The Black Angel
Chapter 13
About Love
Herman's words about Alex and her sense of love stayed with Karl Schubaltz through out the day as he went about his business. He didn't see Alex, and didn't expect to since she had leave for a while.
She was waiting for him on the roof at 9pm, as she promised. Her dark brown hair was being blown gently by the wind as she leaned against the railing. She wore a light pink top with jeans tucked into her boots. Karl smiled at how simple, but elegant she looked.
"Chaz's guards said you went to go see him," Karl said as he walked up to her.
Alex breathed a cloud of smoke out. "Someone had to let him know about Greg and Bella."
Karl nodded as he accepted a cigarette from Alex. He took out his lighter and lit the white stick. He breathed in deeply before releasing the smoke slowly. He hadn't smoked in a while, and the cigarette felt oddly calming to him.
Alex smiled and walked to a spot to sit at. Karl aloud himself to be led by the hand. The two sat down next to each other. They didn't wrap their arms around each other or hold hands. Instead they sat next to each, simply smoking.
"Has Thomas recovered from earlier today?" Alex asked simply.
Karl smiled. "I don't know what you are talking about."
The two laughed and relaxed. Alex felt Karl's body twinge as he settled down more against her. "What's wrong?"
"Herman, said something interesting," Karl mumbled.
Alex giggled as she breathed the smoke in. "Rob has lots of interesting things to say about me and other subjects."
"He said something about your sense of love," Karl said, bringing the cigarette to his lips. "It was something about how you have none."
"I don't, Alex admitted.
Karl looked a little shocked and turned to face Alex. "That went a little easier then I thought."
"Same," Alex giggled. "I've tried to have this conversation so many times that it isn't even funny."
Karl swore under his breath as the end of the cigarette burned his fingertips. Alex took his hand and examined the small wound. She kissed where the cigarette had burned him.
The two looked up at each and laughed. "This feels normal," Karl said with a smile.
"You've never had this either?" Alex asked. She watched as he shook his head. Alex reached towards him and pulled him into a deep kiss. Karl wrapped his arm around her shoulder to draw her in closer. The moment was ruined as a noise erupted from the mobile device in Alex's pocket.
"This better be good," Alex snapped into the device.
A smooth voice that Karl did not recognized responded. "Trust me, it is. Guess who is the newest person in your family to betray the Panthers?"
"I don't have times to play games, Lioness," Alex responded.
Karl looked shocked. "Lioness? As in the Blood Lioness?"
"None of us do," the women called Lioness laughed. "You're old lovey and I are at Timeless."
"You know where I am?" Alex questioned.
Lioness laughed. "I make it a point to know where you are."
"I'll be there in about twenty minutes, half an hour," Alex said as she combed out her hair with her fingers.
"See you soon darling," the Lioness replied.
"You're not going," Karl declared. "Let's set aside the fact she is the Blood Lioness, you're still healing. And the scars that Dana left go a little farther then skin deep."
Alex shook her head. "You don't know the Lioness like I do. She wouldn't call for nothing. And I guarentee they know about my run in with Dana."
"They?" Karl questioned. "You're old lovey?"
"My ex-fiance," Alex answered. "He's apparently been hanging out with Lioness and so will be there."
"You were engaged?" Karl asked.
"Our parents arranged it when we were about three or four. The goal was to get me out of the country," Alex explained.
Karl shook his head. "No wonder you have such a screwed up sense about love."
"Come with if you are so concerned," Alex suggested.
"You're going no where near the Blood Lioness or your ex-fiance," Karl responded.
Alex stood up and took out another cigarette and lit it. "You remember how you told me that I was the perfect woman because I was a soldier? This is part of my job, you nor anyone else can't keep me in a little bubble to keep me safe. I'm the one who walks among the scum of Zi."
"Fine, I'll come," Karl sighed as he lit a new cigarette for himself.
BlackAngel
Karl waited next to a car in the hanger. He was dressed in a pair of dark jeans with a black button down top. He had placed a gun in waist band of his jeans. This had been on the orders of Alex.
Alex herself was in a short black dress with a deep v-neck and a pair of black heels.
The blond colonel swallowed and thanked the moons of Zi that the usually busy hanger was desserted. "Where did you hide a gun in that?"
The young woman smirked and held up her silver clutch.
"Don't worry Cat Eyes," Alex said with a smirk, "I'll wear this dress again for you. If you behave."
Alex got into the driver's seat and started the engine. Karl took a minute to collect himself, putting this mission as the second hardest mission he had ever gone on. Right under the time he had fought the death saurer.
The car ride was slightly uncomfortable for Karl. He quickly forgot about Alex's dress as she sped out of the base. She seemed to take every turn and short cut she could. Karl was confident she was doing it to keep him from tracking exactly where they were going.
As they pulled into the club, Karl could see why Alex had them dress the way they did. The pair blended into the crowd, and no one gave them more than a small glance as Alex led them towards the back.
A blond woman in a red dress sat at a table with a young man completely dressed in black. The blond smiled, "He's pretty."
"Hands to yourself, Lioness," Alex told the woman.
"Alex!" the man said, getting up to embrace her. Alex place a hand on his chest and pushed him away. "So what has changed over the past few days?"
"Now what news do you have for me?" Alex asked bluntly.
"Have you heard that Greg and Bella are dead?" Darren asked.
"Earlier this morning," Alex responded. "That's not worth calling me here."
"Should I congratulate Evelyn on being queen then?" Darren snapped back, He raised his class of hard liquor. "Long live the queen!"
"The solos are starting to get nervous. Evelyn is not someone we want in charge of the Panthers," Lioness said to Alex and Karl,
"Then let me shoot her, then I can be king," Darren said as he raised his glass again. "Long live the king!"
"You and the Hawks taking over is even less of what we want," Alex grumbled.
Lioness shook her head. "There's a reason why we called you down here. Your uncle is here, with Kyle."
"Do you realize what happened the last time she ran into a family member?" Karl questioned.
"My uncle isn't a Panther," Alex explained.
Lioness chuckled. "They wear the same pretty brand."
"Like that matters," Karl grumbled. Alex reached out and placed a hand on his arm. He reached up and took her hand and squeezed it in comfort.
"I suggest you stop drooling," Darren scoffed. "She's mine; she always come back to me."
Alex rolled her eyes. "Why does my uncle want to see me?"
"Won't say. I'll let him know to come over," the Lioness said as she and Darren stood up to leave. "Have fun."
Karl whistled. "Blood Lioness, I know your face now. I suggest you behave for awhile."
"And I know your face Colonel. Next time I suggest wearing contacts or something to hide those pretty green eyes," the Lioness said.
He turned to Alex, as she chuckled. "You handled that beautifully."
"Don't drag her into this," Kyle said as he and his uncle walked over to the table,
"Stop you're worrying," their uncle said. "Alex we could use some help."
"Leave her alone!" Kyle cried.
"You two are so cute, bickering like little old women," Alex laughed. "Now what are you talking about?"
"We're taking control of the Panthers," her uncle said proudly.
Alex shook her head. "You two are insane. One of you is a marked man and the other one is second to youngest out of nine."
"I'm a twin!" Kyle muttered.
"Oh please, everyone knows you are the younger of the two," Alex joked.
"Despite that argument, think about the alternatives," the uncle pointed out. "It's either goes to Evelyn or the Hawks take it over."
"But you two have no legitimacy, you'll lose the power as soon as you get it," Karl pointed out.
Kyle scoffed. "Thank you Cat Eyes. We hadn't thought of that."
"What about Chaz?" Alex asked.