A.N.: Used Line Breaks to divide my paragraphs as the spaces were not working properly.

CHAPTER 15:

"So, as you were saying…" James suddenly woke up. He was on the tiled floor of Jen's kitchen, towards the front door. It was now dark outside, and he could hear Jen and another man's voice talking in the living room. Then his memory flooded back to him from before he blacked out. He remembered putting up a fight of not letting Jen go out to find some guy and then she leaned in and kissed him and then it was black. James got up off the floor and headed to the living room. The man was sitting across from Jen. He had a thin muscular build, short brown hair and a dimpled chin.

"Jennifer?" He said unclearly.

"Ah, James, I see you finally…er…woke up. I'm sorry I had to do that, but you have to remember, that I make decisions on my own and well, you got in the way." Jen said apologetically. "Anyhow, James this is Cooper, Cooper this is James."

"Hello." Cooper held out his hand. James shook it and sat down next to Jen.

"So, Cooper here was just explaining to me that he knew who Vladimir Labuzov was. In fact…"

"I knew the people he worked for. They tried to kill me, my father, my mother, my sister…the list goes on."

"Why?" James asked.

"Why? Well I had some…er….connections and they turned sour. So, the Russian mafia wanted to get rid of me, Stalin style."

"Ah, so you're out to get back at them then?"

"See, it's only a few select members. I'm still buddies with lots of good ones."

"I understand. So, what are you specialised in? I mean…" James stammered.

"I'm a wheelman. I drive cars, I can steal them, and for the most part, I race."

"Oh…" Jen said.

"Prove it." James said, standing up.

"Now? James, are you sure? It's kind of late…" Jen asked.

"Yeah, it's all right Mui, I'm cool with it." Cooper replied. Jen shrugged to herself as the two men who didn't know each other left the apartment.

"Wow." Fiona said, catching her breath. "Wow."

"Mmm." Marcus mumbled in reply. "It's worth it, right? Worth not working with Mui?"

"Yes, so worth it." Fiona smiled. Marcus rolled over, twisting the white bed sheets around himself, leaned over, and gave Fiona another kiss.

"Well I should get going." Marcus said, getting out of Fiona's hotel bed. Fiona caught herself staring at him, and she averted her gaze.

"Do you have to go?" She whispered.

"Unfortunately, I do. There's a curfew at the apartment building; they don't let anyone in after two in the morning until five. Apparently, it's to prevent serial killers and rapists from getting in. It's nearly quarter after one, I should be safe."

"Fine." Fiona sighed longingly. "So when do you want to go…"

"Let's say Friday, all right?" Marcus replied, now fully dressed, waiting anxiously at the door to leave.

"Sounds…great." Fiona said with a grin. Marcus smiled back as he opened the door and let it close behind him. He waited until it clicked before he stood, waiting for the elevator. He hadn't felt this good about a relationship since Dakar and his fling with Mui. He felt, in a sense, renewed, like he was a new man, with all his pasts put behind him.

James and Cooper walked outside to the parking garage.

"All right James, pick a car."

"Huh?"

"Pick one, anyone will suffice."

"How about the little Peugeot in the corner?" James pointed.

"Good enough." Cooper said, fast approaching the little blue car. He dug around in the pockets of his jeans and fished out a little ring with several devices on it. He went to the driver's side, and carefully inserted a long wire overtop of where the window was. He pushed it down until it hit the unlock button. He then opened the door and sat himself inside. James looked around nervously. The engine then roared to life and James turned back round.

"That was easy." James was astonished that Cooper could break into a car so easily.

"That was nothing." Cooper said, killing the car engine, locking the doors and leaving it as it was before they had arrived. He kept walking farther down the garage until he spotted a nicer vehicle. It was an Aston Martin, similar to his own.

"Er…are you sure you can handle that one Cooper?"

"Yes." Cooper replied, pulling another little gadget out from his pocket. It looked like a regular car key remote.

"What's that?"

"Watch." Cooper replied, hitting a button. To James, nothing happened. Or so it seemed. Cooper then walked over to the car, and proceeded to pick the lock open without a car alarm going off.

"What did that thing do?"

"It's a mini EMP; it cuts out any electronics in a radius of 2.5 metres. Including car alarms." Cooper then pulled the door shut and stood next to James. "Did I pass your inspection sir?"

"Well, I definitely think you'll be of use to us. Sorry if I seemed a little er…distant or distrusting." James apologised. The two of them started walking quickly back to the apartment building.

"Nah, that's all right." Cooper replied, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Can I ask you something though?"
"Yes?" James looked to his right at Cooper.

"Why do you get to call Mui by her first name?" James took in a deep breath, hiding the smile that was sure to follow.

"We are…we're together…you know together-together…"

"Ah, I see." Cooper replied with a nod as the pair re-entered the elevator of the building. The elevator quickly went up to the top of the building. Suddenly, as the doors opened, they bumped into Marcus Dane getting off the other elevator.

"Bastard, watch where you're walking." Marcus muttered.

"I see that broken nose of yours healed up." James replied.

"I see you're not confined to a hospital bed any longer." Marcus hissed. James stood in front of the big man. This time, he could take him if he wanted easily, and Cooper was there to help if needed.

"And I'm still with Jen." James smirked. Marcus narrowed his eyes.

"Ah whatever, you wanker!" Marcus started to walk past James. James blocked his way.

"I'm a wanker eh? What? You think that just because I'm an American that I don't know what that means? Trust me, I know. Helps that I have a British girlfriend."

"Boy, you better shut up before I make you shut up!" Marcus growled.

"Boy? I'm as much of a man as you, in fact, more so, considering she chose me over you."

"Do you honestly think I'm still tied up about her? Really? I'm banging the Aussie girl I hope you know." Marcus argued with a smirk. James stood back, shaking his head at Marcus.

"What a mistake she's making." James muttered. Marcus' face turned into a scowl.

"Shove off." Marcus said, pushing James out of his way. Cooper and James waited until Marcus' door fell shut, the sound of the lock clicking echoed in the empty hallway.

"Um…who was that?" Cooper asked curiously.

"Marcus Dane…he used to know Jen and well…we got into a fight and he hates me and currently I hate him. And now, as he says, he's 'dating' Fiona, our tech support. And she chose that guy over working with us. So she moved out because Jen would never let Marcus anywhere near her or me. So Fiona left."

"Ah." Cooper replied.

"Yeah, anyway, don't bring it up to Jen, it's a touchy subject."

"I promise I won't."

"Good."