Things are moving quickly. And I am going to have to choose. I can’t think straight. She wants me to talk to her but I have nothing to say. How long have we been here? Days? Feels like days.

“Thinking about her?” Natasi asks running her fingers in my hair.

“I’m worried, she’s dying.” I say staring at the wall behind her.

“Think she is worrying about you?”

“Shane doesn’t worry. It’s not her.”

“She is going to kill you Carmen. And I know this….here between us…well it’s just a way to see her again. That doesn’t upset me….I know how you feel about her. It’s a shame….before her break down….she was the best…..she could do things….oh the…carnage…..”

“Don’t talk about her like she is dead. I don’t like it.”

“I know and I only say it out of jealousy really Carmen…..I am….and I have no intention of turning you into a damsel or making myself the villain in this. I like being with you and I know you like being with me, but this adolescent love for this wreck of a human isn’t good for business. Pavel is bad for business and he put a price on your beautiful head, to be carried out by your love. I am not sure what you did to him to merit that treatment, but I can assure you dear…..I wouldn’t ever hurt you….So I have them both all for you, wrapped nice in a beautiful box…..I know I lied about Pavel and I am sorry…I just had to have you all to myself…..for a while….away from Shane. We have something….special…We can have a real future together….I have made so many contacts….I have so many prospects lined up….there is so much money to make…..this war on terror…its such a rich market…with your talents and mine…three years tops and we can retire nice and young without the scars from your pathetic Agency….off the grid Carmen…forever. Think about it. No more running around worrying about projects, brains….damaged teen love. Carmen we are all grown up….what you had with Shane I won’t take from you…but its you or its her….think about it. Really think. I am trying to help you. I want to help you but you have to let me.”