"It's time", Rose remembered Abe declare before they went into battle.
She and Christian took their positions on the manor roof with high powered semi automatic sniper rifles built for long range accuracy. When the time occurred, Rose and Christian were to lay down cover for Abe, Pavel and Dimitri.
The only reason Rose and Dimitri were on board with the plan was their lack of options. Rose didn't want to be apart from Dimitri. But Abe needed an additional guard and neither he nor Dimitri would have Rose on the ground with them. Dimitri didn't want Rose anywhere near the battle, he wanted Rose safety on the sidelines with Lissa. Rose on the rooftop was a compromise on both their parts. Rose was fairly safe on the rooftop and she still had eyes on everything that was happening and provide cover when needed.
But that wasn't enough. They all knew that in this battle, it was all hands on deck. Before the meeting with Lazar, Pavel escorted Lissa to the underground garage which was located beneath the foyer. When the time was right she was to drive up and around the manor to aid Abe, Dimitri and Pavel in their escape, should the occasion call for it. Christian agreed because that armored impenetrable SUV was the most secure place Lissa could be on the compound.
Even Alberta was preparing for the fight. She too manned a high powered rifle from the second story window, hidden behind the thick curtains. It seemed the life she had before working for Abe as the head maid and caretaker of his estate, Alberta lead a very different life. But that's another story all together.
Rose watched from her vantage point as her father and the love of her life strode up to the most evil and vile human being on the planet. She watched as the situation got more heated between Lazar and her father. She wasn't much of a believer and never prayed in her life, but right then she was praying that there was something up there listening, who would watch over her family.
The coms were still down but they all discussed the cues they would be taking from each other. Rose and Christian were looking for Abe's signal to take out the guards when the Turkish mobster threw a punch in Lazar's face. Cue or not, Rose and Christian shot Lazar's guards knowing full well that all hell was about to break loose. All they needed to do was give the agency a little more time to get there. But a lot can happen in a very short time in a gun fight.
As soon as Avery pulled a gun on her father, Rose took her out, knowing that Chris would take care of Reed who pulled his gun on Dimitri.
When the actual the shots started firing, Lissa drove like a maniac towards Abe, Dimitri and Pavel. Rose, Christian and Alberta continued to fire at Lazar's charging men. From where she sat, Rose could clearly see Lissa's approach, Abe and Pavel getting into the SUV, and then Dimitri collapsing.
He's not dead. He's not dead. He's not dead. Rose chanted to herself. She wouldn't let herself entertain the idea that something bad happened to Dimitri. If she dwelled on it, she would break down and for the time being she need to stay strong. She needed to lay down cover for as long as possible. That was the only way to ensure everyone's safety, including Dimitri's.
He's not dead. He's not dead. He's not dead. That was Rose's new mantra. That and knowing that it was imperative that she stay were she was were the only two things keeping her from abandoning her post and making her way to her lover.
Lazar's men continued to pile into the compound. Some on foot, some in jeep wranglers. Little did they know that the compound was being seal off. The gate could operate on a timer and Christian had rigged the gate to close at an exact time. The entire outer was made of reinforced concrete while the gate was made of an impenetrable metal alloy fortified with titanium. There were no other exits or entry points. Essentially they were trapped in the compound along with the Lazars.
Since they were storming the castle, so to speak, and doing so in a hurry, they left behind the heavier artillery which was mounted to the ground.
One jeep approaching the manor was mounted with a rocket launcher. He was about to fire when at long last the cavalry showed up. Helicopters flew overhead, firing at Lazar's foot soldiers. They were able to take aim at the jeep and put it out of commission with a grand explosion. The lawn was now littered with debris as well as the bodies that were scattered it.
Law enforcement vehicles arrived at the compound taking into custody anyone who was left outside the walls and didn't have the good sense to flee.
By now, the Lazar's had all but surrendered. The choppers were landing on the estate near the manor, agents from several different government agencies pilled out and began subduing and arresting Lazar's men.
The last chopper that landed held the Directer herself, Ellen Kirova. She approached Eugene Lazar who was face down on the ground gagged and bound with flexi cuffs. Kirova sneered at the man. She would have words with him later. At the moment she needed to check on her best friend's family.
When Rose knew the situation was contained she rushed downstairs. She didn't bother with the rifle, leaving it behind. It would only slow her down. The original plan was to regroup in the garage, so that's where Rose was headed. Alberta and Christian had beat her there since she was stationed farthest away from the garage.
Rose ran into the garage. Her view was blocked by the SUV which stood idle, doors open. As she circumvented the automobile she didn't miss the blood stains on the back seat and the floor. She rushed to where Lissa was hunched over someone.
"Dimitri?" Rose whispered, too shocked to scream.
Christian stopped Rose from flying towards them practically catching her in the air and holding her in place, but not before she got close enough to see that it wasn't Dimitri on the ground.
Rose swallowed hard. "Is he going to be alright?" she asked weakly.
It was Alberta who answered her. "He'll be fine sweetie. Pavel just took a shot to the arm. Lissa's just getting the bullet out. Not too much harm done".
Rose breathed a little bit easier knowing Pavel would be just fine. But it was someone else she was desperate to see. Christian nudged her shoulder and gestured towards the garage exit where she saw Dimitri and Abe with her Aunt Ellen and Stanny boy.
"Dimitri!" she called out, relieved to see him standing and alive.
As soon as Dimitri saw her his heart filled with relief. He ran to Rose meeting her half way. "Roza", he murmured as he took her into his arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck.
"I thought you were…" Rose began and was cut off by Dimitri's lips.
"I'm fine, the bullet grazed my head and I just got knocked out a little when I fell forward", Dimitri explained. That's when Rose saw the bandage on his temple, the dried blood he hadn't cleaned yet and the bruise on his forehead.
She cupped his face with her hands. "Don't you need to lie down or something? You must have a concussion".
Dimitri smiled. "I do. But there are still things I have to take care of". He kissed her forehead.
"Kiz," Dimitri release Rose long enough for Abe to hug her. "You were marvelous today", he said.
"Yes she was", Kirova added. "It's good to see you, Rosemary". As unprofessional as it was, Ellen couldn't help but hug the girl she'd watch grow up from afar. The girl who became as much of a bad ass as her mother. "I thought you all might like to know that Lazar is in custody. He'll never see daylight again".
"What about his kids?" Rose asked.
"Avery and Reed were killed. Avery was shot through the heart and died instantly. Reed took a bullet to the torso and bled out".
"How did you manage all this?" Rose asked Director Kirova.
"When Abe was able to confirm a time and a place that not only Eugene Lazar would be, but his devil spawn as well, every agency in the country wanted in on the arrest", the director explained. "They were all more than happy to send men, helicopter, guns, cars, ammo. You name it, we got it. In abundance". She smiled. "It was a very good plan. You all could have piled up into the SUV and taken your chances escaping. But luring Lazar out into the open like that and relying on back that may or may not have come was dangerous. Brave, but dangerous".
"Well,you can thank my daughter for that", Abe said. "It was her brilliant plan in the first place". Abe, Dimitri and Kirova beamed at Rose.
"Are you sure you don't want a job with us?"
Ellen was on joking, but it was Abe and Dimitri who yelled "NO" simultaneously.
Rose then looked at her father again. "Dad, maybe you should get some rest. You don't look well".
Kirova spoke again. "I've made arrangement for you to be air lifted out of here. The helicopter will take you to a secure location. You can rest and decide were to from here".
Ellen added some parting words and turned to leave, while Stan would stay to escort them all to a safe house. "Come along Belikov", Kirova called over her shoulder.
Rose looked at Dimitri stunned.
"He's needed back at headquarters", Kirova explained.
"For how long?" Rose asked panicked. The silence that answered her was eery. Rose's eyes got misty. She stepped back out of Dimitri reach. "But you resigned. You promised me that this was your last job".
"It is my last job. It just isn't over yet", Dimitri said dejected.
"I'm sorry, we don't have time for this", Kirova motioned for Dimitri to follow her. Dimitri nodded at her, knowing he didn't really have a choice. He needed to finish what ever it was the Director wanted otherwise he'd be considered a rogue agent. The fate of an agent gone rogue was never a good one.
There was no way Dimitri was leaving without kissing Rose good-bye. As Kirova exited the garage Dimitri grabbed Rose, taking her by surprise, and kissed her within an inch of her life.
Before Dimitri left, Rose blurted out, "I love you".
Dimitri smirked. "I know".
And then he was gone. Rose didn't know when or if she'd ever see him again.
A/N:
Alright so that was a quickie and ended badly again, but at least no one died, so don't have a cow!
Fear not, this is not the end. I have another chapter planned for tomorrow, and one planned for the next day, and finally the epilog.
Let me know how you felt about the chapter, even if you are mad.
Also, I apologize again for not answering all reviews. I was working furiously on this update every spare moment I had and didn't get to answering everyone. I really appreciate the time you all put in to reading and reviewing. Thank you! And again, sorry.
So yesterday's quote was from Guardians of the Galaxy! Good catch christian's bytch and sgulliano78!
And here's today's quote:
"Kiss a stranger on the balcony of the hotel du cap. What kind of a line is that? I mean it's like a really good line".
Helper quotes:
It's not your first rodeo, woman!
With me, without me. With me, without me. With me, without me.
Please stop shooting people.
No one follows us or I kill myself and then her.
I have been trained to dismantle a bomb in pitch black with nothing but a safety pin and a junior mint. I think I can get you in and out of some cloths without looking. I'm not saying that's what I did.
C ya soon
K