Chapter 5
Sometime close to dawn, Red turned on his back, staring up at the ceiling, listening to Lizzie breathe, her body radiating a heat that crept into the colder places of his heart. He was contemplating touching her hair, when she drew in a breath and shifted toward him. He stilled, his brows rising, as he waited for her to wake up appalled. Red smiled at the thought of the blush he was sure would creep up her chest into her cheeks. But her eyes never opened. Instead she laid her head over his heart and settled back into sleep. Lowering his arm, Red hugged her to him. She sighed and he fell a little more.
He drifted off to sleep, waking again to find Dembe standing quietly at the foot of the bed, his brow raised at the sight of the FBI Agent and his employer cuddled together. Red inclined his head, but Dembe said nothing as he placed Liz's bag in the bathroom. Passing back through the room, Dembe smiled at Red who answered with a slight shake of his head. Shrugging, the bodyguard left the room.
He lay there for some time, reveling in the feel of Liz settled against him. Red was still unsure about the wisdom of allowing her to stay and all but inviting her along on his quest to uncover the traitors that had lead Anslo to him. But as much as Liz distracted him, she settled him as well. She was here and keeping her safe would become his priority. Therefore he'd be more thorough in his planning, more careful in his thinking. Less than 24 hours at his side and she was already making him better.
The sound of Dembe moving around the apartment brought Red out of his musings. It was time to start the day and as loathe as he was to leave this heaven, there was work to be done. So Red turned his face into Liz's hair, kissed her softly and slid from the bed.
Liz's eyes popped open the moment she heard Red close the bathroom door behind him. She laid there, a stunned look on her face, as she stared blankly at the wall. She'd awaken a short time ago to find herself cradled against Red's chest, their arms wrapped around the other. Biting back her shock, Liz's brain had begun to calculate how she could untangle herself from Red without waking him. She shifted slightly away, but Red moved with her, his lips brushing her hair.
There was no way out short of waking him and if she had to open her eyes to his smug expression or God help her one of those soul searing looks he gave her when it was just the two of them, she'd die of mortification. Or kiss him senseless which would have been equally as tragic. So she settled back into his hold, trying not to acknowledge how easy it was.
Liz had known sharing a bed with Red was dangerous, but she had missed him and worried over him for months. Now that she knew where he was and that he was safe, Liz had been loathed to let him out of her sight. So she'd slept next to him, in his bed, in his clothes. Red was everywhere and Liz couldn't deny the peace she felt.
It had been easier to ignore her growing attraction for him when he wasn't constantly underfoot; calling her at odd hours of the night, baiting her at the Post Office, creating some scenario that threw them together in close quarters. With every assignment they grew closer and soon Red had vaulted every wall she had put up between them. So desperate to keep him out of her heart, Liz conjured up the idea that he could be her father. She'd gone as far as to ask him, hoping Red would reveal something that would force her to squelch those dangerous feelings. He hadn't and here she was still enthralled. But none of that had mattered when he'd called a half a world away, obviously drunk and hurting. Now that she was back in the thick of it, she wondered what the hell she'd been thinking.
Liz was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Red come back into the room.
"Ahh, you're awake. Good morning, Lizzie. Did you sleep well?"
Sitting up against the headboard, she took him in. It was barely daylight and he was clean shaven and dressed in his customary vest and tie. Dubious about the twinkle in his eye, Liz nodded slowly.
"Is Dembe here yet? Did he bring my things?"
"They're in the bathroom. Go ahead and get dressed, while I prepare breakfast. We have much to discuss."
He watched her as she climbed out of the bed and padded toward the bathroom.
"Lizzie," he spoke softly. He waited for her eyes to meet his. "You can keep my undershirt and pants. You do them far more justice than I ever could."
Chuckling at the narrowed look she gave him, Red excused himself.
Liz showered and dressed quickly, joining Red and Dembe in the kitchen. She heard the low rumble of the bodyguard's voice right before Red burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" She chose the chair next to Dembe, giving him a smile. He nodded in return.
Red turned, setting their plates before them. "Hairpins, Lizzie. Dembe and I were discussing the incredibly versatile hairpin."
Rolling her eyes she began eating as Red lined out their next moves.
"So DC is out of the question," she jumped in after he'd revealed their destination, "but a crowded nightclub in Manhattan is just the thing?"
Red chuckled as he finished the last bite of his breakfast. "We go where the money leads us, Lizzie."
"…To this Fyador?"
"Yes."
"And what do you plan to do with Fyador?"
Lizzie could feel the temperature cool in the room, as Dembe let out an unnerving chuckle. She cut a glance at him before turning expectant eyes to Red. "Well? What are you going to do?"
Red dropped his chin, looking up at her through hooded eyes. "I'm going to ask him some very important questions, Lizzie. Find out what he knows and when he knew it."
She nodded, chiding herself for not being more specific in her request. She knew Red. He'd go for ambiguity any day. She tried again.
"Are you going to kill him? Because I came to help you find answers, not leave a trail of bodies from here to 11th Street Bridge."
Red looked away, giving a barely perceptible nod to Dembe, who excused himself just as quietly. Once they were alone, Red got to his feet. Liz watched as he came around the small island to stand at her side. Facing her, Red leaned back against the counter, so she had to sit back to see his face. He just stared into her eyes for what seemed like hours as he chewed on the corner of his lip. Trying them out before he served them to his audience. Finally, Red spoke, his voice rough with emotion.
"You do realize if it were up to Garrick and his conspirators, Fyador included, we all would be dead: you, me, Ressler, Dembe, Aram, Cooper, and Agent Malik. Luli is… dead. Dead because of the treachery of these people, Lizzie and they won't stop. They'll keep coming like the waves of a tsunami hell bent on washing us all away unless I stop them."
Liz watched him as he spoke, the clear emotion and grief in his eyes, breaking her heart all over again. Before she could think it through, she stood, leaning into him. Liz rested her hand against his cheek, smiling sadly, when Red's eyes slipped closed, turning his face into her palm.
"This list is your end game, Red, your chance to finally stop running from the law and everyone else. But if you go on a killing spree in the name of revenge, you only make way for all the people you cross in the process to come after you; after us. Blood feuds never end, Red. You find them and let us deal with him. That was our deal and it's worked so far. Don't stop trusting it now. Don't stop trusting me."
Red opened his eyes and the depth of feeling she saw there made her catch her breath. Covering her hand with his own, he brought her moved her hand across his lips, kissing her palm. The contact sizzled through her; her body swaying closer of its own accord.
"This may sound completely ridiculous coming from me, but I really don't want to complicate your life, Lizzie. And I certainly don't want to put you in danger. But these people cannot go unpunished."
She nodded. "You took Anslo out. He murdered Luli and you took him out. You got your whale. Let us handle the small fish."
Red breathed deep. "You've made your point, Lizzie. Now go and get your things. We have to be in the air within the hour."
Liz held his gaze a few beats more. Squeezing his hand one final time, she pulled away and headed for the bedroom.
Turning his attention to cleaning up the kitchen, Red allowed himself to analyze what had just happened. It was starting already. She was changing his plans; changing him.
"And all she had to do was smile."
