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Prompt #33: Voice - The sound of her singing stopped him cold. Even outside a crowded room, he'd know her dulcet tones anywhere.

Words: 877

Tony kept his pace unhurried as he made his way through the underground casino. His cover as a wealthy arms dealer fit him like a second skin, almost as snugly as the Kelvar vest strapped to his chest. Hopefully just a precaution, but when meeting an elusive criminal entrepreneur who served as the crime world's bank of supreme evil, it's best to plan for the worst.

"Ah, Mr. Bower," came a voice from behind Tony. The Senior Field Agent turned to face that self-same bank, one Michael Ashton. Devestatingly handsome with the moral conscience of a sociopath, he had everything - money, girls, and connections to every criminal enterprise in the States. All he needed now were the guns to protect his business - guns he hoped to buy from Tony before the night was over. "I trust you're enjoying yourself."

Tony's smile was as fake as a three-dollar bill, but it would've fooled even a trained liar. "Oh yeah. You throw one hell of a party, Ashton." From across the room he heard the band start up, a piano and a deeper instrument thumping out a slow song. He heard cymbals being lightly tapped.

And then he heard her.

Rusted brandy in a diamond glass
Everything is made from dreams
Time is made from honey slow and sweet
Only the fools know what it means
Temptation
Temptation
Temptation
I can't resist

It can't be...His mouth went dry when he heard the familiar voice speaking those words. Trying to stay very casual, Tony craned his neck to try and find out where the singer was coming from. But wherever it was, she wasn't visible from his place in the casino. He burned to search for her, but knew he couldn't leave Ashton without drawing suspicion.

He didn't know Ziva would be here.

True, Vance had pulled her off Gibbs' MCRT for a top-secret assignment over a month ago, but there'd been no way to know where she'd gone. Not for a lack of trying; McGee had hacked every combination of the alphabet soup agencies to find her. She'd just disappeared off the face of the planet.

But if she was here, it meant that something had to be going down. Soon.

That voice shifted slightly, gaining an accent he recognized from another undercover assignment, from another woman. But unlike the barely-there trace he heard from Jeanne, this woman's exotic tone had never failed to enchant him.

Oui, je suis
Qu'il est fait fumé
Oui, ju me suis paumée
Il sais que je suis fauchée
Mais à moi de jouer
Oui
Tentation
Tentation
Tentation
Je peux pas résister

Oh sweet God above, save me. Tony swallowed hard as he tried not to react to her singing in French. It had to be the hottest thing he'd ever heard a woman do, and he hadn't even seen Ziva yet.

Ashton caught him looking. "Oh, you like? Tali is my newest employee, and she's quite an extraordinary woman."

Don't I know it, Tony thought to himself. "She sounds amazing."

"Come." He led Tony through another door that led into a lounge bar, where elegantly dressed people sat at little tables with their drinks and stared at the live band.

At the stunning woman who sang like nothing Tony had ever heard.

Dutch pink and Italian blue
He's there awaiting for you
My will has disappeared
Now confusion is oh so clear
Temptation
Temptation
Temptation
I can't resist

Ziva was in prime form up there, just as beautiful as she'd been in Morocco all those years ago when Vance had split them up. Her dress was a dark wine red that hugged her curves and spilled over her legs in a cascade of ruffled silk, parting at the knee in a slit that showed her shimmering red high heels. Those smoky eyes drifted over the crowd - until they landed on him.

"She really is something else," remarked Ashton. "A beautiful voice, and a singularly beautiful woman, don't you agree?"

Tony nodded, unable to tear his eyes away from his partner. "A real gem."

Temptation
Temptation
Temptation
I can't resist

When her song ended, the lounge erupted into applause. Then Ashton said something that made Tony contemplate thanking him for, even though he was firmly placed in the Evil Villian category. "Would you like me to introduce you to her?"

Tony tried not to show his excitement as he replied, "I would love to meet her."

I wish they'd make Cote sing again. She's got a really good voice.

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