OMG! I'M SO, SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT, LIFE HAS BEEN HECTIC. BUT HERE I AM WITH YOUR LONG AWAITED CHAPTER, I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT. THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME AND SUPPORTING ME THUS FAR, I REALLY LOVE YOU GUYS!

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Chapter 17

Gemma watched through the lens of her camera as Michelle walked into the baby store. She paused, startled when she saw Riccardo exited the car and followed her in. Michelle couldn't be pregnant, could she? She refused to believe it, as much as she knew that it was bound to happen someday, she'd hope that she'd find enough information on Michelle to expose her for who she is before that happened.

Gemma knew that she was on to something, there were some things about Michelle that just didn't check out. Her orphan girl story might have fooled Riccardo into trusting her, but when Gemma went to the orphanage she claimed she was from, things just didn't seem right.

The sister who'd worked there for over forty years first claimed to not know her, but after excusing herself to "check her records" she came back with her memories intact. She gave Gemma the same story that Michelle gave, word for word. Something was up with Michelle, and it must be big if so many people were willing to cover it up, and deter anyone who got too close.

Exiting her car, she moved closer to get a better look. She stayed at a safe distance, not wanting them to catch her. She watched them moved about the store with the help of an assistance, they were looking at baby beds and other stuff. Gemma tried to separate her feeling from the job, but it killed her inside to know that it wasn't her shopping for baby stuff with Riccardo. She watched as Riccardo gently put his hand around her waist and lightly pat her stomach with his other hand. She felt the tears pricked at her eyes, that confirms it, she was pregnant.

She was about to turn and leave because she feared she start crying and reveal herself. However, a movement from the corner of her eyes alerted her to the fact that she wasn't the only one following them. A closer look at the person revealed that he or she was moving, unlike a human.

Gemma watched in shock as the person moved in and out of the shadows, almost like he was part of it. It was relatively bright, so this person or thing didn't have a lot of dark corners to work with, but the way he evaded the bright light was otherworldly.

Gemma shook the ridiculous thought out of her head, whoever this person was they must have spent years training to be able to do what they were doing. She wanted to kick herself for thinking that superhuman beings existed. What she needed to do was ease up on the SyFy movies, they were messing with her head and clouding her better judgment.

Gemma didn't want to alert the person to her presence, so she carefully moved closer hoping to get a better look at whoever it was. She reached for her camera, ready to snap a few picture of this person to analyse later. However, in the few seconds it took her to raise the camera to her face and peer through it, the person disappeared.

Her hand fell away from the camera, causing it to dangle around her neck on the strap. She started to frantically look about, but it was like the person was never there, if she hadn't seen it for herself she would never have believed it.

No human beings can move that fast, in the millisecond that it took her to blink he was just gone. Impossible!

Gemma looked back at Riccardo and Michelle, they were at the till racking up their purchases. The familiar pang in her heart returned but she pushed it aside, something was seriously wrong. Who the hell was after Riccardo? Gemma knew that she had to find out and fast.

Turning from the store she quickly made her way back to her car, her mind so preoccupied with trying to understand what the hell she saw that she didn't see the hooded figure looming in the dark corner.

As she approached her car she retrieved her keys from her pocket and opened the door. Just as she got in and strapped herself in, the hooded person opened the passenger door and got into the car. On instinct, Gemma reached for her gun in the glove compartment but came up empty handed.

"Looking for this?"

The dark rich voice asked her while dangling her gun from a gloved finger. She jerked forward to try and capture the gun, but he moved too quick, turning her own gun on her.

"Now, I didn't come here to fight, I just want to talk."

Gemma snorted, she was scared, but she was also unwilling to show any weakness in front of the bastard.

"Right, that's why you broke into my car and stole my gun, so that we can 'talk'."

He chuckled lightly and the sound washed over her causing her heart to beat faster.

"Ahh, but I knew that you wouldn't have talk to me otherwise. Please believe me, agent Winslow, I mean you no harm, I think what I have to discuss with you will be of great interest."

Gemma frowned, she should be kicking him out of her car and reporting him in, but her curiosity got the better of her. She told herself that she'd hear him out then throw his ass in jail for breaking into her car and holding a gun at her.

"Yeah, what can you possibly have to say that would be of interest to me?"

He lowered the gun, placing it on his lap. Gemma calculated how to distract him so that she can get her gun back. She knew that she had to keep him talking and deduced the right time to strike.

"It will do you no good, Gemma. I am stronger and much faster than you, the time it will take you to reach for the gun I will have already pulled the trigger."

Gemma was taken aback, there's just no way that he could have known what she was thinking. However, she kept her face unmoving, refusing to show any reaction to her words.

"Are you going to get down to what this is about, or are you going to bore me with idle threats?"

He laughed again.

"I quite like you, agent Gemma Winslow of the FBI, you are bold I must give you that."

From under the hood, Gemma could make out his eyes that were roaming over her body causing her to go hot in places. She frowned, what the hell was happening to her? Why was she feeling like all she wanted to do was lay herself bare to him?

She shook her head, trying to get rid of the strange feelings, and like magic she started to feel it being pulled away from her, it was like someone cast a net over and was slowing pulling her free of it.

However, Gemma never got a chance to analysed what came over because the hooded person decided to remove his hood.

A gasp escaped her and she leaned forward to reach for her gun, but like he said he was faster than her.

Dark blue eyes looked at her with amusement, he had a slight tilt to his lips, it was like a half smirk, half smile.

"You know agent Winslow; I'm going to enjoy working with you. It's been a long time since any woman has really got a raise out of me. This should be interesting."

Gemma kept her eyes on the gun that was aimed at her head.

"Yeah, how so?"

He smiled and her heart started to do this crazy little leap in her chest, but she ignored it keeping her focus on the gun.

"I know that you are looking into Michelle and I also know that your reasons for doing so are anything but pure. You want her away from Giovanni so you can have him for yourself, and I am here to help you achieve what you want, so long as you help me get what I want."

Gemma stared at him, that kind of information was not public record, it was not even something that her people in the FBI was aware of, so how the hell did he know that?

She decided that she was going to play along and try to find out how much he really knows and what he planned to do with the information.

"Say you're right and all what you just said is true, what is it that you want in return for helping me?"

His smile remained in place, but his eyes turned stormy as he spoke.

"Michelle."

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SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. IF YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED YOU CAN ALSO CHECKOUT MY OTHER BOOKS. I'VE GOT A COMPLETED ONE CALLED STOLEN VIRTUE, IT'S MY FIRST BOOK SO FORGIVE ME IF ITS NOT A GOOD AS THIS ONE. ALSO I'VE GOT LOVE WITHOUT COLOUR AND HOLDING ON TO YOU. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ALREADY READING MY OTHER BOOKS, A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!