I trotted up to the open gates to the loft, my claws kicking up rocks and sending them flying. I snorted when I saw Michael washing the Cattilac down. I jumped, shifting in the air and landed neatly.
"Hey, Dawn. Where's Fiona?" Michael said all casually, turning off the water. I huffed and stormed towards him.
"She dumped Campbell. I can't believe you, Michael." I growled. "Forty eight hours ago, we said good bye, possibly forever, and then I get a message from you on my cell…that I should come right over because you have a job." Michael dropped the hose and turned to me.
"Really? Who's the new guy? Dawn, there's a lot going on, so—"
"Marcus. You couldn't start with I'm alive?"
"How close are they? I thought the fact that I was calling covered that."
"Third date in the past two days and that's not the point." I threw a punch at him but he dodged it and grabbed my fist, twisting me around and holding me to his chest.
"Dawn. Dawn. I called because I need you help." His phone rang and I shifted, kicking him in the leg with my hind leg. I shook my fur and sat as Fiona pulled up. I flicked my tail to the top of the steps. She pointed to the dirty ass Cattilac. I shook my head in disgrace. She pointed to Michael, behind me. I bared my teeth and she ascended the steps. I perked my ears up and listened to the phone call.
"What about those men with the guns?" I heard Madeline ask. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, more or less."
"I'm so glad."
"I'm glad too, Mom."
"Bye, Michael." Michael hung up.
"You hadn't called your mom yet?" I questioned him.
"I was going to wait a bit." Michael said slowly. I flicked my tail in dismay and climbed the steps to the loft.
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBB
I sat in the Cattilac with Sam and watched Michael and Mud into the building.
"You're being too hard on Mike." Sam said. "You know, he damned near got himself killed saving me."
"Yeah, and I damned near got myself killed saving the both of you." I snapped. "And then he comes back and acts like nothing happened."
"I'm just saying, I can count on one hand the number of buddies I got…who would stage an armed assault to save my butt, okay? You got Mike, you got—" He trailed off, not able to think of anymore. "The point is Mike is the kind of guy who got your back."
"Gun!" A British voice sounded behind the car. Sam and I turned around to see Michael and two security guards. Michael grabbed a gun from one of them and shot at the car.
"What the hell is he doing?" I grabbed my bow and arrow from the back as Michael shot another bullet and cracked the back window.
"I think we just got recruited into Michael's cover I.D." I said.
"Get down! Get down!" Michael yelled at the security guards. Sam began to back up and I climbed half way out the window and fired a couple arrows. I fired an arrow and it landed between Michael's legs. He glared at me and I smiled and slipped back into the car as Sam drove away.
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I opened the door to the loft and saw Sam and Mud out on the balcony playing cards and Michael was at the counter scribbling something down.
"Figuring out a time when we can have our conversation?" I asked, sitting down at the counter too."
"Dawn, I'm planning a heist. Um—Can—Can you just—I mean, I—I gotta do the job." Michael said.
"First. Right. So what can I do for the job? You never told me that this job requires some stealing."
"Dawnna, you are done with stealing. Every time you steal something you make a new enemy. I need you to get us into Oscar Gene Labs. It's a DNA testing facility one floor above Security Associates. I need to get in there for an hour at night alone, and we're gonna be making a lot of noise."
"So why you, a burned spy, is stealing something, I, a former professional thief, has to manipulate someone's mind. Somehow, this job is all backwards."
"Please, Dawn." I sighed.
"You have a high estimation of my skills, Michael."
"You've earned every bit of it, Dawn."
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRR
"How do you think he's doing in there?" Sam asked. We were sitting outside the building waiting for Michael and Mud.
"It's Michael." I mumbled.
"So, look, uh, Dawn, I gotta go back to Veronica, explain where I've been, why I'm all beat to hell and what happened to the Caddy."
"I'd pay to watch that."
"Oh, come on, Dawn. You're a girl. What do I say?"
"I'm your girl consultant now? When did I sign up for that job? What happened to Fiona?"
"She's too busy with her new boyfriend. Okay, fine, forget it. You know, I got lots of other friends with ovaries. I used to have Fiona, now I just have you—" He trailed off, unable to think of anymore.
"Tell her you got beaten up defending a helpless man…from a gang of ex lowlife soldiers. It's true enough."
"Okay. So I'm the hero."
"And the helpless man." A black SUV pulled up to the building and men got out.
"Aha. Somebody's working late. Better let Mike know." I quickly texted Michael. Next thing I knew, the alarm to the building was going off. "That's not good." Sam began to reach for the car key but I stopped him.
"Give him a minute." Glass shattered from the top floor and it fell to the ground like crystal. "Go." Sam started the engine. Sam drove the car to the building as Michael and Mud dropped out using ropes. They climbed into the back and Sam drove away as bullets began to fly at us.
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"Yeah, Dawn." Michael answered his phone.
"Michael. Fiona got a delivery today." I said. "Someone was kind enough to break into the trunk of her car."
"Yeah, what was it?"
"A present from your friends." I peered in at the guns.
"Tell Fiona to be careful with those. They're very hot."
"Oh, I'm sure she'll take real good care of them. Michael, your mother keeps calling me. These last few days have been a lot for her to handle."
"I know the feeling."
"Go see her, Michael." I hung up. "How's Marcus?"
"Better than Campbell." Fiona answered. "Listen, Dawnna, I know I haven't been around lately, I mean, boyfriends, the beach, Miami,"
"I know, Fiona. Don't worry about it."
"But you seem to be always alone at the house. What about Michael?" I sighed.
"Michael and I aren't as close as I would like us to be."
"What is that suppose to mean?"
"I want him, Fiona. I really do. But part of me is telling me no."
"Why?"
"Because I'm scared he'll just pack up and leave like he did in Germany. I can't go through that again. But then we move here to Miami for a new start and a few weeks later, the only guy I had feelings for gets dumped here. It's just make me think maybe this is my…" I couldn't think of the word.
"Destiny."
"Exactly. Destiny. But destiny may be wrong."
"Destiny is never wrong, Dawnna dear. Maybe you just need to trust him more."
"But I trust him with my life, Fiona." It was quiet for a moment. "It's getting harder to be around him, Fi. I mean, I want more from him but I can't have it."
"Look, I'll take care of this job with him. Go on and clear your head, ok?" I didn't answer. "Listen to me, Michael is the one for you. I know it."
"How? Are you like a matchmaker now?"
"No, I'm your sister. And sisters always know."
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After the job was done, I went over to Michael's. My head was clear and I had my thoughts sorted. It was a touch decision but I knew I had to make it. I opened the door to the loft and saw Michael at the counter. He set his yogurt down and sighed.
"Time to talk." He said
"I—I lost you the other day."
"I came back, Dawn."
"You left, Michael. You had a choice to make and you made it. I always thought…maybe, when it came down to it, that—But you didn't."
"What are you saying, Dawn?" I bit my lower lip, choosing my words carefully.
"That I'll always care about you, Michael, and I'll still help you with your thing…and you'll still help me with mine, but we can't be together."
"I know. I said that for a long time."
"Yes, you have." I sighed, knowing my work was done. Though it didn't feel like. I know that I would always love Michael and he would always love me but the puzzle pieces don't fit. And Destiny is wrong.
