Author's note: This chaper is rated M for mature. Also, as a writer and reader I know that there isn't always time to review. I am grateful for all my readers and reviewers. Whenever I receive a review it motivates me to work on the next chapter and it would be nice to know what you guys are thinking especially after the events of chapter 12.

Chapter 13

The next morning Nika awoke in her hitman's embrace. It occurred to her that it was first time she had ever seen him sleep. He looked peaceful and gentle, human.

She turned around and held his neck. "Good morning!" she chirped when his eyes opened.

It took him a few seconds to remember where he was. He pulled her closer to him and rested his forehead against hers, "Morning," his smile was soft.

Nika didn't think it possible but his smile made her even more attracted to him. "I'm going to take a shower and you're going to join me.." she instructed him.

Her boldness reminded him of the old Nika. Except now he found it to be arousing, not irritating, "What makes you think that?"

With subtle sultriness she took his hands and guided them both out of bed, "Because we both need to get clean and maybe a little dirty," she winked as they went into the bathroom.

He opened the shower door for them and followed her in.

After turning on the showerhead, she turned her back to him, "Can you wash my back?"

"Yes," he took the body wash, squeezed it into his hands and slowly massaged her back. His lips gently planted a trail of kisses on the nape of her neck until he found her sweet spot.

"Oooh, that feels soo good." she moaned relishing the tingling sensation. She felt his lips smile against her neck along with his growing desire behind her body. The previous night she felt spoiled by him, now it was his turn to be satisfied.

When she faced him, he became confused; he thought she was enjoying what he was doing to her, "Nika?"

With seductive eyes, she admired his wet muscular body then pushed him against the wall. Her lips kissed his mouth then chest, she continued to travel southward.

A rush of bliss ran through his body when he felt her mouth on him. His fingers became entangled in her hair as she pleased him. He then took her hands off the tile wall and held them.

Her eyes went to his face and an immediate feeling of contentment came to her. His eyes were closed and soft moans were coming from his lips. When he held her hands, she almost cried. Even though she was taking care of his needs he was still thinking of hers.

She was the only person who could affect him in such a way, to make him relinquish control and be perfectly fine with it. Having this knowledge and power made her feel honored and loved.

It was only a matter of moments before he knew what would happen, "Nika, stop." he gently pushed her off him and helped her onto her feet. Before she could protest, he lifted her off the floor, wrapped her legs around him and pressed her against the wall. A guttural groan sounded from his mouth the moment he immersed himself in her love.

Nika unleashed a curse and dug her nails into his back while she clenched her legs around him. She was mere seconds away from grasping a new level of pleasure that she had only dreamed of. Knowing that it could only be achieved with him, her first and only true love; she curled her lips into a smile.

The stinging on his back barely registered with him, he was too intoxicated by her to care. He leaned his forehead against hers as they both reached the peak of pure passion together. They saw the intensity of their love in each other's eyes as they delightfully descended from the clouds.

After tying his bathrobe shut, Agent 47 helped Nika with hers then kissed her, "I need to get dressed," he said.

"Me too..I'll see you in a few minutes?"

"You will," he pecked her mouth with his.

She loved how he was now willing to show affection, "Ok," she playfully slapped his backside and giggled when he shot her a glare before leaving the bathroom. "You know you love it."

He held back a smirk that pulled at his mouth.

The vibrating phone on his nightstand beckoned him and he answered.

"Hey, it's me!" Declan Greene said with obvious excitement.

"I know," Agent 47 flatly replied. "I told you to only call me when you found Diana."

"I know, I did!"

He blinked not believing what he was just told, "You actually found her?"

"Yeah! I mean, it wasn't easy, it took all this time.. but I did..I found her! It'll be safer if I show you what I found in person. When can you get here?"

Even though he didn't want to leave Nika, the questions he had for Diana had to be answered, "Tomorrow. We'll meet at that building, you know the one."

"I do, I'll be there at seven, that's when I walk my dog. My girlfriend's back home so I have to do it then."

"All right. Bye."

"I'll see ya," he hung up.

Before he could register what happened he heard Nika at his door. She still wore her robe and now, a sad face, "So much for a Happy New Year.."

Feeling guilty, he walked over to his girlfriend and held her face.

"Do you really have to go so soon?" she asked him.

"I need to do this. If I didn't, I'd stay.." His voice was sincere.

"I know," she gripped his neck. "At least we had Christmas together."

"It was wonderful and I will come back."

"When?" She held back her tears.

He didn't know the exact answer, "Soon."

"Be safe," she stroked his face.

His hand slid underneath her robe's neckline, he caressed her dragon tattoo and softly seized her mouth with his.

Unlike the last time they departed, she knew that he was coming back and didn't beg him to stay. Things had changed between them, they were in love. Even though she was unaware, she gave him a real reason to be meticulous and cautious on his trips. Before, it was just for his safety but now it was for their future.

Declan stood on the roof of the abandoned factory and fed Boomer a treat. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the winter wind against his fair skin. Then he nearly jumped out of his skin when Agent 47 suddenly appeared behind him.

"How the hell did you do that?" Declan asked him.

"What?" Agent 47 asked.

"Appear out of nowhere." When he didn't receive a response, he removed the folder from his back and opened it. "Here's what I found."

He picked up the photo of an older blond woman, "This is her." His eyes focused on her. The voice that saved his life now had a face, one that seemed familiar to him.

"Diana Burnwood, I found everything on her, DOB, address, husband, kids, grandkids..Where she works," he knew the latter would interest him.

He eyes immediately left the photo and went to Declan, "The Organization?"

"Legally, it's known as Platinum Force Security firm. They're like Blackwater except they know how to keep their name out of headlines," he pointed to a form in the folder. "They're located in the mountains so it's pretty much impossible to hack their system. And for some reason, they own a boys' school which isn't even located in the same country as their main office."

He knew it was the place where he was raised and trained, "Thanks," he took out his mobile phone. "The other half of the money is sent."

"Nice," Declan checked his mobile phone. "So..how was your Christmas?"

He thought everyone he had met and the time he spent with Nika. With a grin he answered, "Good..very good. Yours?"

The image of Agent 47 grinning was odd and new to Declan, "..me too. My family's good, they gave me good presents and they liked the ones I gave them. And Lisa and I great. I proposed and she said yes."

"That's good," he looked down to see Boomer placing his paw on his foot. He bent down and petted his head.

Declan liked seeing the human side to Agent 47, it gave him a false sense of security, "I should get back. Lisa and I are going out tonight."

"All right but take this," he handed him a prepaid mobile phone. "I'll contact you again."

"Wait," he held his hand up, "I almost forgot. I have a job for you. I mean, if you want it."

Agent 47 was interested, "Details?"

He took a small USB drive from his pocket and handed it to him, "This guy is a college buddy of mine. He's in town right now visiting family. He has the money to meet your usual price.." he glanced at the ground feeling empathetic for his friend. "His situation it's-it's really fucked up. And you're the best, so?"

He trusted Declan,"Yes."

"Ok, good. I'll see ya around," he turned to leave.

"Goodbye."

"One more thing.." he turned to see that he was alone. "Thanks..What is he a ninja?"

An exhausted exhale came from Diana the moment she closed the front door behind her. Norman Gateson had been pressuring her and the agents to immediately find and kill Agent 47. So far, they had been unsuccessful. It was a challenge for her to hold her tongue and not tell her boss to give up but she had no choice.

She then made her way up the stairs and headed for the office to check her mail, "Goddamn it!" She yelled out when Agent 47 turned on the lamp to reveal himself sitting at the desk. In disbelief she gawked at him.

"Hello Diana." he dryly greeted her with his AMT Hardballer aimed at her.

The man that she had helped pursue was now in front of her and she was frightened, "F-forty-seven…How did you find me?"

"I had a reliable source."

"Of course you did…There's no need for you to point your weapon at me. I'm unarmed and I have no interest in harming you," she told him the truth and hoped he would lower his gun.

He took a few seconds to consider her statement and believed her. His gun was on the desk but not out of reach.

"What do you want from me?" Relieved, she walked forward and sat down across from him. He looked just as deadly in person as he did in his photo yet she sensed that he was no longer a threat to her.

"I have questions.."

"Like?"

"Yuri said that ICO has called the hit off of Nika."

"It's true. They're not interested in her anymore, just you."

He nodded and then asked the question that had been in his mind since ICO betrayed him, "Why did you call my hotel room that night?"

"What?" She heard him clearly but wanted to avoid answering his question.

"They would have killed you if they found out. You know that, yet you still warned me. Why?"

She brushed her blond hair away from her face, "How much time do you have?"

"Your husband should be home in an hour."

Nodding, she spoke to him, "All right then…As your handler I've had to monitor you ever since you were a child. The first time I watched you fight was when you were six. You won, naturally. But after, you bent down and helped your opponent get up. Now..I've seen plenty of children spar but you were the first to actually assist your opponent after beating him.

Your instructor immediately kicked you and placed you in solitary confinement. I asked him if you had done that before and he told me that you did," she felt her eyes becoming wet as she remembered how difficult it was for her to not punish the instructor when he hit Agent 47.

"What are you telling me?" He heard the impatience in his voice.

"That night, I visited you in your cell…"

He remembered a woman coming into his cell after his first fight, she had held him as he cried, "I thought it was a dream." In awe he stared at her.

"It was me..You were crying and I couldn't stand the sight because I had never seen it before. I told you that if you wanted more out of life then just ending others'..you had to survive your training. That you must not help your opponent ever again unless you wanted to die," she wept remembering how broken he had looked that night. "I should have taken you out of there.."

His mind was processing what she was telling him, "Why me?"

"You weren't like the other children, you had a soul. For some time, I believed that you had lost it along the way…that it was slowly ripped out of you."

His mind let her words sink in and they confirmed what he had believed growing up; he was different from all the other agents, "You still haven't answered my question."

"I wasn't finished," she was a little annoyed but understood his impatience.

"Continue."

She felt a deep breathe escape her as she wiped away her tears. It wasn't easy for her to admit that she had grown attached to him but she knew it was his right to know.

"When I found out about ICO's betrayal..I was reviled and enraged. They robbed you of your childhood, your choices. After years of superior work and loyalty, they were going to take what was yours..all you had left..Your life! I couldn't allow that to happen because a part of me still believes the young boy that I held all those years ago, was still in you."

His mind took in her words. She had saved his life and risked hers. He had always thought guardian angels were fictional creatures but it turned out his was right in front of him.

"There's something else.."

He looked at her wanting to know more, "What?"

"That night, after I left your cell…I went to read your restricted file. It had your birth certificate."

Absolutely stunned, he felt his mouth fall open, "You know who my parents are?"

"No, your parents' names and all identifying features were redacted and all copies destroyed. I couldn't find out who they were at all. But I do know your date of birth and where you were born," she kindly offered him.

"And?"

"April 7th, 1972, Chicago Illinois," she smiled. "That's how you were assigned numbers, April is the fourth month and your birthday is on the 7th."

A pleasant calm came to him; he was no longer a number but a person with a birthday and birthplace. He cherished the fact that it was only a few days after Nika's birthday.

She then told him with a soft expression, "You spared Nika's life. I was right about you; you never lost your soul." After a beat she asked, "How is she?"

He usually didn't trust people he just met yet she wasn't a complete stranger and had proven her loyalty to him, "She's doing well."

"Because of you I assume..I saw her photo and I know her life story. I understand why you're risking your life for her. It's quite admirable and romantic," she smiled at him.

Uncomfortable, he glanced down at the desk then at her, "Who is ICO's president?"

She expected him to change the subject, "Norman Gateson and no, I don't know where he is. I doubt you can find him and I don't know if you want to. He is a..very frightening man and he wants your head."

He wasn't surprised, "What has he asked of you?"

"That if you contact me again, I will have to send other agents to your location and its bordering countries," she revealed to him.

The honesty in her eyes made him feel secure, he had a new ally. He handed her a prepaid mobile phone, "It can't be traced back to me. I'll contact you." he stood up and headed for the door.

"For what?"

He couldn't answer her question. All he knew was that she was an important asset to him, "When I need your help."

"I'll have it on me at all times," she assured him.

"Goodbye Diana," he said to her.

"Goodbye Forty-seven and be careful," she said with a slight nod.

Needing to unwind, Agent 47 headed to the hotel's bar for his usual glass of scotch. The two ice cubes clicked against the glass when the bartender dropped them in. From the corner of his eye he noticed a young dark haired woman giving him a seductive stare; he hoped she would remain in her seat. His hopes were crushed when she approached him.

"You look lonely," she spoke with a French accent, "I'm Armelle. And you are?"

"I'm fine," he coldly replied.

She looked at his left ringer and saw the platinum ring, "Is your wife or girlfriend in the restroom?"

He looked at her, "My girlfriend isn't here but I prefer to be alone tonight."

"Really.." she then put her hand on his thigh and brought her lips to his ear, "Because my hotel room has a beautiful view of the city and she'll never know that you saw it."

His eyes glared at her; he disliked forward women and hated those who dared to touch him without invitation. The only exception was Nika. With a bit of force, he removed her hand from him and informed Armelle, "I would."

She winced and rubbed her wrist as she watched him pay for his drink and leave the bar.