Under the cover of visiting a friend living in the city, Chris pulled on a pair of black pants, boots, and a knitted sweater. As she struggled through her supper, she prayed it wasn't her last. Her heart was heavy within her. Tomorrow was the day.

Chris was going to meet up with Levi to brush up on signals in case of anything. With all her heart, was it too much to ask the Lord to help her make it out alive and in one piece? Her generous boss had called up a cab for her. After dropping her off at a bus station, she found her own way from there.

She wasn't one for the evening, the shadows seeming to be filled with foreboding. The tree cover a little out of the city brought to life the low sounds of her childhood nightmares. Owls hooted and the tree leaves hissed above her. The only thing that kept her from freaking out completely was the absence of howling wolves—though she thought they would have completed the picture.

Chris' heart froze in her chest, a figure of a man leaning against a tree in the shadows. But after a slight assessment, her heart came back to life to a livelier beat. She approached the shadows, leaving the moonlit trail.

"You're three minutes late," the deep voice reprimanded with a dull tone.

Chris grinned despite it all. "It was a slight task finding a cab that would be passing this way from the city."

Strong arms locked around her, holding her captive in an embrace. A giggle escaped her lips as her feet left the ground. Set down moments later, Levi's eyes darting away self-consciously, she playfully punched his chest. "You're so impulsive," she said.

A dark glare settled on her, the night turning his dark blue to completely dark. "A person's impulsive if they don't think things through. I am never impulsive." His gaze turned away with his last statement.

"Well, you'd better not be—especially tomorrow."

His arm flexed as his fingers ran though his hair, thoughts turning to heavier things. Levi lowered himself, sitting on the ground. She followed his example at his side. The foresty sounds of the night, they did not disturb with their own voices. This would probably be the last time they'd get to sit like this together, Chris thought. Dismay weighed her heart down.

Levi dared break the peaceful silence, talking in hushed tones about the best gestures to use in public. "I won't be in sight, but I'll be having my eyes on you."

She snorted. "Gee, now you're treating me like a felon."

"You should be," he returned laconically, "You stole my heart after all."

Chris froze from ripping up a leaf. She gazed up at him and gave him a sharp look. That statement if false was enough to earn him a busted lip, a bruised jaw, and maybe a black eye to complete the combo.

His eyes burned with the intensity of heartfelt honesty.

Her gaze dropped moments later. Her heart had the wings of a bird beating against the cage that held it captive—only to be crushed moments later. She couldn't admit the same thing to him—no matter how much she wished she could. She blinked back tears. God, it hurts so badly!

.......................................................

She'd looked ready to beat him up. But there Levi was, laying his heart bare. Next thing, she looked elated—then downtrodden. He lifted her face by her chin. Her eyes remained downcast. As long as there was air to breathe, he meant every word. "Chris, what's up?"

Her eyes rose to his briefly. "The sky."

She couldn't miss the disapproving raise of his brow. "That's cruel. Stop it."

It was clear he wanted to know what held her back. But how would she put it? Being blunt would make her dam of tears burst. She took his hand from her chin and covered it both of her own and dropped her gaze. "Do you remember the day you got shocked by the fence that surrounds the back of the Greenwood estate?"

Levi would never forget that day for as long as he lived. He nodded.

Her finger drew circles on the top of his hand. "When I couldn't feel your heart beating, my whole heart ripped at the seams." Her beautiful eyes rose to his. "You wanna know why?"

His fingers absently brushed her cheek, her cover accent gone. The moon cast its beams on her face. "Yeah, tell me," he said, voice near a whisper.

"I knew how you felt about God. I knew you wanted nothing to do with Him. So if you were dead, you wouldn't be with Him." Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I couldn't bear the thought of you going through such torment. I begged God to bring you back." She grinned slightly, yet her eyes were full of sadness. "He did."

Levi remembered it vividly, though he fought it out of his mind most of the time. He had a feeling he'd only tasted death. Horror unable to be uttered had been his.

Then he'd heard a Voice—with such power, it was unexplainable.

And here he was—living that second chance.

Chris saw no scorn in his eyes. All she saw was the evidence of one who knew. She reached up to place a hand on the side of his face roughened by two weeks stubble. "Why do you constantly push away the Hand that delivered you from death?"

What gently spoken words that had the power of a knife to his heart! He rose to his feet, irritated.

Frustrated and downright tired of being gentle, Chris followed his lead. "Levi, you know the truth! All your life, you've heard it!" Her voice rose despite the surroundings.

Hit in the wrong area by her words, he pivoted around, aggravated. "I never told you anything about how I was brought up," he said icily, trying to hold on to his cool.

"I can tell when someone's kicking a boulder in his path," she retorted. As he turned his back to her stubbornly, her tears began to flow freely. "And that's the same boulder that separates us." Sobs, ones she'd promised would never be allowed to pass, constricted her chest.

She headed back to the trail, passing him by. It was time to head back home anyway. She ran as fast as she could. Sobs wracking her body, tears hindering clear vision. Why had God allowed her to feel when it only meant pain and heartbreak? Why had He allowed her to come on this mission if just to meet Levi Stevens—the definition of stubbornness?

Blindly tripping over a fallen branch, she skidded on the ground. In a second, she was off the ground, arms around her waist. She kept her arms stiffly to her sides as Levi held her to his chest.

He couldn't help nuzzling the top of her head as she began to melt, though her arms didn't move from her sides. "Do you hate me?" He knew the answer. But it would be nice to hear her own voice say it aloud.

She shook her head.

He pressed his lips against her hair, the scent of her hair filling his nostrils, having her in his arms making him loss some of his senses. Her sobs ceased as he swayed with her to the rhythm of the breeze. Chris sighed against his chest, sending warm shocks up his spine. He couldn't let her go. Was there anyone else for him? What he felt for her, he knew would live on forever. When emotion faded, his heart knew, it would still remain. Should he dare say it?

Chris held her breath, his lips against her ear. He whispered, "I love you, Christina Hopper." He held her away at arms' length, his eyes held the weight of what he'd admitted. "Swear to me that you don't, and I promise I'll try to move on."

"I'd be lying if I did."

"Then what holds you back?"

Lord, why is it so hard? "You'd take me away from my First Love. My Lord God comes first."

Levi cupped her face. "How would I ever be taking you away from your faith?"

She blinked her tears back. "It would happen slowly. You don't believe. I do." She lowered her eyes. "My heart's desire is to remain faithful to Him first—the Giver of true love and life. I can't have anything—more with you."

She could have been more gracious if she'd plunged a dagger into his heart. That was her God—taking total ownership of all those who were His. Well then, let Him have her. His hands slipped from her face. He took several steps away from her.

Chris saw it in his eyes—she'd done it—hurt him. The resolve in his eyes was salt on an open wound. "I do not mean to hurt you."

"It's time to head back."

They walked back to the road in magnetic silence. Torn in two at the sight of the poor cab driver still on the wait for her across the road, she looked back at the handsome man with a steel-blank demeanor. Without further contemplation, her arms flew around his shoulders, her lips meeting the corner of his mouth.

Levi turned his head, his lips gently meeting hers. He set her away from him. "Go, Chris."

.....................................................

Sally nearly fell of the bough of the tree. Fate was truly on her side! Her mom was working late—again. And this tree filled place was her place of fresh air away from her home life. Finding out from the heights that the strange woman didn't really have a British accent was worth reporting. Both the handsome guy and the lady were plainly Yankees! Some personal things were going on below, but she didn't care. She was cashing in big time!

She pulled out her cellphone and speed dialed her "boss" for the first time. He picked up on the first ring. Heat piled into her forehead as he asked, "What have you found?"

After stuttering five seconds away, she managed to speak. "Well, they're out of sight now, but they are both Americans. Can you believe it?"

"Give me their descriptions. I need to be sure."

Sally did her best.

A low laugh followed from the other end of the line. "Well, thank you for your assistance. You're now released from your task." The line died soon after.

That was it? Sally felt sick. Why? She couldn't place it.

.........................................................

Morning arrived with the gift of sun beams streaming in through the blinds. Chris slept fitfully. She hoped it wouldn't affect the day badly. A heavy cloud hung over her—and it wasn't because of a lack of sleep. She prayed things wouldn't turn sour. She hadn't the heart or morale for it. Ending what had never even started with Stevens was weighing heavy on her. It hurt so. When would she heal?

Her dress was more comfortable than she'd thought it would be. For that, she was thankful. Her tracker was concealed under the ankle-length skirt of her flowing silvery dress. Her make-up, she tried to make match the occasion. As for her stuff, they'd have to stay as they were. However, she had destroyed her diary. She was ready—partly ready. She hadn't had the chance to check out her new weapon concealed in the heel of her shoes.

For the last two hours in the estate, Chris wandered all over it, hitching up her dress at every staircase she met. She tried printing it all in her memory.

"What are you doing, Kristal?"

She pivoted around at Thomas' voice. She smiled, him standing at the top of the stairs.

He grinned as he descended—though he looked rather pale and eyes a bit too alert. He tugged at one of his dreadlocks. "My brother's waiting in the car."

She snorted. "What a gentleman."

Thomas face dropped. "Just play this out so this all ends," he huffed out, more to himself.

Dark foreboding settled over her as she slid in the backseat of the waiting car, her nightmare beside her. Richard shot her a smile and some compliments on her appearance. How she managed to keep up small talk was a mystery.

They arrived in the city all too soon. Thomas opened her door—and she threw up, missing his shined, black dress shoes by inches. Richard's hand landed on the bare of her back. A whole new wave washed over her.

"Oh, goodness! Are you ill?" he asked, as if he cared.

She shook her head. "No, I'm fine. I guess the change of air temperatures did something." Her choice of words startled her. How had she reminded herself of Greenwood's intended plans? Thomas steadied her with a hand. She clasped it gratefully. He dusted off his crisp black suit coat in the strangest way.

Chris smiled.

......................................................

As she walked beside her companion, she kept her eye out for familiar faces in the hall. She recognized the prime minister from a distance. Taking a peek at Richard, she caught him tapping the shoulder of his expensive tailor-made suit. Something in her gave her the alarm that it was a signal of some sort. He grinned down at her. "Should we go find our seats?"

She shrugged. "I guess we should."

He led her forward, hand on her back. He leaned his head closer to hers. "Are you ready for the fireworks?" he whispered.

Her gut knew what he meant. "What fireworks?" She hid under the mask of ignorance.

"You don't remember what I showed you in the lab?"

She turned to face him then. "Of course, it was too grotesque to forget." She gave her complete thought without full comprehension. "But what has that got to do with today?" She scratched her elbow, cocking her head to the side as Richard assessed her under his blue gaze. She smiled and continued to walk on to find a seat.

Settling onto the red velvety seat in the concert hall, Chris' hand turned to fists as Richard leaned to her ear, his warm breath like icicles. "You can be really convincing, my dear." She turned to give him a questioning look.

He smiled charmingly—almost sinisterly and turned his attention back to the stage, dressed up with props to bring the era of the coming music to life.

The sight of the familiar statue of Beethoven in the corner set off her alarms. Something vibrated on her waist as the lights dimmed. She asked to be excused to use the lady's room. Greenwood consented, giving her half of his attention.

As she stood in the stall, taking several deep breaths and flushing nothing, she waited for an escape plan to pop in her head. None came. She walked out the stall frustrated. The buzzer attached to the belt on her dress had gone off, signaling that MI5 was at work. She'd done her job. It was time to scram.

She was in danger. Greenwood's words about fireworks and adding a reminder about their visit to the lab was enough hint that he suspected her all the more.

"You can be really convincing, my dear." His foreboding words echoed in her head. It surely was time to head out—including out of this strangely empty restroom.

...............................................................

There she was, walking out of the lady's restroom. Her body language told Levi she'd sensed something. He couldn't see the faces, but two guys were having a "conversation" with her. Why were they taking her arms?

Levi pounded his fists on the car's dashboard, aggravated as he helplessly watched a black figure being pressed against her side when she tried to resist. Here he was, outside in the parking lot while agents were practically everywhere inside the building undercover.

He checked his other monitor. Greenwood was still inside, maybe enjoying himself. He looked back at the live feed of Chris, his heart screaming for him to leave Greenwood and help her. But he couldn't! His order was to make sure that bag of slime was caught so he had to keep his eye on him. But there she was, subdued, not fighting anymore. That wasn't like her.

She tripped over the skirt of her dress. Was she untangling something from her shoe? Pride swelled in Levi's chest as he realized her plan. The next thing, both the guys were lying on the floor and yelling after her, Chris hurrying down a hallway, her silvery dress flowing behind her.

Levi took a glance at another monitor and his heart sank.

Oh, no.

He turned to William. "Dude, please, I gotta go."

William stared at him incredulously. "What? You're going against orders?"

Levi was desperate. "Man, you know the plan. I can't risk anything happening to her."

His hazel eyes turned dark with understanding. He nodded in consent, although his jaw tightened. "It's your life."

William watched as his friend shot out of the car—going after his girl. He had no idea why, but he felt uneasy about that. First, it was evident emotions were driving him. He only hoped he had a bit of reason in the mix. Second, Greenwood was stinking smart. What if there was a lure somewhere?

He dismissed his thoughts as he radioed for air cover and gave more orders to the agents on the inside. He had a job too. He wasn't going to blow it.

Author's note:

What do you think?

Man, I was wishing to release another chapter, but I'm still about a thousand words behind which takes about a whole day or two hours depending. Anyway... we're almost done!