Raizo found the hum of the AN-124's engines was almost relaxing. Not as much as Mika, he thought looking down at her head nestled in his lap. Her long slender legs were angled awkwardly over the adjacent seat as she slept soundly. Thirty minutes after takeoff, she'd dozed off and he was determined to let her sleep as long as possible. She'd hung in for the last ten hours, through the flight to the mainland then to Cairo where they left a false trail under their aliases. Raizo had noticed Mika's anxiety building as they continued to wait for word from Maslow. During their trek through the desert to an airfield, Mika had been vibrating with tension as she checked her email and cell every ten minutes for Ryan.

He brushed the hair from her face tucking the unruly curls behind her ear. Raizo looked up at Ivan. quietly observing a blanket and pillow in his big arms. Raizo took the pillow and transferred Mika's head from his lap to the pillow and stretched her legs out so she would be comfortable. Only then did he drape the blanket over her tucking it under to prevent a draft. Raizo straightened and caught Ivan grinning from ear to ear.

"Did you pay Alexi his money yet?" Raizo offered as a distraction dropping his gaze back to Mika.

"Alexi is very busy right now. Let's not distract him. We wouldn't want his work performance to suffer." Ivan said with a serious tone. Raizo snorted making the big man chuckle. The steady hum of the engines filled the silence for so long he almost forgot Ivan was even there.

"You love her. Don't you?'

"How .. would I know?" Raizo asked more to himself than to Ivan. He wasn't even sure if he knew what love felt like. The smile slid from Ivan's face transforming into deep commiseration.

"Do you find yourself doing things just to please her? Or you can't breathe or think if she's endanger. Or you could stare at her for hours on end memorizing every line, every freckle and never tire of it."

His gaze met Ivan's for several minutes as he thought over what he'd said. Mika meant that and so much more to him.

"Then, I do," Raizo finally replied.

"Make sure you tell her. Woman like to hear it, often. Just a little advice." Ivan offered the jovial smile returning.

"Thank you, I'll take it." Raizo replied honestly making Ivan laugh.

"Come on little brother. She's safe."

Raizo followed Ivan down the steel ladder to the cargo area. The AN-124 Condor's cargo area was large enough to hold a 747's engine. Now it looked almost empty. Another pallet bearing passenger style seating was anchored near the base of the ladder. Raizo followed Ivan past two secured pallets of various metal cases, an armored personnel carrier, and into a large black panel van. The rear of the van held more electrical switches and dials lining the interior than the cockpit of the plane they were on. Alexi sat on a metal stool muttering to one of the six flight crew, all Valentina's nephews.

"Hey, where's Mika?" Alexi asked laying out several small devices.

"Sleep," Ivan replied taking a stool. "Our ETA isn't for another two hours. One of us can brief her later."

Alexi nodded. "These are our comm devices. We'll be splitting into three, the flight crew, Ivan and myself, Raizo and Mika. Erick, here," he said motioning to the crew member, "myself, and Mika will each have a comm unit. Everybody will also be tagged with trackers that can be monitored from this console. Plus I'll have access on Mika's laptop. We're not taking any chances."

Mika tugged at the Kevlar vest again trying to take a full breath of the humid air. She didn't have a problem with any of it, not the earpiece shoved in her ear, the gaudy necklace with a hidden tracking beacon around her neck, or the flashlight that concealed a tazer strapped to her thigh. Her reluctance had risen at wearing Kevlar in this muggy heat. Ill tempered from lack of air, she turned to Raizo in the driver's seat.

"Okay, if you're going to make me wear it then at least adjust it so I can breath," she snapped as she tugged her shirt button's free revealing the hated vest. Rather than annoyance at delaying their mission or irritation for complaining about something clearly for her safety, amusement danced in his eyes. He leant forward readjusting the thick Velcro straps at her sides and her shoulders.

"Better?" he asked his hand unconsciously stroking her throat. The tender caress was making her skin tingle. She leant forward pressing their lips together in a long deep kiss.

"Better," she whispered when she could manage a breath.

"Is everything alright up there?" Alexi's laughing voice said in her ear making her jump in her seat. She'd forgotten that the comm would be on and open at all times.

"Yes… uh we're leaving now."

Raizo met her mortified expression with her favorite smirk before throwing the car into drive. Twenty-seven kilometers later, Mika looked down at the GPS screen then double checked the address with Alexi before confirming.

"This is it," she said turning to Raizo. She saw the same skepticism in his eyes that she felt as he stared at the building. It looked like an old abandoned government facility with a ten foot metal gate surrounding the three story stone building. It reminded Mika of a haunted sanitarium she'd seen on Ghost Hunters International. Raizo pulled into the short drive stopping at a security box while Ivan and Alexi's car continued on down the street.

Raizo keyed in the code Maslow had given him and the heavy metal gate slide open. They drove up the tree lined drive stopping at a set of wide steps leading to a pair of heavy doors. Her hand tightly clasped in Raizo's, she followed as they entered the main foyer. Their footsteps echoing softly off the marble floors. He made an immediate left passing the main set of elevators to a freight elevator. Once the metal grates were back in place, Raizo hit an unmarked button which sat below the 'B' button. The elevator descended past what she presumed was the basement and down two more levels before stopping. They entered the concrete passageway but were stopped twenty feet in by a metal door. Again, he typed a code into the security pad. They heard the grinding of gears as the doors sluggishly slide open.

Instantly Raizo thrust his hands in the air and motioned for her to do the same. Mika understood when she saw the barrel end of some kind of machine pistol come into the view as the door opened further. It was held by a dark haired nervous looking young man. Adrenaline break dancing through her veins, it took her a moment to place the face. She knew him, one of Ryan's new recruits he'd been torturing slash training.

"Stelton, right," she asked quietly trying not to startle him. No use, he shifted the gun towards her. A low growl came from Raizo and was instantly standing between her and Stelton. The guy jumped losing his grip on his weapon and actually yelped. Raizo snatched the gun from mid-air before it hit the floor. It was too much for the rookie agent. He turned and blindly took off sprinting down the hallway. Chancing a glance back, the kid barreled into a low hanging pipe knocking himself unconscious. While Raizo sealed the entrance, Mika stood looking down the at the blossoming knot growing on Agent Stelton's forehead.

"I see why Maslow called," Raizo said shaking his head in disgust as he stepped over the unconscious man.

He lead the way creeping around corners, dashing down hallways and occasionally ducking into a empty room or closet and motioning for silence. Mika obeyed trying her best to be as still as Raizo. He stopped as they came upon a particular door. Raizo flipped the latch and slipped inside Mika right on his heels.

Inside was a kind of den so out of place in these surroundings. There was a large sectional where three kids sat watching television. Two, one boy and one girl, looked to be in their mid teens while the younger girl appeared to be about seven or eight. On the opposite side of the room stood two boys around ten or twelve standing on either side of the woman from the photo, Ozuno's wife.

"Welcome, Raizo," She greeted. Her voice had a quavering note to it that sounded like relief to Mika's ears. "Please come sit with me. Boys, you can join the others."

The boys at her sides grudgingly complied. She gestured for them to sit with her at the table where she'd obviously set the table for tea. She poured each a cup before serving herself. They both indulged her taking quick sips of her hospitality but Mika was ready to throttle the woman as she took slow measured draws of her tea. Mika bit back her impatience because it wasn't her place to question this woman. It was Raizo's.

"Do you remember me," Lady Ozuno asked looking up and meeting Raizo's gaze for the first time. He saw now why her face bore those scars; someone had blinded her and he knew exactly who would have done such a thing. But beyond the scars, he knew her face though he couldn't remember from where.

"Yes and no," Raizo offered without explanation. She didn't seem to need it. The old woman laughed nodding in agreement.

"A completely honest answer. I can understand if your mind has chosen to forget."

"Forget what?" Raizo's snapped. She was quiet for a moment as if rethinking what she was about to say.

"I was there when Father …"

"He was never my father," Raizo cut her off unable to hide the bite of contempt. She did not argue just bowed her head.

"…Lord Ozuno. I was present when he found you," she continued.

"Where was that?"

"There was a camp along the coast where men peddled in the flesh of others. He first saw you in the fighting pits. From that moment, he was determined that only you would be worthy of leading the Ozuno when he was gone."

"Slaver's," Raizo hissed swallowing a lump forming in his throat as her words sent fractured images careening through his mind.

"Yes, it is how many of the clans find new recruits. Most prefer lost children assuming that such hard beginnings have prepared them for a life of blood. But that is not true for all," she said giving him a faint smile that he did not return.

He could not bring himself to trust the woman fully knowing she had been at Ozuno's side for years. He felt Mika give his arm a slight squeeze.

"So ..," Mika's voice croaked then strengthened. "So you were Ozuno's wife?"

"No. I was never a wife. My position with the Ozuno was not far from a slave, his personal slave but a slave none the less."

The vehemence in her voice called to him melting his dislike for the woman.

"We have heard that several of the children who were returned to their families have been killed."

Mika's pained gasp had Lady Ozuno's focus shifting to her. The woman studied her as Mika slowly composed herself then spoke.

"I have a friend in Europol who is heading to Hong Kong where three bodies were found. If it's one of the children, he'll let me know and I swear I'll make sure you're notified."

She gave Mika a respectful bow. "Thank you. You are very kind. Though they are not mine by blood, I was the only one to care for them. Do you know who pursues us?"

"Another clan?" Raizo offered. She shook her head like a wise owl.

"It is not another clan. It is this one, Ozuno. When Ozuno returned to the compound with you, your training became his sole focus. Everything and everyone else fell to the wayside, including his own flesh and blood."

Raizo hid his shock but let her words sink into his brain chipping away at fuzzy memories. "Ozuno had a son."

"He was my son for a time, until he came of age," the woman said with a grim smile. "Mitsuru was always … different. His father though he had potential to be his protégé. After finding you, he decided only you were worthy, his new son. He cast Mitsuru aside, no longer the favorite son. His hate for his father and for you, his replacement, twisted him into … a monster like his father. When Takeshi sent word they would be returning with you, Ozuno summoned all to witness your death. Mitsuru was the only one who did not return."

Suddenly Lady Ozuno's head snapped up. Two seconds later Raizo and the children mimicked the movement as if all were listening to something Mika could not hear. She tapped her earpiece.

"Alexi, everything alright?"

"We're good, just two drunks pissing off security." He sounded annoyed more than worried. Mika looked at Raizo shrugging in confusion.

"Stay here. I'll check it out."

He slipped from the room leaving Mika with the children and Lady Ozuno. She glanced over at the TV area. The three boys and teenage girl were all standing with a familiar stillness that belied the predator ready to strike at all times that was now part of them. They reminded her of Raizo. Of course, children or not they were Ozuno. The little girl went to sit next to Lady Ozuno who had not moved from her seat. Even her with a mop of honey brown curls and emerald doe eyes, she sat with the same eerie quietude.

"You are the one who came for him?"

"Uh, yes," Mika said distractedly as Alexi snorted in her ear.

"Do you believe these fucker's? Now one's puking on Euro-boy's shoes. Ugh, that's just nasty."

"The one who saved his life. Sacrificing your's for his," she continued.

Without a question to answer, Mika stood her eyes locked with the old woman's. Though she knew she was blind, Mika felt as if she'd been scanned, assessed, and measured just like under Mikhail Titus's stern gaze.

"Mika …," she said her name like a benediction. "I am honored." She bowed deeply her smile revealing a younger woman.

"What the fuck," Alexi shouted. Mika was too wired to jump. She merely listened her eyes still on Lady Ozuno as she hugged the little girl.

"You will make a wonderful mother," the woman added with a beaming smile.

"What?" Mika shouted.

"Oh shit! Mika, get out …," Alexi's voice broke into static. Mika tapped the earpiece. Nothing, static. She was turning to the door when a blast rocked the building. Before, she could recover from the shock, another eruption made the concrete beneath her feet jump sending them all crashing to the floor. The third blast brought down bits of the ceiling and the smell of fire and smoke seeped into the room. The lights flickered then went out pitching them into blackness.