1

Going away with Alex meant completely devouring herself in the carefully constructed lie. Piper was a master of that. Or so she thought. The fake love wasn't fake anymore. Ignorance was bliss. Just Alex and her, in five star hotels and resorts around the world. Like a long ass vacation.

The first month, Alex wouldn't talk much about work. She kept Piper away from it. Piper suspected that it was a protective rather than secretive move. And Piper never insisted on knowing. Later, Alex confessed that she was scared that Piper would run off if she saw how it was up close and she didn't want to lose her.

Piper absolutely wouldn't have. Even if she was just an aspiring writer from New York, she would've stick around. It was all so intriguing. The way a cartel functions. Mules, users, smugglers, thugs all them under one roof partying for 12, 14, 18 hours without giving a fuck.

Then there were quite nights in their hotel rooms. They would read together silently on their bed. Limbs intertwined. Debating literature and poems.

"Write a poem, Pipes." Alex said one night, flipping through Wuthering heights .

"What?" Piper laughed.

"A poem. Right now. Please." Alex said, raising her eyebrow.

"Okay..." Piper was always up for a challenge. She quickly conjured something in her mind. She leaned in close to Alex's ear and whispered devilishly,

"Such heavy lips..." Piper licked the space beneath Alex's ear. Kissed it gently. "Can slow down anyone's walk."

Alex gasped as Piper hand grabbed her breast. Kneading it with familiar pressure.

"Such huge breasts," Alex chuckled. "Can steal anyone's heart."

Piper played with the waistband of her trousers keeping an eye contact. Alex's lips were parted. Thirsty. Wet. Flustered with the heat and throbbing happening at her core, thanks to Piper's inhibitions.

"The dark lily:" Piper pulled over Alex's T-shirt only to discover nothing underneath. Alex moaned at the kiss that Piper placed just below her belly button. "Your look is a taut arrow..."

Piper got rid of those trousers too. And the insanely sexy black lace panties. "In the bow of love,"

One finger. In Alex's clit. Making slow circles. Deliberate lips on Alex's nipple one by one. Sucking. Kissing. Teasing. Alex was panting. Begging.

"Piper. Fuck. Fuck. More. I need more."

"Say the magic word, love." Piper smirked. Watching Alex so flustered and out of control was a sight to behold.

"Oh, fuck, please. Please! Fuck!"

"Please what, love?"

"Fuck me. Jesus Christ Piper. Fuck me please."

"Your face bests the moon." Piper punctuated with a long and hard kiss on Alex's mouth. And two more fingers in her clit. And Alex rides out her orgasm in Piper's arms. But Piper is relentless. She keeps on giving till 4 in the morning. When Alex is all out of energy and practically drops dead on the bed. 5 times. Piper kept a count. Not their record but a glorious night indeed.

Later that night, Piper finishes the poem in her head.

Yet I know it will vanish one day.

2

Piper never misses her morning runs. Whether it's Belgium, Bali, Dublin, Tokyo or Cambodia. She's always up before Alex. And she's running. It gives her time to re-evaluate.

They have been going to parties and gatherings togethers. Once Alex was sure Piper wouldn't leave, she would take Piper everywhere possible. Alex made sure that Piper wasn't near any heroine. But Piper would get drunk. Or act drunk to get along with the people there.

There were a lot of interesting people. Piper would turn on her charming persona and act as naive as she could. Laughing. Drinking. Kissing Alex. Clicking pictures with everyone. Of everyone. Even in her half-drunken state she would make a note of every name and every location.

6 months into the relationship. Piper had figured out most of it. The mules, the routes, finances, and Alex's obsession with perfectionism in her work. She had made a profile on every person in the close knit circle of Kubra's empire. Except one person - Kubra Balik.

She hadn't met him yet. She knew Alex went to meetings on a weekly basis but never with her. Paranoid little shit.

One thing was certain though, Alex had nothing to do with any weapon smuggling. She might not even know about that business. Alex was kept only one the drug side, which provided funding for the weapons. But soon, if Kubra wanted, Alex would be a part of that too. Given Alex's skills on trading things beyond borders, Kubra would soon involve her in it.

Back in the States, the agency was getting anxious. It was time to reap what Piper had sowed.

That is how Piper started passing the information. One mule at a time. She would mail a photo and a name when she was out on her run. And then the agency would pass it on to other three lettered departments. Small fishes first. Duty before love.

3

"How close are you to Kubra?" Joe asked.

"Not as close as I would like to. Haven't even met him yet."

"That is not good."

"I know. I'm trying."

"What's the problem? Maybe we could help."

"Fahri. He wouldn't let Alex near the terror business."

"Wants to keep it all to himself?"

"No. I think he is protecting her from getting involved. Drug cartel is one thing but weapons and bombs don't really suit Alex's moral compass."

"Vause has a moral compass. She is a criminal. Do you need a reminder?"

"No, Sir."

"Then Fahri needs to be gone. So Alex can get involved. So you can get involved. Do you understand, Agent Chapman?"

"Yes, sir, I understand."

"Good. Now, go do your job. There's a lot of expectations riding on this mission."

Piper hung up. She resumed her running routine around Rembrandt park. She had been doing a great job so far. Giving them names. Enough names that the DEA captured a record number of drug smugglers on the US soil. And a witch-hunt was going on inside the cartel to eliminate the mole.

The cracks were clearly visible in Alex too. She was working all the time. Checking, rechecking all the routes. Shaking off untrustworthy mules. Removing any chance of obstruction. Alex spend less and less time in bedroom. Sometimes, working 24 hours straight. Piper had to remind her to eat and sleep. And Alex told her that she can't stop working. It was more of a work or die situation. If you're not giving your 100%, you'll be put on trial. Alex devoured herself in work. Making every plan foolproof. With precise instructions on how to walk and talk past airport authorities.

But Piper easily accessed Alex's laptop. Copying the schedules. Transportation dates and times. Flight number. And how much heroine was being shipped. Complete list of dirty airport cops who were fed more bribe than what they earn in a year. Neatly organised information of every transport.

Every meticulously designed transport was being caught at a rate that seemed highly like an inside job. Piper knew the flow of information won't last forever unless someone else gets caught. Someone has to become the scapegoat.

Fahri.

Fahri needs to be out of the game for the game to go on longer. Getting Fahri would make a lot of people happy. He is the link between drugs and weapons. Kubra relies on him for almost everything.

Alex always seemed happy around Fahri. He was a father figure to her. Protective but friendly. And accepted Piper in that too. They had breakfasts, lunches and dinners together. In parties, when Alex wasn't around he would make sure Piper has the right company. Alex trusted Fahri with her life.

3

They were having lunch at the Ledbury when Fahri got the call. Alex had taken the weekend off due to a flu and Piper was happy for it. This would take Alex away from the commotion at least for a little while.

Fahri's face paled when he received the call. It was bad news. Alex sensed it. Piper knew it. It was preplanned. Piper had learnt about the transport from emails between the two and of course she had shared it. Even now, outside the Ledbury, agents in civil dresses were keeping a watch on the movements outside. They were to make a move as soon as Fahri gets out of there.

Fahri's contact was arrested at Heathrow Airport before the plane could take off. Fahri was frantic. This was the third time it has happened this month. A total failure. Kubra will not be happy. It was practically a death sentence.

"Fahri, what's wrong?" Alex asked from across the table.

"My guy. He got arrested. He had a package." Fahri said getting up.

"Wait. Wait. Wait. So what? It happens, right? Kubra will understand." Piper said nonchalantly.

"This is not a business of forgiveness, Piper." Fahri's voice was heavy. "Alex..."

"Yes. Where are you going? You know he'll get to you." Alex came out of her momentary shock.

"I...I need to get out of this country at least. And I don't know. I will figure something out."

"That's not how it works."

Fahri gave a sad smile in return.

"Take care of yourself, Alex. Piper. Have a good life." Fahri hugged Alex and Piper.

This whole ordeal felt more emotional than Piper had anticipated. He smiled so sadly that Piper wanted to tell him not to go. But Alex was rooted to her seat. Maybe she had accepted the truth. The truth that Fahri was going to die.

When Fahri walked out, Piper ran after him.

"Fahri. Wait." She shouted just outside the restaurant.

"Piper." He stopped in his tracks.

"Surrender. To the authorities." Piper said.

Fahri laughed.

"I am serious." Piper said. "They want information. On Kubra. They know what kind of business has been going on lately. Trade what you have. Get a sweet deal out of it."

"It's not that easy, Piper. Our life doesn't work like that. My life was over the moment I fucked up that transport."

"No. Give it a shot. The police, they um.. want Kubra. More than anyone."

Realisation dawned on Fahri. He stepped back and evaluated Piper. His eyes getting bigger. A small smile appeared on his lips.

"You are the traitor." He said.

"No shit, Sherlock." Piper joked.

"How? Kubra...he - he ran a background check on everyone. There was nothing about you."

"I have higher powers in my favour."

"I could use you. I could tell Kubra that you're the mole." He smirked.

"That would be a death sentence for Alex. He will kill her, thinking she might have a part in it too." Piper said. "I am certain that you don't want Alex dead."

"Neither do you."

Piper stayed silent.

"Surrender." He said. "To the authorities. Will it work?"

"It might. Tell them you are willing to cooperate if you are given complete protection."

Fahri nodded.

"The work I do for Kubra, I am not proud of it. It kills me everyday, knowing what I do. I don't want that for Alex. Save her. From this." He sounded sincere. Like it was his last wish.

"I will try." Piper said hopefully.

Piper brought Alex to the hotel. The sadness that she witnessed in Alex was unprecedented. Piper tried everything to distract her but she wouldn't budge. Alex was stuck to the news channel.

That day, British police arrested Fahri in a parking lot. It was a surrender. Fahri had taken her advice after his face ended up in every news channel (thanks to his arrested associate). Piper released a breath of relief after hearing that Fahri was in police protection. Soon he will be moved to the embassy for extradition.

Instead of relief, Alex received a call from Kubra. An urgent meeting. Some required organisational changes were to be made. Alex left without saying a word.

Piper received a congratulatory call from Caputo. Who reassured her about Fahri's extradition. But not his safety. He simply ignored the request with no need to worry about it. Even though every single arrested associate from Kubra's cartel had died before they could utter a word against him.

Alex came back after midnight. Sad and defeated. She was even reluctant to even look at Piper.

"Alex," Piper said softly. "What happened in the meeting?"

Alex was sitting at the edge of their bed. Piper beside her. Their fingers intertwined. Alex wouldn't look at her. Alex's eyes were down, staring at the hardwood floor.

"Alex, love, please look at me." Piper requested. When Alex finally looked up, her eyes were watery. Her lower lip trembling as an evidence of how hard she was trying not to cry.

"Oh, Alex, baby.." Piper cooed. Pulled her closer. Kissed her forehead and hugged her. Alex buried her face in Piper's neck and sniffled.

"It's okay, baby. I got you." Piper whispered in her ears. When Alex pulled away, her eyes were red and puffy. She cleared her throat and said in a low, low voice,

"I killed Fahri."

"What? No, no, baby..."

"I did, Pipes. Kubra was there at the meeting. And other people too." Alex said. "People that I haven't seen before. And then he said I am being promoted. I was not sure what that meant. Then he said I am getting Fahri's position. His responsibilities. His work." Alex sniffled. "We celebrated. Then he made a call in front of me. Put it on speaker. It was Aydin. Kubra's hitman. He was asking for permission. Kubra said yes. And then we heard a choking sound. When I asked who it was,"

"Oh baby..."

"He...he made an example of him, Pipes. It was a warning. He killed Fahri. Fahri always told me that we were all replaceable in Kubra's eyes. I thought he wasn't. He was like a brother to Kubra. And he killed him."

Piper held her tighter.

"It's on him. Not you."

"He is a monster." Alex murmured. "He is a monster. And I dragged you into this. Pipes, I am so sorry. I am so sorry."

"Don't be. Alex. Don't be."

"He... he wants to meet you. Kubra, he knows about you. And he wants to meet you tomorrow at his hotel. I couldn't refuse. I couldn't. I felt weak, Pipes, powerless. I should've said no. I am so sorry."

"Alex. Alex. Hey," Piper stroked her hair back and tilted her head so that their foreheads were touching . "If you need forgiveness, I'll give you that. But this is not your fault. You were in a shitty situation and he is a shitty person. I understand. And I know you wouldn't let anything happen to me. Okay?"

Alex nodded.

"Okay."

"We will figure this out. Yeah?" Piper smiled reassuringly.

Piper knew that this meeting with Kubra, was going to be test. They both were going to assess each other. Piper has to keep on the innocent, doe eyed act. But as a precaution, she left a message for the agency.

——————

Hitting 3k words here people!

Thank you for all the comments and follows.

Fun fact :

English is not my first language. Not second. But third. So yeah, most of my knowledge of the west relies on a handful of Hollywood movies and Google the almighty. Bonus? I am student of hard sciences. That being said, please find it in your heart to forgive my mistakes and leave a favourite if you like what I write. No pressure.