A/N – Thanks for all of the reviews! Your Mellie comments made me laugh. I've made up my mind.

Chapter 21 – Head on a Platter

They sat around in the boardroom nervously watching CNN and waiting for the news to break.

Stephen walked in and handed out some coffee before sitting. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing yet," Abby said softly.

About five minutes later, the news finally broke.

"We have received some disturbing information regarding the Bradley Hargrove scandal that occurred a year ago. Sources say, that there is damning video evidence of Supreme Court Justice Verna Thornton and Rowan Pope, C.I.A. consorting against Judge Hargrove so that she could be the nominee. If you will recall, Judge Hargrove's nomination was rescinded after so-called proof was produced to make it appear that he had sexual relations with an under-aged teen. Our sources say that this was false information created by Mr. Pope. The ramifications of such actions resulted in the suicide of Judge Hargrove and the nomination of Verna Thornton." The reporter paused. "Wait, we now have a reporter on the scene."

"Thank you, Charles. I'm standing outside of Verna Thornton's office. We have footage of her entering it a few minutes ago."

They showed footage of Verna yelling, "No comment," and rushing into the building.

The news continued and all of their eyes were glued to the screen. Apparently, the reporters couldn't locate Rowan for an interview.

Olivia's phone rang. She looked down at the caller I.D. and picked it up.

"Hello."

"Are you out of your mind?" Rowan yelled.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said smirking.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. I can't believe you did this to me."

"You did this to yourself," she said pointedly.

"Don't think this is the end, Olivia. Payback is a bitch."

Olivia leaned forward. There is no way in hell she is going to let him bully her. "If anything happens to me, you'll be the prime suspect. I have enough on you to bury you and you will go to prison. Is that what you want?"

"They'd have to find me first. You forget that I know how to hide," Rowan said pompously.

Huck watched Olivia and could tell from her silence that he threatened her and he left the office.

"You forget that I have the means to find you," she shot back.

The line went dead and Olivia realized everyone was staring at her. "I'll be right back." She needed to find Huck.

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Olivia sat on a bench next to Huck.

"He threatened you, didn't he?"

"He did, but I'm not scared."

"You should be," he said looking into her eyes. "He's a very dangerous man."

Olivia stared. "I know, but I don't know what else to do."

"Let me end it."

"No Huck. I will not sacrifice you to beat Rowan. I just can't let you do it. You've worked too damn hard to create a new life. If you go back to that life, I don't think you'll be able to stop."

Huck's face never changed. "I can never let my past go entirely. It's a big part of who I am."

"But it doesn't define you. You are a good man and a gladiator. Killing is not the kind of life that you want."

"It's one time." Even when he said it, he knew it wasn't true. It would be more, but he'd rather have to deal with that situation than being faced with Olivia being taken from him by the man he hated most in the world.

"There is no such thing as just one time. You are like an addict wanting a fix and I won't be responsible for you falling off the wagon," she said emotionally.

Huck sighed and said, "Okay." He had already had another idea anyway. If Olivia wouldn't let him do it, he was quite sure he could find someone else who would.

Olivia looked at him suspiciously. He had given up way to easily and it made her wonder if he'd do it anyway.

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Cyrus watched the news searching for answers. There are no leads on the shooter yet. Mellie is still in a coma and Rowan had been lying low. It is almost too quiet. As the impeachment proceedings for Verna began, it was leaked that she had cancer. t didn't seem like that news was going to gain her any sympathy, but due to chemotherapy, she would not always be present.

He packed up for the night and finally made it back to his office.

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Grayden sat uneasily in a room with three of Rowan's B-613 former operatives; one of which was Charlie. "I need you to find Rowan Pope. I now consider him an enemy of the state."

Charlie smirked. "Alive or dead?" He watched Grayden's body language and he already knew his answer.

"Dead." I don't want a remnant of his DNA left. I want him fucking extinguished," Grayden said loudly.

The three operatives glanced at each other and Becky spoke first. "And what do we get out of this arrangement?"

Grayden leaned forward, "Five hundred thousand dollars and bragging rights."

Charlie grinned. "There's nothing like tax-free money."

"Don't even think about it. That is mine," Becky said grinning. "I have plans."

"Bitch, please. I need a college fund for my babies," Wink said grinning.

Grayden smirked. Not only would they probably find Rowan, but they'll also probably kill each other in the process too. "Alright, get going. And I'll need some kind of proof that he's dead."

They nodded and left the building.

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Charlie answered his phone. "Hello?"

"It's Althea."

He grinned. "My favorite girl. Are you happy with the results thus far?"

"I will say you are the only other person I know who's crazier than I am," Althea said rolling her eyes.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"What did that poor senator ever do to you?" Althea asked curiously. Shooting the senator hadn't been in the game plan.

Charlie chuckled. "Let's just say he peed in my cheerios."

Althea made a face. "I guess I'd shoot him too."

Charlie laughed. "You want me to finish her off?"

Althea shrugged. "No. I think she got the message. Your money is already delivered to the drop off point."

"It was nice doing business with you, Althea. I have to go underground for a while, but you know how to find me."

She smiled. "Yes, I do."

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Olivia sat back on her couch totally exhausted. She sipped some wine and listen to the soft jazz music drifting throughout the room as her thoughts drifted. What would she do if Rowan was gone and Verna wasn't blackmailing her? Olivia didn't even know who she was without the secret hanging over her head. Could she dare to be happy? The one man she chose to give her heart too is the one man she couldn't have heart and soul. Right now, Fitz is owned by the American people and then there is Mellie. It was ironic that if Mellie lived or died she would still be a thorn in their sides. There is no easy solution to their "relationship." Her heart is the only thing she is sure of and she is falling in love with the President of the United States and has no idea how they are going to make it work.