Chapter 20

...

Bond approaches Vesper and roughly drags her away from the reception desk towards one of the first rooms he comes across. Pushing her inside, he closes the door behind him.

"James…"

She watches as he turns towards her with a look of hatred, causing her to take a step back, trying to create more distance between them.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't just kill you." He tries to keep his voice calm.

"Because they have M! And if you kill me, you have no way of knowing where she is."

"I know full well where she is."

"You're predictable James. White knows this. He sent Mitchell and Gettler to the back entrance."

Bond looked for any sign that she is lying, but realises she's telling the truth.

"I was a diversion, one which you fell for. I hoped to get to you in time to warn you…"

"Where are they going?"

"They are taking her to White." She gave a wince of pain as James grabs her upper arms shaking her slightly.

"Where?"

"St. Marks Square. They need her to withdraw the money from the Venice branch after that I don't know of their plans."

He let her go not caring what happens to her.

"James, I can help you."

"Do you actually think I would trust you?"

"No, but unless you never want to see M again. You have no choice."

James knew she was right as much as it pained him to admit it.

"Fine, but if you so much as go behind my back. I will kill you."

Not waiting to see if she would follow he opens the door and runs from the room and outside to the hotel's courtyard. Looking around he spies one of the yachts had just left the harbour.

"Bond." He turned to the voice seeing an older man in his fifties run towards him.

"One of Mathis' men?"

The man gave a nod. "Alessandro is dead. Two of my colleagues saw two men drag M to one of the yachts. My men are following them."

The man noticed Vesper come up behind Bond, and was about to draw his gun when Bond stopped him.

"She's on our side for now."

The man gave him a dubious look but didn't question further.

"We need to get to St. Marks Square."

"I've already arranged it. Follow me."

Bond pushes Vesper in front of him. "Walk."

He keeps his eyes on her as they follow the older man hurrying to one of the yachts. He refuses to think about the worse case scenario. He would get Olivia back, by any means necessary. He just hopes he or Mathis' agents are not already too late.

/*\*/*\

Olivia looks around the room discretely to see if there is anything she can use as a weapon.

"You're wasting your time M." Mitchell gave her a smirk knowing his old boss too well.

"The same could be said for you. Do you honestly think White or Quantum will give you what they promised? I don't know why I even bothered hiring you as my personal bodyguard. It's obvious you're too thick to tell when you are being played."

The blow comes before she even realises what has happened.

"It won't matter what you think! You'll soon be out of the picture!" He tells her threateningly.

Olivia looks at him in defiance, feeling her cheek sting, where he backhanded her. If he thought he could intimidate her he could bloody well think again.

"Now you have to resort to violence Mitchell. You're less of a man than I ever gave you credit for."

Mitchell clenched his hands into fists, trying to keep his temper in check.

"If White didn't want you M. I would enjoy killing you. Slowly"

Olivia felt the yacht come to a stop causing Mitchell to smirk.

"I think, it's time we go and meet the man himself don't you M?"

He grabs her by the arm and pulls her from the sofa, pushing her in front of him.

M fixes her clothes and starts to walk up the cabin stairs, and looks around to see Gettler docking the yacht to the harbour.

"Mitchell, I see you both made it back in one piece."

Olivia looked to see a man who appears to be about the same age as her, standing on the harbour smiling at them.

"And I see the lovely, Olivia agreed to your demands."

She felt Mitchell push her forward, towards the man she assumes is White, watching as he holds out his hand for her to take.

"I think I can manage!" She ignores his offer and steps up onto the harbour.

"I see the stories you told me about her are true Mitchell." He looks to Olivia, admiring her body with appreciation.

"You're picture never did you justice. I can see why Mr Bond couldn't resist you."

"Quantum members aren't really my type."

"We'll have to see about that."

White turns to Mitchell and Gettler. "Make sure your eyes are on us at all times. Any sign of a threat eliminate it."

Turning back to Olivia he wraps an arm around her waist and tightly holds her to his side. "If you alert anyone around you darling. Your precious Bond is dead. Do you understand?"

"He's survived more than you can imagine Mr White. I think it's you, who should watch your back."

White starts to guide them towards the main square of St. Marks with Mitchell and Gettler following at a slower pace behind them.

"Perhaps, but he will have to catch me first. If he doesn't get himself killed in the process."

Olivia looks at the people round about her. No one seems to be giving them any attention, and why would they? They must look like a married couple who are here on holiday. The thought makes her feel nauseous. They pass through the square as White takes them to the bank. She knew which building it was, before she was even remotely close to it.

"Once we are in the bank, you will give them the account number and withdraw the funds."

"And then what?" Olivia asked as they stopped outside the bank.

"That my dear, you will find out quite soon. But first; you have a withdrawal to make."

Olivia gave him a glowering look, at hearing the smugness in his voice.

"After you."

Olivia walks through the doors of the bank, with White following after her. He wouldn't put it past her to try something, she wasn't the head of MI6 for nothing. She may appear to be compliant, but that didn't make her any less dangerous.

Making her way over to one of the counters, the man on the other side gave her a smile, that she tried to return.

"What can I help you with today ma'am?"

"I would like to withdraw funds from my account."

"Certainly, if you write down the account number I can carry out your request."

She gave him a nod, and took the slip and pen and wrote down the account number, feeling White watch her every move beside her. Handing it over, she watched as the accountant typed the number into the system.

"Everything looks satisfactory, how much would you like to withdraw?"

"All of it."

"Very well, if you wait here ma'am I will be back in a few minutes."

"Thank you."

She watches him go and turns to White.

"Satisfied?"

"It's not over yet."

He moves away from her and looks towards the entrance of the bank nodding towards Gettler and Mitchell who were standing outside by the door. She turned back to the counter, noticing a small letter opener on the other side. Sliding it towards her, she discretely slipped it into the sleeve of her cardigan.

The accountant returns a few minutes later walking towards her with a silver case.

"Here you are, ma'am."

Olivia takes the case from him.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"No that's everything, thank you."

He gave her one last smile. "Have a good day ma'am."

White slipped his arm once again around her waist and guided her out of the bank.

Once outside he took the case from her, "That wasn't so hard was it?"

"You've got the money, so you can take your hands off me."

"I don't think so."

She gave him a look of disgust, and let White lead her down an alleyway next to the bank.

"I thought we were leaving."

"Oh we are, but do you really think I'm stupid to leave the same way we arrived?"

The alleyway led to an open courtyard with abandoned buildings surrounding them that seemed to be under construction. Olivia notices the yacht in the distance and she had no doubt in her mind that is where they are headed.

They don't manage to get much further when the sound of running footsteps and gunfire surrounds them.