Tengoko: Sorry for taking so long. This chapter was difficult to write. I think it ranks up there with one of the toughest I've ever written. That's why reviews will be extra appreciated on this one. Though, I will warn you, this chapter is darker than the other ones. Still, I hope you all enjoy it, and like I said, I really would love feedback. Thanks. Enjoy.
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Rated M for language and romance
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Chapter 6: Doubts, Misery, and Failure

Doubt. It's a term that Elena was all too familiar with. A term that had gotten the best of her in the not so far-away past. And just when she thought she was through with it, doubt was now hurrying back to her in a torrential tumult, smothering her chest with heaviness, making it difficult to breathe. Oh Gods. She wished she had her pills on hand. She'd have to remember to bring them on future errands, for only ArgusinDSA could eliminate doubt.

The whirling propellers above provided the only sound. Chop. Chop. Chop. The blades sliced through the air in rapid succession. Tic. Tock. Tic. Tock. Elena could swear that the two sounded the same. Chop. Tock. Chop. Like the second hand on a clock, bringing her seconds closer to what was sure to be her hardest mission. Being so, she was determined not to fail.

How long had they been in the helicopter? It felt like forever. Even more so since Reno's studious eyes never left her. Must he always stare at her? She felt like she was about to be interrogated for a crime she didn't commit. That was the effect his disquieting eyes had on her. She was afraid to move under his watchful gaze. Really. What could he find so fascinating, so catching, that he would be compelled to stare?

"Don't be nervous," he finally said.

"I'm not," she lied, hoping that he did not see right through her.

"Good. Because we're landing."

They were? Elena turned her head only to see that he was correct. How had she not noticed? Had she really been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she'd become unaware of everything else? She really was that worried about messing up. It would be a shame, after all she'd done to build herself up, to let everything tumble down now. She had to succeed. There was no other option.

They wasted no time getting out the second they chopper had met the ground. Reno practically pulled her along with him as they hurried for the car that was waiting for them. He opened the door and stepped aside so she could get in. Only after she slid onto the leather seat did he get inside himself.

Elena felt like she was going to be sick. Tseng had shown her a picture of the don. He could be described as a filthy man, but that would be an understatement. He was revolting in every way possible. And to think, in a few hours, maybe not even that long, his hands were going to be all over her. He certainly wasn't the one she wanted her first intimate moment to be with. But what could she say? It was the job they'd given her. And she had to show them that she'd do anything for the job.

They'd gotten to the club entirely too quickly in Elena's opinion. Reno finally turned towards her and then looked behind him at the Il Rendevous Degli Amanti. It was supposedly the most popular nightclub. The owner was Giovanni de Luca, and he could be counted on making an appearance every night. Hopefully, this would be his last night.

"It'll be pretty crowded when you get in there," he told her, overlooking her anxious expression. "Just stay focused. You know who you're looking for."

"Reno?"

"Don't worry, Laney," he smiled. "I won't be too far away. Trust me."

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It hadn't been hard finding him. Actually, he found her. She couldn't have been in the club more than five minutes when one of his body guards approached her and told her that the don requested her presence at his table. She happily complied.

Giovanni de Luca was much more revolting in person. He reeked of cheap cigars and raw fish. Elena didn't even want to know why. His breath was worse. It was almost as if a small rodent crawled into the cavernous area to die, and had done so long ago. It took everything she had to keep from retching. Even more to keep a smile plastered on her face as he spoke with her.

He got to his point promptly. He wanted her. Plain and simple. That made her work easy. She didn't have to anything. At this point, she wasn't sure if she could have. And he made no endeavor to be subtle in his flirting. His fingers would slither against her cheek; then more audaciously, across the top of her breasts. She wanted to die right there. She smiled on.

"Dear don," she began in a voice of forced flirtation. "Wouldn't you rather we finish this in private?" She almost prayed that somebody would shoot her.

"Of course, my fiore. It will please you to know that I have rooms in the back, specifically for this purpose." It was clear what that purpose was, even without the not so gentle squeeze he gave her on the inside of her thigh. "Let us go."

As he stood up, her eyes helplessly scanned the club. Where was Reno? She had yet to see him come in. She stood up next, and then the don's heavy arm came around her shoulders, pulling her towards the back of the nightclub, towards a desolate hallway. Every step brought them closer. With every step, Elena became more and more aware that this was wrong. All of it.

She didn't want this. She felt her insides stir rebelliously. Her mind screamed at her to run. Her whole body began to quake with fear. He thought it was something else, and became downright pleased with himself.

After he opened the door and revealed to her a large, king-sized bed with red sheets, he pushed her inside and closed the door behind him. "Ah, my fiore, most beloved colomba. Let me see you."

"I'm right here," she said, pretending to not know what he was talking about.

He chuckled and stepped closer to her. "No. I mean, all of you." His hands parted her robe and it slid off her shoulders. He gasped. "You are even more gorgeous than I thought."

All of a sudden, he was all over her. There was no stopping it. No way to see it coming. He ripped her thong off and threw her onto the bed, now fumbling with his own belt. Elena was terrified. It was too late to stop it. Too late to tell him 'no.' Too soon, he was on top of her, touching her.

Her breathing became arduous as her heart pounded violently. "Stop," she begged. "Please, stop."

"What?" he paused, looking confused, crestfallen, and now…irritated. "Are you not enjoying yourself, fiore?"

"No, I'm not," she all but yelled. "This is over. I want no part of this."

He laughed again. She didn't like it. Something about it didn't sit right with her. "Ah. What a pity. It could have been wonderful for both of us. Now, it seems, I'll be the only one who enjoys it. Don't you get it, fiore? I will have you. With or without your consent."

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How the hell was he supposed to get passed the body guards without making a scene? They blocked the hallway. Hell. They might as well be brick walls. Reno cursed loudly. It wasn't as if anybody could hear him over the loud music. Even if they could, he couldn't give a damn. Not right now. Now, he had to think. There had to be another way to get in there.

He was running out of time. He knew it. Images of Elena lying under the disgusting man began flooding his mind. He completing the mission. Elena needed rescuing. That was his new mission. To hell with everything else.

He pushed passed the crowd and approached the body guards. They were taller than he thought they would be. They looked down at him as though he were a cockroach, something that should be stepped on. Funny. That's how he was looking at them.

"May we help you?" one of them asked, his tone dripping with the utmost disdain.

"I need to speak with the don," he said heatedly.

"He is busy at the moment," he said knowingly.

"Oh. He'll see me."

Without warning, Reno pressed something against the first body guard, and with a jolt, he fell to the floor. The three remaining men converged on him. Reno merely shot them. There were screams behind him. Mostly women. Damn women. They always caused him trouble. Especially Elena. Dear gods, he hopes she was okay.

He didn't bother turning around to see the mayhem he'd caused. Jumping over the bodies, he ran down the hall. The door was locked. No problem. Nothing a good kick wouldn't fix. And indeed it did. But the sight that greeted him…he'd been expecting it, but it didn't make it any easier to stomach.

She was screaming. Thrashing about the bed. He was trying to get her to stay still. His hands were flying, slapping her across the face, her chest. Shouts of anger escaped passed his lips. He called her everything imaginable. All she could do was resist. And damn, she was giving it her all.

Reno could have just shot him. That's what he was supposed to do. But as he took in the scene, a new emotion, one he wasn't familiar with, took over. Yes. Logically, shooting him would end her misery. But, that only meant Reno couldn't make the man equally miserable. He didn't deserve a quick death.

Reno lunged forward, diving onto the bed, and pulling the man off of Elena. This caused both men to fall to the floor. The don cried out. Reno didn't care. His fists began hammering his face. The don tried to fight back, but every punch that managed to get passed Reno barely phased him. It wasn't as if the don didn't hit hard. Contrarily, he hit very hard. But Reno was too angry to care.

What a turn of events. Now the don was screaming. His face was bleeding, his nose was surely broken. If he survived, he'd never look the same again. Over and over again. Reno kept pelting him with every ounce of his strength. He had to suffer. He had to pay for treating her like that; for thinking it was alright to treat any woman like that.

Then a stinging feeling erupted in his side. How had he not seen it coming? The silver glint of the metal should have caught his eye, but he had been too oblivious to everything else. He had just wanted to cause pain. Extreme pain.

The don capitalized on Reno's pause. He kicked him away and raced for the door. He tripped over himself and then, after regaining his balanced, tried to flee. That was quickly remedied. One shot. One well aimed shot brought him down.

Reno dropped the gun and looked down at his side. The knife had only startled him. Nothing more. It was only a scratch. It wouldn't even bleed for very long. Standing up quickly, he removed his jacket and wrapped it around Elena who was now sitting. His arms came next, bringing her close to him, securely against his chest.

"I'm so sorry," he said in a tone that couldn't have belonged to Reno. "He didn't…did he?"

"A few seconds longer…" she trailed off.

It had been that close. She could still feel him. His hands, his breath. She felt…she didn't know how she felt. All she knew was that this feeling that was overwhelming her now was the worse that she'd every experienced in her entire life. Nothing could possibly compare. "Oh Gods!" she cried, throwing her arms around Reno's waist and pulling herself even closer to him.

"You'll never have to do this again, Laney. I swear. I shouldn't have let you do this in the first place." He winced now. Her nails were digging into his back. Still, she clawed for him greedily, trying to get closer, even though there was no more room in between them to fill. "Laney," he began, his voice oh so tender, "it's okay. You're safe."

"I failed," she bawled. Reno's grip intensified around her. She didn't care. She felt safe in his arms. Secure. "I can't…stop shaking," she whimpered.

"I know," Reno said, rubbing her arms. It did nothing to stop her tremors. Only one thing could. It was at her apartment, on her bathroom sink.

"I want to go home," she begged, her voice shaking.

"Alright," Reno said, hooking an arm underneath her legs and lifting her. "I'll take you home."

"I failed," she whispered. Over and over again. It was all she could think about. In Reno's mind, that wasn't normal. The woman had just been through a traumatizing ordeal and all she could think about was her job. That didn't settle well with Reno.

The car was waiting for them. As soon as they got in, Elena laid down on the seat and laid her head in Reno's lap. His hand began smoothing her hair. It was all he could think to do in the way of comforting her. Still, he felt her tears through his pants. She shook violently. It was almost as if the shivers were getting worse. They were.

"I failed," she said one last time, before closing her eyes and succumbing to a troubled sleep.

After a few minutes, Reno shook his head and closed his own eyes. "No. Laney, you didn't fail," he whispered. "…I did."