Days in Vegas do not start or end as any other city. It was hot and sweltering, but it was only nine o'clock in the morning. At first Liz had felt a little self conscious as she glanced down at her attire.
Silas had assured her that no one would turn a head or blink an eye, but to walk through a ritzy hotel lobby in nothing more than a sheer net cover over her bikini clad form... gave her pause for thought.
As she and Silas walked the short distance from the Private entrance, she noted that while she did receive some looks they were all pleasant enough, not to mention there were several other women scattered about who were dressed much more risque than she.
The cool interior of the elegant space inside was more than welcomed after the hot sun. She noticed Red off to her left, standing leisurely beside Mark, awaiting the arrival of a set of elevators.
The man turned his head as she neared, his eyes sweeping her bikini clad form, lasciviously.
Liz inhaled shakily as she watched him look her over, damning herself as she felt a rush of arousal traverse her body.
Silas' bemused expression told her he had picked up on the fact. He grasped her arm, breaking the spell, leading her away from the bad influence.
She scowled up at the man, then grimaced when she realized, she had almost run into a large pillar directly in her path.
Good job, Liz. Face plant into a wall, because that's sexy.
She glanced back at Red quickly, finding his eyes had dropped meaningfully... more specifically, to her ass.
He lifted those eyes, the heat contained in them, making her blush return post haste. His intense perusal of her suddenly slipped into a dark scowl, his eyes shifting beyond her vicinity.
Liz glanced over, finding Brad standing there giving her a once over which made her pretty face glower over with annoyance.
She listed slightly from Silas' soft hold, aligning herself within the visual path of Red Reddington once again.
She smiled coyly back at the man, offering a flirty but almost negligible shimmy of her shapely bottom, pleased as hell to see Red's attention focusing sharply back to where she needed it.
Mark laughed throatily, laying a hand on Red's advancing form, casting a chastising glance at both Elizabeth and her guard. He waved Silas off, physically turning the older man back to the elevator which had opened as if on cue.
"Fucking rabbits..." Silas grumbled as he opened the door, shoving her outside and out of sight of Red and more importantly, Brad.
Liz took exception to the graphically stated observation. "What did you just–"
"You got Red's attention back. Leave it at that."
She frowned, "I beg your–"
"His mind is on you, not on that dumbass." Silas shooed her away from the door. "To go back inside right now is only asking for trouble."
Liz calmed instantly.
"Besides, Sugar Daddy has to work." Silas waved a hand meaning, proceed forward.
"He is not my Sugar Daddy." Liz stalked off to a cabana which looked more than inviting, sitting her sunglasses down on the table.
"He's mine." Silas flicked his fingers, shooing her to the water. "You're not the only one that benefits from that hard earned money."
Liz sighed, shrugging her shoulders before letting the matter go.
She could, and would, play with Red later. She would just consider the time until then, as foreplay.
Passing through the elegant corridor, Red loosened his tie, his mind still on the meeting they had just attended.
He listened attentively to Mark expounding the virtues of several possible scenarios that had been discussed... though he was more than ready for a mental break.
Pushing out the Private entrance to the pool, Red sighted Lizzy laying stretched out on a longue, her skin glistening under the warm sun. That tiny ass which had distracted him so easily earlier in the day... was right there on display.
Taking a deep breath, he felt the tension begin to roll from his shoulders the closer he got to the woman.
Running a hand down the length of her back, Red leaned, kissing her exposed nape before sitting in the chair beside her... now only half listening to Mark rattle on.
Catching a waiter, he ordered a drink before zoning off into the soft sound of the lapping water and inhaling the sweet scent of Lizzy in the warm breeze.
Savoring his drink and the warm breeze, Red glanced at the woman beside him, noticing her normally lily white skin had turned a healthy bronze, though her shoulders admittedly, were slightly pink in color.
Seating himself beside the woman, he massaged the warmed sunscreen over her back as the woman sighed her contentment and lazily sipped her drink through a long straw which stuck up through the slats of her chair.
Beckoned to come play with Francis, Lia and Amanda in the pool; Red watched the woman with a warm smile of affection and amusement.
After their discussion last evening, they were both more secure in their relationship.
Their trust in one another was solid.
But that didn't negate the fact that Red wanted to beat the hell out of Brad.
Red had seen that type of personality so often in life. Good old Brad was more interested in one upping the competition than Elizabeth herself. Nor did he care who was hurt in the interim.
Brad saw a challenge and wanted to defeat his opponent. He believed himself to be better than Red and would stop at nothing to prove it.
Red's instincts were to beat the bastard to a pulp, leave him stripped naked in the middle of Hoover Dam, handcuffed to the railing.
Even now as he scanned the pool deck, he found the asshole in question staring longingly at Elizabeth from across the way. He watched the scene unfold, as Brad's companion urgently attempted to get the fucker's attention.
Evidently, Red's reputation had proceeded him. He sensed he had been recognized even though the guy was now desperately pretending not to have done so.
Red could guess the direction of the conversation as recognition dawned on Brad's face. At first the man's jaw had dropped, the beady little eyes wide with awe as he jerked his head in Red's direction.
For a split second there was confusion and a little fear. Red enjoyed that second immensely having held the man's eyes steadily. But then the inevitable kicked in, a sly grin crossing Brad's smug face.
Brad grinned, pulling the phone free from the gaudy shirt he had chosen.
Red did not have to be psychic to guess the direction the call would take. Thankfully however, he had the FBI on speed dial.
He punched in a button, waiting patiently, smiling politely across the way. For one brief second, Brad's expression slipped. He could not understand why Red was not intimidated in the least by his tactics.
"Ressler?" Red began. "You're about to get a call on my location. I'm at the Mirage."
"Why am I not at the Mirage?" Ressler enquired instantly.
"Get a suit, come on down." Red magnanimously offered. "Bring the lovely Agent Navabi... it's on me... the pool is amazing."
"You make my mouth water." the younger man sighed heavily for his lot in life. "So what's going on?" Ressler questioned.
"We have had the misfortune to run into someone from the past who wishes to make trouble," Red stretched out his legs, getting more comfortable, "and possibly collect the substantial bounty on my head."
"Well, who doesn't want that?" Ressler quipped, closing the folder he had been working on. "I will alert the others to ignore any info coming out of Vegas for the time being."
"That would be appreciated." Red flicked an imaginary piece of lint of his slacks.
"So should we be worried about this informant?"
"At no point did I say this man was intelligent." Red smiled brightly at his opponent across the way. "Let me worry about him."
"Yeah, don't go killing him or anything... or at least don't make more paperwork for me." he sat up straighter at his desk. "Oh, hey. You think Liz would mind getting me a coffee cup from Treasure Island? I broke my girlfriends cup a couple days ago and..."
"She doesn't know." Red surmised.
"No..." Ressler confessed his sins, "I told her I took it to work with me."
"Because you treasured it so much?" Red finished the scenario. "Donald, I thought you were the sole of discretion," he teased, "I thought you never lied, being a Fed and all."
"So it was black with a 3D skull on it." Ressler advised. "And if she wants to pick me up something else as well, that would be great too... I gotta go. Navabi just got word of a sighting of your Blacklister."
Red clicked the phone off just as Mark came back to the cabana, handing Red's refreshed drink over before plopping down on the lounge beside the man.
"Red, you want me to get rid of the problem?" Mark hooked his thumb to the one in question, before turning a more than intimidating stare to the 'problem' in question.
Brad's companion made a hasty retreat to the safety of the hotel. The man himself, shifted his stare and Red noticed he swallowed visibly.
"You still have the touch, Mark." he was proud, having sensed Brad's instinctive fear cross momentarily over the handsome face.
"Boy, he's just cruising for a bruising, isn't he?" Mark said, staring out over the pool.
Red sipped his drink, his attention caught. "Good old, Brad?"
Mark's face pulled into a slight grimace as he motioned with his head. "...No." he sighed heavily.
Red refocused his attention on Elizabeth instantly, sighing heavily as well. "I think he has a death wish. And I am the Reaper." he stood, straightening his vest. "... Excuse me."
"God, you're so polite, I love that about you." Mark saluted the man with his drink. "Cheers..."
Grabbing a bartenders attention, Red pointed behind the bar. "I need that."
The bartender looked at him oddly, but handed over the requested item to the imposing man.
Francis stealthily crept up behind Lizzy, tentatively reaching out for her bottoms.
Red stood casually, tipping the large pitcher of ice water over the young man's exposed head.
Francis shrieked his surprise, his body jerking with the sensation. "Shit!" he screeched loudly. "Cold!" He did a weird kind of dance, the small cup of ice water he had held, spilled all over the originally intended target.
"Francis, you little shit!" Liz hopped in place, rubbing her cold bottom briskly. She tried unsuccessfully to recapture her breath.
Francis had recovered sufficiently enough to deposit a handful of ice cubes down the back of her bikini. The woman whooped her shock, digging about for the offending objects.
Reaching into the area, Red grabbed the ice cubes that had been poured inside, lifting her bodily, easing her into the warm pool.
"Better?" He smiled down at her, a loud scream of annoyance gathering both of their attentions.
Silas and Dembe were carrying a frantic dissident to the water's edge. They swung Francis back and forth, ignoring his protests and threats completely, before letting him fly.
And fly he did.
Red rolled his eyes when the boy instinctively stuck his arm out, looking very much like Superman in flight, before he disappeared into the water in a enormous splash.
After a few seconds, Francis broke the surface, sighing. "Ahh, warmth." Wiping the water from his eyes, he caught Red staring out at him. "Dude, that was cold, in more ways than one."
"Be glad I didn't drop it down your trunks." Red needled the boy. "God knows you don't need anything stunting your... growth."
"Oh! Burn!" Liz snorted, enjoying Francis' slight flush of embarrassment to the fullest.
Having enjoyed a late lunch and shopping, Red was enjoying the time with the woman too much to let it end so quickly.
They walked the busy, bustling area, the man naturally gravitating to an open jewelry store display.
"Red..." Liz warned quietly, "don't you even think about it."
The man grasped her hand, pulling her along with him into the swanky innards of the store.
"I brought my stuff from home." she protested, dragging her feet.
"I just want to look." Red muttered, gently insisting she follow. "Now, let me have some fun." he hushed her protests.
Walking hand in hand, she waited patiently as the two men perused the merchandise displayed.
"Ask her opinion on something." Red murmured to Francis, knowing the woman could not hear.
"Is this like the Miami Incident?" Francis had picked up on the 'why' of things.
Red nodded once. And the young man went into his stealth mode.
"Lizzy, which one do you think Lia will like?" Francis asked, pointing between three beautiful diamond necklaces.
Liz stepped forward, looking over the case, instantly biting at her finger nail, deeply concentrating on the lovely gems, before offering her advice.
They moved on to another case, Red intently listening to the woman's remarks. He folded his arms, leaning back against a convenient display case. He waited patiently to see which piece the woman would fall in love with.
The pleasant interlude was interrupted when the man looked up to find Christopher waltzing in the opened entrance, an important looking file in hand.
Red sighed, pushing away from his comfortable perch, crossing the needed space. He gently touched the woman's shoulder, getting her attention.
"I'll be just a second, sweetheart." he motioned accordingly.
"Hmm?" Liz looked distractedly away from the showcase, glancing over her shoulder, seeing Chris approach them. "Oh, okay, I'll be here." she smiled, directing her attention back to the shiny baubles. "That butterfly there is pretty, Francis." she pointed to the object.
Red and Chris stepped off to a side room, discreetly disappearing into the darkened area.
"...Fancy meeting you here." the voice was instantly recognizable.
Liz exhaled an annoyed breath, before turning reluctantly about. "...Brad."
She lay a restraining hand on Francis who she had felt tense at the other man's arrival. She also waived off a rapidly approaching guard who had held back all afternoon, as was his way until something he perceived as 'danger' beckoned.
She could handle this. Even as insistent as Brad was, she had absolutely no interest in the man. And didn't think she'd have a problem verbalizing as much.
"I saw you," the man smiled charmingly, "thought you might be interested in having that drink now."
"Oh, I can't, but thank you." Liz begged off graciously.
"Well, how about dinner." the man tried again, persistent if nothing else. "There's a romantic little bistro up the way."
Francis' jaw tightened angrily, before turning his ire directly on the intruder. "Man, she's engaged." he warned icily. "...Back the fuck off."
"I just asked her out to dinner." Brad laughed inoffensively.
"A romantic dinner." Francis corrected, remembering the exact wording used.
"What? Your old Ball and Chain afraid of a little competition?" It was innocuously joked.
"If there was any competition to be had." Francis scoffed openly. "You're so out of his league, it's pathetic."
Liz rubbed at her forehead, embarrassed by the whole thing. "Brad, I'm flattered," she began, "but I think it would be best if we didn't–"
"Look, just have dinner with me." Brad prodded insistently. "Take a chance."
"No... thank you." Liz refused, all nicety aside. "Now, we must be going." she took Francis' arm, walking across the show room.
Feeling the man gaining on them, Liz prepared to turn and do battle when in that instant... Red stepped from the back room.
She was glad to see that the man was going to be civilized about the whole matter, his expression benign for the moment.
Red lifted his hand, taking her outstretched one as she got closer to him.
"Liz..." Brad demanded her attention.
Clenching her jaw angrily, Liz spun, stopping the man in his tracks.
"I said," she bit out, "...no."
Brad drew back, a little shocked by the forcefulness in her tone. His eyes drifted past her, sensing the problem.
"I get it." he nodded knowingly. "I'll talk to you later then."
Francis stepped forward quickly and Liz could see the powerful fists clenching with rage, "Hey man, why don't you go fuc–"
Red grasped Francis' arm, stilling the young man. "Is there a problem here?"
"No problem," Brad smiled disarmingly. "Just asked Liz for a quick drink... maybe a little dinner."
"A fucking romantic dinner." Francis corrected again, his anger barely contained.
Was he purposely baiting Red a little, hoping the man might knock the asshole out? He knew Red's capabilities, he just didn't know how far he was willing to be pushed in this particular situation.
Red remained stoically passive. "Elizabeth, would you like to have dinner with your friend."
Francis turned away, shaking his head furiously but Christopher offered a sedate shake of his own head signifying 'let Red handle it in his own way'.
Liz smiled softly, sensing Red's ploy.
He was pissed. Clear and simple. Though he was trying to hide it, she knew the set of those shoulders very well.
The man was the epitome of class in her book. Her affection for him swelled to new heights.
"No, I do not want to go." she gripped his hand tighter.
"You have your answer." Red turned the all too quiet eyes elsewhere.
"Maybe because she doesn't have a choice." the man countered recalling his several attempts to garner the FBI's attention this very day.
Red remained moot on the subject knowing where all this was leading.
"My denial has nothing to do with Red, in any fashion." Liz replied sternly. "As a matter of fact, I'm finding you rather conceited and rude." she narrowed her eyes at the intruder to her domain. "Do not approach me again." she snapped quietly. "Is that clear enough for you?"
"I don't want to have to point out again... that we are engaged." Red kept his tone even, just barely.
"But I have to wonder," Brad countered musingly, "if you will make it to the altar?"
A certain type of rage filled Elizabeth herself at such an unforgivable slur. "Why you son of a–"
Red gripped her hand, gently stilling her outburst. He stepped once, putting himself between the woman and her antagonist. His eyes emptied of emotion.
"...Leave Elizabeth alone." he gritted coldly.
Brad looked between the hostile eyes staring daggers at him. He sensed Elizabeth's anger as well, before shrugging nonchalantly.
"Does she know who you are?" he questioned sotto voce before sauntering across the showroom. "I'll see you later, Liz." he called back over his shoulder, his smile a confident one.
Red was moving before he knew he had actually reacted but the woman's hand held him back. He trailed after the son of a bitch with his eyes blazing hidden fury until Brad disappeared behind a large pillar.
"Let it go, Red." Liz murmured softly. "He's not worth worrying about."
Red turned a glacial stare to Dembe and Silas who waited unobtrusively aside. Silas lifted a brow signifying 'do we kill the bastard now?'
Red offered a jerky gesture in reply. Both men were clearly disappointed by the man's decision.
"Who's the clueless idiot?" Chris asked the rhetorical question.
"Her old boyfriend." Francis grated, sending Liz an accusatory glance.
"Let it go," Red practically snapped before wrapping his arm around Liz's waist, pulling her close to his side.
She smiled warmly at the touch, moving into it more than willingly.
Red took a deep breath, trying to control the urge to go after the fucker and do irreparable harm. He felt his rage easing with Liz's calming presence, but it didn't quell it completely.
He was trying so hard to not resort to his usual tactics, knowing Elizabeth would not appreciate it, especially since she would consider it her fault. The task almost impossible, however.
In fact, he hadn't anticipated that it would bother him to this extent.
Lizzy was his. And to not fight for what belonged to him... was a very foreign concept in Red Reddington's world.
He couldn't help but ask himself if there was a small part of her wondering why he hadn't. Did she think he was a coward for not strangling the asshole like he wanted to? Or was she proud of him for keeping his cool?
To outward appearances, she had let the matter go. Had moved on from the exchange and was having fun.
So why was Red still stewing?
She tapped the glass repeatedly at one point until Francis gave in and gestured for assistance. She waited patiently in the interim, all the while wondering over Red's quietness.
"Oh, look!" she gasped, pointing to a delicate necklace and earring set in diamond and amethyst. "It's the color of my dress." she traced her finger over the glass, looking at the pretty display.
Red waved a man over, pointing to the set.
"Red." she hissed quietly. "I didn't say buy it! I said–"
He cupped her face gently, working his mouth softly against hers, feeling the tension easing gradually from his shoulders. She sighed happily against his mouth, for a few moments before sighing in defeat.
"You're impossible," she shook her head slightly, "what am I going to do with you?"
"Are you open to suggestions?" Red asked instantly.
Dembe stepped forward, completing the transaction.
As they walked through the hotel, she realized that Red had said very little since the incident with Brad.
Was he pissed off at her? And if so, what the hell for! She hadn't done anything. She had been minding her own business when Brad invaded her space.
They came to the hall leading to the outside area where the car was waiting.
Red had been upset for some few moments. He had felt better after purchasing the small trinket for the woman but his anger had returned almost immediately thereafter. He hesitated, finding a safe object on which to vent his frustration.
Suddenly turning on the head guard who had walked quietly beside him the entire time, Red snapped. "Where the hell were you?"
"Shut up, Red." Liz whipped around, her own anger surfacing. "I waved him off because I could handle it! You big jerk!"
"I didn't ask what you were doing." Red snapped right back. "I asked what the hell h–"
"I can take care of Brad myself!" she gritted. "I don't need him to do it for me!"
"That's his job!" Red jabbed a finger towards the conspicuously silent guard. "He's supposed to protect you!"
"You mean, protect your property!" she bitched before turning on her heel, marching down the long corridor, continuing the trek to the car.
Silas watched her go, before slowly walking after her. He turned a few steps into the effort, glancing back at Red.
"You're kind of cute when you're mad." Silas grinned at his own wit.
"Fuck off, Silas." Red spat, gesturing for the man to 'go'. "Do your job, dammit."
"Aye, aye, Captain." Silas saluted, resuming his trek.
Red dropped his head, blowing out his vexation before lifting his eyes, finding Dembe and Francis waiting.
"I don't want to hear it." he grunted irritably.
Silas trotted after the vexed woman, chuckling as he neared.
"Slow down there, firecracker." he reached, snagging her arm, ensuring she obey.
"I can't believe he spoke to you in that manner!" she hissed. "Besides, like I need you to–"
"He knows you don't need me to ward off that piss ant." Silas effectively silenced the pissed woman. "Technically, I should have ushered the moron to the door and none of this would have happened." he was quick to fill in. "But just like Red, I know you can handle that dumbass."
"He's pissed off at us for–"
"Red's not pissed off at you or even me." Silas corrected.
"He yelled at you for nothing and–"
Silas sighed heavily, guiding her to a nearby hallway away from prying ears and eyes.
"Now, I want you to listen to me." He held her fiery eyes. "There are two totally different issues going on here and you're not going to understand it unless someone just maps it out for you."
"I'm not stupid, you know!" she hissed.
"I know you're not. But you know, it didn't fully occur to me until early this morning what's going on."
"What are you babbling about?"
"Just be quiet for a second and I'll tell you." Silas snapped. "First and foremost, Red was not yelling at me. He was venting in a safe manner."
Liz tilted her head questioningly. The man shifted his bulk into a more comfortable position.
"Honey, what just happened in there went against everything Red Reddington is." he explained as best he could under the circumstances. "It was either he blew up at me, knowing full well I understood that it wasn't personal... or do what his instincts were screaming at him to do."
Liz stepped in closer, listening intently now.
"He's agitated because he went against his natural tendency to fight for his property," he repeated her words back at her, "but instead, he did what he thought you would appreciate and that was to keep his cool."
Liz eyed her guard warily, but stayed silent.
"The idiot has probably got it in his head that you think he's a coward for not fighting for you." the man laughed at such a notion.
"I don't think that at all!" she stated vehemently.
"I didn't say you did." Silas reprimanded. "Or that it made sense that Red Reddington would think something so stupid."
"So besides him believing that," she slowly worked out the problem in her head, "he's also worried how I'll react when he finally does blow his top?" she questioned.
"Yes, he is worried about that." Silas confirmed. "But you and I both know, Red will handle Brad at some point." he warned, just as a precaution.
She had to admit, she had expected Red to punch the man back at the jewelry store.
"Especially since the little fucker called the FBI and reported a sighting on Red."
"He what!" she gasped.
"Red has already taken care of it." Silas assured. "But you should know, Red will do something, at some point. So get ready for it."
"So I should be..." she searched for the proper wording, "supportive?"
"I can't tell you how to feel about that." Silas shook his head. "Your morals are different than ours."
Liz had to admit that she believed a different set of rules applied most times than she had witnessed with her current associates. Rule of law had been drilled into her for so many years now, that the lines were beginning to blur.
It felt wrong to support Red in this matter when she knew it was so easily handled in a different fashion.
But on the other hand, she had to wonder, when did she have to take a step back and allow Red to handle this his way?
"I told Red I wasn't interested in Brad." she confided. "I thought he believed me..."
"I'm not saying he didn't believe you." Silas was quick to reassure the woman.
"Then what's going on?" she was so confused. "I mean, besides him wanting to beat the hell out of Brad."
"This isn't about Brad so much," Silas shook his head woefully, "but Tom."
The woman's frown deepened, having absolutely no idea how the two even connected.
"When he threw Tom in your face last night..." Silas reminded, "he was subconsciously worrying about you taking off with Tom... not Brad."
"What?" she whispered her disbelief.
"Brad is just a convenient excuse." Silas spread his hands expressively. "Red has been living a life of nothing but disappointment... right now, he's desperately trying to find his place in your world and evidently he hasn't found it yet." It seemed simple enough to the man. "The foundation is shaky and he can't find his footing."
"He's waiting for me to leave him." she surmised quietly.
Silas nodded sharply. "So it would seem."
"Have I done something to..." she shrugged.
"It's not you. It's just the way guys think, honey." Silas opened the door, ushering her out when the car pulled up. "He hasn't been able to make claim to you in any of the ways universally understood by the male species, loathsome creatures that we are... and it's bothering the shit out of him."
"What do you mean? What ways?" she questioned, ready to help Red in anyway possible to assure he be more confident of their relationship.
Red stepped through the door, stalking towards the pair, his face masked carefully.
"Dammit!" the woman was more than vexed for the interruption, her expression saying as much.
Silas laughed throatily before opening the back door, waving her gallantly inside.
"Talk to him... " The man suggested quietly, assisting the woman as she took her seat.
They drove the short distance to the Villa in complete silence. Red snapped orders to those assembled before following the woman into the front room, then stalked his way to the bar.
Liz watched him for a long moment, silently wondering how to start the dialogue needed.
"I don't think you're a coward." she stated quietly, stilling the man's hand directly before his glass reached his lips. "I understand what you did..." she continued quickly, "and that you did it for me."
Red blinked, a little shocked by her insight, truth told.
"What you did, or didn't do...it goes against your nature," she turned, walking the short path around the divan, "and I don't..." she hesitated, absently running her finger along the edge of a throw pillow.
"You don't, what?" Red questioned quietly.
"I don't want you to do that." she blurted out. "If you start second guessing everything you do, because of me, it can lead to a choice between life or death."
Red scoffed disgustedly, "Brad isn't–"
"I don't mean Brad." she scolded. "I don't want you hesitating to do what you feel is best and possibly getting yourself killed because you think... differently now." she looked up at him, "I know you did it for me."
"I did." he admitted. "Are you implying you would have rather I beat the hell out of him?"
"Is that what you wanted to do?"
"... Yes."
"And because you didn't, we got into an argument."
"I wasn't angry with you."
"The point is, I thought you were." she reminded. "Which again, led us to a misunderstanding."
"Who's to say we wouldn't have fought if I had done as I wanted." Red countered.
"At least in that scenario, you're actually standing up for a cause." she could see that much. "Fighting over some meaningless idiot is exactly what he wants us to do."
Red couldn't argue the point. It was the second time Brad had purposefully caused waves with the intention of driving a wedge.
"Plus you got angry with my guard, after I explicitly told him to not involve himself." she practically pleaded her cause. "Negating my order to stand down."
Red had told her repeatedly that Silas was to do as she directed, and he came in, in one fail swoop, erasing what he had essentially proclaimed. He vented his anger on the wrong people.
He sighed, nodding slowly. "I did," he readily admitted again. "I apologize." he pushed the drink aside, slowly. "I will apologize to Silas as well."
She turned, seeking solace elsewhere, looking out the French doors, watching the guards make their rounds. "What do I have to do to convince you that I'm not interested in Brad."
"I know you aren't interested." he assured.
"Then why..." she hesitated, unsure how to ask the question.
"I told you..." he walked up behind her, keeping a little distance, "I'm very territorial. It's a trait that I am not proud of at times."
For the second time that day, her heart filled with affection for the man behind her. He may be territorial and even possessive at times but that was just part of the whole.
"And watching him openly undressing you... pisses me the hell off."
"I don't care what he does." she scowled.
"I do," Red murmured quietly behind her.
"Because I belong to you." she finished for him. "In your world."
"No, he's disrespectful to you. And that is something that I will simply not allow."
And a little more than disturbing, Red thought to himself. Men who didn't take 'No' for an answer were dangerous in his world.
"If it makes you feel any better..." she quirked her head slightly to one side, "I kind of wanted you to hit him... oh, who the hell am I kidding? I wanted you to knock him on his ass."
Red smiled shortly stepping closer, looking to her profile. "You did, huh?"
She sighed, nodding a little. "He's so fucking annoying."
"Then you understand that I may not be able to control myself at some point." he questioned. "And that my actions are in no way a reflection of my feelings and respect for you."
She looked up at the man, a slow smile tugging at her lips. She guessed if one of his ex's came sniffing around... she would be pretty pissed off herself.
"I will not lie to you, Lizzy. He can only push me so far before I react." he stepped in further as she stepped back. "I have a reputation to uphold granted, but when it comes to you... it's personal."
She smiled softly, looking up at the man, "This little territorial thing you've got going on is even more hot than I originally thought." she reached, stroking his collar. "Not that you have to prove your point by breaking him in half."
He glanced down, watching her hand trail flirtatiously over his chest. Leaning his arm into the wall beside her, he effectively blocked any exit, not that she seemed to be wanting to go anywhere.
"I had something a little more violent in mind, but whatever..." The man dropped his mouth against her neckline, suckling on her pulse point.
"Are you marking your 'territory'?" she leaned into his administrations.
"That is in the very near future." he promised himself more than the woman. "I am well within my rights to beat the fuck out of him."
"So I should consider myself 'spoken for'?" she sighed, holding him to his pastime.
"Most definitely." he muttered distractedly. "Yes, you are."
She found, she wasn't really going to argue that statement.
"You do what you need to, Red." her eyes gentle and for the man alone. "I don't like being at odds with you over something so trivial."
"I don't either." he murmured, unwilling to break the quiet solitude they had found. "You're too quiet."
"I was thinking about Tom." she blurted, feeling the man stiffen. "You don't have to worry about him." Liz lifted her gaze to the carefully controlled features. "I know it's just words but..."
"I shouldn't have said what I did." Red shook his head for his own folly. "It was–"
"Warranted," she interrupted. "I acted impulsively and really disrespected myself." she admitted. "I didn't think about it until a couple weeks ago, how unhealthy and sick that relationship was." she was still troubled by her impulsive actions. "I needed to step away from that but..."
"He was comfortable." Red supplied the reason.
"But he wasn't." Liz disagreed. "I thought I knew him... you know?"
"I know..." Red hated that she had felt that betrayal.
"I hadn't let it settle in that the man I knew didn't exist and never had." she grimaced at the thought now. "I lived with a stranger for two years... then after he..." she shivered at the thought of the violence that had erupted between them.
Red absently massaged her back, comforting her...allowing her the time to gather her thoughts.
"I slept with him..." she felt sick by the realization. "What was wrong with me?"
"Tom was a master manipulator." Red nuzzled her forehead lovingly. "Even after everything that happened, it was hard to erase the good memories you had of the man."
The people who handled Tom were almost Machiavellian in nature. There were times when Red even understood the desperation the young man must have felt. Caught between a rock and a hard place.
"You can't just shut off your emotions, Lizzy." that much he knew.
"I haven't shut off my emotions." she hoped he would understand. "I've learned to look at the situation from a distance. I know now not everything is black and white." she stopped for a breath.
"But I need you to know, that with this needed separation from him... I understand how damaging the situation was." she freely admitted. "And it will not happen again. I can't let it happen..."
One part of the man sensed that she was trying to soothe the small rift between them in her own way. He was also grateful for that element.
He was glad to note however, that she was seriously considering her own happiness and peace of mind, which was very important.
He could see her personal growth, both emotionally and physically.
Knowing that Tom had a ice cubes chance in hell of swaying Lizzy to do anything felt amazing. He was so fucking proud of her right now... words failed him.
He never thought he'd see the day...
"I know what I said doesn't magically fix anything," she began, "and we'll need to communicate more about such things..."
"But it's a start." he said, resting his forehead to hers.