RPOV

Lissa shifted behind me, fear taking over. Fear, it's always fear.

Mikhail chuckled and stepped farther into the room.

"You know, I'm not sure if it's weird that you and the new guy, Dimitri, left town together."

"Why would it be weird? Abe assigned him to watch me and that's what he's doing," I lied. I don't know where this bout of courage came from all of sudden. Maybe it was me being tired of fear.

Mikhail looked doubtful, his expression not even shaken.

"Perhaps too closely."

"You're crazy," I said, holding Lissa behind me. I search for her shaking hand.

"No. Just cautious. Adrian called, saying something odd was going on with all of us out of town and I think he's right. I bet, neither of you thought about Adrian reporting back to Abe and Eric while we're away."

Honestly, no but he didn't need any more boost to broaden that smug smile.

"We? Us? You make it sound like you're as high up the food chain as Abe and Eric are. You're just their lap dog doing their dirty work," I said chuckling.

This bravery thing was getting a little easier.

Even with fear running an ice-cold finger down my back.

Mikhail's expression was unfazed.

"I'm a bit higher up than you, the nothing of a daughter. I'm more of a daughter than you are."

"No argument there," I muttered. " Daddy's girl."

"Defensive," he noted cocking a brow. "Scared Rose? As always?"

"Of you. Honestly, I used to be but now I see there's nothing to be afraid of. I have a hard time believing my father hired you as a bodyguard and even harder time believing you're man," I laughed.

Okay, maybe too much bravery…

"I can always prove you otherwise."

Yup, I definitely crossed a line. That didn't sound good.

"I'd rather you didn't show her anything," Lissa said speaking for the first time. "My father would like it."

"You're father wouldn't like it if I touched you but he'd tolerate it. Her father wouldn't give a damn. Never has."

He had me there.

I appreciated Lissa's effort nonetheless.

Now it was my turn to protect her.

"What do you want Mikhail?" I asked standing. I pulled Lissa up behind me and she clutch my arm the other clutching the back of my sweater.

He walked toward us. Lissa backed up until her back hit the wall and I crashed into her. He stood in front of us leering.

"I can show you rather than tell you," he said touching my cheek. I flinched away.

"I meant why are you here?"

"Haven't you seen the movies? This is the part, the rising conflict, where I confront the supposed "heroine" of the story."

"You sound like Victor," I noted.

"Well you know what they about geniuses."

"Yeah but what does that have to do with you two?"

The hit came quick right across the face.

Not a slap, but a full fist to my cheek.

Where was Dimitri's protection now?

"I'm growing a little sick of your banter. Normally I love it when you plan hard to get with me but I'm a little tired from that long drive from the Crappiest Place on earth."

"So you were following us."

"She notices at last. You know, it took you long enough. I wasn't even trying to be coy the last few times. A mobster daughter, you'd think she know better," he chuckled to him self. "I can't even tell you how exciting I'd thought it'd be to catch you and Russian boy, in a lie. I was excited when Adrian called before finding Lissa at some guy's house. What was his name? Christy?"

"Christina," Lissa corrected.

"Whatever. I thought it'd be fun. I'd find you two working for somebody else or reporting to the feds and then I'd report back to Abe and Eric and who even knows what they'd do to you and everyone would be happy. I would miss our little get togethers Rose but I'd get over it. I was bored out of my mind though when I found you two went to Disney Land! Really?"

"I'm sorry we didn't ask you first. Next time you spy on us, you pick the place."

"I'll be sure to pick something that is classified under the word exciting. You two did nothing that I can report back to the big guys upstairs. Maybe I'll tell them otherwise though."

"What do you mean?" Lissa asked, voice squeaking.

"I mean, who's to say, I didn't catch you two getting ready to runaway but not before going to a police station."

"You'd go as low as to lie? You're that desperate? Why?"

"Think about it Rose. You're a nuisance to Abe, a distraction. I love having you around when we're alone together but with you gone, Abe can focus at the work at hand and on giving me a raise. More money for him, more money for Eric, more money for me, everybody wins."

"Except us," Lissa squeaks.

"Don't be selfish. Besides, you can't blame me for whatever happens to you. Ambrose was assigned to watch you. He has the same idea. Now all we have to do is see how it plays out."

"Please don't," Lissa pleaded.

I wished she wouldn't beg or show weakness.

I couldn't blame her though. Bravery was starting to break down crying, on hands and knees, begging.

Mikhail lifted his face into a crooked smile.

He lifted a lock of her hair, reaching around me.

I was too afraid, suddenly, to move away from him or stop him.

"Give me one good reason not to," he proposed.

"Like what?"

How I wish she hadn't said that.

He averted his eyes upward, feigning thoughtfulness.

"Oh, I don't know. It could be anything from money for the silence of my lies to...sex."

The last word came at almost a growl.

Ewe.

I wasn't surprised.

I was surprised that Lissa was actually considering it though.

"If…if we give you anything you want, both you and Ambrose, you'll keep quiet, you won't tell any lies about us."

"Maybe."

"Why maybe?"

"It has to be good of course," he laughed clasping his hand before him. "Something good enough to get you both bumped off, taken care of. Hell, Ambrose and I can do the jobs our selves and tell your fathers that an one of their enemies did it. As a matter of fact, that'd be easier."

"You'd be starting a war though," Lissa said gripping my arm tighter. That was going to hurt tomorrow if I live so long.

"Yes wouldn't that be fun. It's not as exciting as it used to be just being on guard. With a war, there are better opportunities and chances that those above me are killed and I get moved up. More money."

"Always about money," she muttered.

"And power."

Mikhail sounded so much like Victor I'd have bet they're related. Did all criminals think this way?

"So do we have a deal?"

"Hell no," I said directly.

"Well, either way I have to do something for you two. For all I know you'll go running telling everyone how I was a rat and I was betraying them."

"We won't do that. They wont even believe us," Lissa convinced him.

"That's true. Want to rethink you're answer?"

"We'll do whatever you want," Lissa said before I could decline even less politely.

"Lissa!"

Mikhail smiled and laughed.

"Good. Ambrose is outside keeping watch. I'll call him in here and see what he thinks. Don't even think about trying to escape."

He moved swift but collected toward the door, pulling out his cell phone and holding it o his ear.

I turned to Lissa once the front door clicked shut and Mikhail's conversation was muffled. We could only hope he wasn't already breaking his side of the deal Lissa made.

"Are you insane or just stupid?"

"Neither but I'll take anything over my father thinking I betrayed him."

"Liss! What Mikhail and Ambrose do to us is going to be awful and you know it. It's not worth it. Come on, we're leaving. Do you still have that hidden door in the basement when you used to sneak out?"

Tears were building in her green eyes.

"Rose, no. I'm scared. Running will only make it worse. I shouldn't have listened to you or Christian. I was fine the way things were."

I gripped the upper part of her arms tight, pulling the skin, sure to leave my finger print marks.

"Lissa please!"

She only shook her head tried to push my arms away.

"No!"

"How do we know that after we give them what they want that they wont go back and report to Abe and Eric any ways?"

"We don't but it's worth a shot."

There was no convincing her. Once Lissa set her mind to something, there was no changing it.

"Do you have your phone?"

"It died after I called you. I forgot to charge it."

"Damn it Lissa! You're making it really hard to protect you."

"Then don't!"

Before I could say anymore the front door opened again and Ambrose and Mikhail came in. Both we over muscled, not easily blending in, and overly chiseled. To anyone who didn't know them and the things they did, they were good looking but to me they were death's little workers.

"Smart enough not to leave," Ambrose said take wide stride toward us.

Mikhail reached for me, taking me by the forearm pulling to away from Lissa. She didn't fight to hold on to me. I tried to force my self away from him but I was small compared to these two beasts. Ambrose had Lissa pinned to the wall, locking her in with his arms on either side of her face.

"Lissa!"

I shouted for her repeatedly until my voice was hoarse and I grew tired.

Mikhail had pulled me into a far corner of the room by then. He tossed me to the floor of the wall and feel on top of me, pinning me down.

"Get off," I tried to shout and shove.

My voice gave out thought and my arms were weak with effort.

I couldn't hear Lissa.

He leaned down on me, his mouth hard and rough against me, forceful.

Dimitri, Dimitri, Dimitri…

I tried to think repeatedly. The sound of his name usually calmed me in tense situations but I think I'd be better off if he were actually here.

Mikhail's cell phone vibrated and rang on low but he ignored it, trying to elbow the phone off on the side of his belt.

Mikhail grunted, my nails digging into his arms taking the chance, opportunity to getaway, still trying with small effort to get rid of him. He took a strong hold of my wrist twisting it in such a way that I yelp silently, I was sure it was broken or at least sprained. My arms were above my head, pinned.

With one hand Mikhail held my arms above me and the other he ran up the floral skirt I was wearing, feeling his way around underneath.

I flinched and twisted my body to get the feel of him away.

It only made his grip on my wrist tighten and his free hand tug at my skirt tearing it at the side, exposing a good level of my leg.

Mikhail reached for the front of his jeans pulling at the zipper.

He was about to reach under what was left of my skirt and pull my underwear down only there was a loud crash of the front door slamming open interrupting.

I thought of all of the terrible things that went on in my 'house' and some of the less terrible things that happened here. I thought of everything Lissa and I have gone through and wondered what else could possible happen tonight.

DPOV

It was déjà vu.

It felt like that very first day when I had reluctantly let Rose go off on her own. I'd had a bad feeling then and I had one now.

I trusted Rose and her instincts though. I let her go off into Lissa's and waited to make sure she got in safely.

If she could be safe here or anywhere for that matter.

I drove the few miles to Jesse's place; grateful for how conveniently close he lived to the Dragomir's. He probably did it for the case, I'd assumed.

I pulled my truck into his drive way and knocked on the door.

He wasn't a bit surprised by my arrival.

"I figured you'd deliver your report in person. Christian's supposed to come over here too."

I followed him in and sat at the counter.

"What's going on?"

I gave him complete details on what happened on Rose and I 'vacation' and what Lissa told Rose, leaving out the parts unimportant to the case. He didn't seem to notice any hole sin my story.

"I thought that they'd have someone checking up on you and Abe's daughter. I talked to Christian; suffering from a serious hang over I gave him a few days off. He says he hasn't really noticed any one watching him but that's probably because they're more focused on Lissa. I told Christian to keep an eye out though in case that Adrian sent anyone after him."

"You think he'd attack Christian?"

Jesse shook his head, sipping the beer he was drinking.

"What the hell do you think? Of course! Do you know the definition of criminal, suspicion, and jealousy and what happens when all of those words are tied up together?"

His sarcastic bout that irritated Christian and I to death.

I wasn't in the mood for if after the way my vacation ended.

Not to mention I couldn't help the warning feeling my gut was telling me about Rose.

"I think I should good back and pick up Rose."

"Check on Lissa while you're there too. We haven't heard from her in a few days."

"The loving care you show your undercovers is just amazing," I say sarcastically.

There's a knock at the door before Christian lets him self in.

He drags his feet to the counter toward us leans against the counters, resting on his elbows, as if it took all of the effort in the world to drive and walk over here.

"You look like you fell head first into a pot of hell," Jesse says finishing his beer.

"You charmer, you," Christian retorts. He sees me and forces a smile over nausea. "My partner is back. Long time no see."

"It's been three days Christian."

"Only? It feels like three years."

"Alcohol will do that too you," I note. "You stay and drink some very strong coffee. I'm gonna go and check on Rose and Lissa."

He nods on slightly and stares off at the mention of Lissa.

I grab my keys head to the door when Jesse's phone rings. He answers and that smug expression he's always wearing, an expression I've seen someplace before but cant put my finger on, changes from smug to irritated, to…worried?

"I didn't even think Jesse knew how to form that expression," Christian says, his face still in his hands.

"Neither did I."

"I told you not to do anything unless I said otherwise…that's the crappiest idea I've heard…this could ruin…no, don't hang up!" Jesse slammed his phone shut frustrated.

"You drive Belikov. Something's going down at Lissa's house."

I knew I shouldn't have left Rose alone. I had to keep my promise to her.

Christian suddenly sobers sitting up.

"What? How do you know?"

"I have a contact, something is happening there. Let's go."

We all climbed into my truck and I pulled out.

"Who's you're contact?" Christian asked from the backseat.

"Consider that a need to know question."

Christiana and I looked at one another in the rear view mirror while Jesse kept trying to redial the same number, no one picking up.

After a few minutes drive, halfway back to Lissa's, he called for back up.

"We're making a bust? This is going to blow the whole case, "Christian said when Jesse hung up.

"Not if we're careful," was all Jesse said.

Christian and I caught one another's eyes in the mirror again and then looked away, each of us hoping for the best.