Shadow from the Past
By Kimberly
Early Tuesday morning . . .
Michael slipped his key into the lock, letting himself into his apartment. Immediately, he saw Nikita's coat draped over a chair. She'd left it out on purpose. The last thing either of them wanted, was for Nikita to accidentally surprise Michael, and get herself shot.
It was 1:00 am, not an unusual time for him to return home. Often it was this late or early, and often he kept banking hours. It varied from day to day.
This last week, there had been a lot of missions to work up and coordinate. He was being trained slowly to do the same Job that Madeline did. Which was good and bad, in many ways. People were replaced in Section One when they died - or had to be replaced - which generally resulted in their being canceled or warehoused.
Michael hadn't seen Nikita much at all outside of Section one over the last two weeks. She didn't complain though. She didn't ask him repeatedly to come to see her. Her only request daily, had been to know if he was going to join her for dinner or something. It was their way of saying 'Honey, when are you coming home?'. Section One didn't know about their pseudo marriage, though they suspected they were more than friends. Both of them had been in Section long enough, and had been effective enough, that Madeline and Operations were willing to let it go, as long as it didn't interfere with anything at Section One. Nikita and Michael made sure it didn't.
Michael hung his coat, and Nikita's up in the coat closet, and leaving the lights off, he slipped into the bedroom. Nikita sat up, instantly aware of his presence. The blanket slipped to her waist, and he could see she had on a light colored T-shirt. Her hair was slightly mussed, and she smiled at him.
"I'm sorry I woke you," Michael said softly, his French accent making it more a caress than an apology.
"Don't be," she told him, "That's a good thing, that I wake up . . ."
She watched him, and Michael saw the longing in her eyes as they tracked his movements. He shed his clothing down to bare skin - the state he always slept in when at home, and sat down next to her on the bed. Nikita hated to make demands on him, and he knew it. He'd learned years ago to read her eyes, and lips. It was rare that she initiated making love since they were back in Section One, because the time and emotional demands Section made on him.
He pulled her up, his fingers tracing down her ribs to the hem of the T-shirt, "You won't be needing this."
He lifted it up gently, and she lifted her arms, letting him draw it off of her. Michael slid one hand into her hair, cradling her head, and he brushed his lips across her eye's, traced a path from one temple, across her forehead and then down to the other, back across her cheek. His tongue flicked the corner of her mouth, then the other, and then he traced her lower lip with it, then her upper lip, parting them. He delved inside, tasting her.
His other hand caressed her rib cage, just below her breasts, teasing her. Finally, when he'd began to kiss her lips, he started to circle one tight crest of her breast with his finger tip.
He moaned, into her mouth, when he felt her hands slide down his chest, her thumbs stroking across his tiny masculine nipples, stroking and caressing as she kneaded the muscles of his chest and abdomen. She reached lower, and ran her fingers along the length of his already swollen shaft, and Michael stilled, forever in awe at how even her lightest made him feel so much.
His mouth left her, and he took the nipple he'd been circling with his finger into his mouth, cupping her other breast, rolling her other nipple between his thumb and finger. She moaned in pleasure, arching up to him, and her fingers slid around his shaft, gripping him. She ran her thumb firmly across the hypersensitive tip, and Michael lifted his head from her breast to look up into her eye's, drowning in her gaze. He grabbed her hand, pulling it away from his shaft, and said huskily
"Kita, please - I'll be done too fast if you keep that up."
She made a face as if to pout, and pulled her hand from his, grasping him again. Michael gasped, and grabbed her hand again, stopping her.
Suddenly, he pushed her down into the bed, pinning her arms to her sides, his knees between her thighs.
"You want to torture me?" He asked, his voice husky with desire. He slide his knees back down the bed, keeping her hands pinned. He lowered her head between her thighs, not releasing her hands, holding them down harder when she tried to release them, "Maybe I should torture you?"
He traced his tongue along the moist cleft, slipping between the folds and down, thrusting into her sheath with his tongue. She moaned loudly, jolted with the sharp twist and burn of desire that twisted into a tight coil somewhere inside her. Michael moved his tongue up a bit, stroking the hyper sensitive bud nestled there, suckling hard. She writhed under him, whimpering, trying hard to hold back. Her body tensed and arched as her first climax exploded inside her. Michael rose above her, easing his swollen shaft inside her. She gasped at the fullness of him, and he held still, allowing her to adjust to him.
Michael relaxed his weight on her, still sheathed inside her, and cupped her face, kissing her lips, "See what you get when you try torture me?" He taunted her, and started to move within her.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, meeting his thrusts with her own. Michael stroked her face, gazing down into her eyes. Nikita threaded her fingers into his hair, pulling him down to kiss him, crying out into his mouth when she peaked again, reveling in the feeling of Michael's body shuddering over her, his moan as he came . . .
Madeline's office was very open and bright. One wall had a panel giving off defuse light 6 feet wide and 8 feet tall, with clear Plexiglas shelves mounted on it. Various small plants rested on the small shelves. Madeline's desk was long and wide, and almost always bare - save for a pot of tea, and teacups, and the computer terminal and keyboard, the video remote. The 60-inch video screen was recessed into one wall. There were plain but elegant chairs in front of her desk, and a comfortable sofa on the far side of the office from her desk, with a coffee table sitting in front of it. The office was bright, but by no means cheerful. Darren thought it was rather cold looking actually, if you really looked beyond the first glance - just like Madeline.
"How are you and Alex doing?" Madeline asked him, pouring him a cup of tea.
Darren took it. It was expected - and Darren knew that not everyone who came here was served tea. Tea was a good sign. But being here made him nervous just the same. Madeline's job was to psychologically analyze for weaknesses that could be exploited. It was also part of her job to keep their operatives mentally prepared, or determine if cancellation was in order - a polite term for an operatives execution.
A little less than two months ago, when Alexandra was just a few weeks out of Medlab, after being imprisoned and brutalized in Iraq for a week, Madeline had ordered Darren and Alexandra to sleep together. The goal was for Alexandra to become comfortable enough with her sexuality again to be able to seduce a target if need be. Madeline had given them three months. In that time, Alexandra still went on assault missions and surveillance missions, but she was never sent to seduce a target.
Darren swallowed the tea he'd just sipped, "We're doing a lot better than we were two months ago. She's pretty comfortable now, but we're still working out some things."
Madeline nodded, and picked up her remote. Darren felt his blood run cold when he realized what Madeline was doing. The scene that appeared on the video screen was from several nights ago, he and Alex were making love in her bedroom, and Darren had gotten to aggressive, and frightened her. She froze up and had a panic attack.
" I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you're taping us," Darren said slowly, hoping he sounded irritated at the most. In reality, he was pissed, but his hands were tied.
Madeline turned a warm smile on him, "It's not my intention to embarrass you, or Alexandra. I can't help her if I don't know what's happening - and she's unwilling to discuss her reactions with me for obvious reasons - your answers are subject to bias - you've been friends for a while - and I suspect, lovers before her imprisonment in Iraq."
"So if you've been watching us for the last two months, then you know how far she's come," Darren replied. He wasn't going to admit or deny that he and Alexandra had become lovers before. It was a very effective method he'd seen Michael use several times - one that Alexandra had picked up early.
"She has made significant progress," Madeline agreed.
Darren set the teacup down, "Who else has seen these tapes."
"Nikita and Michael, both of you are still their material, and they tend to share in your training. They have more contact with you, and a different insight," Madeline told him.
Darren felt a little weird, knowing that Michael and Nikita had seen such intimate things - and some of them had been very explicit, very intimate. . . .
"Does Alex know we're being taped?" Darren asked Madeline.
"I don't think so. You can tell her of course, I think at this point she'll be able to deal with it," Madeline told him, and poured more tea into his cup, "Now, Tell me about Anna Estevez."
Darren suddenly felt as if someone had slapped him upside the head. Anna Estevez was an old girlfriend, from his young teenage years, very young teenage years. Her family had moved out of their poor neighborhood to another state when she and Darren were 15. They'd kept in contact, wrote letters, called sporadically, right up until Darren had been incarcerated and his 'suicide' two months later.
"Anna was an old friend, her family moved when we were teenagers, and we kept writing, right up until I was thrown in Jail," Darren replied.
"How would you describe her personality?" Madeline asked him.
Darren didn't like this. It was almost as uncomfortable as knowing that Michael, Nikita, and Madeline were watching Darren and Alexandra make love all over their apartments.
"She was friendly, but not really outgoing. Kind of quiet, reserved. She listens more than she talks, keeps her opinions to herself, unless asked, and then she still tends to hold back a little. As we got older, she was so naive anymore - she had to grow up fast - her father died, and Anna was working to put food on the table at 16," Darren told her.
Madeline turned her computer screen towards him, so he could see, "This is Anna Estevez now. She's the girlfriend of Carlos Cartejenia . Cartejenia is a major drug lord, who's involved in syndicate that sells women, children, men, drugs, and weapons . . . everything - out of South America. All of our Intel suggests that Anna is passive observer. She travels in style, but she's not involved in his business dealings at all. She holds more of mistress role, with her own circle of friends, many of them being the girlfriends of Cartejenia's partners. They all live in this city though - most of the time, when they aren't traveling. Our sources tell us she's very cheerful, if a bit selfish. Submissive, and emotionally starved. I want you to seduce her, to get to Cartejenia. If you can get the codes from her, when we take out Cartejenia, she would most likely be left out of the violence."
Darren took a deep breath. It wasn't like he could refuse.
"How do I explain the fact that I'm alive, and not in prison?" Darren asked her.
Madeline smiled, " Tell her that there was a mistake in the prison, that your cellmate, who was scheduled to be released, died. You switched the uniforms, and walked out as him. You've been living under a false name and identity since then. To explain your source of income, you trade in the currencies market, through leveraged accounts."
" OK," Darren said slowly, "Where do I happen to meet her?
"Her favorite haunt is an upscale club on the far side of the city, The Carlisle. She's there every Wednesday night, unless she's out of town. You'll just happen to bump into her. Catch up on old times, do whatever it takes to get emotionally close to her. You'll have two teams of backup doing surveillance. Michael, who will be coordinating the mission, Nikita, Dante and Alexandra."
Darren was about to ask if having Alexandra on this mission was such a great idea, but then it occurred to him that Madeline was using this as a test - to see if the 'emotional bond' she observed that they developed would be a problem.
Alexandra stood there with Dante, her arm around his waist, his arm around her shoulder's leaning into each other, playing the role. She sipped her soda, eye's surveying the room.
" I don't see her," Alexandra said, just loud enough for her comlink to pick up her voice.
" The club is open until 0400 am, it's only 2200," Michael said, "Intel shows that she often doesn't show up until after 2200."
" She's never been a real punctual person," Darren's voice was heard.
Alexandra knew he was on the far side of the club, sipping something, looking around the club. He made eye contact with her, it held for a few moments, conveying more in a few brief seconds than most conversations.
He was nervous . . . he felt awful that Alexandra was going to have to watch this. . . he was afraid for Anna . . .. He was afraid his old friend would see whatever horrid part of him that allowed him to do this job, and be repulsed . . . He felt like he was being offered up as a sacrifice . . . he resented having to manipulate someone innocent . . . . he was afraid of what this was gonna do his relationship with Alex . . .
The look she gave him back said . . . I love you . . . we'll get through this. . .
Nikita leaned over and whispered in Michael's ear, "Do you remember when we made love in the store room - at the club in Australia?"
Michael remembered. The memories slammed into him when they walked into the club. He could see Nikita grinning ear to ear, happy and exhausted, serving drinks, flirting with him over the bar.
Michael didn't answer, but the heat in his eye's told her. His fingers slipped into hers and he pulled her out on the dance floor. It was a slow song, an excuse to hold her close, publicly. He loved in her those bright colored short dresses, the way she had eyes only for him, despite how many men turned and devoured her with their eye's. And she held his arm possessively, declaring to the world that he was taken - and it all fit the mission parameters, which damn near ruined it for Michael.
But he pushed the negative thoughts out of his mind, his fingers danced down her bare back, and he spoke softly in his ear, so his breath was warm on her neck. He knew she liked that . . .
"I know I've been neglecting you the last few weeks," Michael said softly, "I hate to wake you up."
Nikita smiled, "Wake me, please!" She ran her hands up his chest, and inside his jacket. He was back to his black on black. It almost destroyed her the first time she saw him in all back again, back in Section one. He'd seen the stricken look on her face, and smiled, and winked at her. It's OK . . .we're OK . . .
Michael grinned, and pressed a kiss to her forehead, " I've thought a lot about talking to Madeline and Operations . . ."
Nikita stopped dancing, " Don't."
Michael looked down at her, surprised.
"Michael - try watching the undercurrents between them lately. They're angry at each other - and they had to be lovers at one point - it just has that . . . aura to it. If we ask for that, for ourselves - they're liable to cancel us both," Nikita told him.
Michael took a deep breath, his hands rubbing her back, " I don't want to have a marriage at 1:00 in the morning, until 6:00."
Nikita nodded, "I don't see where we have much of a choice Michael."
They stood there, looking at each other, and it struck them both as odd - it was as if they'd reverses roles suddenly.
" If we keep this up, I'll have to start dressing in all black - and you'll have to come into Section wearing hot pink and sapphire blue together," Nikita said, laughing, "Lets just wait and see what happens to them next."
Michael didn't answer. Partly because he had no intention of giving up so easily, partly because he knew she was right . . .
"Do you know what's going on with them?" Michael asked her, cupping her face, his thumb tracing her cheekbone.
Nikita closed her eyes for a moment, but then opened them. They were on duty . . .
"Operations seems jealous," Nikita told Michael, "Madeline seems . . . resentful."
Michael noticed that she still kept her eye's roving while they danced. He was proud of her. She'd done so much better than even he thought she ever would.
"Let me know when he makes contact," Madeline said to Birkoff, "I'll be in my office."
Birkoff nodded. He was running a sim and monitoring the mission at the same time. It was an easy mission, and not much to monitor. They really only needed on surveillance team, but part of this mission was to test Alexandra and Darren, to see exactly what their emotional involvement was, and to see if it was going to be a problem. If it was, Madeline would see it destroyed - or one of them canceled if need be. She glanced up, and saw Operations looming over the central floor of section one. She didn't need to be up close to see that he was watching her. She felt the emotions like they were a tangible things. Jealousy was a dangerous emotion, and Operations wielded a lot of power, and power was the most addictive drug Madeline knew of, and revenge. Revenge, and the need to exact it, could turn ordinary, innocent people into cold-hearted killers. It was something Madeline was all to familiar with.
She climbed the stairs, punched in the code, and stepped into her office, a world separate and all it's one, where the hardest decisions were made in the entity they all knew as Section One.
Madeline stood over by her plants, picking up a delicate pair of pruning scissors. Plants were a silent, non-judgmental companion, and it pleased her, the irony - that life grew even here, hundreds of feet below the surface of the ground, in a place that could be so dark . . .
She heard her door snap open, and she knew it was Paul - Operations as he was called here. The title alone, without a name with it, gave him that inhuman, unfeeling edge - something he needed to convey to keep the Operatives in awe, or fear of him. Or so Madeline once thought.
She continued to prune her plants.
"How is the mission going?" Operations asked her.
He didn't need to go to Madeline for that, he could check with Birkoff, but it was a good excuse to come to her office. It was almost as if she was avoiding him lately.
She didn't looked over at him briefly, but continues with her plants, "They're all in place, waiting for Anna to appear, when I does, I'll be monitoring."
Operations nodded, and walked over to the sofa, and sat down, leaning back to get comfortable.
"I have to tell you, while I trust your judgment, I'm a little worried about Darren's ability to follow through with this," Operations told her.
Madeline put her scissors down, and walked back to her desk, poured two cups of tea, and took them over to where Paul sat, and took a seat in the single chair, "He was the best fit. She knew him, she's attracted to the forbidden - and he is because of murdering his father. But he also has that friendly lively personality. She'll be drawn to that. He's extremely sensual - and doesn't realize it, and he just manages to come across as a really nice guy. My only concern is what happens after this. We'll probably have to cancel Anna, she'll know too much."
Operations nodded, "What will his recovery time be after that?"
Madeline sighed, "Minimal. He'll lean on his friends, curse the ground we walk on, and move on."
Anna arrived a little bit before 11:00 PM. She was with a group of other women, all of them dressed to the nines, over painted, prowling for a piece of flesh. She wore an almost too tight fuchsia pink dress that was strapless, and came to mid thigh, with a tight bodice and the skirt was short, full, and ruffled. Her hair was poofed out to look three times it's normal size, and she wore lots of jewelry. Darren walked over, and accidentally stumbled into her, knocking her drink out of her hand.
She recognized him instantly, shocked, but after a few minutes, agreed to sit down and have a drink with him. They talked for the next three hours. Darren explained how his cellmate who was up for parole died, and he switched the uniforms. He traded under his new assumed identity in the international currencies market, and kept a low profile. He'd thought about her all time. He'd heard she was doing well, had a well off boyfriend, her family was doing well . . .
Anna's version of her life was a little different. She didn't comment on the boyfriend. He was a man, and convenient. She'd worked her way up in an outside sales makeup company, and was doing extremely well. She could support her family, her younger sisters and brothers lived in a nice neighborhood, went to a decent school . . . . At the end of three hours, Anna told him she wanted to show him her apartment, gave him the address, and told him to meet her there in 1 hour.
The moment had come. Darren knocked quietly on her door, feeling guilt wash over him because part of him was looking forward to this. There was something about her this evening. She wasn't the same girl he knew growing up. They'd both known that they had changed as they got older - but neither one of them knew how much. She was more aggressive than before. A bit more pessimistic too, but he could understand that. Before, she'd have been passive and quiet, now she was outgoing. She went after what she wanted - and tonight, it was him.
Darren had changed though too. Would Anna had ever thought him capable of murdering his own father? Yet she obviously wasn't repulsed by it now. Would she be repulsed if she knew what else he was now capable of - even if he had no choice?
He'd been ordered to seduce her, and use her to get to her lover, her other lover, Cartejania. Madeline told him to use their past to his advantage.
His time to dwell on it disappeared though. She answered the door, still dressed in the tight fuchsia pink dress. She handed him a wineglass, and grabbed his collar pulling him in.
She pulled him through the lavish apartment straight to the bedroom, and pushed him down onto her bed.
Standing before him, she reached behind and unzipped her dress, letting it fall to the floor. She wore no bra underneath of course - it had been a tight fitted bodice and strapless. She had on black lace g-string panties. Her body was plump, her hips rounded, her breast full. Darren felt his body react instantly, and again felt guilt wash over him. He'd fallen in love with Alex - yet here he sat, aroused and eager to have sex with another woman. He'd consoled himself with the fact that he was under orders, and that it was only natural to physically react . . . but it still bothered him a little.
They were so different, Alex and Anna. Alex was tall, and athletic - she had to be. But she wasn't petite in bone structure. Her body was sculpted muscle, but no so much that she looked masculine. Anna was all soft curves, if plump, and petite. Alex wore jeans, sweatshirts, T-shirts, sneakers. Nothing blatantly sexual unless she was on a mission, and rarely makeup. Anna had always been very feminine, always worn skirts and dresses, and from what he saw in her open closet, she was dressing to advertise now. She had a confidence that was blatant, daring you to argue with her. Alexandra was reserved, Anna bubbly.
And Alexandra would never yank open Darren's slacks, grasp his shaft and shove it into her mouth as if she was devouring him - to initiate sex, as Anna just did. Darren's last coherent thought was that he missed how aggressive Alexandra had once been with him . . .
Darren cupped Anna's breasts, squeezing just a little, his thumbs stroking over he nipples. Anna stopped her attentions to his shaft for a brief moment, "Harder, I like to be squeezed!"
Darren increased the pressure a little, mindful of not wanting to hurt her. But she grabbed his hand, pressing his fingers to show him she wanted the squeeze tighter, and then pulled his fingers to her nipple, pinching it hard. She moaned into his groin, grabbing his balls and squeezing hard. So hard that Darren flinched. She eased back a little, but not much, and just about the time Darren was about to claw her hands away, she released his balls and his shaft, and shoved him back on the bed. She started yanking his cloths off him, ripping his shirt, and tossed her panties away. She climbed over him, and impaled her self on his shaft before Darren had a chance to even kiss her.
She was ready for him of course, and she road him hard, as if he was a bucking bronco she was going to kill or tame, each option being equally acceptable. She'd bent down and flicked her tongue over his nipple, something Alex did for him that he loved, and like Alex, she used her teeth on him. But Alex applied playful little nips. Anna bit him hard. Darren yelp, convinced she was gonna draw blood. He grabbed her hair, yanking her head back, and she groaned in pleasure, calling out, "Yes!" and strained against his hold, " Do it again."
Darren felt revulsion course through him, and she bit him again, and it hurt, even more than the last.
"Stop it!" He hissed at her, forcefully rolling them over, "I'd like to keep them a little longer, ease up," he said more gently, and started his own rhythmic thrusts. Not as hard as she'd been doing, and she immediately told him, "harder - fuck me like you mean it!"
Darren had bent his head down to suckle her breasts, and he felt her hands in his hair, yanking hard, again so much that it was too painful to enjoy.
"use your teeth," she demanded, "Harder!"
Something close to revulsion coursed through him, and he knew he was about to go soft. Anna liked to be abused in bed. He closed his eyes, and pictured Alex beneath him. It was enough to get him through it until Anna came underneath him, clawing at his back with her nails, drawing blood.
Nikita and Alex had followed Darren in a separate car, to do surveillance. Michael was needed back at Section One for something else. Nikita looked over at Alex several times during that night. When it became obvious that Darren and Anna were having sex, the redhead had a cold, emotionless mask on, the one she'd learned from Michael. She kept her eye's roving around them, she was quiet, sipping her coffee. From what they heard, it sounded more like a fight than sex. Afterwards, Darren tried to get Anna to talk to him, and after a few minutes, she told him he had to go, she didn't want to get caught.
When Darren was in his car, he asked Nikita to meet him back at Section one. Nikita, but not Alex.
"You may not want to see him right now," Nikita told her, "You could go inform Madeline that we're back . . ."
Alexandra looked over at the blonde, "I'm fine."
Nikita sighed, she wouldn't have been fine - she wasn't fine with any of this when it was Michael, but she could live with it. But when she was at Alexandra's stage, it drove Nikita insane.
They arrived back at Section, and when Nikita and Alex walked in, Darren was no where to be found. As they passed Birkoff, he told them that Darren had stopped by medlab.
Alexandra's expression remained calm, and she looked at Nikita, "I'll inform Madeline we're back."
Darren was nauseated. He'd walked back into Section One with bloody claw marks on his back, bite marks on his chest around his nipples, and his shirt in shred's so much that he couldn't hide the trauma. The shear violence of the act repulsed him. He felt dirty and violated. He'd had no concept of how horrid Alexandra must have felt, and now, feeling as he did, he thought he could understand her more.
The tech in medlab didn't say much, just put some disinfectant on the claw marks and the bite marks. Madeline and Nikita walked in while someone went to get him a tank top to wear out of there, at his request.
"I thought you said she was passive," Darren asked acidly, "She looks like Anna, the voice is Anna's, but that's it."
Madeline walked around the gurney, "all Intel is subject to interpretation. Our sources didn't mention anything like this."
Darren sighed, "I don't know if she's gonna call me back - She's asking me to damn rape her and beat her, and she still wasn't happy."
Madeline had stopped in front of him, "Some women enjoy the abuse - admitting satisfaction ruins the fantasy for them."
Darren had been home all of five minutes, when he heard a knock on his door, and the key turning in his lock. He knew it was Alex. She always did just that - it was one of the few patterns she allowed herself to fall into - more as a courtesy to him than anything else.
She looked at him with concerned filled eye's as she stepped through the door, "Hey, I . . . wanted to see how you were . . . but I could go if you don't want company."
For a brief moment, Darren saw the Anna he used to know, and it startled him. He didn't want to be touched today. He wanted to take a scalding hot shower, and scrub off the feeling of defilement, and he certainly didn't want Alex to see the marks on his body. It almost destroyed him when he saw her in the Iraqi prison cell - he didn't want to be the reason she felt that twisted combination of rage, horror and helplessness . . . and he knew what he had were little more than bad scratches.
"I'm just gonna take a shower and hit the sack," Darren told her, "And Madeline is bound to be watching us right now, so we probably shouldn't be sleeping together for a few days."
Alexandra opened her mouth to point out that Madeline had ordered them to do just that, not so long ago. But she stopped. What Darren didn't want to tell her was that he probably didn't want to be touched. If he'd gone to medlab, he'd probably been hurt. She knew what that was like, all to well.
"Call me if you need me," She said gently.
Nikita was walking across the main floor of Section One, and looked up to see Michael, standing with Madeline and Operations in what was commonly referred to as the 'glass tower'. They were both looking at Michael as he spoke. Nikita felt her stomach twist and turn. She couldn't believe Michael had made that suggestion last night. It was asking for more trouble than either one of them could ever want to face. Madeline turned and left the room, and Michael stood there with Operations, they talked more. Nikita felt the urge to run and hide. But she wouldn't, never again.
That didn't mean she felt the need to offer herself up as sacrifice though.
"Birkoff," Nikita said, walking over to the computer genius's station, "What's Michael talking to Operations about?"
Birkoff shrugged, "Who knows . . . maybe they're comparing notes on the best way to wipe out a government."
Nikita frowned, and yanked the Oreo Birkoff had just picked up out of his hand, "Smartass. I'm serious. Do we have anything going right now?"
Birkoff nodded, " A couple things. Darren's mission, a team in Germany bringing in a terrorist. There's a team monitoring a militia group. Michael's only got Darren's mission up right now - he's always got a few more that he's analyzing with Madeline though. I think he's being trained for her job."
Nikita nodded, "It's always good have reserves in place . . ."
As Nikita spoke with Birkoff, she saw Michael and Operations turn their gaze on her. She nodded at them, rubbed her fingers across Birkoff's crew cut hair, and joined Alexandra as the redhead walked through Section One's main floor.
"Where are you off too?" Nikita asked her as she matched her pace.
Alexandra took a deep breath, " I'm gonna go burn of some steam in the gym - I talked to Darren earlier - or tried to - but he's not feeling like talking right now . . . I'm just not used to that. I can't shut him up most of the time."
Nikita laughed a little, " You're the first person he'll go to when he needs a friend Alex. He'll call."
Alexandra looked over at the blonde, " but I'm also his lover - and he's sleeping with someone under orders, and it's bothering him. I'm OK with it, but He doesn't want to see me right now."
Nikita nodded, she'd thought of that too, but she wanted to reassure Alexandra, who rarely ever expressed any doubts out load.
"I'll check on him - better yet - we'll send Michael. Michael has experience with this. He's had to screw around on everyone at one time or another under orders," Nikita said matter a factly.
Anna did call, the next day. She invited him over the next afternoon. Darren called Madeline immediately. Madeline agreed he should go over there, try to get her to talk more about Cartejenia, and told him to be as violent with her as Darren physically could be.
This went on for a three weeks. Each time, she talked a little more, and a little more. Slowly, Darren learned that Anna liked to be in control of everything.. She wasn't as mild and meek as everyone thought. She talked about the last couple of years, her relationships, and her views on everything. Darren saw her as twisted by abuse. He'd talked her into trying sex without being so rough, and she'd agreed after a few requests, but she made her preference for violence clear afterwards. But she steadfastly refused to discuss Cartejenia, or anything close to him. At the end of three weeks, She'd told him she had a business trip to go on, and she'd be back in four days.
"I'll pick you up at 8:00," Michael told her, his fingers slipping into hers, giving them a gentle squeeze.
Nikita nodded slowly. Michael wanted to go to dinner at the Palisades. It was a very elegant, formal restaurant. They usually had a small orchestra playing soft music in the background, the tables were far apart to afford the patrons some modicum of intimacy.
Michael was going to have his marriage apparently, Section One be damned. Nikita could remember a time when this was exactly what she wanted - when the consequences weren't so real for her - when she was younger, afraid, and desperate for affection . . .
"Is there any special reason we're going there?" Nikita asked him, not releasing his fingers when he'd turned to walk away.
"No reason," Michael told her, "I want to take my wife out is all."
Wife. The word made Nikita's head spin with joy, and fear at the same time. Nothing good lasted long here . . .
"I'll see you at 8:00 then," Nikita agreed, and let go of his fingers. She watched him walk away, and thought she should have told him to at least wear something that wasn't black.
Madeline let Paul/Operations take her cloak from her shoulders. She asked herself again for the 100th time why she'd agreed to have dinner with him, out. She knew the proximity and stress that worked under helped develop their attraction for each other. She knew it was because his mind explored all the possibilities, far reaching - he stimulated her mind. Finally - Madeline had to admit she was lonely - and she missed him, what they'd had. Lately - it seemed she missed him more. He certainly was always willing to begin again. The bond would always be between them, no matter what. If she fought him, the tension would become palpable, and others would notice. She knew others might notice if they became involved again - but at least they could work to minimize that. It would certainly be easier than trying to hide the tension.
" You look lovely tonight," Paul said, offering his arm.
Madeline had dressed in a long royal blue evening gown with small gold beads embedded in the fabric. It had a split up to mid thigh on one side. She had a small clutch purse, with little more than a makeup, Id and a credit card in it.
She waited quietly on his arm, enjoying the feeling of someone beside her, and only half heard that there would be a bit of a wait, the restaurant was full.
Nikita felt lust and desire twisting in her stomach. She and Michael sat on opposite sides of the table, Michael had picked up her hand, and while they talked and sipped their wine, he pressed tiny kissed to the back of her hand, and her fingertips. His eye's travel down her body often, devouring her. She knew he was doing it in appreciation, and a form of foreplay.
She'd worn a jade green slip dress that clung to her curves, accentuating every one of them. It came to mid thigh, short enough that Nikita had to keep her gun in her purse tonight. She'd though briefly about leaving it home - but then changed her mind. No matter what, she would always be Section One. It was a hard reality to face, but it was there.
Michael's eye's flickered to something behind her, and he stopped his ministrations on her hand, giving it a tight squeeze.
Nikita turned to look, and felt her blood turn to ice. Operations and Madeline were standing there, speaking with the host, most likely waiting for a table.
"Oh my god," Nikita whispered, turning to look at Michael.
Michael stood up, "I'll be right back."
Nikita turned to watch as Michael approached Madeline and Operations, obviously asking the host to have two more chairs brought to their table.
Nikita suddenly felt that Michael had planned all this. She was angry, excited and frightened at the same time. He was playing with fire.
Nikita stood up as Madeline and Operation's joined them.
"Nikita, you look lovely tonight," Madeline said in a very warm voice, but Nikita could tell she was surprised to see her here.
"Thank you, so do you," Nikita said, and turned to smile at Operations, " I've never seen you in a Tux - you look good."
The conversation was strained only for a moment. Michael and Operations started talking right away about politics, both of them trying to keep Madeline and Nikita drawn into the conversation. Both women participated, but not as much as the men.
At one point, both Michael and Operations got up from the table for something, leaving Nikita and Madeline alone.
"Do you have any idea what they arranged this for?" Nikita asked her.
Madeline smiled, "I have a few ideas."
Nikita was almost afraid to ask, and said so.
Madeline sipped at her wine, "You pick up on things many people don't, and obviously you now know that this was a date."
Nikita nodded, " Yes - and you were probably asked several times before you agreed."
Madeline smiled, "Very good. I think they're . . . staking out territory, in a way."
Nikita laughed suddenly, "This is just awful - but I just had this picture in my mind of Michael and Operations peeing on a tree's!"
Madeline laughed and leaned forward, "They'd have to run sim first, of course - to make sure it was the right angle - the most strategic point!"
"What do you think they're talking about Michael?" Paul/Operations asked him.
Michael watched the two women as they leaned closer to talk.
"Us," Michael told him, picking up the new bottle of wine, "We're being accused of orchestrating this - and being critiqued."
"You'll have to let me know what the end result is, I won't get it out of Madeline," Paul/Operations replied, and they started back to the table.
Darren heard Alex call out to him as she let herself into his apartment.
"I'm in the shower," Darren called out, "Make yourself comfortable, I'll be out in a minute
Alexandra frowned, she'd heard the shower, and had started to pull her blouse from her slacks. Darren always invited her into the shower with him.
She sighed, and sat down on the sofa, and grabbed the phone, and ordered a pizza. Darren came out a few minutes later, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
" I've been a little concerned about you," Alexandra said, patting the sofa next to her.
Darren sat down next to her, and put his arm around her shoulders, " I'm OK. It's kinda weird, but I'm . . . adjusting to it."
Alexandra had equated what Darren was facing, to repetitive rape. He didn't complain anymore about what Anna demanded of him, he just performed, and got through it. Operations made a comment that Darren seemed to have a 'talent' for it. Alexandra had heard Walter and Birkoff talking about the comment. Alexandra had been avoiding eavesdropping on Darren and Anna in bed.
Alexandra rested her head on his shoulder, and sighed, "I know what you mean, you get numb after a certain point - if you can live through it."
"It's not that bad Alex - she likes it rougher than what I was used to is all," Darren said, shrugging.
Was . . .?
They sat and talked, watched a movie on the TV, ate the pizza, and then Alexandra leaned over, and pressed a tentative kiss to his mouth, the kiss asking for permission, asking for attention. Darren kissed her back, hungrily, and pulled her to her feet, taking her into the bedroom. He was overly gentle with her, more so than he normally was, almost as if he was holding back. When their passion was spent, they snuggled in bed, and Alexandra lay awake but secure in his arms, about to ask him a question.
He shifted, and drew her closer, and murmured, "Anna."
Alexandra felt her blood turn to ice in her veins. She wanted to scream, run and hide! She felt the prickle of tears begin, and drew a steadying breath, and pulled out of his embrace.
She started to quickly dress. Darren woke up when she left the bed, and looked around, confused for a moment.
"Yes Darren, you're home, in your apartment - and you just made love to me, not Anna," Alexandra said acidly, yanking her sweatshirt on over her head.
Darren sat up, "What the hell is going on? Where are you going?"
" I don't know, anywhere but here," She said, "I shouldn't' have come. I knew this would be a problem eventually."
Darren groaned, "Alex - I don't know what I did to piss you off -"
She laughed bitterly, "You said her name - when you were pulling me closer in your sleep - it obviously wasn't me you were dreaming about!"
Darren groaned, "Alex - It was a simple mistake - I can't control what I dream!"
She zipped up her jeans, and crossed her arms over her chest, " You were holding back today Darren - it felt like you didn't want to touch me - this just isn't going to work. I can handle it if you're sleeping with someone under orders - but I can't handle when you're thinking of them - when your with me. I just can't do it."
She took the key he'd given her months ago out of her pocket, and tossed it on the bedside table. Darren leapt out of bed, following her into the living room.
"Damn it Alex! Wait a minute!"
She ignored him. She slowed her pace to open the door, and he grabbed her arm, taking her by surprise. She tried to jerk away, and Darren shoved her back up against the door, harder than he'd meant to. She hit her head against the door, and he felt her muscles tighten.
She gasped, and whimpered, "Don't do this! Please!"
That was when Darren realized what he'd just done. He'd been overly rough with her - and she knew he was rough with Anna.
He stepped back, and let her slip out the door.
Michael blocked the blow aimed at his head, just barely. Alexandra always fought to win. She never pulled her punches with Michael. She'd never had a need to, he had more experience, and he knew her reflexes. But there was a definite difference today. She'd come to his office, her lips pressed firmly together, and asked him to spar with her, and she needed to practice with someone
. Alexandra never sought him out for anything. He knew something was bothering her, but she said she was 'fine'. That was a dead giveaway to Michael. She'd picked that up from him along with the emotionless mask.
Michael told her he'd meet her in the gym in fifteen minutes. He left a message with Birkoff to tell Nikita he was in the gym training with Alex. A simple enough, seemingly innocuous message - but Nikita would know something was up.
Today Alexandra fought viciously. She was angry. Michael knew she wasn't angry at him, and he knew her goal wasn't to abuse him. She rarely beat him, so he was a good challenge for her. And better him, because he could defend himself better than most of her other peers here.
Nikita appeared in the doorway, content to watch for a while, her eye's assessing what she was seeing. Alexandra fought until she collapsed from exhaustion. She lay on the mat, drenched in perspiration, breathing hard, seeing spots.
Nikita walked over.
" Is it safe yet?" Nikita asked them, walking over.
Alexandra opened her eye's, "Kita, how are you doing?"
"Me? I'm fine," Nikita told her, "You should probably rest - Madeline wants the three of us to search a place later today."
Alexandra nodded, "Small group huh? Are we fishing?"
"Sort of," Nikita said, watching the redhead, "It's Anna's apartment. Madeline thinks Darren isn't able to be objective enough. She came back into town, Darren is taking her to a resort place on the coast."
"Who's idea was that?" Alexandra asked, "The resort part?"
"We'll need time to search," Michael replied, "Do you think he's able to be objective?"
Alexandra closed her eye's, "I . . . I don't have the background to evaluate that. I haven't seen him much."
"That's interesting, because he hunted me down earlier today, said he was looking for you, and I got the distinct impression that you'd had an argument," Nikita replied.
Alexandra opened her eye's, " I'm gonna hit the showers."
She got to her feet, and left the gym.
Nikita looked at Michael.
Michael said quietly, "She was angry when she came my office, wanting a sparing partner. She came close to really taking me out a few times."
Nikita nodded, "She's been OK this week - something happened today."
Michael sighed, "This is why operatives shouldn't get emotionally involved - they're going to face the same hell we did - we should have stopped this earlier."
Nikita looked back at him, a little surprised, "Michael, we can dictate a lot of things - but the heart does what it wants, regardless of the rules. You and I, of all people should know that."
Michael sighed quietly, "I love you so much it frightens me Nikita, but there are days I think it would have been kinder to you, to have canceled you when you were still in training."
Nikita blinked, shocked for a moment. But she knew what it was that Michael meant, "Don't ever regret it Michael, or us."
Michael sighed, " I don't regret what we have Nikita. I regret what it took to get there."
Nikita raised an eyebrow at him, "How long did it take you to arrange everything with Operations last night?"
Michael looked at her, "It wasn't arranged."
" Who is the redhead?" Anna asked him.
Darren and Anna were lounging on the hotel suite bed. Darren had fought himself to be more talkative with her, but he felt miserable. Miserable because he felt lust for his target, miserable because of who his target was, and miserable because he'd began to enjoy parts of their encounters, and because he caught himself comparing Anna and Alex in his head. He still couldn't get Alexandra's shattered look on her face out of his head, how she'd been afraid of him.
Anna's question got his attention.
"Redhead?"
"Tall, lithe, perky tit's, she was crying when she left your apartment," Anna told him.
Darren felt his blood run cold.
Alex was almost exposed - technically she had been. In the condition she'd been in, it would have been easy to follow her. Then it hit Darren - he'd never given Anna his address.
"Aren't we resourceful - how did you find me?" He asked her.
"It was by accident really - one of my girlfriends saw you go into the building - it was a simple matter from there," Anna told him, "You were about to tell me about the redhead - she's the one who likes it slow, isn't she?"
Darren chuckled, and reached for Anna. He had to distract her from Alex.
"Don't bother with her," He said huskily, gripping her shoulders as hard as he could, pushing her back up again the headboard.
Anna waited until Darren had begun to deal her next blow.
"I don't care if you have other lover's Darren, I do - but you knew that," Anna said, watching him, for his reaction.
He ignored her. She felt his fingers dig into her flesh painfully, and she shuddered in pleasure. He was learning . . .
Anna grabbed his hair, yanking his head up and shoving him onto his back. She scrambled over him, and bit at his nipples.
"Damn it!" Darren gasped, and grabbed Anna's hair and yanked her head back, "Easier - they don't sew back on so well."
Anna moaned, enjoying the pain, and then asked, her voice husky with desire, "Is this why she was crying when she left? Did you get rough with her?"
Darren sighed, she wasn't going to give up.
"The redhead's a playmate - and no, I didn't get rough with her. No she doesn't like it rough - she's been abused in the past. She's a nice girl . . . that's it," Darren told her, "Did you follow her?"
"Maybe," Anna said, taunting him, "Why do you care."
She grabbed his shaft and squeezed painfully, and Darren hissed. He'd learned that Anna liked the reaction the most.
"She's fucking reckless," Darren gasped out, "I never know what she's going to do next - so where'd she go? The gun shop?"
" A church," Anna said, laughing scornfully, "I got board after a while - she was in there for over an hour . . ."
"She knows where I live," Darren told Madeline, "One of her friends recognized me."
Madeline nodded, "No chance she could have followed you?"
Darren shrugged, "It's possible, I watch, but I won't swear to god that I catch every last person behind me - and she spotted Alex. Alex and I literally a happened upon each other by accident - the espresso shop on the corner of my street - you know Alex is an espresso fiend." Darren lied.
Madeline smiled, "She's from Seattle, it's popular there. Did Anna ask about Alexandra?"
Darren knew Madeline had done a lot more profiling on Anna since this assignment began, so she'd know that Anna would have tracked Alex.
"Yeah, she asked a lot of questions. I left it vague, gave her miss information. She's becoming a little possessive. She say's she lost Alex in the market, but who knows . . ."
"We'll have to move you both then. You will have to wait until the mission is over however. Did she talk anymore about Cartejenia?"
"Yes, finally," Darren said, glad Madeline wasn't going to dwell on the fact that he and Alex had been exposed, "She doesn't think that much of him. She's belittling really. I told her it would be a thrill to have sex with her on his bed - so I'll be in his home soon."
"We can extrapolate the security codes by frequency then," Madeline told him, "Good work. When will this happen?"
"Day after tomorrow, I think. She has a business meeting to go to tomorrow. She's big into Jaffra Makeup."
Madeline studied him for a moment, "Interesting. See Walter before you go for a monitor. She's proven she likes to spring things at the last minute. She could invite you over early."
Darren nodded, and left immediately. He asked Birkoff if he'd seen Alex today.
"I think she and Nikita were going to the gym," Birkoff told him, "They were dressed for it."
Darren found them in the gym. Alexandra was punishing herself on a weight machine, Nikita was hassling her about doing to much.
"Alex," Darren said as he walked up.
She turned her gaze on him, her walls up. It hurt. She shut him out.
"I need to talk to you," Darren told her, keeping his voice low.
"About?" the redhead asked, pushing the bar up again. Her strength wavered, but Darren knew better than to step in and help her. Not right now.
"Anna followed you - and I don't know how far. She managed to find where I live, and even though she say's that one of her friends spotted me . . ."
Alexandra sat up, and Nikita stepped closer.
It was Nikita that asked the next question, "Where did she see Alex?"
"Leaving my apartment," Darren replied, "She followed you to the church. I told Madeline that we just happened to bump into each other at the espresso shop, and that you lost Anna in the market."
Alexandra groaned, and looked at Nikita, "Am I gonna be canceled? Transferred?"
"Not canceled," Nikita said, "Section will move you - both of you."
Alexandra looked at Darren, "So what else does she know?"
Darren frowned, "I left it real vague. She thinks your a friend having a rough time."
Birkoff's voice sounded over the intercom, "Nikita, Madeline wants to see you and Alexandra in her office."
"Where did she really see you?" Madeline demanded.
Alexandra could feel Michael's gaze on her, and Nikita's. It was like being in the principal's office, with disappointed parents.
" The espresso shop," Alexandra told her, "I broke my expresso machine. Darren was in there, we sat down, we had a cup of coffee together."
" You left then, and Anna lost you in the market - did you see her and not report it?"
" No," Alexandra told her, " I missed her - which surprises me. Usually I find myself trying to lose people who may not be following me."
Madeline turned, and rotated the computer screen, "We just got the analysis back. Anna is not the sweet, innocent person our original Intel suggested. She's isn't just the hedonistic creature she's portraying. The make up company she's selling for - is a cover for brokering chemical weapons. We have the names of her contacts, her customers, and they're going to be neutralized when we take out Cartejenia. She's to be brought in, or canceled on site. Needless to say, Because Darren is to close the situation, he is to remain in the dark."
Alexandra nodded, and stood up to go.
"Alexandra," Madeline asked her, when she reached the door, " I know that you've been with Darren once since this assignment began. I gave you three months to become comfortable with your sexuality again - and your three months is up in two weeks."
"I'll be fine," Alexandra nodded.
"I expected you to continue through this," Madeline told her.
Alexandra stared at her blankly, "OK we'll resume."
"All of the choices I gave you, have the psychological makeup to be aggressive lovers - including Darren - despite the fact that we knew you'd both form an emotional bond," Madeline told her.
Alexandra nodded, " I here an 'And' or a 'but' in that statement Madeline?"
" Darren has been forced to experiment with a side of sexuality most people can't dream of. This is an opportunity for you to take advantage of," Madeline told her.
Alexandra's demeanor changed suddenly surprising Michael and Nikita.
"Why don't you just have me chained down, blindfolded, and send the ten Section ops I dislike the most in to gang rape me? I can handle anything you, or Operations throw at me. I may not like it, but I can do it. And if you enjoy watching it so much -"
"Alex," Michael interrupted her, warning her she'd gone to far.
" No!" Alexandra said, gesturing for him to stop interceding, " Madeline, I keep finding out my breaking point is higher and higher, every time something comes up. I know I deserve my life sentence here -it is so bad to want to retain some dignity - for the few hours I'm not on a mission?"
Madeline began, sternly "If you're finished -"
"No, I'm not!" Alexandra snapped, "What is that you want from me? You send me to do surveillance on Darren, forcing me to eavesdrop while he has sex with some woman he hasn't seen in years - and I know you were testing us! We passed Madeleine! We didn't crack, we performed the job! It's like you're trying to see if you can destroy a friendship - you see it as a weakness - when it's not. It's what makes us get up and go again, when we fall - and if you take it away - cancel me, or Darren, or even Dante or Regi - or whomever - we waver, gather the pieces up, and go again, and build our next support system. If we performed better with out them - you'd keep us in boxes till you needed us. You can make me have sex with people I hate - and Darren and I will still be pals, make him screw men, and we'll still be pals - make him brutalize me or watch - and we'll debrief, and get on with life. If we were so fragile, we never would have made it through our first two years - so dish our your worst - but don't expect us to just roll over and take it, and not bitch!"
Madeline was quiet for a moment, " If you are now finished - you should know that I won't hesitate to cancel Darren, and you - if he finds out that Anna is to be brought in, or canceled."
Alexandra shook her head, and left.
Nikita sighed, looked at Michael and Madeline.
"I expect that kind of emotional outburst from Darren, but not from Alexandra," Madeline said, walking around behind her desk, "They're closer than I thought."
"They're still young, they've been out of training barely a year - I was that way," Nikita offered, "In some ways, I still am."
Madeline looked up at her, "When did their relationship really start?"
"They were friends in training," Michael answered, "I have to agree with Alexandra - for her and Darren, their friendship together, and their friendship with some of the other's here - is a source of strength - and because they know it's a weakness easily exploited - they've found a way to separate the job when they have to."
Madeline studied the pair of them. Lightness and Darkness, and just the opposite again. Every bit of training Madeline had told her it never should have worked, but it did. She was seeing it again.
"If she had to seduce someone as vile as Perry Bauer, could she do it?" Madeline asked them.
"Yes," Michael said calmly.
"She wouldn't be happy with it. She'd take her space and stress out when it was over, but she could do it - probably more convincingly that the Valentine Ops were," Nikita added.
The next day . . .
Alexandra moved down the hall with a few other operatives, checking rooms as they went. At the far end of the hall, a door opened, and Darren stepped out, his gun in his hand, clad in his slacks only.
His eye's settled on Alexandra, and the other section one operatives, realization dawning.
Alexandra raced forward, her gun still up, shoving Darren back into the room. Darren stepped back, his heart aching, his stomach twisting into knots.
" What the hell are you doing here, the raid was supposed to be tomorrow!" Darren hissed.
Anna hissed, her voice accusing, "You! My men are looking for you! I knew something was up when you disappeared!"
Alexandra turned her gun on Anna, and fired twice, hitting her twice, in the center of her chest, killing her instantly.
"No!" Darren yelled, lunging at Alexandra, slamming her back into the wall, so hard the her head spun, her gun skittered away and leveled his gun on Alexandra, his hand shaking, his voice cracking, "You knew she would be here today!"
Alexandra took a deep breath. She never dreamed in her worst nightmares, that she'd be looking down the barrel of Darren's gun.
Alexandra held her arms out wide, "Go ahead - shoot me."
Darren shook his head slowly, "Jesus Christ Alex . . . I . . .Why?! How could you be so jealous that you . . .even you . . ."
Alexandra felt her heart shatter in a million pieces . . . even you?
He thought her capable of just executing her . . .
But he was right, she'd done just that, here, and so many time's before . . .
" Did you want her brought in, for the torture twins and Madeline to have their shot at her?" Alexandra said, pushing herself up to her knees.
"Don't," Darren said, cocking his gun.
Alexandra looked up at him, anguish plain in her eye's, because she saw disgust and hatred in his.
"Pull the trigger Darren!" Alexandra said, remaining on her knee's, her arm spread out wide, offering herself up for sacrifice, "If this is the way it's going to be - put me out of my misery!"
Darren kept his gun leveled on her, in indecision. Alexandra closed her eye's, her head bent down, waiting, " End it Darren - if you think I'm capable of it!"
Darren lowered his gun, and grabbed the shoulder of her jumper and slammed her up against the wall, and wrapped his hands around her throat, squeezing, watching her eye's fill with alarm as she gasped for air.
"I'm not like you - I can't exterminate life so easy. So live and suffer Alex!"
Darren released her and walked out of the room.
Alexandra fell to her knees, gasping, her lungs starved for oxygen.
Continue on to Rage of betrayal