Hunting the Fox

Chapter 17

Ryan stepped out of the car first and held out his hand for Kiera. She grasped his hand stepping out of the car. Temporarily blinded, Kiera Shielded her eyes from the bright flashing lights that seemed to come from everywhere. When she could clear her vision, she saw the flashes of lights were coming from cameras.

"Lower your arm and smile." Ryan whispered into her ear, "I will lead the way."

Kiera did as Ryan suggested. She lowered her arm and smiled trying not to look directly at the camera's flash. She noticed they were standing on a red carpet with a white backdrop in the background. Kiera saw other people posing for the cameras, smiling and waving. Ryan lightly tugging her hand towards a building.

'Thank you for small miracles.' Kiera thought as Ryan led her by the hand towards the Teatro dell' Opera house.

"I never get used to it either." Ryan said grinning as he led her inside the building.

Once inside Kiera blinked her eyes a few times to clear the light spots dancing in front of her vision. Her eyes opened in amazement by the architecture of the Opera house. The main hall they were in was huge with cathedral like raised ceilings. The scrollwork and details of the building were astounding.

"The building was built in the late 1800." Ryan commented as Kiera took in all the details.

Ryan led Kiera over to a metal detector and x-ray machine. The guard apologized to each patron as they entered, but explained the need for the heightened security. All the world leaders attended tonight. Kiera thought about what Ryan had said to Victor's associate.

'I don't care what Victor says he wants. I'm doing my way and he will just have to wait.' Kiera thought about what she had heard early today. 'He can't be possibility planning something here.' Kiera looked up at Ryan with concern.

"Are you feeling alright?" Ryan asked and Kiera saw worry in his face.

"It is just a lot to take in." Kiera said quickly smiling.

"It is not over yet." Ryan chuckled.

'Is it going to happen tonight?' Kiera thought, 'No there is too much risk.'

Ryan lightly tugged her hand towards a procession of people. Kiera saw that Ryan was in his element. He shook hands with different dignitaries from a host of nations. He introduced Kiera as Doctor Reid and gave her high praise for her field in psychology. Each man complimented Ryan on his choice of women. With Kiera they joked, 'that if she every got tired of Mister Westbrook, seek them out first'. Kiera did not know whether to be shocked or offended by the comments. She chose to smile, laugh a bit, and lightly pat them on the shoulder.

"How do you do this?" Kiera inquired in a whisper as Ryan handed her a glass of wine from a passing waiter. "My head is spinning."

"You get used to it after a while." Ryan responded taking a sip of wine and scanning the area.

"There you are Ryan." Kiera heard a female voice with a deep Cornish accent say from behind them.

Kiera and Ryan turned around, "Ah Duchess of Cornwall, I have been looking for you."

"More like hiding from me?" The mid-sixties woman chuckled and patted Ryan on the forearm.

"Why would I hide from my best friend?" Ryan replied as he took her hand and kissed it.

"Well it looks like you found a new friend. Care to introduce your friend?" The Duchess asked, but Kiera heard more of a command behind that question.

"Of course," Ryan apologized, "This is Doctor Kiera Reid my girlfriend."

"Why Ryan," The Duchess faked mock surprise, "I thought I was your girlfriend."

"You will always be my girlfriend Dear Duchess." Ryan joked.

"Am I missing something?" Kiera asked in confusion as she looked from Ryan to the Duchess.

"Do not worry dear child it is a running joke between us." The Duchess waved her hand as to say I was not important, "Ryan said you're Doctor Reid?"

"Yes Duchess," Kiera responded, "I'm happy to meet you, since Ryan has not told me anything about you." Kiera gave Ryan a look.

"He is a private man, isn't he?" The Duchess replied.

"That he is." Kiera gave Ryan a sidelong look.

"Are you by chance related to the Reid's from Dundee Scotland? The Reid's who moved to the United States?" The Duchess inquired.

"Yes," Kiera replied with confusion in her voice, "I'm their daughter."

"Your parents were responsible for saving the duke, my husband's life. They were able to discover something about a liver protein or something like that, which was killing him."

"I had no clue." Kiera was amazed, "I will be sure to let them know."

"Ryan, I'm going to steal this wonderfully delightful woman for a while." The Duchess did not wait for a response, but hooked her arm around Kiera's and walked off with her.

"Help me." Kiera turned her head and mouthed toward Ryan.

"You will be ok." Ryan mouthed back, "Please bring her back in one piece." Ryan said towards the Duchess laughing.

Kiera narrowed her eyes, "I will get you for this." She mouthed to Ryan, only to see him shrug his shoulders.

As the Duchess steered Kiera through the crowd, Kiera saw a waiter walk up to Ryan and whisper something into his ear. Kiera noticed that Ryan stiffened slightly and she was not sure, but she thought the waiter whispered a name.

'Did he just say Victor' Kiera thought furrowing her brow.

"Do not worry dear," The Duchess said, "You are safe with me and please don't call me ma'am or Duchess. It is Katherine." She added patting Kiera's arm as she led Kiera towards a group of richly dressed women.

"Good evening ladies," Katherine greeted the group of women, "May I introduce Doctor Kiera Reid. Her parents are in the field of advance genetic research and Kiera here..." Katherine paused, "My dear what do you do?"

Kiera saw that this woman was smart and not to be underestimated. Katherine knew how to play this game of controlling any situation and she was a master at it.

"I'm a Psychologist practicing in the field of criminal and relationship psychology." Kiera tried to keep her voice calm. She looked at all the women, recognizing most of them coming from wealth families and political circles of different nations. She used the quiet moment to observe their body language. Few women looked at her like a mouse, some had an indifference towards her, and the rest showed interest in this new comer.

"You came in with Mister Westbrook?" A young golden haired woman asked in a German accent.

"Umm, yes I'm his date for tonight." Kiera answered trying to calm her rapidly beating heart that thumped in her ears. She heard her own voice tremble a bit. She turned her head to scan the room for Ryan.

"That is not what is being spread around the inner circles." A dark haired woman with a Russian accent said with a wicked smile.

"That will quite enough from you Natalia." The Duchess warned with an air of authority, "Kiera is my guest and you will behave yourself."

"I'm sorry Duchess," Natalia apologized looking at the ground. "I did not mean anything by it."

"I highly doubt that, Natalia.' The Duchess commented giving the woman a steely look.

The women seemed to become friendly under the Duchess's stare. They introduced themselves and moved closer to Kiera. Kiera observed they did have a tough skin that protected a vulnerable inner self. Kiera relaxed as the women talked about the wonderful time they were having in Rome. As Kiera listened, she watched their body language and was not surprise to see how they relaxed around her. They felt she was one of them. They were not mean spirited women, but women who were always in the spotlight and had to represent their nation.

"Kiera?" The golden haired woman from German called out her name.

"Yes, sorry Rachael," Kiera blinked, "I did not hear what you said?"

"I was asking if you like living in the United States or you miss Scotland?" Rachael repeated the question again.

"I miss Scotland a lot. I miss the rolling hills and the wonderful country smells. I'm hoping to move back there someday." Kiera answered Rachael's question.

She remembered their discussion his morning about moving in together. She took a moment to scan the room for him. At first, she could not see him due the amount of people in the main room. Then she saw him. Ryan was standing near a group of men. One man caught her attention. He was standing close to Ryan whispering something into his ear. Kiera also noticed that the man had a hand on Ryan's shoulder and was gripping in firmly. Ryan jaw was clenching and unclenching.

'What is going over there?' Kiera thought.

"Why did you want to become a psychologist Kiera?" Asked Natalia, Kiera turned her head back to the conversation at hand.

"I enjoy studying how the brain works and why we feel the need to lie to each other." Kiera replied smiling a bit when she saw Natalia's eyes narrow slightly.

"That sounds fascinating." Rachael piped in. Kiera noticed the genuine interest that Rachael expressed by the way she slightly leaned forward and tilted her head to listen.

"That is why she is a fascinating woman." Kiera heard Ryan's voice in her ear. She felt his hand on her bare lower back. His warm touch made her shiver and smile.

"Ryan," Natalia spoke up suddenly, "It is so nice to see you again." Kiera heard her voice become flirtatious as she sipped her wine. Kiera watched as Natalia gave Ryan a seductive look. Kiera felt jealous rise up in her at this woman.

"Hello again Natalia," Ryan said in conversationally friendly tone, "I see you husband is trying to make some deals with me tonight."

"He is always making business deals." She sniffed. Kiera sensed that she did not care about husband.

"Ladies," Ryan greeted each of them, "I have come to steal my date back, and we must take our seats for dinner." Ryan smoothly wrapped his arm around Kiera's waist and led her away.

"Enjoy your evening, Kiera." Katherine said smiling.

"Thank you Katherine for taking care of her." Ryan said and Kiera thought it a strange statement.

'Why would he want me to be taken care of?' Kiera thought.

As they walked away Kiera let out a sigh of relief, "That was tough."

"Good thing Katherine was with you." Ryan added, "The other ladies respect her and don't dare cross her path."

"How do you know Natalia?" Kiera probed trying to make her voice sound indifferent.

"I dealt with her husband a few time." Ryan explained with a shrug, "She is super jealous of you right now." Ryan chuckled.

"I saw you talking to a man earlier. He seemed to be pressing you." Kiera asked with an innocent look.

"You don't miss a thing my witty investigator." Ryan said shaking his head, "It was Natalia husband and he wanted to discuss business."

"You looked tense when he was talking to you." Kiera added.

"I don't like to discuss business at parties." Ryan explained, but Kiera saw his jaw clenched slightly. There was definitely more to that conversation than he was letting on.

"I can understand that." Kiera said empathetically and drank some wine. "When is dinner, I'm really hungry."

"We should get our seats," Ryan said nodding towards the tables, "We are sharing a table with the Katherine and her husband."

"Wonderful," Kiera said, "She is an amazing person, I would love learn more about her."

They sat down at the dinner table next to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. Kiera froze, her mouth slightly open ready to introduce herself to the Duke of Cornwall. She saw a man in his late sixties with shoulder length grey hair and weather beaten face.

"Wolf," said Kiera shocked, "Duke of Cornwall?" Kiera's head swam.

"The last time I check I was the Duke," Wolf said with a smile and Kiera saw him look towards Katherine, "I'm still the Duke right?"

"Yes you can still be the Duke of Cornwall my dear." Katherine smirked.

"Are you alright Kiera?" Ryan asked placing a hand on hers.

"I never knew he was the Duke of Cornwall. I thought he was a world renowned Archeologist."

'Sandra never told me this.' Kiera thought, 'Why?'

"I guess it slipped my mind." Ryan said with a shrug.

"It is alright," said Wolf, "Kiera I keep my political and work life separate." He explained, "It can make a dig difficult when you throw your title around."

'That explains the letter he showed the guards in the tunnels.' Kiera thought.

"That does make sense." Kiera said slowly.

"How did you know he was an archeologist?" Ryan asked slowly.

'Shit.' Kiera thought, 'It was Sandra who told me about Wolf.'

"I...I guessed," Kiera said quickly and she saw that Ryan was not fully convinced, "How else could we have gone on those private tours."

"You gave them private tours of Rome and did not include me?" Katherine said in indignant mock tone.

"I know how you don't like those Catacombs dear," replied Wolf chuckling, "You are quite the investigator Kiera." Wolf added.

"She is very observant." Ryan added.

"So why did you not tell me about my parents helping you?" Kiera asked taking a small sip of wine.

"Ah," Wolf said rubbing his chin, "I see my wife has been talking about my condition again. I don't like to talk about it, but please thank your parent when you see them next time."

"I understand and I will." Kiera replied.

"Well it looks like dinner has arrived," Wolf announced, "I'm starving, how about you Kiera?"

"I'm quite hungry myself." Kiera replied smiling.

During dinner, Kiera felt Ryan slide his hand through the slit in her dress. She jumped slightly when he squeezed her inner thigh. She glanced over at him to notice a slight smile on his face, but he kept talking to Wolf about Scotland. Kiera sipped her wine and almost coughed when Ryan slid his hand farther up her inner thigh. She squeezed her legs together tightly and stared directly at Ryan.

"Let's not get carried away Sir," She whispered and loosened her thighs, so he could remove his hand.

After dinner, everyone was encouraged to make his or her way to the opera hall, as the opera would begin in twenty minutes. Kiera and Ryan said their good byes to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. Katherine commented on inviting her to Cornwall Manor for a visit sometime. Kiera said that would be wonderful.

Once in the hall Ryan led Kiera to the upper floors. He then directed her to a door and opened it. Inside Kiera saw four seats in a box overlooking the Opera hall. She gave him a quizzically look.

"I reserved the box for us." Ryan replied with a smirk.

Kiera walked into the box and looked over the railing. She had a wonderful view of the opera hall. They were at least two stories up and the seat overlooked the stage. Kiera sat down and Ryan sat next to her. She felt him run his hand over her bare knee and then slip it between her thighs.

Unexpectedly there was a knock on the on the box door. With a sigh, Ryan stood up removing his hand from her inner thigh for a second time this night and answered the door. Kiera looked over her shoulder to see who interrupted them. An employee was standing at the entrance, apologized for the interruption, and handed Ryan a folded piece of paper. The employee bowed and left. Ryan unfolded the paper and read it, his face darkened in anger.

"What is wrong Ryan?" Kiera asked with concern for she noticed his jaw clenching in anger.

"I have a call downstairs in the lobby." Ryan answered Kiera and she heard a tone of anger in his voice. She was not sure if the tone was because they were interrupted or something else.

"Can't it wait?" Kiera asked hopefully.

"I wish it could, but something happened at GenFund." Ryan replied.

"Nothing serious I hope?" Kiera asked.

"Just something important that requires my attention." Ryan sighed walked up to Kiera and kissed her lightly on lips, "I will be back in five minutes."

"Five minutes." Kiera repeated.

"Yes." Ryan answered then walked out the box closing the door.

Kiera sat in her seat tapping her foot wondering where Ryan was. It was past the five minutes and the lights had just dimmed in the opera hall to signal everyone to take their seats.

'The opera is about to start.' Kiera thought, 'Where is he?' Kiera thought. A moment later, she heard the door open behind her.

"Ryan whe..." Kiera stopped in mid-sentence, her words caught in her throat. Standing at the entrance to the box seats was a tall broad shoulder man holding a gun. The gun pointed at her with a silencer on the barrel. Kiera felt her heart beat rapidly and sweat break out on her forehead.

"Come quietly or else." The stranger said in a strong polish accent.

"Who...who are you?" Kiera asked finding her voice to speak again.

"I'm not going to ask you again." The man walked up and quickly grabbed Kiera arm in a vice-like grip. He yanked Kiera to her feet.

Kiera gritted her teeth and winced in pain as the man roughly grabbed her and pulled her up. She stood up and felt the barrel of the silencer pressed sharply into her ribs.

"My boss wishes to see you." The man said, "This is what is going to happen." The stranger explained, "I'm going to put away my gun, but if you try anything." The man squeezed her arm tightly and smirked as Kiera winced in pain.

Kiera watched him as he holstered the gun into a shoulder holster on his left side, but he kept a hand inside his jacket. He pulled Kiera by her right arm towards the door. He nodded to Kiera to open the door and she did as he instructed. The man scanned the hallway and Kiera saw he was relieved to find the hall empty.

'He knows what he is doing.' Kiera thought as the man pulled her out into the hallway.

The stranger kept Kiera close to his left side as he led her down the hall. Kiera saw they had reached the stairwell and the man looked around again.

"Open the door." The man ordered, "Slowly, no funny business." He squeezed her arm to let her know he was serious.

Kiera grasped the door handle and pulled the door open slowly. The stranger pushed her inside the stair well and pushed her towards the stairs leading downward.

"Where are we going?" Kiera asked in a trembling voice.

"You will see. Now go." He ordered.

As he led her down the flight of stairs, Kiera thought she heard voices.

'This could me my chance to escape.' Kiera thought and then her heart dropped.

"Ryan," A Greek accented male spoke, "Why do you keep disobeying me?"

"I don't think he heard you, boss." A German accented voice spoke. Then Kiera jumped as she heard a muffled sound and a grunt of pain.

"Keep going girl." The man said pushing her.

"Nothing to say Ryan," Kiera heard the Greek man say again. "No quick witty remarks from the Fox."

Everything came into view, as the man brought Kiera down to the bottom of the stairs and around the corner. She saw an olive skinned man in a tuxedo with a neatly trimmed beard standing next to Ryan. A bald man was holding Ryan up by his arms, pinning them in place behind his back. A third man with tattoos on his hands was cracking his knuckles. Ryan's head was hanging and he was breathing hard.

"Ah, here is the lovely Doctor Kiera Reid.' The olive skinned man announced in a Greek accent, "I must say Fox. She is more exquisite up close." The Greek man walked towards Kiera and ran the back of his hand down her cheek.

Kiera flinched away and the man smiled, but his eyes had a threating look in them. This was not a man to cross.

"What is she doing here Victor?" Ryan said through gritted teeth and looked up. Kiera heard the pain in his voice.

"She is my guest and here to ensure you cooperate." Victor replied as if it all made sense.

'So this is Victor.' Kiera thought watching Victor as he walked back towards Ryan.

"Ryan what is going on?" Kiera asked, hearing her voice tremble with panic.

"Ryan was supposed to do something for me." Victor answered for Ryan, "But he has failed to complete the task."

"I told you..." His voice was cutoff when the person with the tattoos on his hands punched Ryan in the stomach. Kiera cried out as she saw Ryan's knees give out, but the other man held him up.

"Ryan, Fox," Victor said, "Whatever you go by, listen carefully." Victor lifted Ryan face up by the chin.

Kiera swallowed as she felt the grip on her arm loosen slightly. She glanced up with her eyes to see the man holding her was watching the scene intensely. She noticed that his right hand was hanging at his side now and not inside his jacket were it had being a moment ago.

"You need to do as I say." Victor ordered, "You do not threaten me, because I will make you suffer. That is why I brought your girlfriend down here. I'm going to take her with me and if you don't do as I instructed. I will mail you a piece of her at a time."

Kiera saw in Ryan's eyes that Victor was telling the truth. Kiera's eyes when wide as she understood her situation, there was no were for Kiera and Ryan to go. Taking a deep breath, she slowly brought up her foot while everyone's attention was on Ryan and Victor. She slammed the high heel down the shin of her captor and into the top of his foot. She thought she heard something crunch as the man holding her grunted in pain and released her right arm. Without a second to lose, Kiera rammed her elbow into the side of the man's neck, striking a cluster of nerves. The effect caused the man's arm to go numb.

Using her left hand, she reached into the man's jacket and withdrew the gun. The man grabbed her wrist with is right arm and she withdrew the gun. Kiera struck out with her left knee sharply and made contact with the man's groin. She felt something give as the man let go of her wrist and slumped to the ground.

Kiera turned quickly and pointed the gun at Victor. The whole act took less than a second and the other two thugs did not have time to move.

"Let Ryan go." Kiera said through gritted teeth breathing heavy. She felt her hands trembling as she pointed the gun at Victor.

"This young woman has spunk." Victor said with a smile letting go of Ryan's chin and turning around to face Kiera. "What do you plan on doing girl?"

Kiera took a deep breath to stead her hands, "If you don't let Ryan go right now. I'm going to shoot you were it counts." Kiera lowered the gun pointing it at his groin.

"Do you really think you can get away with this?" Victor said with an eyebrow raised. Kiera saw a trickle of sweat run down the side of his face and he licked his lips nervously. She knew that at this moment he was unsure of the situation.

"The question is do you think you can get away with this?" Kiera repeated and stared at him with determination. "Make your decision now, I'm losing my patience." Kiera made sure that they could see her squeeze the trigger lightly with her finger.

"Ok," Victor said quickly, "Let's not get hastily. We were just having fun." Victor smiled shrugging.

"Let Ryan go now." Kiera ordered.

"Let him go." Victor ordered turning his head to his thugs.

The bald man let go Ryan and to Kiera's surprise, Ryan kept his feet under himself. With one quick motion, he punched the other person squarely in the jaw. The man's eyes rolled in his head as he dropped to the ground. Kiera saw the bald man tried to punch Ryan from behind. Kiera quickly aimed the gun at the man's hand and pulled the trigger. There was a puffing sound and the man dropped to the ground holding a bleeding hand.

"I warned you Victor." Kiera quickly trained the gun back on him, "Are you okay Ryan?" Kiera asked Ryan as he walked over to her.

"I'm fine, let's get out of here." Ryan replied then he turned to Victor, "You messed with the wrong woman Victor."

"We will see about that." Victor responded with venom in his voice. "You will pay for this my dear."

Kiera backed towards the stairs slowly while keeping the gun trained on Victor. When no one moved, Kiera and Ryan ran up the stairs quickly. Once they reached the main level Kiera looked back to make sure they were not followed. Ryan opened the door to the main lobby and glanced around. Kiera felt him pull the gun from her trembling hands. She watched him hid the gun under his jacket. Kiera was dazed and numb by what had just happened. Ryan put his right arm around her waist and left her thought the lobby.

Kiera noticed that Ryan remained calm as he walked her through the partial empty lobby. He moved with a purpose, but walked in a way to ensure they did not attract attention. Once outside, Kiera took a deep breath, inhaling the cool night air. A taxi pulled up at the entrance and Ryan gently pushed Kiera into the back.

"To the Boscolo Exedra," Kiera heard Ryan tell the driver.

Ryan slumped into the seat next to Kiera and took a deep breath.

"Are you okay Kiera?" Ryan whispered into Kiera's ear.

'I shot a man.' Kiera thought breathing heavy.

"Stop the car, I feel sick." Kiera blurted out.

The driver stopped the car quickly near a side street. Kiera fumbled with the door. As she opened it, she leaned her head out the door, closed her eyes and threw up. Ryan leaned over holding her hair back as Kiera's stomach heaved. Her stomach heaved a few more cramping up. She opened her eyes, and was shocked to see blood in her vomit.

"Do you feel better?" Ryan asked quietly.

Kiera held up a shaky hand to stop him from asking anything else. She took slow deep breaths, trying to call her frayed nerves. Finally, she felt better and sat up leaning against the seat. She closed her eyes against the dizzy feeling she had. She heard Ryan tell the drive to go and the backdoor closing.

'What the hell just happened?' Kiera thought as her head pounded, "there is more going on, and I'm caught in the middle of it.'