A/N: I know it's been forever and I swear you won't have to wait as long as you did for the next and most likely final chapter! This one is a bit longer to make up for the wait I know that I don't really want it to end, but these characters have just been through a ton and I am unsure I want to take it where my muse is going with it.

Disclaimed. I own nothing and make no money.

Chapter 25

"You are so much more beautiful than your mother, you know? It makes me… joyous just thinking about it." Her father whispered in her ear as the slowly made their way through the exhibits towards the entrance. Like they hadn't a care in the world.

He was vile and she wasn't leaving this facility with him. Had never planned to. All she needed to accomplish was getting the gun of the goon on her right. It was an automatic.

She really only planned far enough ahead to save Raymond and try to get away.

The waterfall room. It was perfect. Tons of rock coverage, water to mask sounds, and uneven ground to help set the stage. She just hoped that the rocks weren't fake, or it would never work. She needed them to stop bullets.

When they entered the waterfall room, she slowed her gait, acted as if she were afraid of the slippery rocks that made up the path.

Her father kept walking, but his henchman slowed. She wanted to smile but thought it was a bit premature.

It was a few more steps to the first set of tall rocks. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and thought of Raymond and thought of not only how much she loved him, but how much he loved her. If she died, he would be adrift, lost at sea without an anchor.

Before she could doubt herself, she moved.

The guard tried to catch her as she fell. She grabbed on to his neck for support.

She made herself a dead weight, he stumbled. She wrenched the gun away and fired three bullets into his gut before he realized her intent.

She fired in her father's general direction as she dove behind the nearest group of rocks for cover.

He laughed "You missed girl, your aim hasn't improved one bit. You'd think the Feds would've tried to teach you better. See? You need me! I can help you and you can help me."

Two shots, much louder, fired. They were from a different gun. A bigger gun. She hoped like hell one of them didn't have a rifle hiding somewhere or she was dead.

The sudden silence was deafening. The only sound she could hear was the pounding heartbeat in her ears. She didn't dare look to see what was going on. The silence was probably a trap.

She clenched her teeth and her eyes shut to concentrate and combat her fear. If she didn't control her breathing, she'd pass out.

"Excuse me, miss? Do you mind if I sit here? All the other seats seem to be taken up by dead bodies?"

The second that Red went out the emergency exit he had a plan. He slipped a card in between the latch and the catch of the door-jam to prevent it from locking. His men were waiting for him. There were only four, but that would have to be enough.

If he didn't get Lizzie away from that madman, she wouldn't live out the day.

He grabbed a rifle from one of his men and led the way back inside.

At the first sound of shots, he ran as fast as he could. He trusted the team to watch his six because right now, he had only one priority.

He stopped and peeked around the corner from the direction in which the shots were fired. He didn't blink, didn't hesitate.

Lizzie was crouched behind a boulder and Rostova and his man were closing in on her. He readied the rifle and aimed, taking out Rostova with a single bullet to the brain. Seconds later, the only man left standing met the same fate. He lowered the weapon and rushed to Lizzie's side.

He did slow when he realized she wasn't bleeding or seriously injured. A gun was clutched in front of her like a shield. Her chest was heaving.

He was so relieved to find her alive and unharmed that he was giddy. She didn't even open her eyes and he was standing only a meter away. He couldn't help but think that the darkness was probably comforting to her.

He kept his tone light to keep himself from grabbing her and kissing her senseless. He was still furious that she traded herself for his safety.

"Excuse me, miss? Do you mind if I sit here? All the other seats seem to be taken up by dead bodies."

Her eyes snapped open, made contact with his. "Raymond?"

She scrambled of the floor and threw herself into him with a shout of happiness. He grunted as the gun dug into his ribs between them. "Oh shit, Sorry!" She laid the gun on the rocks and hugged him again. "I forgot I was holding it. Do over?"

His voice was hoarse with emotion. "I love you so much. I heard the shots and I was afraid I wouldn't get to you in time. I figured you'd try something, thinking you could take them all on yourself. You could have been killed. And trading yourself for me? I don't believe I need to tell you that you must never do that again!"

He shook her to punctuate his words and immediately felt horrible. Happy was too placid of an emotion to describe what he was feeling as he held her. He wanted this moment to last forever, but they needed to leave.

"I would love nothing more than to stand here and hold you all day, but I'm afraid we really must leave. I was sold out and I have a ruler to take care of."

She let him lead her towards the emergency exit where more of his security was presumably waiting, but not without protest. "Don't think that you can leave me alone on some godforsaken island in post-orgasmic bliss, just so you can start a war with some oil baron. If you are going, I'm coming too. Do you hear me? Are you ignoring me?" She didn't care that she sounded like a nag. She knew exactly what he was thinking of doing.

He let her outside into the sunshine, but he didn't look mad. In fact, he looked a little too happy for a man who was supposed to be getting chewed out. He laughed. Laughed! And then he sighed with mock annoyance, still grinning "We're not even married yet and you're going to stop all my fun?"

His words caused the adrenaline already coursing through her veins to morph into a warmth that made her giddy. "Married? You're a stubborn ass that doesn't even say thank you when someone saves their life. Because I did. You would have tried to fight and would have ended up dead. I couldn't let that happen."

He swallowed, his tongue working in his mouth as he mulled over his next words, his hand at her back as he helped her into a waiting vehicle. He entered the other side, his mouth set, determined. "Lizzie, you fail to understand that I know exactly what kind of monster that man was and I was ready to do anything to keep you from that, no matter what the consequences. I knew that you were to be kept safe because he had a use for you. You underestimate how far I will go to keep you safe. You think I am a good man, maybe slightly damaged, but I may as well lay my cards on the table right now. Everything and everyone is collateral damage when it comes to you. I don't want you to be frightened, but I love you. I have never lied to you and I am not going to start now."

She was used to the sweet and caring Raymond. This was Red Reddington, Concierge of Crime, staking a claim and declaring his love. He looked at her, waiting for a response, but she remained silent.

Oh, no. He was too intense, too hard. He had to think of a way to back track, to maybe sound less…obsessive is probably the term though he'd never say it out loud…no matter how true it may be.

"Does this vehicle have a privacy screen?" She spoke and he was sure that he felt more trepidation than he'd felt since waiting for punishment from his third grade teacher. He was a wife-beater and everyone in town knew it, they just turned a blind eye. But not him, he made his life hell, tripping him, tacks on his chair, he even went so far as gluing the man's hands to a table.

"Yes." He replied, nodding to the driver who immediately put the divider in place.

He sighed, Lizzie was looking out her window when she spoke, her expression and demeanor stoic. No hint of happiness, or even disdain at his impassioned speech. No matter the outcome, the fact that she could actually see as she looked into the distance made it all well worth it. At least some good came from his presence in her life. Not much, but she now had the freedom to live how she wanted. He would provide her with an anonymous income to enable her to travel the world if she so chose.

But then she was in his lap and kissing his neck, his chin, his lips. Her mouth was everywhere. His arousal was immediate, no matter what games she seemed to play. "Lizzie, what are you doing?"

She bit his neck and his cock strained against the confines of his pants. "Shut up Raymond. I let you speak, but now it's my turn, alright? Good." She didn't even give him a chance to reply. In between her words were kisses. Her hand snaked down to squeeze him and he hissed in a breath and jerked as if branded. She was killing him.

As she spoke, she slid down his body, settling in between his legs "I love you. I would like to be able to say that I am horrified by how far you are willing to go to protect me, but I can't. I just don't think I'm that good of a person. To be loved like that…that's heady stuff and I have never been more turned on I don't think. I need you to answer two questions for me. Short answers will be rewarded. Is this soundproof and how long are we going to be in this vehicle?"

Tbc…

A/N: I am so sorry that you had to wait so long for this! I sure hope that it was worth the wait! Can't wait to hear what you think!