Chapter 3

I don't remember how long I was crying, but everything that came after hit me in a frenzy. We left the club and went straight to my hotel room. Even though I'd just met him and he kept calling me by someone else's name, there was something within me that made me want him so badly. It was like we'd known each other for so long, but never had the chance to explore what we felt for each other.

Kisses and caresses followed the ceremonious removal of clothing. Within a few moments, I found myself standing before Sark in nothing but my shoes and a pair of black lace panties. I kissed him hungrily and began to unbutton his shirt. The process was slow and long, but I knew the importance of not ripping a good shirt. I felt him moan under my touch as I slipped the shirt over his shoulders, scratching my nails along his hard chest.

I felt one hand slide around my waist while the other snaked into the waistband of my panties. From there, everything became a blur of licks, bites, kisses, and utter pleasure. I soon screamed his name loudly before collapsing on his chest, kissing the little injuries I left him with. Scratches littered his chest, playing companion to bite marks on his neck that nearly broke the skin.

I slept longer than normal, finally waking when Sark had breakfast brought up. I dressed myself in a cotton babydoll top and black pants before having some toast and fruit. We both sat on opposite sides of the small table, choosing not to approach the subject that was wearing on both our minds. It wasn't until after we'd finished eating that one of us even spoke.

"McKenas wants me to come back." I said, "I don't want to, but I know he'll have me killed if I don't."

"As much as you hate him for what happened to Walker, you have to go back and act like nothing's changed." He replied.

I began to remember that I'd admitted the mission plan to him after my breakdown. He knew that the proposal was a ruse, but I planned to uphold it myself. I told him I wouldn't go back to Rome and I'd stay with him wherever he went and try to take down The Covenant.

"I told you before; I'm not going back to Rome. I won't sit across from him and listen to him drone on about The Man and talk about how Simon was a casualty of his own choices. I don't think I'd be able to do that without trying to slit his throat for all he's done."

"You know you have no choice. The Covenant will have you tracked and killed if you don't go back. They won't just let a turned CIA agent go."

"I've never worked for the CIA."

"You did once."

"What do you mean? I've been a freelancer since my family was murdered. I hooked up with Simon a few months ago and I worked with him until he was killed. Then, I started working under The Covenant. I've never been CIA."

"Allow me to explain."

"You'd better."

"Until 2 years ago, you were a CIA operative named Sydney Bristow. The Covenant kidnapped you from your apartment and brainwashed you into thinking you were Julia Thorne. Since then you've played their patsy, going on missions for them and betraying the US government."

"And why should I believe you?"

"Because, though there are many things you don't know about me, I was once your adversary."

"So that's why you've been calling me Sydney. I was apparently someone else."

"It's the honest truth. Ask McKenas about Sydney Bristow."

"How do I know this isn't a setup and you're not just mentioning this name to get me killed?"

"Because, my dear, it wouldn't be much fun to bring down an agency without you." He smiled.

My mind weighed my options as I sat there, searching for the truth in his eyes. I suppose me once being someone else would explain why I feel like I've known him my entire life. I looked into those big blue eyes and saw that he was really being genuine about everything. Seeing that completely tore away everything. I really used to be someone else.

I felt those all-too-familiar tears begin to collect in my eyes, but this time I didn't let them fall. I had to slip back into the hardness I'd known for the last 9 months or I'd fall apart. I decided to go back to Rome and have a heart to heart with McKenas, just to see if Sark was right.

I arrived at the building that housed the office of The Covenant. I quickly walked through the lobby, heading straight for the elevator. I pressed the button for the 8th floor and waited patiently as the elevator car took me up. I arrived with a ding and went right into McKenas's office unannounced.

"McKenas, we need to talk about some things." I said. He turned in his desk chair to face me.

"Julia, so good to see you." He replied with a smile.

"I heard a name that struck a chord. I wanted to ask if you knew anything about it."

"What name?"

"Sydney Bristow." His face went white for a moment before returning to normal.

"She was a CIA operative that we took care of about 9 months ago." He replied.

"Okay. Sark agreed to the proposition."

"Good. When do you meet with him again?"

"In a week."

"Get yourself prepared. I'll talk to you again the day you leave." I nodded.

"Alright. I'm gonna go back to my apartment."

"Very well."

"And maybe you'll call before my meet and tell me what happened to Simon." I said in a low voice.

"I doubt that."

"Fine." I spat bitterly, walking out of the office. I slammed the door before going back to the elevator and leaving the building.

I went back to my apartment, gathering a few items for my impromptu meeting with Sark. I told the truth when I said I was meeting with him in a week, but I conveniently left out the fact that I was going to the Giardino degli Angeli (Garden Of The Angels) to meet with him tonight. We both knew we'd never make it an entire week, so we planned on spending as much time as we could with each other.