Chapter 5

They ran for 20 minutes. Jack was quickly lost in the unfamiliar city, but Irina took the lead and appeared to know where she was heading. They kept a close watch out for police, dodging around corners whenever they heard a siren approaching on its way to the hotel. They knew that, at this point, they were much more at risk from a paramilitary organization aimed at squelching the terrorists who had bombed the hotel than from the gunmen who had been chasing them.

They skidded to a halt in an alley to catch their breath and their bearings. Jack glared at Irina. "You knew!" he accused.

She flashed him a half-amused smile. "I guessed," she replied. "I didn't know when, or where, but I was pretty sure we'd see Sloane at some point."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he seethed.

"You would have told me I was imagining it. Besides," she said smugly, "you were much more convincing this way."

Jack's fingers itched. He remembered how he had felt when Arvin had walked in, and she had joined him. He wanted to strangle her.

Suddenly, he froze. He heard measured steps approaching the alley. He looked over at Irina and saw that she heard them too. One glance showed him that there was no exit on the other end of the alley. Jack grabbed Irina's arm and spun her body towards his. Swiftly he lowered his lips to hers, holding her body close. Irina responded immediately, her lips parting while her hands reached up, tangling themselves in his hair. Jack's hands began to explore her body hungrily, eliciting moans of pleasure.

He heard the footsteps pause. Slowly he backed her up against the wall in the deepest shadows of the alley, hips pressed against hers, locked in a passionate embrace. Irina's hands found their way inside his shirt, and they moved sensuously across his back, down towards his belt.

The footsteps faded. Jack stepped back and dropped his hands. "They're gone," he said, breathing heavily. Irina leaned against the wall for support. Involuntarily, she reached up and touched her lips, swollen and moist. Jack's hands clenched at his sides, unable to break his gaze from hers, his eyes dark with suppressed desire. Warily each studied the other, each fighting for control.

Irina broke eye contact first. Closing her eyes briefly, and pushing away from the wall, she said quietly, "We need to go. This way."