Chapter Sixty-Six

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

A/N: hi!

super busy today so here's a longish chapter featuring america's ass, a couple of unbelievably hot assassins, and, well, griffin :)

————————————————————

"Just so you know,

Morgan's my favorite after this,"
————————————————————

"Adelaide, that's illegal," Rhodey told her later that night when she called him.

They needed entrance into the president's ball and Rhodey practically worked for him. Okay, maybe not worked for him. But he said Elis had invited him over to the White House for dinner once and Adelaide was eighty percent sure that he wasn't lying about it so if they had any shot at getting into this ball, it would have to be him.

"Not if it's for a good cause," she argued, poking her head into the fridge to scrounge for dinner. She nose wrinkled when she found nothing that fit her appetite.

"That's not really how laws work," he said. She sighed, closing the fridge to rummage the pantry instead. Her stomach grumbled.

"You said you owe me a birthday present. Well, this is what I want," she frowned. She turned the lights on in the pantry and scanned the shelves for potential dinner. If she had to actually go hunt in the wild for dinner, she'd definitely starve.

"I meant like a gift card or a new phone!" he said.

"Why would I need a gift card?" she mumbled, her expression twisting in confusion, "Tony gave me one of his credit cards. Do you want a gift card? Or a new phone? Or even a new car? It's kind of hard to max out his card so you can really ask me for anything."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Your dad's rich. Why don't you just ask him to get you into the ball?" he said and she could practically hear him rolling his eyes.

"Because the government isn't my dad's biggest fan," she muttered, "Did you forget the big fight at an airport in Germany over that exact reason or should I remind you?"

"No need, my broken spine reminds me about enough already," he mumbled, "Regardless, Adelaide, it would be very difficult for me to even try to get your names on the entry list, if not impossible."

"Rhodey, people's lives are at stake here, we— oh, macaroni," she said, grabbing the instant macaroni box from the pantry. Well, the dinner problem was solved. Now for the other problem. "Come on, Rhodey, please. I promise it's for something important, you know that I wouldn't ask you otherwise."

Adelaide heard a very long sigh from the other side of the phone and she grinned.

"Is that a yes?" she asked.

"Fine. But if I get fired because of this—"

"I will personally come in and fight them to hire you back," she said, "Or you could always retire early and come live with us."

"The rest of us can't afford to retire early," he chuckled, "I'll let you know when it's done."

"Thank you," she said, "Really."

"Just so you know, Morgan's my favorite after this," he said.

"Sure she is," Adelaide smiled, "You like Hummers, right?"

"Very funny. You can't buy my love," he said and there was a small pause before he added, "In navy green. Bye, Adelaide."

"Bye," she smiled, hanging up the phone.

She let out a breath. That was one less thing that had to worry about. She heard footsteps and glanced down at the time on her phone. That was probably Steve and Nat. She walked out of the pantry with the macaroni box in her hand just as the two of them walked in. Not a single scratch on their faces.

"So is it safe to assume things went smoothly?" she asked. Natasha smirked.

"When don't they?" she asked. Adelaide's smile faltered for a moment when Natasha realized what she said and the teenager thought back to the last time things didn't go smoothly. Steve cleared his throat to dissipate the awkwardness in the air.

"The governor's grandson is safe and so is the governor himself," Steve said, "Three of Maranzano's people were arrested today. And, more importantly, it was all over quietly."

"Good," Adelaide said, "I talked to Rhodey and he said he would get us on the list for the president's ball."

"So that just leaves us with our disguises," Natasha said, "How'd shopping with your brother go?"

"Absolutely terrible," Griffin said as he entered the room.

"It wasn't that bad," she said, "We were in and out in just a couple hours."

"It was not a couple hours," he said, glaring at her. Adelaide rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, everything's in place," she said. Steve nodded.

"Pack your things. We'll fly out to DC tomorrow and get there a few hours before the ball. I've booked all of us hotel rooms there to get ready in and we'll go into the White House together," Steve said.

"And then," Adelaide said, "We find Sienna and put her back in her place."

—————

Adelaide stared at her dark bedroom ceiling, her eyes wide open. It was just one of those nights that she couldn't fathom falling asleep because she knew the nightmares would follow. Nightmares where she would chase after Peter endlessly until she finally reached him and he died in her arms.

She sighed, turning onto her side to face the empty pillow beside hers. She lightly ran her fingers along the seam, wondering just how many days exactly it had been since she had last been wrapped up in his arms.

"Peter," she whispered into the dark, realizing she hadn't said his name in a long time, "Pete..."

She sighed again. Her fingers curled away from the pillow. She had the urge to make him appear and she knew it was a terrible idea. She closed her eyes, squeezing them a bit.

Sleep wasn't coming.

She ripped the covers off of her body, sliding her feet to the side, into her furry slippers. She wrapped her robe around herself and decided to take a walk outside in the warm breeze and breathe in the fresh air, not even bothering to look at the time.

Outside, it was completely silent. Her dreams — nightmares — were cluttered with violence and noise and terrible screams. Nothing was quite as silent as the night after everyone had fallen asleep. She loved this silence. She wished her mind could fall silent like this sometimes. No thoughts, just...peace.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even see Griffin sitting there on the bench until he moved his arm and it nearly made her scream.

"You–" she breathed, a hand over her poor heart, "You scared me."

"Sorry," he mumbled, not looking very sorry. She eyed the cigarette in his hand disapprovingly. He noticed her judgmental gaze and smirked. "You're gonna make me put this out, aren't you?"

"Well, considering I came here for the fresh air, yes," she mumbled, stealing it from between his lips and walking over to the trashcan to toss it out before she lied down in a patch of grass by the front of the compound. Griffin looked around before sighing and walking over to join her on the grass.

Silently, the two siblings looked up at the starry night sky.

"I used to wonder about what was out there," Adelaide whispered, "Now, I wish I never knew."

Griffin put laced his fingers together and put them under his head to use as a pillow. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes.

"Not all of it is terrible," he told her quietly, "Some of the views are...well, there's really no words for them. You just have to see them for yourself. I'll take you someday...if you want."

Adelaide chuckled quietly, "Thanks, but I've had enough of space to last me a lifetime. I'd be perfectly happy seeing pictures instead." Griffin smiled and they lapsed back into a comfortable silence again.

She traced the constellations with her eyes until they started to feel heavier with sleep. She fought the feeling, not yet wanting to submit to her dreams. This silence, this...peace was so much better. She dreaded sleeping.

"I'm sorry," she whispered after a while. He didn't reply. "About how things worked out between us in the past. I wish it could have been different."

"Do you?" he asked, turning his head to look at her, "Would you give all this up to go back in time and live, just the four of us?"

Adelaide found herself at a loss for words. Could she give up Tony and Pepper and Peter and everyone else she loved? Could she ever go on as if she never knew them just to be with her family? The Avengers, all her friends...to be with her parents again. To grow up with Griffin. In a normal house somewhere, just the four of them. What would it have been like? Would it have been better than what she had right now?

"I...I don't know," she whispered honestly, "Do you?"

He thought for a moment and then nodded, looking away, "Fair point."

Life was a crooked thing.

Sometimes it gave you exactly what you needed, but in the worst way possible.

—————

"People will recognize us, but no one knows who you are, Griffin," Steve told them.

The four of them were in the limo, driving to the White House for the ball. It hadn't taken that long to get dressed. The harder part was hiding the weapons in their clothes so that they would get past security. Adelaide had a knife strapped around one thigh and a gun strapped to another. She was hoping it would be enough, but she had a bitter feeling it would fall short of what Maranzano and her men would come prepared with. Her deep blue gown had more than enough cloth to cover everything, including the dark bruises on her side.

Natasha was in a similar position, but Adelaide suspected the assassin had hidden more knives in her pantsuit than she cared to admit. Steve had lined the inside of his jackets with an assortment of weapons and Griffin...well, they only gave him a knife.

He wasn't exactly trusted by everybody quite yet.

Rhodey had gotten them cleared to enter the party from a separate entrance, one that would be hidden from the eyes of the guards. They were still on the list, just in case anyone asked once they were in. But there was no way they'd be able to get in with all these weapons so they had to find a workaround. The limo would still have to pull through the main entrance but then Adelaide would turn the four of them invisible and they would enter the ball through a concealed door.

"Use that to your advantage," Steve continued to tell Griffin, "You'll be invisible there. See if you overhear any conversations or see anything out of line. We'll all be able to hear each other through our ear pieces."

As the White House came into view, Adelaide couldn't help but lean against the window to look at it. The golden party lights glowed inside and the ground seemed to be humming with chatter and excitement and the sound of glasses clinking together in cheers. People of all social and political groups were walking in with big smiles on their faces. She pressed her hands together to keep herself from fidgeting. How were they supposed to get their job done with all that happening around them?

Sensing her anxiety, Natasha subtly reached over, squeezing her knee in reassurance. Adelaide let out a breath. It would be fine.

Things would work. They would.

—————

Getting into the party was the easy part.

As Adelaide looked around the ballroom at all the delegates and governors and fill-in-the-blanks, she drew a nervous breath in. The room was huge, but the people were crowded. There were just so many of them.

How were they ever supposed to identify Maranzano's people in this crowd?

She tapped the inside of her wrist discreetly and her contact lenses brought up pictures that only she could see of confirmed members of the syndicate. These were the people they knew worked for Maranzano for sure. If any of them were here at this party was another question entirely.

"Split up," Steve said quietly to the three of them, "Stick to the plan."

Adelaide wandered off towards the drinks, not really sure if she felt confident like she usually did. The plan seemed foolproof. As most plans do. Until they aren't. Steve would locate the First Lady. Adelaide and Natasha would work the crowd to look for Maranzano's people. Griffin, since he wasn't granted weapon clearance just yet, was ordered to get a bird's eye view of the room to mark potential exits and suspicious activity.

Adelaide grabbed herself sparkling water in a champagne glass as TADASHI fed her more information about the members of the syndicate. She tried to pay attention to it but it only made her more anxious.

"Adelaide Rivers?" somebody said, making her turn around. It was a man, about her height with thinning brown hair and a ridiculously expensive suit which she recognized to be a Brioni. Immediately, TADASHI began running him through the systems. She offered him a hesitant smile, though she didn't recognize him from anywhere.

"That's me," she said, "And you are...?"

"John Stevens," he smiled, holding his hand out to shake. She shook it unsurely. She'd never heard that name before but maybe he was here with someone else. Though, there was something about his suit that was bothering her, but he was talking and she couldn't pause long enough to think why. "It's so nice to meet you. Are you here with Tony Stark?"

"No, actually," she said, "He couldn't make it. So he sent me."

John smiled, "I haven't heard much about him in the media since the Blip. I hope he's doing alright. He has a daughter now, doesn't he?"

"Well, he doesn't really like putting his private life out there anymore," she said. TADASHI was still running him through the system so she kept him talking. "I don't think I've seen you in anything before...Are you here with someone?" John laughed.

"Oh I doubt you would have heard of me," he said and she heard a faint trace of an accent in his words. She frowned a bit. What was that accent? It couldn't be...could it? "I'm not really from around here. I actually was just visiting when a friend of mine invited me to come with her to this ball as a favor."

TADASHI finally finished running the searches.

"There is no John Stevens. His name is actually Alessandro Rossi. He's another one of Maranzano's men, confirmed," TADASHI told her.

Her blood went cold. Suddenly, the suit made sense and the accent became clear as day. Brioni was a luxury Italian suit company. And his accent, although very American, had traces of Italian laced through it. She gripped the champagne glass in her hand, trying to keep her composure. The knife strapped to her thigh seemed to grow colder as if asking to be utilized.

"Well," she managed to say in a somewhat steady voice, "how sweet of you. What did you say your friend's name was, again?"

"Sofia," Alessandro smiled, "Sofia Grimaldi."

Adelaide froze. He knew. He knew and he was going to kill her. She tried not to take a step back, away from him. She couldn't let him see the fear on her face. Sofia was here.

And Adelaide knew she wanted her blood.

"I don't expect you to know her," Alessandro continued, "Anyway, Adelaide, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope you're able to enjoy the rest of your evening."

She could barely force a smile as he disappeared into the crowd again. She leaned back against the drink table, her hand going to her bruised side as if somebody would stab her from behind any second. She could feel her extremities growing colder by the second as she stood there.

"Keep an eye on this one," she mumbled under her breath to Natasha, sending her the info with Alessandro Rossi, "He's here with Sofia."

"Copy that," she heard back.

Adelaide found her eyes wandering through the crowd, looking for Sofia, when she heard the room grow quiet and the chatter became replaced with applause. She looked up to where everyone's gaze had been averted to find President Elis joining the ball from the stage at the front of the room. He waved, smiling warmly. Adelaide had always thought he was sort of a decent guy. She wondered what kind of dirt Maranzano must have found on him to hold against him.

"Welcome, welcome," he greeted, "I want to thank each and every one of you for coming out here tonight. As you know, every penny we raise goes towards reputable non-profit organizations dedicated to helping serve those in need. Your presence here marks your support for these organizations, and they are very appreciative. You all look so lovely tonight and it's an honor to have you here in my home as my guests. But I truly believe that the real person of honor tonight is my wife, Marissa Elis, who put together this wonderful ball."

At that, the First Lady joined her husband on the stage. Adelaide had only seen glimpses and pictures of her, but First Ladies rarely got much coverage in comparison to their husbands. She'd never even heard her speak before. The woman was in her late forties, but with the make-up and everything, she looked closer to late thirties instead.

"...We both thank you all for coming here tonight to show your support for these American organizations," the First Lady concluded after a few minutes. There wasn't much left to be said that the President didn't already say so everyone clapped once she was done. Adelaide had been more focused on what TADASHI was showing her about the individuals in the crowd. In the time both of them had given their speeches, she identified three more of Maranzano's men.

One near the exit, one by the stage, and another by a window. She sent all of the information forward to Natasha with a swipe of her fingers in the air.

"I have eyes on Sofia," Griffin said, "Upper floor, by the stairs."

Adelaide's eyes snapped up to where Griffin had just said and there she was. Sofia Grimaldi in a long, silver dress which Adelaide was sure was packed with a variety of toys she'd use to kill the teenager tonight. Sofia's bright blue gaze sharply snapped to her. Adelaide didn't look away until the music started up again and the First Lady was on the move.

"I overheard some conversations," Natasha mumbled into her earpiece, "They're planning on moving the First Lady out of the ballroom so they can transport her to a second location."

"We'll see about that," Steve muttered, "Everyone on the first floor, now. Griffin, keep an eye on the exits from outside the ballroom. The rest of us will watch the First Lady from here."

"What's going on?" Adelaide said, her eyebrows drawing together in confusion as she looked out at the stage. Slowly, the lights in the ballroom dimmed until she could hardly make out any faces in her proximity. Someone walked onto the stage, microphone in hand.

"Everybody, please give a warm welcome to our guest singer, Dolly Parton," the man said with a bright smile.

The people in the room began applauding to welcome the singer onstage, but Adelaide wasn't focusing on that because she spotted someone from the First Lady's security detail whispering something in her ear. The First Lady mumbled something to her husband before he nodded and she began following the guard out of the room.

"She's on the move," Adelaide said into her earpiece.

"I have eyes on her," Steve said.

"Me too," Natasha said, "Following her now."

Adelaide nodded to herself, her gaze never leaving the First Lady as she got closer to the doors. Her fingers grazing over her gown to feel the knife strapped to her thigh, she followed after her. But before she could take even one step in her direction, a manicured hand wrapped around her arm to stop

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net