~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~ CHAPTER 2 ~ * ~ ~ * ~ ~ * ~

Randy opened the door slowly and peeked through the crack as it opened. The futon hadn't been slept in. He opened the door all the way and headed inside. "Kira," he whispered. There was no response. He was hoping she took him up on the offer to sleep in his room and didn't leave. It had taken him longer than he thought to get the car and deliver it. He found himself being extra cautious to avoid suspicion.

Randy steadied himself on the couch barely escaping a fall. He used the light from his cell and looked down to see Kira's shoes in the middle of the floor and a few feet away were her black pants. His famous smirk spread over his face as he made his way to his room. The light was on. He pulled his hoodie off and discarded it carelessly on the floor, joining Kira's.

The door was cracked. He pushed it open careful not to wake her. Randy ran to the bed. Kira was hysterical. She'd been tied up and her mouth duct taped. "Baby I'm so sorry. Hold on, I'll get you out of this." He saw the bruise on the right side of her face where the attacker had left his mark from a blow. The ropes fell from her wrists. He started at the tape. She violently shook her head and pointed to her ankles. Randy tried to work quickly but she kept kicking and he finally looked up when she smacked him. "Ouch! What?"

She pointed frantically to the walk in closet. Randy held his finger to his lips begging her to quiet down. It was too late, the doors barged open. A body guard type figure emerged holding a gun complete with a silencer. "Whoa! Why the hell are you here Dave?"

"Ace ain't too happy with you Randy. He says you shorted him on the last job."

"That's bull shit. The order was for the Corvette nothing else. If there was a short then his runner made the mistake, not me. Put the gun down Dave!"

"Get two more Vettes or your girl will be killed," Dave shot the pillow next to Kira causing her to scream. "And I don't miss my shot."

"Get the hell out of my house. Ace knows how to get in touch with me." Randy turned back to Kira and finished removing her restraints then turned to the tape. Dave did as Randy ordered and left the house. "I am so sorry Kira. I never thought this would happen." Kira threw her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. "I need to get you to the hospital. Can you walk?"

"I'll try," her voice was cut short by sobs and her voice raspy from lack of air. Randy hurried to his closet and pulled out a pair of cotton work out pants for her to slide in to. He'd always wondered what it would be like to have Kira as part of his life, but not like this. They managed to get on the motorcycle. Kira had never held on so tight. Randy could barely breathe.

A few minutes later they entered the ER where Randy got a wheel chair and helped check Kira in. They sat and waited only for a few seconds before being taken to the back. The cops soon arrived to begin asking questions. "It's okay Kira, tell them what you know." Randy assured her everything would be fine.

When Randy was sure she would be alright and was talking to the cop he stepped out of the room and went to find his partner. Lenny was waiting. His fingernails were taking a beating while he'd been waiting. "Is she okay?" He pushed himself off the counter as Randy approached. They walked briskly away from the room.

"Get Chief on the phone and let him know things have escalated. We have to move with the next pick up."

"Randy, you have to be sure. I know she is freaked out, but you can't compromise everything we've been working for. You know they will get her protective custody." He pulled his partner's arm back to stop him. Kira watched them from her room.

"She thinks I'm a criminal Lenny. Now she might get killed for some sting operation that we are too scared to go through with. I don't think so. I am bringing this son of a bitch down and we are doing it now."

"Where are you going?"

"To blow off steam," Randy was storming away. "Stay with her Lenny." His partner obeyed and returned to Kira. She looked more confused than ever.

Randy drove his motorcycle to the police gym and suited up for hitting the bag. He wrapped his hands in tape and pulled on his MMA gloves. It was like a scene from Rocky. He ran his hands through the chalk and clapped them together removing excess residue. He danced around, flashes of walking through his bedroom door screaming through his mind. He struck the bag; a fine powder mist ricocheted off the bag and his gloves from contact. Randy delivered deadly blows for several minutes each resulting in more dust in the air. Sweat was dripping from his half naked body mixing with tears he tried desperately to stop.

Kira looked on with Lenny in the shadows. The bag shook with more violence as each attack made contact. Randy was surrounded in dust and hazy light. She set her pharmacy bag down and limped slightly as she attempted to move closer to him. Lenny approached to help but she waved him off with a thankful smile. He stood watch at the door unsure of Ace's next move. Everything had become unpredictable at this point.

Kira's eyes misted over and silent tears stained her face. She waited for Randy to pause and walked to his line of vision. He steadied the bag and let his eyes fall to the ground. She reached out and gently touched his arm. His eyes revealed the pain he felt. She took a few more steps and closed the distance between them until she could feel his arm touch her abdomen. She moved her hand to the Velcro of his gloved right hand and pulled then released his hand from the obstruction. She connected with his eyes and ran her hand back up his arm to his chest.

Randy finally turned to face her. She welcomed the gesture and moved to stand in front of him never looking away from his eyes that she now saw were crying. Her manicured finger reached up and wiped the tear and sweat away. Kira moved slowly and rested her hands on his hips then pushed herself to her tiptoes to reach his lips. She pulled back and slowly turned away and took his left hand bringing to her and removed the other glove then traced this arm the same as the other touching each strained muscle watching it move slightly with her finger's caress.

Randy cupped her face and ran his fingers over her own wet cheeks so gently she barely felt his touch. He pushed a hair away from her wounded cheek. His lips took her almost as gently as his fingers on her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around him. He pulled back barely separating from her. "I am so sorry Kira."

Her fingers pressed his lips. "Don't. You didn't do it."

"If it hadn't been for all this," he gestured around him.

"I wouldn't have met you. Just take me home, please." She kissed his chest. "Don't leave me," she whispered. "Not tonight," her eyes begged him and spilled fresh tears of pain. It ripped his heart out of his chest.

"Okay," he laid one last kiss on her forehead then collected his things and wrapped a possessive arm around her shoulders.

"She insisted Randy." Lenny shrugged his accent thick on the defensive.

"I know Lenny. Are suits in place?"

"Your place and hers," Lenny assured Randy that they were working up the team for the sting.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow. I am taking her to my place."

"Are you sure? I mean Ace might try to get to you tonight." He shot a glance of sudden awareness at Kira. "I'm sorry Kira this must be hard. You two try to get some sleep. I will add extra cops. Shit I'll probably camp outside."

"Lenny," Kira cut him off and kissed his cheek. "Thank you." It was at that moment that Randy saw the bandages on her wrists and imagined that the same were around her ankles. He looked away before she could see his wince of regret. Anger coursed through his veins.

"See you two tomorrow. Randy you let me know the plan. If we hear anything we'll let you know." He parted ways with the couple when he was sure they would be on their way.

"Are you sure you are okay riding?"

"You could have told me about all of this. It would have made things so much easier. I am fine to ride. This must be how you got me out of Jail."

"I should have told you, but I was trying to keep things as real as possible and I didn't want to jeopardize things. It turns out I hurt you instead."

"I am fine," she touched his still sweaty flesh. "Are you putting a shirt on?" She smiled for the first time all night. "Let's go."

He pulled the black sleeveless shirt over his head, "Better," he held his arms out for approval. It felt a little like things were before they went to hell.

"Shit, I forgot my prescription. I'll be right back." She ran back in to the gym and got the paper bag from the stool where she'd laid it. She returned to Randy already on the bike waiting. "Got it," she shook the bag and tucked it in to the 'saddle bag' on the side of the bike then climbed behind Randy. He rubbed her arm, but she could tell he was worried about hurting her. He started the motorcycle and headed to his house. Kira let the tears fall as they rode. The wind dried them nearly as fast as they fell, but it felt good to get them out. She was terrified.

As they pulled in Kira went on in the house to use the restroom. Kira was grabbed from behind her mouth covered completely by a massive hand. She tried to kick and scream to no avail.

"Kira, where…" Randy stopped and tried to run to her but was stopped by a clothesline across his stomach sending him flying to the ground where a boot made contact with his ribs.

"STOP IT," she was screaming and crying though her own pain was almost too intense. Her assailant now held her bandaged wrists too rough causing severe pain and fresh blood.

"Did you think we wouldn't come back Randy? Ace isn't too happy with you. You better do the next one alone or Barbie might get hurt. I think we will keep her just in case." The unidentified thug stroked her cheek. Kira spit on him. He backhanded her, "Bitch!"

"If you hurt her I swear," he tried to stand. Randy was kicked again to keep him down.

"You better focus on your job, and I would keep the cop friends out of it."

"You don't need her. There have never been problems before. Leave her here, please," Randy knew there was no point.

"Ace wouldn't want any loose ends. Do the job. The information is on your counter. When everything is delivered, you get Barbie back."

Kira had been gagged. She was trying to protest, tears streaming down her face. There was nothing Randy could do and he knew it. The thug left behind would see to a clean get away then make his own. They were smart and didn't leave through the front. Like a shadow, they would make their escape undetected. Randy got his phone out once the coast was clear.

"Get here now. No backup." He found Sketch in his contacts and got him on his way too. He managed to pull himself together and headed out to the squad cars out front. "I've got a few friends coming over in a bit."

Randy grabbed a beer and stared at the envelope on the table willing the nightmare to go away. He was a cop and yet had no way out of this disaster. He should have known once Kira got in the picture to get out while he still could. He went to the bedroom and got clean clothes and hopped in the shower texting Lenny so he didn't worry and would just come in.

Several minutes later Randy made his way to the kitchen and his beer. Lenny and Sketch were standing over papers and photos. "What's going on?" Randy was confused. Then he realized it was the contents of the envelope.

"Have you looked at this?" Lenny was holding up some of the papers. Randy shook his head. He slammed them back to the counter. "This is a nightmare. You will be lucky to live through it Randy. You can't seriously consider this."

"I don't have a choice," Randy shouted. He realized his anger was misplaced but it couldn't be contained.

"Randy, where is Kira," Lenny was starting to put the pieces together. He'd originally assumed she was sleeping in his room.

"Let's just figure out how to do this." He started looking through the assignment and realized what Lenny was saying. "Without the help," he added for emphasis.

Lenny saw the writing on the wall and couldn't see a way to wipe it away. They were in deep and going without backup sent up all kinds of red flags that he didn't think they could handle. Plus stealing twelve cars was more than any of them had attempted before. It was set to be stretched out over the next week stealing two cars a night from various locations across the city. Granted it was in Tampa so it shouldn't be too hard to keep things concealed. The target area was over 75 miles to avoid suspicion, ending at a pier for transport out of the country.

"Look," Randy could see the concern on his partners face. "I know this doesn't look good, but I have a week to keep Kira from getting hurt and it is because of this stupid operation that she is in harm's way so now I have to do everything I can."

"Alright, let's get planning then." They spent the next six hours looking over the details and instructions for the heist. It had to be perfect and there was no room for error in any way. The only thing going for them was the fact that they were doing this in a completely separate area from the last heist so it would take a while for things to get linked together.

Kira sat with her legs tucked up to her chest hugging them tightly. She didn't know if she would ever see Randy again. There was nothing keeping these guys from killing her when they got what they wanted. If they figured out even close to the amount of involvement the police could have in this they would kill her in an instant. She wouldn't blame them from the business standpoint.

Randy could be rash and wasn't the best at thinking rationally when his emotions ran rampant. She'd hoped Lenny could keep him under control, God knows Sketch would be pointless. "Please let me go," Kira could barely find her voice. "He's never let you down before, why would this be any different?" She was met with another crushing blow to the side of her face. Tears stung as they made contact with the fresh scratch.

"You stupid girl," she didn't recognize this one and though she might be with Ace right now. The thought unnerved her. He didn't seem to care what happened to those involved in his operation as long as he got what he wanted. "You know nothing. If you want to live long enough to see your precious lover boy again, I suggest you shut up and do as you're told." His smile sent a chill to her very core and goose bumps over her entire body. She hugged herself tighter.

"Have you given them the information?" This leader went back to talking to the two she recognized as taking her from the house.

"We left the envelope with the pictures and instructions on his counter. They should be looking at it now. Twelve cars over the next week, it should get them at two a night then contacting us on day seven for the final exchange."

"Good. You boys did good work tonight. I think he understands the severity of the situation if he crosses me again, just to be sure I have arranged for the final drop to take place on Thursday."

Kira had never been so fearful both for her own life and Randy's. She was quickly ushered from the van when it stopped to a waiting airplane. She assumed this would be their transport to somewhere near Tampa for the heist. She doubted Ace would leave this in the hands of anyone else. She also doubted that Randy would be saved from the law since this had now crossed to another state.

"Sit down," she was thrown in to one of the seats on the private jet. At least she would be traveling in style.

Randy, Lenny and Sketch were dressed in suits. It was very out of character for them, but they were trying to keep a low profile and do it away from their actual reasoning. Surprisingly they all cleaned up very well and the fitted suits made them a very attractive bunch. All the ladies in the airport did a double sometimes triple take. They simply smiled and continued on to meet their deadline.

Randy had made reservations in business class and set the time to give them a few hours to get checked in to the hotel, separate rooms were reserved for each. This would also give the time to form a final strategy and perhaps even scout the area for the heist to go down.

The first thing Randy did on the plane was order a drink heavy on the alcohol. It was going to be a five and a half hour trip from Boston to Tampa. Randy stared blankly out the window drinking a simple rum and Coke. He couldn't get Kira out of his mind. Her wrists showed new blood through the bandage. He didn't even want to think about what they might be doing to her in that amount of time. The only thing he could think was that Ace knew he was a cop and was now punishing him for it.

Randy saw her beautiful dark brown and caramel hair swaying as she removed her jacket at the bar just hours ago. She didn't deserve to be in this predicament and he wouldn't blame her for never talking to him again. He could only hope at this point that she could eventually forgive him. His focus now and always would be on getting her safely home, even if he lost her forever.

Lenny knew there was no way to let Randy know the plan for intervention. The only way any of them would escape with their lives was to involve help. He'd reached out to one of his contacts at the FBI. He'd helped Lenny with some work in a drug trafficking case a few years back. Local PD would botch the job. Professionals had to be called in. They needed stealth.

Lenny had received confirmation from Agent Perez that they would have a tactical unit in place by the time they arrived and would reach out to him once they were in the hotel. He prepared for their first layover in Newark, NJ. They wouldn't be there long, but it would still be miserable. I tried to tell him to cut her out.Lenny couldn't help but be slightly irritated by his friends weakness for Kira.

Ace's plane landed in a special hanger. "I am going to remove your gag and restraints. The last thing we need now is attention. I swear if you make one noise that alerts authorities or any other undesirable attention you will wish you were never born. Do you understand?" Kira knew better than to act tough. She simply nodded and wondered how long before her tears dried up completely and all she was left with was her shell of humanity.

The restraints were removed first and Kira rubbed her wrists gently seeing the blood on the bandages and worrying about the condition underneath. She didn't have the nerve to look. The gag was the last thing to go. She impulsively took the biggest breath of her life. It had felt like she'd spent the last several hours holding her breath. "Water," Kira asked almost in a whisper and flinched involuntarily.

Ace's boisterous laughter pierced her ears like blades. "At least you know your place. Get her a drink." He continued to laugh as he turned to collect his things. "We have two cars waiting. I will take our precious cargo with Vlad back to the hotel and set up the war room," he brushed her cheek and she pulled back slightly. "Reggie and Dante will take the other car and check on the crates at the pier. There is a team already in place for loading to the container ship. You are to make sure there are no interruptions and that everything is there as planned. Randy and his crew will be responsible for pickup from specific destinations across the Tampa area and delivering the goods to the pier all by Thursday night. The ship will depart when we have confirmed that everything is set and no cargo is left behind. Anyone have any questions?"

"Will we be staying at the pier through Thursday or do you want us back here to check in before we go back for the long haul?" Dante was the only to ask questions.

"Once you confirm the workers are set you will come back here for any final plan adjustments then return to the pier for the duration. He may start the drop offs early and I want you all there to secure the transactions." Ace finished and grabbed Kira's hand to leave the plane. "No trouble honey or you will die."

Kira would behave as long as she could. She trusted Randy and had to hold on for his sake. She should have left him alone. She knew the life he was involved in and had no business getting in the middle. She should have walked away five years ago. Stupid bad boy image,she cursed the day under her breath. Willingly, she exited the plane. The bright orange sphere made her wince as she emerged in the Tampa sun. She now understood the meaning behind the Sunshine State. The cars were waiting just as Ace had said. She prayed that this would all end soon.