Everything was swimming out of focus.

Gasping for air, Lacey grasped his writs in an attempt to pull him off her but he was strong, latching on to her furiously. He was squeezing and she was grappling uselessly. She clawed at his hands, blood streaking down his knuckles but he still didn't relent. Breathe rasping, Lacey drove him toward a wall behind them and felt the crack of his shoulder blades as he slammed against it. She brought her foot down on his foot, driving her spiked heel into the bone and rammed an elbow into his ribs.

When she finally managed to escape his grip, she broke into a full sprint across the apartment but it was too dark to see anything in front of her. Tripping, she fell unto her knees and got up again just as the intruder hit her over the head with a blunt instrument.

When she came to she found Danny hovering over her, his eyes wide with concern. He lowered his head and cupped the back of her head, pulling her up gently. A groan escaped her lips as she pushed up on her elbows.

"Are you okay?" he asked and picked her up, carrying her to a nearby couch.

"I'm stronger than I look." Lacey replied through gritted teeth as pain throbbed at the back of her head. Their eyes swept the room and discovered that the place had been ransacked. Her gut told her that Vikram had something to do with this and her gut was never wrong. Vikram Desai was capable of anything. Danny sat on the coffee table in front of her and watched her carefully.

"What happened?" he asked, "Did someone hurt you? This place looks like its been ran through"

"Attempted robbery, I guess."

"We should call the police." He suggested, pulling out his phone from his pocket.

"No"

"Someone broke into your apartment. This is a crime scene, Lacey"

"It's not a crime unless I report it."

"Lace…"

"Let it go Danny."

"Then we should go to the hospital."

"No. I'll be fine" she sighed, "Why don't you pour me a little scotch to help me relax?"

His jaw tightened as he rose to his feet and glass crunched under his feet as he crossed the floor. Releasing a frustrated sigh, he headed to the liquor cabinet and pulled out an eighteen year old bottle of Highland Park and two tumblers. He filled the glasses with ice and poured a few fingers worth of scotch over the ice.

She supported herself on one elbow and reached out to pull him closer to her. Danny leaned over, dipped his head and kissed her. She pulled back to gaze into his eyes and her face softened. Her fingers trailed from his brow to his cheek where she stilled.

"Thank you for being here." She told him. He searched her face, his fingers raking through her hair.

"Why don't we pack a few of your things and you can stay with me for a while?" he asked, handing her the tumbler, ice clinking pleasantly against the glass.

"No one's gonna chase me out of my own home." Lacey simply replied. The scotch was a full-bodied single malt that greeted her with smoke and floral scents as soon as she lifted it to her lips. It was smooth and the taste of toffee lingered in her mouth. She relaxed back in the couch, curling like a cat.

Unable to keep the smile from his face, Danny looked lovingly at her and said, "I had a feeling you'd say that."

"You know me too well" she chuckled, watching as he took a generous sip from his glass.

He swirled the whiskey in his glass and stared into it, "I wish you'd allow yourself to be vulnerable with me." He voice cracked but he didn't lift his eyes from the glass.

"I am."

"You're not. You changed over there" he paused to take another sip but his eyes still wouldn't meet hers, "and that's okay because I'm guessing I'm not the same person you left behind either."

"What happened between us was-"he cleared his throat and tried again," "Your father-"

"Don't"

"Let's leave the past in the past. Think of this as our do-over."

He opened his hand to her, "Let me help you to the bedroom."

Lacey knocked back the rest of her drink and reached out to take his hand.

"If you change your mind about staying with me, my offer still holds." He smiled, lifting her from the couch and carrying her to the bedroom. Once he had settled her on the mattress she pulled him down for another kiss, breathing lightly against his lips before capturing them in a long, slow and desperate kiss.

Sliding a hand underneath his t-shirt, she felt the flex of his muscles and moaned into the kiss. She cupped the back of his neck with her hand and deepened the kiss. They pulled each other's clothes off and made slow, thorough love in the dark.

Afterwards, Danny pulled her into an embrace, kissing the top of her head as they lay in the darkness. When she had fallen asleep, he sat up with his back to her and massaged his temples with his forefingers. He slinked out of bed and stood in front of a window watching over her as she slept under the pearly glow of moonlight.

The muscles clenched in his abdomen. Why didn't she want to report the break in? What was she hiding from him?

..

Three days later they were at the Grand ballroom at the Plaza hotel. It was the perfect setting for the fundraiser with its high elaborate ceilings and its pilasters with ornate capitals. It was extravagant, magical and rich and Lacey was sure that was the mood Vikram had meant to capture.

"Thank you again for accompanying me." Danny said, swiping two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter.

"Thank you for inviting me."

"Did I mention how gorgeous you look tonight?" he smiled and handed her a glass of champagne.

"Several times but I'll never get tired of hearing it."

"You're beautiful."

"Here" she held up a finger, a gesture asking him to wait for a moment. She set her glass down on a nearby table and then turned around to straighten Danny's bow-tie.

"Now you're perfect." She grinned, sliding her arms around his neck. She leaned closer to him and pressed her breasts against his chest. Before she could say anything else, Danny grazed her lips with his then deepened the kiss.

"My my, Mr. Desai. You wanna check if the hotel has any rooms available?" she chuckled against his lips. She wiped lipstick off his lips with her thumb just as the crowd erupted into applause. They turned around, swinging their gaze to the direction of the entrance and watched as Vikram and Karen wandered into the ballroom. Karen slid her hand into the crook of his elbow presenting the image of a united couple. She looked elegant in a peach silk-chiffon gown with an open back and Vikram looked debonair in his black and white tux. As the crowd separated to form a pathway for the couple, Lacey joined in the applause.

She noticed that Danny was not clapping.

"They look lovely."

"Yes they do." He agreed but his attention was already drawn elsewhere. Lacey followed his gaze to Rico standing by a tall floral arrangement in the recesses of the room.

"Go" she laughed before Danny could even ask. Rico looked like he needed rescuing and she needed the time apart from Danny to work the room and find out more about Jack Taylor and his reason for bowing out of the race. Reaching for a champagne flute from a passing server, she touched the black jewels sewn into the neckline of her gown and scanned the room. She felt confident in the black jersey dress because it hugged her curves in the right places and the long sleeves with jewelled cuffs and a sweeping fishtail hem gave it an air of elegance.

When she saw Karen advance toward her, Lacey smiled tensely.

"I heard about your break in." Karen said, piercing her with a look.

"Good news travels fast." Lacey noted and smiled at the other woman over edge of her glass.

"You know we have never had a break in before but I guess once you let in the riff raff, well…" Karen shrugged and brushed past her to mingle with guests dressed in their finest tuxedos and exquisite evening gowns.

Lacey proceeded to work the room again, chatting up lobbyists, former senators, Wall Street tycoons and a peppering of reporters. She spotted Regina Crane chatting briefly with Vikram before ambling away to disappear in a sea of elegant dresses. Lacey admired her drive and determination for conducting an affair with Vikram Desai right under Karen's nose. The girl had guts.

She scanned the room again while some lobbyist from Washington DC kept her company chatting about the Federal City's politics. Then she spotted Tyler holding up a small plate of hors d'oeuvres near a heavily decorated table. She excused herself from the lobbyist whose name she couldn't seem to remember and made her way toward her friend.

"Tyler!" she greeted, giving him a smile.

"Tyler." He parroted, rolling his eyes, "Fancy seeing you here Tyler. How are you doing Tyler? How are our plans of Desai domination going Tyler?" he mocked, taking another hors d'oeuvre into his mouth and chasing it down with champagne.

"I'm glad you haven't lost your sense of humour."

"I see you came here with Danny." He snorted then shot her a look, "What are you doing?"

Lacey frowned, taken aback by his candour "I'm working on a plan." She finally replied.

"The only thing you're working is Vikram junior. You've fallen into the rabbit hole, Lacey."

She cleared her throat and took a sip of champagne, "Sometimes a truce is merely a seed for an even greater battle."

"You've started trusting him again." Tyler shook his head, "you have to remember, these people aren't safe for you. You can't trust any of them."

He lowered his voice, concern darkening his blue eyes "Remember what you once told me about trust. You said to destroy trust one has to create uncertainty because without trust there can be no unity."

"I was quoting the Art of War"

"I don't care if you were quoting the New York phonebook. I still believe in you…in us and the cause."

Lacey took a deep breath and swung her gaze across the room. Danny was talking to a tall, pretty blonde dressed in white. Her dress had slits that rode to the top of her thighs revealing her amazing legs.

"Who's that?" she asked Tyler, trying to sound casual.

"That's Whitney Taylor."

"As in Jack Taylor's daughter?"

"Correct."

"Perhaps I should go and introduce myself."

"You're as transparent as scotch tape."

"What do you mean?" she turned her face back towards Tyler and lifted her eyebrows innocently.

"You're jealous."

"Jealousy is not an emotion I identify with." Lacey shrugged her shoulders "I'm simply being pro-active. We still have Jack Taylor in our agenda after all"

She squared her shoulders and took slinky strides toward Danny and Whitney.

..

"This is Lacey Porter." Danny informed Whitney before Lacey had even reached them, raising his voice so that Lacey could hear him.

The blonde turned around and gave Lacey a sparkling smile "How do you do?"

"Lacey, this is Whitney Taylor." He said, wrapping an arm around Lacey's waist.

"Good to meet you" Lacey returned her smile, her gaze straying to a passing waiter carrying a tray topped with glasses of champagne. She nabbed a glass and returned her attention back to the tall and graceful Whitney.

"How do you two know each other?" Lacey asked, gesturing between Danny and Whitney.

"We met at a political fundraiser last year" Danny cut in quickly, "then again at some charity dinner I think."

"And you're jack Taylor's daughter"

"That I am" Whitney tore her gaze from Danny and looked at Lacey.

"I hear your father may not be running for re-elect?"

"No in fact he's endorsing Vikram"

"Is he?" Lacey raised her eyebrows.

"Enough shop talk. I think another drink." Danny chuckled, breaking the conversation, "Shall we?" he asked Lacey, gesturing to the filling dance floor. Not wanting to argue with him, she followed his lead but made a mental note to contact Whitney Taylor for a lunch date.

They had a lot to talk about.

..

Danny and Lacey danced under the glow of sparkling chandeliers. They moved in a slow circle, one hand one her waist and the other clasped in hers. She felt good against him, warm, alive and wonderful.

With her hand on his shoulder teasing the hairs at the nape of his neck, Danny trailed his fingers down her back along the sliver of honeyed skin left bare by her dress.

"Have you spoken to Vikram yet?" she asked, the warmth of her breath stirring the hairs around his neck. He held her closer to him as he felt this great need to keep her safe.

Danny closed his eyes, enjoying the moment, "No" he replied gruffly.

"Are you avoiding him?"

"No."

"Then talk to him. Let him know how proud you are of him."

"Proud?" he lifted his eyes to look at her and tightened his grip around her hand.

"It's a stretch I know but I mean this is quite elaborate even for Vikram. Maybe you should indulge him with a pat on the back."

"Since when did you become a fan of Vikram's?"

"I'm not a fan but think about it, " she pressed a palm against his chest then walked her fingers up to his askew bow-tie to straighten it once more" if Vik runs for office he cant very well run Desai & Crane now can he?"

..

"Congratulations, it's a good turn out." Danny announced as he approached Vikram who was seated at a table by himself. He indicated to the mingling crowd and the TV screens looming all over the place. Danny thought the TV's were a touch too tacky given the ornate surrounding but he figured whoever was running Vikram's campaign had a well researched outline and plan.

"Did you expect anything less?" Vikram boasted. He picked up his glass of whiskey and listened to the ice hit the sides of the glass before taking a sip.

"I'm surprised you're still here." Vikram pointed to the crowd.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"I see you brought Lacey Porter as your date."

"Don't start."

Vikram waved off Danny's snarl and continued "I wanted to congratulate you on landing Graykirk."

"Thank you. I couldn't have done without Lacey" he smiled, pulling out a chair to sit next to his father.

"And who's that talking to Miss Porter?" Vikram jerked his head toward the couple standing next to a buffet table. Danny's eyes flitted over the blonde man in a black tuxedo talking to Lacey. He watched the way his hand rested on her arm and the comfortable glances they exchanged as they laughed and sipped champagne. A wave of heat rushed over him and he clenched his jaw but he gave no response to Vikram.

A flicker on one of the screens mounted around the room caught his attention and he stole a glance at the screen showing Vikram playing baseball with a little league team. The video froze followed by a loud screeching noise but before anybody had a chance to restore the green screen back to life, a video of redhead kneeling over a swarthy male sprawled on his back on a bed as she performed fellatio on him flickered on the screen.

As she moved on top of him, bobbing her head up and down on his shaft, the camera caught her face. It was Regina Crane. An audible gasp came from the crowd and it only grew louder when the man's face came into focus when he raised his head to kiss Regina's mouth.

It was Vikram Desai.

..