Read and Review... Thanks again to Aveline Archer.

CHAPTER SEVEN:

Goodbye.

"Are you sure you want to do it this way?" Ethan asked watching as Emma nervously bit her nails, nodding her head after confessing to the events that had led to this point. Ethan was surprisingly calm and understanding about the situation, listening quietly as she expressed her fears about losing her family and that she never truly planned to betray him. He promptly reassured her, and helped forge a delicate plan to get her out of this predicament.

"It's the only way I can see to end this without anyone getting hurt."

"Apart from you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." She remarked quietly, lowering her hands to her legs and grasped her kneecaps tightly through the thin material of her jeans. "You should understand that better than most."

"I do, but if you wanted a fresh start –"

She lightly shook her head, looking at her former mentor as he flashed her a feeble smile. "What would I do? I don't know how to be anything else but an agent…a killer."

"And you don't want the team involved?"

"No." Her sharp tone left no room for discussion. Too many lives were at risk as it was, and none of them would be lost during her watch.

"I'll leave you to make the call." Ethan gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze of support before he left the bedroom.

Her thoughts took over within the quiet surroundings, almost as if every day of the past month had been leading up to this point. Her relationships with Ethan and Benji practically resumed where they left off, but Jane's mistrust always lingered in the air – creating a tense environment whenever the two of them were together. She wouldn't be sorry to be shot of the competitive agent.

Emma ran a hand back through her hair, slumping upon the edge of the unmade bed as her thoughts finally fixated on Will. He wasn't exactly talking to her, but for the sake of the team he was civil – which was worse. She'd rather he shouted at her, at least then she had some idea what was going on in his head. Did he understand why she couldn't tell him about the baby? Did he blame her for everything? The anxious lump in her gut told her, she'd probably never know the answers to her questions and after this mess was cleaned up, they would go their separate ways again.

She pulled her cell phone out of her jacket pocket and dialled the familiar number that belonged to her blackmailer. She only waited a couple of seconds before the guff voice filtered through the line.

"You better have something of use for me Emma."

She swallowed hard and licked her dry lips, commanding every ounce of courage within her before replying, "I have a new proposition for you."

"We already have a deal!" He snapped. "Do I have to spill your family's blood before you'll realize I'm serious?"

"Of course not," she forced herself to smile and be charming, even though her insides squirmed.

"I know Ethan's plans for your brother."

"And?"

"And I want my family left alone!"

"That's not up for discussion –"

"You might have eyes on my family, but I also have eyes on your brother," she rose from the bed, walking to the window where she could easily see the intended targets the team had been following were having breakfast outside a local café. "All it would take is a pretty little bullet from my gun and the police will be mopping your brother's brains off the pavement."

There was sharp intake of breath at the other line and a genuine smile played upon her lips. Even after all these years, her words still worked in her favour.

"You lie!"

"Do I?" She chuckled.

"You've obviously read my file; you know what I'm capable of."

"Alright! What's your proposition?"

"Like I said, I want you to guarantee that my family will be left alone."

"And what do I get in return?"

"I will tell you Ethan's plan tomorrow, five o'clock at Genoa Port, if you are one second late I'm gone and so is your brother." She hung up and tossed the phone at the bed. Now came the worse part – the waiting and preparing for the meet but come tomorrow night, the tables would turn in her favour.

An abrupt knock on the door interrupted her train of thought and she watched as the door parted its frame revealing Will. He entered casting his blue eyes around the room as the door gently clicked back into place. "Is there something I should know?"

Emma frowned raising her shoulders with a shrug, "I don't think so –"

"What's going on between you and Ethan? You're always running off for a private chat," he nodded his head towards the bed and tangled state of the sheets. "If that's what you're doing." He added sourly causing Emma to roll her eyes.

"Is your opinion of me really that low?"

"Maybe –"

"Just because I'm not screwing you anymore doesn't mean I'm screwing everybody else!" She stalked over to the bed, snatching her phone and began packing her bag. If she didn't keep her hands busy, she knew her fists would end up connecting with his handsome features.

"I'm sorry Emma."

Her heart literally skipped a beat with his whisper, her gaze shifting over her shoulder to find him watching her cautiously. She dropped her bag and sat on the bed. "Don't be, I know these past few weeks haven't been easy."

"But there's something going on isn't there?" She nodded and he sighed loudly, crossing the room to sit beside her, stirring up their scents so they mixed together in ways they physically couldn't.

"And you won't tell me?"

"I can't, but it's something that I have to do." She glanced up at him through her dark lashes, admitting aloud the secret she'd kept in her heart for so long. "I love you."

The corners of his lips twitched as they were the words he'd always wanted to hear from her. "That sounds like goodbye..."

She didn't offer a reply so Will wrapped an arm round her shoulders, his fingers trailing along the smooth skin of her jaw forcing her to look at him. She covered the distance between them, her gaze shifting from the blue eyes she adored to his parted lips. She kissed him sweetly at first and then curled her arms round his neck, pressing herself against his warm body finding the comfort she craved in his embrace.

Their mouths parted and Will broke away, sliding off the bed to run his hands through his hair. Emma chewed on her bottom lip, savouring his taste as a handful of tears rolled down her face. Will stalked to the door throwing it open, but paused to look back at her as she hastily ran her fingers beneath her eyes. "For what it's worth Emma, I never stopped loving you."

He heard her choke on a sob and walked out, slamming the door behind him.