Emily laughed hysterically as Ian passed the bottle of wine back to her. They were sitting on the balcony enjoying the Tuscan sunset and a bottle of Pinot Grigio. They'd been laughing and carrying on for over an hour and the bottle was almost empty. She was very drunk and she knew it, but she was in such a good mood, she just didn't give a damn.
Clyde had been riding her ass for weeks now and she hadn't really been making herself useful. She was procrastinating, because as much as she hated to admit it, she'd fallen for the Irish bastard. She loved his smile, his icy blue eyes, his sexy swagger, his dry sense of humor. And he was an exquisite lover.
"Lauren, love, look over there!" Ian said pointing at the horses that were galloping around in the pasture next to the villa. One of the foals was prancing around trying to show off, looking really ridiculous.
Before she could think clearly, her mouth spewed two words that would seal her fate forever.
"Who's Lauren?" She asked still laughing. She took another sip of wine and watched Ian's whole body stiffen, she froze wine bottle still pressed to her lips.
He looked over at her with an odd expression on his face, like he'd been waiting for this.
"Ahh, yes… was there something you wanted to tell me…? Emily."
She lowered the bottle, and suddenly swallowing seemed, more than difficult, it seemed impossible.
"How do you know my name?" She whispered, shaking. She'd seen his wrath on his enemies before and she did not want to be one of those people.
"I know everything about you Emily Prentiss." Ian said looking away from her and lighting a cigarette, nonchalantly. "I just wanted to see if you got drunk enough, if you would slip up. 8 Months and you slipped once. Impressive."
She gulped. She didn't know where he was going with this.
"I've got a proposition for you… Emily."
"What?" She asked, suddenly she was very sober.
"Run away with me." He said, French inhaling the cigarette in his hand.
"Awa-are you serious? Wh-why? I thought if you ever found out I'd be dead…" She said quietly.
"I considered it." He said matter of factly. "But then I realized how taken Declan is with you, and he's already had one piece of shit mother… I couldn't bear to tell him you were gone. And I like having you around, despite the fact you're a manipulative liar." Ian said looking at the sunset, taking a sip of wine from his glass.
"I—uh, wh- uhmm, Where would we go?" She asked completely flabbergasted at his… leniency.
"Anywhere we want."
"You'd get out of the game?" She asked incredulously. "I dont understand… You told me no last week! What changed?"
"It was one thing to lose you, but I've realized, I don't really want to lose you. Or Declan…" Ian said. "So what do you say?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"Do I have a choice?" she asked, biting her lip. Ian chuckled darkly, taking another sip of wine.
"No. Not really, Love."