Two months later... Palmira, Colombia - February 13th, 2000
The restaurant was incredibly noisy. Raymond could hardly hear himself think, let alone keep up with the conversations occurring at their table.
Kate and Rosalie were in the midst of a deep discussion regarding the growing unrest in the UK over petrol prices. Both women were of the mind Raymond could capitalize on such discord whilst providing cost-effective fuel for the country's citizens, and were actively plotting a course of actions from which they could move forward.
Ted was chatting up a pretty local girl at the bar, keeping his charge within his line of sight at all times.
Dembe was smiling serenely to himself, a worn photograph in his cupped hands beneath the table. The picture showed the new orphanage and school Raymond had erected on Rosalie's newest location in Kenya, built for the sole purpose of housing and educating the young boys who had once been in Fisi's gang.
It had taken until the end of the year to completely disband the rebels, and another two months to successfully relocate all of them. In that time, Rosalie purchased another sanctuary near Mombasa, Kenya. Raymond's associates worked alongside her own to return as many children to their families as possible, then built out a safe haven at the new site, which she dubbed Bandari. The older members were offered safe, stable jobs in either syndicate and the children who did not have families to return to were being cared for at Bandari in perpetuity.
The boys had gotten together for a group photo at their new home, which Ndwiga had ensured was sent to Dembe specifically.
He had grinned from ear to ear upon receiving the photograph, knowing those boys, at least, were safe from the fate which had claimed his own childhood.
Rosalie cast a surreptitious glance Raymond's way, beaming a bright smile and inclining her head towards Dembe's bowed one.
Red nodded, his smile just as bright for the people he cherished most.
The proximity between himself and Rosalie stirred his psyche into varying flights of fantasy, the foremost being a recollection of their time together at the Armel's château. For the umpteenth time that week, Raymond's mind wandered back to that fateful day in the dome when he confessed to Rosalie the truth about Hans Von Hauser...
The Dome Room- Armel's Château - December 24th, 1999
"I never meant for Hans to be harmed in any way."
Raymond had spent the better part of an hour reliving the tale, his eyes fixated on his palms.
He was convinced nothing would rid himself of the blood on his hands. He could all but feel it, sticky, warm and nauseating, how it caked the cracks and crevices of his skin.
Rosalie sat unmoving beside him, likely horrorstruck at hearing the fate of Hans Von Hauser.
Red couldn't bring himself to look at her. The further the uncharacteristic silence stretched, the more unsettled he felt.
"...the Taddiken Brothers?"
Her voice was barely audible.
"They fled," he explained, "I went on a transcontinental rampage following their trail. I caught up with Karl in Mogadishu, and tracked Jünger to a brothel in Nairobi. There was nothing left of them by the time I was done."
Rosalie still hadn't looked at him.
"Jünger Taddiken was the man you beat to a pulp in the basement of the brothel where you found Dembe."
"Yes."
He hazarded a glance to his left. Rosalie's chin rested in a cupped palm, her nails tapping rhythmically against her cheek while she sifted through all he had divulged.
"What happened to Hans's body, Raymond?"
Raymond hung his head once more, answering with one word.
"Kate."
He heard a weary sigh issue from Rosalie's lips.
"Who else knows?"
"You." Red whispered, pinching the bridge of his nose as a wealth of colorful language circled inside his skull, cursing his past self once more for his foolishness. "Only you."
The echoing silence engulfed them once more, sitting heavily on Raymond's chest.
"I wasn't prepared to see Werner last night, which was why I was so obviously discomforted. I can't look at the man without remembering what I did-" the lump in his throat seized painfully, "I see the face of his dead son staring blankly up at me from a battered shipping crate every single time."
Rosalie's voice was eerily calm when she spoke again, as though she were merely unraveling the logic behind a complex argument. "So you made amends in the best way you knew how. You commanded reciprocity for Hans's demise, then leveraged the act to foster a lasting partnership with Werner."
When she said it like that, it made his actions sound cavalier. Raymond tried to explain, "I can't tell him the truth, Rosalie. Everything hinges on my empire becoming as wealthy and powerful as possible. That can't happen without Werner, and it certainly can't happen if I'm dead."
There was no response to this.
The weight of Rosalie's disapproval hung like a stifling haze in the room, pressing Red to continue explaining himself.
He hadn't cared before, he still didn't care what anyone else thought of him, but Rosalie...He couldn't stand for her to think of him as some heartless thug.
"I'm so, so very ashamed of what happened to Hans, Rosalie. Nothing will ever make it right, I know that, but I can't allow what I've built to be demolished due to a foolish decision I made seven years ago."
He needed her to understand, to realize that despite this awful mistake, Raymond was not that man anymore. He had learned so many hard lessons between then and now. Red liked to think he had gained a greater sense of humility following Hans's death.
Rosalie took a deep breath and finally spoke in earnest.
"Raymond, I don't think I have to tell you how horrendous a crime this is. You didn't do the deed but you do realize you created the circumstances which robbed a man of his only child. Werner's entire legacy was snuffed out for the sake of building your empire."
Red's face fell into his upturned palms, feeling a wave of burning, nauseating shame wash over him once more. "It wasn't for the sake of building my empire. Not really. You know none of this has been for the sake of personal gain."
"This was all for Elizabeth?"
He felt Rosalie shift beside him, seeing her hands folding themselves delicately in her lap, her eyes boring into the side of his head.
He nodded solemnly, unsure whether she believed him. "All the wealth I've accumulated, all the influence and leverage I've amassed...It's there for her. My empire exists for the sole purpose of keeping her alive, and keeping me out of jail. In the end, that's all that matters. The suits, the plane, all the accoutrements of a luxurious lifestyle, they mean nothing without purpose. Elizabeth is that purpose."
Rosalie stood and paced the room, stopping to stand in front of the high arched window overlooking the château's courtyard. When she spoke, her words came as calm as a placid lake.
"Raymond, my world is predicated on my ability to read people, to see who they truly are. It is paramount to my survival and my success to pry back the veneers and assess what they want, what they need, their motives...I've grown quite adept at it over the years. In the past year and a half, I've learned to read you better than anyone in my acquaintance."
Raymond's head bowed impossibly lower.
Part of him hated that Rosalie wasn't even being conceited. She was right, she would see through any facade he tried to erect. He loathed feeling so naked, unable to hide the dark and tattered pieces of himself from her knowing eyes.
Red knew those pieces were hideous, ugly, the aspects of himself he was sure were irredeemable.
Rosalie would find them and know he was a selfish, violent man who would all too easily explain away any despicable act as being for the greater good of a young girl with whom he shared some secret connection which he had yet to explain.
Raymond couldn't see how she could possibly look past it all.
When he did not answer her, Rosalie turned and trod slowly back toward him.
He saw her sock-clad feet appear toe-to-toe with his own. The little red and green stripes crisscrossing the small appendages almost made him smile.
She lifted a hand to his chin, attempting to coax his gaze to her own.
"Don't." Red flinched away, his body tensing for the judgement he knew must come.
"Why?"
He shook his head vigorously, "I can't bear to see you look at me the way the rest of the world does; like I'm some kind of monster. I did what I thought I had to do to keep her safe."
If Raymond had looked up, he would have seen how those words tore Rosalie apart inside.
She had come to the criminal game well after Hans's death, but she knew how acutely Werner still felt his son's loss. Florian swore the man had never been the same.
In fact, the only other person she knew to be deeply affected by that loss, was Raymond.
Rosalie tilted her head and took a good long look at her companion, seeing the immense remorse written clearly on the handsome features she knew so well.
The Raymond Reddington responsible for Hans Von Hauser's death was a younger man, one who made a terrible mistake which obviously haunted him still.
This man, the one with whom Rosalie was building her life, he was good.
Red could be violent; he could be viciously lethal when he needed to be, but only when he needed to be. There was a strict code of ethics from which he never wavered, and it set the man leaps and bounds above the typical scourge found in the criminal underground. Rosalie couldn't be certain, but she believed the incident with Hans may very well have triggered the code he lived by.
In her eyes, there was a great deal to be said for the character of a man who could learn from his greatest mistakes.
Yet he feared she would look at him and see some kind of horrendous monster.
...How could she see him as a monster when she was one of precious few who truly knew him?
A tinkling laugh pulled Red from his reverie.
Kate was regaling a particularly funny story from their early days, much to everyone else's enjoyment.
Rosalie turned to gauge his reaction, her nose crinkled in a delighted smile at his expense.
The gesture made him grin as well. Truthfully, he had no clue which story Kate was divulging, but he considered it a fair trade to hear the sound of his companion's laugh.
He was convinced his cleaner could reveal every last one of his dirty secrets and Rosalie would still smile at him the way she was right then and there.
Her hand slipped into his lap, slender fingers threading through his to give his hand a squeeze before her attention returned to the group at large, Dembe having joined in the story telling as well.
Raymond happily brushed his thumb back and forth over her fingers, his mind already wandering back to that day in the dome.
His eyes were still staunchly on the floor, so Rosalie resolutely climbed into his lap, cradling his face in her hands. "Look up, my love."
The dark jades swam in a sea of misery when they finally lifted at her behest.
"The world will always see what it wants to see, I can't change that. They may see a monster. They may very well believe with every ounce of their being that you are the devil himself. But they don't know you, and I do."
The implication of those words brought every fiber of him to attention. "You do," he agreed, hoping against hope this meant she understood, that her feelings for him hadn't changed.
"I've seen the lengths you're willing to go to protect those you love, Raymond, having trod my fair share of those paths as well. I'm not about to judge you too harshly for what happened." Rosalie carded her fingertips through his hair and kissed his forehead, his cheeks, his temples, showering him with reassuring affection. "I told you I can read you better than anyone, and the man I know is no monster." She brushed a droplet of moisture from the corner of his eyes with her thumb, "The man I know is warm and calm, formidable but affectionate, unshakeably confident yet genuinely humble. He makes mistakes, sometimes big ones, but he never makes the same mistake twice. Despite what the law says, he always strives to do the right thing." She cupped his chin with gentle fingers, keeping his eyes on hers, "You're hard and soft in all the best ways. You're kind, thoughtful...you're so wonderfully human, Raymond. I hope you can take solace in the fact that, when Ilook at you...I always see a good man."
Her voice was so sincere, it shattered what was left of Red's resolve. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her tight to him, taking comfort in the sanctuary of her embrace.
There were no words to express the gratitude he felt for her acceptance, her understanding. Raymond buried his face in the hollow of her neck, clutching the soft, feminine frame, feeling a lightening in his soul at having one less obstacle between them, confessing just one of his many sins.
Rosalie was only halfway listening to the conversation at hand.
She sensed Raymond's mind had wandered elsewhere, and she couldn't help but wonder what had so avidly captured his attention.
He still held her hand tightly in his own, his thumb circling endlessly along her knuckles.
Lifting the appendage, Rosalie placed a loving kiss to its surface.
This garnered Red's attention well enough. He watched intently as she pressed her lips along the back of his hand. The gesture was both sweet and sensual, relaxing his tense posture.
Rosalie kissed his palm once more, then placed his fist in her lap, cradling it tenderly in both her hands.
Raymond bent and quietly kissed her cheek in thanks before settling once more into his pleasant daydream.
They sat there for several long minutes, silently assuring themselves all was right in their world.
As the afternoon sun filtering through the dome's windows began to darken, Rosalie guided Red's face upward once more. She seemed to read his mind, kissing him soundly before declaring, "I don't know about you, but I'm beat."
Red took the opportunity offered and readily steered them toward what he desperately needed.
"I don't think either of us slept well last night," he reasoned, "Do you think we would be missed if we went to bed for a bit?"
Rosalie smiled warmly, "I don't think so. Dinner will be much, much later tonight; it's likely the rest of the house will retire for a spell as well. Even Dembe's far too enamored with the library to give a hoot for the likes of us. We should be uninterrupted for a spell."
"Good," Raymond immediately guided Rosalie from his lap, his hand never releasing hers, and guided them both back toward the spiral staircase leading to their suite.
He toed off his shoes upon reaching the bottom of the staircase, then made for the bed, wearily stripping down to his boxers while Rosalie drew the curtains.
To his immense enjoyment, she divested all but her panties then leisurely donned the white cotton undershirt he had just vacated.
She climbed into bed, pulled back the blankets and patted his side, beckoning for him to join her.
Red slipped beneath the sheets without question, turning to his side and gathering Rosalie into his arms.
Her arms wound around his middle, cuddling him nice and close. Rosalie hummed softly in her throat, brushing the tip of her nose back and forth along his pectorals which lifted with each deep breath he took, the scent of him warming her from the inside out.
"Thank you for telling me the truth about Hans."
The words whispered warm and breathy against his sternum, tickling the soft curliques there.
"It means everything to me for you to trust me with something so important."
A heavy silence blanketed the room, broken only by the sound of steady breathing. Delicate fingertips drew lazy patterns along Red's back, leaving pleasant goosebumps in their wake.
Raymond smoothed a hand through Rosalie's hair, removed the clip which held her locks pinned in place and tossed it onto her nightstand so he could bury his hands in the wealth of silky curls. "It's a relief to have you know the truth. To find, even knowing one of my most shameful mistakes, you're still here. To feel like you still even want-"
Rosalie threaded her fingers through his closely cropped hair, using the leverage to bring him nose to nose with her.
"I still want you, Raymond Reddington. Don't ever doubt that."
Red captured her lips with a deep sigh of contentment, feeling the same lightening sensation in his soul, basking in the soothing comfort only she could bring.
Rosalie pursued him with a passion, her tongue tracing the curvature of his lower lip when she kissed him back.
The two hadn't engaged in the simple pleasure of a make-out session in a while, and they took to the pastime with immense pleasure.
Rosalie's hands roamed the breadth of Raymond's back and shoulders, skirting up the nape of his neck to the base of his scalp and tugging sensually at the short hairs there.
His skin prickled beneath her touch, the tingling pleasure sending his own hands to grip at her curves, pulling her feminine figure flush with his masculine one.
A slender leg hitched itself over Raymond's hip, encouraging such contact.
Cupping the back of her thigh, he pulled Rosalie closer, arcing her body into his. Ensuring she was wrapped snugly around him, Red lost himself to the sensual comfort of a woman's touch.
A small, warm hand gave Raymond's knee a squeeze, pulling him from the memory.
Dembe was telling a joke, but it seemed Rosalie's attention was elsewhere.
Volatile gray eyes turned ever so nonchalantly to look him up and down, lingering in a few of her favorite places.
Red watched with heated intrigue, an infinitely more exciting memory forcing its way into his thoughts.
Raymond woke hours later to a warm bundle curled against his side, trailing teasing fingertips up and down his torso. A pair of soft warm lips followed, placing tender kisses to the places where her fingers trekked. A hot, wet little tongue flicked daintily here and there, a sharp set of teeth nibbling his flesh tauntingly.
He turned to see a head of honeyed locks resting serenely on his shoulder. The undershirt his companion had been wearing lay discarded on her pillow, alerting Red to the fact she was blissfully nude.
Rosalie remained cuddled against him, moaning softly when his hand caressed the expanse of skin stretching from her nape to the small of her back.
Raymond relaxed into the plush mattress, enjoying the feel of gentle hands roaming his body.
She leisurely hugged him, smoothing her palm over his chest, along his stomach and down his sides, a small giggle escaping her lips when she passed over a ticklish spot where the muscles in his abdomen tensed spasmodically.
He smiled for her amusement, placing an affectionate kiss to the crown of her head.
They were both barely awake, drowsy lips wandering every which way, kissing open bleary eyes and waking sleeping limbs.
Rosalie's hand trickled down Red's legs, kneading the tightness from the stocky limbs before winding up his inner thighs and through the dark blond curls at their apex.
The light digits continued their migration, frolicking every which way but where Red wanted them most.
"You're being a right tease."
The half-hearted complaint was grumbled into her hairline, making Rosalie smile while she stoutly ignored the critique to her technique.
"I'd be inclined to relent, if I didn't know for a fact how much you enjoy being teased."
Raymond hissed when a single digit finally traced the length of his cock, garnering a visible response from the rapidly hardening appendage.
His body strained toward the tormenting sensation, bidding her to touch him further.
"I like doing the teasing," he corrected through his teeth, "There's a big difference, little dove."
"There certainly is." Rosalie ghosted her fingertips along his thick head, garnering a heartfelt throb of appreciation from the sensitive crown.
"I love making love to you," she murmured in a fervent whisper, perfectly riveted by the task at hand. The heavy weight filled her hand to capacity and grew with each second spent under her tutelage.
"So you're going to lay back and enjoy yourself while I take my sweet, sweet time driving you up the walls."
Raymond couldn't lie, he would never tire of hearing and feeling how much his lover enjoyed these sensual pursuits. He was a mere mortal man after all, and the way she worshiped him in these quiet moments together made every corner of him ache.
She was right. This is what he wanted with her, always. To be made love to, to experience all she could give.
Tender lips pressed themselves to Red's pulse point, setting the very blood in his veins to boiling and wiping any further coherent thought from his mind.
Rosalie had managed to procure a bit of lubricant and was smoothing the slick product over him with gentle passes. The bulging rod listed to the side, already heavy and aching from her ministrations.
Both individuals moaned at the action, lost to the heat kindling between them.
A masculine hand lingered idly at the dip of Rosalie's waist, drawing aimless circles with a roughened fingertip. Red's entire being was occupied with watching the small hands beginning to work his shaft.
Rosalie sighed happily, allowing just her middle and index fingers to slide up his length on either side. "You're so hard for me."
The teasing touch had Raymond moaning plaintively, desperate for more.
Rosalie was content to give in to his every desire, diligently building the ecstasy in his bones to a wondrous crescendo.
She took him in hand once more, coaxing him easily into the wilds of passion she was creating.
Raymond buried his nose in her fragrant hair, breathing deeply the subtle floral scent as euphoria coursed like lava through his system.
One small hand dropped to knead his testicles, the other steadily stroked the fullness of his aching length, alternating smoothly between the two. Rosalie had long since discovered what made her lover tick, and eagerly used her knowledge to make him buckle in agonized pleasure.
Red could feel the tight, slick grip spread with each thrust. He widened his legs a little further in supplication, his mouth agape, sharp bursts of air rushing from his lips with every movement of Rosalie's hand.
A slender leg straddled his own, keeping him spread for her perusal but also bringing the warm, wet valley of Rosalie's thighs flush with his leg. The delicate silk covering her sex was soaked with arousal, the knowledge making Red's cock harden even further.
"You know what to do." He purred, nudging his thigh against his favored playmate.
The little hips rolled forward obediently, forcing a shaky gasp from Rosalie's lips as she eased the delicious ache which was thrumming inside her. She continued to rake her sex against his thigh, her grip on his shaft tightening with each upward movement.
"Yes, little dove...just like that."
She grinned in response and nuzzled her nose with Red's while her hand began pumping his length in earnest.
"I want you," he pleaded, feeling as though his body was on fire from her teasing.
"You'll have me tonight, all night," she promised, gingerly brushing her lips against his, "Right now, I just want to please you."
Raymond's entire frame gave a delighted shudder of arousal. He grunted against Rosalie's mouth, pulling her tight so he could kiss her once more. His hand cupped her cheek, holding her captive to his affection, deepening the contact until it was she who was whimpering for want of more.
They broke and Red hissed when her tight grip moved in a circular motion, rotating about his head with precision.
"Mother of God..."
The slick hold steadily squeezed up and down, from base to tip, inching him toward completion.
Raymond's legs quaked when Rosalie found a particularly sensitive spot, directing all of her attention toward it until his hips bucked into her touch and a string of feverish curses poured from his mouth.
He turned to kiss her forehead and rubbed his hands along her neck, her clavicle, dipping to knead the plump breast resting against his side. A feminine moan of approval added to the wealth of wonderful sensations he was experiencing, bringing him closer to the release he craved.
Rosalie kept tempo, building and building until Red swore he was on fire from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
He nearly lost himself when her thumb circled his frenulum, the hardened crown of his cock slowly darkening from the undivided attention being paid to it.
Red's toes curled and his spine bowed as she dragged him toward an agonizing precipice. His orgasm was a mere handful of strokes away, and Rosalie slowed her pace just enough to hold him to that edge.
"Don't stop..." he growled, reaching to wrap his fingers around hers, keeping her tiny hand grasped about his throbbing member, "I'm right there."
A gentle swat batted his hand away before returning to fondle the heavy bundle between his legs. A throaty grunt praised her renewed efforts, the sound bringing a playful smile to Rosalie's lips.
His hands grasped at the cool cotton sheets when his companion moved to straddle him, focusing entirely on the task of driving him out of his damn mind.
"I'm not stopping love," she promised with a heated whisper, each pass of her tightened fist pulling a husky moan from deep within his chest, "Not until I've left you thoroughly spent."
Raymond's lips lifted in a lazy grin, his body relaxing once more into her ministrations.
There were few things as thrilling as a thorough lover. As it stood, Red's companion wasn't leaving a single inch of him unappreciated.
He loved that.
Raymond loved when Rosalie touched him. She never rushed his pleasure, but rather worshiped his body as though there were nothing she enjoyed more than making love together.
Truthfully, there was nothing he enjoyed more than making love with her. The lovely figure currently pressed against him was only the tip of the iceberg. The sounds which poured from her lips, her body's movements in tandem with his own, nothing made a man feel more virile, more alive than a warm, loving woman.
Red felt his orgasm beginning in the base of his spine, his grip on reality slipping several notches.
Rosalie's lips beamed a lust laden smile, the bottom one caught coquettishly between her teeth.
The expression was so damn endearing, it made Raymond chuckle in the midst of a rumbling moan.
"Do you have any idea how thrilling you are, little dove?" He reached to cup her cheek, pulling Rosalie in for a kiss.
She leaned forward to oblige, dragging out each and every one of those sensual caresses to his aching length and whispering huskily, "I'd love to hear more about that, love, as soon as you give me what I want."
"God, yes..."
It was becoming impossible to hold back. Rosalie's touch was steady and insistent, stroking over and over along his cock, creating the most delicious pulses of pleasure within.
Red turned and took her earlobe between his teeth, sucking teasingly before a guttural sound of completion tore through his chest and the first climactic wave crashed over him. Basking in the sheer euphoria coursing through him with each touch, he gave himself over to the powerful sensations as his cock throbbed its relief into the tight grip surrounding it.
"If you keep looking at me like that," Rosalie's voice purred silkily against his neck, "I'm going to insist we reschedule this meeting for tomorrow so I can take you home and do the kinds of things which are illegal in most states."
Raymond came hurtling out of the memory with a delightful jolt.
His companion was standing beside him, one hand surreptitiously tracing the edge of his belt.
He buried a devilish grin in the crook of her neck, an arm winding its way around her waist so he could pull her close. "Mmm...keep that lovely notion foremost in your mind, little dove. This won't take long, I'll make sure of it. Then you and I can explore every nook and cranny of that notion."
He kissed the soft expanse of shoulder afforded by her button down, green eyes lifting lazily to the bar's newcomer.
Gavin Pruitt had just shuffled nervously into the building.
Gavin was an accountant Red scalped from a big five firm in Philly a few years earlier for the sake of structuring a series of tax havens in Mauritius.
Their working relationship had been highly successful and completely secret up until Christmas Eve, when a battalion of the FBI's finest kicked in the door to the Pruitt household, tearing Gavin from his bed and separating him from his family.
The Feds interrogated him for hours to no avail, terrorized Judith and the kids with similar questions, and completely upended the family's home in search of any information about Raymond Reddington's syndicate.
Red was not the least bit concerned about the search. If the FBI had a nickel's worth of sense, they'd know Gavin was so painstakingly meticulous with his work, he bordered on obsessive compulsive. The man's unrelenting dedication to flying below the radar would never allow for the storage of incriminating information anywhere even remotely associated with Gavin himself.
As predicted, the authorities were forced to release the Pruitts once they recognized they had nothing with which to hold any of them.
In all of this, Gavin's only concern had been for the safety and well-being of his wife and children. Knowing Raymond would care for them better than the U.S. Government never would, he covertly contacted his employer the moment he got away from the Feds.
Raymond could still hear the phone call clear as day. He, Rosalie, and Dembe were in the midst of celebrating Christmas Eve's le réveillon with the Armels when Gavin called in an abject panic...
Armel Château - Late Evening - December 24th, 1999
Le Réveillon was a French tradition centered around a long, lavish meal shared with loved ones on Christmas Eve. The Armels partook in the celebration every year with those closest to them, which now included Raymond and Dembe. Apèrtif began sometime around nine,
The two men sat on either side of Rosalie at the large round table. Horace, Otto, Cedric and Achille were also in the group, with Florian and Marietta occupying the central.
The clock chimed 11:30 pm, and their group was finally circling around to desserts and gifts.
Dembe stilled in the middle of a conversation with Rosalie and Marietta, pulling Red's satellite phone from the pocket of his jeans. "Excuse me, I should take this."
Raymond turned in question, seeing his compatriot mouth 'Gavin' before stepping out of the room. Red's attention returned to the group at large, noting he and Rosalie had a rare moment of distraction in which the others were all preoccupied.
Horace was busy giving Otto the business for the clipped mustache he had apparently been sporting for several months. The Armels and Cedric were boisterously exchanging the first gifts of the night, passing the festively wrapped presents hurriedly across the table.
Knowing they would not be overheard, Raymond turned his curiosity back toward Rosalie, "Now, who exactly is Cedric in all of this?"
Rosalie spared the dark haired man a passing glance, "Cedric Durant is Florian's right hand, consider him a consigliere of sorts."
"He looks awfully young for a consigliere." Red watched the two men exchanging genial banter over a pair of ornately wrapped boxes which they had swapped moments earlier.
Cedric shook his head and grinned, carefully lifting an expensive Patek Philippe from his opened box. He clapped his hands together, roaring his delight in rapid French before gathering Florian in a massive hug.
Rosalie beamed at the two, the love she held for both men quite evident in her gaze. She leaned into Raymond's sphere, whispering in an undertone. "Lucien, Cedric's father, was Florian's best friend. Monsieur Durant acted as the Armels' closest advisor for literal decades. Cedric's mother, Apolline, passed away when he was just a young man. The Durant men came to live alongside Florian and Marietta shortly after, but Lucien only lasted a year before cancer took him as well. Cedric was only seventeen at the time."
Both fugitives looked up as Marietta cooed her excitement over a lovely diamond brooch which Cedric had gifted her. She flung her arms around him and kissed his cheeks in thanks before having him help her pin the trinket to her sweater. It was evident, care anyone look, that the Armels treated Cedric as a favored son.
"Florian and Marietta painstakingly guided Cedric through the loss of his last remaining family member, all the heartache and grief that comes with it. Both promised he would always have a home with them and a lucrative position in the Corsican's syndicate. He's never left the family since. Cedric is a kind soul, a good man. Horace may have been my first companion when I came to this life, but Cedric is secretly, by far, my closest."
Raymond considered Cedric for a beat then looked back at Rosalie, his tone playful, "Should I be jealous of the competition, my dear?"
Rosalie snorted with laughter, "Absolutely not. He's like a very annoying older brother, there is no competition."
Cedric chose that exact moment to toss a wad of colorful tissue paper at Rosalie's face.
She wrinkled her nose in disdain, picking up the multicolored ball and flinging it back at him, hitting the man square in the forehead. "See what I mean?"
"Les enfants."
Marietta's tone was at once amused and chiding, causing the two perpetrators to return their hands to their laps, sharing a look which indicated they would be settling this feud later.
"Raymond, you need to take this."
Dembe had reappeared at his shoulder, quietly holding the satellite phone out for Red to take. His expression was unmoving, alerting Raymond to the fact there was a serious issue afoot.
He took the phone, giving Rosalie a reassuring glance before leaving the room.
"Gavin, what's going on?"
The man's voice came in a frenzied whisper. "Raymond, I'm in trouble. The Feds are looking into our involvement. They came to my house, my house, Raymond. Harassing Judith and the kids-"
Red froze, interrupting the man with a sharp clip, "Tell me everything. What did they know? What did they ask?"
Gavin quickly relived the events of the past several hours, divulging every piece of information he believed to be relevant. "I have no desire to talk to the authorities, Red, but I need certain assurances for my family. I need your help."
Raymond didn't hesitate, "Anything they need, they'll be cared for, you know that. Judith and the kids will want for nothing. What I'm more worried about is where you are going to hide."
"My family is my only concern." Gavin assured, then seemed to come back to himself, "That being said...if I'm to live out my days in hiding, there's an innkeeper I'd like you to contract for the exchange."
Raymond immediately became suspicious at this, "This innkeeper you want me to use, what do they call themselves?"
"I've yet to hear the name, all I know is she's a woman."
"Of course she is," Red grinned, carefully keeping the amusement from leaking into his voice. Of course it was a woman. There was only one innkeeper he knew of with the kind of infamy that would put her on Gavin's radar, and she was in the other room.
"She's elusive, Raymond. Impossible to track. The underground is all a titter but nobody knows how to find her."
Raymond bit back a chuckle,"Which is exactly what you want from the person providing your safehouse. If she were easy to find, she'd be of no use to anyone."
"Yes," agreed Gavin, "I was hoping you might know someone in her circle. Word on the street is only those whose friends are already in the network stand a chance of getting in contact with her."
Raymond managed to withhold a dry chuckle from leaping from his mouth "I love a good game of cat and mouse. How does one know if they've encountered a member of this elusive woman's clientele?"
"I've been told her network is affectionately referred to as The Alcázar. Her clients use the name to identify themselves. You know more people in the criminal world than anyone I know, surely you must know at least one client of hers."
Red turned at the sound of a heavy wooden door closing behind him.
A pair of arms circled his midsection, the innkeeper in question having come to see what was keeping him.
"I'm sure I know a client or two." He smirked, one hand reaching to brush a thumb along Rosalie's flushed cheek. "I'll have an answer within twenty-four hours. Until then, stay with your family. The day after Christmas, you should make the run for my storage facility, 4090 Delaware Avenue. I'm sure you can make it there unfollowed?"
Gavin heaved a heavy sigh, "I can be there tonight."
His disparaged response was cause for concern. Raymond carefully broached the subject of the man's wife and children, "Gavin, there is more than enough space for Judith and the kids, and the FBI won't be able to gather enough intel to take you down in the next thirty-six hours. Let Judith and the boys enjoy one last Christmas in Philly, I'll have security keeping an eye out, you don't need to worry."
A pregnant silence stretched several long moments before Gavin finally spoke.
"I'm not dragging Judith and the kids into this, Ray."
Raymond felt Rosalie stiffen in his arms upon hearing Gavin's steely tone cut through the connection.
"You're leaving them behind."
"Yes."
"You should think very carefully about this, Gavin-" Red began, but the other man would hear none of it.
"I've made my decision. I made it the moment I started working for you. I'll meet your associates at 4090 Delaware at midnight."
A sharp click could be heard, followed by a stagnant dial tone, the conversation effectively ended.
"What's happened to Gavin?" Rosalie asked, her brow pinched with concern.
Red relayed the gist of the conversation, from Gavin's impromptu run-in with the FBI to his request for entry into her network.
"You know, I never facilitated permanent housing until I started running around with you," Rosalie admitted, "but I can't deny I rather enjoy it. I've got a number of locations where I can hold them until we've found the appropriate place to build their new lives. There's a blacksite outside of Pittsburgh big enough to house all of the Pruitts-"
She caught herself at this, realizing her mistake.
"It sounds like Gavin is walking this road alone," Raymond reminded gently, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Rosalie released a shaky breath, "His wife. Judith's going to wake up to an empty bed, her marriage and family torn apart. I can't even imagine...Do you think he'll come to his senses?"
"Perhaps."
He was unconvinced, she could see it in his eyes.
Red didn't look away from the imploring gaze.
"She won't know-" Rosalie attempted to explain, but fell short, her head bowing in despair.
He cupped her cheek once more, a broad thumb circling its delicate surface. "Won't know what, little dove?"
Her eyes lifted, heartbreak marring her normally radiant features. "Judith won't know it's the last time she'll kiss her husband goodnight, it's the last evening she'll spend in his arms. Those precious few comforts, last expressions of love...the kinds of things which will have to carry her through what comes next, and she won't know until it's too late."
A wry expression darkened Raymond's visage. "It's an agonizing thing to do, but he believes he's doing what's best for those he loves. Can you fault him for such an outlook?"
Red hated that he wanted her approval on this. His heart clenched with insecurity; if Rosalie couldn't empathize with Gavin's plight, how could she ever reconcile with his own?
Carla Reddington had been in Judith's shoes once, a mere nine years ago. What would Rosalie say if she ever discovered the truth about Raymond's supposed ex-wife?
"I couldn't do it." She admitted finally, laying her head against his chest. "I get why Gavin's doing what he's doing, understand it, but I don't think I could walk away and not say anything. Perhaps that makes me selfish."
He breathed a sigh of relief, resting his chin atop her head. "How on earth does honesty make you selfish?"
Rosalie let out a huff and squeezed him more tightly, "Because I know, if I told you, you wouldn't let me go."
Raymond inhaled a deep, soothing breath into the soft curls nestled against him, the truth coming to him without pause.
"You're right, I wouldn't."
Dembe stood to greet Gavin, shaking the man's hand and directing him to their corner table.
Raymond took Rosalie's hand and guided her from her seat to meet their newest client. He reached out, giving Gavin's hand a firm shake before making a sweeping gesture toward the woman beside him.
"Gavin, this is Rosalie Øllegaard, she's the innkeeper our friends have been whispering about from the shadows. As you requested, I've contracted her and her contingent of infamous associates to facilitate your upcoming move. Rosalie, this is Gavin Pruitt, one of my most most trusted accountants."
Rosalie beamed warmly at the man, offering her hand, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you Mr. Pruitt, I've heard great things."
Gavin gave a curt nod. "As have I. Tales of your syndicate's illustrious reputation are spoken with a quiet reverence in the underground."
This seemed to amuse Rosalie greatly, "So I've heard...My clients, criminals looking for entrance, they have a name for my network, don't they?"
"The Alcázar, the Spanish definition of a fortified castle. Quite evocative. Though, I've yet to overhear what they call you." Gavin's gaze was at once curious and scrutinizing.
Rosalie's lips lifted into a serene smile, "Please have a seat, I'm eager to show my network, at the very least, is worthy of its name."
The group retook their seats, whereupon Rosalie held out an expectant hand.
Ted produced a black leather folio, placing it into her outstretched palm. He flashed Gavin a genial grin, rocking once on the balls of his feet before returning to the pretty girl at the bar.
Red only halfway listened as Rosalie began to explain the intricacies of her network, her role in Gavin's relocation, and the homes she had available for his permanent accommodation.
Seville, Spain - January 13, 2000
Raymond had waited a couple weeks after receiving Gavin's call to take Rosalie on a date to Spain.
They had been dating for six months, a milestone which Red was intent on celebrating. He and Rosalie had quietly observed each month spent together in the sanctuary of their bedroom with flowers and decadent desserts and even more decadent lovemaking...but this one, he decided, needed to be more special, more official than those prior. Six months had gone by in the blink of an eye, and most criminal relationships never made it this far without something catastrophic happening.
To commemorate the occasion, Raymond had the historic Alcázar of Seville and its grounds closed for dinner and a private tour.
The two arrived after a long day of managing their respective businesses, ready for a bit of quiet comfort away from prying eyes.
Rosalie's eyes shone brightly, taking in the magnificent surroundings. The blossoming gardens were teeming with life from their lush green grasses to their rows of tall, slender palms. The courtyard they walked through was framed by beautiful archways decorated in ornate tiles and climbing flowers. It was truly a stunning venue.
Raymond stealthily guided his companion to a hidden alcove tucked amongst some climbing ivy, unable to withhold the news any longer. "I discovered something very interesting as of late."
His companion swung his hand leisurely with her own, continuing their tour into the alcove's soaring archways. "Hmm?"
A chuckle greeted her distracted response, "You've made it to the big leagues."
"What do you mean?" She asked, eyes half-lidded, enamored with the space and the presence of her lover.
"Your network has a name." Red divulged, a palpable heat evident in his tone.
"Oh really?" Rosalie grinned, rather intrigued by the idea. Her palms smoothed up his chest to rest on his shoulders. "Tell me more."
He grinned back at her, backing them further into the alcove so he could kiss her properly. "If your network has a name, I'm certain you've already been bestowed one. I'm keeping my ears to the ground to find out what it might be."
Rosalie tittered softly, reciprocating the kiss until her curiosity got the better of her. Taking Red's hand in hers, Rosalie practically squirmed with curiosity. "So...What do they call my network?"
Raymond smiled to himself, turning to continue their slow walk through the gardens. "Well, security and secrecy are key, so individuals hoping to be brought into the fold utilize a code phrase to covertly identify active clients. They need only ask their friends if they've been invited to stay in the penthouses at the Alcázar."
Rosalie turned about in a circle, taking in the splendor of the palatial estate surrounding them. "The penthouses at the Alcázar? My clients, they equate my network to a place like this?"
A warm hand slipped about her waist, bringing Rosalie back into Red's sphere. He watched her reaction with undisguised delight, "An Alcázar is a palace and a fortress in equal measure. This one was only a fort at first, built in the tenth century by the first Caliph of Andalucía. The current palace, however, was built in the fourteenth century. Its beauty is matched only by its safety. A very adept comparison, if you ask me..."
He was surprised when he turned to see a tear slip from the corner of her eye. "Rosalie?"
She beamed an incandescent though watery smile, "I've always loved the architecture of the Mujedar...I think the Alcázar is a lovely name."
Raymond pressed his lips to her temple, pleased that she was happy with this new development. "It certainly is. If they did so well in naming your network, I can't wait to find out what the powers that be have named you."
Rosalie laughed outright, "How did my clients even start such a thing? You're my closest client and you're just finding this out. What's to say the others are even aware of this code?"
Red gave a shrug, "I learned this tidbit from Gavin, actually, when he asked me to find you."
A pointed look was exchanged between the two of them.
"Well, we've certainly succeeded in keeping our involvement from prying eyes." Rosalie conceded, "Even your accountant doesn't know we live together."
They both laughed at this, pleased and more than a little amused by their efforts.
A comfortable silence enveloped them, broken only by the steady crunch of gravel beneath their feet.
At the end of the lane, Raymond ushered them into another hidden alcove where an intimate setting sat waiting, perched in the eaves of a hoard of climbing wisteria.
Candles lit the space in a warm, flickering glow, and somewhere in the palace, a jazz quintet was playing.
Rosalie squeezed Red's hand tightly, recognizing the same array of flowers that he had given her on their first date resting in the center of the neatly dressed table.
"Oh, Raymond...It's so very beautiful."
"Oh, Raymond...He was very convincing about your case."
Red was pulled from that night and thrust back into the chair he occupied, hardly aware of the conversation going on around him.
Gavin's lips pursed thoughtfully, looking between the two of them. "I must admit, I was surprised at how quickly he was able to get in contact with you. I expected you to be almost impossible to find."
The entire group chuckled, sharing a barrage of knowing looks.
Rosalie readily stepped in to soothe Gavin's nerves, "You shouldn't be surprised. You work for one of the most well-connected criminals in the world."
Raymond preened under the compliment, adding, "There's nobody in the game like Rosalie, Gavin. The moment you mentioned her network I knew there was only one person it could be. Luckily for you, she and I have worked together periodically this year, so she was a much easier find than she'd normally be."
Gavin seemed appeased by this, nodding for Rosalie to continue where she left off.
She spared a glance for her companion, tossing him a sly wink before shifting right back into their negotiations.
They enjoyed a delicious candle-lit dinner in the quiet serenity of their hidden courtyard in the Alcázar, culminating in spectacular desserts of toasted crema catalana and flaky, chocolate-filled miguelitos.
Rosalie was perched in Red's lap, winking playfully at him as the desserts were brought and the remnants of their dinner cleared away.
Raymond lifted the decanter and poured the last of the robust Bobal wine they had been drinking into his wine glass, lifting his dessert spoon with a grin.
From their very first date, they had continued the tradition of cozying up together and sharing desserts over the last glass of wine. It was intimate, fun, and the perfect way to end a romantic date together.
"Your gift is back at the house..." Rosalie informed him, holding out a spoonful of miguelito for him to sample.
Raymond took the bite with a hum of approval, "Mmm...So is yours. I don't suppose mine involves our bedroom?"
He received a scathing look for his lasciviousness, a look which quickly had him shaking with repressed laughter.
"It involves a humidor." She retorted with a pointed arch of her brow.
Red's smile widened, "You didn't."
The mention of their humidor could only mean his companion had commandeered another shipment of stolen cigars. Raymond admitted, he had been missing the simple luxury of a hand-rolled Cohiba after a long day. He and Rosalie had been occupying themselves with their own enjoyable pastimes, true, but he was very much looking forward to his stash being replenished. In fact, having such an enticing vice would all but ensure he would have a warm and willing blonde perched in his lap at the end every day from now until September.
The knowledge had him very happy, indeed.
"Oh...I did," She grinned deviously for where his mind had undoubtedly wandered. Cupping his cheek in her palm, she guided his mouth to hers. "It seems Fidel just can't keep a hold on his maids...or his cigars."
Red chuckled to himself, as always, delighted by her thievery. "My little Machiavellian..." The sentiment was purred against the plump curvature of her lips before he claimed her mouth in a slow, sensual kiss that made their insides burn.
"Gavin, I would be remiss if I didn't offer..." Rosalie looked to Red for guidance, but his eyes were once again glazed over. She turned back toward Gavin, "Your family. They are welcome to come with you. It would be very easy for me to provide a slightly larger home to suit all of you. Raymond could easily get new documents for them as well-"
"No Ma'am, absolutely not." Gavin's flat baritone was clear and decisive on the matter, "This is my fault, my choices led to this. My family doesn't deserve to have their lives upended by my mistakes."
Red knew it was killing the man to leave behind the woman he loved. He had never met Gavin's family, for obvious reasons, but the way he spoke about Judith...it was clear as day how much he adored and cherished the love of his life. Raymond couldn't imagine the agony he was going through. He too had offered to give Judith and the kids new identities, to relocate them together, but as he had with Rosalie, Gavin staunchly refused.
There was something to be said for a man willing to endure such pain for the sake of those he loved.
Raymond could certainly understand Gavin's motivations and applauded him for having the stomach to do what needed to be done.
Rosalie, it seemed, did not agree with such a sentiment.
"You don't think their lives will be upended by you disappearing into the ether? Your wife will never know what happened to her husband, your children will never know what happened to their father-"
Raymond placed a comforting hand on her thigh beneath the table, signaling she should stop. "We'll make it look as though Gavin died."
Rosalie gave both men an appalled look, "How in the hell is that any better?"
Gavin shifted in his seat, his demeanor becoming a mite testy. "Because if they believe I'm dead, there's a finality to it. Closure. It will be a dark period in their lives, but my family will eventually come to terms with my passing and be allowed to live the rest of their days unencumbered by the weight of my sins. Their innocence will remain intact. It's the least I can do for getting them in this mess."
Gavin and Rosalie scowled at each other for several long moments. Then, the latter turned back toward her companion.
"How?"
"What do you mean, Rosalie?" Red's tone was placating, and he fought the urge to smile when she leveled him a scrutinizing glare.
"How are you going to fake his death, Raymond?"
He shrugged, "The Feds already know Gavin's involved with me, we're going to spread the word he was speaking to them and I did what was necessary to keep him silent. The authorities won't even question it."
This, apparently, was not the answer Rosalie had been expecting. "I see. Excuse me, I need another drink." She stood and made for the bar, leaving both men in her wake.
The two shared a sheepish glance before Raymond carefully glossed over the awkward silence, "I think we could all use another round. I'll be back momentarily."
Red stood and made his way to the side of the bar, where he could see Rosalie tucked away from prying eyes. He came up alongside her, flagging down the bartender. "Four Aguilas, a scotch neat, and whatever's on her tab, please." He inclined his head toward his companion and set a stack of Colombian pesos on the bar top.
The bartender gave a curt nod, pocketing the notes before cracking the tops of four dark brown bottles and pulling out a heavy glass.
Raymond gently broached the subject which had wedged itself between him and his lover, "I know, little dove. I know you don't agree with his decision, but at the end of the day, it's Gavin's decision."
Rosalie immediately went on the defensive, "I know that, but I've helped rob his wife and children of their husband and father, I'm allowed to feel a small measure of guilt. I'm allowed to take a moment and consider those he's leaving behind, especially when no-one else seems to be doing so."
The discontent behind the statement wasn't warranted, considering how little Rosalie knew of Judith Pruitt and her family, and yet, Red could still hear the hurt lingering in her tone.
"You're deeply bothered by this," he noted, "What has you so riled up, Rosalie? Talk to me."
"Do you agree with his choice?" She asked, watching his expression carefully.
"It doesn't matter if I agree with his choice." Raymond leaned an elbow on the bar, "It shouldn't matter to you, either."
He had seen this scenario enough times to know how the events would play out. It genuinely didn't matter what they believed, the client would always do what they thought best. It was part of the job.
"It does matter to me," Rosalie insisted, "Do you think he's doing the right thing by abandoning his wife and children so they can live their same old lives, even though it's a lie? Even though it will tear them apart? We've hardly been dating six months, and I can tell you, if you did this to me, I would be absolutely livid."
Red's posture relaxed, finally understanding what had her so upset. She was worried his approval of Gavin's decision to leave his family indicated Raymond would be willing to do the same to her if the worst came to pass. Rosalie refused to be left over something so trivial as her own safety. The thought made him smile, the action fueling the flames of her frustration.
"...and what about you?" She barreled onward, hitting her stride, "Are you content to allow the world to think you shot Gavin dead in a ditch for being in contact with the Feds when you know it's not true? You're content to add that to the list of crimes for which you could someday be held accountable? You're innocent, but those vultures in the justice system would be happy to end you for it without any kind of proof-"
He reached out a hand to pull Rosalie into his sphere, intent on soothing the agitation darkening her features.
"How are you okay with this?" she snapped, allowing herself to be pulled into his arms despite her crackling temper.
Warm lips traveled the length of her slender neck, stopping to rest at her earlobe, "This is what I'm best at, Rosalie; covering up the misdeeds of others, giving them a clean slate and maintaining the sanctity of those precious few things they cherish in life. That's why I am the criminal I am. I give people a way out."
Raymond leaned back, bringing her gaze to his own, "Once you've got a bounty on your head, once you've stepped into the shoes of a most-wanted criminal, it doesn't matter what you add to the rap sheet. I focus my every move on keeping myself ten steps ahead of any kind of law enforcement. It's a strange kind of immunity, knowing no matter what you do you'll still get death row. It makes every other crime you commit rather meaningless."
Rosalie shrank back a bit at this, but he could tell she agreed with his logic.
"To answer your question, I completely agree with Gavin's decision, agonizing though it may be for everyone involved. Gavin's doing the right thing, the selfless thing, by protecting his family from his own mistakes. Two of the people I admire most in this world walked away from it all to keep their loved ones safe. Raymond Reddington walked away from not one but two families, once upon a time. I can only hope I would be strong enough to do the same if I were in h-" he quickly corrected himself, "in Gavin's position.
Red vividly remembered what Florian had said to him that day in the Armel's greenhouses. 'Armel women are not wallflowers.' Rosalie needed to know that though he agreed with Gavin's decision, it did not mean he would ever be willing to do the same to her.
"There's a colossal difference between us and the Pruitts, Rosalie. You know full well what I get up to every day. Hell, you play an active and complacent role in my life as a criminal. There's no point in hiding any of it from you or trying to shelter you from it. Simply because I agree with Gavin' choice, doesn't mean it would every be an option for you and I."
He watched a deep, steady breath leave her body, the slight frame relaxing visibly at this statement. A small, warm hand reached out to rest atop his own, giving it a grateful squeeze.
"We should return to the others, lest we spook our client."
Rosalie nodded, her shoulders pulling back and her chin lifting, her body steeling its resolve to complete the deal they had with Gavin.
"What if you did get arrested?" She asked tentatively, wanting to resolve the last dregs of uncertainty between them.
Raymond grinned, "You and Dembe would have the immense satisfaction of organizing a prison break for yours truly."
Rosalie tittered at this before her voice dropped to a sincere whisper. "As much fun as that sounds...Don't get caught, okay?"
Red, leaned and kissed her forehead, "I'll do my very best, little dove."
She took a step toward their table, then turned around once more."And don't be a noble sod," she added, much to his amusement, "If you're ever in his position, if you ever feel like you have to choose...I- Well, I wouldn't want you to go alone."
The request tore mercilessly at Red's heartstrings, stealing the very breath from his lungs with its timid sincerity.
Where so many of their contemporaries were cold, cruel, and cynical, Rosalie was a constant contradiction.
She was warmth incarnate, compassionate almost to a fault, and, secretly, an eternal optimist. She kept a man like Red on his toes, made him strive to be better, to be more.
Watching her saunter across the bar, Red realized he had known the truth for a while now.
He loved her.
Raymond loved Rosalie, and tonight, when they could finally find a corner of quiet solitude, he would tell her so.
He wouldn't wait another second.
Rosalie turned a searching gaze back toward the bar, seeing Raymond watching her with a kind of intensity she hadn't yet seen before. She couldn't help the pink flush which graced her cheeks, the very depths of her stirring in response to his avid attention.
"It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Gavin. Your transport is parked outside, operated by Raymond's associates. They will take you to my blacksite in Bogota tonight, where you can rest until your flight tomorrow afternoon. My associates will meet you on the tarmac once you land in Portland and take you to your new home, and we'll go from there."
"And my identification, papers, et cetera?" Gavin turned expectantly toward Reddington, who was contentedly swirling his scotch.
"Your new identification, banking information, and all other lifestyle-related paraphernalia will be waiting for you in the house's safe. The code will be given to you upon arrival, and you can open it once Rosalie's associates have vacated the premises."
Gavin seemed pleased with this, "Very well. Thank you, both of you, for making this disastrous situation a touch easier," his dark eyes turned to Rosalie, "I do appreciate you considering my family in all of this. I know it can't be easy helping a man to abandon those who depend on him, but..." He took a deep, steadying breath, "There's never been a soul on this earth whom I've ever loved the way I love my Judith. She deserves better than a life on the run. She deserves a good life, even if it means we don't get to spend that life together."
Much to Red's surprise, Rosalie took Gavin's hand in both of her own. "There are no easy decisions here, Gavin. You're doing what you believe to be right, I can't fault you for that."
A wry smile pulled at Gavin's lips, "It's a shame Judith didn't know what I was up to. I have a feeling the two of you could have been good friends."
"In another life, perhaps." She agreed, standing to embrace him and wish him luck in his next chapter.
Red stood as well, "I'll walk you out, we can go over the provision for your family on the way."
Rosalie watched the two men's backs as they retreated through the establishment. She turned to Dembe with a sigh, "I'm going to step into the ladies' room, will you let Ray know I haven't taken off?"
"Of course," he assured, returning to the card game he had instigated with Kate.
Ted was still at the bar with the pretty girl, his posture relaxing as Rosalie passed by, pointing carelessly toward the hallway where the bathrooms were.
Red stared suspiciously at the door to the ladies' bathroom.
Dembe had informed him Rosalie was in there once he returned from saying goodbye to Gavin.
That was nearly ten minutes ago.
She was taking an inordinate amount of time in there. Perhaps she was feeling unwell? He continued only halfway listening to what was going on around him. The dark green eyes flitted to the door every thirty seconds, willing it to open. Maybe she was still upset about Judith and the kids...
He would giver her a few more minutes to gather herself if need be.
Raymond barely made it to the three minute mark.
He finally pushed his seat back and strode unceremoniously over to the door. He tapped his fingers on its wooden surface.
"Rosalie?"
There was no answer. He tapped again, a little more forcefully, but to no response. Red reached down and gripped the handle, finding it locked. Dembe, Kate, and Ted hurried over, bearing identical expressions of concern. Without preamble, Raymond leaned back and kicked the door open with a crash, causing a commotion among the other patrons in the bar.
A chill ran up his spine as he peered into the empty room.
The tiled floor was devoid of any marks, the lone window was ajar, and there were no indications anyone in the room but themselves.
Red stepped forward, pushing open the two metal doors to the two small stalls as he searched the room for any sign of Rosalie.
"Raymond."
Dembe's somber voice called softly from the entry.
Red whipped around, hoping to see the woman he was looking for standing safely in the doorway.
Instead, he saw Kate Kaplan kneeling in the same spot, pointing gravely toward a small droplet of blood hidden behind the door.