Raven exited the elevator, leading Aidan out and to the left. And then the shadows stirred, leaping forward with deadly intentions.

There were three forms, clothed all in black. Caught by surprise, Aidan turned too late to intercept the foot that slammed neatly into his head, bringing him to the floor. Raven, although she had been taken by surprise as well, adapted quicker than her companion.

The first figure to attack her was taken down with three vicious motions. A hooked punch to the ribs, an uppercut that sent their head flying back, and a foot planted firmly in their solar plexus. Winded and gasping feebly for breath, the figure sank back against the wall.

A black SUV pulled up behind her with a screech, and Raven whirled as the doors flew open. More men jumped out as Aidan rose groggily, only to be met with a callous fist that returned him to unconsciousness.

Two men faced Raven warily. One of them feinted, and she made a cautious motion to block, just in case it wasn't truly a feint. The other figure's leg flashed in a roundhouse kick that was headed directly for Raven's head, but she caught her attacker's foot in one hand, wrenching sharply. The figure fell backwards, head connecting with the concrete floor; they did not rise.

Raven twisted swiftly towards the SUV, but she was a fraction of a second too slow to block the fist that rammed firmly into her stomach. Tightening her core, she dropped, lashing out towards her attacker's legs with one of her own. Unbalanced, the form above her swayed momentarily, and Raven pushed back before slamming her foot up, between their legs. She rolled out of the way, twisting gracefully to her feet--just in time to meet the blow that connected with the back of her head.

She crumpled, falling forward. Rough, unfamiliar hands caught her before she hit the concrete, unceremoniously and efficiently binding her feet together and her hands behind her back. Raven was vaguely aware of being patted down, relieved of her handgun, two knives, and her cell phone. Then she was shoved into the SUV, tires squealed against asphalt, and all was black.

For a brief moment.

Raven was shoved--quite literally--back into consciousness, by brusque hands that propelled her out of the car. She blinked, glancing at her surroundings before she was hustled inside a decrepit warehouse; Aidan stumbled along beside her, lids barely raised enough to register the details of the dank, deserted alley where the SUV had deposited them.

Upon entering the warehouse, instead of venturing further into the dilapidated building, their captors jostled Raven and Aidan down a staircase. The indistinct sound of conversation floated to Raven's ears, becoming louder and clearer the further she descended.  Then, she and Aidan were thrust into a large room, with light flooding every corner, and all noise ceased. Until a voice, a soft, lyrical, sensuous voice, filled with innuendo that caused a shiver to run down Raven's spine, floated lazily through the room.

"Why have you tied up our guests?" The speaker, a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties was sprawled in a large, high-backed wooden chair that couldn't have been at all comfortable, flicked sharp, inscrutable hazel eyes towards the group as they walked through the door.

A large, noticeably-male figure, who seemed to be in charge of the figures who had attacked Raven and Aidan, stammered perplexedly. "Uh- I thought that you would want-"

"You aren't supposed to think," the young man cut in, harsh now. "You're supposed to do as I say. And I can't remember saying 'tie up our guests'."

The man in charge of the group of black-clothed figures gulped audibly.

"Well? Untie him now--don't just stand there!" The young man addressed his next words to Raven and Aidan, a compunctious smile growing easily on his lips. "I do apologize for how these buffoons have treated you. Hired help, you know." He shrugged apologetically.

Raven rotated her wrists, narrowing her eyes. "What do you want with us, Ismael?"

Aidan's head whipped sharply to her at her use of the name.

"Ah, yes, how rude of me to not introduce myself," the young man drawled. "My name is Ismael Samar."

"You already know who we are, or else we would not be here," Aidan replied. Evenly, Raven thought, considering his hotheaded reputation.

Ismael smiled crookedly, displaying even white teeth. "Indeed I do, Aidan Stone. Raven, love." He nodded to her, thick, shaggy hair that was as black as Raven's own slipping over the honey-brown skin of his forehead. "I would have a word with you."

Tilting her head and clenching her jaw in displeasure, Raven stepped forward, walking up to face the chair that Ismael sat in. He unfurled as she approached, lean limbs unfolding underneath him with all the lazy grace of a born predator, and gestured to a door set into the back wall of the room.

"Shall we?"

Raven followed him into the chamber, surveying her surroundings, as Ismael shut the door behind them. "Your bedroom," she said flatly. "For what possible reason might I be in your bedroom?"

A lazy grin, similar to Aidan's yet inherently not, tilted Ismael's mouth. "For the privacy." Delicate, unmistakable innuendo traced each syllable, and Raven's eyebrow arched. Ismael switched topics, leaning against his bed and studying her brazenly.

"You are even more beautiful than the last time I saw you."

Raven resisted a roll of her eyes. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Ismael. And I preferred myself with long hair," she added acerbically.

Ismael tilted his head. "I don't. But if that's your opinion, then I am your humble servant."

A smile grew on Raven's lips as chuckled softly. "You always have been, haven't you?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that." Ismael's lids lowered a fraction, so that his hazel eyes were staring at her through dark lashes. "But I was always skilled at pleasing you."

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A/N:

Darlings, meet Ismael Samar, one of my favorite characters. I adore him almost as much as Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream, so it's obviously true love. And also, sorry for springing a chapter that's twice as long as all of the past ones have been on you, but I really didn't want to split this one, so here you are! I do hope you liked it and all of the new questions it presented--vote if you did (comment too to make me extra happy) and you'll become my new favorite person! Well, maybe not as much my favorite person as Ismael is, but... you get my point ;)