Chapter Nine: Gaining A New Ally
After her conversation with Michael, Risa walked up to her room, and sat down on the hard balcony floor, her mind whirling in turmoil. Although she was grateful that Michael had agreed to keep things under wraps, and work with them on this one, her mind wasn't on that. Instead, her mind kept replaying the kiss that she and Zack had shared earlier that night. She couldn't understand it, one minute Zack was all business, going over their initial attack plan on Manticore, the next minute he had her face in his hands, and he was kissing her. All of it made absolutely no sense. She knew that Zack still loved Jessica, very deeply in fact. She also knew that her brother was not one to just say that he loved a girl on a whim, and he definitely wasn't one to randomly kiss a girl either. Risa knew, that in her heart, Zack must've had a good reason for kissing her, but what she couldn't figure out was why. She also didn't understand why she had responded to Zack's kiss, and also why she had gotten more in to the kiss as it wore on. The few times ever since Zack had arrived in town, tonight especially Ty had asked her, if she ever had feelings for Zack. Risa denied it of course, she looked up to Zack, and she loved him, but she wasn't in love with him. She knew that, but, yet, why the hell had she responded when Zack kissed her?? Her thoughts wouldn't settle, and frustrated with her emotions, Risa headed downstairs into the Cafe, thinking there might something there for her to do, that would occupy her thoughts. Instead, as soon as she walked down the stairs, she found Zack sitting on the couch, who looked up expectantly, like he knew that she would be walking down the stairs. Risa, frustrated and confused enough, decided that the best thing to do was to talk to Zack, and ask him about what the hell it was that he thought he was doing when he kissed her. Risa didn't even get that far however, because, when she walked up to Zack, Zack wrapped an arm around her waist, drew her towards him, and started kissing her again. Risa fought against him, struggling in his arms, and trying not to give in to Zack's kisses, which grew more insistent and passionate. Hard as she tried though, even though they were both X5's, and Risa being the S.I.C., was stronger then most of their kind, Zack was still C.O., the best of the best, and struggling against him, while he had his arm around you, was like trying to rip an iron-steel lock off of a stone door. Risa eventually gave in to her need to be kissed, and Zack shoved her up against the wall, without breaking the kiss. Just as things started getting ore passionate, and more out of hand, Risa finally freed herself of Zack's iron grip, and slid down the wall, her feet landing with a hard thump on the floor. She stared at her brother, a look of astonishment, shock, and anger in her eyes, as she stared at her brother. Zack, in turn, stared at her, with the same look of intensity that he had looked at her with, earlier that night, and didn't say a word explanation as to why he kissed her.
Just then, Ty and Michael opened the back door and walked inside the room, looking back and forth between Risa and Zack, both noting the intense look in Zack's eyes, and look of shock inside Risa's. Ty cleared his throat loudly to get their attention. Risa whipped her head around to face her brother, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Zack, just turned to face Ty, his face once again an expressionless mask. Michael and Ty knew that something had changed between Risa and Zack, but, both wisely, chose not to say a word. Michael cleared his throat, "Uh, Liz, listen, I think we have a situation." Risa turned her attention over to Michael, "What do you mean, Lieutenant??" Both Zack and Ty scowled at the "Lieutenant" remark, but chose not to say anything. Michael sighed, hoping that Liz wouldn't get mad at him, or think that he wasn't keeping his end of the agreement. "Maria's been asking questions, I think she's getting suspicious, Liz, I've given her whatever answers I can think of, and the ones I can't, I've avoided. But, I don't think she's satisfied Liz, I think she's going to come and ask you next." Risa swore under her breath, as did Ty and Zack, and then looked Michael in the eye, her face the picture of annoyance. "It ain't your fault Mike, I knew that Maria would be a hard case to deal with, and plus, you told me that you couldn't promise anything when it came to her. Don't worry, I'll deal with her." Michael breathed a sigh of relief, and smiled. "Thanks Liz, I really need someone to get her off my back." Michael noticed Zack scowling at him, and wondered why the hell the guy was looking at him like he was a convicted murderer or something. "Hey, you got a problem??" Michael asked Zack, starting to get the slightest bit aggravated at Zack's scrutiny. "Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do." Zack said, glaring death in Michael's direction. "What the fuck are you doing, trying to get my sister's good side??! I know what you are, the damage that the three of you did, and how your good 'friend' royally fucked up my sister's life!! So, tell your friend for me, that if he ever comes near my sister again, whatever it is that I'll do to him, will be a hundred times worse than that tiny, White Room, that he found himself trapped in." Zack's voice as he finished that sentence, became dangerously soft, but more threatening then if he had yelled it out. Risa looked at the shock, and brazen anger on Michael's face, and the icy coldness on Zack's, and decided to let Michael speak for himself, knowing that if there was one thing in the world that Michael Guerin was good at, it was stating his case.
Michael just looked at Zack, furious at him for comparing him to Max, knowing within himself, that if Zack chose to kill Max, that Michael would gladly join him the execution. "Listen, man, I didn't tell Max to save Liz, and I sure as hell didn't want to fuck up her life!! Hell, I didn't want Max to save Liz!! I knew that she'd be okay, she's been worse shit then being shot, and she's always come out okay, I knew she'd live through this too. Max fucked up all our lives!! I'm no friend of his anymore, I haven't been for a long time now. Lately, he's been acting like a fucking asshole, like he's king or something. He's an arrogant, selfish, son-of-a-bitch, and he cares about nothing and no one except himself, and that bitch he knocked up. He even abandoned his own sister!! So, let me tell you man, if you want to kill Max, I won't stop you. Hell, I'll probably cheer you on!! I'd like to help you guys, if you'll let me." Zack thought for a long time, before looking Michael in the eye, and nodding. "I guess we could use another person to help us keep this under wraps. Thanks a lot." And with that, Zack stretched out his hand, which Michael took in a firm handshake. Michael looked to Risa, Ty and finally back to Zack, before saying, what would seal the deal. "I won't let you guys down." Risa and Ty stepped forward and added their hands to Michael's and Zack's. "Then welcome aboard Michael." Zack said finally.
tbc.......................................