Alexander's POV

I was sitting on the edge of my bed reading an article on my phone, waiting for Vita to come back home, when the door to my bedroom opened.

Vita stepped in sipping her drink through the straw and as she felt my eyes on her, she met my gaze.

"Want a sip?" Vita waved her drink at me with a small smile as she closed the door behind her.

I simply shook my head.

"You sure? It tastes really good."

I couldn't help a small smile that started to from on my face as her little quirk amused me. Suddenly, I realized something was wrong with Vita when stood unmoving from the door, staring off into space with the cup of chocolate forgotten in her hands. In a few moments, tears started to fall silently down her cheeks as her face remained impassive.

Immediately, I put my phone on my nightstand and walked towards her. In a few strides, I stood in front of her.

"Angel?" I called out gently as I cupped her face, wiping her tears away with my thumbs.

Her light blue eyes seemed to have focused back to reality when she looked upwards into my eyes. I couldn't help but frown slightly in worry at her silent state. I didn't say anything as I waited patiently for her to initiate the conversation. Whatever thought she was thinking, must have consumed her mind.

A small, broken smile formed on her face as tears continued to stream down her face. "I... I'm happy that they're still alive, Red." Her bottom lip quivered as her smile shattered and disappeared. "I really thought they were killed already."

I pulled her gently into my arms and engulphed her with my warmth, hoping that I could ease some of her heartache. Vita let out a deep breath as she tightly wrapped her arms around me and buried her face into the crook of my neck.

"We found the USB at least," she whispered against my neck softly. We stayed holding each other for while before Vita leaned back slightly and looked up towards me.

Suddenly, she took a step forwards, forcing me to take a step back. She continued until I felt my bed right behind me. Vita placed her drink on the nightstand right next to my phone and proceeded to cup my face, one hand feeling colder than the other against my cheeks.

"We're going to get them back, no matter what." Fierce resolve shone in her eyes and with voice sounded like it was reinforced with steel.

I gave her a small smile back as I placed my hands over hers and leaned forwards to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. "We will."

Silence fell upon the two of us while we stared into each other's eyes. In that moment, the world faded away until all I could see was her, right in front of me, she was all that mattered. Her light blue eyes drew me in and each moment, it became darker and darker. I couldn't tell who leaned in first, but before I knew it, our lips met gently at first, tentatively, both of us being careful. Then, all thoughts became scattered as passion fogged our minds and hazed our eyes. Her lips felt soft against mine as she molded her body tightly against mine. She put her arms around my neck and I slid my hands down her past her waist to her legs so that I could lift her. Vita quickly understood what I was trying to do and as soon as I lifted her, she wrapped her legs around my torso.

We were both breathless as we pulled apart from each other. I turned around so that I could place her sitting on the edge of the bed.

Vita loosened her legs from around my hips, but her arms remained around my shoulders and neck, keeping me close.

I let go of her legs to lightly slide them up to her hips. Keeping a hand on her hip, I pushed my other under the hem of her shirt to hold her waist, desperate to feel her skin against mine. I leaned down to lightly place my foreheads touching hers.

Slowly, I felt her hands move up my neck to cup my face gently.

"I want you," Vita whispered softly, her breath lightly dancing across my lips.

I immediately opened my eyes and looked at her carefully, assessing her emotions before asking, "Is it going to be a mistake by tomorrow?"

Vita opened her mouth for a second, but quickly closed it. I could see her answer in her light blues, but I wasn't going to let her get away with it that easily.

Moving my face away from her face, I lightly skimmed her jaw, then started placing kisses down the column of her throat.

"Words, Angel." I smirked near the base her neck and nipped her lightly.

"Alexander..." She gasped softly, her hands threading into my hair.

"Hmm?" I hummed against her skin.

"No mistake... tomorrow."

I couldn't help but feel a little smug as she seemed to have lost some of her senses. "Good."

*

The entire day, Vita was silently typing away at her laptop, barely moving to do much else. Victor and I met up with the tactical team we were going to work with and changed our plans. We originally thought that Vita was going to accompany me to the event to meet Katrina, but she'd been so busy trying to unlock the USB that she didn't have time for much else. We all thought it would be best if she focused her main attention on that, and the rest of us will go to the event.

At first, Vita objected saying that she wanted to be at the event as well, but slowly came to agree.

Victor and I will be entering as guests while three of the eight members of the tactical we're working with will dress up as servers. The rest of the five will be on standby outside, surveying while helping Emmaline keep an eye on the security footages.

We all got our equipment ready and packed up two vans. I went home with Vita to get changed since we agreed to meet in the underground parking lot of Headquarters in an hour.

I was trying to knot my tie when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"You sure you don't need me to go with you? I can help Emmaline keep an eye on things. If things go sideways, you'll have an extra hand."

Vita lifted herself on her toes to peer over my shoulder to look at me through the bathroom mirror.

I gave a slight shake of my head as I straightened out my tie. Vita's head disappeared and I thought she'd left, but I felt her arms wrap around my torso from behind. My hands strayed away from the tie to hold her hands.

"We have everything in place. I'll see you later tonight, Angel." I brought one of her hands upwards to place a kiss on the back of her hand.

"I..." Vita trailed off and I turned around to face her.

"Hmm?"

She quickly shook her head with a smile on her face. "Be safe. Don't do anything stupid."

I pulled her back into my arms to hold her once more before I had to leave and her arms naturally responded by wrapping around me. "Alright."

We stayed like that for a little moment.

"You're going to be late." I could hear the smile in her voice.

"How's my tie?"

Vita pulled away and looked carefully, then shrugged. "It looks straight, I guess."

I couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"I'll see you later, Angel." I leaned downwards and placed a lingering kiss on her soft lips.

"Later, Red." Vita tried to smile as she tried to push me out the door.

She was hiding something, but I would need to figure it out after I successfully get all nine faces and names.

*

Everything was going good so far. We just got in and we were told that Katrina would take us else where to hand over the files in a few minutes.

I was standing near the shadows, holding a glass of wine, when I felt someone stroke down my arm.

"Ms. Rostov," I greeted briskly, wanting to get this quickly over with so that I could head home, where I knew she was waiting for me.

"Why so cold?" Katrina purred as I shifted to face her.

Katrina Rostov was quite tall, almost up to my chin with her heels on. She had green eyes, dyed blond hair, and bold red lipstick that matched her bright red floor length gown. Her diamond necklace was right on top of the ample cleavage shown by the low cut of her strapless dress, with matching chandelier earrings.

I didn't answer and remained aloof and cold, not wanting to give her any reasons to try harder nor touch me.

"Fine. So boring." She rolled her eyes and hooked her index finger at herself. "Follow me."

We escaped the party and she led the way. Katrina led to me what looked to be a library, a room of bookshelves filled to the brim with books.

"Here." Katrina handed me a small, average looking white envelope. "All information is in here."

I took the envelope from her outstretched hand opened it. There was a piece of paper inside with pictures of nine faces and names underneath. Some pictures were clear, others were fuzzy as if someone took pictures secretly from far away. Seeing that she gave me what I asked for, I tucked the envelope into my suit jacket and turned around to leave.

"Wait." She grabbed my arm to stop me from exiting the room.

I narrowed my eyes at her and she quickly let go of me.

"Is there something else you need to inform me, Ms. Rostov?"

A frown fell upon her face. "I see a ring on your finger. It wasn't there last time, sweetheart."

"I suggest that you cease to calling me that in the future, Ms. Rostov. I'm not your sweetheart and you certainly aren't mine."

Her features darkened and there was a sneer on her face. "Who is she?"

I couldn't help but smirk slightly as I thought of Vita. "My wife."

Turning around, I left the room and this time, she didn't stop me.

"I got the file, let's go," I said into the earpiece so that everyone involved in this mission knew the situation.

Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket and I quickly pulled it out. The number was registered as private so I reluctantly picked it up. "Blades."

"It's just me, Red." Vita's voice filtered through the phone as I was exiting from the house. "I was worried you wouldn't pick up for a moment."

I couldn't help but frown as I continued to listen. It was odd that the number was private when I knew for certain that I had Vita's number saved into my phone.

"How's the mission?"

"Accomplished. On my way home," I replied back cautiously as I got out of the house and into the night.

"Everybody okay?"

"Yes."

The other side was silent as I walked to where we parked our car. Since the mission was over, I knew everyone was starting retreat to go to our rendezvous point. Emmaline was there inside one of the three cars checking surveillance.

"Angel?"

"Yeah, I'm still here. I'm glad that everyone is okay."

She didn't sound like herself, she hadn't since last night. "Is something wrong?"

Vita let out a chuckle. "I'm good. So, tell me, how did Katrina act when she saw your ring?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh Red, I know she has a thing for you. So obvious."

"Are you perhaps... jealous, Angel?"

Vita burst out laughing. "Why would I be? It wasn't her you were holding last night, nor this morning. And who are you dutifully coming home to right now? Oh right, not her, me. Besides, I know you, you're loyal to a fault."

A wave of desire passed in me as I remembered last night and her trust in me. "I said I had a wife."

"Hope you didn't feed me to the wolf by giving her my name, right?"

"I did not, but I know you can take her." I couldn't help but smile when I thought about if Katrina and Vita met. No doubt things wouldn't have ended well for Katrina if she every dared to lay a finger on Vita because Vita would have torn her to pieces.

"Hey, want to know why I call you Red?"

"Why?" I asked quietly as I arrived near our cars, Emmaline was already outside and waved at me happily as I approached.

"My excuse was because you despised the color." I heard her laugh softly. "But, I know you don't. Everyone called you Alex, or Alexander. The nicknames are too obvious. So, I thought the first three letters of your name backwards." I can hear the smile in her voice and I couldn't help but smile back. "When I figured it out, I thought I was a genius. Your turn."

"My turn what?"

"Why do you call me Angel? There must be a different reason other than the fact that my parents almost named me that."

"I'll tell you when I get home."

I could feel her rolling her eyes at me. "Why can't you tell me now?"

"When I get back home." Emmaline heard my last sentence and she wiggled her eyebrows at me with a mischievous look on her face, she must have figured out that I was talking to Vita.

Vita was so silent that I had thought she had already hung up on me, then I understood what she was trying to do. She was never one to drag on an empty conversation unless she was either trying to distract me or buy some time.

"What's really going on?" I questioned her cautiously, hoping to not scare her off.

I heard Vita sigh dejectedly. "Listen to me carefully, Red. There's a folder on our bed and my phone on top of it. My phone is unlocked so that you can access it. In the envelope, you should have all the information you need, but if you need to know more, you can contact Wolf, his number is saved in my phone. He should tell you everything he knows, but if he doesn't, tell him that I want him to tell you everything."

The uneasy feeling that I've buried deep inside me tonight quickly resurfaced. "What are you talking about?"

"A folder and my phone are waiting for you on our bed." I heard her sigh exasperatedly as she tried to explain again, but the sound of an engine of a car rumbling to life filtered through the phone.

"Where are you?" By now, both Emmaline and Victor were here, ready to leave. Our tactical team were already all in their car. A frown took over their features as they took a look at my expression and listened into our conversation from my side.

Vita hesitated. "In a car."

An intense brush of fear passed within me. "What are you doing?"

"I'm buying us some time, Red." Vita's voice suddenly got so quiet and timid that I almost couldn't hear what she anything.

"I don't understand what you mean by that, Vita."

There was a soft chuckle. "Am I in trouble, Red? You never call me that."

"Angel- "

"Did Katrina give you information like she said she would?"

I hesitated, my brain not deciphering fast enough that she had asked me a question. "I scanned over it, nine faces and nine names."

Vita became silent for a long moment before answering quietly. "Open it again and look carefully. Maybe it will answer some of your questions."

"Vita, where are you going?"

"Open it, Red."

Gritting my teeth in anger, I quickly yanked out the envelope that had all the names and faces.

"If Katrina gave you the correct information, there should be the name Efren Carter listed on there."

Like she said, that name was indeed listed on the piece of paper. Something about the name sounded familiar to me.

How could she have known?

I paused and froze. "When did you remember?"

She didn't ask for an explanation, she knew exactly what I was talking about.

"Phone call the other day." Her voice fell and there was a dark edge to it that made me frown. "There's no way I will ever forget his voice."

A chill ran down my spine when I finally understood why I felt like I've heard the name before. "The last mission with Cadence, your target Cody Carter..." I couldn't bring myself to finish my thought.

A cruel chuckle slipped from Vita's lips. "I shot his beloved younger brother point blank right in front of him, Red. Who do you think he wants more than my parents, more than the USB?"

A strike of fear pierced me. "Vita, turn back the car and come back."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Emmaline run into the van while Victor approached me with a concerned expression on his face.

"I'm going to buy the rest of you guys time. Besides, he and I made a deal last night. He won't hurt them anymore, Red."

"Come back, Angel, we'll figure out a different way."

"Too late."

My brain ceased to work and I couldn't think of anything to reply. Her mind has been made up and there doesn't seem to be a way for me to convince her to stop what she was doing.

"Red, I never answered you that night."

"What?" I pulled at my hair in frustration. It feet like Vita was speaking in riddles.

"I forgive you."

I couldn't move as I froze in place.

"I understand why you kept everything a secret, but I wish you told me about our parents and what you were going through."

This sounded like her final statement, as if she knew she wouldn't be able to come back alive. "Vita, please come back."

She ignored my plead and continued talking as if I didn't say anything. "The last few weeks staying with you was pretty good, you're not too bad. Anyone will be lucky to have you."

"Angel..."

"I think I'm almost at the meeting place." I heard her mumble to herself and I stood petrified in the empty parking lot.

There was a moment of silence and my throat tightened as I thought she had hung up on me.

"Tell my parents I love them for me. If I don't see them again," her voice broke slightly, "please protect them. Alexander, be safe okay?"

"Angel?"

"I have to go, I'm here."

Before I got another word out, Vita ended our call.

I saw Emmaline run out of the van. "I tried tracking the call, I couldn't get a location."

"Blades, what's going on?" Victor spoke up as soon as Emmaline finished speaking.

The fear that gripped my heart turned into fury, unable to believe Vita's impulsively stupid decision. "Vita's gone."

****

Hullo... I am alive... I think... 

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Till next time,

InvincibleBunny