Chapter 7

"Ms. Petrova?" Ramon asked.

His voice brought her out of shock. She pressed the button on the intercom, "Let him in and tell Carl to pick up Tiska and Lena."

"All right," Ramon replied.

With a deep breath, she took one last look at her reflection in the mirror between the coat rack and umbrella stand. Her heart rapidly beat against her chest when she opened her umbrella and walked out the door to finally meet her hitman.

Rain landed on his shaved head after he closed the trunk and started to walk towards the mansion with his rolling luggage in hand. The sight of a woman dressed in red rain boots and a white raincoat while holding an umbrella stopped him. He narrowed his eyes trying to see who she was. As she got closer to him his eyes slowly widen when he realized it was Nika.

Absolutely astonished by her new look, he simply stood watching her. He had always thought she was attractive but the woman that was approaching him was ravishing. She exuded a strength and energy that he hadn't seen in her during their time together. Unlike the Nika he met in St. Petersburg, the woman before him shined.

Nika held the umbrella over him and tried to think of something to say but couldn't.

"Nika.." He said, "You look ni…"

With eager eyes she stared at him, hoping that he'd like her new appearance as much as she did.

He remembered what Karissa told him, "You look exquisite."

A brilliant smile came across her beautiful face and joy filled her heart, "Thank you."

He nodded then noticed that her dragon tattoo was no longer on her left cheek. His fingers caressed the area where the inked dragon once lay.

She closed her eyes and relished the feel of his touch turning her face into his hand. Her eyes opened when he withdrew his hand from her.

"You removed your tattoo?" He asked her.

With a tilt of her head she answered, "Yes..and no."

He gave her a confused look but said, "I removed mine."

Her eyes looked at the back of his bare head, "You did. Why?"

"It felt right."

She nodded, "We should get inside. I'll show you around," she didn't protest when he took the umbrella and held it above them. She placed her hand on his back and was pleased when he didn't withdraw from her.

During the tour of her house, he had surprised her by not saying his typical neutral answers regarding the décor and design of the mansion. The side of his body was pressed slightly against hers. Neither of them seemed to mind and continued to move through the house that way.

When they came upon Madison's room, she proudly opened the door, "This is my daughter's room. Her name is Madison."

"Daughter?" He gave her a curious stare.

"Right now, just my foster daughter. If things go as planned the adoption will go through then I can have her friend Mai live with us," she shrugged and grinned, "they'll be sisters."

The maternal pride that she was conveying was unexpected but it seemed natural to him, "That's great Nika."

"Yeah well, I have all this room and money..I should share it with people who need it. Madison, she's like me. She used to be a prostitute and an orphan."

"You're an orphan?" He hadn't known this about her.

"Yes, aren't you? Parents don't give their kids numbers instead of names.."

"I am. The place where I was raised, there were no parents just instructors."

She found it strange yet interesting how she knew so little about the most important man in her life. What she did know explained why he was not like anyone she had ever met.

"Well, my parents died in a fire. I had no other family so I lived on the streets. Met an older man who I thought was nice...you know what happened next," she gazed down at the floor before meeting his eyes, "how long are you staying here?"

"My next contract is on the 5th," he told her.

"So will you be here through the holidays?"

He didn't want to lie to her, "If I'm not contacted before then..I will."

"Good," her smile was large. "Then I need to take you shopping for clothes."

"I have clothes," his tone was flat.

"No, you have suits. This is California, you can't walk around in an Italian suit all the time, it'll look weird, especially here in Napa. You need casual clothes like jeans, sweaters, t-shirts, jackets, boots…you need to blend in."

He took her words into consideration, "Ok."

"Really?" she said sounding a little surprised.

"Yes."

"Great!" She brought her hands together, "I'll drive and don't worry, I won't make you go into the trunk," she laughed.

He said in a slightly annoyed voice, "How considerate of you."

"I know," she put her hand on his back and pretended not to notice him catching the scent of her hair.

"Hello Ms. Petrova," the saleswoman greeted her, "how are you today?"

"I'm good, Miranda. And you?" Nika said.

"I've been well, thank you for asking. We got a new shipment and there are a few dresses that I placed in the back for you."

"Thank you and I would love to see them but right now I need to get my friend a new ready to wear wardrobe," she gestured to Agent 47.

"Wonderful, well men's apparel is over there. Would you like Pierce to help you two?"

"No, we'll be fine but thank you," she graciously told Miranda, "Come on Frank," she led Agent 47 to the men's department.

"Nika…"

"Yes?" She looked at him.

"I haven't done this before…." He looked around at the racks of clothing as if they were foreign creatures while wishing they were suits.

She found his awkwardness endearing, "I can tell. You read men's magazines..just pick out what you think looks nice and I'll choose a few things. Then we'll see what happens?" She grabbed a red v-neck sweater and held it up.

"Ok," he nodded.

At that moment she decided to have a little fun with him and picked up a hideous plaid shirt.

He firmly shook his head.

She put it down and then showed him a yellow polo shirt.

"No," his tone was strong.

Then she picked up a bright pink shirt with a palm tree print on it.

"Nika!" He raised his voice.

Laughing she put the shirt back, "I know I'm just playing."

He didn't understand why she liked getting a rise out of him but enjoyed seeing her laugh.

"Ok, now it's time to seriously shop," she picked out a pair of dark denim jeans and paired it with the red v-neck sweater, "So?"

He examined the outfit, it looked normal, "I'll try it. How do you know my size?"

With a coy grin she replied, "What? You think you're the only one who notices the little details? I looked at your suits when we were together. I only did it when you took a shower."

"You went through my things?" There was a hint of irritation in his voice.

"No, you had everything arranged perfectly. So I only looked with my eyes, not hands," she picked out three more outfits. "How about these?"

He hadn't realized how much she respected him, "Thank you..and no, I don't like the wash of the jeans."

"You're welcome and you just can't have all dark denim. You need variety. So, try this one, it's a medium wash and these tan khakis."

"All right," he then took a black pinstripe dress shirt off the rack.

"That's a good choice."

"I believe so..I'm gonna try these on," he took the clothes from her and headed to the dressing room.

Her mouth slowly dropped open when he stepped out of dressing room wearing the first outfit she had picked out for him. The red v-neck sweater perfectly hugged his biceps and muscular chest while the dark denim jeans accentuated his long legs. Seeing him in casual attire and not in his usual suit was a turn on for her. Other than highlighting his perfect physique, it gave her a glimpse into what he would look like if he weren't a deadly assassin.

He was perplexed by the way Nika was looking at him, "Nika?"

"Oh," she shook her head and joined him in front of the trio of mirrors, "you look..hot. Scratch that, you look gay hot," she smiled than scoffed.

His eyebrows furrowed.

"Believe me, that's a good thing," although there was no lint on the sweater, she brushed his shoulder with her hand and smelled the fresh scent of hotel soap on him, "So, how does it feel?"

"It looks tight."

"Does it feel tight?"

"No."

"It fits you perfectly. If you go up a size bigger it will look sloppy and I know you don't like to look that way," she said in a matter of fact tone.

He knew she was right and he did like what she had picked out for him.

"Do you like it?" she asked him.

"I do…thank you," he quietly said.

She stood in front of him and placed her hands on his firm pectorals. A part of her was astounded at how close he was allowing her to be to him,"You're welcome. Now, go on and put on the rest of the outfits."

The old Nika would have been afraid by his imposing presence but now he was little intimidated by her. She was bold enough to not only touch him she also felt comfortable ordering him and to his shock, he didn't mind it. In fact, he found her confidence to be attractive and not aggressive like she was in Istanbul. Having her within inches of him caused the hairs on his neck to stand up, her smell and her touch was beginning to overload his senses.

"I'll..uh I'll be right back," he looked away before returning to the dressing room.

Hiding her disbelief at his obedience and stammering of his words she said, "Ok, I'll be waiting here."

When he came out in another outfit she instinctively fixed the shirt's collar. They looked at one another remembering how she had done the same gesture in Istanbul. A little grin formed on their lips, it was a turning point in their relationship. Their almost "morning after" made her realize that he didn't view her as an object or hostage but as a person, his equal.

"Well," she reluctantly turned and stood next him, "you look handsome."

"I do?"

"Yes..but anyone who has a body like you looks good in everything," she told him looking straight into his eyes.

"Thanks.." his stare briefly fell to his shoes before returning to her.

After a beat, she asked, "I read on CNN about Yuri..It was you?"

"Yes." he said without hesitation staring into her green eyes.

"Thank you."

"What?"

She sighed, "Belicoff handed me to him a few days before I saw you on the street.." her eyes lowered when she remembered the awful things he did to her.

From the way she looked, he knew what they were both thinking. Belicoff had used her as payment to Yuri for pursuing Agent 47.

"Nika," he waited until her eyes met his, "the men in the room with Yuri that night..they were the ones that set me up. They also knew about you."

Her eyes grew a little wide with fear, "My life will never be safe?"

"No, Yuri said they and my former organization couldn't find you. They both gave up."

"He could have been lying."

"He thought I was going to spare his life again, it was the truth," he assured her.

"Well," she shrugged, "the US Marshal said that no one in WITSEC who has followed the rules has ever been harmed. I haven't spoken to anyone from my old life..except you," she smirked. "It's not like you talk much anyway."

He tilted his head and explained to her, "I prefer to wisely choose my words and when to say them."

"Right," she playfully bumped her shoulder with his, "about that.."

"What?"

"Tonight I'm going to my friend's Christmas party, Trent. You don't have to go…but I want you to."

Even though he was somewhat hesitate he wanted to meet the people in her life, "I'll go."

She wasn't expecting him to say yes, "Really? You'll go with me tonight?"

"Yes, I want to meet your friends."

"Good," she beamed, "but you have to talk. Most of them are gay men or straight women. They talk as much as I do sometimes even more. I don't want them to think after meeting you, 'Oh, what is up with Karina's sexy scary shaved-head friend? Why doesn't he talk?' I want them to think, 'Oh, what is up with Karina's sexy scary shaved-head friend? He is so nice!'"

"Nika.."

She hadn't heard him say her name, "You can't give them one word answers, ok? Two sentences minimum but aim for three depending on the question. And you have to-.."

"Nika, I'll be fine."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because..I made a friend."

She blinked, "Like Agent Jamison?"

"No..she's not involved with my work."

"She?" Nika heard a trace of sadness in her voice; she thought she was the only woman in his life.

"You know her. Karissa Mendoza."

It took her a moment to remember she was, "The woman from the wine boutique. I met her and her husband, they're very nice," she grinned realizing she had no need to worry. "How do you know her?"

"I met her in Italy; she was working at the furniture store where I bought your blanket. Her brother-in-law owns the store."

"Oh..why didn't she tell me that she knew you?"

"I didn't want you to ask her where I was..She doesn't know what I do," he thought about his next statement, "It was easier."

She nodded, "I see. Well, I uh-I told my friends that you were a private security contractor. That you were traveling the world protecting people."

"It's nice that you chose a believable career for me," he answered then noticed a strand of her chestnut hair fall near her right eye.

"I didn't think they'd believe you were a traveling salesman," she was about to chuckle until he brushed an errant lock of hair behind her ear. She almost forgot to breath and managed to grin, "We um..we should get back home for lunch."

A part of him liked how he was able to catch her off guard just by touching her, "I'll go change."

"Ok," her eyes slowly traveled down his body as he walked into the dressing room.