Author Notes:
For my friends in the mood for a little drama. Like I said, you're evil... but I find that to be an endearing quality. Ha!
LIZZINGTON
Finalizing the deal, Red smiled happily as he looked over the information before him. It was much better than he had expected, so much so, he was extremely disappointed he had to wait to share it with Lizzy.
However, the thought of watching her face as he announced the surprise... that was enough to restrain himself for twelve hours.
Red scanned the crowded ballroom with a slow sweep until he finally laid eyes on the woman in question. His smile softened.
He cocked his head slightly, finding the woman off in a corner, leaning on Francis for support. "Hey, you two." Red came on scene, smiling a welcome. "What's wrong, baby...you hitting a wall?"
Liz sought him out, and he knew instantly she had been weeping. His brow furrowed critically as he stepped closer, his hand lifting to stroke her arm. He was shocked when Lizzy moved away.
"Are we hiding over here for a reason?" he asked quietly, trying to ignore the warnings signals going off in his head. She shied away from his touch? What the fuck...
"I'm not hiding," Liz replied coldly, "... unlike some people."
Frowning at the chilled tone, Red stepped forward to better hear her. "Okay, I'll bite. What's going down here?"
"You tell me." Liz eyed the man critically. "Where have you been?"
"Excuse me?" Red frowned, sensing the woman's anger.
"Lizzy..." Francis sighed heavily. "Give the guy a chance to–"
"Shut up, Francis." She snapped, effectively silencing the man beside her.
Francis drew in a cautious breath, lowering his head, unable to meet Red's probing stare as yet, because frankly...he didn't know what to say to the guy.
Red's brows lifted with surprise at the woman's chilled demeanor, but more so, her curt words to Francis.
"Okay, what's going on?" Red glanced between them, demanding a reply. "What am I missing here?"
"I guess when you wanted to take me into Mark's office, I should have taken you up on the suggestion." Liz narrowed her eyes, scowling hard at the man. "It just never occurred to me you'd find some other ass to tap in the meantime."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Red reached instinctively, needing contact with the woman, only to have Lizzy jerk away from the intent.
Dembe had stood with Silas, watching the scene go down. He shook his head for such foolishness. Silas heaved a heavy sigh. "Do you believe this shit?"
"You're a rotten bastard, that's what I'm talking about." Liz picked up the train of her dress, glaring at the man. "How could you do this to me? After...today? How?"
Red sought some sort of explanation, his eyes flitting to first to Francis Holbrook. The boy stood still, head down. A morose expression on his face.
Dembe sent the man an easy signal. Silas just looked entirely pissed.
"Okay." Red made his decision, stepping, his fingers wrapping about Liz's elbow. "We need to fucking talk..."
"Don't touch me!" Liz hissed sharply, pulling from the contact.
Red stiffened, his own anger surfacing. "You said...what?" He dared her to repeat the words.
Lizzy hesitated, his anger so swift and volatile, she was given pause for thought.
He had left Lizzy happy and content and now...she was like a horrible twin clone. One he did not even know or recognize.
"I don't know what the hell is going on here?" Red didn't. He once again reached for a stay hold to secure a grasp on his reality, one he felt slipping away rapidly. "But we're going to get to the bottom of..."
Liz reacted instantly, avoiding his reach, her small hand lifting, slapping the man across the face with such force, the impact echoed about the cavernous space.
A stinging burn bit into his flesh as Red's head jerked to the rightwith the powerful hit. His jaw tightened in response to the pain... and the surge of adrenaline, confusion, and anger inundating him.
Growling his anger, Silas hastily stepped the few feet needed to intervene. "What the fuck, woman!" He tried to place his body between the warring factions,but Francis had moved more quickly and was closer.
Francis faced Red, not the woman, his expression a resigned one. "Let me explain..."
"I know what the fuck I saw!" she snapped at her guard, who had physically removed the woman from Red's vicinity. "Stop it, Silas! And you shut up, Francis. This is none of your business! Either of you!"
"Raymond." Dembe approached slowly, sensing the man's confusion and fury.
Tonguing the split at the corner of his lip, Red lifted darkened eyes as the woman sidestepped her guard.
"I am going to my room." She snapped waspishly. "All of you...leave me alone!"
Reacting instinctively, Red grasped the woman's arm, roughly pulling her to his side.
"Let me go!" she snapped as she swung about, arm raised yet again.
Catching the intended strike with his free hand before it could connect, Red jerked the woman once, if only to get her attention.
Struggling against the iron-clad hold, Liz pushed against Red's strength, her expression one of absolute fury.
Hastily inserting himself between the two, Francis placed a hand against Red's chest. "Red, man..." he hurriedly sought to cool tempers, "maybe just give her a minute to–"
"Get out of the way, Francis." The man's tone left no margin for denial, his look a lethal one.
Remaining in place, Francis shrank back as the man's brittle tone cut into him, just as if he had been slapped as well, but...he held his place. He did lower his eyes, shifting them downward to let Red know he was no threat in any way, shape, or form.
Towering over the pair, Red shifted his intense scrutiny to Elizabeth's face. The woman seethed, her fury a tangible factor in the air. "You tell me what the fuck I did wrong... right now! Because I have no fucking clue, Elizabeth! None!"
"Kiss my ass!" Liz spat, wrestling to remove herself from the man's unrelenting hold.
"Oh, man..."The younger man grimaced at the retort, quickly wrapping his arm around the woman's waist. Francis pulled Lizzy flush against his back, holding a staying hand aloft. "Let's just all calm the hell down here."
Red shoved hard, his expression set, the move sending Francis and Lizzy backwards in a hurried trajectory.
Silas grabbed for Red's arm, rushing after the pair. "Do I have to take your ass out?" He growled the question. "This is not the way to–"
"Back the fuck off, Silas!" Red snarled over his shoulder.
"You calm the fuck down!" Silas hissed angrily. "This shit isn't helping anything!"
"I want to go, Silas!" Liz petitioned her guard's assistance as her back came flush with the wall. "Take me to the room."
"Unless you're ready to vent your accusations," Silas jabbed a finger in Liz's direction, "you be quiet, dammit!"
Sensing the silent communication passing between the two, Red allowed it...for he had no other recourse at present, clearly unable to reach the woman as yet.
Clamping her lips tight, Elizabeth turned away from them all.
The few people gathered around them stopped talking, turning to watch the group. A few whispers started, but otherwise, everyone fell silent.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Red growled at Liz. "What accusation!" The man turned on Silas. "What did I do?"
"That is the question of the night, isn't it!" Liz hissed. "I was a damn fool for trusting you, that is all I know right now for sure!"
After all they shared and experienced together this night, the words hit Red harder than any slap ever could. He was momentarily stunned into silence.
"Elizabeth, I swear I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about." Red wasn't just perplexed, he was a complete loss as to what could have possibly happened in the fifteen minutes he was absent.
"...Why are you so furious with me?" The man found himself completely bereft. He so longed for the Elizabeth he had left such a short time ago.
"Don't even go there!" She yelled at the man. "Don't you dare act like you don't know!"
"Elizabeth..." Antonio cut through the building anger, his tone a hard one as he approached in his usual, self-assured way, his look a censured one, "what is this all about? Tell me."
Jerking her head towards the voice, Liz felt her anger falter in response to the other man's presence. The tightly held control she attained slipped. The small crack in the foundation left her eyes welling with tears.
Maria held gently to her husband's arm, her expression a concerned one.
"You will tell Reddington of his crime... right now." Antonio's tone brooked no argument.
"Antonio…calm yourself." Maria soothed expertly, returning her eyes to the younger woman.
Disliking Antonio's displeasure, Liz's lips trembled as more of that carefully constructed wall she built began to sway. The wall precariously began to crumble around her but at that exact moment, across the way...
Natalia stood, her eyes gleaming their triumph, her smirk just under control.
Liz's fury lit incandescently. "Well, well...look who just arrived." She disdained the fact, her eyes meeting the deliberate challenge easily. "Your little fuck buddy. How sweet."
Natalia straightened her skirt primly, holding her smile.
Red blinked as comprehension began to take hold.
"I thought kicking your ass would settle you down a tad." Liz called out, over the interested on-lookers quiet mumblings. They seemed to have drawn quite a crowd suddenly. "Why don't you come over here and I'll see what I can do about putting you down again."
Maria's wise stare turned toward the other woman, her mind ticking away analytically.
Red checked on the woman in question and found Natalia's brow furrowed quizzically.
"Is that what gets you off?" Liz turned cold eyes Red's way. "Poor little damsels in distress?"
"You think I fucked her!" Red huffed angrily, jabbing a finger towards Natalia. "I was a little busy getting your wedding gift."
"If it's a case of herpes, you can keep it!" Liz smiled sweetly at the other woman.
"Elizabeth." Maria gently scolded the retort, but nothing more.
Wiping a rough hand across his jaw, Silas shook his head at the bullshit happening right before his very eyes. "That crack came a little too fucking easy." His stare hit home. Liz flushed, her eyes lowering. "What the hell has gotten into you, Liz?"
Liz closed her eyes, her lip trembling with the need to weep.
"Oh, angel..." Maria soothed sympathetically. "You don't really think any such thing."
"Dammit!" Red growled his frustration. "I didn't do anything with her." he sneered distastefully. "What the hell do I have to say to make you believe me!"
"It's quite a coincidence, you left, she left." Liz glared at both her antagonists. "And that sickly sweet, all too confident smile she gave in passing..." she huffed her disgust.
Red was beginning to see the picture, finally. He glared daggers at Natalia. The woman shrugged innocently, spreading her hands in a helpless manner.
Red ignored the bitch. He was more focused on where the hell had this distrust came from on Elizabeth's part?
"And now...here she is." Liz swept her own hands wide. "Looking all freshly fucked and like someone bent her over the first convenient desk they could find." The woman's eyes showed her anguish. "Gosh, Red...I thought that was our thing. How delusional can a woman be."
"Fuck, Liz." Francis shook his head sadly. "That was cold."
Francis felt Lizzy grip his jacket in her fists as Red leaned close, growling deep in his chest, his eyes flashing fire.
"The only woman I planned on fucking tonight was... my wife." he snarled. "Guess that idea is out the proverbial window, hum?"
"Find another wife. I'm sure your little conquest is available." Liz clenched her jaw tight. "I want an annulment for this travesty we just perpetrated."
"Elizabeth, you don't mean that!" Maria gasped.
"I don't know how I could be so fucking gullible...again!" Liz bit the words, fighting back the emotions inundating her.
Maria's eyes caught her husbands, a knowledgeable glint in the hazel orbs before she and Antonia exchanged empathetic looks for that remark.
Francis closed his eyes as he felt Lizzy tremble in his arms as she choked out the words.
"Like fucking hell..." Snarling the words, Red's control snapped.
Shoving Francis aside, Red pulled Elizabeth away from the man. He gripped her arm roughly, pulling her along with him as he stalked away from everyone else, his expression a foreboding one.
Silas held up a staying hand when Dembe and Francis would have followed suit. "They have to settle this shit themselves."
"Raymond will not hurt her, Francis." Dembe advised gently, his hand on the boy's jacket.
Maria placed a staying hand on Antonio's chest, offering over a sedate nod of agreement to Silas and Dembe's statements.
Folding his arms over his chest, Antonio acquiesced, watching the very unfortunate misunderstanding, allowing it to develop naturally.
Were things to become too contentious, he would put a halt to the argument, but it would be better to pick at the wound, allow it to bleed... than let it fester. The man was slightly confused, however.
Antonio knew, without a doubt, Reddington was deeply in love with Elizabeth. He knew the man had not broken any vows. What he did not know was the reasons Elizabeth questioned her new husband's fidelity... his honor.
When it came to that woman...Antonio watched Elizabeth's face closely, Reddington's loyalty was set in granite.
Oh, well, young lovers. They would have to learn the hard way, he supposed.
Red guided Elizabeth back, his features tight with controlled rage. He crowded her into a nearby wall.
Francis' gaze was agitated, for it looked to him that Red was hurting Liz's arm.
"Back off, dammit!" Red roared angrily, his hand lifting a warning. "Stay the fuck out of my business."
Swallowing hard, Francis held his breath, watching the scene unfold. He knew Red didn't hear much right now, as his anger muted everything around him. He hoped like hell they could reach some sort of compromise... and quickly.
"He is so pissed, man." Francis saw anger in Red's expression, expressing his growing fear for Elizabeth.
"He has a perfect right to be." Silas voiced his opinion.
"It is not anger." Dembe saw panic in Raymond's wild eyes. He carefully stepped forward until he could reach the man if necessary.
"Raymond," Dembe's calm, steady tone caught the other man's attention finally, "you must calm down." The man passively tapped Raymond's hand, silently warning the man to back off. It was a code long ago established between the two men.
Sensing the touch, Raymond released his hold on Elizabeth's arm, only to slap his hands against the wall, denying the woman any chance of escape. His eyes bore into the stormy ones staring back at him.
Feeling the rapid rise and fall of his chest, Red inhaled a deep breath, attempting to settle the overwhelming panic choking the life from him. The sensation worsened when he looked down at Elizabeth and found her blue eyes dart quickly from his.
The woman's eyes betrayed everything she was feeling; hurt, anger, and worse... fear.
Stunned, Red jerked back in shock, but retained the blockade he constructed around the woman. He could not allow her to go from him, not until he made her see reason.
"Dammit! You know I would never hurt you..." he vowed shakily, letting Elizabeth take that promise anyway she wished, for he meant it in every way possible. "I would rather die, Elizabeth. I thought you knew that!"
Turning away from his desperate entreaty, Liz's expression morphed into one of pure, unadulterated hatred.
Snapping his head about, Red's countenance darkened further when he caught the last of Natalia's sneering grin as she slithered past.
Striking out, Red grabbed the woman's wrist, dragging her forcefully towards him. "What did you say to her!" he spat his rage. "What did you do!"
"I didn't say or do anything." Natalia laughed mockingly. "What's there to tell?" she offered the man a simpering grin. "It's her problem...that she doesn't trust you. What could I do if she did?"
Natalia held her composure, hiding how pleased she felt her ploy was working faster and better than anticipated.
Huffing her aggravation, Liz pushed off the wall, only to feel Red's large palm press between her breasts, holding her in place.
"Stop it!" Liz grabbed at Red's wrist, pulling uselessly on the unyielding obstacle.
"Elizabeth, dammit!" Red secured his hold, then glared at Natalia. "Did you tell her I'd been with you!" He demanded an answer.
"I only just arrived." Natalia gestured to the door across the way. "This is not my problem. I would say, it is hers and now... yours."
After all the shit this woman pulled in Vegas, Red could see how her actions could be misconstrued, but she was making some damned good points here.
And even though Red's heart was breaking, his mind could not refute the accusations Natalia was forcing him to consider.
"If you ask me," Natalia arched a sly brow, "it says more about you, she believes you've been with me... don't you think?" The woman shrugged her shoulders. "I was minding my own business, Red. I just took a moment to myself. Then all this shit exploded."
Natalia's eyes met Elizabeth's furious ones. "Maybe...you just picked the wrong woman to be by your side."
Maria's eyes narrowed suspiciously for such a revealing remark. None of the men present seemed to pick up on the underlying implication.
Red felt his rage flare incandescently.
"You fucking bitch!" Red bellowed that rage. He hastily gripped Natalia's throat in his grasp.
"You're hurting me!" Natalia shoved hard at the man; her face twisted in sudden fear.
"Not yet, I'm not!" Red seethed the promise, tightening his hold.
Silas glanced towards Dembe, uncertain if he should even bother to offer the other woman any sort of assistance after what he sensed Natalia had purposely done.
Normally, Red only faced off against men. Only under very extreme circumstances did Red eliminate a woman. It was so rare, in fact, Silas couldn't readily recall the last time it happened.
He settled. Nothing of the like would happen here, he sensed again. Red was pissed, sure, but he also sensed an underlying control with Natalia... not so much so with Elizabeth.
Silas had met some women like Natalia in his life. The little bitch started this mess, he knew...now she could reap the consequences of those actions.
Using Red's distraction to her advantage, Liz wriggled out from under his hold.
Shoving Natalia into Silas' capable hands, Red hastily reached for Elizabeth, grabbing a fistful of her dress.
Stepping in behind the woman, Red pulled Lizzy back into his hard chest, firmly holding himself about her cinched waist.
"Silas, dammit!" Liz pulled on the banded arm about her middle unsuccessfully, her eyes filling with tears. "Don't just stand there...help me!" She pleaded her cause.
"You're not going anywhere..." Red muttered in her ear. He closed pained eyes when he felt the discernable trembling in Lizzy's body.
"I expected better from you, Liz," Silas stated all too quietly, eyeing the woman sternly. "This, the trash she's spouting..." he jerked his head to Natalia. "It's bullshit, and you fucking know it!"
"Let me go, Red." Liz whispered, her pained voice wavering.
"...No." Red's brow furrowed when the woman suddenly yielded in his grasp, giving up. Not because she believed him, but because she was that upset.
Taking her weight, Red felt himself bend at the waist in hopes Lizzy would relax... he prayed she would hear the words he must now say.
"Elizabeth, I didn't touch that woman." His hot breath tickled her nape as he pleaded for Lizzy to hear him. "Please... believe me."
Fighting to control his anger at Natalia, he tightened his arms around Lizzy, drawing her back into his chest. His heart ached at how perfectly Elizabeth felt against him, how well she felt cradled against his body.
A sudden surge of fear filled him, wondering if he would ever be allowed to hold her like this again? That she would ever want him to.
The thought this could be taken from him was so damned gut wrenching, he couldn't breathe. It felt like the worst nightmare come to life.
Curving his fingers into her dress, Red held Elizabeth painfully tight, afraid she would disappear and he would never get her back.
"You listen to me, right fucking now!" Red whispered the heated demand. "I would never betray you... never!"
The woman could only slump in defeat, her entire world having upended itself in a span of a few moments. She tried very, very hard not to give in to the demands her body was feeling.
The man's breath felt so good on her nape. His words were so adamant, so anguished. She wanted desperately to believe...
A gentle hand lifted her countenance. Her blue eyes overflowing.
She stared forlornly up at Antonio Crocetti's set features.
"You know this man speaks the truth." The older man gave the woman a pointed look, one of which reminded her of their earlier discussion this very night. "Reddington has proven his loyalty to you a hundred different ways, has he not?"
Liz's mind was confused, her thoughts unfocused, chaotic.
Red had not betrayed her to anyone; not Francis, Antonio... but that was work. Was their personal life different?
Madeline, Erica, yes... even Natalia. All were so exotic and incredibly beautiful woman, their interests aligned with Red's. Would he one day realize they were better suited to him than she was?
If so, would he skirt around her back to retain his good standing with the FBI and preserve his freedom? Or would he simply take his bug out bag and disappear in sixty-seconds like he was infamously known to do?
Why would he stay in one place? With one woman. When he could have any he wished. Go anywhere...live a life without anyone to answer to...
"Unless Red regressed in age by thirty years and became a bellboy, he's telling the truth," Daniel butted into the tense moment, cutting Natalia an admonishing look. "And I have the damned proof, if anyone is interested."
"We already know the truth." Silas stated bluntly, as was his way. "We don't need proof."
"...I do." Liz whispered her growing desperation.
Maria checked with Antonio to reassure herself that everything would turn out alright with these two young people. The man lovingly caressed his wife's back, his expression a confident one.
Liz tried desperately to ignore Red's warm breath on her neck and his familiar embrace, though tight around her middle. Her heart broke, feeling how right his touch felt, even now.
It was a gut wrenching pain she wished would just go away. She wanted to believe him, but she just could not stand to be played the fool again... she just couldn't.
Danny made his way to a small alcove. "Come over here." He jerked his head more to Red.
Readjusting his hold on Lizzy, Red allowed the woman to stand erect, but he stayed close.
"This is no one's damned business but you guys." Daniel tapped his phone screen, hurriedly scrolling through his files. "You have to look at these, Liz." He motioned her forward.
People who had stopped to watch the argument turned their attention as well, with much of the ballroom following suit, but Silas and Dembe prevented any unnecessary prying eyes.
A photo of Red slid into frame. Liz stared at it. He was bent over Mark's desk, jotting something on a piece of paper.
"You see Red's tie and boutonniere?" Daniel pointed to the objects in questions. Liz nodded that she did. "You see the timestamp on the picture?"
"Yes." Liz whispered, her throat raspy with pent up emotion.
"Now, look at these." Danny swiped his screen, eliciting a gasp of shock from the woman. Liz's mouth fell agape as she stared, transfixed, at the images.
Closing his eyes, Red felt a wave of relief wash over him when he saw the graphic photo.
"Oh my god..." Liz gasped at the sight of Natalia bent over a table, a half naked man behind her. The man's trousers were around his ankles, and that man was definitely not... Red Reddington.
Balking stringently, Natalia struggled like a caged animal in Silas' grasp. The man secured his hold, clamping a hand over her mouth, silencing the tirade which ensued, for she sensed what the couple were looking at. "My goodness, such words coming out of a lady's mouth. Color me shocked, Natalia." He murmured tightly.
"See the timestamp?" Danny asked her, ignoring the fracas taking place to his right.
Liz nodded jerkily.
"I took that a few minutes ago...and this one and this one." Daniel said, scrolling through the slew of explicit photos.
"I told you..." Daniel lifted a noble brow. "Red is not the type to...do what you thought he did." His eyes were straight forward and unaccusing. "That kid in the photos? Hell, what man could help himself when offered free pussy, except... Red Reddington."
Daniel shrugged aside to Mark, silently asking he not fire the kid for the dalliance.
Liz swallowed...hard, her world tipping crazily off kilter.
"Natalia is a master manipulator." Daniel stated quietly. "But Liz, you should have known how this man feels about you from the get-go. I think you owe him an apology."
Now, with his innocence proven without a shadow of doubt, Red released his ironclad grip on Lizzy, slowly lowering his hands to his sides.
"Honey, he's not fucking around on you." Danny pocketed his phone.
The sound of Red growling angrily had everyone turn their heads just in time to see Red rip Natalia from Silas' custody.
"Give me one good reason." Red dared the woman to even suggest an answer. "One... why I shouldn't take you out and put you down like the fucking sick animal you are!"
"Can't you see how weak she is?" Natalia hissed her annoyance. "She doesn't belong here. She doesn't fit with you, she never has!" she disdained. "Don't her actions tonight prove as much?"
"Are you psychotic?" Francis squawked. The man shrugged when Silas cut the man a sour look. "Okay, maybe that was meant to be rhetorical. I don't know. I'm freakin' here."
"If you ask me." Natalia scoffed openly. "I am the only one here who sees the picture clearly." She rolled her eyes. "Fine. Have your stupid little fling. You will come crawling back to one of us...me, Madeline, your little Erica...sooner than later."
Before anyone could blink, Red had pulled his weapon from beneath his jacket, placing it to Natalia's chest, his eyes empty, ice cold.
"Raymond," Dembe cleared his throat, "this is not something you would wish as a fond remembrance of your wedding day."
"Too many witnesses, man." Danny whispered urgently.
Daniel held his breath, unsure what Reddington would do exactly.
"Beside, in your present state." Silas drawled effortlessly. "You might miss and hit me. There are better ways to take care of this...problem." The man shifted a casual stare to Natalia.
There was a collective sigh when Red lowered the weapon to his side with agonizing slowness.
"You've got ten minutes to get your shit and get the fuck out," Red warned, "or so help me God, I won't be responsible for my actions." he gripped the weapon, rubbing his finger along the barrel.
"I don't believe this is your hotel." Natalia glared hatefully at the man. "I am a paying guest here, just like you and your simpering little..."
"But it is mine." Mark's bitter tone hardened. He had stood by, like most of the other people gathered about, watching the drama play out. "And it seems to me, lady...you don't know when to shut the fuck up."
Francis looked between the divided groups, hoping like hell Natalia hit the road so that they could work on mending Red and Lizzy without distraction.
"You've done nothing this week but cause problems, and I don't just mean with Red." Mark fumed. "I know about the other shit you've been pulling." Gesturing for security, his movements were jerky and precise. Hunter Gaines arrived on the scene in seconds with two of his best men in tow.
"Mr. Reddington." He smiled affably. "With your permission, we will take custody of this young," his eyes raked Natalia inoffensively, "lady, if you have no objections?"
Taking a shaky breath, Red relinquished the woman to Hunter. "Get her the fuck out of my sight." He breathed out a husky sigh.
"You haven't heard the last of me, Mark!" Natalia bitched as security politely but firmly guided her across the ballroom.
"Keep pushing it, Natalia, and you won't walk out," Mark called out cheerfully. "You'll be carried out in a duffel bag."
Slowly glancing towards her husband, Liz felt her anxiety ratchet up a notch.
He was so silent, so tense... waves of anger poured off the man. He was coiled so tight, his hand was white against the grip of his gun, he clutched it so tightly.
Everything about Red screamed danger.
Hesitantly approaching the man, Liz swallowed at the bile in her throat. "... Red, I–"
Turning on his heel, Red strode across the gleaming floor without a backward glance, punching his way through a side exit. The wood swung open under the brutal treatment, flinging hard back into the wall behind it.
Liz blinked at the wash of heat in her eyes, watching the man stalk angrily away, shoving his gun back in its holster.
Sighing, Silas shook his head as the door slammed closed, blocking sight of the raging man. He did, however, take it as a good sign Red tucked his gun away.
"Give him a few minutes, darlin'." Danny soothed. "It's not every day a man is accused of cheating at his wedding. At least, not in Texas. Give him a few minutes; he'll cool off."
"I don't think he'll forgive me, Danny." Liz whispered fearfully, choking back tears. "I said some horrible things..."
Turning forlorn eyes her guard's way, Liz's face crumbled. She instinctively sought comfort in the large man's arms.
Silas drew in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. He patted her back absently. "I hate to be the one to say, I told you so." He shook wayward locks. "Settle the hell down, woman. It's not a lost cause... Red will forgive you anything," the guard suspected. "Even this stupidity... you know that."
Dropping her face into her palms, Liz cried softly, allowing herself this moment's relief from the stress and fear she had been feeling now for what seemed like hours.
Maria lay her head down upon Lizzy's crown, then placed a gentle kiss into the lush, dark curls. "There, there, my little one. Everything will work out. Trust me."
"Reddington will be back momentarily." Antonio rubbed a hand along her back, soothing the overwrought girl. "He just needs a moment to settle his nerves, you'll see." He clicked his tongue. "This is just a lover's quarrel... emotions always run high at weddings and funerals."
Or, Red could leave and disappear whenever he wanted with no trouble or hassle what-so-ever, just like in the past...just like...now.
Lifting her face from her hands, Liz hastily scanned the room with frantic eyes. "Where's Dembe?"
"He went that way," Francis motioned, "maybe he's heading Red off at the pass... or maybe they have gone to finish Natalia off, the bitch."
"I have to find Red." Liz panicked, gathering her dress in tight hands.
