"What are you leering at?" Mirena smirked, her eyes still closed as she basked in the warm island sun. She could always sense when he either stared or glanced her direction. It was like her superpower.
"Who's leering?" Mirena scoffed and tore her arm away from her eyes to sit up and stare the Englishman down.
"You. You leer. More often than you think too." She smirked, tying her wrap around the lower half of her body before approaching the man that watched her from the balcony door.
"And it isn't as endearing or as sexy as you think it is either." She whispered, nipping at the man's earlobe before passing him to get to the bar.
"You have a sharp tongue on you, has anyone ever told you that?" He smiled, pulling her away from the bottles and into his bare chest.
"Once or twice." She chuckled, leaning up to kiss him just as her burner rang out across the room, making the pair groan.
"If that's Wade, tell him he owes me a vacation." He called, knowing very well there was a job at the other end of the phone call.
"I'll be sure to do that," Mirena said sarcastically, answering the phone.
"Cross."
"I got a big one for you and you're gonna love it." Mirena sighed and watched as her Brit reclined back in the lounge chair, waiting for her return.
"And I've got a big one here so it better be more than half a million dollars, Wade." Wade sucked his teeth and sighed and Rena groaned.
"No fucking way, nothing less than half a mill, Wade."
"Look, baby-"
"Don't fucking call me that."
"Mirena, It's an international assassin. He's a hitman, not unlike yourself. It'll be fun! Don't you like that Brad Pitt movie?" Mirena scoffed and rolled her eyes. She was on vacation for Christ's sake...but then again...money was never exactly something she would turn down.
"Send the info and maybe, MAYBE, I'll think about it."
"Perfect I'll just-"
"Bye Wade." She said, tossing the phone across the room on the couch once more and retiring to the patio with her paramour.
"Everything alright Mi?" Mirena smiled, swinging her leg over the man's lap to straddle him as he sat up.
"Yeah...just work. You understand, right Brix?" Brixton brushed the dark locks out of her face and pulled her in for a kiss.
"Of Course I do, love. Where to this time?" He asked, not surprised that his jet-setter was going off on more adventures.
"Rio. Maybe. I haven't decided yet."
"Well, Let's give it a few hours then.." Brix said with a devilish smile as he lifted the woman up higher on his hips."
"I don't like this Mirena.," Deckard warned as she landed the plane outside of the meeting point she had decided on with Brixton.
"You don't have to like it...it just has to work." She shrugged, unbuckling herself and heading for the back towards Luke and Hattie.
"Alright, stand up." She motioned to her sister-in-law, taking a deep breath and shaking out her hands.
"Okay, now what's the pla-" Without another word uttered, Mirena cracked Hattie across the face and pulled her arms back, zip-tying them together.
"What the fuck, Mirena!" Hattie groaned, moving her jaw around.
"Oh don't be a baby. He would never believe you'd gone willingly." Luke nodded in agreement as Deckard continued to look uneasy at the entire plan. He had just gotten his wife and his sister back, and here he was about to potentially lose them again.
"You two stay here, I'll be back to fly you over the drop after I hand her over to Brixton," Mirena said, getting around Hattie to hold onto her wrists.
"Ready?" Rena asked, peering over to see Hattie nod.
"Let's do it." Mirena nodded and shoved her forward out of the plan towards the helicopter that just landed a few yards away. Mirena put on her mercenary persona, pushing out all feelings and thoughts on the mission. She always did her best work when she remained neutral.
"I knew I hadn't seen the last of your beautiful face," Brix called as he jumped down from the landing to the ground and stalked towards his former flame.
"What can I say, you impressed me like always Brix." She said with a smirk, shoving Hattie forward towards the men in black.
"Change of heart eh?" He asked with a smirk, eyeing the woman up and down.
"I'm big enough to admit when I've been wrong...and after seeing you in action I can say I'm officially done picking...the wrong men." She said breathlessly, her manner of seduction a little rusty but still effective.
"If I find you're lying-"
"You'll cut out my heart. I'd be terrified love," She said pressing her fingertips to his abdomen and pushing herself up onto her toes to whisper in his ear "If I had one." Brixton chuckled as she released him and rubbed his jaw.
"Coordinates have been sent to your burner, Mi. See ya soon." He said, taking hold of Hattie and dragging her into the helicopter as Mirena watched on, her heart in her throat as they flew off across the large estate. Mirena let out a deep breath she was holding in and hurried back to the jet just as her phone buzzed in her pocket.
"Well, I think that went well," Luke said as the woman pushed passed the two men towards the cockpit.
"As long as it works...I don't care." Deck grumbled, obviously unhappy with the plan in its essence.
"Oh stop being a baby and buckle up," Rena rolled her eyes and flipped on her instruments. "We'll be over the drop in ten, get ready." She commanded as she got the bird in the air to continue the mission to get Hattie back to safety.
Her feet were tired. Her entire body was tired. She had never been through such physical exertion in her entire life but this was about survival. It wasn't an option or a choice.
"You're getting lazy. Your form is all wrong." Mirena sighed and straightened up once more only to be cut off by the Madame again just as the doors to the auditorium opened.
"Forget it. Go get cleaned up for dinner." Mirena fell from her toes to flat feet, thankfully, and peered over the bright lights as a large man approached the stage, his presence essentially demanding attention.
"Duncan...In need of another already?" Madame Ivanov asked, surprised as she lit her fifth cigarette of the evening.
"I wouldn't if you trained them better." He jested, making Madame Ivanov frown.
"Good apprentices are hard to come by...I've had to reach outside of the order for new recruits. The institute is..Mirena! Off with you, girl." She yelled, taking note of the small ballerina still on the stage and eavesdropping. Mirena scurried off, scrambling up the iron steps to the dorms as fast as possible. She closed the large door and headed for the shower, ignoring her roommate's attempt at conversation. She welcomed the scalding water though it made her still healing wounds sting. Mirena came to the conclusion long ago when she was dumped at the institute that she'd never have pretty skin again. Always scarred, always bruised, always..imperfect. It was better than the alternative, she had to remember that.
"Mirena Cross to Madame Ivanov's office, immediately. Repeat: Mirena Cross to Madame Ivanov's office immediately"
Mirena hit her forehead lightly on the tile wall in frustration, cursing the damn speakers that cluttered the halls and every fucking room in the institute...including the showers.
"Mirena-"
"I heard." She said tersely to her roommate as she quickly pulled on her uniform and put her hair in place. If she looked a smidge out of place, Ivanov would deal with her personally. She ignored the greetings from a few of the boys coming back from wrestling practice and a couple of girls who were returning from the range. Mirena held her head high as she reached the door to the office, nodding at the guard in front of it.
"Cross. That was quick. Good." Ivanov said, putting out her cigarette and gesturing to the chair in front of her desk.
"I'd rather stand, Madame." Ivanov shrugged and leaned back against the front of her desk.
"You've captured much interest." Mirena's brow furrowed in confusion. She was barely ready for any mentorship or apprenticeship. At least that's what has been drilled into her head ever since she was left on the doorstep all those years ago.
"I haven't any idea what I would have done to warrant any-" Suddenly she felt her air supply leave her as a large hand wrapped around her throat, squeezing tightly. She only pawed at the hand a moment before instinct took over and she reached for the letter opener on the desk and threw her elbow back to her captor's gut and up to their nose before swinging her body around her attacker and landing a hard kick to the middle of their back, forcing them on their knees. Mirena held the blade to her attacker's neck who just laughed. Mirena's eyes darted between Madame Ivanov and the dark-haired man she had in front of her.
"She's good. She's very good." Ivanov shrugged and let out an unimpressed scoff.
"She's distracted easily."
"What is going on?!" Mirena interjected just as the man in front of her twisted her arm, causing her to drop the letter opener and flipped her over his shoulder, ultimately pinning her to the ground.
"She is...but that can be retaught.." He said, his eyes scanning her features before letting her up.
"When did you start at the academy?" He asked, offering a chair that Mirena refused.
"I was eight when I was dropped off here..."
"Well over eight years ago," Madame interjected as she poured a glass of sherry for herself.
"She'll do," Duncan said, approving of the 16-year-old.
"Mirena, this is Duncan Vizla. You'll be his apprentice." Ivanov said, still uninterested.
"For how long?" Mirena asked shortly, making Ivanov slam her glass down.
"However long he chooses. He's paid for you, he can do whatever he wants. Go pack." She commanded. Mirena nodded, ignoring the swelling in her throat. She didn't want to go with the stranger but she sure as shit didn't want to stay here.
"Alright! You have a 45 second window before you're out of range! " Mirena yelled as Luke released the latch for the plane opening.
"Thanks, Rena!" Luke yelled before psyching himself up to jump out of the plane. Deck retreated from the opening, shaking his head as he approached the cockpit.
"What- What are you doing? Go jump! You'll miss your window!" She yelled over the gusts of wind. Deckard leaned down, pulling Mirena to him by the latch his hand had on her neck.
"I love you, Rena." He said after pulling away, leaving Mirena breathless. The look she had on her face made him chuckle while she cleared her throat.
"I love you too...now get out of here!" She called, batting him off with a smirk. Deck jogged to the edge before taking one last look at Mirena and stepping off the ledge. As he disappeared from sight, she closed the hatch and shook her head unbelievingly.
"What has gotten into him." She asked herself as the airstrip came into view.
"State your business" came a voice over her instruments.
"Mirena Cross...Brixton is expecting me."
"Permission to land granted. Miss Cross, welcome to Eteon."
"Thank you," She said, shutting off her mic and tossing it aside as she brought the bird down. "You stupid bastard." She smiled, landing the jet smoothly in the air carrier.
"Welcome to the new world order, love." Brixton boomed, welcoming her into the black site with open arms.
"It's not as nice as my old place but..it'll do." She whispered, patting the man on the cheek before sliding into the passenger side.
"Cheeky." Said Brixton, casually tossing his arm around the back of Mirena's chair.
"Did you expect any different?"
"I don't know what I expected, honestly." He said suspiciously, side-eyeing the woman he once knew. "Never thought I'd see you again after seeing you and Shaw's picture in the post." He said referencing the announcement Hattie had put out so many years ago despite protests from both her and Deck.
"I can honestly say the same. You look good, Brix." He smiled at her change of subject as they pulled into the back of the hanger.
"I'm state of the art now, love. Something to look forward to." He winked, stopping the vehicle and getting out. Mirena took note of the firing range and the multiple tents spread throughout the immense hanger. Hattie had to be in one of the tents but which, Mirena had no idea.
"So what exactly did they do to you, Brix? Is...everything...new and improved?" She asked, following close behind the man who towered over her. He stopped abruptly, causing Mirena to almost run right into his back.
"Stick around for a bit, Mi, and I can show you every bit, eh?" He said with a wink, guiding her in front of him passed a few tents by his hand on her lower back.
"You have to give me your sales pitch first." She said crossing her arms and gesturing to the multitude of cars, weapons, and mercenaries walking about.
"We have more than enough technology and dark money to go around, Mi. I mean look at me, I'm black superman." He said pounding his chest with his fist and approaching Mirena slowly. "I could always use a Lois Lane." He said smoothly, making Mirena click her tongue and shake her head.
"I'm more of a Diana Prince, love." She said, wandering off to one of the many weapon tables.
"Impressive arsenal." She noted, turning the handgun she had in hand towards the nearby shooting range and pulling the trigger. The weapon clicked several times and she checked the clip, seeing it filled and furrowed her brow at Brixton.
"Tech issue?"
"State of the art, like everything else in here, Mi. Safety precautions. Chipped glove or in my case, hand, only way to get them to shoot." He explained, unloading the clip into the range across the way.
"Impressive." Mirena nodded, pressing her fingertips lightly into the steel table as she eyed the rest of the weapons. She needed to remind herself to give Luke and Deckard ample time to get through the laboratory. "You know I-" She cut herself short when she felt him press himself into her back, boxing her in with his arms on the table.
"Mi...what are you doing here?" He asked, his cheek just grazing her ear. He sounded more suspicious than angry and that was smart of him.
"Brix-"
"How do I know you're all in? That this isn't just some sort of play, hmm?" Mirena sighed and turned in his arms, wrapping her hands around the back of his neck and pulling his ear down to her level.
"You don't. That's the fun part." She whispered, shoving him backward off of her.
"Plus I should be suspicious of you."
"Of me?" Brixton chuckled.
"You never thought to ask me to join Eteon? What? I'm not valuable enough? I'm top five FBI most wanted list, I'm one of the top weapon experts in the country, and I know how to work with your stubborn ass." She rattled off her resume, making Brixton shake his head.
"Fair." He said, raising his hands in defeat. Mirena let out a short sigh of relief and began scanning the room again.
"So what's the plan with the snowflake?" She probed, hoping he would open up.
"New world order, Mi." He said simply, gesturing to the opening of a tent down the hanger. Son of a bitch was going to take her right back to Hattie. Brilliant.