against her...beneath her...sweaty...my body thrumming...it was absolutely wonderful. She ignored my rumbling stomach, at least the first few times. But when the noise grew more insistent, she smirked and pressed her lips against mine, slapping my ass gently. "Come on, I better feed you." She pulled on her jeans and tee as I found my horribly wrinkled dress and slipped it over my head. She held the door for me and we went to find something to eat. * She took me to a diner not too far from the hotel...another creepy déjà vu experience. Hadn't we been here, in pretty much the same place, just months ago? And as I forked overcooked eggs into my mouth, I wondered what would happen this time around. Actually, I was wondering what had just happened. She'd gone from being angry with me to spending hours making sure my body would remember her for a lifetime. Not that it needed any additional help doing that. And she had just handed over $250,000 for me. That thought stayed with me for a moment. "What's going to happen to Gerry?" She sipped at the lukewarm coffee they'd delivered along with our mediocre late night breakfast and watched me, setting the cup down and raising a brow. I looked down at my plate for a moment, no longer hungry. I hesitated for another moment, trying to figure out if I wanted to press this issue. And decided yea, I did. "I heard you on the phone," I offered. She ignored me again, casually glancing past me to take in whatever sights the tiny, dingy diner offered. I stared at her. Just stared and stared...until finally she looked me. "Did they hurt him?" She shook her head, amazed. "This guy mean something to you?" She finally demanded, "because it's not clear considering this guy just sold you out to the highest fucking bidder. Do you think he would have cared if it was Marcos instead of me? And you're worried about him? Really?" When she put it like that, I agree it sounded nuts. But he'd been nice to me...well, at least until he served me up to someone who might have wanted to kill me. "Tae, please...just tell me." She sipped at her coffee again, but still didn't answer. Finally I sighed, changing tactics. "What happens now? To me?" To us I wanted to add, but didn't. "You go back to New Mexico. Go back into Witsec." I shook my head. "No. That puts your family at risk again." She didn't respond, watching me silently again until I started to squirm. "Your father is dead because of me. I'm not going to let that happen to you, or your grandfath-" "My father made his own choices. We know the risks when we choose this life." She interrupted, her voice harsh. Her words took a moment to sink in. I couldn't figure out what about them bothered me...and then it dawned on me. "We?" I repeated. The word weighed on me. I had cost this woman her life. Her career. Jesus, what had I done? She didn't respond, just watched me, once again silent. I sighed and closed my eyes. "I'll do better next time. I won't use the name they gave me. I won't date a correction officer." "Next time? Really? You're going to run again?" I could hear the anger in her voice...and the trace of hurt. I sighed, not sure what she wanted from me. Not sure what I was supposed to say or do. I watched as, for the second time this evening, she stood, her movements stiff with anger, and tossed some bills on the table, waiting impatiently for me to stand and follow her. I did, following her from the restaurant and back to her car. This time she was parked under a street light and I saw she was driving some type of Mercedes. Definitely nothing like her Toyota. And she seemed different from the woman that had driven that Toyota. Quieter, angrier...closed off to some extent. She shut the car door after I slid into the passenger seat and we rode the short distance back to the hotel in a tense silence. Once inside, my nerves were so frayed I turned to face her as soon as she locked the door. "I don't know what you want from me. I'm trying to do the right thing, trying to keep you safe for a change. Why are you so upset with me?" "Because I'm not going to let someone I love do that again," she snapped. "I won't let you sacrifice yourself for me." She was angry, frustrated, exhausted from her attempts to protect me. And for a moment, that's all I could hear in her voice...until it dawned on me. And then I didn't care about any of that. That word...that word...had she really said it? Had she really just said that word? "What did you say?" I whispered the question, my voice tense, my chest tight. She hesitated, as if suddenly realizing what she'd said. Then she moved past me to stare out of the window, not answering. I waited. Afraid to say anything. Afraid I'd made it up, so desperate to hear it that I'd willed it from her even though she hadn't meant it. Finally, she turned and looked at me. "Jesus Christ, what the fuck do you want from me Vicky?" She demanded, her voice rough. "The truth," I begged softly. She moved closer, standing before me. The anger was gone and there was resignation in those stormy, grey eyes. "I returned a kilo of cocaine to you, risking my job. Then I quit the force to be sworn in as a U.S. Marshal for you. And now? I tracked you to this Godforsaken tiny little town and paid $250,000 for you. What more do you want from me Vicky?" I could hear it in her voice, soft now, inviting me in, inviting me to believe. I had to listen past the sarcasm and the defenses, but it was there. I just needed...I needed to hear it again. "Please," I begged again, softly...desperate. She closed the distance between us, her eyes holding mine captive as she pulled me to her, her lips inches from mine. And then she whispered, "I love you Victoria Longman." And I closed my eyes. I just stood there in the warmth of her embrace with my eyes closed and my heart hammering in my chest for just a few moments. I took a deep breath before opening my eyes to meet hers. "I love you too." I smiled as I said it, watching as she raised a brow, a slightly teasing smirk on her lips. "Okay, so now what?" 180 Degrees-Tae & Vicky's Tomorrow 04 Had I really said those words to her? I mean...I shook my head slowly, chastising myself. What did it matter? I'd sacrificed everything for this woman. How could she not know? Here I was, after spending a small fortune to find her, lying beside her in this piece of shit hotel bed, the warm feel of her pressed against me as she slept...the smell of her...the taste of her lingering on my tongue... I'd just finished making her cry out for me again and again, desperate for the sound after so long, desperate for her...was it really a surprise? I sighed. I couldn't sleep. Instead I watched over her, keeping her safe, taking her in...hesitating to do what I needed to do next. I needed to get her out of this place. I'd found her first, but they were looking. And they would kill us both without hesitation. Just like they'd killed my father. And my grandfather was getting older. He couldn't do this alone anymore. There were a few guys who had moved up when my father died, but he wanted his own blood to take over. I was the only one still alive with his blood coursing through my veins. Even though I knew my mother was probably rolling over in her grave, pissed off that she'd gone through hell to keep me out...and yet here I was. And this time, I was all the way in, a complete 180-degree change in direction once again. I sighed again, pulling Vicky closer, breathing in her scent, wondering about the effect it had on me...the effect she had on me. She undid me. Unraveling my entire life, realigning stars and moons...and I was supposed to send her back down to those idiots in New Mexico and leave her there? The ones who had lost track of her in the first place? They were going to protect her? Keep her safe? I reached beneath the pillow and felt the cool metal of the Glock I'd put there earlier. Could they really keep her safer than I could? Should I let them try only to fuck up again? And what if I didn't find her first this time? What if I lost her for good? The thought made my heart pound...I would be useless if anything happened to her. But what was the alternative? Bring her with me? It was so much worse than any Godfather movie. So much money...so much to learn...and so many people wanting me dead. Or they would when he passed the reigns over to me. A woman? A woman who had been a cop? Who knew so little about this life? I was supposed to run his organization? Jesus...Jesus. And here I was, kidding myself, thinking I could actually do this...thinking I could bring her with me...ruin her life...put her at risk every day. Every fucking day. I sighed...it weighed on me. All of it, every change, every new turn...and most of all her. I couldn't keep risking everything to keep her safe. I had to prioritize. And in order to do that, I needed to know she was safe. New Mexico was the best option. I wouldn't be with her, but she would be safe. And then I could focus on my life in New York...maybe. * I knew I'd exhausted her, knew I should let her sleep...but damn if I didn't need her again. I had no idea how much longer I'd have her to myself...I just needed... I turned to her, gently brushing strands of dark, silky hair from her forehead, from her cheeks...she was so beautiful, all that soft, caramel skin, those dark, long lashes, her full pouty lips...I could see her eyes darken in my mind as she came for me...and now the tension between my thighs would no longer be ignored. I leaned in to take her lips, kissing them softly, begging for entry, smiling as her lips parted for me, even in sleep. I moved in closer, teasing her with my tongue...tasting...savoring...enticing...drawing her to the surface. I stroked the rounded softness of her hip, caressing the length of her arm as my mouth continued to invite her to awaken...my hand gently stroking her delicious curves, pushing the sheet aside. She turned, lying on her back, her legs parting just a bit...just for me. I smiled again, my mouth no longer on hers as I shifted even closer. The scent of her, aroused, could have me fighting wars. I mean, I actually understood the idea of Helen of Troy now. I watched as my fingers glided along the length of her inner thigh, raising goose pimples...seeking buried treasure. She moaned a little and I wasn't sure if she was asleep or awake...not that I cared. I just wanted to feel her, that warm liquid heat, grabbing me, holding me, pulling me in...I caressed the soft curls, trimmed neatly, that protected her from my attempts to ravish her. Not much protection, I smirked, as I traced her rapidly swelling nether lips. I bent to take a hardened nipple into my mouth as I slid the first finger into her, enjoying the feel of her heat as it wrapped around me. She moaned again, turning toward me to give me better access. I slid another finger in, sinking slowly, my teeth teasing her nipple, forcing her body to climb as I stroked...she gave in to me willingly, riding my fingers...tensing...wanting...immediately needing more...I shifted again, lying half over her, my fingers diving deeper, pumping into her, my thumb manipulating that wicked little nub, my fingers curving, listening to her breath hitch as I found that spot...tapping gently...my mouth on hers... rougher... demanding...her lips opening, receptive...begging me...she was close, I could feel her sweet muscles clamping around my fingers...hungry...desperate... "Tell me again," she pleaded softly, her voice heavy with sleep and arousal, her body on the edge. "I love you," I whispered. And I felt her explode, abruptly, her orgasm ripping through her, forcing the breath from her, totally claiming her. I didn't stop, continuing to fuck her, plunging in again and again, demanding her body quickly make the climb once more. Her body seized, the second orgasm consuming her, rendering her senseless. Still I continued, pushing her body to the next level until she opened her eyes, grabbing my hand to stop me from ravaging her, her lips covering mine beseechingly. "Stop, you're going to be the death of me," she begged huskily. I sighed, resting my forehead against hers, "good...then we'd be even." * She fell into a deep, fatigued sleep this time, nestled against me...but I still couldn't sleep. Even in the darkness of the room, I wanted to continue memorizing every inch of her face, the sweet smell of her skin, the silkiness of her hair. Finally I felt myself dozing off, part of me still awake, still aware. It was this part that heard someone walk by the hotel room door, pause, and then continue walking... It was this part that heard someone quietly try the doorknob... And it was this part that had me moving with lightening speed, rolling over on top of Vicky, taking her with me as I hit the floor hard, just as bullets pierced wood and metal, drumming a nasty pattern into the wall above our heads. Unmoving, I lay on top of her, listening to her quick, panicked breaths, knowing I had to get us to a different location fast before the assholes shooting into the room realized they were aiming too high. I grabbed her hand, indicating she should stay low, and dragged her into the bathroom, pulling her into the bathtub, covering her with my body once again. The flurry of bullets continued for another few seconds and then stopped. But I remained in the bathtub, shielding Vicky's body with my own, my breathing rushed, the adrenaline pumping, for another five minutes. Then I moved, yanking her out of the tub, quickly demanding she dress while I gathered all of our shit. Moments later we were in my Mercedes, heading toward the nearest highway. * Before I could even ask Vicky if she was okay, my phone was ringing. I glanced at the cell. It was my Grandfather. "Cariña?" "We're okay." "Where are you?" "Plan B." He disconnected the call without another word. Whoever had eyes on me had done a good job of reporting in...but not such a good job of watching my ass. I turned to look at the woman sitting beside me. Her face was frozen in shock, her hands, which she was wringing in her lap, trembling. I reached over and took one of them, holding on to it tightly. "You okay?" She didn't respond. I took that as a sign that she wasn't okay. I pulled the car over, putting it in park before turning to her, a finger under her chin until her amber colored eyes met mine. "Hey, you're okay, all right? I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you." The words seemed to sink in, albeit slowly. After another few moments, when she was trembling a little less violently, I pulled back onto the road, turning the heat on high and directing the vents toward her. We didn't speak for quite some time. An hour or two probably. My mind was going a mile a minute and I couldn't even imagine what she was going through. I knew how they'd found her, but how had they tracked me down? Especially since I know my Grandfather had men watching my back. The only answer I could come up with was that one of those men was also on Marcos' payroll. Had to be. No other way for them to find me in that crappy hotel that quickly. I certainly didn't relish the task of trying to determine who the traitor was. And I really didn't want to think about what I would have to do about it once I found out. And yet, whoever the asshole was had almost killed Vic. And for that, I would make sure he paid. *** The next few days passed in a blur as they drove down to New Mexico. Then Vic was walking through the vaguely familiar two-bedroom house she'd lived in for a year. Her clothes were still there, the few personal items she'd added to the bland décor still there...it was as if she'd been on vacation and was finally returning home. But this wasn't her home. This was the place where they kept her "safe" until she could testify against Jimmy L. and Marcos. This was basically a prison. Her entire life here had been a prison. "Can we have a minute?" Tae's deep voice was directed at the U.S. Marshalls. They nodded and left. "You're not staying here. They just wanted to know if you wanted to keep anything before they moved you." Vic turned to her, "what does it matter? Where ever they put me, you won't be there." She watched as Tae sighed, "babe, we've been over this." Vic walked a few steps toward her, but then stopped. Tae had made up her mind. Made up their minds. She was safer down here, under the government's protection, than she would be in New York. Tae would be busy, training, learning, slowly taking over for her Grandfather. She couldn't keep an eye on Vic, couldn't keep her safe. The State's attorney would pick up the case where he'd left off and probably within a year, maybe a little longer, she would be a free woman. Then she could relocate to New York. But not before then. Not before it was safe. A great plan. A smart plan. A plan where everyone would be safe and happy...everyone except her. She couldn't imagine being away from Tae for a year or longer. Not again. Not now. Not when she finally knew where she stood with her. She sighed, turning away from Tae to quickly look around. "I don't want any of this stuff. We can go." She was shoring up her strength to deal with Tae leaving. Why prolong the inevitable? They would not let Tae know where they were moving her. This would be the last time she saw her for months... She hadn't realized Tae was standing beside her until she felt those strong arms around her, pulling her close. Still, she couldn't stop the tears from gathering, from spilling over... "Vic, you're killing me here. You have to trust me." "I do." Tae wiped the tears from her cheeks, "they will keep you safe. And I will get word to you as often as I can." Vic nodded, not wanting to make Tae feel any worse than she already did. "I'll be fine," Vic assured her. Tae nodded, "I know, that's the point. Come on, let's go." Vic sighed once more before following her from the small house. The sooner they got started, the sooner it would be over and she'd be with Tae again. *** No one at her old job knew what had happened. So, the powers-that-be told the employees she'd had a family emergency and had taken an unscheduled leave of absence. And just like that, she was the director of the day care center again. It only took a few weeks for it to feel "normal". After a few months, it was as if she'd never left. The heat, the dry, red earth, the smell of dust and dirt, the headache-inducing altitude which affected her even months later...yup, she was back in New Mexico all right. She sighed as she looked over the file one of her teachers had given her a few days ago. The teacher had reported bruises on one of her student's upper arms and buttocks. In this instance, they were required to call child services. She was expecting a visit from them at any moment. It would be unpleasant. Most likely they would take the child into custody until they finished investigating, which could take weeks if not months. It would be hard on her student. And on the teacher. Still, it was important they did their jobs in this situation, just in case the child was being abused. It was better to be safe, and disrupt his life for a little while, than to ignore it and subject him to a life of possible abuse. That is where her thoughts were when the intercom buzzed. "Ms. Cummings, you have a unscheduled visitor?" She sighed, "Lizzie, I told you child services was coming. Just send them in, okay?" "But—" She waited for Lizzie to continue, but there was nothing else before a knock sounded on the door. She stood, "come in." But it wasn't a representative from child services that opened the dark, heavy door. No. That chiseled, honey colored, handsome face, the slim, muscular form...no, not child services. She'd slept beside him for years. She felt her stomach contract painfully and forced herself to slowly sit down before her legs gave out beneath her. Dylan. She watched as he closed the door behind him. "Hey babe," he smiled, as charming and attractive as ever. She didn't respond...couldn't respond. Her heart was racing, beating so fast she thought she might pass out...her thoughts going a million miles a minute. How had he found her? How? And what was he doing here? What did he want? Was he here to kill her? If so, why not break into her apartment and kill here there? Why come to her job, endangering other people? She swallowed, but why else would he be here? She closed her eyes for a moment, the image of gray, stormy eyes filling her mind for just a moment. But when she opened her eyes, Dylan was still there, sitting in the chair across from her desk...a rather large silver gun pointed in her direction. They sat, staring at one another for a few moments, before Dylan spoke. "I'm not here to kill you." She almost laughed...almost. Instead, she glanced downward, staring pointedly at the gun he held. She watched with some surprise as he lowered it and laid it across his thigh, his finger no longer on the trigger. "I came here to talk." Later she would think she should have had a witty comeback, like "perhaps the time to talk was before you beat the shit out of me," or something like that. But at the moment, nothing came to mind. "So, at first Jimmy wanted me to just shoot you on sight, right? But then we were thinking..." She just waited, glancing at the gun still resting on his thigh, hearing her own labored breaths... "We have a proposition for you." Still unable to respond, she sat in silence until he continued. "Marcos and Jimmy are willing to forgive and forget, both you and your butchy friend, if..." Again they sat in silence for a few seconds as he paused for dramatic effect, an annoying habit of his she'd always hated. "if you agree to kill the old man." She blinked, pretty sure her hearing wasn't working. Was he joking? "You want me to kill Don Carlos?" She whispered. He nodded, "Marcos realized this is an ideal opportunity. They let you into the Brownstone. We heard the old man even met with you. He doesn't do that. We'll get you a weapon, you go to New York and you kill him. And all will be forgiven. You and your little girlfriend can just disappear and no one will bother you ever again." She just stared at him as if he was insane. Actually, she was convinced he was insane. Kill Don Carlos? After he'd saved her life? And watched over her when she was looking for Tae? And Tae? She was supposed to be okay with killing her grandfther? They would just live happily ever after? So she just continued to sit, dumbfounded, knowing if she said 'no,' he would put a bullet in her brain. But if she said 'yes' too quickly, they wouldn't believe her and would probably kill her anyway... "How much time before I have to let you know?" She choked out. He hesitated, causing her to tense up even more...but then he smiled. A dazzling, mind-numbing smile that she would have moved mountains to see in the past. Now? She just hated him. "Good answer Vi. Smart. Forty-eight hours. And then I'll be in touch, okay?" He stood, tucked the gun in the small of his back, winked, opened her office door and left. She continued to sit there, frozen, for a very long time. * She wasn't sure how she made it through the rest of the day. The meeting with Child Services took place not long after. They did indeed take the child into custody, as she thought they might. Then she had to deal with daily minutia until she could lock up the facility after the last child was picked up by a late, frantic mother. And then she was heading to her car, a simple, gray Ford that did not at all remind her of Tae's beautiful, sexy grey eyes. She waved to the security detail parked across the street. Tae had hired a small, local firm to watch her. If she called Tae, it would be the last time she saw them. Because how had Dylan appeared in her office without even a word of warning if they truly were watching over her? But that was the question, wasn't it? Did she call the Marshalls to report a breach, did she do nothing, coming up with an answer on her own in 48 hours, or did she contact Tae? What would Tae do? Bring her to New York, which is what she told herself she wanted? Put her plans on hold for a year, or more, to babysit her personally? Hire more people to watch her? What were her options? God, if Dylan had been sent to kill her, she'd be dead right now. She'd been totally unprepared. She didn't even have a weapon in her office...the first thing she would change if she stayed in New Mexico. Besides, she liked her job, she didn't want to start all over again...but she so desperately wanted to leave Tae alone. To show her she could take care of herself. To prove she wasn't going to be a burden once they were together again. But Dylan had been in her office today. That was a fact and this was not a game. He was going to kill her if she didn't give him the 'right' answer. She needed to actually do something before he reappeared. She needed a plan...and she needed help coming up with that plan. She tossed her purse on the table near the front door as she locked the door securely behind her, turning on lights and kicking off her shoes as she moved through the brightly colored, spacious two-bedroom apartment. Typically the apartment got a lot of light and was a little more cheerful than the small house she'd stayed in before, but it was after 7pm and the sun had already set. Besides, she didn't have time to stare out of the window thinking about how badly she missed Tae today. So instead, she pulled the small loveseat away from the wall, lifting a corner of the wall-to-wall carpet she's pried lose previously, working lose the plank in the floor she'd also removed previously, and claiming the burner phone Tae had given her before she'd left. It was only for emergencies...and this was most certainly an emergency. She turned it on, relieved to see it still had a charge, and held down the number two so it could automatically dial the only number programmed into it. She listened as the phone rang once, twice, then three times. On the third ring, someone picked up but said nothing. 180 Degrees-Tae & Vicky's Tomorrow 04 "Snow storm." She spoke the code word nervously and then listened as the other person disconnected. Snow storm...it was how they'd met. They'd agreed on the code word because who else would know it? Who else would think of something so...boring? She stared at the phone in her hand, knowing she was violating her agreement with the government, knowing she was risking her life and Tae's life yet again... When the phone vibrated in her hand, a blocked number appearing on the screen, she almost cried with relief. She pressed the button and brought it up to her ear. "Baby? You okay?" The words, asked in that deep, raspy, sexy-as-all-hell voice, were her undoing. She sank to her knees as the trembling she'd held at bay all day consumed her, tears choking her. "Tae..." A choked whisper, the only word she could get out as she tried to force herself to calm down, as she listened to Tae's instructions to breathe deeply, as she tried to pull herself together. "Babe, what happened?" "Dylan," she choked out. She met with icy cold silence as she tried to get more words out. And then the words rushed from her as she filled Tae in. When she was done, Tae said nothing, absolutely nothing, for quite a few seconds. "Tae?" "I'm here baby...get rid of the phone." And just like that, she disconnected the call. Vicky wasn't sure what she'd been expecting. She was probably expecting Tae to drop everything and come rescue her, as usual. And maybe that would happen...but did she want it to? Tae would come to resent her eventually if she, like a child, always needed assistance. God, should she have handled this on her own? She couldn't even tell if Tae was angry or not. She had that iciness in her voice she always got when she was preoccupied, or worried...or pissed. As these thoughts plagued her, she returned the piece of wood to the floor, re-positioned the carpet and pushed the sofa back in place. Then she made her way to the bathroom, removed one of the tiles, behind the toilet, reached into the small hole she'd dug into the sheetrock, and removed a second burner phone. There were two others hidden in the apartment, all with numbers only Tae had. When she turned it on, again, she was relieved it still had a charge. If she stayed here, she would have to unearth the other two and charge them. She hadn't done so in about a month. And she would have to replace these two... She was sipping on an ice cold shot of vodka, poured from the bottle she kept in her freezer, when the second phone finally rang. When she answered, she said nothing at first until she heard Tae say their code word. "I'm sorry I had to call you," she offered quietly. Tae sighed, "baby, I told you that most likely you would. Why do you think I gave you the phones? Where's the first one?" "I broke it into pieces like you told me." "Good. So...we have an idea." She waited, holding her breath. "We want you to agree to do it." The words chilled her. "You want me to agree to kill your grandfather?" A pause, "yea baby, I do. It will buy us some time. Do you think you can do that?" She swallowed...if she couldn't convince them, she would be dead. "I—...Tae...I don't want to meet with him alone again." "You won't baby. I'm sending down a friend. She's going to be with you day and night until you're with me again, okay?" Not the words she wanted to hear, but comforting words nonetheless. "The marshals won't like that," she offered. She could hear the anger and frustration in Tae's voice, "you mean the same fucking idiots who let that asshole stroll into your office today? Don't worry about them." "You're going to tell them about Dylan?" "No, they'll move you if I do. And like I said, I want you to agree to their proposition. Convince them that the only thing you want is to be with me and for this all to be over." Vicky didn't say a word. That is what she wanted. "It's okay baby. You're gonna be okay, all right?" She nodded, knowing Tae could not see her. "I miss you so much." And then she could hear the warmth in that husky voice, the love and comfort she so desperately needed, completely unseating her. "I love you," Tae reminded her softly...tenderly. "You're going to be okay, I promise. Try to get to some sleep. And toss the phone." Seconds later she was crushing the second phone with a hammer. * Tae disconnected the call and looked over at her grandfather. "Relax Taegan. Jari will take good care of her." Tae ran trembling fingers through her thick, silky hair, closing her eyes. The mention of the tiny, shapely, completely surprising Puerto Rican bodyguard/assassin did calm her a bit. And she knew she could not go to New Mexico herself. She knew it...although every fiber of her being wanted to be on a plane already. "He walked right into her office. He could have put a bullet in her head." "Taegan, it's taken care of. She did the right thing. She handled it and then called you. Calm yourself, Cariña." Tae took a deep breath. She could have lost her. She could be flying down to claim a body right now. She closed her eyes, trying to calm down. It would serve no purpose for both of them to panic. If she could just convince herself not to take care of it herself...no, she couldn't. Not this time. *** Vicky didn't get much sleep that night. Not that she was expecting to. And she forced herself to go through her morning ritual as if nothing had changed. She knew the marshal would stop by to check on her at 7am, as usual, so she busied herself with paperwork until then. When someone knocked on the door at 6:40am, she frowned, hesitating before approaching the door. The marshals tended to stick to a schedule, they weren't usually early... "Who is it?" She called from a few feet away. "Snow storm." The "friend" Tae was sending down to keep an eye on her. She sighed, rushing to open the door. "Hug me as if we're old friends." The woman ordered and Vicky did as instructed, pasting a huge smile on her face as bent down to hug the compact stranger, welcoming the woman inside and closing the door behind them. "Lock it." She did, turning to take in the woman. She was small. No more then five feet. And she was very attractive, with creamy, flawless honey-brown skin, curvy hips and long dark hair that hung down to her waist. She wore pricey sneakers, tight designer jeans and a top that highlighted perfectly shaped, perky breasts and a flat tummy. She hardly looked like someone that could protect her...until she removed her sunglasses. Her eyes were a very dark brown, almost black...and cold. Vicky saw no emotion in them. The woman raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. "Victoria Longman?" Vicky nodded. "I'm Jariana. Everyone calls me Jari. Tae's father was my Godfather. While I'm here, you will do everything I ask without question. I'm here to save your life, so this is important. You understand?" She had a thick Spanish accent, her mouth curving around the words in a way that would have been damn sexy if Vicky wasn't freaking out. So she just nodded. "You can speak, right? They didn't say you were mute." Vicky swallowed, "I can speak. I'm just a little—" "Yea, I can imagine." She watched as the small woman took in their surroundings, quickly moving through each room. After a few minutes, she returned to stand in front of Vicky. "I want you to move into the guest bedroom for now. There's only one window in there and it faces the front of the building. It's much less likely for them to try anything with so many potential witnesses." It wasn't a question, so Vicky didn't respond. "Why don't you do that while I handle the marshal?" She said it seconds before there was a knock on the door. Vicky raised a brow, but instead of worrying about how she knew the marshal was about to arrive, she went to gather some clothes and toiletries from the master bed and bath. When she was finished, the marshal was already gone. Vicky only briefly wondered what Jari had told him. "I'm going to take a quick shower and change and then we'll head to your office. I'm your new security guard, okay?" When Vicky looked her over with a surprised look on her face, the woman offered a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "people will only question it if you question it. So don't question it." And with that she disappeared into the master bedroom, carrying a bag Vicky hadn't even realized she'd brought in with her. * The day went well. I had mentioned hiring a security guard a few times, so no one was surprised when I introduced Jari. If they were a little taken aback by a tiny female security guard, I simply didn't indulge their doubts, just as Jari had instructed. If they were surprised the new security guard seemed to be located primarily in my office, I still didn't indulge them. I just went about my day as if things were normal. Jari was silent most of the time. Watching me without watching me and on her smart phone most of the time. Her presence made me long for my own silent protector...the one that was currently 2,000 miles away. But I fought down that longing, occupying myself with work instead. The parents of the child who had been taken into custody appeared around 1pm to yell and blame me for the state's decision. It was odd. I watched as Jari stood, moving into position behind them as they continued to point their fingers in my face, screaming and gesticulating. It took me a moment to realize Jari was just about ready to take them down before I shook my head in her direction. If I couldn't deal with irate parents, I should probably quit my job. Still, it was nice to know she was on top of things. There were no other surprises after that. Just a day filled with the regular tedium. I locked up at 5:30pm and then stopped by a local pizzeria to buy a pie for dinner. There wasn't much chitchat. In fact, Jari had barely said ten words all day. Still, I felt better with the woman close by. Certainly safer then I would have felt alone or with the useless gentlemen who had been parked across the street before. They were gone by the way, which didn't surprise me at all. And I didn't really want to think about tomorrow. Tomorrow Dylan would appear in my office and ask me to agree to kill someone who had saved my life. Not that it mattered if Don Carlos had helped me or not in the past, I couldn't kill anyone...could I? If my life really depended on it, if Tae's life depended on it, could I kill someone? I shook off the frightening thought, praying it wouldn't come to that. * I was surprised I could sleep, but somehow I managed to. In the morning, I dressed with care for some reason. A long cream skirt, a black turtle neck, thick rose quartz jewelry around my neck and wrists...I felt like I needed the extra power looking nice would afford me. Jari was dressed in clothes very similar to the previous day, the same pricey sneakers, a different pair of formfitting, expensive jeans and a different flattering top. The woman could probably wear a garbage bag and look down right sexy. My stomach was in knots, so I didn't eat. Jari raised a brow, but didn't say a thing, as I put eggs, bacon and toast in front of her and only poured orange juice for myself. I sat across from her in silence as she ate, trying to calm myself down. This woman was here to protect me. Everything would be okay. I was just pretending to agree to work with Dylan and his merry band of assholes. Of course, if he didn't believe me, he would probably kill us both. I toyed with my half-filled glass, totally preoccupied by the thought. "Señorita, do you trust Tae?" The question was asked abruptly and I was startled from my thoughts. Jari was staring at me with those cold, dark eyes. "Of course," I answered without hesitation. "Then trust she would not send someone incompetent down here to protect you. And trust that she will have me killed if I let anyone harm you. So, try to relax." I nodded, but I had been left with marshals and private security in the past that let me down. So, I was far from absolute conviction. "My first kill was at 13," she continued, watching me carefully, "an asshole, like your ex-boyfriend, who thought he could rape me because he was a friend of my father's. I grabbed an ice pick and held it up to his eye. He thought it was cute. Didn't think I could do any real damage. I put all my weight behind it...shoved it into his eye. It took him almost 20 minutes to die...and I watched. I felt little remorse. I sat with him until my father arrived and then explained what happened. My father was relieved, not disappointed, not angry. He bought me my own gun when I was 16." The story was so shocking, I couldn't think of anything to say. "So, do not worry. I will not hesitate to kill anyone who I believe means you harm, okay?" She didn't wait for an answer, standing to get her jacket. I slipped into my own trench coat, her words still on my mind as she led the way to my Ford. When I arrived at work, I was able to put Dylan out of my mind. We had a leak in one of the classrooms, a very sick child in another class, and a scheduled fire drill. By the time lunch rolled around, I wasn't thinking about Dylan, the Netas or death threats. So when I walked into my office some time later, and Dylan was sitting in one of my guest chairs, I wasn't sure how to react. Unfortunately, Jari was nowhere to be found. So much for her promises, I thought, as I closed the door behind me. "I only have a few minutes Dylan, we seem to have back-to-back problems here today." I sat down behind my desk, trying to exude calmness and confidence even though my heart was racing and I could feel my hands trembling slightly. "What if I said no?" I asked abruptly, hesitantly, avoiding his gaze. "Then I stand up and leave." I looked directly at him then, "except you know where I am now." He shrugged carelessly. I stared at him for a moment longer. "Dylan, you know me. I can't do this. Don't make me do this." He ignored my desperate plea, simply watching me. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, I sighed heavily. "I don't really have a choice, do I?" I asked curtly. "Everyone has a choice Vic." I closed my eyes tightly, wishing him away, before I opened them. "Fine." He smiled, slowly, attractively, a smile I'd never seen before. Then he stood, approaching my desk as he reached around his back. "You know Vic, I think you're full of shit." I saw the gun, pointed directly at me, and I froze. A million thoughts ran through my mind...a pair of intense, grey eyes lingered... But a second later I heard two soft pops, hardly loud enough to register, and the nasty smile on Dylan's face shifted. Suddenly his face reflected surprise, maybe even shock, before he dropped, hard, to the cute rug I'd bought to cover the damaged hardwood floor. Jari was standing in the doorway of the closet in my office. We used it to store office and art supplies. She moved forward, quickly checking for a pulse, then going to lock my office door while unscrewing and pocketing what could only be a silencer, replacing the gun from where ever she'd retrieved it, all before I took my next breath. "He was going to kill me," a choked whisper...was that my voice? "No. I told you I would not let him." She was pulling at the body, struggling with his weight (he was slim, but tone). "Señorita, we need to roll him up in the rug and put him in the closet. Ahora." A pause on my part...uncertainty...and then I was moving forward to help her pull and tug him to one end of the rug, grunting and straining as we rolled him and the rug forward, sweating as we struggled to drag him, and then prop him up, before forcing the closet door closed. We were both sitting on the floor beside the closet door, breathing heavily, when a knock sounded on the office door. I quickly glanced over to where the body had dropped. There was a reddish-brown stain on the floor. "Give me a sec," I called out, making my way to my desk and locating the Lysol wipes I kept in my bottom draw. Moments later, and about 10 wipes later, I was opening the door. "Another sick kid in Ms. Halbry's class. He threw up twice already. Should I call his parents?" Lizzie, asking a normal question about a normal problem...there was a dead body in my closet...Dylan's body... "Uh...umm..." I couldn't think. I had just rolled up a body in a rug and shoved it in a closet. There was a body in my closet...Dylan's body...Dylan's dead body... "Uh...let me head down there first. I'll be there in a few minutes." I closed the door in her face, turning to Jari. "I can't do this." "Yes, you can. Go, check on the child." I stared at her for a moment, not sure what to do next...and then I opened the office door and headed toward Ms. Halbry's classroom. * For the next few hours I wondered what would happen next. Some clandestine trip to the closest river to dump the body? To an incinerator? Or would we stop at Home Depot and buy shovels? How would we get him into my small car? Would we get pulled over? And if we did, would the cop notice how bizarre I was behaving (bizarre behavior was a given)? Would he see blood dripping from the trunk? Would we be arrested? These thoughts kept running through my mind as I went on with my day. We had to call an ambulance for the second sick child. He was burning up with fever. Finally the plumber arrived to address the leak. Lizzie asked about the missing rug, but I told her I'd spilled something on it and had it taken to be cleaned. I would buy another one just like it tomorrow...if I wasn't in jail. Two late-arriving parents forced us to stay until 7pm that evening. I was absolutely and totally exhausted. My brain was so fried I could barely form a sentence when Jari asked what I wanted to eat for dinner. I believe I said something like I would never be able to eat again. As soon as I got home I took a piping hot shower, trying to wash away...any part of what had happened. I pulled on a pair of jeans and an oversized, old, very soft flannel shirt after. It might have belonged to Dylan at one point, which I thought was kind of...sick. Still, it was comfortable and that's what I needed right now. I was waiting for her to suggest that we go back to the office once we both had a chance to rest a little, but she'd gone into the master bedroom and had not come out for a while. I finally knocked on the door, jumping when she opened it immediately, as if she'd been waiting for me. "Uh...don't we need to take care of—" I started hesitantly. She smirked, "not an issue. Get the third phone." I was so relieved I would not have to deal with Dylan again that it took me a moment to realize what she'd said. The third phone. Tae. I rushed past her, grabbing my desk chair and carrying it to the walk-in closet. Inside, I stood on the chair, then on tiptoe, reaching up to push aside one of the ceiling tiles. I left the chair in the closet and hurried back to the guest bedroom, my bedroom now, closing the door just as the phone rang. I pressed the button to answer, but didn't say anything as instructed. "Snow storm." That voice...that deep, husky, sexy voice... "Tae," I breathed, my voice distorted...trembling. "Baby, you have your bag ready, right?" I didn't like the sound of that question although a part of me knew it was coming. We'd killed Dylan. Which meant he hadn't reported in. And they knew where I was... "Yea." "As soon as we're off the phone, babe, okay?" She ordered in a no-nonsense voice. But she didn't wait for me to answer, "you okay?" Was I okay? Was I okay? How could I answer that? I'd witnessed a murder today. The taking of a life of a man I once knew...a man I'd once loved, or thought I loved. And then I helped roll his body up in a rug and shove him in a closet. And then...then...I'd gone back to work. Like it happened every day. And yes, I'd thought about it. But I hadn't called the police. I hadn't told anyone at work. I'd just...I'd just...no, I was not okay. I was really not okay. 180 Degrees-Tae & Vicky's Tomorrow 04 "Babe?" Tae asked again, her voice tight. I sighed...this was my life now, wasn't it? I couldn't have her worried about me all the time. "I'm fine," I finally managed to force out. She didn't say anything for a moment and I knew she didn't believe me. I was relieved she didn't believe me. But I also knew we didn't have time to talk about it. "What's next?" I asked, a little anxious about the answer. "You're coming to me." I don't think any other answer could have made me happier. Well, except maybe if she was coming to get me. So I listened to the plan, and then stared at the silent phone after she'd disconnected. She hadn't told me she loved me. I'd needed to hear it. But I could hear it in my head. I would always be able to hear those words, in that voice, in my head. So I closed my eyes and took a second to reach for it, to hear it...to let those words touch me...soothe me. Then I took a deep breath, grabbed my packed overnight bag from the back of the closet, the one Tae had helped me pack before she'd left, and went to find Jari. * We didn't take my Ford. Instead Jari stole a car. I don't know how she did it. It was a newer model car and she had some type of gadget that did something to the car's computer...I didn't really care. It was a smaller car, a hybrid, so we were able to drive a long time before we had to stop. At the gas station she finally stopped at, after I'd made my way to the bathroom, I glanced around the convenience store and realized we were in some part of Kansas. We'd been driving for hours, it was in the later part of the morning, and while I'd slept, I figured Jari had to be pretty tired. The car had GPS, so I could drive if she wanted to sleep. That's what I'd planned to tell her as I left the small store and approached the car, but the look she gave me, intense, no-nonsense, had me quickly sliding into the passenger's seat and donning my seat belt. We were on the road again before I dared to ask. "What's wrong?" "They're following." Two simple words...but they didn't make any sense to me. We'd left New Mexico hours and hours ago in a stolen car. How could they be following us? And how could she know that? Jari wasn't talkative, so as I stared out of the passenger side window, I tried to answer the questions myself. How could they know where we were? How could they be close enough to make Jari nervous? They must have had someone watching me. When Dylan didn't check in? Or perhaps once they'd found me? For all I knew it could have been the guys Tae had hired to watch me, the ones that didn't stop Dylan from showing up in my office that first time? Or it could have been anyone else. The person wouldn't even have to be very good at his, or her, job. I wasn't trained to assess if someone was following me or not. That first night, after Dylan approached me, I drove straight home to call Tae. If someone had been assigned to me, they would have known exactly where I lived. And how would Jari know that someone was following us? That they knew where we were? Well, Tae, or her Grandfather, had probably assigned someone else to us when they'd heard what happened. So, Jari was getting updates or reports or whatever the hell the word was. I'd heard her phone vibrating every hour or so, but I'd ignored it. Then I'd fallen asleep. But clearly she could easily have been told any number of times that they were on to us. So it wasn't farfetched. And that also meant we weren't as safe as I'd assumed. For some reason I thought we had very little to worry about after leaving my apartment. I really had to get a freaking clue. I don't know how long all of these thoughts had been going through my mind, but when I looked over at Jari, she looked even more tense then she had after leaving the gas station. I was about to ask her what was going on now when she took a hard right and we barely made it onto an exit ramp doing about 80 miles an hour. She slammed on the breaks, slowing us down, and then started making her way down local streets. Her phone vibrated, she glanced at it, but then kept driving, making turns randomly, driving through busy parts of the small town, filled with people and shopping areas, and then driving through quiet residential neighborhoods. I was holding onto to the little handle above the door for dear life, not knowing when she would make the next turn at break-neck speed. I was surprised we didn't get pulled over by the cops. Her phone buzzed again, she glanced down at it, and then I heard her let loose a string of curse words I didn't even know could go together. But the next words she directed at me did not make me feel any better. "Victoria, do you know how to handle a gun?" Seriously? Seriously? What the hell was this, some horrible action-adventure movie that was taking on a new plot twist? Did I know how to handle a gun? No I didn't know how to handle a gun! On what planet would I have learned how to "handle" a damn gun? "No." She swore again, in that thick, sexy Spanish accent that, I swear, I swear, would really be turning me on if things were different. "My bag. Front pocket." Her bag was right behind her seat in the back, so I reached for it and rummaged through it until I found what she was referring to. A small gun, or pistol, or whatever it was called. Pink. She had a damn pink gun. It wasn't as heavy as I imagined it would be. "That latch on the side?" I found what she was describing, showing it to her. She nodded. "Safety. Push it down." I nodded, thinking she meant when I was ready to use it. "Now, Victoria." I glanced at her, my heart suddenly doing a wicked dance in my chest. It took me a second to figure it out, but I did as she ordered. "Twenty-two caliber. Holds 10 in the mag." I nodded again. This couldn't be happening. Why was she telling me this right now? "When I pull over, I want you to get out and run. Run, but stay out of sight. Back yards. Behind people's houses. Try to find an open back door. If you do, stay there, upstairs in a bedroom, hidden. Do you understand me?" I wanted to say no. I wanted to beg her not to force me to leave the safety of the car, no matter how false that sense of security was. I wanted to call Tae. "Yeah," I said instead. "You hear anything that sounds like someone looking for you. Footsteps moving quietly through the house instead of someone coming home from work or school and just behaving normal, you shoot first and then get the hell out of there. Aim for the chest. Got it?" I was nodding, but it was surreal. This could not be happening. She reached into the back seat, handed me my backpack (my "to-go" bag), and then, seconds later, pulled over and yelled at me to run. I did. I took off. Running. Her instructions in my head: stay behind the houses, keep to back yards, stay out of sight. I ran and ran...and then kept running, even when my chest started to hurt, there was a sharp pain in my side, and my legs were trembling. I have no idea how far I'd gone when I felt myself slowing down. So I started looking at the houses I'd been passing. This was a decent neighborhood. Not too many dogs in the back yards. Somewhat small houses, but neat back yards, not filled with junk. Nice patio furniture, decent gills...people who cared about their homes. It was the seventh house I tried when I felt the knob on the back door give. The door popped open and I held my breath, listening to see if a dog was approaching or if it sounded like anyone was home. The gun was in my hand, just in case. I didn't hear anything, so I stepped into a small kitchen. Neat, relatively clean, a few dishes in the sink. I didn't spend any more time there, locating a flight of stairs and making my way up. All of the doors were closed and I was passing a door on my right when suddenly it opened and I came face-to-face with a young girl, probably early teens, slim, blonde, blue eyes...she wore a pair of boxer shorts and a pink tank top with white polka dots...and her eyes had settled on the gun I was absently pointing at her. I lowered it immediately...apologetically. "You shouldn't leave your back door unlocked when you're home alone. It's not safe." I'm not sure why the teacher in me took over. I'd broken into her home and pointed a gun at her...was it really my place to lecture? "Yeah, my mom tells me that all the time," she said, curiously calm. "Is that real?" She asked, indicating the gun I now held down near my thigh. "Uh, yeah. I'm sorry. I—" She shrugged, "it's cool. Do you need help or something? Do you need to borrow my phone?" I shook my head, "no. I just...um...I'm really sorry to ask, but I just need to stay out of sight for a while. I won't bother you. Is that okay?" Was I really having this conversation with a complete stranger? A teenager? I mean...what the hell? She shrugged again, "I was just about to get dressed and head out. They were testing at school this morning, so I didn't have to go in early. You can hang out in my room as long as you don't steal anything." I looked at her, my head cocked to the side. She really was adorable, the picture of American beauty...but she was really naïve if she thought it was okay to allow a stranger to just hang out in her house with orders not to steal. I mean...really? "Look, I appreciate it. I really do. But...it's not safe to let people just hang out in your house. I mean, if they don't rob and kill you immediately, then most likely they are going to steal something, don't you think?" Big sister? Teacher? Director? Social Worker? I don't know who was giving this lecture, but considering I was the criminal at the moment, it seemed quite absurd. She looked me over and then shrugged again, "you're carrying a bag that costs about $200, wearing sneakers that cost a little more, and jeans that cost at least $100. You're pretty, your hair is nicely styled, even though you're all sweaty. And you had a look of...I don't know, absolute fear on your face when I opened the bathroom door. If you wanted to hurt me, you had a chance to shoot me, but you didn't. I figure you're in trouble and not a serial killer. So, it's all cool." She was quick...and astute. And suddenly I wondered if she would have dated someone like Dylan and wound up in the trouble I was in. Something told me she was probably smarter than that. She moved past me, "I'm going to change. Stay here for a sec and then you can just chill in my room. My mom won't be home until around 6. My brother has practice tonight, so he'll be home late, and my Dad isn't usually home until 7, so you're all good." I found myself nodding as she filled me in on her schedule. "Thanks," I offered softly. She disappeared then and I sat down in their small hallway on the nice, but slightly stained, carpet. The air smelled a little stale, now that I could take a deep breath, and I knew they probably needed to replace the carpet up here. Lots of people waited to replace the upstairs carpet. Or perhaps times were just tight right now. The absurd thoughts kept going through my mind. I figured they were better than thinking about what was really happening in my life at the moment. She emerged about 10 minutes later. Jeans, a white button-down shirt pulled over the cute tank top and left open, white sneakers. She looked cute and about as female and teenager-ish as possible. She handed me a piece of paper. "Our address in case you need to tell someone where you are. And my phone number just in case. Oh, and my name. It's Casey." My eyes filled with tears. It was the end of the adrenaline rush, I told myself, but this kid really was sweet as all hell and it was getting to me. So I only nodded, not trusting myself to say anything at the moment. "If you need to stay here longer, my closet is pretty big. And pretty messy. No one goes in there." She offered the information with humor, laughing at herself. "So, it's a good place to hide. And if you need to get out of the room in a hurry, the roof of the patio is right under one of my windows. It's not a huge jump from there, I've snuck out once or twice. Oh, and there's food in the fridge." I nodded again, wiping my eyes quickly before meeting her clear, blue eyes. I wanted her to leave suddenly, just in case I had not been successful avoiding the people after me. I didn't want her to get hurt. "I won't be here when you get back. Just...thank you, okay? And lock your doors when you're home alone." She smiled, offered a little wave, and then jogged down the stairs. I heard what I assumed was the front door close a few seconds later. Then a car started up and pulled off. I shoved the gun into my bag, along with the piece of paper she'd given me, and then entered her room. I thought it was would be pink and frilly, just my own bias I guess, but it wasn't. The colors were random, the walls were white with pictures stuck to them here and there, and there were multi-colored rugs tossed in various places. It also wasn't at all neat. Clothes appeared in random piles around the room. It felt lived in and "real"...I liked it. And I liked Casey. Although if I did get out of this alive, I was going to really talk to her about trusting strangers. Even female strangers who appeared to be in trouble. But for now, I just dropped down to the floor, my back against one of her walls, and leaned my head back, trying to figure out what I was supposed to do next. Was Jari okay? Was I supposed to call Tae? I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath...and fell asleep. * Hours had passed. The sun was setting. Which meant people who lived in this house would be home soon. I was laid out on the carpet and sat up, looking around. Thank goodness no one had come home early and found me. I stretched and realized I'd slept pretty soundly (I would think about how idiotic that was, given the circumstances, later). I had about $5,000 in cash on me (once again thanks to Tae), so I left $500 under Casey's pillow, along with a smiley face on one of her heart-shaped post-its and my work number in New Mexico, telling her to call me if she ever needed anything. I then used their landline to call information and, subsequently, a cab. I left their cute little house about 15 minutes later. I wasn't sure what I would do next as I slid into the backseat of the cab. Jari had not suggested a place to rendezvous, which meant I was on my own. I was hungry, so I had the cab drop me off at a diner. I sat in a dimly lit corner with my back to the wall and facing the front door. I had placed my order and the waitress was bringing me a cup of coffee when I heard the diner's door open. My eyes swung in that direction and I watched, with a little surprise, as Jari made her way toward me. She sat across from me without a word. It took me a moment... "You paid the woman at the counter," I surmised. "And the women and men at the counters of about 10 other diners around here as well as a few motels. I knew you would surface eventually. But what am I going to say next?" She demanded harshly. "That if you could pay them off to keep an eye out for me—" "Exactly. You weren't thinking." I hadn't been thinking. I'd been tired, hungry and...lost. But it had only been about 30 minutes since I'd left a "safe" place and she'd found me. If it was Marcos...I shook my head at my stupidity. I should have kept going. Maybe found a place an hour or two away? A cab would have driven me further for the right price. I had to get better at this... "What now?" "Well, your woman, my new boss, was kinda pissed when she heard I'd lost track of you. Sounded like she wanted to slit my throat and drink my blood. So, we need to stay put." I raised a brow, surprised by her joke and the suggestion that we stay put. The waitress brought over the bagel with cream cheese I'd ordered and asked Jari if she wanted anything. Jari asked for the check. By the time the waitress returned with it, I had eaten half the bagel and was ready to go. The car was a large, black SUV this time. Jari pressed some device to start the engine as we climbed up into the monstrosity. Seconds later, she was handing me her phone. "Vic?" I closed my eyes, relieved to hear her voice, even if it was strained. "I'm okay. I'm sorry you were worried." Silence. Then, "I'll see you soon." And she disconnected the line. She was coming to Kansas? For me? I sighed...I'd fucked it up. "That's why we're staying put? Because she's coming to baby sit me?" I asked sullenly. Jari barely glanced at me, "and the Don is pissed. But apparently she is her father's child. Stubborn. Hard headed." I sighed again. So she was risking her life, and her future, for me again. If anything happened to her, her Grandfather would be devastated. He'd probably go so far as to join the list of people trying to kill me. God, why was I so bad at this? "Relax, I'm surprised she didn't take care of this herself in the first place." I shook my head, "I suck at this." Jari snorted, "oh, you missed the college class where they taught you how to shoot guns and avoid people trying to kill you? How many credits is that class worth nowadays?" I smiled a little. She really was in a different mood today. "Why are you in such a good mood?" I asked abruptly. "First, I killed the asshole who put his hands on you. Second, I bumped into a friend and got some ass while I was waiting for you." I was touched by the first part of her statement, but at the second I looked at her shocked, "really? Is that in the college course also? You don't know where the person you're protecting is so you get some ass?" She chuckled as she continued to drive. We fell into a pretty comfortable silence. I saw her looking around until she picked a pretty crappy motel and pulled into the parking lot. I winced, but didn't say anything. "Why would I choose this one?" She asked suddenly. "Uh...you're tired of this job and if I die of some contagious disease I get from the sheets here, you won't get fired?" She smiled briefly, "seriously." I thought about it for a moment, relying on my television knowledge of keeping a low profile, "they probably will allow you to pay cash and won't ask for ID or a credit card?" "Give the girl a doggy biscuit." I shook my head, smiling, as she left the car running and went in to register. Minutes later she was driving around back and handing me an actual key, not a key card, on a green key chain with the room number. "I'm next door. Keep the door locked and the curtains closed." She didn't say another word, grabbing her own bag from the backseat after parking in front of our rooms. I followed suit, looking around after locking the door behind me. It was worse than I'd imagined. The furniture was old, chipped and stained. The carpet was a dark, muted burgundy with very interesting patterns that masked whatever disgusting things had probably spilled onto it. And the comforter was snagged in various places with interesting stains ground in. I wondered what the sheets looked like beneath it. I tossed my bag on the bed and decided to take another shower. I felt a little grungy after having slept on Casey's floor. I wasn't sure the tiny little bathroom, which was questionable in terms of sanitation, would cleanse me, but it was better than nothing. Hours later, I still hadn't been brave enough to slip in between the sheets. So, I was sitting up in bed, on top of a pretty worn blanket that had been under the gross comforter but protected me from the sheets, watching TV. When I heard a key in the door, I just assumed it was Jari...it wasn't. She'd barely locked the door before I was in her arms. She held me for a moment, close to her, inhaling deeply...then her hand made its way to my hair, pulling my head back...and her mouth covered mine hungrily...brutally. The feelings that rushed through me were dizzyingly familiar...and felt wonderful. She brought me with her, back toward the bed and I forgot about the potentially disgusting sheets. I could feel her...her strong hands, touching me, everywhere, undressing me...her full breasts, pressing into me...the weight of her almost suffocating...I felt nothing but heat spearing through me. Her lips left mine, her teeth marking my neck, her hand having made its way past the waistband of my jeans, her fingers gliding along the length of me, finding their way to my core...I was speeding toward my first orgasm and she'd only been in the room for five minutes! I bit my lip, swallowing the moan as the orgasm hit me full force and left me trembling moments later... 180 Degrees-Tae & Vicky's Tomorrow 04 I grew impatient, wanting to feel the warmth of her skin against mine. I began removing her clothes frantically as she continued to manipulate heated, slick flesh, my breathing rushed. She was also working to remove the rest of my clothes, one-handed, her fingers never ceasing their graceful movements and her teeth now worrying a painfully hardened nipple. The second orgasm shocked me when it punched into me, trapping the air in my lungs. I paused, I had to, trying to remember how to breathe...but she didn't stop. I was hardly aware as her lips made their way to my tummy, caressing my hips...and then she was between my thighs. There was no room for thought as I felt the heat of her mouth on me, that talented tongue working me over, stringing me out...I couldn't stop the cry that left my lips as the third orgasm consumed me. I needed a moment...please...a moment...but she didn't give me one. It was almost as if she couldn't. Two fingers...deep...penetrating...stroking along sensitive flesh as she made her way back up to me, her mouth taking mine...greedy...demanding...I could feel her pebbled nipples pressing into my breasts, could feel the tension in her back...how could driving me insane arouse her so? She was fucking me with those magic fingers, long deep strokes, her tongue dominating, rendering me thoughtless, her fingers pulling brutally on my hardened nipples...and I slammed into the next orgasm, losing count, not caring, never wanting to move from this spot again. "Tae..." I breathed her name...husky...desperate...I couldn't help it. Did she know? Did she know how much I needed her...craved her...wanted her? Loved her? She pulled me closer, holding me to her, breathing me in. She'd stopped manipulating, controlling, dominating...and just held me. There were tears in my eyes as I listened to her erratic heartbeat. "I'm okay Tae," I whispered, settling against her. "I'm okay." * She was in my arms again. Safe. I should have followed my instincts and kept her with me. No matter the hardship. I could not think when I was worried about her. Now? I would keep Jari on her until the trial, and she could get a job in New York if she wanted one, but she would be with me, in my apartment, in New York, as it should have been. As I needed it to be. My grandfather wasn't happy, but he wanted me focused. There was only one way I could be. I brought her closer, inhaling deeply again. When Jari had called and said she'd lost her...my heart had literally stopped. Literally. I thought about the nightmare of tracking her down after eight long months, the horror of the bullets spraying our hotel room...and now she was gone again? Even after Jari told me the instructions she'd given her, even knowing that Vic was no longer as naïve as she'd once been, I still couldn't relax. And I certainly would no longer leave her in the hands of anyone else. My fingers combed through her silky curls, caressing the back of her neck, the length of her back, her curvy backside. This woman had become...I don't know...she had become my life...the breath in my lungs...the reason I woke up every damn morning. She was it. It was time I realized it, she realized it, and my grandfather realized it. "Baby," I cleared my throat, a little nervous suddenly. "I need you in New York. With me. Will you do that for me?" My face was buried in her hair, against her sweet smelling neck, and muffled, but I knew she'd heard me. She didn't respond immediately. "You told me that I was more at risk in New York. That I might distract you...that I could get us both killed. I don't want that to happen." Her tone was level, even...but I knew it cost her to say those words. She didn't want to leave me again. She'd always wanted to stay with me. But I had to give it to her for getting the words past her lips. "Babe, I can't fucking focus when you're not with me, when I'm worried about you. I need you in New York." My last words were a soft plea, so she didn't really hesitate this time. "Of course, baby." But I could feel her body relax with the answer. I brought her even closer, nervous for the first time in a very long time. "Baby," I started, then took a deep breath, "marry me?" * I couldn't have heard her correctly. I pulled away from her, but not too far. Just far enough to meet those damn sexy grey eyes. "What did you just say?" I whispered, barely able to get the words out. She was watching me closely, carefully, trying to read me...I tried not to give away anything. She took a deep breath and I saw, for the first time ever, Taegan Elba Maria Gonzalez lick her lips nervously. "I want you to marry me," she repeated carefully. I continued to stare and she fidgeted a little. "Babe?" She inquired, a little confused. I shook my head, "Tae, I've ruined your life and you want to marry me?" I asked incredulously. She smirked, "you didn't ruin my life, baby." I shook my head again, not smiling or amused, "Tae, people are trying to kill me. Your grandfather wants to you stay far, far away from me. You gave up your job, two jobs, for me. Your father was shot in the middle of all of this. And now you're an apprentice for your gangster grandfather...and you want to marry me?" The smirk slid into a slow, sweet smile, "yea." My heart was racing...was this really happening? I mean...I couldn't wrap my head around it. "But Tae—" "Baby...marry me." That damn soft, sexy, sweet voice was sending tingles directly up my spine. "It's not a good idea Tae," I argued, trying to remain rational even though I wanted to scream yes from the top of every building in New York City. "Baby, please," she begged softly, sweetly. I closed my eyes and swallowed, knowing there was only one answer I could give her. "Of course I'll marry you," I whispered. I opened my eyes in time to watch her eyes, pleased when I saw the light, the spark, that appeared in them before she bent her head to kiss me. I sighed, thinking one thought before my brain began to fuzz over...her grandfather was going to be pissed. * 180 Degrees-Tae & Vicky's Tomorrow Surprisingly, I didn't get much of a hassle once I identified myself. But when someone picked up the line after a brief pause, it was not my grandfather's voice on the other end. "Taegan?" It was a gruff, Hispanic voice, deep...somewhat familiar, but not really. It was too young to be my grandfather's, of that I was certain. "I'm trying to reach Don Carlos?" I insisted. "Taegan, this is your father." The words stunned me. Absolutely and utterly stunned me. First I saw images of a smiling, playful man with perfect white teeth who smelled of a wonderful musky scent, tossing me up in the air and laughing as I squealed with laughter. I saw him tickling my mother in the kitchen one morning as she cooked breakfast for us. I saw him sitting beside me, helping me put together a jigsaw puzzle. But then I saw my mother lying in the hospital, dying of cancer, riddled with pain...and I was sitting beside her alone although I knew he'd been released from prison by then. That image erased my earlier memories of him. I couldn't bring myself to say anything to him. "Taegan—" "My name is Tae." I said with unmasked hostility. He paused, "your grandfather asked me to take this call. Is there a problem?" I licked my lips, trying to force myself to speak, remembering Vicky needed me to reach out to my family, "why can't I speak to him?" Another pause, "Taegan, he's not feeling well. Please, talk to me." I closed my eyes, dropping down heavily onto the stairs. It took a few minutes for me to get past my anger. "I have a problem," I started, and then I let it all rush from me. He didn't interrupt, only asking a brief question here and there. When I was done, and feeling quite exhausted, there was a very lengthy pause on the other end of the phone. I only knew he was there because I heard him swearing softly in Spanish periodically. I just waited. "Fuck." He finally offered. I don't know why, but the expletive made me smile, considering I'd said the same thing to Vicky. I heard him take yet another deep breath. "This woman, who is she to you?" I hesitated, not sure if he knew about my proclivity for women, "a friend," I finally hedged. "Are you sleeping with her?" I raised a brow, glancing down at the cell in my hand. I guess he did know. "Yeah." Another round of Spanish curses. "Taegan," he started again. "Tae," I reminded him, although with a little less hostility. "Taegan," he insisted, just like my mother had always insisted on using my full name, "she cannot turn them in." I closed my eyes. Yeah, I knew he was gonna say that, but I had been hoping... "No other option." I told him. "She walks away. Starts a new life somewhere else." "With what?" I snapped, "tits and ass?" He didn't say anything for a moment and I knew, based on the little my mother had shared with me about him, he was probably taking a deep breath to avoid cursing me out. So, I took a deep breath and tried to be an adult about this. "Sorry," I muttered. "She doesn't have the money to do that." "Taegan, the minute she goes to the D.A., they will find someone to put a bullet in her head." I didn't appreciate the graphic imagery, but I knew he was right. "I think they'll offer her witness protection." I countered. He laughed bitterly, "and? Do you know how large the organization is now?" I sighed. Actually, I did know how extensive the Neta organization had become since my departure from New York. I scratched my head, wondering what I should do now. "I already convinced her to go to the D.A. tomorrow." "Un-convince her." I bit my lip, undecided for a moment, but then making up my mind. "I can't do that. It's her only chance," I hesitated, "and I'm going with her into WitSec." "Absolutely not." I laughed into the phone, "you're kidding, right? You lost your parental right to tell me what to do a long time ago." "Taegan Elba Marie...they will hunt you down and kill you. Do you understand? And that will start a war between the two sects, you know that." "Then tell me what to do," I demanded harshly. That was greeted with more silence. I thought he'd hung up until I heard, "bring her to New York. We'll see you tomorrow." And he ended the call.