An elegantly dressed man watched Tom Keen's arrest from a darkened window in a high rise building across the street. Police swarmed around the busy thoroughfare where the smuggling ring used a seemingly innocuous flat as a base. Onlookers were stopping to take pictures and video of the scene. Once these images were uploaded to social media, the story would spread like wildfire. Tom's handlers would have to send him away… that is, if they decided to bail him out at all.
He had waited months for this plan to come to fruition. The girl would now be free from the monster who had tried to insinuate himself into her life. Unfortunately, Tom had become intimate with the girl, forcing the chain of events that had led them here. At least they hadn't gotten married; that would have posed an even greater problem.
He would now have to enter her life in order to keep her safe and close at hand. Tom was sent in to get close and spy on her when the alliance known as the cabal found out he was keeping tabs on someone. There would be a reckoning once he figured out who had betrayed him. The list of those privy to information on the girl was extremely short.
He had watched the girl for years. Secretly seeing to her education, calling in favors and smoothing the way for her whenever he could. He hadn't seen her since the night he had dropped her off at his friend Sam's house. He received monthly reports on her whereabouts and activities, but no pictures were placed in the files he received, feeling it would keep him from becoming too attached.
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Liz walked into her small office, early as usual; not that she had any clients. When Tom had gotten arrested a week ago the police detained and questioned her extensively before letting her go. Even though she was cleared of having any involvement in the smuggling ring, her business had taken a dive,and clients were scrambling to cancel assignments. Now that her face had been all over the local news she was instantly recognizable, for a private investigator that was bad for business.
Tom's arrest was a nightmare. Not only had she found out her boyfriend was a criminal, he wasn't even American. She couldn't believe he was able to keep his criminal activities hidden from her. He was always so sweet and loving, nothing like what the police had described to her. They said he was mercenary in his dealings, he had even killed before. It had probably been for the best that she hadn't seen him before he was transported out of the country.
She may be able to pull some strings and get back in at Quantico; go to work for the FBI as Sam had wanted for her. When he'd gotten sick, she had dropped out to care for him, and after he passed she had no desire to go back. But no, that life was still not for her.
A move would be necessary if she was going to have any hope of salvaging her small career. She rummaged through a drawer, took out a map of the United States and hung it on the wall. There were so many options that it was a little overwhelming and she had no idea where she would want to settle down. She had agonized over where to move two and a half years ago and that hadn't turned out so well. This time chance would decide: she would close her eyes and point to a random spot on the map.
When he poked his head into the small office her back was turned and she had yet to acknowledge him. He used the time to study her. She had long dark hair, a lean figure and a beautifully curved ass. She turned then and his chest tightened. She was beautiful, deep blue eyes, a pert nose and full red lips he longed to crush beneath his own. He mentally shook his head, he was not here for that. He had women around the globe to quench his lusts if that was his desire. She was so much more to him than a passing fling; she was his future.
He schooled his expression and smiled warmly in greeting as he stepped fully into the room and removed his fedora. "Lizzie, what a pleasure."
She was instantly alert, the only person that had called her Lizzie was Sam. He acted like he knew her, but she was positive she had never met this man.
He was handsome for an older gentlemen and dressed to the nines. He had on a very expensive looking light grey three piece suit and a pale pink patterned tie; his brown italian leather shoes alone probably cost more than the rent on her apartment.
She crossed her arms in front of her and widened her stance to present a professional and firm demeanor. "My name is Liz, but to you I'm Ms. Scott."
He chuckled lightly as he sat himself in a chair in front of her desk. He crossed his legs and placed his fedora in his lap and considered her for a moment, amusement evident in his features before his face became a mask and he spoke to her again. "Did you make it home for your father's funeral?"
He seemed to know an awful lot about her. If he was asking about her father, then maybe that's how he knew about her, he was friends with her father. "Did you know my father?"
When he failed to answer and continue to regard her, she reached across the desk and extended her hand for him to shake. "I'm sorry, Mr… ?"
He stood and took her hand in his and brought her knuckles to his lips for a brief kiss, his eyes never leaving hers. "Reddington."
That name sounded very familiar, she rolled it around in her head briefly and then it hit her. She had heard the name on the news last month. It was reported that the notorious criminal Raymond Reddington had been hiding somewhere in the U.S. The FBI was offering a substantial reward for information leading to his arrest.
Was this somehow connected to Tom? She yanked her hand from his. "You're a wanted criminal; you should leave before I call the police."
"Is turning me in what you really want, Lizzie?" He watched her closely, looking for the answer in her eyes.
"Or would you listen to my proposition? I have a job for you and it pays extremely well." She looked at him like he wanted her to start robbing banks with him a la Bonnie and Clyde, and he chuckled. "Nothing illegal I assure you."
He was fascinated watching her. A myriad of emotions were playing over her beautiful face. He tried to imagine what she was thinking. Her curiosity about the job was holding her immobile, but she was obviously trying to will her legs to move to safety. He hoped that she stayed; he wanted more than anything to get to know her and find out how her mind worked.
She was drawn to him despite his illegal proclivities. She even had a strange sense of safety and that was making her angry. She must have a criminal magnet attached to her or something. "What job do you think could possibly posses me to work for a criminal?"
She was beautiful when she was angry. He paused and imagined her in a full fury: she would be glorious. He could only surmise that sex with her would be wild and filled with passion. He had to give himself another mental shake; because he was usually more in control. No woman had him this interested in many years.
He realized that he had been daydreaming too long when she picked up the phone. He spoke quickly before she dialed. "There is a child slavery ring in Ukraine that fronts as an orphanage."
She placed the phone back on the base slowly. If there was anything that could get her to drop everything and go, it was children in need. The question was, could she trust him? "This seems a job better suited to their local law enforcement or even the FBI or CIA; what could I do?"
He rolled his eyes and looked heavenward briefly. "People put far too much faith in law enforcement. They are limited to a set of rules given to them by a corrupt system, no matter what country they are from."
"Is that why you became a criminal?" Maybe he went to the other side of the law because of the corruption and he knew how to work the system.
He smirked at her and ignored her question, keeping to the subject at hand. "They have been pulling children from the United States lately, garnering the attention of the FBI, but there is little hope of cutting off the head of this organization without a little 'help'."
"I don't even speak… whatever language they speak in Ukraine." She waved her hands wildly. She shouldn't even be encouraging this conversation. He wanted to take her out of the country for God's sake.
His eyes twinkled as he tried to keep his silent laughter to himself. "It is a mixture of Ukrainian and Russian, but Russian should get you by just fine."
"I don't speak Russian either. How is this supposed to work?" No man had made her want to smack him so soon after meeting before; she really needed to keep her guard up.
He shrugged his shoulders. "It will come easier than you think."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Why couldn't he just give her an answer that didn't create more questions?
He smiled and kept his intense gaze locked on her as he asked. "Are you interested in helping me take this ring of slavers down, Lizzie?"
She didn't know why she trusted this man but she did, and wasn't she just thinking she needed a change? This would definitely be a change. "Okay, let's do this. I am warning you though, I have excellent self defense skills so don't try anything funny."
"Splendid. This is gonna be a gas!" He motioned for her to proceed him out the door.
What, he wanted to leave now? There was so much to do. "Wait, I need to pack and make arrangements for my apartment and office."
He smiled reassuringly. "It will all be taken care of."
She hesitated for only a second. Why not, her life was in a shambles right now a little adventure might just be what the doctor ordered. She gave him a bright smile then walked out the door and stepped into her future.