APOV

I had cleaned the apartment from top to bottom, despite Christian telling me to leave it. I had even rearranged the books in the library into alphabetical order and that was before I started polishing guns.

I didn't mind being here while the guys were out looking for information on Blandino, but I was quickly running out of things to do.

In a few moments of madness when the quiet became too much, I did amuse myself by looking on the internet and seeing that at present I was on America's most wanted. Many had blasted my place there stating that they didn't have proof I had done anything wrong. Apparently, with regards to my disappearance, some are even stating that just like my mother I too was dead somewhere, taken away by whoever killed her.

Conspiracy theorists have gone crazy with it, especially as someone had released the information that I had worked for Jack. That pissed Christian off, the hole his fist had made in the wall a testament to how angry he was that day.

It did some good though, despite Christian not seeing it at the time because it made people question her murder more. Was I taken to stop any more of Hyde's files being released or was I actually in hiding in fear for my life?

My name had been put out there to draw me out when the more it's talked about, especially my association with Hyde, the more I'm seen as the victim, in hiding from our crooked government and others who had been named, to save my life.

"Ana" Barney called out, coming to the office door where he had spent most of the day.

"If you're asking for more cake, you ate it all," I told him.

"No, no more cake, it will ruin my figure. I was hoping you could give me a hand."

"Yes, thank god, anything," I answered, leaving the newspaper I had been reading on the kitchen counter and followed him into the office. "What's up."

"I finally have access to the police database and I wanted you to look through it and see if you can find out who those are."

"I'm not even going to ask how you got access or if it's legal," I said, seeing his smile.

"Don't bother."

I picked up the photos of the men that were found at Jason's ignoring the fact for the moment that they were dead. I just looked at their features before scanning each into the computer and hoping that something came back from them.

I picked up a photo of Marco too, still struggling to believe that after what Christian had told me about him, that he could sell them out so easily. There were no details on Marco, not even a speeding ticket so for now, I put his details to the side.

"Fernandez where is he originally from," I asked Barney who was checking information on the computer himself.

"Columbia, biggest drug lord there is down there. He has lots of people in his pockets, lots of places, not just in his country but the world to hide so finding him might just be the hardest job of them all."

I watched the faces pass before me as the computer looked for details. Getting a match on the first one, I read the details out to Barney.

"Damien Greene, 34, he has a list of convictions an arm long."

"He won't be doing any more crimes. I wonder how he got caught up with Blandino, hired gun" he asked.

"Wasn't Blandino working with a known criminal, the one on the first video. I wonder if any of these men show up on that video too."

I looked to Barney who just smiled shaking his head.

"No wonder Christian loves you. Me personally, I love your brain."

His words stumped me for a moment as I forgot what I was going to say.

The feelings I had for Christian were strong, filling my stomach with butterflies by just thinking about it. Was it love, I had no clue as I had never felt like this before.

As Barney started the first video up, I knew I had to concentrate on this but his words remained in my mind.

"Stop, there," I practically shouted, pointing to one of the men in the background, Damien Green.

We continued on, looking at the video and finding many more. Blandino had obviously called in his criminal friends that night to do his dirty work. Then again he seemed like the type of man who never got his fingers dirty before, although circumstances can quickly change.

Hearing the alarm for the elevator, I watched as Barney patched into the cameras in there, taking over the feed.

The boys were back and I was quickly on my way out to meet them, Christian in particular.

"Miss me," he asked, as I jumped into his arms.

"Always, where have you been."

"We've been taking a look around Blandino's place, although there is not much to see. The cops have been through there with a fine tooth comb, even the safe was open and emptied out."

"No clue on his whereabouts or the other," I asked, not wanting to mention Fernandez by name.

"No, we learned a few things about Morton though. We spoke to his mistress."

"Doesn't he have to be married to have a mistress?" Barney asked as we moved over to the couches, taking a seat.

"Not that type of mistress. It seems our cop, likes to leave the worries behind at the end of the day and play submissive to Mistress Elena" Jason told us, looking green.

"What's up, don't like a woman in charge" I teased.

"No, nothing like that. Apparently, he had mentioned her to friends at the precinct, breaking an NDA she was not impressed about. We went to see her, and was even invited into her basement."

"It was set up a hell of a lot different than ours" Elliot added.

"Yes, four poster bed, paddles, canes and enough chains for the Marley brothers to have a field day. To top it all off, she had a naked man tied to a cross" Christian said.

"What the hell was he doing tied to a cross… No don't answer that, I don't think my young brain could handle the image" I stated, hearing Christian's laughter in my ear.

"Anyway, Morton was a client of hers. He broke the NDA so she was only too happy to speak about him considering she thought we were cops ourselves. He used to go there twice a week but before he went missing, it was more frequent, wanting to forget about the stress of the job" Jason told us.

"More like trying to relieve stress because his name was about to be released," I added.

"Probably. She said that there had been no contact since and if she ever did see him again, he would be receiving the paddle, her words not mine."

"Did she say anything about their time together before everything came out?" Barney asked, engrossed in the conversation as if this was some TV show he couldn't miss.

"They met because he went to arrest her. They raided a salon where someone had reported that drugs were being kept when in fact on the upper floors she ran a brothel. She said he was easily manipulated if there was something in it for him so as no drugs were found, the charges for her other business were dropped. It was here where we think he met Blandino. She said that he was a regular there, preferring the same girl every time."

"I wonder if Blandino is still in contact with that girl, maybe that's where he's hiding out," I said.

"Maybe. Elena said the name the girl gave was Madeline but she said most rarely give their real names. She did stop working there about the same time he put out the contract on Hyde though so maybe if we find her, we find him too" Jason told us, before getting up and headed to the office with Barney not far behind.

Not wanting to be stuck with Christian and me, Elliot made the excuse to go and keep them both in check and quickly followed behind.

As soon as it was just the two of us, I felt his breath on my neck. That was followed by little kisses before his lips gently sucked on my earlobe.

"Christian" I groaned, looking at him and seeing desire as always in his eyes. "Did visiting a sex dungeon make you horny" I teased.

Seeing the look of shock on his face made me giggle, his shock soon turning into laughter too.

"No baby, that sort of thing does nothing for me. You, on the other hand, especially considering you're wearing my t-shirt again despite you having your own clothes, you always turn me on."

I smiled placing a kiss to his lips, forgetting for a moment that there were others in the apartment. With the number of cameras around, they could definitely see us. Thankfully they were shut off in the bedroom though, as that was where we were heading, or so I thought.

"Where are we going," I asked as he led us up the stairs to a second staircase that I didn't know was even here. "Christian."

"It's a surprise," he told me, before opening the door at the top.

The first thing I noticed was the cold wind, the second was how dark it now was. Christian wrapped his arm around my waist, leading me onto the roof where my steps faltered for a moment. In front of us was a helicopter, one that Christian was smiling fondly at.

"Christian" I whispered.

"I thought I would get you out of the apartment for a while, show you a little of the city."

"We don't have to," I said, knowing more and more as the days had gone on how hard it was to be back here.

"We do. It's a nice evening and I know a nice spot we can put down, have something to eat" he replied, showing me the bag he held in his hand.

I had been so caught up in where he was leading me, I had no clue when he had picked that up.

"I'd love that," I told him, excitement filling my voice at the thought of leaving here for a little while.

Christian helped me into the helicopter, making sure I was strapped in tightly and had a headset covering my ears. I sat quietly as he did his checks, speaking then to the tower before the rotors started to turn above us and we were lifting off the ground.

"When did you bring the helicopter here," I asked him.

"Its always here. Having it lifting off the building too often though would gain too much attention so its here for emergencies. Saving your sanity is an emergency."

"It's not been too bad in there. I especially like sitting out on the balcony just the two of us after dark."

"Being in the centre of the city was one of the reasons I bought the apartment. Having it overlooked on all sides is the one disadvantage I never thought about."

"Especially when housing a wanted woman," I told him, looking away from the view below us so I could see his face.

"People will know the truth Ana when all this is dealt with. One day you will be able to walk down the street safe again."

"I look forward to that one day but I will make sure I enjoy every day until then."

We flew over the city as Christian showed me places where once upon a time he had spent a lot of time there. We never ventured over to where he had grown up, showing me instead, the space needle and the giant wheel, before flying over the Sound.

When we eventually landed, I think we were on the top of a hill. I could hear the wind blowing around us but we ignored it, taking in the city lit up before us.

"Come on, let's get in the back. We can eat better in there."

"Is that what you say to all the girls, it's comfier in the back" I teased, receiving a swat to my arse as I climbed between the seats.

"Ana, you're going to be the death of me" He moaned, finally joining me in the back.

"I prefer you alive, for a very long time," I said, placing my hand on his cheek.

"I plan on being here for a long time too," he told me before sighing. "There is still no news on Luke."

"Would the current have taken him that far out?" I asked.

"Maybe, I don't want to think of the fact he could be shark food. We want him found so we can give him the burial he deserves."

"He will be Christian, has Zac said anything."

"No, they're looking for him, even the coast guard is on alert."

"Are there any caves in the cliff face?" I asked.

"Not where he fell, Elliot went down there."

"Maybe there are some further along the coast. Someplace he could've got to, someplace dry but it's too dangerous to get out. I know people can go days without food and water, maybe he's somewhere waiting for help."

"I hope so Ana, but the fact that Marco shot him would limit his chances of if he had just fallen and found someplace dry. We won't give up hope though until we find him."

Our picnic was lovely and being out was just what I needed. We talked more about what work they were doing in trying to locate Blandino and Morton. I told him about what I had been doing with Barney for most of the day. Once his lips met mine though, all talk of anything but us ceased as our words were replaced by moans.

We made love on the back seat of the helicopter, forgetting for a moment that we were still outside. It didn't matter though as no one would be able to get to us up here Christian told me unless they were prepared for a long trek ahead of them.

As I lay a sweaty mess upon his chest, I lifted my head up for a moment to look into his eyes as he called my name.

"I love you, Ana. I love you. With you, I feel again, I feel alive. After shutting my feelings, my emotions off for so long, you've awoken them and helped me feel something I never thought I would, love."

I knew my dad loved me but until this day he had been the only one. Hearing Christian's declaration of love for me, brought tears to my eyes.

"I love you, Christian, so much," I whispered, my voice so full of emotion that I didn't know if he had actually heard me. As his hand came to my face, making me focus on him, I was greeted by a beautiful smile, confirming that he had.

We stayed on that hilltop, long into the night before flying back to Escala. We said goodnight to Elliot who had been watching the monitors before disappearing into our bedroom where we slept long after the sun had come up.

….

Today was a novelty as far as things here were concerned, I actually had the apartment to myself. I longed to go out onto the balcony just so I could feel the rain that was pouring down, on my face but as there was a chance I might be seen considering the building was surrounded by many more, I spent my time instead going through more mug shots. I even had a nosy through the weapons that were here before I decided to head into the kitchen to cook dinner for everyone.

Barney was normally here with me but he along with the others was at the Blandino's today. They had warred with themselves about leaving someone here with me but with the elevators locked off, the stairwell blocked and the panic room fully stocked if I needed it, not even a fly could get in. I had my gun, one that had put a few holes in the wall of one of the bedrooms, our makeshift shooting range here. I was actually getting good, the boys told me and my arm didn't ache any more from the kickback so I can't be doing that bad.

While I stirred the mac and cheese, Christian's favourite he tells me, I looked on the tablet Barney had given me, pulling up the plans of the Blandino's home. Barney ever the one to follow his nose, had noticed a discrepancy in the actual plans from the sketch Jason had made while they were there. There was a room, hidden, one they think he could get into without blowing it up. Those boys liked to blow things up too much so we will see how it goes.

Stirring the mac and cheese, I heard the elevator bell ring signalling the right code had been entered. Going off the plans on the iPad, which was synchronised to the computers in the panic room, I switched to the cameras in the elevator, smiling when I saw it was Christian coming home.

Picking my gun up as I have been instructed to do, I opened the doors to the foyer, waiting for the elevator to arrive. As the doors opened, I was greeted with the amused look of my boyfriend.

"Are you going to shoot me, blue eyes."

"Nah, I like having my old man around" I teased before I was wrapped in his arms, his lips meeting mine.

His hold on me as always was strong, but gentle in Christian's way. His hands, rough to some especially if you were on the end of a punch, moved up to carefully cradle my face.

"I can breathe now I'm here, you're ok," he told me, in between kisses.

"I'm fine" I mumbled against his lips before we broke apart to take a breath.

"What have you been doing," he asked me.

"I've been keeping myself busy and identified a few more people from the video, some Zac should pay attention to considering one is still on the force. Corey Mason, he was in one of the photos."

"He already has him," Christian told me.

"Then why am I looking through them," I asked him.

"Because you have a habit of seeing what we haven't."

"Speaking of seeing things that you might not, does Blandino have any kids."

"A daughter, why."

"Where is she. I read on the internet that his wife was divorcing him and was stating that they had been separated for a while. His daughter might see him though, maybe he's staying with her."

"I love your mind, I love all of you," he told me, smiling.

"You will have to fight Barney for my mind as he said he loved it too."

"He can fuck off, you're all mine."

"You won't get any disagreement from me," I told him, placing a kiss to his lips.

"Good… Is that mac and cheese I can smell."

"Yes, you will smell burning if I don't keep an eye on it," I told him, leaving the comfort of his arms and headed back towards the kitchen.

"I'm just going to get changed, don't go anywhere."

"Don't worry, I will still be here" I told him, seeing his smile as he headed into our bedroom.

I stirred the mac and cheese, whistling along to the song that was on the radio. My whistling stopped though when I heard the loud noise of a helicopter's approach.

It's not the first time I'd seen or heard a helicopter while I had been here, I mean there is one on top of the building. This one was close though, close enough that had Christian running from the bedroom in jeans and t-shirt while struggling to put his shoes on.

"Ana, get to the panic room" he shouted to me, just as the windows exploded around us and the whole building seemed to shake.

I saw flames falling from above us past the window, pieces of metal too. Christian's helicopter was gone and as I ducked down behind the kitchen island, the only cover I had, I had no idea if Christian was still with me.

The bullets continued, shattering everything they touched. I was showered in glass, splintered wood, even the plates that I had brought out for dinner, now covered me when I cowered, begging for it to stop.

"Christian, CHRISTIAN" I screamed, wanting him to answer me.

As his bloodied hand came around the kitchen island, I pulled him to me.

"You're ok," he asked, looking me over.

"You're not," I replied, my hands shaking as I took in the cut on his head that was one among many.

"I'll be fine Ana, I've had much worse. We need to try and reach the panic room, if not to stop there but to get us weapons as my gun is somewhere back there."

"Ok," I replied, my voice as shaken as my body, having no clue in all the mess where my own gun was either as it certainly wasn't on the counter where I had left it.

With what we thought was a break in the shooting we came out from behind the counter only for Christian to pull me back. The bullets now having shattered everything in its way was now hitting the door and walls that was our way to the panic room.

"We need to get out of he.." he said, stopping when we had noticed the shooting had stopped again.

Were they reloading, it was like they could see us and were goading us to move as we watched the helicopter move closer to the building. Were they going to try and land someone, the roof perhaps? Whatever option they chose, I didn't want to find out.

"Go," I said, taking his hand in mine as we ran for the stairwell, using the code to open the door.

Once we were on the stairs, he closed the gate behind us before he sent a message on his phone.

"Lockdown," Christian told me, as we started down the stairs while he explained that the doors to the gun room as I called it, his panic room would now be locked up tight. The computers were locked off now, scrambled with a code they had no chance of deciphering should they have something more powerful on that helicopter that could penetrate the room. He was doubtful but would take no chances.

I don't know how many stairs we ran down but I was shattered when we reached the bottom. We left Escala via the front exit, expecting that if someone was waiting for us they would have the garage covered. I know there is a chance that someone would be covering this area too but we have more chance of slipping out unnoticed with the rest of the residents who were making a hasty retreat this way.

Outside the street was littered with glass, pieces of the helicopter too. It was complete chaos.

Above us, the helicopter had continued firing on the apartment before turning around to fire on an approaching police helicopter. My heart sank to think of how many innocent lives were going to be lost today because of these people but I had to put it out of my mind as we continued to run away.

"Where are we going," I asked him, as we ran past approaching police cars, ambulances and the fire service who were all on route to Escala.

"Parking garage six blocks over, I have a car there," he told me as we continued to run.

Reaching the garage, we were met with more stairs, only this time we needed to go up to the top floor Christian told me. Coming out onto the roof of the parking garage, we both looked towards Escala when we heard the screech of metal as the police helicopter hit the building, exploding into flames.

Christian took my shaking hand as we ran to the corner of the parking garage, stopping by a car. We were both soaked with the rain that fell but I would rather be wet with that than with blood.

It looked like any other car that was here, black, none de-script, that was until Christian opened it with his phone. I had no idea how he did that, using something on his phone instead of a key. I suspect that Barney had something to do with it but I would ask him later when we were far away from here.

Christian opened my car door, helping me inside before closing the door behind me. As he made his way to his side of the car, I was startled when he stopped, looking down at the floor, before ducking down to look underneath.

I could see the panic on his face, hear it also when he screamed at me to get out. I only had the door open when he was pulling me from the seat and dragging me away from the car.

We had gone yards, not even that when we were thrown to the floor. My head hit it hard, the wind knocked out of me as Christian's body covered mine.

I wanted to scream, why me, what had I done in this world to make these people hate me so much. I couldn't though it would make no difference and hearing Christian's groan of pain focused my attention then.

"Christian," I said, trying to turn around but his heavy body wouldn't move. "Christian" I cried, feeling the side of the t-shirt I wore get wetter.

It wasn't the rain that fell from the sky, getting heavy now once again. It was blood that soaked my top and I knew it wasn't my own.

"Ana."

"Christian," I repeated, finally turning around as I managed to lay him on the floor.

A piece of metal had pierced his side and I knew if the blood wasn't stemmed soon, I would lose him.

"Ana" he cried now as I touched his side.

"Christian we need to get it out."

"Ana, run."

"What," I asked, taking my eyes off his wound for a moment and looked to his ashen face.

"Baby you need to run. Whoever planted that bomb won't be far. You need to run, get away."

"No, I won't leave you. Get up" I cried, trying to lift him up.

"Ana, baby, I love you. I'll be fine, just go."

I shook my head, ignoring his words and willed him to get up. His body was limp though, his energy seeping out of him with the blood through his wound. I managed to get him to his knees and then to his feet before he was back on the floor again.

"Christian, get up, please. Where's your phone," I asked, wanting to cry again when I saw it smashed on the floor.

I heard a door slam below us, one to the stairwell that would get us down. That made me freeze for a moment before I pulled Christian wanting to get us back against the wall, giving us a little bit of cover, not knowing who was coming up. If its help, I could breathe a sigh of relief but if it's someone else, like Christian, suggested then I don't know what id do.

I had a gun, one I was doing well with. Unfortunately that gun, just like everything else I had was burning at the top of the building.

As the door opened with a bang and a man emerged, I think my heart stopped. For a second, I was happy to see him, glad to know he was really ok. That quickly changed when I felt Christian's grip tighten on my arm, his need to protect me still strong despite the situation we were in.

"No, why" Christian mumbled, every word he spoke filled with pain.

Seeing the smile come on the newcomers face, seeing the sinister look he sent my way. I don't regret now that I hurt him like I once had, I don't regret leaving him in pain. The pain I caused him is nothing compared to what he's causing Christian now, through his deception, his disloyalty, his betrayal.

So I stood in front of Christian, wanting to protect him like he had always protected me. Protect him from someone he once thought was a brother, a friend. As I spoke, the words that left my lips could not be truer.

"Luke, you double-crossing bastard."

Does this class as one of those cliff hangers that I hate so much. If so, it's a good job that the next chapter is nearly ready.

I do want to congratulate those few who thought there was something wrong about Luke from the beginning. You were right not to trust him. Christian will live before anyone panics as writing anything different would be a hard limit for me.

Next chapter, Christian comes face to face with someone from his past, someone else who brought him a lot of pain.

Until next time, take care.

Caroline.