Chapter 1
It wasn't nearly as hard as she'd imagined to be; getting her hands on the file of her parent's death. In Devision everybody seems to be so full of themselves that they don't care to glance at the ability of some of them. If she'd been in Percy's position she probably would've cancelled Brikoff right away because even she is able to get past his security system.
It isn't so much about why they were killed as much as the person who pulled the trigger. These days revenge tasted like the cinnamon cookies her Nanna used to make for Hanukah.
A bad idea unfolds halfway to the elevator, twenty nine steps out and to the office; not trying, but it needs to be said. It needs to be done. Or at least, now, this is what she's been trying to convince herself of.
She can replay the file in her head all she wants, but the reality keeps turning in her head. How stupid she was – but this isn't going to solve anything, it's nothing between the two of them that hasn't already turned and overturned. Everything is that kind of cycle and it's coming to par, to the point where she hates it, hates him.
Her hands are digging into her pockets, her fingers twisting in the fabric. There's a soft tug as she stops in front of the glass door. Deep breath; he's inside, mindlessly turning through pages of some old mission file and really, really, this is such a bad idea.
"You wanted to see me?"
Her ears are ringing and he glances up, curious, twisting his head to the side and leaning back in the chair. Her fingers tighten around the Sig Sauer behind her back and she takes comfort in the possibility of just ending her own torture by putting a bullet between his eyes. But it's him and part of her is still Alexandria. He saved her life and she is wondering if she's supposed to spare his now.
"Today somebody broke high level security."
"Okay?"
"You know anything about it?"
She is pursuing her lips and she is trying very hard not to smile. This is serious business after all and she can die if they think she made a step in the wrong direction. On the other hand, this is Michael and she can't help herself but challenge him.
"If it would've been me, I wouldn't have left a trace."
He looks her in the eyes and now it's easy to stare right back. Her poker face is flawless because she only sees a man behind a gas mask killing her parents and baby sister.
"This isn't a game, Alex…"
"Funny… Here I thought that's exactly what it is, for guys like Percy and you."
"I'm not Percy."
She is staring into empty space and he realizes that he's not going to get the answer he's looking for. Not now. Not yet.
She reaches for the door, her back pressing against the glass. She fumbles for the handle and feels so stupid as she's looking him right in the face and she's still able to make out his eyes behind that jet black gas mask. "I have to go…"
He's forward too with his fingers wrapping around the door handle, his hand over hers with a quick brush, and watching her. There's the circumventing of dare and she's not going to be that person again, the word for word drop into things she promised she wouldn't do anymore.
"If you hear anything, you know where to find me…"
Her voice is soft. "I'm going to go now."
He steps back, turning away from her. She can hear the sadness colouring his voice, adding for her. "Home."
She barely stays to listen, walking back out and away. This time she'd been able to lose security on her weapon. Next time she might even be able to pull the trigger. If she just would be able to get over the flushed cheeks.