CHAPTER 17:

"So, Marcus, where are we off to tonight?" Fiona asked as she sat down in the passenger seat of his car.

"I wasn't too sure, but I was thinking dinner and a movie of sorts?"

"Great." Fiona smiled. "Let's see, what about the new Avatar movie? You know, the second on in the trilogy?"

"Sounds good." Marcus replied, putting the car into gear. He started driving towards the nearest movie theatre with a restaurant close by. "So, have you spoken to Mui at all?"

"No and I'd prefer not to. Although, she tries to keep contacting me, I just need space away from her."

"I believe I've turned you to the dark side…"

"Ha! Well, yes, in a way, you have."

"You are here with me, that's all that matters." Marcus said, pulling into a parking lot. Fiona smiled as he pulled into an empty space and put the car into park, turning off the engine and putting the keys into his pocket. He put on the parking brake and looked over at Fiona. She leaned towards him, staring into his blue eyes. She closed her eyes at the very last second before their lips touched. Suddenly, both front doors were opened and Fiona felt herself being grabbed and pulled out.

"HEY! Help! Someone help me!" She screamed.

"Be quiet and we won't kill you." A man's deep voice mumbled. He had a thick Russian accent. Fiona fell silent. "Now, both of you walk with us like we are all going out to dinner together." Fiona and Marcus began walking in between a group of five men. Fiona felt sweat building up on the back of her neck and on her temples. They followed the guy who seemed to be in charge. He was dressed up in a dark coat with a matching hat on his head. The others were similarly dressed. They kept walking until they entered a pub. They were led to a booth and Fiona and Marcus sat across from each other. They were surrounded by the wall on the one side and two guys on the other. Marcus and Fiona were trapped.

"All right Mr. Dane, we understand we have made a slight mistake. Labuzov did not realise that there was no balcony beneath the window. He had been trained in many ways of escape. If necessary, jumping out windows was an option, as long as there was something to catch him. In this case, there wasn't." Fiona had a sudden realisation that hit her like a train

"Right...er..." Marcus was feeling hot under the collar.

"Now as far as we know, she is still alive. Would like us to send in another hit man?"

"Um…" Marcus glanced over at Fiona. Fiona was in complete shock. She felt sick to her stomach and she felt like her heart was in her throat. Fiona was mad at Jen, yes, but she could never hate Jen so much that she would go out and hire a hit man to kill her. Fiona looked Marcus dead in the eyes, daring him to say yes.

"Well, Mister Dane?" The head honcho looked down from the head of the table at Marcus.

"Listen, I need some time to think about this."

"DAMN RIGHT YOU DO!" Fiona shouted, as she rose up from her seat, throwing her glass of water at him.

"Hey! HEY! Keep it down lady." One of the mobsters beside her made her take her seat again.

"Let me go, I had no idea about any of this. Nor did I know that YOU were the one who was trying to have my best friend killed!" The two men beside Fiona quickly got out of their seats and allowed Fiona to leave.

"Listen guys, I'll…meet me at my place in an hour, all right?" Marcus said edgily.

"Fine. Take control of your woman eh?"

"Right." Marcus said briefly. The Russians allowed him to leave. Marcus began running after Fiona.

Fiona had not gotten very far when Marcus and his long stride caught up.

"Fiona! Stop, please!"

"You BASTARD! Get away from me!" Marcus reached forward and grabbed her around her shoulders.

"You wouldn't understand, it's difficult!"

"How could trying to murder my best friend be difficult to understand?" Fiona tried pulling away out of his hands, but before she knew it, a fist made contact with her head over and over again, and shortly afterwards, Fiona blacked out.

"Well, I haven't had any more hits on Labuzov since Fiona left." Jen said to James and Cooper from across the table. She sighed at her laptop, closing the top.

"If it's any compensation, I think I can point out the guys who hired them if I saw them." Cooper said, trying to help.

"If we see them, they'll be trying to kill us." James inputted, taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"He's right Cooper." Jen sipped on her beer. She wasn't a big drinker, but because of her worries about Fiona, she decided she needed something to calm her down. "I'm still worried about Fiona. I know Marcus is probably up to something. I know it."