Knots of Love – Chapter 14

He dashed outside and bolted into the crowd. He looked around, thinking of the quickest way he could get to White. He didn't understand how they could've found Zara, but having lured Vesper with honey released the opportunity. It made sense that the girls were sisters, although it gave Yusef the opportunity to create a divide.

Vivian Martin sped around the corner, just as he speculated his options. She pulled up beside him, revving the engine on her motorbike.

"Climb on," she ordered.

He leapt on. Viv put her hand down and sped along the river. Bond shouted over the noise of the engine as Viv attempted to listen.

"He owns a villa near Lake Como: La Gaeta. It's a few miles from the town."

"So you know it?"

He took a long breath before he gave her an answer. "Considerably."

He navigated her through Venice and they soon reached the mansion. Vivian pulled up beside the gate and he jumped off when she cut the engine. The two agents shifted beside the wall, making sure the guards hadn't seen them. It took a second for Vivian to look away before a bullet fired. She turned back and faced the guards, only to find them dead on the ground. She glanced at Bond and saw him lower the gun.

"They'll be more of them," he said, "Come on."

They forced the gates open and she followed him towards the villa. She stayed behind him when he led her round the back and they heard voices from one of the rooms. Bond faced the window, in an attempt to distinguish the voices.

"Is she in there?" Vivian gestured towards the window.

"Knowing White, he would have wanted her hidden."

Bond looked around. Having never been inside meant the situation was much the same to solving a puzzle. They noticed a door nearby with no guards in patrol. Bond raced towards it and waited for Vivian after kicking it open. He watched Vivian reach for her gun and he made sure he'd done the same. He began to walk away but not before he turned and faced her.

"Try not to get killed."

"I'll try."

She hurried away until he could no longer see her. He kept his hand on the gun and released the safety catch, progressing further inside the villa.

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From whatever feeling she still had, Zara couldn't let them hurt her family. The day she'd joined MI6 was the day she'd vowed to keep these lives separate. If only her sister had done the same. They may have been close in their past lives but the only thing she felt for her sister now was hatred and vehemence. Vesper may have been Yusef's puppet but she should've known better. Zara didn't want to admit it even through it was true. It was all because of Vesper.

She gasped and faced the door. Despite the warmth of the room, she shuttered instantly and tried to focus on the noise. The building trembled over repeating gunshots and White and Yusef exchanged glances. They left the room, but not before shouting at their henchmen.

"Move her. Move her now! Whatever happens, she stays alive." White ordered. "At least for now!"

The room around her began to slow and for a second, all of her training seemed to fade. It wasn't the first time she'd been faced with death, yet the thought of it was enough to detach her from everything around her.

Zara had only a second to realise they'd cut the rope as she was hauled up and shoved towards the door. The agent she was came to life and she swung round and struck them. They let go and staggered back. The first one pounced and Zara darted away. She tackled him, reaching for the nearest thing she could use as a weapon. She struck the guard and fragments of porcelain shattered around him. The final guard lunged towards her and she raised her foot and kicked him in the stomach. He fell back. She snatched the gun and bolted out of the room without looking back.

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There was already blood on his shirt by the time he'd made it though the door. He glanced around before sensing a draft. Bond noticed the door at the end, swinging open. He sprinted towards it and slammed it open. Unconscious guards lay sprawled close to a chair with cut rope scattered beside it. He looked around, realising pulsing though him. Zara was here. Or at least, she had been.

The window smashed as a bullet was fired. He pulled the gun, firing bullets at his trailing assassin. More were shot and yet another guard fell to the ground. He left the room and hurried away. He found no sign of Yusef as he traced the interior. Across the living room he distinguished Zara hiding in the archway. He kept his eyes on Zara, noticing that something about her seemed different. The way she clutched her gun and shifted her eyes with a restless gaze. It made him realise…she was scared.

She met his eyes and he told her to run. He watched her go and she didn't hesitate.

XXXX

Mr White kept running. He reached the top floor and made a sharp turn down a darkened hallway. He was met with an open window and the only light came from the sun. He met the eyes of his pursuer, as he understood there was nowhere to run. The shadowed figure advanced closer. He raised his hands and backed away. Hollow eyes bored on White, at the same time the gun was raised. White faced the window before looking back towards the figure.

"If only you knew her as much as I had."

A bullet fired and Mr White fell from the window.

A/N: La Gaeta's a real place near Lake Como. It looks great for living in as well. Sorry for the delayed update and thanks for reading. Hope you had a nice Christmas :)