Chapter 33 – The Dawning (part 1)
Thursday 15th March, 02:00 am
Lachlan's Mansion
The journey was quick, and Bo had rested her hand on Lauren's leg at some point. Lauren entwined their fingers together as soon as they hit the main roads when she no longer needed her hand free to change gears. She was happy thinking the worse part was behind them, unknowing that worse was yet to come.
"We're here. Please wait in the van." Lauren slowly pulled into the through road that led to the mansion and turned off the van's headlights.
"Shit, I wonder if Tamsin is still here." Bo looked out the window to where they had last been. "She said she would wait, but we have been gone an hour."
"Tamsin's here?" Lauren asked, turning off the engine.
"Yeah, well, she was. I can message her and see if she is still about." Bo pulled her phone out, "Damn, low battery and no signal. Never would I buy one of these. Luckily, I got it free. The battery never lasts a day."
"Give that to me."
Bo obliged and handed Lauren her phone.
"I'm not surprised. It has a ghost app installed." Lauren turned it off and removed the sim. "Where did you get it?"
They both looked at each other, "Evony."
"That means Massimo will undoubtedly know where we are now, and so will those idiot brothers." Lauren shut her eyes. This was becoming the longest day ever. "Change of plan, come with me."
"I don't think they will come for a third beat down, chaw pa." Bo pretended to be a ninja and sliced the air.
"I hope not, but they will come packed if they do."
"Packed?" Bo asked.
"Guns, knives, whatever they can get." Lauren pinched the bridge of her nose. Another variable to consider. Lauren got out of the van. Instinctively she knew something was wrong when she saw that there was no guard stationed at the gate. Removing her gun from its holster across her body, she unclicked the safety. "Follow me, and stay close."
"What is it?" Bo asked, peering into the gate office and seeing that the security guard wasn't there. "There's no guard."
"I know, and that's never good news." Lauren picked up the pace, finding the front door slightly ajar.
Bo stuck to Lauren so close that she was almost on top of her as she whispered, "Do you think they've found Tamsin?"
Lauren entered the entrance hall. The first guard was no longer on the floor either. The candles were out, and so were the lights. A dim light shone from the doorway to Lachlan's office. Lauren knew that she had turned them off when she had left. The dark room was eerily silent as both crept across the hall.
"By the way, about Tam." Bo continued to whisper. Her nerves were shot from the adrenaline, and the urge to talk was overwhelming to her. "She fancies Dyson."
Lauren stopped at the office door, turned and faced Bo, "When did she meet Dyson?"
"Tonight, he came by just as we left the hotel, asking for you." Bo whispered, "And they both experienced the spark and—"
"Ssshhh." Lauren held her finger up to Bo's soft lips. "If Dysons awake, then -"
Suddenly the lights came on, and in front stood Lachlan with his guards. In an instant, guns were pointed at their heads. More guards rushed in from each corner of the room. Evident that he had called in more security.
"Then so am I?" Lachlan spoke loudly. "Correct. Gun down, Agent Lewis. I have a team of twelve men, so don't even think about doing anything silly. We need to have a little chat."
Lauren did as she was told and protectively pulled Bo behind her body so that she was facing the guards. "Okay, we talk. We can sort something out so that no one gets hurt tonight."
Lachlan walked down and stood in front of Lauren and stroked a piece of blonde from her face, "I prefer you blonde."
Lauren didn't reply with her usual sarcastic comments, as never before had she been so frightened. Not for herself, she had faced worse, but because Bo was with her. Lachlan was also unlike any others she'd met. Not that much interaction ever happened with those 'others', maybe a few polite conversations, then she killed them. It's what would have been done tonight if Lauren hadn't chosen to run out to find Bo instead. It was the only option left after discovering that Massimo was on his way. She would have killed Lachlan and fled with the women in toll. Now all and any options were gone.
"Guards put them in the erm cellar under my office." Lachlan deliberately chose his words carefully. "Along with Miss Taylor and DS Thornwood."
Bo gasped, "You have Tamsin?"
"And Dyson?" Lauren added.
"Oh, dearie, we have it all on camera." Lachlan opened his office, and a few buttons later, the back wall behind the desk flipped and revealed nine computer monitors. "Well done on looping my indoor and back garden CCTV Agent, but we both know you couldn't do that to the front gate camera as it would alert the guards. And they've picked up interesting shenanigans. Come see."
Bo and Lauren were ushered inside by the barrel of the guard's guns.
Lachlan pressed play from when the taxi pulled up, and Bo and Tamsin stepped out. Increasing the volume so everyone could hear every word of the conversation between them.
Lauren didn't say anything. Lachlan loved running his commentary to the video.
"So they pull up, and Tamsin wants to fight the world straight away."Lachlan increased the volume more.
What?" Tamsin had her hands on her hips. "I came all this way, and I don't get to hit someone?"
"But Bo is all no, we are here to help Lauren, blah, blah, blah. So they debate whether you should have been a knight in lesbian armour with Massimo. Wait, we missed it." Lachlan rewound the conversation.
"You gave Massimo a good slap for me. Thank you for that."
"Oh, I enjoyed that. Wanted to do that for a long time, just needed a reason. So thank you. And don't allow Mass or anyone to speak to you like that. But I don't get why Lauren didn't floor him first."
"'Cause, it would have broken her cover. And I was trying my best to keep it hidden, so she couldn't."
"Now, what I am wondering is what Evony's pet said to Bo that angered Tamsin. So I asked her, and after a bit of persuasion. She is a fiery character-"
"Fiery? the bitch broke my noes." One of the guards interrupted Lachlan.
Lachlan fired one shot, killing him instantly as the back of his head opened. "Never fucking interrupt me."
Bo jumped as he landed, and Lauren positioned herself to obstruct her view. She suspected Lachlan was either a loose cannon or a madman. Now she knew he was both.
"Get him out of here." Lachlan barked, and one of the other guards obliged. "Where was I?"
Lachlan scratched his head using the end of his recently fired gun. "Tamsin. So I asked her, and apparently, he called Bo a slut and said lovers fuck and leave her. So Tamsin slapped him. Gotta love that woman. This is my favourite bit."
Lauren listened carefully to their conversation.
"Not even one swipe at Lauren or Lachlan for doing what they are doing in there. If that was my lover, I would—"
Bo interrupted, "I trust Lauren. She said nothing was going to happen, and I believe her."
"Wow."
"Spit it out, Tamsin." Bo twisted and stood directly facing Tamsin.
"Bo, you're an international superstar, known globally and adored by millions. Yet, here we are, stood outside a house in the middle of Northumberland, warning your spy girlfriend that her cover could be blown. All while said spy girlfriend is inside using sex to lure in her victim." Tamsin blurted out.
"Tam, that's why I need you here. If I go inside and something has gone wrong, and Lauren is with Lachlan like that, I think I would be done. But would hold it all in, give Lauren the message and leave as planned." Bo leaned, holding Tamsin close. "And I will need you to get me home."
Tam nodded. "Okay, but it will all be good. Lauren works for the secret service, and I'm sure they have rules about these kinds of things."
Bo nodded. "Thanks. I still need to get in first. Wish me luck."
Bo walked off, and Tamsin shouted, "You don't need luck. You're Bo fricking Dennis."
"Then you talk your way into my house. I don't know what happened, but one guard was knocked unconscious and next to him was a bottle. The silly fucker is still dizzy and has no idea of what happened either." Lachlan laughed, "And I know 'Lola' is actually a 'Lauren' working for the Secret Service, so what is MI5 or 6?"
"Six," Lauren answered. "We need to talk."
"International espionage, not domestic." Lachlan raised his gun, "Really? And why is that?"
Lauren slowly moved her hand to her neck, pulling her necklace free and showing the emblem.
"You," Lachlan shouted at a guard, "Take Miss Dennis downstairs with the others. Agent, follow me."
Lauren turned to Bo, "I promise everything will be okay."
The guards took Bo down the stairs. The echoes of Tamsin and Dyson shouting could faintly be heard. They were screaming to get them out, and Lauren would. She would get them all out, even if it meant betraying her own organisation.
The floor retracted back, and the sounds were silent. And Bo was gone.
Lauren was rooted on the spot, and Lachlan dismissed his guards. Soon they were alone. Lachlan took off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt cuff, rolling up the sleeve. Inside his elbow was the tattoo of the same emblem as Lauren's necklace. Above it had the number twenty-two.
"Take a seat, Agent, erm, Lauren." Lachlan pointed to a dark red chesterfield armchair and began to pour them both drinks. "Scotch, okay?"
Lauren nodded.
"And your name?"
"Lauren Lewis." She replied.
"That's not what I meant. Your name, please."
"Sicarius."
"Ahh, I'm The Ash." Lachlan held his hand out, "I've heard about you. Nice to finally meet you."
In the background, the CCTV monitors were still playing. The volume had been lowered, but she saw Dyson approach Tamsin. Skilled in lip reading, she was able to follow the conversation while also listening to Lachlan's ramblings.
Thursday 15th March, 00:50 am - One hour before
Lachlan's Mansion
Tamsin paced outside to keep warm. The air had turned, and her breath was visible in the night sky. She walked further down the road, where the land sloped up, making it easier to see over the wall, and peered over. Bo was successful in getting inside. Now it was a matter of waiting to see how long it would take to deliver a message.
Suddenly a moment of calm fell over her, like a delicate hand following the path of your spine. A tingling yet extremely sensual feeling followed by the fright of her life. "What's happening here then."
Tamsin spun around and fell into the arms of her future husband for the second time that day. "Hi there."
"Hi, we need to stop meeting like this." Dyson grinned, holding tight, pleased when she held him back.
"How did you know we were here?" Tamsin asked, remaining in her position but slowly lifting to her feet.
"I followed you." Dyson smiled.
Tamsin's heart fluttered. She felt like a schoolgirl with a silly crush.
"So, what is Bo doing in there?" Dyson looked over the wall. "I looked up the address on my car's system. A Vincent Lachlan, an Entertainment Agent from Canada, recently purchased this house. Why is Bo there in the middle of the night? Is it business or personal?"
Tamsin pushed her hands against his chest and shoved him, "What are you insinuating?"
"Nothing, really." Dyson let her go and shuffled foot to foot. "Just that Bo said they weren't exclusive, but I know Lauren is, so—"
"Ha." Tamsin's laughter interrupted Dyson's speech. "Bo has been exclusively Laurens since the day they met."
"But you were together?" Dyson asked.
"Only for the media." Tamsin raised her eyebrows and shook her head. "I was naïve to think she would ever get over her, and we could actually have anything real."
Dyson folded his arms, "You were together for five years, so you never even had a booty call in all that time?"
"No, nothing. There was more passion in our on-screen kisses than in real life. We were all for the fans, building our brand. And it worked; we are mega-stars."
Dyson scratched his head. He was a mega-fan and believed entirely in their relationship. He followed them both on social media and knew that they were both bi-sexual but bought into the lie that they had met their perfect partner on the set of Vixens.
"Want me to blow your mind again?" Tamsin teased.
"I don't know if I can handle it." Dyson joked back.
"Her and Rainer also a lie." Tamsin watched as his jaw dropped. "Another lie to hide her sexuality." Tamsin deliberately omitted Rainer's sexuality, as that was a secret that she had no right to share. But Bo's lies entwined with Lauren, and Dyson needed to know the whole truth before judging her. "Bo is a gold star lesbian, as in never been with a man."
Dyson was speechless. "And you? A gold star."
Tamsin laughed, "I identify as Pan, as in Pansexual. I find all sorts of people attractive, sexually, romantically and emotionally, regardless of sex or gender. With Bo, I had a deep emotional relationship, and I will forever treasure it. But during our five years, she sought comfort in others sexually, and so did I."
"I had no idea." Dyson sat on the floor, "And I don't think Lauren does either. She isn't one to kiss and tell, but I know how upset she was by your relationship."
"Well, she needs to open up more." Tamsin joined Dyson on the floor, "She is one closed book. And I sense her animosity towards me. So I pretend not to care and fuck with her, but I know that Bo and Lauren are endgames, and she will kick me out of Bo's life."
Dyson placed a protective arm around Tamsin, "She has a small group of friends that she is extremely loyal to. If you tell her what you told me, she will love you instantly."
Tamsin's eyes welled up. She didn't have any actual friends. Bo was her closest, and staying in the circle meant so much to her. "Really?"
"What is not to love." Dyson shuffled to face Tamsin and placed his hands on either side of her face, "You are an amazing woman. Sat on a hill in the middle of the night, protecting and defending your friend. She will respect your loyalty, and the knowledge that you haven't had sex with the love of her life will make her ecstatic. I cant wait to see her face when she finds out."
"The love of her life, hey?" Tamsin leaned back onto her elbows.
Dyson followed, propping himself up on his arm facing sideways into her. "Since the day they met, apparently it's all about a -"
"Spark," they said simultaneously.
Eyes locked, and mouths met. A slow sensual kiss, followed by rushes of deeper ones. Touches more erotic, clothes opening up. Dyson's jacket, shirt, and Tamsin's coat, and top were all discarded beside them on the floor.
Tams sat up, "Did you hear a car screeching?"
Dyson, out of breath, replied, "Probably someone lost."
Tamsin eyed his toned chest and the muscles that formed the v leading below his belt and swallowed, "Yeah, someone's just lost." She had never been so turned on. Her whole body shuddered. The anticipation of the act was as exciting to her sexually as the actual act. Pulses shot to her core, making her squirm. Pulling him back on top of her, unaware of the moment Bo and Lauren had been kidnapped by Massimo.
Dyson kissed along Tamsin's neck and down towards her chest. He hadn't given the noise another thought. All that was on his mind was the beautiful Tamsin below him. This was the happiest day of his life. He hadn't realised before how many feelings he had harboured for the actress and the countless times he had this exact fantasy. After speaking to her and learning she wasn't like her characters, more so. He was lifted. She was better than he had imagined, and he would work hard to make sure she felt amazing tonight and for as long as she wanted him to. Even with his ex-wife, he had never felt the need to put someone else first. Tamsin was the one who had literally changed him in one look.
Tamsin pulled Dysons head up and looked at him. Unspoken words touched her heart, and although she would never admit it to him just yet, she was smitten. And the way he looked at her back reminded her so much of how Bo looked at Lauren and vice versa, and she finally understood. She and Bo never had a chance. The spark chooses, and you have no say in it at all. You just buckle up and get ready for the ride. The knowing before it even starts that it will be the best ride of your life. Tamsin couldn't wait to tell Bo about tonight. But first, she pulled Dyson back into a long, drawn-out kiss.