Yes, another story where I have managed to put the characters played by Emily Blunt and Jason Statham in the same place. Muahaha. Anyway, you don't have to have seen Sicario to read this story. Not really anyway. It's still a good movie, though. Happy reading!

Prologue

2008

Lee felt drained as he made his way to the bar. He just wanted to be alone with a drink for a bit. Sometimes he liked being anonymous in a bar watching people live their lives. After everything he'd experienced, he liked to see life happen, not death. Right now, he was trying to figure out who he was outside of being a mercenary. Barney thought he was nuts for thinking this, but Lee couldn't stop thinking about it. Who would he be if he had a different career? Would he still be Lee? Would he be less hardened to life? Would he be more sensitive? He sat down at the bar, putting in his drink order. Then he glanced around at everyone. He was envious sometimes of those who lived life simply and without a care in the world. Lee was always thinking about his recent kill. Did they have a family? A spouse? Did they have children? How had they ended up at the other end of Lee's gun/knife? What had made them choose that path in life?

"You look like your brain is going to blow up," a female voice said by his ear. Lee turned, startled, to look at the woman standing beside him. She took his breath away. She was glistening with a bit of sweat from dancing, her short, brown hair in curls around her face. Her smile was wide.

"Does it?" he asked, going along with her. She leaned in closer, her breath smelling like a fresh mint.

"A bar isn't the place to be lost in thought. That's usually done on a therapist's couch," she teased. Her British accent was lovely. Just like his.

"I must have missed that memo," Lee said, a smile growing on his face now.

"Another beer here," the woman said to the bartender, who nodded and reached for one. He slid it over to her, and she paid for it. She then turned to face Lee, taking a sip.

"You look like someone I know," she mused.

"Who's that?"

"I can't remember," she laughed. "It's just an observation anyway."

"Are you here alone?" Lee asked.

"Nope. My sister is over there," she pointed. "She insisted I come out and live a little. Apparently I'm too focused on my career."

"And what career is that?"

"Oh, I'm an FBI agent," she grinned.

"Really," Lee said.

"Yes! It's something I love doing. I like catching bad guys, you know."

"Hmm."

"You're not a bad guy, are you?" she asked, shaking her finger at him. "You're lucky, if you are. I'm off duty."

"I don't consider myself a bad guy," Lee answered.

"Well, what we think we are and who we are are different," she went on.

"Is that so?"

"I think so."

"You're clever," he teased.

"Come on," a second woman said, coming up to her and pulling on her arm. "You're missing out on the guy I got for you."

"I have a guy right here," Lee's new friend said, gesturing to him. The second woman looked him up and down.

"I have a hotter one," she insisted.

"Get out of here, you snob," Lee's friend chastised, pushing her away. The woman left, harrumphing about big mistakes. "Sorry. That was my sister."

"She seems nice," Lee commented. She laughed.

"She's annoying, but I still love her."

She toyed with her beer for a moment, not looking at him. Lee wanted to know what she was thinking. He suddenly wanted to know everything about her. She enchanted him.

"Your sister is trying to set you up then?" Lee asked, having to know.

"Urgh, no. She doesn't like the guy I'm dating," she sighed. "She thinks he is a twit. I think he's darling."

"Right," Lee nodded. His hopes fell. She was seeing someone. So much for that.

"We aren't serious," she said, reading his mind.

"You and the boyfriend?"

"We've been on three dates," she clarified. "We haven't really said what our status is yet."

"I see."

"Maybe I am looking for someone different," she said coyly.

"Different how?" Lee asked.

"I don't really know. I ramble when I drink," she sighed, setting down her now empty beer. She did not order another one. Lee was very aware of how close she was to him. He had this feeling that she would understand him, that his job would not scare her. He couldn't explain it.

"I kill people," he said suddenly, making her look at him.

"Excuse me?" she asked, surprised.

"I'm a mercenary. I work contracts. I have a team. I never ask questions. I just kill who I'm told to kill," he finished.

"Is that legal?" she questioned.

"I'm not really sure."

She surveyed him thoughtfully.

"Do these people you kill do bad things?"

"They do terrible things."

"Then I suppose I can live with it," she declared. "You're the guy who kills bad guys."

"You're the first woman I've told about what I do," he said seriously. She rested her chin on her hand, looking at him.

"I'm glad you can trust me," she responded. He had a very strong urge to kiss her. He was so taken with her that he forgot he was even in a bar. She smiled slowly as though she knew what he was thinking.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" she asked boldly. He wanted to. He really did. The only thing was that he wasn't like that.

"I don't do one night stands," he answered honestly.

"Really?"

"Really."

"That just makes me like you that much more," she told him. She put her hand over his, and he felt an electric jolt to his heart.

"I'm leaving tonight," he said. He hated that he was leaving. He wanted to stay if she lived here.

"I'm leaving tomorrow," she countered. "I'm just here visiting family."

"I guess this will just be one of those moments in life we think about and wonder what could have gone differently," Lee said.

"Perhaps in another time and place, we would have spent the night together," she nodded.

Lee smiled at her, and she removed her hand. She looked a bit disappointed, and he felt disappointed. He just liked and respected her too much to sleep with her and never see her again. He liked being in a relationship before getting intimate. Barney and the guys thought that was funny, but Lee took his relationships seriously.

"So who are you?" she asked, breaking into his thoughts. "At least tell me your name so I can dream about you and think about what could have been." He laughed.

"Lee Christmas," he answered.

"I love Christmas," she said. "It's a time of hope and love. I like it."

"And who are you?" he asked, fighting hard to keep his hands to himself. He was on the verge of breaking his rule. He had to get out of there before he did.

"Kate Macer," she answered. She pulled a napkin towards her and pulled a pen out of her purse. He watched her write down numbers. She slid it over to him when he was done.

"You can keep in touch with me," she told him. "Maybe we could be friends?"

"I'd like that," he smiled, taking it. Even her handwriting was lovely.

"Kate!" her sister shouted, impatient.

"I should get back to the madness," Kate sighed. "But it was really nice meeting you."

"You as well."

"Maybe we'll see each other again," she smiled.

"Maybe," he smiled back. He had a feeling he wouldn't see her again, but at least they could talk. She lingered a moment before turning to leave. He watched her walk away, and when she was back with her sister and the group of guys, she looked back at him. Lee felt that jolt again, and he made the decision to leave the bar before he marched over to her and picked her up to carry her away somewhere. He finished his drink and slipped his coat on. He felt her eyes on him the entire walk to the door, but he didn't look over at her. Then he was gone.

I hope you like it!