After midnight and Eyal shutting the car door, hurried into the hotel and to Annie. He couldn't believe the sudden urgency to see her and it was not his testosterone driving him.
Entering their room, Eyal found Annie curled in a chair, her hair a mess and she softly sobbing. At first he guessed it could be a reaction to the tetanus toxoid shot but quickly ruled it out, she was crying not burning up with fever. He's thinking changed; are there still lingering issues from their Washington trip and wasn't sure how he could help. Coming face to face with the reality she could never go back or she would be tried for treason had to be eating at her very soul.
For several years, after his wife had left, Eyal had become a master of keeping his own emotions in check and now seeing Annie trying to work through her was upsetting to him. He was never a person to offer sympathy or have empathy, that was Annie's expertise but now he had to dig deep within himself to provide help - a quick prayer for wisdom and guidance. Keeling by her side, he tenderly pulled her hair away for her face. She was hurting emotionally for some reason or was it the same, the death of Annie Walker forever. She looked at him, a tear sliding down her cheek as she tried to smile. To give him a poor attempt at convincing him she was alright.
"I'm sorry Eyal."
"Don't be Neshema. Anything you want to talk about." His voice was low and calm almost bordering on how he sounded just before pulling that deadly trigger, but that wasn't his intention. The night in Washington with her uncontrollable tears on his chest he knew what to do - let her cry it out but now, oh but now he was so confused.
Annie shaking her head no but Eyal wouldn't accept the refusal and with more tender encouragement from him and a short time of reflecting on her reasons for crying, she uttered with broken words, "Danielle, I'm missing my sister and..."
"You want to see her. You know that is so dangerous..." Eyal had to break off this thoughts about being dangerous as he was about to say no to Annie, you can't go to see Danielle. Saying no to Annie would only make her more determined - she is headstrong and when she would get an idea nothing was going to stop her.
Annie lifting her head to look at Eyal, "That's not all Eyal." Searching his eyes for the strength to tell him the other reason, the reason she felt so damn insecure.
"What may I ask is that? Is it me, you still unsure of me?"
"Maybe a little. I know what you said but..."
"You had many promises made to you before that were not kept, I understand. Tell you what Neshema. We can go to California and see Danielle but only her. If you just want to see from a distance if she is okay we can do that or if you need some sister on sister time, we can do that also."
"You'll come with me?" Tears were drying as Annie felt Eyal sincerely cared for her feelings, part of his mystical covering being pulled away for her to see a demonstrative man. That he was not saying the words she wanted to hear but he was stripping away some of his protective layer and actually caring about her and the concerns she was trying to deal with.
Kneeling on the floor in front of her was a man willing to give of himself to her, to do for her what no other wanted or was willing to do, go that extra mile just for her. Was being selfish in asking too much of Eyal, no she wasn't asking anything, he was there on bending knee giving freely. She could see behind those dark eyes a changing, slowly allowing another person into his castle of protection. Nothing was going to happen overnight but it was happening and for Annie was she ready to accept the responsibility of truly loving this man with all her heart and soul? She wasn't completely sure as she had her own problems to work through.
"Of course." Eyal taking Annie's hand in his, he was about to do the very thing he had vowed he would never do again, make a commitment. "As for me Neshema, I have very strong and deep feelings for you and will always be there for you, that is my promise - will always be there for you. I truly wish with all my heart and soul I could say I'm in love with you, but I can't - not now." Sadness seems to inch ever so slowly into his eyes, he sighed, not wanting to hurt Annie but he would never lie to her - never.
Annie reached for Eyal's face and placed a tender kiss on his lips. She pulled back a little to gauge his reaction. Leaning in to deepen the kiss, she was relieved to find that he was receptive. Taking advantage of his submission, she stroked his lips demanding entry to his mouth. He surrendered to her, sharing the kiss both had craved. Annie's arms went up to clasp around Eyal's neck.
Gently, she put a halt to their kisses, Annie caressed his face. "It doesn't have to be a grand love affair, Eyal." She stated. "Sometimes people just want company, someone to pass the time with for a while. Someone to trust as we trust each other. A relationship doesn't have to be a lifetime commitment to have value."
She kissed him softly one more time then started to get up. "We are both grown and know the score." She stared emotively at him. "I don't want to make any demands on you...When . . . if you're ready..." She faintly added walking into the bathroom to take a hot soothing bath. Her nerves on edge, what was going to be his reaction, had she made a mistake? As soon as she closed the door, she heard Eyal also close the door leading to the hallway. She wasn't sure how he had taken the no commitment speech she was about ready to give him but stopped short. Eyal wasn't the type to be tied down and she couldn't push him, only be grateful for his attention in her. Watching the hot water run into the tub, soothing water to covering her hurting body, both muscles and emotional hurt, Annie wishing she had added more but can't think of what else.
Eyal standing in the hall, a bit confused by what Annie had just said. She had been the one to put into words what he had felt. Oh he is passionate about her but a little tension had grown between them, not one easily identified but was there. Perhaps both frightened to take their budding romance to the next level, a level of loving commitment - a level of being a couple, exclusive of all others. He walked to the hotel bar and took a long look at several lonely men sitting on bar stools all drinking without any companionship. How many times had he spent those kinds of nights, silently drinking in some bar and being very much alone. It hadn't bothered him before, fact he enjoyed the solitude but now, things were different - he decided.
She'd just lowered herself into her tub relaxing and was finally able to let her guard down. She had said enough. Leaning back she closed her eyes, only for them to pop open when her phone chimes informing her that she has a text message.
'Been thinking about what you said. Will you let me in? E.'
Jumping from her relaxing bath and wrapping a towel around her, Annie hastily opens the door to find Eyal standing in the middle of their room holding his cell phone. He walked to her, cupping her face in his powerful yet graceful hands, "Please by dear one, stay with me and in time and it will take time for the stone wall I've built around my heart to crack and crumble. You have come to be closer to me than anyone in the past ten years. Believe me my dear sweet Annie, you are very much part of my life and that is something I never imagined would happen yet again."
Annie leaning over to kiss Eyal, "Thank you for being so honest with me. That is what I needed, to know just where I stood in your life because I wasn't sure before and the uncertainty frighten the hell out me. You asked for me to stay with you, yes Eyal I'll stay. You also have wormed your way into my life and I need you there. I'm not the strong person as you, I need to belong. As you know I have some issues to work through and want you with me, to guide me and we together will know when if it is right for us or not. Hope I'm saying it right and not sounding selfish or possessive."
"You are saying it fine Annie, maybe used another word other than wormed." A half grin and wink made Annie chuckle lightly.
"You are better at expressing yourself than I am." Annie touching the side of his neck, her eyes reflecting the insight of the enormous hurt Eyal must have gone through with his wife leaving him, taking their son with her. What she didn't realize was the profound heartache also endured with the death of his sister Sarah and for that reason he can identify with her compelling need to see Danielle, putting aside the risk she would be running.
"Being open is the first step in building a sound foundation for our relationship and we should from this day on promise to be sincere and straightforward with one another." Eyal pulling her towel from around her dripping wet body onto him and the floor. There on the hard floor, they welcomed each other's passion to seal a promise and keep moving their new adoring relationship forward. All of Annie's doubts had vanished and she was ready to move on with her new life and it included Eyal Lavin and building a loving, trusting and lasting relationship.
Joan playing with the straw stuck in her Frosty Roast Frozen Coffee and eyeing the dessert menu, maybe she could afford a slice of apple pie, her reasoning - apples are healthy and so what if it meant running that extra block to ridded herself of the calories. This is what happen when she is bored and waiting on someone.
"That looks good, what is it?"
"Something new on the menu a Frosty Roast Frozen Coffee and it is good. Hi Vincent and you are a bit late."
"And look at who is fussing about being late. As I remember you kept me waiting for nearly an hour." Vincent Rossabi sliding in the booth across the table from Joan Campbell. For another hush-hush meeting between the two.
"Blame it on the Washington's traffic. You have some news for me?"
Looking at the waitress Vincent pointing to Joan's drink, "I'll have one of those and a slice of apple pie."
"Make that two. I'll have a piece of pie also." Joan couldn't help the temptation.
"How are things around Langley, been up to a little covert state side missions lately?"
"What are you talking about?"
"A very dead Sebastian Tombs, a profession hit and when I say profession I mean a top drawer job. Last night in New York or I should say Brooklyn in the warehouse district. He was identified by the FBI as one of the people in Florida and part of Lexington Global."
Joan gave a slight sneer and tiled her head to one side, "An invitation from Landric Von Friedric-Kristiansen could be hazardous to your health. Tell me about the hit."
"Like I said, a professional hit, shot from a roof top and hitting Tombs between the eyes. Found a sniper rifle on the roof, a Savage Model 12F/TR .038 cartridge rifle with night scope and laser pointer, the weapon of choice by the Delta Force. Haven't be able to trace it yet, one of those phantom guns." Vincent nodding a thank you to the waitress as she placed the apple pie in front of him.
"Nice choice in the rifle and you will possibly never find the true owner."
"I'm sure you are right. Anyway, there in the same van with Tombs was a dead body, that of a high ranking member of the Russian mob. Looks like Tombs may have shot him twice and taking the dead felon out for a midnight swim in the East River."
Joan didn't have any remark but enjoying her slice of apple pie - oh it was sooooo good.
Vincent went on, "Also Joan, I'm sure you have heard the news report of Diego Fajardo with his body guards being gunned down outside of Mexico City Benito Juarez airport. Another professional job."
"Yeah, I heard about it. Good riddance."
"Diego Fajardo was also in Florida at Von Friedric-Kristiansen's little shindig. That man joined Lexington three years ago."
"Interesting." Joan remembering something Auggie had said the previous day about calling in a huge favor when they were talking about Lexington Global.
"Now you are being patronizing. Believe you know something about that hit."
"I may but not the details and I'm not going to ask. Think about it Vincent, first to go down in London was Dolph Branstrom a Swedish jeweler and part of the Lexington group. Now two more eliminated, what does that tell you."
"No need for me to guess because I can pretty much speculate. A little spy in the cold with some help of a tall dark friend."
"Make it some help from two friends." Joan finishing her frozen coffee.
"Still many more to go and if our spooks need help or an added friend, throw my name in the pot."
"Thanks for the offer Vincent but I'm not in touch with them. Sorry."
"Yeah, I bet you're not in touch."
Opening her eyes to the beams of sun light slowing raising in the east over the harbor and looking beyond to the River Great Ouse, Annie once more resting beside Eyal, her back against his chest she could feel the rise and fall of his breathing as he slept, giving her reassurance of his presence. Watching the slow ascent of the sun on a new day, she too felt a different sense, a new sense of being free from any lasting bonds that had bound her to her once American life. That part of her life was finished and now she was ready to start fresh and in her mind no longer trying to hide her identity - she was Nicole Remy, French citizen and it frighten her. She was casting her lot with Eyal Lavin and what frighten her the most, was he still going to be there when this mission was complete or vanished into the wind until there where was another calamity. He would be there to help her when needed but what about other times, the serene times when no intel had to gathered or an asset rescued, and on and on for the damn spy stuff. She pulled his arm that was loosely draped over her side up close to her chest, she needed the comfort of his being, the one person that was connect to her both past and present and optimistically her future. He had made a promise but she still a little dubious and only time would wash away any lingering doubts.
They had landed in London from New York the day before, grabbed a few clothes and Eyal's Jaguar and driven north to Kings Lynn and a secluded seventeenth century inn on mouth of the River Great Ouse and The Wash. They wanted an out of the way place for some recouping and planning. Assassinations, drug deals, armament sales, diamond smuggling and their surreptitious mission all were coupled together with Lexington Global at the root of evil. Carefully they were eliminating the king pins and dealers to cut the flow of illegal trade and break Lexington Global's European back bone.
With the steady wind blowing off the North Sea across The Wash it felt more like fall and not spring time. Annie sliding out of bed trying not to disturb the peaceful sleeping Eyal, she headed to the bathroom for a shower. Eyal grunted and made a slight movement but continued his restful sleep. Most of the time he was a light sleeper, leery of his surroundings but when he felt safe, well that is when he fell into his deep well deserve slumber.
When she returned to the bedroom, Eyal was sitting up in bed with his laptop open, studying something on the screen. Looking at Annie wrapped only in a towel, his face lit up like the fireworks on the 4th of July, "Good morning Neshema."
"Hey, I thought you might have joined me in the shower."
"The door was closed so instead of being the lustful wolf I decided on a more considered self and give you some privacy."
"Thank you." Annie went about dressing, panties, bra, jeans and cotton sweater all the while Eyal watching.
"You are a beautiful woman Annie." His tone was not his lustful sexy low voice but one of loving sweetness.
"Don't you think you should be calling me Nicole... Annie Walker is no more."
"Come sit by me." Eyal closing his laptop and patting the bed next to him, "To me you will always be Annie - my Neshema but if you want me to call you Nicole I shall."
Her eyes watching his compassionate face and gentle eyes, his knowing her emotions and maybe now she should talk about her fear but the words wouldn't come. "I don't know, Nicole still doesn't seem real yet."
"What happen in Washington is hard to comprehend and emotionally difficult to work thru. I can only imagine all the feelings because I've never been there. I was deep cover but never went totally dark, I was able to come home again." Eyal putting his hand softly on her leg, "I'm here for you. Your shoulder to cry on, your buddy to drink with until numbly drunk, your punching bag when anger takes hold and your lover when you want the arms of passion and comfort and of course someone you can talk with and be understanding."
Annie touching his face, burning into her memory the empathy express across his kind face, "Eyal I do need you but my fear...I'm fearful of the future, the time after this mission is finished..."
"And if I'll still be there for you."
"You know my thoughts before I can muster the courage to express them. Yes Eyal, that is precisely my fear."
"Annie I will be there for as long as you will allow me. I promise you I will not vanish into the wind, you have my word." He brushing damp hair from her face and place a tender kiss on her forehead, "After this mission well take a holiday and enjoy getting to know each other, our true selves."
"I would like that." She kissing the side of his scrubby face, "Time to get dress handsome, we have a mission to work."
The stroll up the hill from The Golden Serpent Tavern was chill biting, the wind picking up the cool air sweeping off the water and cutting thru the twosome as they walked. "South Africa is nice this time of year."
"So is Florida and many other places I can think of."
"So starting thinking where you want to spend your holiday."
"It's my choice?"
"Yep, your choice." Eyal gave her a light hug.