Chapter 17

Two weeks had passed since our escape from Abstergo, our run to New York, then us being scattered to the four winds. Desmond, Shaun and Rebecca stayed in New York with William Miles, while Ezio and Jenna went on to find another piece of Eden. Altair and I made our way, on ground, to Los Angeles. The City of Angels. Yeah right, the city of thugs, heathens and all around crooks. The sad thing is, I called it home. Owned a high rise condo that overlooked the whole city. It was nice for the time being, but I was getting close to moving on. I think when this shit is over, I am going back to Montana, and staying with my horses. To hell with the humans. They just made my head hurt most of the time.

We had a stop off in the great Sin City, Las Vegas. Bright lights, noise, and personality. I loved this town. It was fun. Altair, on the other hand, seemed to hate fun. He slumped in the passenger seat, black shades over his eyes.

"Why did we have to come here?" He looked out the window of the car.

"Chill out, sour puss. One of my old contacts are here. He might have some info on this leak, and who is behind this." I pulled up to the red light, "You need to relax. I think I will get you a massage while we are here."

I heard him grumble from the seat as he sunk lower, pouting like a small child. I chuckled and took off when then light turned green. We were back on better terms with each other. He apologized for the words spoken at Monteriggioni. I forgave him, but told him I was still pissed that he would say something like that. Then threatened to hurt him if he glared at Desmond one more time for talking to me. I was not his, and he would just have to suck it up. That pissed him off, but I didn't care. I really, really wanted Ezio to come on this little trip, but Altair and Jenna would have killed each other. Well, he would have killed her, then Ezio would have beat him to a bloody pulp. He seemed to have taking a liking to the blond.

"Are we staying here the night, or moving on?" He spoke up.

"I thought you didn't want to talk to me." I glanced at him for a moment.

"I just have to piss and want a shower. Two days in this damn car, and I am going stir crazy." He sat up straighter.

"I think we will stay the night." Looking at the time, it was quarter til six. Darius would not be at work for another two and a half hours. "I could use the shower as well."

The rest of our drive was done in silence. Looking around, I settled on one of the smaller casinos and hotels. I had not brought a bunch of cash with me, but I could get more at any time. I knew he was the same way.

Twenty minutes later, we were in our room, getting everything together for tonight. "You want the first shower?" He sat down and pulled off his boots.

"You can. I want to go shopping first. I have nothing to wear on a night out in Vegas." I frowned at the small bag I had with me. "Need anything?"

I hated unscheduled side trips. I never brought what I needed. I was just glad we were in Vegas, and they had everything here. I smiled at the possibilities.

"No, but do not go on a shopping spree. Get what you need for tonight and that's it."

I turned and looked at him, horrified at what he just said. "Just the basics? Are you kidding?"

He stood and took off his shirt. "Alanna, does it look like I'm kidding? I am not going to have a bunch of clothes taking up the trunk when I can use that space for the weapons I need to get to take down the Templars and anyone else gunning for our heads. Please learn to prioritize."

I sighed. "Fine, no more than I need and no fewer than to look my best and blend in. You need something to. Jeans and t-shirts are not going to get you anywhere in Vegas."

"No." He walked into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Spoilsport. I smiled at the door. The man really had no sense of humor most of the time. He needed to lighten up, and after my meeting, I was going to get him to do just that. I grinned wickedly at all the possibilities.

*/*/*/*/*

It only took me an hour to find everything that I needed for a night out in Vegas. Really it was just a meeting with one of my old contacts, but that was okay. I still had to go to one of the fanciest hotels on the strip to meet with him.

Walking back into the room, I sat my stuff on the bed and looked at Altair lounging on the bed. "I see you are comfortable."

"Very, now move your stuff. It's in my way."

I looked at the TV. "A football game? You are so worried about a football game?"

He grinned. "What? I'm a guy. That's what we worry about. That and what goes on between the sheets."

"You are an ass." I glared at him, but pulled my bags off the bed. "I am going to shower. Stay out of my stuff."

"Have no fear on that. I do not like looking at clothes. Jeans and t-shirts are just fine with me." He turned back to the television, ignoring me for a bunch of guys running around with a ball made of leather, tackling each other. So not my sport.

I grabbed some shorts and a shirt, then underclothes, and hurried in for a quick shower. I never took long. My hair was still shoulder length, so it to took no time to wash and condition. I think I was in there ten minutes. Shorter than Altair, who most of the time took twenty minutes in the shower. I never could figure that out.

Throwing on my clothes, I walked out into the room to see him dozing off. Leave him alone for a few minutes in front of a TV and he goes to sleep. I grinned evilly. I knew he had no weapons on him, so I was safe. Taking a small run, I leaped up onto the bed and landed on him, laughing the whole time.

He flipped me off of him and pinned me to the mattress. "You are crazy. You know that? I was starting to have a nice dream and you had to jump on me?"

I chuckled at him. "Yes I did. I have had to deal with you in a car for nearly a week. You have been grumpy, pissy and just a pain in the ass. You need to lighten up. So we have people chasing our asses all over this country, and have been shot at twice. We are in Vegas and I will get you to smile. So, suck it up and get over it, you hateful ass."

He glared down at me, but I could see something in his eyes. I was pushing the boundaries between us again, but here I was, stuck with him in a hotel room and in a small car, and had feeling for him still. I was a sucker for him and knew it.

I decided to throw caution to the wind. I was going to regret it later, but ah, fuck it. I leaned up and kissed him. That wiped the pissed look off his face and replaced it with shock. Then I flipped him. He landed with a grunt and I pinned his arms next to him with my legs. "Being on bottom sucks, doesn't it?"

"Get off me, Alanna, or so help me, you will not like the outcome." He struggled against my hold, but I would not budge.

I smiled at him. He glared at me. "You are an asshole. I can not stress that enough, but I accept that. You have been since I have known you, and that will never change. We have a few unresolved issues between us, and now that I have your undivided attention, we can work them out."

He just shook his head. "You really think you can hold me here. You have lost your mind." With that, his whole mid-section came off the bed, and bucked me sideways. I landed next to him, and he had me pinned once more. "See? Told you."

Now it was my turn to glare. "Okay, you made your point, now get off of me." I squirmed underneath his weight, but it was like trying to move a mountain. He had me by at least 75 pounds.

"You are now going to listen to me. I will not play with you. It only ends badly for the both of us. We have to meet that contact of yours in a hour or so. I am going to let you up, and you are going to get dressed. Then, we are going to meet him. Sound good to you?" He leaned over me, and I could feel his warm breath on my skin.

No, I was not going down that path. I would not go there right now. "Fine, get the fuck off of me." He let me up. I sat up on the bed. "You take everything too seriously. I was just trying to play with you. Now I know why no one wants to talk to you. You're an ass."

I stood up, grabbed my clothes and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door for good measure. To hell with him. I just wanted to mess with him, but he took everything to serious. Fine. Two could play at that game.

In record time for me, I got dressed, did my hair, makeup and walked out of the bathroom. He went to stand up. "You are staying here. I can handle this on my own."

"I don't think so. We have too many people hunting for us. We go as a team." He grabbed his wallet.

"No, we are not a team. A team talks to each other and occasionally jokes with each other. We are nothing. I do not need a team, or a partner. You stay here and watch your damn football game. I can handle this on my own." I glared at him and grabbed my purse off the dresser. I headed for the door when he grabbed my arm. "Let go."

"You are not doing this solo, Alanna. Someone has to watch your back and that someone is me. Like it or not, we are stuck with each other." He pulled me in front of him.

I went to go slap him, but he caught my wrist. "You're right. I don't like it. I don't like you. Get the fuck off of me, I am leaving."

"No, you're not. Not without me, and you try to slap me one more time, I am going to handcuff you to the bed and do this by myself. Then to keep you silent, I will duct tape that big mouth of yours shut. Understand?" He looked me in the eye.

I could tell he was pissed, but I was just like him when I was as well. We were both hot headed and high tempered. Not a good combination when we were pissed at each other. Things usually ended badly. For the both of us. "Fine, but after this, I go my way and you go yours. I don't need, or want you watching my back. I am a big girl and can do that on my own."

He released me, and I took a step away from him. "You need me, just as much as I need you. Face it, we are stuck with each other."

I laughed. A hurt, pissed off laugh. "I am not stuck with you. I will just get Desmond down here. He may be untrained, but he is better company than you. I would love to have him at my back than you. At least I wouldn't be sitting in silence all the time." Turning on my heels, I grabbed the door handle and walked out, with him right behind me.

The casino we were heading to was only two blocks down. I had walked farther in higher heels, but not in some time. I knew I would regret it later, but the pain would take my mind off other things. And here I thought we were getting along so well in Florence. We even had lunch together, without fighting, in a wonderful bistro in the city. I guess it was just a fluke.

"Alanna..." Altair reached for my hand, but I took a step to my left.

"Don't. I don't even want to be around you right now. We will act like the loving couple when we get there, but it will be for this meeting, nothing more." I held my head high. At least with the heels on, I was only like two inches shorter than him instead of the usual five. Five just seemed to be our number. Five years between our mortal ages, five inches apart and five minutes before our next fight most likely.

I didn't even turn to look at him. I just kept walking. I walked into the casino with him next to me. I then let him take my hand, and slid into my role as a loving girlfriend. If only. I wanted nothing more than to punch him in his smiling face, but I refrained.

We ordered a drink and walked around a bit. Finding a slot machine near Darius' blackjack table, I watched the room. His shift was in fifteen minutes. If anyone knew what the hell was going on, it was my old boss' snitch. Well, he was my snitch. Sebastian just used him when he could.

"So, when should he get here?" Altair sipped his Jim Beam, while I inserted a twenty into the machine. I was not a gambler, but I had to look busy.

"Shift change is at nine. We still have at least fifteen minutes. He is a young man with brown hair and blue eyes. Well build and walks like he is God's gift to women. Just picture Ezio in his teens. That would be Darius." I hit the spin button on the machine.

He sat down in the chair next to me. "So, how are you going to get him alone?"

I smiled as I pressed the machine again. "That's the nice part. I don't. Everything is done through code. We have been doing this for years."

The machine signaled that I had won something. It was only fifty bucks, but enough to make me smile. I just kept playing, while scanning the room. By the time Darius made it to his table, I was up by two hundred. Not bad for me. Normally I was out two hundred and what I paid for a few drinks.

"Your boy is here." He placed his hand on my thigh, and I gritted my teeth.

I hit the button one more time, won nothing and stood up. I headed for the table. Darius saw me sit down and his eyes widened a bit. He knew something. Altair sat next to me. Placing our bets, he dealt the cards. "Good to see you are in one piece. Sebastian said he was going to kill you."

Altair looked at me. "Thought you talked in code?"

"When other people are here I do. You must be Allen. They are gunning for you too." He showed his hand and I beat him.

He dealt another hand. "I am not that easy to get rid of. Just ask my bounties." Altair went bust.

I signaled for him to hit me. "What has been going on?"

Laying a card on the table, he looked around the room. "They are everywhere, but some do not want to take you out. They know what Sebastian has become. They want you to take him out for them. That is why they call you 'el cazador de la noche.'"

I shook my head. "I always hated that name. Where is the snake hiding these days?"

"He is underground in Los Angeles. You would have to go and start a fight to get him to come out." Another hand was dealt.

I smiled wickedly at him. "Or you tell him I visited you. That will get him to come out."

Darius shook his head. "You play a dangerous game, Alanna. I could tell him and it drive him farther underground. He already fears you as it is. If he knows you lived through his attack, he will not like that."

"Then let the snake hide. I will find him in time." I laid my hand out on the table. The house won.

"It also could get him to come here for you. This is not your turf. The Templars own this town. He knows that. You are taking a big risk in coming here." He shuffled the cards.

"I will take my chances. Now, what do you think he will do? Come here or hide?" I opened my purse and threw a few twenties down.

"He will come here. I will make sure of it." He scooped up the money and put it in his tip jar.

"Thank you for the game. It was a delight." I stood and walked away, holding Altair's hand.

When we made it out front, I breathed easier. "We have at least two days before he gets here. He will not come unarmed and without a small army. They know we have the Apple. Well, they think we have it. We need firepower and a lot of it."
He grinned. "Well, good thing I have contacts that deliver. I am a bounty hunter after all. I am licensed in most states and Nevada is one state I am."

I returned the grin. "I have a great idea. You get the guns, I will get the alcohol and we will celebrate our upcoming victory. We had better call Ezio and get them here. I think this may be bigger than us."

He rolled his eyes. "If you think that's the best way."

I headed back to the hotel with him at my side. "I do. I mean, we need all the help we can get. I don't know how many men he will bring. I am not about to take on an army with just the two of us."

"Alright." He hung his head and sighed. "You call him though."

I smiled. "You got it. Now, go make your call and I am going to make mine and get our early victory rounds"

el cazador de la noche – the night hunter.

I keep forgetting to put some of the translations in here. If you have a question about something, just let me know. And to everyone that has shot me a review, you are awesome and I smile at every new one. I will keep writing and hopefully I don't fall over from lack of sleep. I should be in bed right now. I have work in one hour and forty five minutes. Its 3:15 am where I am at. Luckily it's a short day. Only 4 hours. Til next time.