5. Family Roots

**Author's Notes: I'm so sorry for the long wait. I got so busy and I hope this update was worth the wait!**

Family Roots

"Are you kidding me?" James exclaimed.

M nodded looking more pissed with each passing minute. "We need to find where Natalya is."

James thought for a moment, "I don't think we have to look. She will come find me."

Natalya sat in the taxi as it sped through London. "Could you please slow down?"

The taxi driver ignores her and pushes on the gas. The taxi is picking up speed and Natalya starts panicking. They leave London's city limits and are dangerously driving on ice on the highway. It was the start of winter and the snow was coming down slowly, but was cold enough to where it was sticking to everything. The taxi driver slammed on the brakes at the next sharp turn and the taxi came to an abrupt halt. Shaken, but not harmed, Natalya opens the door and gets ready to run.

"STOP!" the taxi driver yelled.

Natalya turned around to see the taxi driver pointing a gun at her. The woman motions for Natalya to come towards her. Natalya obliges and slowly walks over. A fast moving Ferrari screeches to a halt next to them and two men, with M16's, force Natalya into the car. The woman jumps into the passenger seat and they speed off.

James pulled over by the Wood Leaf Apartments. Elizabeth stepped out and the sound of the silver Porsche locking made James smile.

"Awe, you love your new toy, don't you Mr. Bond?" Elizabeth teased.

James was all smiles as they entered the apartment complex. Elizabeth pulled out her key to her apartment. "I haven't set foot in my apartment in a couple of months."

Surprisingly, the door was slightly ajar when Elizabeth went to unlock the door. James and Elizabeth pull out their guns and quietly enter the apartment. Elizabeth feels a strong breeze from the large windows being open. Her apartment is trashed and the word "TRAITOR" is splashed on one of her walls in blood.

"I've been marked." Elizabeth said.

James looked at her with concern, "What do you mean?"

"It's our calling card when we let a former member, who has betrayed us that we are coming after them." Elizabeth replied, while rummaging through paper and files.

James helped by looking through computers and files, but both of them came up empty handed. The whole apartment was trashed and nothing was left. Elizabeth ran her hands through her hair, but suddenly bolted to her computer.

"What is it?" James asked.

"I just remembered something. M showed us the hard drive that Natalya gave up and I suddenly remember some file we had on a woman that was to be kept watch on at all times."

James had a look of worry as Elizabeth was typing away at the computer, "Anybody that has been in contact with us in any way we keep tabs on. Ah ha!"

Elizabeth uploaded a file that had Natalya's picture on it. Reading through the contents alarmed Elizabeth greatly. "We have been watching her for 5 years and I had no idea."

James raised an eyebrow, "You actually have files that you don't know about?"

"Most of them are files I could have cared less about. If this was put on the blue list, then this means my father was still more involved than I thought he was." Elizabeth replied.

James was picking through the files sitting by the computer, "Your father?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, "Yeah, my father. He's the brains behind this whole organization. He's smart, cunning, and a sharp shooter. He could find the needle in the hay stack quicker than anybody. My father was my inspiration and now could also be my death."

Elizabeth froze when she realized what she just said and turned around to look at James. James was obviously trying to keep his composure, but it was useless. Elizabeth stood up and put her hands on his shoulders.

"I won't lie to you to try to make things look better, but I am in danger. I realize that, but I will not sit by and let you do the work by yourself on this mission. I'm practically the only one who can break my father. He is..."

"Ruthless and will kill you, his own daughter, to keep this organization intact." James interrupted. "Elizabeth, I understand you will not sit back and not be allowed to participate in this task, but I will not allow you to risk your safety for this."

"Oh so now you're my mother?" Elizabeth retorted. "James, I am on this mission rather you accept that or not. I was in danger ever since I was conceived!"

James sighed, "I'm sorry if I'm acting like your mother."

"It's okay. I never knew my mother anyways. She didn't stick around after she had me." Elizabeth replied.

James looked around, "Let's get out of here and report our findings to M."

Natalya had the brown potato bag removed from her head. Her hair was all strewn about her face and the gag was still on. The woman that drove her in the taxi walked up to Mr. Linderman.

"Very good, Tyra." Mr. Linderman said, kissing her on the forehead.

Tyra smirked and walked out of the office. Mr. Linderman walked over to Natalya and moved Natalya's hair out of her face. Then, with violent rage, Mr. Linderman grabbed a hand full of Natalya's hair and threw her on the floor. The rope on her ankles and wrists made it impossible for her to break her fall. Mr. Linderman grabbed her throat and put his mouth next to her ear.

"You made a very bad mistake tampering with things you shouldn't even know about, Miss Simonova." Mr. Linderman hissed.

Mr. Linderman stood up, straightened out his jacket and proceeded to leave the office. Natalya heard the door click shut and she immediately started to flop around, looking for something sharp to cut the ropes. She snaked her way across the floor to the desk and sat up the best she could. Looking at the chair, Natalya maneuvered her way to sitting on the chair and on the desk, found a letter opener. Using this, Natalya started to cut away, but the thin blade broke. Frustrated, Natalya used her head to move things around, but found nothing. Natalya had tears streaming down her face as she slid out of the chair, onto the floor and pressed her face against the window.