As soon as Nadia leaves, I set about getting ready for the perfect night out. I have never taken a woman out on a date before, and I’m looking forward to it. I can’t believe she said yes, especially considering the bumbling way I asked her. With all she’s going through, I want to make sure we have an incredible night.

I book a table at a small restaurant nearby, a place that I know has low lighting so no one will know us or be able to see us. It might not be the fanciest place on the planet, not as fine as what she’s probably used to, but I feel like it will be enough. The high life doesn’t seem to suit her anyway, so I hope that this will be a nice change for her.

To make things even better, I head out to pick up a present for her. I’m aware that my head is somewhere that it really shouldn’t be, but by this point I really don't care. I’m falling for Nadia, and it feels so good I can’t stop. She makes me feel so amazing, so special and I want to do the same for her. We might have gotten involved with one another under the most insane circumstances, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t right.

If it feels good to us, then who the hell cares?

I step into the nearest jewelry shop, and immediately I feel out of place. Even though I might have money at my disposal now, when I’m in a place like this, I instantly retreat back into the poor boy I once was, the one who lived on the streets with nothing to my name.

“Can I help you, sir?” A sales assistant asks me. I gulp, trying to get my composure back. I need to do this, I need to get something nice for Nadia, and I’m going to have to suck it up and get over myself to do that.

“Yes, please. I’m looking for a necklace...”

* * *

An hour later I walk out of the store, gripping tightly onto the box which contains what I believe to be the perfect gift for Nadia. A sweet, silver chain with a small heart on the end. Subtle, understated and beautiful—just like her.

I smile to myself, feeling like kicking up my heels I’m so happy. When I think back to screwing random chicks every weekend, it makes me a little sick to my stomach. What the hell was I thinking? How did I ever think that was going to make me happy? I didn’t even know happiness was back then... I was merely surviving.

But as soon as I get back to my place my mood is back in the shitter because it it’s obvious someone has broken in. The door is swinging wide open, the gravel in the driveway has been kicked up, and there’s a horrible energy hanging in the air.

“Shit.” What the fuck is going on now? I don't like this. I don't like things being out of my control.

This is why I never bring my work anywhere near my home. This is the first time I’ve done this, and it’s already come back to bite me in the ass...

I wrap my fingers around the gun in my pocket and slowly step forward silently. Someone is inside my home, and I don't want to alert them to my presence. I’d like to get the jump on them.

My heart hammers in my chest as I tiptoe through the hallway. I’m starting to think this is about me after all, until I see a familiar face grinning up at me.

“Well, hello there, Alexi,” Aidan is sitting on my couch, his legs crossed casually. Shocked, I lower my gun. What the hell does this mean? Is he somehow involved in all of this... or am I acting paranoid? Am I assuming the worst of everyone just because I’m so freaked out?

“Hi, Aidan,” I reply, slowly lowering myself into the nearest chair. “What are you doing here?”

“I think we need to have a talk about all of this, don’t you?” He seems to be talking about this case, which makes me nervous. I wanted to get this done without Aidan finding out because I knew he wouldn’t take too kindly to it, but it seems like I haven’t been discreet enough. “You have a lot to tell me... don't you?”

“Yes,” I admit. “Things have taken something of a left turn.”

“So, I understand Damien was murdered before you could get involved, some kind of revenge plot or something. Why wasn't that the end of it? Why did you then go on to steal evidence and spend time with the client? That was completely unnecessary?”

“It’s complicated...” I try to interject, but Aidan isn’t having any of it.

“You were hired to kill Damien. That was done for you. You should have backed away. Why the hell are you continuing to be involved? You are endangering yourself and the agency. What the hell is going on with you?”

I bite my lip. Guilt courses through me. He’s right about this one. I do know how the agency works, and I should have simply gone along with normal protocol. I should have gone to Aidan right away, told him what had happened and allowed him to get involved. I should have stopped.

“Oh my God,” Aidan suddenly snaps as if something has clicked within him. “I know what it is now. You’ve gone and developed feelings for the client.”

“No, it...” I start, but again he jumps in.

“It’s so clear now. This chick, this crazy bitch that has hired a hitman to kill her husband has her claws into you. You’ve broken the cardinal rule and fallen for her.” He shakes his head in disappointment, and that makes me feel even worse about myself. I know that I’ve done some stupid shit, and that I’ve allowed my heart to rule my head, but I can’t seem to stop myself. “Fucking hell, Alexi. What the hell is going on with you?”

His words stab, and for a split second I want to tell him that I’ll back off. He’s my mentor. He brought me into this country to give me a better life—I really do owe him everything—but my hand falls around the box containing the necklace in my pocket, and I know I can’t. I can’t give up Nadia, not now. She’s the first person who has ever made me feel like I could do anything, and I can’t let go of that. I cannot go back to my single life without her. There’s just no way.

“I’m sorry, Aidan,” I tell him, allowing my head to fall down towards my shoes. “I know this sucks. I don't know what to tell you.”

“Come with me, come now and let’s assign you a new job. One that’s more suited to your talents.”

He’s offering me a chance to start over, an opportunity to begin all over again, and a big part of me wants to take it. But the answer is no. I know that for Aidan to ever trust me again, I’m going to have to do something crazy.

“If you don't come right now, I’m going to have to get some of the other agents involved. I don't think you understand how serious this is, Alexi.”

“No, I do,” I tell him, giving him my most serious look. “I know exactly how serious this is. But at the same time, you’re right. I do have feelings for this woman, and I know that’s fucked up, you must see how much she means to me.”

Aidan remains silent while he drinks in all I’ve said.

“This case is deep, it goes much deeper than anything I’ve ever dealt with before, and I can’t just walk away from it. I can’t leave Nadia in the middle of danger. She will end up dead, and I won’t be able to live with myself if that happens.”

“This isn’t a job for you,” Aidan warns. “This isn’t an area that you’re familiar with.”

“I know but I’ve been doing all right with it,” I try my best to convince him. “I’m dedicated... I just can’t give up on it now. I can’t give up on her now.”

Aidan stares at me with a look in his eyes I don’t recognize, and I know I’ve only got one option left.

“I’ll pledge my service to you until I die,” I blurt out in a shocking move. “I won’t ever leave your agency, if you do this, if you let me just complete this one case, I’ll do whatever you want for the rest of my life.”

“Wow, are you serious?” Aidan gasps at me. “That’s huge. No one ever offers that.” I know how right he is with those words—most guys can’t wait to get free of the life I’ve always wanted another life myself, but Nadia is worth it. I’m going to have to go through with this for her. “Well, if that’s how much it means to you then sure, I agree.”

It isn’t until Aidan leaves that serious doubt begins to creep into my mind. I cannot believe I’ve just committed the rest of my existence to a life of crime, and just as I was growing bored with it. I will be killing people when I’m seventy years-old. If I make it that long.

That makes me kind of sad. Plus, I’ve been lucky to evade prison so far, and that probably won’t last forever.

Shit, what the hell am I thinking?

I sit for a second, trying to process everything, my mind spinning with the insanity of it all. Is this chick really worth it? I mean, I feel like she is but I really can’t be sure. We’ve only known each other for a few short days, and there’s no guarantee that we’re going to ever really become anything...

Then again, I don't want her to die no matter what, so I guess I’m just going to have to get the hell on with it and hope this will all work out in the end...