by: iluvaqt@hotmail.com
QT's notes: Warning - this is another one of my Alec & Tash chapters. Just thought I'd emphasize that.
Chapter 10: Not Now
Tash took the elevator to the ground floor of the building. While she waited, she toyed with the tassel on her clutch bag. She was more nervous about seeing him than going to ball. It wasn't that she needed to be, it was just Alec. They were best friends. There weren't any secrets between them. So why did she feel like she was keeping the biggest one of all time?
The elevator doors opened and Alec turned to see who it was. He couldn't keep the smile from lighting his face. Tash wore a stunning white column dress, with a shimmery sliver overlay. Adorning her earlobes were delicate crystal drop earrings. Her dark auburn hair was swept up and pinned loosely to the back of her head. A few tendrils had already fallen free, and were softly brushing the exposed skin of her shoulders. Abandoning his spot beside the window, he went to her.
"You look beautiful," he said, offering her his arm.
Tash hid the blush that momentarily graced her cheeks. "You look quite charming yourself. Sorry I kept you waiting. Last minute stuff."
"Haven't been here long. Jones had me run thing through one more time. Security tonight's going to be top notch without being an overbearing presence. I'd still like to know what White's up to, you know? With a heads up about his game, I'd feel a whole lot better."
They both stepped into the revolving door space and walked out of the building, arm in arm. Having her so close, he could smell the soft scent she always wore. Vanilla and jasmine. Today, it reminded him of a memory he couldn't handle. The first time he'd kissed her, he'd smelt the touch of perfume she'd put just behind her lobes. The first woman he'd ever kissed, the taste of her, the feel of her skin and lips, the scent of her that lingered in his senses. Tension from the woman beside him, shook him from his reverie and back to the present.
They'd reached the limousine's door and Tash gripped her bag tighter. It was an instinctive move. She always formed a fist when she got tense. Maybe it was part of their makeup. Fighting was their therapy, in their genes. Back at Manticore, the rules were black and white. You had to use the opponent's weaknesses against them. You could read their actions. Anticipate their moves, or pay the price in blood. In everyday life, it was so complicated. It was hard to anticipate something you couldn't see, things you didn't know.
"Are you okay?" Alec asked curiously. He'd felt her tense against his arm when he'd mentioned White. But he hadn't really thought anything of it until now. She was being awfully quiet. "We haven't heard anything new. It's a pretty safe bet that he won't be making any moves tonight."
At least not our side of the globe, Tash thought. She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer. Please let Logan find her and keep them safe. Please.
She still hadn't said a word, and Alec squeezed her hand. "Tash?"
His voice broke through her concerned thoughts. She forced a warm smile. "I'm fine. Just a little nervous."
Alec returned her smile, but inside he knew she wasn't telling him everything. He'd just have to trust her. Tash would never keep anything important from him, unless she had to. And even then, he couldn't think of an occasion where that had happened.
"What's your life motto, Alec?"
He chuckled. She always had the ability to spring something on him. Totally off topic and take him completely by surprise. Suspicions about what she could be thinking about forgotten, he considered her question. "I thought my actions said it all. Play hard, die trying."
Tash rolled her eyes and gave him a questioning look. "Seriously?"
Alec surveyed her curiously. "Why'd you want to know?"
The lights passing by caught the green in his eyes, and Tash noted the mischievous gleam in them. She bit back the urge to giggle. Why did he always think she had ulterior motives? Maybe it was because they were always taught to assume people were being less than forthright about their agendas. "It's just a question. Mine's from my mom, 'Always be honest with yourself and don't let trials conquer you, conquer them.' She never let Jones or me give up on anything. No matter how difficult it seemed at the time."
"Guess you could say that mine's, live without regret," he said before turning to look out the window. Hiding the emotion that threatened to expose him. One of his biggest regrets was not telling Rachel about himself sooner.
Tash smiled. It did sound like him. He did what he wanted and whenever. And very rarely was he apologetic about it. "It's a good motto. Just don't let it rule over your good sense or caution."
"Yes, ma'am."
She punched his arm at that retort.
"Owww." Alec rubbed his arm briskly. He hadn't meant for it to come out like it had. "I wasn't being smart. It was good advice."
Tash sent him a warning look. Flattery would get him nowhere.
Alec didn't get a chance to pursue a verbal sparring match because the limousine had pulled up to The Rolands.
A group of men, dressed in tuxedos, sat in the back of a van. The black van was parked in a side street, almost completely hidden from view because the streetlights were out. The man with a penlight addressed the rest of the group. "You all know the drill. Blend in. When we get a visual of the subject, relay on comms. Nobody makes a move without my OK. Got it?"
The rest of the men nodded. What the light shone on was a map of the ground floor of The Rolands. A bright red circle highlighted the Grand Ballroom. The exits were marked out with neon green Xs.
"My contact says they up'd security for tonight in the last week. Mr. Worsely has his own team in place. Sweep is a no go, but we've got eyes tonight. "Beac, keep us on the ball." The man pocketed his light and slapped the man, in front of the laptop, on the shoulder. "Boys, let's move out."
Evan and his team jumped quietly out the back door of the van.
Beac pulled it closed and locked it from the inside.
Another van was parked in front. The other men had already begun heading to it, and pulled a few duffle bags from inside.
A guy with brown curly hair approached Evan. "Here are the tickets."
Taking them, he gave out the four tickets and turned to the two remaining men. "Stevin, Gris. Meet you guys up top. A code five and we're out, don't wait. Just get yourself to the checkpoint. We clear?"
"Yes." Came the unanimous reply.