Killing Him Softly: Christina Pandeli
by tarskeewee08
18
Months Later
"Mmmmmmm" he moaned as her kisses trailed from his neck to his chest. Her silky mane sliding across his breast tickling him as he exhales at the erotic feeling of her slippery tongue on his skin. She raises her head and smiles into his face and she's as beautiful to him as she was the first day he laid eyes on her.
John smiled up at her seeing her love for him sparkle in her eyes. She lowers herself onto him and he gasped at the warm feeling of entering her again. She runs her hands across his chest while moving slowly back and forth in his lap. He moans again and her fragrance engulfs him.
Looking up he raises his hand to her neck and pulls her to him telling her the words he desperately wants her to hear "I love you…." She kisses him and as soon as her soft loving lips touch his she slowly fades from him disappearing altogether. He screams and sits up in bed. "Evangeline! Evangeline!"
Still smelling her fragrance in the room his heart pounds and his throat goes dry as he lets out another agonizing scream "EVANGELINE!"
John opens his eyes and shakes his head. The nightmare is always the same, with her fading away in the end. Looking over to the window he sees that the plane has lowered in altitude. The sea beneath him is a deep cobalt blue and shimmering under the Greek sun. The pilot comes on announcing there descent and John sits up in his seat fastening his seat belt. The plane tilts to the left and John can see the mountain they fly around. If he wasn't so numb to it all he would recognize the remarkable beauty of this place.
Bouncing in his seat he feels the plane touch down then skid to a bumpy break. Leaning his head back his shades shield his eyes which would reveal his lack of sleep in the past 24 hours. The raid in London with Interpol was a great success, but before he could celebrate he received an ominous call from Wess telling him to take the private Jet and get to the Greek island of Leros, He found something of great interest.
It had been almost 2 years since she went missing. John spent the six months chasing shadows. The Panther was actually a pseudo name of an elusive billionaire named Laredo Montego. There was no evidence that he had any connection to Llanview except the fact that his mother was a Greek wealthy princess and his father was Carlo Hesser. Given diplomatic immunity he constantly hit a brick wall when trying to access the classified files on him. Extremely frustrated Wess suggested he switch teams with him. That's when John became an agent for the CIA.
Her trail grew cold several times but he constantly monitored the Panther's movements and prayed one day soon he'd find his precious Evangeline. The small commuter plane had his legs cramped. He had to fly from London to France and then Greece. Once he landed in Greece he had to charter a private plane to bring him to the island of Leros.
Leros was situated between Patmos and Kalymnos, a small island of fertile valleys sandwiched between rolling green hills, deep coves and pretty beaches. He had been here a year ago. It's the home of Montego. Now Wess called and said that he had to get here quick and refused to say more. It had to be about Evangeline. He said another silent prayer hoping so.
Rising from his seat he reached above and grabbed his large duffle bag. As an agent he learned to travel light and walk tall in a sea of terrorist, thieves and brutal assassins. None of it mattered. The only thing that mattered was her.
Stepping down the small ladder on to the runway John looked around and saw Wess leaning against a wrangler jeep with the top off. He stood there tanned with his arms folded wearing shades similar to his. John walked over to him. He wore blue linen dress pants and long white flowing shirt. His hair blew in the wind and his permanent scowl was still on his face since the day he lost her.
Wess came over and gave him a
fraternal hug "What's up brother!"
"What's up!" John
said hugging him back.
Walking over to the jeep he threw his
bag into the back and climbed inside.
"How was your flight?"
Wess asked starting the jeep and racing down the tarmac.
"Cool…what
you got?" John asked leaning back in his seat wearily as his hair
blew into his face.
"Well you know that Montego has a large
Masquerade ball on this island every year."
"Yeah I attended
last year and it was a bust."
Wess looked over at his friend and saw how hardened he'd become. Taking assignments here and there he was always on standby for anything remotely related to the Panther. What he was about to tell him would blow away his world.
"She's been spotted here" he said softly
"What!"
John snapped sitting up staring at him "When? Where? By
who?"
"She's his new bride John…"
John felt as if someone threw cold water in his face. Snatching off his shades he glared at Wess. "She's what?"
Wess kept his eyes on the winding two lane highway that circled 20 foot tall emerald green hills with 30 foot Deep valleys on the other side of them. "There's a lot you should know. And I need you to hear it all before you go flying off the handle."
"Take me to her….take me to her now!" John snapped trying to control his breathing.
Wess looked at his friend panting and saw that wild look in his eyes. He saw their turn and made a swift right on Olke road heading to the village of Alinda. It was outside of Agia Marina where the Montego's ran the city. He had to get John somewhere secure and debrief him first. He should have waited to tell him this much. His life was in danger and he was sure that Laredo knew he was on the island.
John closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing as his hair blew wildly around his head. She was here. She was alive. She was close. It kept playing over and over in his head and his heart. He would find her finally and bring her home.
Opening his eyes he saw several cinderblock cottages with shell like shingle roofs in soft yellows and white. A goat ran out into the road and Wess swerved keeping up his speed. John looked at him and thought about what he said "She married Montego?" Evangeline would never do that. Something was wrong.
He had to play it cool and get the facts. If Wess deemed him a risk to the operation he was running down here he could pull the plug. Stopping at the white cottage at the end of the road Wess jumped out of the jeep and grabbed John's bag. John stuck his shades into his shirt pocket and followed him.
As soon as he closed the door he charged Wess with questions. "Where is she Wess? Have you seen her? Is she hurt?"
Wess walked through the living area to a room off to the left. John followed him and opened the door to see Evangeline and Laredo Montego in different settings lined across the walls. The room had several computers and machines, but John ignored them walking to the images of the woman he loved more than his own life.
She was sunning on yacht next to a tanned Laredo. Walking along the docks in a pink and green bikini with matching sarong wearing large shades and her hair blowing in the wind. Dressed in a dazzling red evening dress that showed her honey tanned legs her arm entwined with Laredo. She looked alive and vibrant.
John turned and glared Wess "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!"
Wess pointed to the picture. "Check out the dude behind them or to the side of them in every picture."
John looked back up at the picture and his mouth dropped open to see Christian tanned and dressed in a suit like some kind of body guard. He was in every picture.
It made sense. Seeing Christian confirmed it. They had gotten to her. "Oh god baby….no." he whispered sadly.
Wess waited for John to collect himself. He needed him. Montego's operation was going to move on American interest in the Middle East and mind control was their secret weapon. John had to get in and bring her back to them. They had to find out how he was changing people. Of course the agency was using John. If John hadn't been so blinded by grief he would have known that he was groomed for this point right now. The day Evangeline went missing to this point the government always knew where she was. They just had no way to reach her. Now she roamed the streets freely which meant that Laredo must be confident in his control over her.
Laredo would kill John quick to keep him from her. Wess hated using his friend but it was a matter of National Security.
John rubbed his jaw his panic over what could be happening to her now made him sick with fear. Oh god if that animal touched her in any way he would snap his neck and enjoy it. "Tell me the deal" he said walking over and taking a seat.
Wess nodded and punched in some codes on the keyboard. A profile popped up on the screen. Evangeline's picture came up in a 3 by 5 inch window and she was smiling warmly. Her hair cascading around her face was only different by the bang in the middle that ran across her forehead and it hung longer pass her shoulders. He looked into her eyes and saw his baby. It was her.
Wess sat back "Six months ago Laredo through a party at his home in Rome. He walked in with her on his arm. Her name to all that have known her since is Christina Pandeli."
"Christina?" John said frowning looking at her picture.
Wess hit another key and Christian image appeared. "His name is Jake Pandeli and it's been told that they are cousins."
"That's utter
bullshit" John said sucking his teeth.
"It gets worse…"
Wess says. "Laredo announces she will be his bride and they are
married in Rome 3 months ago."
"This can't be right"
"We
had plants at the wedding John she's completely under his control.
She acted like a bride and danced the night away on his arm. It's
unbelievable but true."
John shook his head "Oh god what did he do to her? Why did he do this to her?"
"That we don't know. She got really involved with Christian Vega's case and when he came to visit Carlo on occasion for god knows what their paths crossed. According to what we know he planned it down to a T."
"How does Christian fit?" John asked.
"That's the most remarkable part. We believe him to be his enforcer. Several attempts have been made on Montego's life with the elections coming up soon this region is all a buzz. There are some revolutionaries that want to overthrow his entire family and drive them out of Leros."
"Has he killed?" John asked
"Yes….an
expertly."
"How soon can I see her?"
"You can't go
to her. Besides the fortress he has her in that's rumored to have
rare black panthers roaming freely. She doesn't know you man. She
would alert the guards immediately."
"She'll know
me."
"John….I've seen her with him. They were attending a
banquet just last night. She is not Evangeline right now. I need you
to understand that."
"Bullshit! I know who she is. And she
needs to know!"
Wess shakes his head "You fly off the handle he will kill you. Likely Christian is hunting you now. Nothing happens on this island that Montego doesn't know."
"Then
what? What's the plan.?"
"The Masquerade Ball. We need to
kidnap her and we will only have one shot at it."
"John sits
back and looks over to the wall at his beloved Evangeline. Let's do
it."
The Panther's Lair
(Evangeline/Christine POV)
Rolling over I feel his arms reach and pull me back.
"Where are you going Princess?"
Looking at my sexy husband I
laugh "To have Marcela bring us something to drink…"
"Not
yet!" he says pinning me back to the bed.
He kisses the inside of my neck and I moan at his touch. His hands slide across my body and I know what he wants. I want it too. He is all I ever want. Lifting his head his green eyes stare into mine. I raise my hand and run my fingers through his thick black curly hair.
"Do you
know how much I love you Christina?"
"Of course I do."
"I
want us to start a family right away..."
"Okay." I say
obediently.
He smiles at me satisfied by my response. I am unable to refuse him of anything he wants. All I want to do is please him. Feeling him roll onto me I sigh and part my legs to receive him again. My body is on fire under his touch and my breath catches in my throat when he pushes his way inside of me. He ravishes me and I submit relishing every single minute of it.
When he's done he kisses me softly on the lips and speaks to me in Greek of how I am his black beauty. I respond in my new native language, telling him I will love him forever. He's satisfied again and rolls off me. Rising from the bed I pick up my black satin robe that goes to the floor and shield my nakedness. My Greek god of a husband lies with the white satin sheets wrapped around his legs smiling seductively at me. His Hercules like physique makes me want to climb back into the bed with him. Resisting the urge I walk across the cold marble floor of our palatial master suite heading out the door.
Walking into the dark hall I see our Marcela our maid and beckon for her to come here. Speaking to her Greek I tell her what to fix for my husband and to bring me a martini as well. She understands and moves away. Turning I see my cousin. He looks at me and smiles.
"Jake…why
are you still up?" I say walking to him.
"I never sleep you
know that Christina" he says smiling weakly. His eyes are cloudy
and he looks extremely troubled.
Touching his face I want to
protect him. I have constant fears over his job and him getting hurt.
Somewhere inside me is this burning need to save him. But from what?
"Jake have you been taking care of yourself?"
"I've been
having those nightmares." he said in a whisper.
Christina looks
down the hall and back at him. "Laredo gets so upset over this
Jake, please you promised not to mention them again. I told you of my
nightmares in confidence. We mustn't speak of them now. Are we
clear?"
"Are you still having them Christina…don't lie
to me! Please…. because I can't make sense of the strange images
that flash before my eyes. The screams…." he says in a harsh
whisper.
"No..no…"
"Christina….please. Tell me the
truth, are you having them still?"
"I promised Laredo. He said that it was from the boating accident. That we were both in a boating accident and treated by doctors on a ship." I say shaking my head. I get the shivers of being locked in a ship screaming and screaming. Forcing the image from my head I fight back my tears.
"What is going on?" Laredo asked stepping into the hallway.
Turning I see him and smile "Nothing sweetie. I want to do some shopping for the masquerade ball and I asked Jake if he would take me."
Laredo looks at Jake suspiciously "Is
that true Jake?" he asked
"Yes sir"
"Come to bed
Christina. You know I don't want to be separated from you long."
I
turn and kiss Jake on his cheek whispering in his ear "Drop it
please."
Jake kisses me back on the cheek and watches me leave. Laredo stands before me in his black satin robe and I walk into his arms. Leading me back into the room I kiss his jaw. Those nightmares are nothing more than bad hallucinations from my accident. Laredo worries to much and everything in me tells me to keep them to myself.
I just want Jake to do to the same……
