Chapter 17

"Eliot be careful, we don't know what this guy is capable of." Sophie said as she prepared to leave to meet Derby. They were both reasonably sure that Derby would try to take Eliot out before he could stop her from going with him, though neither one had an idea of how he was going to do that. Sophie was sure he would not use guns in the Lodge, it would attract too much attention and she knew Eliot could handle himself in hand to hand confrontations, it was just a question of when he would send his men to take care of him.

"You too." Eliot replied holding the door open for her and allowing her to exit the room.

They were all hoping that Derby's 'business' had something to do with Nate and were all anxious to get moving. Eliot and Sophie made their way to the elevator with Eliot trailing slightly behind her. She pressed the button and waited. The elevator door opened and four large men stepped out, blocking Sophie's way. Sophie recognised one of them as the man who was seated with Derby when they had first met.

"Mrs du Bisson, Mr Derby asked for us to assist you." Kirsten Bosch said as he stepped forward.

"She does not need your help." Eliot growled stepping forward towards Sophie.

"Just stay were you are little man." A large burley man who was with Kristen said moving behind Sophie cutting Eliot off.

"Why don't you…" Started to say but did not finish his sentence and instead dropped to the floor lying motionless.

Sophie jumped slightly at the muffled popping sound she heard and spun around to see Eliot's seemingly lifeless body and the big man standing over it with a silenced pistol in his hand.

"Get rid of him, I am taking her to Derby, make sure he is finished and then meet us there." Kirsten instructed. "Mrs du Bisson, do not let this disturb you please, Mr Derby is waiting for you."

"What…" Sophie said watching as the three men who had accompanied Kirsten lifted Eliot up and dragged his limp form towards the staircase.

"Mr Derby…" Kirsten said taking Sophie's arm gently. "He is waiting for you. Do not worry about him…" He said motioning towards the men who were dragging Eliot away. "It is all taken care of as Mr Derby said it would be."

Sophie's blinked a few times, this was not expected. She looked from Kirsten to the now closed door to the stairway and then back to Kirsten.

"They killed him." Sophie said her voice shaking.

"Yes, I am afraid it was the only way." Kirsten agreed. "Now please, Mr Derby does not like to be kept waiting."

Sophie nodded and allowed herself to be steered into the waiting elevator. Kirsten reached out and pressed the button sending the elevator downwards. Sophie could hear Hardison and Parkers voices in her ear asking what was happening, from Eliot's com there was silence. They were not prepared for this. A silenced gun and such immediate action. Eliot may be dead or injured but there was nothing she could do about that, she had to go forward with the plan, it was the only way they were going to find Nate.

"Yes of course." Sophie said softly as she kept her eyes focused on the diminishing numbers on the console of the elevator as it sped them towards the ground floor.

"You know I have never seen him like this over a woman and I have known him for some time now." Kirsten said trying to make conversation.

"Really." Sophie replied distractedly.

"Yes really…" Kirsten said as the elevator doors opened to reveal a waiting Johnathan Derby.

Kirsten ushered Sophie out. He smiled at Derby and nodded slightly indicating to his boss that things had been taken care of.

"Get the car, we will be there shortly." Derby instructed and then turned to Sophie.

"Don't worry my dear, everything will be fine." He said taking her arm and walking her towards the exit of the lodge. "I told you I would take care of him."

"Yes you did but I didn't think…" Sophie said stopping briefly and turning toward Derby. "What if I want to go home?" Sophie whispered. "You said you would take me to the airport if that was my decision, now…" Sophie looked up into his eyes. "Now I can never go home."

"Oh come now my dear, let us not fool ourselves." Derby smiled at her. "You know as well as I do you do not want to return to your husband. You said as much last night."

"But…"

"No but's…" Derby said in a stern voice squeezing her arm tightly. "I know you are a little shaken but don't worry, I will take care of you…" He said his grip on her softening as he felt her tense up. "I am sorry for you having to witness that, but you must understand there is no negotiating with men like that, you have to be forceful and if my men had not acted decisively you may have been injured in any altercation. Add to that if they had not put an end to him permanently, he would have followed us and perhaps put you in danger." He continued justifying her witnessing a murder. "You are not concerned about his demise are you?"

"What? No of course not…" Sophie said. "I… it was just all so… unexpected."

Derby laughed slightly and tucked her arm through his again.

"Come let us go, the sooner I get this business taken care of the sooner you and me can get to know each other better, and there is nothing more I would like right now."

"Yes, I too would like that." Sophie replied. "How long is your business going to take?"

"Oh not long. Just two loose ends that I have to tie up."

"Two loose ends… Nate and Sterling?" Parker asked over the coms.

"Let's hope so." A very welcomed voice replied bringing a smile of relief to Sophie's face.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I love hearing what you guys think of the story so thanks to all for your reviews.