18 comments/ 9128 views/ 44 favorites The Target That Stole Her Heart By: WilBeLes The empty building felt like her empty soul, reminding her that something was missing in her life. Her body was like the empty building with a lot of space to be filled. Being as an empty shell and emotionless being wasn't easy. Walking toward the glass sliding doors leading outside to a balcony and opening the doors, a gust of cool wind blew against her body. Feeling a sense of calm as always when doing her job, she settled on her knees in front of a painter's toolbox. She pulled out black pieces of metal, assembling it into a 50 calibre sniper rifle. Setting the weapon on a tri-pod, she settled down on the floor in the leopard crawl position on the balcony. Looking through the scope she adjusted the sight settings to the distance of her target and the wind tempo. Taking deep breaths in and releasing them, she slowed down her breathing and pulled the trigger as her target sat down at the conference table. A successful business man, Andre Vivier, was in a conference room in his skyscraper on the eighteenth floor with his company's lawyers and board members. The man looked angry and disappointed pointing at an empty seat next to his chair screaming and shouting. Suddenly Andre collapsed forward over the table. Blood spattered over the table and some of the members. Some members stormed out the room screaming while a few stayed looking in horror at the lifeless bloody body as another called the police and an ambulance. All knew that he was definitely dead judging by the massive whole in the back of his head. The second after pulling the trigger; the killer was on her feet packing up as quickly as she could. Grabbing the toolbox, she headed out the door and down the stairs to a painters company van unnoticed. She left the vehicle a few blocks away from the scene in an alley after stripping from the painters overalls and set it a light. Once in her own vehicle, she returned to her hotel. In the safety of her hotel room, she logged onto her laptop engaging her self made message encryption program to confirm her delivery. SpanishKitty: -The package is delivered. Papa Bear: -Payment will be made shortly. -Can you make another delivery? SpanishKitty: -Yes I can. Papa Bear: -Can I leave the information at the same place as the last? SpanishKitty: -No. -Leave it at the F1 Hotel's front desk for a Mrs Maggie Li. Papa Bear: -No problem. She never met her clients face to face. She always used false names when booking into hotels and disguises helped a lot to hide her true identity. 'Why would a client want to take out two people? This was starting to look dodgy. She needed to find out who this client was.' The woman thought to herself, picking up the phone. "Yes this is Mrs Maggie Li from room 102. I would like to order room service please. A BLT served with chicken salad and a glass of dry red wine. I am also expecting a package from someone, if you could please deliver everything together. Thank you." She put the phone down grabbing her laptop from across the small dinning table. She checked her bank records online. True to the client's word, he paid what they had agreed upon. Logging off of the laptop she switched the television onto the news. Her handy work from today was all over the news. The hit was indeed a confirmed kill. The woman's train of thought travelled back to how she had started out as a professional killer for an unknown organisation. They found her on the streets at the age of fifteen and trained her to be a fearless and heartless assassin. It was a horrible job but it paid very well. Five years earlier after fifteen years of service, the organisation put a hit out on her. She took out the whole organisation on her own. Now she worked freelance for people who could afford her. "Good evening, room service!" A man called from the other side of the door after knocking. Grabbing her silenced nine millimetre pistol, the woman headed for the door. She looked through the peep-hole hiding the pistol behind her back in her waist band. She opened the door stepping aside to let the guy in with the trolley. He pushed it inside and left after getting a tip. The woman found a manila envelope on a plate underneath a stainless steal lid on the trolley. Grabbing her laptop, she strolled over to the bed settling against the headboard. Opening the envelope, she pulled out a photo and a sheet of paper with information of the target on it. On the top of the sheet of paper was a hand written note; 'make it look like an accident'. She sat there staring at the photograph of a woman with long thick curly red hair, hazel eyes and lightly freckled fair skin. According to the information on the paper; the woman was born in America after her parent's relocated here from Ireland in the early eighties. Her name was Jessica Bailey; she got married a year ago but kept her maiden name. She was a psychologist at a private clinic. The woman was twenty five years of age and was born on the sixth of April. 'Who would this man want to kill a psychologist? No mention of kids either. She is beautiful though.' The killer thought to herself. Among the killer's many skills were hacking computers and programs. She traced the client's IP address back to a man named Charlie Schulte. The idiot didn't even bother encrypting his messages. He had fifty percent shares in the business with Andre Vivier. 'Looks like someone was getting greedy, let's see what this man looks like.' She thought to herself continuing with her research. She hacked into the company's employee files. She opened the client's file and found a photo of him. He was married to Jessica Bailey. 'Man... with a face like that even she would never trust him. He looks like a real crook. She should take him out instead of the woman.' The killer thought to herself scratching her head in confusion and shock of what she was thinking. She continued with her research on the new target. The young woman didn't have any criminal records or even one traffic fine out standing. Her parents, Callum and Victoria, were still alive and returned to Ireland two years ago. She had a younger brother Mark 23 and sister Sasha 21, both in university. The killer turned off her laptop, ate her meal then went to bed. She woke up early the next morning, took a shower and left. She headed to the targets house first. It turned out that a house across the street was for sale. She decided that it was a perfect excuse to get closer to the target with out arousing suspicion from anyone. Sitting in her car a few feet from the complex in front of the gate, she looked into the rear view mirror and peeled off a synthetic mask of a Chinese woman from her face, revealing her true Spanish identity then continued. She got out of her vehicle in front of the empty house and walked over. The sales agent was in side showing another couple around. She introduced herself to the agent as Niki, Nichole Barretto. After the couple left, the agent showed Niki around the house. She decided to buy the house as she did with others she used. The sales agent left smiling brightly after they signed the paperwork. Niki spent her morning in the house watching her target closely. Jessica walked out her house to her vehicle and noticed a woman coming out of the empty house. She waved at the woman, smiling brightly when she looked up at her. She had thick shoulder length black hair, a sweet perfect face with dark eyes, full lips, broad shoulders, a long slender toned body and bronze tanned skin. The woman returned the smile and wave while getting into her vehicle. Jessica got into her vehicle leaving for work, another day with patients like every other day. As soon as Jessica entered her office, her first patient was ready and waiting. She loved her job but sometimes needed someone to talk to herself. Niki arrived back at the house with all her belongings she kept in her vehicle and a truck full of new furniture behind her. The men of the furniture company took everything inside the house, placing it where she wanted it. Watching the house across the street when the truck left, she found that Charlie Schulte had a woman on the side. They arrived together at his house and left together two hours later. Niki took photos of them kissing and having sex in his bed. The same bed he and Jessica shared every night. "It looks like you want your wife out of the way to make space for your side dish. Why don't you just off her yourself?" Niki spoke out loud to herself while putting the photos onto a disc. She spent four days watching Charlie, his secretary and Jessica closely. She made notes of their every move trying to find the right time make her delivery. She couldn't stop herself from thinking about the red head. Those hazel eyes were drilled into her memory prohibiting her from even thinking of killing the Irish broad. All the information she gathered on Charlie, she put on the disc with the photos. She even found out that Charlie could want Jessica out of the way to claim her life insurance. He was in deep debt; he lost his share of his business through a poker game with loan sharks. Niki left the house and the complex and stopped in a deserted alley two blocks away. She donned an overall from an electrical company she had in her trunk, a synthetic mask making her look like a man and added a cap sticking her hear underneath it and wore safety boots on her feet. Lifting the carpet in her trunk she took out two vinyl stickers and number plates. She stuck the stickers to the sides of her vehicle and changed the plates. She grabbed a bag full of cameras and a clipboard and closed the trunk. Nichole drove back to the complex. At the gate she told the guards in a rough deep voice that she had a job to do at the Schulte residence. She grabbed a clipboard on the passenger seat tapping on some papers. They let her in without hesitation. She parked her vehicle in the drive way and walked up to the house with the bag of cameras. Looking around to see if the coast was clear, she took a hair clip from under her cap and picked the lock. She entered quickly and slowly walked through the house. She placed the wireless cameras around the house in specific places then left. Back in the alley she changed the plates back, peeled off the vinyl stickers, removed the electrical company gear and synthetic mask burning the stuff in a dumpster then headed back home to connect her surveillance laptop to the wireless cameras. On Friday Niki headed to the clinic where Jessica worked. She parked outside and waited for the young woman to finish work. Jessica walked out of the building to her vehicle. The young woman looked up at two other vehicles in the parking lot. The place looked deserted and creepy at dusk. She could feel someone watching her. She saw one familiar vehicle, one she had seen during the past four days everywhere she went. The little hairs on the back of her neck rose sending a shiver down her spine. She fumbled around in her handbag for her car keys. With her keys in hand, she opened her car door. Suddenly she felt an arm wrap around her neck with a knife at her throat. "Help... help me... somebody!" Jessica screamed and kicked. "Shut up bitch; give me your handbag... now!" The rough male voice sounded in her ears. Without second thought Niki jumped out of her vehicle heading toward the young woman. She realised that she couldn't shoot the guy in front of this woman. She stalked behind the guy and then kicked him in the bends behind his knees. The crook landed on his knees with a thud. Niki wrapped her arm around the crook's neck holding her grip. Jessica fell to her knees crying into her hands out of fear and shock. The crook tried to jab Niki in the stomach with his elbow but missed. She bent her head down beside him grabbing his hair while pulling out her silenced nine millimetre from the holster under her jacket. Walking around him and pointing the gun to his cheek, she whispered so Jessica couldn't hear. "I think you better get going. My finger loves pulling this trigger." The crook swallowed on a lump in his throat looking at the long barrel and nodded; sweat trickling down his face. Niki stood lowering the gun to her side so the woman couldn't see it. The crook stood up running into the direction he came from. She put her gun away turning her attention to the woman kneeling on the floor behind her crying. The Spanish woman lowered to Jessica's level putting her hands on her shoulders. "Excuse me, are you alright?" Niki asked in a gentle voice. Jessica raised her head looking into the darkest blue eyes she had ever seen. 'The woman was obviously half Spanish judging by her thick black hair, eyes and skin. Yet, she spoke English like she grew up here. She didn't look like a tourist.' Jesse thought to herself. "Yes, thank you very much for saving me..." Jessica said in a shaky voice and looked behind her searching for the crook. "How did you... Is he... gone?" Jessica asked looking back into the dark blue eyes in front of her. "He's gone, he won't be back here." Niki said looking at Jessica while she helped the woman to her feet. The young Irish woman threw her arms around the Spanish woman and rested her chin on a broad shoulder screwing her eyes shut. The young woman felt a sudden delightful rush serge through her body from her core. The imminent danger caused a familiar tingle in her groin. The Spanish woman stood there stunned then slowly wrapped her arms around the Irish beauty. The young woman felt the serge get stronger when she felt strong arms surround her waist. Her breasts pressed against the other woman's breasts then her body started trembling. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the hot juices drip down her thighs. Niki felt the woman trembling then thought to herself how scared the young woman must have been. 'Oh my God, did she just have an orgasm in the woman's arms?' Jessica asked herself in shock. She cleared her throat stepping back trying to look normal, as if nothing happened to her body a few seconds ago. The other woman didn't seem to notice what had happened. Jessica blushed furiously. "I'm Jessica Bailey, everyone calls me Jesse." She stuck her hand out to shake her hero's hand. "I'm Nichole Barretto, you can call me Niki. Are you sure that you're alright? I can take you to the hospital if you need medical attention?" Niki said shaking the woman's still shaky hand. 'Why did she just give this woman her real name?' "I'm alright, thanks to you. You look familiar. Have I seen you s...?" Jesse furrowed her eye brows still holding the Spanish woman's hand in hers. "You moved into the empty house in Green Acres Complex across the street from mine." "I thought you looked familiar. I bought that house. I was just passing by when I saw that man attack you." Niki felt captivated by the woman's hazel eyes. "I feel I should do more to thank you for saving my life." Jesse said smiling brightly. Niki's heart beat faster as dimples appeared on the redhead's face. 'How could she ever have missed those dimples?' Niki thought. "N...no it was nothing at all. I'm just happy I could help." Niki removed her hand from the redhead's hand stepping back a little. 'She can't do this, not with this woman.' Jesse felt a twinge of disappointment when Niki removed her hand and stepped back. The expression in the woman's eyes said she had secrets that she didn't want to or couldn't share with anyone. Niki's face turned unreadable, as if she knew that Jesse was reading her emotions. "Alright Niki, then I guess I'll see you around. Thanks again though, I owe you my life." Jesse got into her vehicle. "No problem at all... Jesse. See you around." Niki closed the woman's door and bent down. Jesse opened the window to listen. "By the way Jesse... you don't owe me anything." Jessica looked into her hero's dark blue eyes. Something about the Spanish dark beauty made her feel safe and needed. The look she received from the woman was that of curiosity and a promise of something exceptional. Her eyes showed excitement, danger and security. It was something that Jessica craved for. She just had to get closer to this woman. She had to have this woman. But what would she get if she did get this woman? The last time a woman made Jessica feel this way was in college when she and her roommate acted on their curiosity for each other. It was the first and last time Jesse slept with a woman. After that she felt addicted and craved woman as if they were a drug. Being with a man now was only to please her family. After her college experience with a woman, her need for sex with a man was greatly spoilt, except for Charlie. Jessica craved the softness and gentleness of a woman's careful loving touches. This Spanish beauty had awakened a sleeping side of Jessica that she had almost forgotten. Jessica couldn't help wondering what this Spanish handsome and beautiful woman's profession was, that made her so secretive. "Can I at least buy you a drink? I always go to this one club on Fridays. Would you like to join me?" Jessica had a hopeful smile tugging on the corners of her lips, her hands felt clammy and her cheeks felt warm. Niki stood up straight looking around as if thinking about the offer. Her hands were resting on the frame of the open window. Suddenly she felt the soft gentle touch of this young redhead on her one hand and looked down. Painted fingernails surrounded by silky skin greeted her eyes. Niki bent down staring into bright hazel orbs and swallowed hard. "Sure why not. I have nothing to do anyway." A bright smile grew on Jesse's lips exposing her dimples, making her heart skip ten beats and her breath catch in her suddenly tight chest. "Great, come over to my house at eight o'clock. We can drive together." Jesse started the vehicle still staring into dark eyes. "Great... I'll be there." Niki said looking at the watch on her arm reading six o'clock. Jesse rolled up her window then drove off. 'What are you doing Nichole? Why did you save her? Why are you thrown so off balance by this woman?' Niki thought to herself watching the redhead drive off. Jessica arrived at home thinking about what happened at work. It seemed kind of odd that Nikki was there to save her at that precise moment. She didn't hear Nikki's vehicle pull up in the parking lot while under attack. Charlie seemed a bit distracted the last week. She noticed that he couldn't look her in the eyes anymore which told her that he was lying to her about something. He didn't hold, kiss or make love to her either. It didn't bother her that much anymore, she still loved him as she learned to love him through the year married to him. If he wasn't interested in her, why marry her in the first place? She yearned to trail her fingers down the soft silky skin of a woman. She yearned feeling the gentle kisses of full luscious lips pressed to hers. Jesse didn't bother eating anything. She had to get ready for her annual Friday night out at her favourite club. Charlie spent his Friday nights playing poker with his friends. She at least thought he did. Niki stood against the closed front door staring at the inside of a house that seemed empty even with all the new furniture in it. Most of her life has felt as empty as this house felt. Her parents sent her to America for a better future. She was supposed to live with an aunt, but her aunt never picked her up at the airport. Ten years later Niki found out that her aunt had died two nights before she arrived. She lived on the streets for five years before she was found. Walking through the lonely house, Niki headed to her bedroom. She filled up her closet with new clothes earlier in the week. Niki took out a tight pair of blue jeans a black snug fitting t-shirt and black low heal boots. Setting it aside on the bed, she walked toward the bathroom, head hung low to take a bath. She spent an hour soaking in the tub thinking about what she was doing and had done. The Target That Stole Her Heart Niki put blue jeans on that hugged her ass and thighs tightly, a snug plain black t-shirt, a mop hat and her boots. She sunk to her knees in front of her open closet. She raised the carpet and opened a hidden safe the sales representative showed her. She put her nine millimetre pistol and holster away locking the safe again. She wouldn't need her weapons anyway; she was much deadlier without them. She went over to her laptop enabling her encryption program. She couldn't believe what she was going to do. SpanishKitty: -I can't deliver the package. I don't do these kinds of deliveries anymore. Sorry. Find someone else. She walked over to Jesse's house fighting with her own conscience. Niki felt nervous and anxious standing in front of Jessica's front door. She raised her hand to knock then pulled back turning around to go back home. As she stepped down the stairs the door opened. Niki spun around on her heels looking straight into a red headed, hazel eyed beauty that looked ready to kill; figuratively speaking. The young woman wore a long flowing black dress and black high heels with straps wrapped around her ankles. Her full luscious lips were painted glossy red. Her fiery red hair was brought back from the sides and pinned with a butterfly hair clip. "I suddenly feel a bit underdressed. You look... amazing." Niki said stunned trying to swallow. "Why... thank you Niki, you look amazing yourself. But if you really feel uncomfortable about it, I might have just the thing to suit you. Hold on for a moment." Jesse turned to her left opening a door; a small closet she used for jackets and coats. She moved a few coat hangers around then pulled a black suit jacket out, handing it over to Niki. "It's my brother's jacket; it won't fit him any more but it should fit you perfectly." Jessica watched the older woman's face turn softer. Niki took the jacket from Jesse, their fingers brushed against each other. Dark blue and hazel eyes locked onto each other making time seem to stand still. "Thank you Jesse..." Niki looked at the jacket then put it on over her t-shirt, the jacket fit her perfectly like Jesse said it would. "This is the first time ever anyone gave me anything." 'Oh my God, why did she just tell her that? What was happening to her? She's going soft for this woman.' Niki couldn't understand her sudden openness, especially with this woman. "No problem at all. Shall we get going?" Jesse asked pointing to her vehicle. The two women drove in silence to the club constantly stealing glances from each other. Niki knew this red headed hazel eyed bombshell was up to something. The young woman had a smug smile on her full luscious red lips. 'This young beautiful woman doesn't know her at all. The woman could get hurt or killed if in a relationship with her. She had to put a stop to it now. This was the first time in fifteen years that she had broken her own rules by making herself known to a target. Was she falling in love with this woman? Could she protect this woman if the time came?' Niki thought to herself. Her train of thought continued as her conscience tried reasoning with the better half of her soul. "We're here Niki." Jesse got out of the vehicle before Niki could protest. The young woman was already at the door when Niki got out following in her foot steps. It was a two story building with a neon sign above the door reading; Club Electron in rainbow colours. Niki walked through the door past the bouncers. The inside was impressive; neon tube lights along all the corners of the inside walls, flashing lights built into the floor and roof of the dance floor and smoke machines all in sync with the music played by the DJ. Niki stood at the door looking around the place. The bar stood against the far wall in the middle of the floor. At one side there were tall tables and chairs surrounded by people. On the other side of the bar was the dance floor with people surrounded by flashing lights, smoke and loud banging music. Nikki could feel Jesse's presence next to her and looked at the woman. They headed toward the bar in silence. The two of them ordered their drink and sipped in silence. Jesse tried to get the woman to open up to her but failed miserably. Jesse took the woman home with a disappointed look on her face. She couldn't understand why they didn't speak one word to another. The weekend and following week went by quickly. Jesse made a point of it to visit Niki at her home everyday after work, telling the woman more about herself in the hopes of getting her to open up. Niki did start opening up about her parents and childhood before she came to the states. The coming Friday Jesse invited Niki to the club again. They decided to meet each other there. Jesse was standing beside the door in the club watching Niki from behind as she came in. It was the first time she truly noticed how tall the Spanish woman was, standing at about 5'5" to Jesse's 5'3". The Spanish woman still looked secretive and hard. It looked as though she was fighting an inner battle with herself. Jessica was sure that she could get through that unbreakable shield that Niki had put up around her. Underneath that hard shell had to be a person worth loving. Jesse walked forward resting her hand on Niki's shoulder. Niki spun around looking straight into hazel eyes. They stood nose to nose, their eyes locked onto each other's gaze. Jesse bit her lower lip looking at Niki's lips then licked her lips looking back at her dark orbs. For a brief moment it seemed that the Spanish beauty's shield dropped. The Spanish woman licked her dry lips struggling to hold back the urge to kiss the woman in front of her. She stepped back a little to put some space between her and the red head. "Why exactly do you want me here Jesse?" Niki asked crossing her arms; her face hardening again. "Why did you save me Niki? You weren't just passing by like you said." A smile consumed Niki's lips while uncrossing her arms. Jessica grinned at her from ear to ear. "Touché, you got me there. Let's have that drink. We have a lot to discus." They walked to the bar and sat in a dark corner ordering their drinks. The Spanish female took a sip of her drink to wet her dry throat when it arrived. "Why were you watching me?" Jesse took several short sips of her drink. "This might come as a shock to you. Before I tell you why I'm here, you need to know what I do for a living." Niki gulped half her drink away and set the glass down. "Okay, so what is it I need to know?" Jesse asked taking several more sips waiting impatiently for the truth. "I am a professional killer for hire. Your husband hired me to kill Andre Vivier. He asked me to kill you too. It didn't feel right to me so I started watching him instead. I needed to figure out what he was up to. I couldn't bring myself to kill you." Niki finished the rest of her drink. She looked at Jesse's shocked face setting her glass down. Jesse drank her drink slowly, letting the shocking words of her hero sink in. New questions raced through Jessica's mind. 'Was he getting greedy? Was he seeing another woman behind her back? Was he doing this for her life insurance?' She asked herself. She looked into the Spanish woman's eyes. Her expression was that of truth, concern and... something else; something Jesse longed for everyday. "Okay, I..." Jesse faltered. "I know you're telling me the truth. I can see it in your eyes. I also know that Charlie is up to something but I couldn't find out what it is. How does he want you to...?" Jesse cleared her throat not wanting to finish her question. "He wants it to look like an accident. He wants your life insurance to pay off gambling debt he made with loan sharks. This is the first time I ever broke my own rules; never get personally involved with a client or target. The thing is... I don't see you as a target at all. I see you as a woman who got handed the short straw in life, a woman that needs help to stretch that straw." "Do you work for a company or organisation? I'm sorry... you probably can't answer that anyway. When I first looked into your dark eyes I saw danger... but I also saw excitement, security, compassion and... love. That's why you saved me, isn't it?" A knowing smile grew on Niki's lips. "Yes it is... I fell for you these past two weeks that I was watching you. I just felt this need grow in me to protect you. I left Charlie a message last Friday that I don't do that kind of work anymore." Niki looked at the empty glass in front of her taking a deep breath. "I will do anything to protect you Jesse. I won't let him hurt you. I have been protecting you all week. If it wasn't for me you would have been electrocuted on Monday. You could have died of poisoning on Wednesday. If I didn't break your bathroom window on Tuesday you would have slipped on the oily stairs." The young woman had a loving glare in her hazel eyes. "I remember now, my radio fell into my bathwater. He bumped it and said it was an accident. You put the power off. After you broke the window, I found the baseball and thought it was the kids next door. If I didn't have that ball in my hands I wouldn't have seen the oil spill on the top step. Tell me about the poisoning?" "You're diabetic; he always refills your prescription for you. You asked him to get the pills instead of the syringes. He filled your capsules with crushed rat poison. I broke into your house and changed it while you two were sleeping. You almost caught me that night. He cut your break lines yesterday. I replaced it for you before you left. I'm the one that locked you in your room, not him. I needed time to fix it." "How do you know about every move he makes?" Jesse's face was filled with curiosity and wonder. "I installed my own cameras in your house. I have been watching you two for twenty four seven. He is getting desperate now. The last thing he will try will be much more drastic and much more dangerous." The young woman put her hand on Niki's hand. The older woman looked at their hands. She turned her hand around entwining their fingers looking up into the young woman's eyes. The older woman listened to the next song playing. It was a slow song; the words seemed to explain exactly what both women felt for one another. "Would you like to dance Jesse?" Jesse stood up nodding and followed Niki to the dance floor. The older woman put her hands on the young woman's hips looking into her eyes. Jesse wrapped her arms around the Spanish woman's torso resting her head in her hero's neck. She felt the Spanish woman's arms slide from her hips around her waist resting her tender hands on her lower back. The young woman's body shuddered at the touch. They moved slowly to the music holding onto each other. "Come away with me Jesse. I can make both of us disappear. Charlie will never find you." Niki asked resting her head against Jesse's head. Jesse looked up into Niki's dark orbs. 'Niki's offer sounded great but she couldn't do that to her family. She has fallen head over heels for this woman.' She thought to herself. "Oh Niki, I would love to but I can't do that to my family. It wouldn't be fair of me. There has to be something else we can do. I have thought of divorce but after what I heard I doubt that will work." "Don't worry about him Cara Mia. I will take care of him." Jesse furrowed her brows at the statement. "No, I won't kill him. I have something else in mind for him. I'll show you later. Let's just enjoy the night out for now." They danced to a few more songs together. Niki brushed a lock of hair behind Jesse's ear then walked to the bar towing Jesse behind her. "You are so beautiful Jesse. What do you say we have another drink?" Niki signalled the bartender for two more drinks as they sat down at their previous spots then returned her attention to Jesse when she felt the woman put her hand on her leg. "Can I ask you something Niki?" She asked smiling shyly. Niki nodded and watched Jesse intently waiting patiently for her question. "There is so much I want to ask you, so much I don't know about you. First of all... you look half Spanish and you're taller than any other Spanish women I know. Is one of your parents...? I'm sorry, that sounds very rude." Niki covered Jesse's hand on her leg. "It's okay; I get what you're asking. My father is American. He worked in Spain for a mining company. He met my mother there. They fell in love, got married and had me. The company hit a dead end. Everyone that worked there lost their jobs. They used the money they had saved up for me for university to get me here for a better future. I was supposed to live with an aunt but she died two days before I got here. I was ten at the time. I lived on the streets for five years. At the age of fifteen the organisation found me and trained me. After ten years of service they tried to kill me. So I took out the whole organisation. I have been working freelance for five more years since then." "It sounds like you had a rough life. Are your parents still alive?" "Yes they are; I have been sending them money every month. I only know half of you. I want to know all of you. I don't know what I am doing. I never had friends or girlfriends before just a one night stand here and there." "I have a feeling that we will have the time to get to know each other more. You said you have things you need to show me. What do you say we head home and check it out? I'm curious to see what you have." The two women walked hand in hand to their vehicles after downing their drinks. The drive home was quiet and felt alone. The radio played music echoing softly in the cabin. Jesse was thinking about everything Niki had told her. Why would this total stranger risk being caught by saving her life so many times? Different emotions played over her sweet Irish facial features. She had a secret of her own. A secret not even her husband new about at the moment. She pulled into her driveway and walked over to Niki as she pulled into her driveway. She waited for Niki to get out of her vehicle. "How did you know that I was watching you?" Niki asked staring at the woman. Jesse turned her head staring into Niki's dark blue orbs smiling shyly, her dimples melting Niki's ice covered heart. "I have been watching you as well. I saw you everywhere I went. From that first morning I saw you, I would find myself thinking about you at work. At home I would watch you through the windows as you came and went. I saw your vehicle outside the clinic every day before I head home. I was kind of scared but I felt safe. I knew that you weren't going to hurt me." Jesse felt heat rush through her body from her core. Her cheeks flushed over, her hazel eyes glistened with lust and her lips portrayed a whimsical smile. The Spanish woman looked briefly at the young Irish woman. Seeing the expression on the woman's face made her take in a sudden deep breath. It felt like she couldn't breathe. Her abdomen felt warm, her core was tingling, her skin portrayed a light sheen and her face flushed over with desire. "Oh my God, I thought you'd be threatened by all this. It actually looks like you are turned on by the imminent danger that you are facing." Jesse's face turned a darker shade of red at hearing Niki's observations spoken out loud. "I have always been turned on by danger. I never faced danger like this before. I almost got into an accident a few months ago. When I got home I was so turned on by the sudden rush, I actually had to... uhm... you know." Jesse looked down at her hands blushing furiously. Her ears felt hot and her core tingled with anticipation. "Okay, so what happened last Friday had the same effect on you?" Niki asked grinning from ear to ear. "Mmmm hhmmm, I actually had an orgasm in your arms. Oh my God! I have no idea why I am telling you these things." Jesse covered her mouth with her hands looking shocked into those big dark eyes. For a moment the Irish woman's eyes seemed to be smiling, reminding the Spanish woman of a song she heard as a child named 'When Irish eyes are smiling'. The two women broke out into a fit of giggles staring at each other. Their giggles subsided leaving them staring deeply into one another's eyes. They both shivered as a gust of cool wind blew between them. The two women walked to Niki's front door hand in hand. "Come on in, would you like something to drink before we get started?" Niki asked closing the door behind them once inside. "Some tea would be nice please... or coffee if you have." Jesse answered looking around the living room and kitchen. "Are you planning to stay here?" Jesse asked looking hopefully at Nichole while standing against the door frame with her arms crossed. Nichole looked at the Irish woman while taking two cups off a shelf. "Actually... yes I am. I have decided to settle down. I have a steady income through other houses I own and I have enough money set aside to do what I always wanted to do." Niki returned her attention to the kettle and smiled to herself when she heard a sigh come from Jesse. It sounded like a sigh of relief. To be honest, Nichole has been thinking for a long time now to quit her way of living and live a life where her conscience won't haunt her very existence. Going to bed every night and seeing the faces of every person she killed just to get by in life was starting to get to her. Seeing their pleading eyes in her dreams every night turn to cold dark holes filled with depression and a lifeless longing to live, made her think of the time when she almost were in their shoes. The trick to killing another being was to never look them in the eyes when you pull the trigger. Nichole learned that the hard way. Jessica's voice snapped her out of her train of thought. "Sorry... you were saying?" Niki asked shaking her head clear. "I was asking you about what you wanted to do before all this happened." Jesse could see in her Spanish beauty's dark blue eyes that what she did for a living was becoming too much for her to handle. She had a look of depression, pain and sorrow on her face a few seconds ago. Jesse saw another emotion flash in this beauty's eyes, an emotion that would destroy her soul if she didn't do something about it. This woman needed to forgive herself for what she had done before she could move on with her life, before she could find peace for her darkened soul. "I always wanted to become a private investigator. I have the skills to do it. I just needed the certificates to prove it." Nichole answered facing Jesse with two full cups of tea. Jesse followed Niki to the living room. Niki set the two cups down on a sandal wood coffee table. The young woman sat on a leather couch while Niki ran up stairs to her bedroom to retrieve her laptop and the disc. The Spanish woman stood in front of the mirror with the disc and laptop in her arms. The person staring back at her looked like a stranger. The last two weeks had changed her into someone she hasn't seen since she was ten years old. The person in the mirror gave her an unforgivable expression. Niki watched as her reflection turned into the red headed, hazel eyed Irish beauty sitting in the living room. The expression in the reflection turned into a warm smile and a loving glare. At that very moment Nichole knew that she had to protect this woman, no matter what the cost. He will try to kill Jessica himself again. She had to stop him somehow. Niki grabbed the envelope with the information Charlie had sent her and headed down the stairs to the living room. She set the laptop down on the coffee table flipping it open and pressed the power button. After it logged on she put the disc in and sat down next to Jessica on the leather couch. The Target That Stole Her Heart "I should warn you before hand, the stuff you are about to see will be a bit disturbing. I have gathered a lot of evidence you can use against Charlie." Nichole opened the files on the disc then turned the laptop to Jessica for her to see. The young woman scrolled through some documents. A thousand emotions played on her face like a slide show when she opened a file with photos in it. There were photos of Charlie and his secretary having sex on Jesse's bed and more of them at her place playing dress up. There was more of him with known loan sharks roughing him up. Jesse looked at the screen with tears in her eyes. Niki handed Jesse the envelope last. Jessica pulled out the photo and sheet of paper. She recognised the photo as the one that used to stand on his desk at work. She flipped the photo around to read the back. 'Charlie. I will love you for always. Jessica.' Jesse slammed the photo on the table and stood up pacing the room. Tears spilled from her hazel eyes. The young woman fell to her knees crying uncontrollably into her hands. She felt strong arms wrap around her, comforting her. Jesse wrapped her arms around the other woman's torso, hiding her face in the woman's neck. Everything that happened to Jessica thus far came crashing down on her in one sweeping wave. Everything from the knife to her throat, what Niki had told her at the club and that she saw for herself on the disc. The year and half she spent with Charlie, believing that he loved her, felt like one big lie. Their one year of marriage felt like a lie. Nichole held on to Jessica letting her cry out. The young woman revelled in the compassion and remorse she felt radiating from the older woman holding her. She also felt love and passion as she felt warm soft lips place a kiss on her forehead. "It's going to be okay Cara Mia. We will work through this together." Niki said placing another kiss on Jesse's forehead. Jesse stopped crying after a few more minutes then looked into Niki's dark orbs. "I am so confused right now. What are we going to do? Do you have a plan?" Jesse said sniffing while holding her stomach. She felt her abdomen cramp and spasm, a sharp pain shot through her. She needs her pills. Niki stood up from the floor running to the kitchen then returned with a bottle of pills. "I know what you need, come on. I have a bottle of the pills here that you use. I figured it might come in handy." Niki picked the young woman up and gently sat her down on the couch. Jesse took the pills Niki offered and drank one with some of her cooling tea. She took slow deep breaths. "Thank you very much Niki. You sure are resourceful." "I do have a plan and I need you to listen very carefully to what I'm going to say. He will try to kill you again. He won't have any other choice. I need you to go home and pretend that you don't know anything." "Wait... you want me to go back and give him another opportunity to kill me. Are you crazy?" Niki sat next to her taking the woman's hands in her own. "Listen to me Jesse... he won't be home till late tonight. If anything goes wrong give me a signal. What is his routine when he comes home on a Friday night?" Niki stared intently at the young woman. "Well he comes in, gets a glass of water and walks through the dark house to the bedroom. He never puts any lights on because he doesn't want to wake me up. After brushing his teeth he gets into bed. Why?" Jesse raised an eyebrow. "Exactly, if he does try anything tonight, see if you can put a light on. If I see any light go on, I will come right over." "What if I can't get to a light?" Jesse asked in a shaky voice. Niki put her hands on Jesse's shoulders. "Then try anything else to get my attention, break your routine. Don't do anything that will raise his suspicions. Don't give him a reason to think the house is being watched." Niki and Jesse drank their cold tea in silence. Afterward they walked to the front door. Niki cupped the young woman's face with her hands leaning in. Jesse's eyes grew wide, licking her lips with anticipation. They closed their eyes as their lips met. Jesse pulled Niki in tighter to her body placing her hands on her hips. Niki's hands slid down the young woman's neck, shoulders and sides to her hips. The young red head trailed her fingers up the Spanish woman's sides and torso resting her arms around her neck. She parted her lips at the first feel of Niki's tongue swiping across her lips. Niki's tongue roamed around in Jesse's mouth making the young woman moan. The Spanish woman moved her hands from the young red heads hips around cupping her luscious firm ass cheeks. Jesse surprised Niki by sucking on her tongue making the Spanish woman tighten her grip on her ass cheeks. Feeling the heat and wanton need rise with in their cores, they reluctantly broke their kiss staring into one another's eye's smiling brightly. Leaning their foreheads together, they brushed their lips together one more time. Jesse left Niki's house heading to her own house. Her heart was pounding in her chest from their heated kiss. Her stomach churned at the thought of sleeping next to Charlie in the same bed he fucked his secretary in, the same bed they shared for more than a year. She loved the man enough not to cheat on him or attempt to kill him. Niki turned off all her lights and went up to her room. She sat in the dark in front of her bedroom window watching Jesse go inside her house. The living room light went on then the kitchen light. After a few seconds the lights went off. Niki took a pair of night vision goggles out of a briefcase lying next to her feet on the floor. She watched Jesse walk into her bedroom setting a glass on her bedside table. The young woman stripped naked slowly in the dark. Niki felt a tingle in her core while watching the young Irish beauty strip. Jesse was doing it deliberately, she knew Niki was watching. She left the curtains open like she did every night. She got into her bed took a sip from the glass then let her head drop to the pillow. Niki sat on the windowpane watching the house across from her intently. After two hours of waiting and watching, Charlie arrived home parking his vehicle behind Jesse's vehicle. He got silently out of his vehicle taking something out of the trunk. He walked to the driver side of Jesse's vehicle looking around. Niki zoomed in tweaking a switch on the side of the goggles to take a closer look. He got to his knees then lay down on his back sticking something underneath Jesse's vehicle. It looked like a bomb to Niki. Charlie got up to his feet and went into the house. 'Oh my God, would he really risk losing everything by blowing her up? He must be desperate to get rid of her. I have to do something to get rid of that bomb at least till tomorrow.' Niki thought to herself. Niki turned her attention to Jesse's bedroom. Charlie did everything Jessica said he would. He set a glass of water on his bedside table went to the bathroom then returned getting into bed. Niki waited another hour watching the bedroom, waiting for both Jesse and Charlie to sleep soundly. She snuck out the back of her house, walked around to the front and crouched closer to Jesse's vehicle staying away from any light. She lay on her back next to the driver's side. Luckily Charlie had used a fairly easy bomb to disarm with a timer attached to it that read; 13:00. He wouldn't let it go off in the complex so he must be waiting for her to be at work, maybe when she goes on lunch. 'Right she goes on lunch at that time.' Niki reminded herself. Charlie would be at work already, so he would have an alibi. Niki detached the bomb and disarmed it. She stood up and crouched back to her back door retracing her steps. Niki grabbed her laptop before heading up the stairs. Back in her room placing the laptop on her bed, Niki placed the bomb and goggles carefully in the briefcase by her bedroom window. She quickly took a look at her surveillance laptop on a table near the window. Everything looked fine. She sat on the bed and pressed the spacebar on her other laptop bringing the screen back to life. Nichole hacked into Jesse's computer at work using her email address and set up an appointment for Louise Walters to see her at noon. Niki knew that Charlie wouldn't try anything else tonight. She was tired, so she got under the covers. She fell into peaceful slumber thinking about the kiss her and Jesse had shared tonight. The following morning Niki was up early watching what was happening inside the house on the surveillance system. She went down stairs got a cup of coffee and returned to her bedroom window. Charlie was just leaving when she sat down on a chair by the window next to the table. He was under the impression that the bomb was still under Jesse's vehicle. Niki waited till Jesse left for work as well, sitting at the window drinking her coffee in peace. She bought a vehicle over the phone early in the morning and asked them to deliver it as soon as possible. She met them at the alley she used and left the vehicle there. Nichole spent the rest of the morning at home working on a disguise; white pants with a light blue blouse, high heels matching the blouse and a blond wig with curly locks hanging over her shoulders. She stood in front of the mirror practising an English accent while putting make-up on her face. She grabbed a backpack and shoved another wig in it with the bomb. Niki placed the disc inside the manila envelope and stuck it inside the backpack. An hour before noon she walked to the alley and drove the new vehicle to the clinic parking it right next to Jesse's vehicle on the driver's side. When the coast was clear she placed the bomb back under Jesse's vehicle where it was. She grabbed the backpack and went into the clinic. At the front desk Niki told the assistant in her practised English accent that she was Louise Walters there for her noon appointment with a Dr. Bailey. Jessica was free so she told her assistant to send the woman in. Niki knocked on the door and opened it when she heard Jesse's voice. "Dr. Bailey? Hi I'm Louise Walters. You come highly recommended by a friend." She said in her English accent closing the door behind her. She locked the door and pulled off her wig and clothes. Jessica looked at her stunned. "Niki, what are you doing here?" The young woman asked shooting to her feet. "We need to get you out of here, now. Charlie placed a bomb with a timer under your vehicle last night." Niki answered. Jesse watched in awe as the woman in front of her stood in her underwear. What the woman said not sinking in yet. "Okay, so what do I do?" Jesse asked licking her lips. Niki removed the other wig from the backpack; a red haired wig matching Jesse's hair perfectly. "Strip and put those clothes on. I will put your clothes on. As soon as you get to your vehicle, you'll see a porch right next to it. Get into that vehicle, while I pretend to be you." Niki waited for Jesse to strip down to her underwear. "What are you going to do? Niki are you going to get in the vehicle with the bomb?" Jesse asked stepping toward Niki, fear and concern showing in her eyes. Niki wrapped her arms around the frightened young woman. Their half naked bodies pressed together. Niki didn't seem to notice yet, but Jesse did. They looked at each other, Jesse's eyes burning with lust. "I'm only going to place the red wig over the head of the driver seat to make it appear as if someone is sitting in it. The timer is set for one o'clock, so at five to one we'll leave your office together. You will have to walk next to me so it would sound as if I'm you when we walk out of here. Just tell your assistant that you're going out for lunch and keep your head down." "So what do we do until we have to leave?" Jesse's question was filled with innuendo. Niki looked down only just realising that both of them were only in their underwear and blushed furiously. Niki raised her head only to find Jesse's lips meet hers. Their hands groped freely in frantic search on each other's wanton bodies. Jessica walked backward toward the couch pulling Niki with her without breaking their kiss. She settled on the couch pulling Niki down on top of her. Niki's one leg rested between Jesse's legs, their hips pressing against one another's heated tingling cores. They rocked their hips rubbing their pussies into each other's hips while kissing passionately. Nichole's hands travelled up Jesse's arms entwining their fingers forming two fists above Jesse's head. Their bodies moved together matching each others rhythm. Their need for one another's careful touches urging their climaxes to come forth. They broke their kiss staring into each other's eyes. Jesse draped her one leg around Niki's waist pinning the Spanish woman down harder into her lower extremities. "Oh my God... Niki I have wanted you for so long." Jesse said breathlessly. Nichole relaxed her body into her new lover. Their boobs meshed together causing sweet friction against their hardened aching nipples. Their hands turned white as their grip tightened through an epic first climax together. Their bodies melted into each other at feeling the explosions in their tingling cores. "I... have... wanted... you... just... as... much" Niki said between their final thrusts riding out the waves of ecstasy washing over them. Their lips locked into a loving tender kiss. The kiss felt soft and gentle to their previous hungry kiss. Nichole broke their kiss sitting up staring down into Jessica's eyes. Jessica sat up slightly to give herself room to remove her bra. Niki removed hers at the same time. Jesse hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her panties and raised her hips to remove them. Niki stood up from the couch removing hers. Jesse pulled Niki onto the couch settling her body on top of the Spanish woman straddling her hips. Their mounds rubbed together with every forward thrust Jesse made with her hips. Nichole let her hands rest on the young woman's hips. Their eyes locked onto each other as they moved together feeling a pleasurable pressure build inside of their bodies. Jesse's breasts bounced with her movements. They moaned, grunted and groaned in unison. Jesse leaned forward showering Niki's face with sweet kisses. Niki's hands travelled up Jesse's sides and settled around her boobs rubbing the hard little nubs with her thumbs. The young woman sat up cupping her Spanish lover's boobs kneading them. "Aaaahhhhh..." Jesse exclaimed throwing her head back. She was close. She felt Niki's body shudder underneath her. She looked down at her beautiful lover. "Mmmmmmm..." Niki moaned closing her eyes thrashing her head from side to side. Jesse rocked her hips faster rubbing her mound against Niki's even harder. Niki's eyes shot open connecting with Jesse's as they climaxed together. Jesse slowed her rhythm riding out the waves crashing over them. After what seemed like minutes, she collapsed into Niki's arms panting and spent stretching her legs. She felt strong arms wrap around her shoulders. The two women lay holding each other for a few minutes. Jesse raised her head looking lovingly into dark blues. "Wow... that was incredible. I haven't had an orgasm like that since university." "I never had an orgasm like that before. I had a few lovers before but none of them was as intense as you are." Niki placed a tender kiss on Jesse's lips. Jesse sat up looking over at a clock on one of the walls. "Its twenty to one... we should probably get dressed." Jesse placed one more kiss on her lover's lips and got up grabbing her underwear. Niki sat up against the arm rest watching Jesse get dressed into the white pants, blue blouse and heels. Jesse made it more fun by putting on a show for her new lover. After Jesse got dressed she sat behind her desk watching Nichole get dressed, also being treated to a sensual show. "What's going to happen after I 'die' today?" Jesse asked bringing her hands up beside her head flexing two fingers on either side at saying the second last word. "You are going to haunt Charlie's dreams." Niki answered taking the envelope out of the backpack and placed it on Jesse's desk. "What is this for?" The young woman asked standing up from her chair. Niki walked around the desk wrapping her arms around her young lover's waist. "That is a little present for the police that are going to be here to investigate your blown up vehicle. When the police arrest Charlie, you will miraculously appear from the dead." The Spanish woman leaned forward briefly brushing her lips against the luscious full lips of her young Irish lover. Niki donned the red wig while Jesse donned the blond wig. They stared into each other's eyes both unsure if Niki's plan is going to work. "There is just one thing wrong with all of this." Niki said breaking their gaze. "What is that?" Jesse asked feeling a bit more anxious. She let go of Niki and stepped back crossing her arms over her stomach. "According to the police, Nichole Barretto is a missing person. My Aunt's husband reported me missing when he couldn't find me at the airport. If they find out about all my other identities, I will never see the light of day again. I could go to federal prison if they make the connection between Nichole Barretto and the assassin that has been terrorising the world." Niki lowered her face in shame unable to look at Jesse. Her young lover stepped forward raising her head with a soft finger under her chin to look into her eyes. "My dear sweet Spanish lover, I don't care about what you did to survive. What I care about is what you are going to do to improve your future. I fell head over heels for you and I would rather go to prison with you, than spend my future with out you. I don't think they would make any connection if they don't have any evidence. If they had evidence against you they would have caught you a long time ago. Besides I don't see how a missing ten year old girl can be capable of murdering anyone. You need to forgive yourself so you can move on with your life." Jessica kissed her lover passionately cupping her ass cheeks with her hands, squeezing lightly. Nichole moaned into her lover's mouth placing one hand on her hip and the other behind her neck. "It's time, let's get this over with." Niki said breaking their kiss. "Yes, we have a mission to complete." Jesse said leading the way. Niki walked beside Jesse out of the office. Without either of them looking up at the assistant, they walked past her. "I'm going out for lunch Gretchen, see you in an hour." The assistant answered without looking up from a book she was reading. "Have a nice lunch Dr. Bailey." She didn't notice anything different about the two women walking past her table. After a few minutes Gretchen was startled by an explosion coming from the parking lot. She shot up from her chair and ran to the door. She saw a massive ball of flames coming from Dr. Bailey's parking space. She returned to her desk and called the police. In a few more minutes the police and fire department was there controlling the scene. Nichole and Jessica watched from a safe distance at a café close by as police rushed around the parking lot then in and out of the clinic. Jessica felt bad watching Gretchen stand aside snickering and crying over her. They became best friends over the past three years working together. It wouldn't be long then Jesse could go back to her life, hopefully with Niki in it. She knew the woman for less than two weeks but she loved Nichole. Nichole sat next to Jessica watching her face as she watched the scene play out. She felt a lot of things for this young woman. The strongest feeling she had for this woman was love. The sex they shared in her office a few minutes ago made Niki realise that. She wasn't ready to say 'I love you' but she would say it eventually. Niki reached one hand over to Jesse resting it on her leg. Jesse snapped out of her thoughtful trance looking down at the hand on her leg. She looked up at Niki smiling brightly. The Target That Stole Her Heart They finished their iced tea and lunch then headed to Niki's house. Jesse parked her new vehicle in the garage next to Niki's vehicle out of site. The complex was just about empty during the day, so no-one would notice Niki bringing home a porch or a blond bomb shell. Once inside the house Jesse grabbed Nichole by her hand dragging her up the stairs to the main bedroom. Their houses were built the same so Jessica knew where it was. Three hours later the two women were lying naked in each other's arms both too tired to move and breathing heavily after making love in every way possible. They heard a vehicle pull into the driveway across the street. Niki rushed over to her surveillance system while Jesse rushed to the window. "That disgusting dirty pig; he has a big smile on his face, bottle champagne under one arm and his secretary under the other arm." Jesse exclaimed slamming her fists down on the windowpane. Niki turned her attention to Jesse standing next to her. "Cara Mia, don't worry about that pig. We will sort him out soon enough. We have until tonight to come up with a plan. I have a lot of fun gadgets we can use." Niki stood behind Jesse wrapping her arms around her waist. She kissed Jessica in her neck leaving a wet trail down her shoulder. The young woman moaned under her ministrations. The Irish woman faced her lover with lust filled eyes, all the anger gone from her face. They spent the rest of the late afternoon sensually probing each other's bodies. The street lights came on outside as dusk gave way to the bright moon and stars. The two women lay in bed facing each other, showering sweet kisses on each other's faces. "I'm starving, what are we going to eat?" Jesse asked her lover smiling brightly, her eyes twinkling like the stars outside. "I don't know yet. Why don't we go see what I have? Then we can decide." Niki got off the bed and got two robes out her closet. She donned the one then held the other for her lover. They walked down the stairs to the kitchen hand in hand playfully groping each other. The two women seemed to work perfectly together in the kitchen, each knowing what to do without the other asking. Jessica put up some pasta and made sauce while Nichole made a salad and desert. Niki set the table and pored two glasses of wine while Jesse dished up for the two of them. They sat down feeding one another. After dinner they took a bath together washing each other off. Both dressed up in the same clothes, making them look like twins. Niki stood in front of the mirror putting another red wig on her head. She looked exactly like Jessica. Except for their height difference, they wore the same size clothes and shoes. They both put make-up on to make them look like ghosts. Niki turned facing her young Irish lover. "Wow Niki, you look just like me. Charlie is going to freak out." Jesse took a step toward her lover and kissed her on the lips. "I watched the cameras while you were getting dressed. He took his little girlfriend home earlier. He is home alone now. This is going to be a lot of fun. Let's go scare the shit out of him." ******** Charlie sat in his living room watching the news with a smug smile on his lips. He was in his office when the police had come to tell him the dreadful news of his wife being killed in an explosion when her vehicle blew up in the parking lot outside the clinic. He felt proud of himself for a job well done. He saw something from the corner of his eye at the kitchen door. He turned his head and froze. Jessica was standing in the door watching him. The lights flickered on and off a few times. He shook his head in shock. He stared at the door leading to the kitchen. Nothing there, she was gone. Did he really see her or is he going insane. "It can't be... I killed you." He stood up walking toward the kitchen. The lights flickered again. He turned his head looking up the stairs at another image of Jessica standing with her arms reaching out to him. The lights went off totally, leaving him in the dark. He felt something brush against his arm. He turned in the direction of the living room. He tested the light switch, it didn't work. The television came on. At first it was just snowy then suddenly an image of Jessica came on. He stood there staring at the television as if it were alien. His heart pounded in his throat. The hairs on the back of his neck rose making him shiver and tremble. Nichole and Jessica stood in the darkness both wearing night vision goggles watching Charlie's reaction. He looked scared out of his wits. He was shaking uncontrollably staring at the image on the screen. The image of Jessica was standing in a dark place with her eyes closed as if sleeping. Her eyes shot open looking straight at him, fury visible in her eyes. The sound distorted as she yelled at him. "You killed me Charlie! I will get you for this!" Jessica's eyes turned to fire then the television suddenly went off. The man stood there shaking while nervously looking around. "Charlie." He heard her voice whisper behind him and spun around in fear. He ran toward the kitchen. "Charlie." He heard her voice coming from the kitchen a dark shadow appearing. He made a sharp turn running up the stairs slipping on the first step. Getting back to his feet he could feel something behind him. He tripped half way up then felt something grab his ankle. "Leave me alone! Leave me alone!" Whatever it was; let go of his ankle. He struggled to his feet storming up the stairs to his room. He saw a shadow following him. He shut the bedroom door behind him and locked it. Jessica's ghost plucked on the door screaming. "I will get you Charlie! You can't hide from me." The door flung open off its hinges. Charlie sat on his side of the bed watching the shadow in the door. "I'm sorry Jessica! I'm so sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" He screamed screwing his eyes shut. His breath caught in his throat when he felt the bed shift behind him. He slowly turned around, fear knocking loudly on his heart. "Why? Why did you kill me Charlie?" Jessica's ghost behind him asked. He leapt off the bed into a corner in one bound. He brought his knees to his chin wrapping his arms around his legs. The lights flickered on and off several times. For every second the lights came on, Jessica got closer and closer. Her arms reached out to him. "Why, Charlie?" The ghost whispered in a hoarse voice. "I killed you because I needed the money." He shut his eyes and started to pray to God for forgiveness. Everything in the house got quiet. He could see the lights come back on through his eyelids. He could hear the television down stairs came on. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around. There was nothing there. Jessica was gone. He got to his feet and stalked slowly through the house. Nichole and Jessica stood breathless in Niki's dark room watching through the window laughing. They watched the footage on the surveillance laptop side by side. Jesse watched Charlie lying on the couch hugging his knees to his chest still shaking up a storm. Nikki wrapped her arms around Jessica's waist from behind and settled her chin on her slightly shorter lover's shoulder. "This would make a wonderful confession tape, don't you think?" Jesse said laughing out loud. She turned her body in Nikki's arms facing her. She wrapped her arms around her lover's neck. "I agree Cara Mia. I haven't had this much fun in years." Niki answered trying to breathe between laughing. "Me neither, now we wait for the police to show up and arrest him. How long do you think we have before I have to show my face again?" Jessica asked slowly pushing her lover toward the bed. "Maybe a day or two, the police will try to find out where the evidence we left came from. They will find that all the documents came from an email I sent to your computer at work a few days ago. The photos will be linked to a private investigator, named Nichole Barretto. I got my certificates this morning before I bought you that new vehicle. You are officially my first client." Niki wrapped her arm around her young lover's shoulders. Nikki fell back onto the bed with Jesse in her arms. She felt Jesse's one leg settle between her own legs. A heat rushed from her core up her body flushing her face. "You think of everything, don't you? And you are so sweet to buy me a new vehicle. Since I am your first client, I guess I should pay you for a job well done." Jesse plucked the red wig from Niki's head and tossed it on the floor. Her black hair fell on the bed in a wonderful mess. The young woman straddled Niki's hips removing her shirt then her pants and panties. Niki removed her own shirt tossing it on the floor in a heap. Neither one of them even bothered to wear a bra. Jesse slid her body down Niki's, kissing her way down to her lover's hips. She looked up into dark blues mischievously. A grin grew on Niki's lips at knowing what was going to happen. Jessica slowly undid Niki's pants then pulled them off with her panties in one sweep. Her lover raised her hips to make it easier. After tossing the clothes on the floor, Jesse kissed and licked her way up Niki's legs to her thighs. Jessica kissed Niki's inner thighs slowly and teasingly working her way to the centre where she wanted to be. Niki's dark curly bush was well trimmed, just the way Jesse preferred it. Niki watched the young woman nibble on her outer folds gasping at the contact. Jesse licked up Niki's slit several times spreading the folds open. Niki's centre grew swollen and puffy exposing the treasure Jesse was looking for. Jesse flattened her tongue giving one long hard lick up the open slit eliciting a moan from her lover and a quiver from the contact on her already erect clit. Niki grabbed the sheets beside her and stared down at her young woman unable to take her eyes off the hazel orbs staring back at her. Jesse wrapped an arm around each of Niki's legs to keep her lover down. Nichole swallowed hard and slowly licked her dry lips. The young Irish woman probed her lover's eager and wanton pussy licking, sucking and nibbling here and there. Niki tried bucking her hips into her lover's face but failed. Sensing her Spanish lover's need for release Jessica gave Niki swirling licks over and around her clit. "Oh my God... yessss... Cara Mia, that's it." Niki exclaimed dropping her head into the soft pillow breathing erratically. That was all Jesse needed to hear. She released one of her arms from a leg and slowly inserted two fingers into Niki's love tunnel. She waited for Niki to get used to the intrusion then pumped her fingers slowly in and out while sucking lightly on the little erect nub. The young woman could feel Niki's climax building higher and higher. She picked up her pace pumping her fingers faster. Sensing her near release Niki screwed her eyes shut and arched her back slightly off the bed. She felt her young woman's tongue flatten against her clit and lick harder. She released a scream arching her back higher off the bed as her body thrashed wildly through her release, stars bursting behind her eye lids. Niki relaxed onto the bed, her body twitching uncontrollably. Jesse gently cleaned up her lover's juices bringing her down from her orgasmic high. She crawled up her lover's body placing soft gentle kisses along soft slightly salted skin. Resting her body beside her lover, Jesse let her head rest on Niki's shoulder and a leg between Niki's legs. She gently traced a finger around her lover's areolas waiting for her breathing to slow to normal. Jessica felt perfectly contented by just pleasing her lover without receiving anything in return. The young Irish woman closed her eyes listening to her Spanish woman's heart beat. She felt two strong arms wrap around her shoulders. She loves her Spanish woman very much. Could she say those three words out loud? Jesse let out a loud sigh and looked up into those dark blue eyes. "I l... I love you Nichole." Jesse said and kissed her lover affectionately. Niki's eyes grew wide as the words sank in. She kissed her young lover again then gazed into those hazel orbs portraying the love she felt. "I... love you too Jessica." The two women kissed again then snuggled up under the warm blanket revelling in the heat emanating from each other's hot bodies. Nichole could sense her lover didn't need release, just her warm embrace. Nichole was up early the next morning making breakfast. She was thinking about the young woman sleeping snugly in her bed up stairs. The love that her young Irish woman showed her, was just what the killer needed to forgive herself for what she had done in the last twenty years to survive. Nichole felt at peace with herself. Last night was the first in a long time she had slept through the night without being haunted by her victims in her dreams. Jessica woke up with a contented smile snuggling Niki's pillow. She took in a deep breath smelling her lover's sweet scent lingering on the pillow. She got up walked to the closet and donned an over sized t-shirt. After relieving herself in the bathroom, she headed down stairs. The smell of breakfast being prepared reminded her of a life she had always wanted; a life she never really had, not even with Charlie. He never did anything for her, which made her wonder if he ever really loved her at all. Did she love him or did she just marry him to hide her true self? Jesse stood against the door frame with her arms crossed watching Niki move about. Nichole was wearing an over sized worn out t-shirt. She bent over to get a pan out of the cupboard next to the stove revealing all her treasure. She wasn't wearing any panties. Jessica licked her lips at the site smiling brightly. "I love the view." She said startling her lover half to death. The Spanish woman looked over her shoulder still bent over and shook her tooshy. She stood up straight smiling mischievously. "Oh my view is not as beautiful as the one I'm looking at." Niki set the pan on the stove top and walked over to her young lover. She kissed her young woman on her luscious lips. "You are just in time for coffee, sit while I bring you a steaming cup." Niki turned to the kettle where two cups stood ready while Jesse took a seat at the table. Jesse thought back to two weeks ago. She wasn't feeling well at all so she went to her doctor. The doctor took one look at her then told her to sit down. He did a few tests asking her questions and told her that he would call her with the results. He called her the next day telling her that she was twelve weeks pregnant. She looked down at her stomach rubbing her hand softly over the soft flesh. At fourteen weeks she wasn't showing yet, which was a good thing. She thought about what Niki's reaction would be. She wondered if the woman already knew. 'Would Nichole be happy about it or would she leave and never look back, leaving Jessica to raise a child on her own?' Jessica asked herself. Jesse sat there wondering in silence while Nikki was busy with breakfast, unconsciously sipping on her coffee. She looked up finding a plate of food and a glass of orange juice in front of her. Nichole had a knowing smile on her lips. At that moment Jesse knew that Niki already knew. "How long have you known?" Jessica asked her lover concern and fear showing on her face. Niki looked at her reaching over the table for her young lover's hands. "I came across your doctors records last week. You don't have to worry about anything Cara Mia. I will take care of both of you." Niki said rubbing her thumbs over the top of Jesse's hands. "I always wanted a family of my own. Now you are giving me one, a soon to be wife and child of my own." Niki stood up from the table and walked around kneeling at Jesse's side. "I won't let you raise this child alone Jessica." Nichole wrapped her arms around her woman's waist kissing her stomach. Jessica smiled looking down at the most wonderful person she had ever met with tears streaming down her cheeks. She let one hand rest on Niki's head while she stuck her ear to Jesse's stomach. Jesse felt a sense of pride watching her lover already trying to bond with the little being growing inside her. "I don't want you to feel obligated to do this Niki. I will understand if you want to leave. I..." Niki looked up at Jesse with tears in her own eyes speaking before Jesse could finish. "I want to do this Jesse. I want you and this child. I finally found someone to spend the rest of my life with. If I lose you or... no and this baby I will definitely die of a broken heart." Niki stood up taking her young lover into her arms kissing her passionately. Breaking their kiss, they wiped away each other's tears leaning their foreheads together. The two women enjoyed their breakfast talking about their future together. After breakfast they took a sensual bath tenderly loving each other. While getting dressed, they heard police sirens waling outside. They rushed to the window watching police storm Charlie's house. "Niki there's something you should know." Jesse took a deep breath facing her lover. "Last night while we were busy scaring Charlie into confessing. I planted your 50 calibre in the house. I planted his finger prints on it after cleaning yours off it." Niki smiled at her lover. "I know. I saw it this morning when I went to get my cameras while he was asleep." The two women walked to the front door hand in hand. "Are you ready to do this Jesse?" Niki asked kissing her forehead. "Yes I am, ready as I'll ever be. Are you ready to reveal yourself?" "As long as I have you by my side, I'll be fine. Just remember the story we agreed on." They went outside and walked across the street together to talk to the police. One officer stopped them from entering the yard. "I'm Jessica Bailey, I live here." The officer looked quizzically at the red head. "Wait here while I go call the detective in charge." He said walking into the house. A few seconds later he returned with a man in a suit. The man looked both woman up and down. "I'm detective Sanders. You said you're Jessica Bailey?" He said looking at the red head. She nodded her answer. "We thought you were dead. Who are you?" He asked looking at Niki. The two women looked at each other then looked at the detective. "I'm Nichole Barretto. I saved this woman's life yesterday before her vehicle blew up." Nichole looked at Jesse smiling lightly and held her hand. "Nichole Barretto, that name sounds familiar." He looked at his feet rubbing his temples then looked up at the dark haired woman before him as the realisation hit him. "You are that missing ten year old girl. I was working with the missing persons unit back then. That's one case shut. Would you two ladies be able to explain what happened yesterday?" "Sure no problem, I'll start." Niki answered squeezing her lover's hand. "We met at the clinic the Friday afternoon before last; she had a job for me. We met this past Friday at her work and I handed my evidence over then went for drinks at a club later so I could tell her about it. Jesse and I talked some more at my place. She went home to bed then later on when her husband got home, I saw him fool around under her vehicle. I didn't think much of it at the time, so I left it. Then yesterday I drove past the clinic and got curious. I stopped and checked under her vehicle. I saw a bomb with a timer attached to it. This was just before one o'clock. I saw her walk to her vehicle and stopped her just as it blew up. I brought her back to my place here across the street. Jesse has been with me since then." Niki explained the version her and Jesse agreed upon earlier while the detective made notes in a little book. The detective looked at Jessica. "Nichole said you had a job for her. What was that if I may ask?" Jesse took a deep breath. The Target That Stole Her Heart "I hired her to follow Charlie, she is a private investigator. I suspected him of cheating and killing his business partner. I guess you found the envelope on my desk at work." The detective nodded closing his book. "Well Nichole, Mrs Bailey I sure am happy you are both alive. I should tell you though... your husband is being arrested for the murder of his business partner Andre Vivier. We found the weapon in your house. He was also mumbling something about your ghost haunting him. Do you know anything about that?" The detective looked both women in the eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The two women looked at each other and started laughing. "No sorry detective, we don't know anything about that." Jesse said smiling brightly. "That's probably just his guilty conscience getting to him detective." Niki said trying to look serious. "Okay so you would probably want this back then. I found it connected to the back of the television. It's not part of the investigation, I watched it." He handed Jessica a small palm sized external drive. Jesse handed it to Niki. "I totally forgot about this. Sorry Mrs Bailey, I will be more careful in the future." Niki said to Jessica as the detective walked back into the house. "You better be. I expect only the best from anyone I paid in kind." Jesse pulled Niki into a heated kiss cupping her ass cheeks. The detective came out the house with Charlie in hand cuffs. Charlie was staring at the ground as they led him to a police cruiser. They held still when Jesse stood in front of them. "Hi Charlie" She said crossing her arms. He slowly raised his head looking fearfully into her hazel gaze. "Je... Jesse..." He tried to say but shut his mouth when she raised her hand. "I want a divorce Charlie. You and your whore will be hearing from my lawyer very soon. See you in court. By the way Charlie, I met someone else. Someone who is a much better man than you will ever be." She turned facing Nichole smiling lovingly at her, kissed her passionately on the lips, took her hand in hers and walked across the street with her new love. The man watched in horror as he realised he had lost the only good thing he had in his life. "Oh that's a low blow. How could I be so stupid to let a woman like that down?" He got into the cruiser hiding his shameful expression. "You said it." The detective answered watching the two women walk away. ****** Six months later Jesse, now divorced from Charlie, sat in a hospital bed holding her little baby girl in her arms feeding her. Nichole sat next to the bed on a chair sleeping with her head resting on the side of the bed. She spent the whole previous day getting the baby's room ready. She kept the room as a surprise for her woman and child. When Niki returned to the hospital, she and Jesse got married in the hospital. After that they rushed to the E.R. because all the excitement caused Jesse to go into labour. They named their little girl, Esmeralda Bailey Barretto, after Nichole's mother who sadly died a month earlier of cancer. Niki was ecstatic when Jesse told her what name she had chosen. Jesse also took on Niki's surname, Jessica Bailey Barretto. Nichole decided to take on Jessica's surname, Nichole Barretto Bailey. Jesse's parents and siblings weren't pleased that she was with a woman but they were happy for her. In the week they spent at Jesse and Nichole's house, they learned to accept and love Niki as part of the family. Nichole's father returned to the states to be with his daughter and meet her wife and child. Nichole stirred next to Jesse raising her head sleepily. She smiled brightly meeting her four favourite hazel eyes. "How long was I asleep Cara Mia?" She asked Jesse sitting up straight. "You were out cold straight through the night. I asked the nurses to leave you alone." Jesse moved up a bit and patted the bed next to her. "Your turn my Spanish blue eyes." Nichole sat next to her wife on the bed. Jesse handed little Esmeralda over to her other mother. Nichole held her little baby girl for the first time. Little Esmeralda smiled brightly at her in silence. They seemed to be bonding perfectly; there was a long silence between them as they stared into each other's eyes. "She has your eyes, dimples and your smile Cara Mia. She is perfect." They looked up at the room's door when they heard voices yelling at a nurse in an Irish tone. Somewhere along the line an American voice with a Spanish undertone could be heard. The nurse opened the door bursting into the room trying to stop the family from coming into the room. "It's alright nurse. I've just finished feeding her. You can let them in. They won't let up that easily, their Irish." The nurse turned around facing the bed. "Alright Ma'am, visiting hours just started anyway. Your doctor will be in shortly to check on you and the baby." The nurse said walking out the room eyeing the family. The family walked into the room suddenly very quiet crowding around the bed. They all stared in awe at the new member of the family. "You lot really are impossible, you know that? I asked the nurse not to let anyone in the room during feeding time except for Niki." Jessica looked sternly at each of them throwing her arm around Nichole's shoulders. "Oh darling, we just wanted to see the little babe. We have been waiting all night to see her." Jesse's father Callum said in a strong heavy Irish accent. "I have been waiting a long time to be a grandmother." Her mother Victoria answered in an equally heavy accent. "Well Esmeralda just got fed so you each have a while before she falls asleep. Pa Donavan you are very quiet all of a sudden." Jesse asked Niki's father. "I'm alright dear; I was just admiring the three of you together. You look like a real family. Esme would have been so happy to meet you and her grandchild." He answered with tears in his eyes. "Oh Dad, she is here and she is happy. Now... don't just stand there come hold your grand daughter." The family took turns to hold little Esmeralda. Mark and Sasha were the last to hold their little niece. Sasha handed a sleepy Esmeralda over to her sister. "She certainly is gorgeous Sis." She said sighing loudly. "Oh yes, she is." Jesse answered. "Just like her mother." Niki said kissing Jesse on the cheek and holding Esmeralda's little hand. Esmeralda wrapped her little fingers around Niki's pinkie. Jesse looked at her wife smiling brightly at seeing the proud look in her dark blue eyes. She leaned in and kissed Nichole affectionately. "Oh couldn't you wait till we were out of the room?" Mark said laughingly. "Nope... I couldn't wait. Who is next having a baby, you or Sasha?" Jesse asked giving him his own medicine. "That would definitely be Mark and his girlfriend. I haven't met the right guy yet." Sasha said slapping Mark on the arm. A different nurse entered the room with a knock on the door and the doctor in tow. "Sorry folks, visiting hours are over. You can come back this afternoon." She said picking up Jesse's chart. "Saved by the nurse, see you later Sis. We're all going out for the day." Mark said kissing his sister on the cheek. "See you guys later. Bye." Jesse said standing up off the bed to put her sleeping daughter in the crib. "Bye" Everyone answered at the same time exiting the room. Niki's father stayed behind giving them each a hug. At giving his daughter a hug, he whispered in her ear. "You two should have a look at the news. It's about Charlie." Donovan exited the room leaving the two women with the doctor and nurse. "How are you feeling today, Jessica?" The doctor asked looking at her chart over the nurse's shoulder. "I feel great thanks Doc. As you can see, I have been moving around since this morning early." Nichole got off the bed and turned on the television, switching channels to find the news. Stopping on the news channel, she sat down in the chair watching. The doctor and Jesse were talking to each other next to her. The news channel was reporting that Charlie had disappeared before he had to appear in court with the help of his former secretary. Nichole looked at the nurse and looked at the television again. She knew the nurse looked familiar from somewhere. She was Charlie's secretary, his girlfriend. Niki stood up slowly without the nurse realising. The nurse started to pick Esmeralda up out the crib. Her nurse's cap flew off her head with a wig underneath it revealing who she was. Jesse and her doctor stood aside stunned. Before the imposter nurse knew it, she received Jesse's fist in her face and landed on the floor dazed. Niki picked her crying daughter up out of the crib and looked down at the fake nurse. "Oh my God... that hurt!" Jesse exclaimed cradling her right hand in her left sitting on the bed. "You can tell Charlie that he will never get his hands on my daughter or my wife. Doctor I believe that security will find Charlie waiting for this woman in the underground parking lot." Nichole said sitting on the bed next to Jessica, watching the fake nurse while the doctor called security on the bedside telephone telling them what's happening. "Don't you even think of moving a muscle sweetie, I will have you knocked out cold before you can count to three. Attempted kidnapping of a minor, judges in this city don't take things like that light heartedly." Niki said laughingly. Jessica wrapped her arms around her wife and daughter. The doctor stood by still stunned from what happened. He was still clutching the telephone in his hand. "Babe, how did you know that she wanted to take Esmeralda?" Jesse asked as tears started rolling down her cheeks. "My father suggested that we watch the news before he left the room, so I did. There is only one morning shift nurse assigned to your room on my request. It's still morning and at this time she usually has her tea break. I also recognised this bitch from photos I took of her and Charlie six months ago. She likes playing dress up for her boyfriend." Niki pulled a face at the memory making Jessica laugh. "I am so lucky to have a private detective for a wife. Doc I think I broke my hand punching this woman." Hearing Jesse's words snapped him out of his trance. "Let's take a look then." The doctor checked Jesse's hand then wrapped it up. "It's not broken, just strained. Give your hand some rest for a few days, it'll be fine. By the looks of things, I guess you and baby can go home today." Two security men came waltzing in the room looking around. They picked up the woman on the floor and took her away. Later at home Niki and Jesse explained to the family what happened at the hospital. They caught Charlie exactly where Niki said he would be and arrested him. The police took both of them into custody before Jesse and Niki left the hospital. "Remind me not to make you mad Cara Mia, you sure can punch." Nichole said smiling brightly while kissing the strained hand. "Well I never had a reason to punch you. I'm a lover not a fighter but when I saw who she was and realised why she was there I just went nuts. That's the best part of being Irish I guess." Sasha and Victoria came down the stairs smiling brightly. "Esmeralda is fast asleep. We love what you did to her room Niki. It's perfect for her." Victoria said sitting next to her husband on a couch. Niki nodded appreciatively. "Thank you Mom, Sasha. I will check on my little angel later." Jesse said snuggling up against Niki on the leather couch. Niki draped her arm around her wife's shoulders and kissed her forehead. The family looked happy. Everyone got along better than Niki and Jesse thought they would. Later on when everyone went to bed Niki and Jesse stood next to Esmeralda's crib in her pink princess room watching her sleep. They held onto each other walking out the room softly and put the light off going to their room. They held each other tightly falling asleep listening to one another's heart beats and slow steady breathing. Jesse woke up a few hours later alone in bed from a nightmare where Charlie takes Esmeralda away from her. Walking to her daughter's room, she found Niki sitting in a rocking chair asleep with their daughter in her arms. Jesse walked closer grabbing a blanket Niki threw over the back of the chair and covered them. Standing at the door crossing her arms over her chest and resting her head against the door frame, she watched them both sleep. Their daughter will always be safe with Niki around to protect her. Jessica finally had the family she always wanted; a child and someone to love them unconditionally, someone who she could love unconditionally in return. Jessica thought of herself as the prey that stole a hunter's heart. The end