Chapter 61: Romeo

Eight A.M. and the whole base seemed to have been awake for hours. No one looked tired or worn or dull, they looked... like they always had. And it was pretty normal.

"We're moving bases today." Alexander said, tying his tie and straightening out his fanciest suit. I looked away as fast as I looked him. I stared, once again, at the blueprint of the city on his computer, pretending to not be bothered by the fact that well... the night before happened.

"No smart ass comments? I'm surprised..." I was staring at the screen like it was space. "How do I look?"

Forcing myself to actually show that I was partially listening, I looked over at Alexander, expecting him to be at the mirror, like he was moments before, but instead being rewarded with him being less than two feet away from me. A sly smile was plastered to his face in amusement.

"How would I know? I'm merely the prostitute in the situation." I set my elbow on the desk in front of me, resting my head on it to show my disinterest.

"No. You're more like the sweet, innocent girl turned by the people who hurt the people you loved." I felt his breath on my neck and could almost imagine him smiling as I tensed up. "It makes this whole thing a hell of a lot more interesting." He kissed my shoulder and laughed lightly, walking away. My teeth clenched and I resisted the urge of doing anything but staring at the blue screen, no fists flying, no legs kicking. Nothing.

"I'll be back around two. Be dressed. Please. You're clothes are on the bed." And with that last statement, Alexander was gone, out the door, probably down the hall and on his way to arrange whatever else he had to arrange.

With Alexander gone, I took the opportunity to check and see if Alexander was keeping up his part of the deal, and sure enough, he was. The screen changed from the blueprint to a list, complete with every single person affiliated or part of the Justice League - Batman, Superman, Black Canary, Wonder Woman - everyone. Even Patrick and Roy were on it. Or Red Arrow and Dark Sparrow, to be politically accurate. Each name had a small symbol by it. Clicking on it, I could feel my heart race. It meant that they were now untraceable, like they were off grid and stuff like that.

I wanted to smile, but I couldn't pull myself to do it. If it wasn't for me, none of this would've ever happened. If it wasn't for me living, living past everything, everything would've been fine. But no. I just had to live.

Flashbacks of everything that put the Justice League members in harms way made me feel claustrophobic, like the walls of the room - which were wide apart - were closing in around me. I rubbed my eyes and walked over to the bed, finding a dress that wasn't mine lying on it. It was one shouldered, black, and looser than most clothes I had ever worn. The bodice was tight, but the bottom portion seemed to puff out a little. A small black clutch lied next to it, and on the ground by my feet, a pair of black stilettos.

Oh, shit.

This wasn't just any meeting, this was something important. And Alexander wanted me to help him. This wasn't good.

Instead of over thinking everything right away, I pushed thoughts to the side of my mind, focusing on only getting dressed, stripping into new undergarments and the outfit that had been picked out for me. I did my makeup - which I had found in the bathroom - slower than usual, taking as much time as I wanted to calm myself down and delay my exit of the room. But it came too soon and I was ready. I couldn't stay in the room much longer, there were too many memories from the night before, and they weren't good ones.

Walking out, I thanked God that no one was in the hall, but my thanking came too soon when I turned the corner and ran into a small group of people, two men and one woman, who immediately stared at me like I was an alien.

"Oh my God. Isn't that Phantom's daughter?" The woman said quietly as I walked by, like I couldn't hear a thing.

"Yeah. Too bad they aren't close. I couldn't easily gotten her just by talking to him."

"Only if you can pull the Boss away from her. I hear that they have... connections."

I clenched my fist as I continued to walk. That was until I ended up where I started.

"Oh my God.. how the hell did I get back here?" I muttered, staring at the conference room doors that I remembered so clearly from the day before.

"If you know so much about my job, then you'll know that I'm asking you that, too." Looking to my right I saw Caleb. As much as I loved being connected to the helpless men who murder people for a living, I hated how all of them were the same. Sly, cunning, and sneaky. And a few other attributes, but I think that they're usually hidden until told otherwise.

"What the hell do you want?" I asked. He smiled.

"A payment. For letting you down here. The conference room's empty. You have a short skirt. We have plenty of time."

"You're kidding myself. Sure, all those pieces are obvious, but I'm also wearing six-inch heels and, if I remember correctly, kill people for a living."

"And you're also in denial that you need a Romeo. Especially after last night, if I remember correctly."

"And if I remember correctly, Juliet never had two Romeos." I smiled as his own smile faded.

"Oh, I didn't know that you and the Boss were that close. Must be nice to have connections to the top of the chain."

"Wherever you heard that, its a lie. Alexander and I are not close. And don't get any ideas. After all, curiosity kills. And I'll make sure to that, unless Alexander beats me to it."

He looked at me intently, as if waiting for me to make a move or something, but when he realized that I wasn't going anywhere, he walked away. Cautiously, but still walked away.

Walking into the conference room was surprisingly relaxing, like I was getting away from most of the people I hated. Either way, I wasn't leaving. Not for a long time. And to surpass that long period of time, I was going to do the one thing I was good at. Blackmailing.