RPOV

I thought the city was weird during the day but at night, it's even worse.

The diner was right on the edge of town where most of the weirdoes chose to hang out. And lucky me, I was the one who got to close the diner.

The cleaning was already mostly done in my trying to avoid the three F.B.I guys and all I had left was to wash all of the day's dishes.

Lucky me.

I made my way to the kitchen after closing all of the blinds to the windows. The bell to the door chimed.

"We're closed," I said without looking away from the coffee pot I was washing out.

"Oh, and I was so hoping for a cup of coffee and a chance to indulge in your charming company Rosemarie."

I knew that voice.

It belonged to the only person in the world, next to Abe, who scared the living daylights out of me.

Victor.

My father had two main bodyguards, Mikhail and Ambrose, and they were pretty bad and intimidating but never as much as Victor. He was what crime families call the carry out guy or in other worlds, the assassin that isn't afraid of anything or getting his hands dirty.

Just the sound of his voice sent chills down my back and the terrible memories…

Reluctantly I turned on my heel to face him.

He stood all in white, smiling from ear to ear, a cane in hand.

I doubt he needed it. I remembered that's where he hid a long silver sword he used to 'take care of' his victims with. Guns were too messy according to him. He preferred what he called his stake.

"My father sent you."

"Not directly. I thought I'd pay you a visit my self. I thought I'd take it upon my self to remind you that you could be found anytime, anywhere."

I would've gulped or shuttered if I hadn't been so scared.

"You're going to take me back to him."

I realized I was making a lot of statements. Everything that anyone associated with my father did was straight forward, no doubt or questions about it.

"I could. Honestly I was a bit surprised your father didn't send for me to fetch you before."

"Why didn't he send you?" This was bravery, looking Victor in the eye and standing here talking to him.

"Because he doesn't need me to find you. He knows where you are. You can't hide from us Rosemarie even though you've managed to delude yourself into thinking otherwise," he added brushing off a counter seat. "He'll come for you when he needs you."

"What about the bounty out for my return? I know there is one."

"Simply for sport, my dear, the fun of it all. Not to mention it's a great way to train new recruits."

New recruits. He made it sound like they were forming an army. Knowing my father they probably were. He must have a few plans up his tailored sleeves. He sat down on the seat after declaring it clean enough for him to grace his butt upon.

"Ironically enough, it's probably for the better that you're not home right now. Seeing you're poor mother that way-"

"What way? Is she alright?" I asked feeling frantic now. My mother.

This only made Victor smile. I'd fallen into his trap. I'd taken the bait he used to get to my weakness. My mother. The only reason Victor Dashkov ever smiled was because someone else was in pain on his doing.

"She's fine. Would I lie to you?"

"Probably," I muttered.

"Whether you like it or not the only way to be certain of her health is to return home and see for your self."

And so his words had become full circle. His monologue had come down to one thing. Bringing me home. My father didn't send him, but that wouldn't stop him from trying to get me back home which he'd never I'd never do without a few refusals and a fight. And a fight would make it okay for him to strike back at me.

Anyway he wanted to.

"No." It came out in a whisper. I couldn't help it. I suddenly felt so scared, jumping out of one of the barred windows seemed like a good idea, as long as it knocked me unconscious for anything he was going to do to me.

He stood then.

He was going to reach for me and he would've caught me. I wasn't very fast and not much of a runner. There was nowhere to run except the back of the diner but he'd find me. He always finds me. I eyed his hand on the head of his cane and flinch inwardly.

I have to do something, I have to get away, I thought. I felt the business card that I'd tucked into the strap of my bra with nowhere else to put it; the edges poking my skin as if trying to get my attention.

Dimitri.

I could do it. I just had to be quick and coy enough.

Victor reading my expression smiled.

"Really Rose? You're going to try calling the police again? Remember how well that worked last time?"

I made my move then, pushing the memories of what had happened the last times I tried calling for help. I spun on the balls of my feet and made my way through the kitchen to where the back door was for once grateful for these uncomfortable yet sturdy shoes.

I ran so quickly and erratically, I knocked over pans and skillets, plates crashed to the floor but I didn't look back to see the damage I'd done. I was going to be fired for this but saving my own life was more important to me right now.

I didn't need to hear footsteps behind me to know Victor was there, walking, taking his time. He didn't need to run to catch me. Like he said, he could always find me.

I ran like a crazy person anyways, finally making it to the back door. I shoved it open and looked left and right for the payphone I knew was there.

There it was, across the street.

I can make it.

I ran hard, my feet slamming against the pavement and then the asphalt as I swerved and maneuvered my way in between cars almost getting hit once or twice. I reached the phone out of breath and frantic, too scared to look over my shoulder. He was there though. I could feel it.

I pulled the card from my strap and read the number dialing. My hands were shaking so bad it took me three tries before I got the number right. He picked up on the first ring.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, pride was telling me to hang up and face Victor my self. I told pride to shut up.

"Hello?" Dimitri's voice, slightly accented, said repeatedly.

I cleared my throat.

"Dimitri. It's Rose from the diner. I need your help. I'll help you with the case and whatever else you need I just need your help-"

"Rose slow down. Are you still at the diner?" he asked. I could hear traffic in the background. He was already in his car driving.

"I'm outside using a payphone and you have to get here right away. One of my father's men is here and he's going to-"

"Rose calm down. It's going to be okay. I'm right around the corner. Stay on the phone with me," he instructed.

I dared a peek over my shoulder. Victor was there, across the street staring at me smiling.

"Please just hurry!" I yelled into the phone.

"Rose don't-" I hung up then and kept moving. Dimitri wasn't going to get here soon enough. I backed away until I met the far end of an alley wall away from the streets.

No, no, no, I whispered to my self.

I slid down the wall and buried my hands in my arms and closed my eyes. If I tried hard enough, I could pretend I was safe, and no one could get to me. I could-

"You only make it more fun for me when you try to hide," Victor mused.

I looked up as he opened his mouth to speak again.

Whatever he was about to say or do next was cut off by a car's door slam.

I looked up grateful and still scared.

Whoever had interrupted Victor had just met the end of their life.

I was scared for whoever it was.

And to little surprise it was brown eyes, Dimitri.

He stood halfway out of the car, taking in the scene before him, his eyes first resting on me briefly and then on Victor. He shut the door behind him.

Standing there, in all six feet and however many inches of him, without any expression on his face, Victor seemed a little less scary.

I suddenly wished I could just fly over to him and stand behind Dimitri so he could block me from Victor. If only it were that easy to get away from him. Even a very tall F.B.I agent who stood looking pretty badass and intimidating wouldn't stop Victor. He'd kill him too if it meant getting to me.

"Rose, come here," was Dimitri's greeting.

"I don't know who you are but you're interrupting the two of us," Victor sighed. He looked more irritated than worried that there was now a witness.

"Rose," Dimitri called again. I don't usually answer when someone says my name and expects me to come but this was different. My life was on the line. I'd called for help and I was going to take it.

I took a hesitant step forward, testing to see what Victor would do.

He glanced back at me lazily and laughed lightly.

"This is how you expect it to end? You call for help, someone saves you, I am tried for my crimes, and you live happily ever after, the end? Is that really what you hoped to happen?"

Kind of.

I didn't say anything. I only kept moving, slowly. I sidestepped Victor, which wasn't easy with how tight this enclosed alley way was. I expected him to reach for me or grab me like he'd done in the past. He only smiled that eerie smile of his.

"If it's the worry of me grabbing you that has you moving so slow, you can just push such a worry away. I'll find you again. Both of you," he added looking up at Dimitri. Victor him self stepped back into the shadows of one of the buildings and disappeared.

I'd see him again soon enough, sooner or later.

DPOV

This wasn't how I imagined the rest of my night going. Being F.B.I. makes life unpredictable though. Life it self is unpredictable.

I bet that's what Rose is thinking right now. She hasn't spoken a word since we went back to the diner for her belongings and to close it up.

The only thing she's said was that she was so fired for the mess in the kitchen.

I reassured I'd have it taken care of.

It's been quiet since then.

I turned on the heat because she was shaking and shivering so bad but mentally slapped my self. She was probably shuttering out of fear. She stared out of the window vacantly muttering to her.

I couldn't really blame her.

I glanced over at her a few times.

"If you have something to ask me just say it."

I almost jumped at how suddenly she spoke. I kept my eyes back on the road and focused on getting us back to the F.B.I building.

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright. You're shaking."

She sighed and leaned her head against the window. I noticed she was sitting as far away from me on the passenger seat as she could.

"I'm fine."

We drove for another few minutes before she said barely loud enough for me to catch.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. It's apart of my job, saving lives."

"No. Thank you for even coming."

It couldn't have been a more awkward weird night.

I think I expect her to sigh in relief, grateful for being inside the safe warm police building. If anything she was rattled even more, her movements erratic and jumpy. I thought she'd have jumped out of her skin when the elevator lurched to the top floor.

When we made it back to my office, she sat on the edge of the chair in front of my desk.

"Can I get you something to drink? Coffee might not be a good idea, but maybe hot chocolate or water?" I offered.

That made her smile slightly.

Her shoulders relaxed only barely.

"Hot chocolate sounds good. I don't want to be too much trouble though."

"It's okay."

I made to big cups and hand the one with the most marshmallows to her. She took it gratefully and drank most of it down in one gulp.

"That was good," she smiled. It was nice and soft.

"The trick is adding two packets," I told her. "Don't tell anyone though. It's my special secret."

She pushed back a few strands of her hair that came loose out of her ponytail.

"You're secret's safe with me." We sat and drank for a few silent moments before she spoke again looking down at her cup. I sort of wished she'd look up so I'd at least know what her eyes looked like. She was always looking down afraid.

"So how does this work exactly?"

"How does what work?" I asked confused.

"Me helping you guys."

"You know you don't have too. Forget what Jesse said. It's completely up to you if you want to help us."

She sat and thought about for a moment, considering.

"I want to. I have to, for my mother."

I only nodded. I didn't press on the subject. If anything else happened to this girl tonight upsetting her, I had a feeling she'd fall to the pieces. At least that's the way she looked.

Jesse's words from earlier came to mind.

'Do whatever you have to to keep close to her.'

I shook my head and pushed his words away.

"It involves you getting close to your family again."

It was only a brief hesitation before she said, "I can do that."

"That also means probably suffering whatever consequences your father has for you for running away."

"I know," she muttered looking down again.

This time it was my turn to pause. I wasn't sure about sending a girl who didn't ask to be apart of a crime family intentionally into a danger zone. Unlike Jesse I actually cared about what happened to our police aids.

"Okay. I want you to know though. You want be alone. I'll be behind you all the way. If you want it to stop just say the word and you're done."

She finally looked up with the biggest, dark brown eyes.

She nodded.

"So where do we begin?"