Once again, thank you for the comments.

Guest: Not really sure what you mean when you asked what happened to Fudo. If you are asking about his bruises well, that's entirely Thor's fault, they had a manly discussion earlier. Or if you're asking about why Fudo left after talking to Riley, it's because he had come to like and respect her and he knows that she might get in danger and that angers and frustrates him. Wish I can give you more but I can't...because, because...

Anywho, like I said before...this is it people...the fun begins, so relax and enjoy the ride...till next time.

Let me know what you guys think!

Part 24

An hour and a half later Thor is inside the elevator of Lucas' condo. Riley was outside as the elevator doors slid open. She looked uneasy. He could see the tension in her ramrod posture as she saw him.

"Everything all right?" He watched her shoulders stiffen.

She whipped her head around, her eyes a little wider than usual. "Of course not."

Thor caught her elbow and pulled her toward the door. "Let's take this inside."

"You have a hell of a lot of explaining to do," she told him.

"No doubt you'll give me a detailed list."

She frowned at him. "Why don't you start by telling me the truth?"

His body shuddered and he was silent for a long moment. "Riley."

She glared at him. "Don't you dare tell me it's complicated."

He stepped in front of her, blocking her progress. Her eyes grew dark and large, giving him a firsthand view of how expressive they could be. Expressive and innocent. Like the rest of her face. His own eyes fell to her lips, parted ever so slightly in surprise, and for a second he forgot what they were talking about.

She reminded him, however. "What's your involvement with the Yakuza?"

"Nothing," Thor clipped.

She arched a brow. "I don't believe you."

He shrugged. "I'm involved with something but nothing with the Yakuza."

Riley looked him square in the eye, her gaze reflecting every ounce of her mettle. "Who are you involved with?"

"Colombian Cartel," he replied.

And the pin dropped. She's so stupid for not figuring it out sooner. The CIA helped with dismantling two of the Colombian Cartels, leaving only one, the Norte Del Valle Cartel.

She shook her head. "How long have you been with them?"

"Three years."

"Three years." There was something in Riley's voice that bothered him.

"I've given up a lot of things over the past three years," he said.

"Including friends?" Riley asked, surveying him with disdain.

"We were never friends." They were together, yeah, but they weren't together together. They are mates, but not lovers. Partners at one point, but not friends. They were adults who respected rules and boundaries. Their non-relationship had several—all of which were clear and simple.

It's working beautifully because they followed the rules and didn't rock the boat. At least that's what he thinks.

"Answer me this," she asked, "why am I here?"

"You are a diversion, at least that's what I think they are trying to do."

"Diversion? From what?"

Thor leaned forward, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial murmur as he said, "Not from what, but to whom?"

Thor gave her a look. "You still don't know. They sent you here to distract me. NSA stumbled onto something that they weren't supposed to."

"NSA was close to finding out that the CIA was helping the biggest cartel in Colombia? The CIA was the one who hacked into their system and planted a bogus lead about a terrorist attack."

"Look, we all know that each government out there has a hand on something, it's a matter of being discrete. We play our part and they play their part. Unfortunately our little set-up was accidentally tripped by a nosey NSA Analyst. No one else was supposed to get involved, this operation was so boxed up that the higher ups got paranoid and ordered NSA shut down. What we didn't anticipate was for NSA to ask for help from the FBI. Got to give it to Howington, he did his homework and smartly played this. Although he now just acquired a target on his ass."

"So why me?"

He swallowed his sigh and straightened his shoulders. "Because they know that you're the only one that can distract me."

…..

Once upon a time Thor thought he could have it all. A life with a woman who adored him and who wanted nothing more than to love him. To bear his children and to grow old with.

He closed his eyes, picturing what would never be. He'd given himself these few minutes to indulge in foolishness, something he couldn't afford to do again.

He smiled and tugged her to him. Desire rose and swamped him. Simply being so close made his body ache with longing. He wanted this woman in a way that defied logic.

He lowered his head and pressed his mouth against her. His hand flattened against her lower back, drawing her up against the length of his body. When she opened her mouth, he changed the angle of the kiss, deepening it, kissing her with a slow thoroughness that left her trembling.

She raised her hand to his chest and gently pushed him away from her. "Thor, stop."

That dark gaze trapped her in its unyielding depths. "I'm in love with you."

Thor's words hung in the air, gathering strength like a Caribbean Hurricane and threatening to knock Riley flat. Love? How was that possible?

The silence expanded, engulfing them both in a nerve-stretching tension that threatened to snap her in two. Neither of them seemed capable of either speaking or looking away. They might have stood there until the apocalypse, but something in his expression softened and warmed into a glow of adoration she didn't deserve.

Taking his time about it, he eased closer and cupped her face in one gentle hand. She wanted to run and hide.

Paralysis kept her from doing anything.

"I'm in love with you," he said again.

That did it. Her body gave an involuntary jerk back and away. "I heard you the first time."

"Say something."

She couldn't breathe. "I don't know what to say."

"How about that you love me, too."

For some reason his response angered her. But this was how problems started. You bend the rules on one tiny thing, relay your oversight, it snowballs, and the next thing you know, chaos reigns.

Well, not her. Control was her middle name, motto and mantra. She kept her voice crisp and her face unsmiling lest he realize she was waffling. "Thor, I can't think straight right now."

Riley felt Thor stilled. "I have an out of town business to attend to, we'll talk when I get back."

Thor turned and headed out the door. Guilt sluiced through Riley. She doesn't want to deceive Thor, but most of all she doesn't want to deceive herself, that there could be something more between her and Thor other than friendship.