Assassin X

Alex

When Raven had turned him down for a date, he was certain that was going to be her final answer. And he was sure it was because of the double life she was leading. The way she looked when he asked her those few handfuls of questions, she had seemed so nervous about it all. For someone who was so stealthy during the night, quick enough to kill and man and good enough to make it look like it was an accident, she didn't seem so steady during the day. At any moment she looked like she was ready to crack wide open.

Getting to know her should be easy, even if she hadn't changed her mind for a date. Just a couple of more trips to the coffee shop and if she was as fragile as she seemed then he'd be able to break her open and get what Captain needed. But it was an even greater surprise when she called and changed her mind, wanting to meet that night for dinner.

It was rather unfortunate though that she was as pretty as she was, as cute as she was. In any other circumstance he would have been pumped that she had changed her mind and called that same night. Raven was definitely the type of girl that he would have wanted to date. It was hard to look at her cute little nose ring and those streaks in her hair, her shyness and that little vulnerable mystery, and think that what she was hiding was the amount of people she killed. Such a waste of a cute girl.

When she called to make dinner plans for that night, he knew he was going to have an even easier time than he thought. She hadn't even pushed him off until the weekend. She wanted to see him right then, that night. The moment he hung up with her, he made reservations at seven for a pub that had great reviews and was always packed because of the cocktails and the interesting menu. Alex had always wanted to go there but had never had a reason, but a date with Raven seemed like the perfect reason.

Not that he was considering it a real date of course, which he convinced himself of over and over again like a mantra in his mind. Still, there was a definite part of him that was excited to get a chance to see her again. It wouldn't be the same once he got what he need from her and put those handcuffs on her, but he wasn't going to be using them in the fun way.

Alex was seated at the bar, waiting for her, his first beer done and his second ordered before she finally walked into the bar. When she touched him on the shoulder and he turned to look at her, he almost forgot the whole purpose of the night. A skin tight red dress, strapless, with black heels that made her legs looks like they went on for miles, would make even the strongest mad forget his morals.

"I'm glad you could make it tonight,”she said and smiled.

He noticed that she had pinned her hair pack, away from her heart shaped faced, and it made her features, those pretty eyes and those dark eyelashes, that nose ring that apparently he couldn't get over, and those full shiny lips, even more defined and perfect.

Why did she have to be a killer?

He shook his head and tried to focus on the task at hand. Infiltrate the girl, get the information they needed, end this serial killer crime spree. If only he had met her a week earlier, maybe something else may have happened. Maybe a real date, maybe a hook-up, maybe she could have found a way to get him to settle down a little for more than just one date. But immediately he banished that thought away because no matter what had happened if he'd met her before, it wouldn't have changed the truth of what she was.

He needed to put his charm back on and use it to his advantage to get the job done.

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world Raven.”

Why did he keep saying her name? It probably sounded creepy and like he was coming on too strong, but every time he said it he liked the sound of it more and more. Like a perfect beer or the delicious kiss of a woman, he loved how it felt in his mouth and on his tongue

"Sorry I kept you waiting. I just…I couldn't decide what to wear. I don't date much, or ever really.”

She was blurted out her confession and then ended it with an uncomfortable giggle. How was it even possible that she was a killer? That wasn't the first time and he was sure not the last time that he would wonder that about her.

"Don't worry, there was beer to keep me company and a girl who was worth the wait. Are you ready to get our table?”

She nodded but bit her lip and looked longingly at the bar. Alex smiled, the girl was nervous. He didn't think she was lying at all about not dating. He was sure that dating didn't quite fit into her busy schedule of ringing up coffee customers and killing people. It only added to her confusing charm.

"Do you want to get a drink first?”

Her eyes lit up and she nodded vigorously. Alex laughed, he couldn't help it, she was really something else. But it was an act, it had to be. No girl could be that tiny and cute and then kill a man with her bare hands, could she? The bartender came at his Alex's signal and Raven ordered a double martini, extra dirty.

"Oh, a vodka girl? I don't think I would have expected that.”

The bartender mixed her drink and he watched Raven watching him. "What would you have expected?” she asked vacantly.

"Something sweet, fruity. Maybe a sweeter martini or a sweet wine?”

She smiled and gave a sheepish shrug. "Sometimes that stuff just doesn't do. Sometimes you need the harder stuff.”

Another laugh escaped him and to his own surprise he was enjoying his date more than he was thinking about his job.

The bartender gave Raven her drink and she took a sip quickly, closing her eyes and relishing the taste. A few dirty thoughts passed through his mind as her eyes closed and she made a quiet moan of satisfaction.

"Are you ready to sit?" he asked her abruptly.

She gave him her small smile and nodded. The hostess, who would have been cute in her own right if he had been interested in her, took them to their table. Raven was the only girl on his mind at the moment but he had to keep her in his mind for the right reasons.

"I've never heard of this place before,”she admitted when they sat.

"You really don't get out much do you?”he teased her a little.

Raven was wide eyed reading the menu, ostrich burger and duck wings and more odd assortments of food, and he could tell that she really wasn't lying. She obviously hadn't heard of this place or its reputation of food.

"Um, no, I really don't I guess.”

She looked up at him expectantly and he had this feeling that she was ready to up and run at any moment. There was a fear, an uncomfortable feeling that he got from her, and before he could think about it, he reached across the table and brushed her hand.

"Hey, I've never been here either, so I guess we're in this together huh?”

He meant it to ease her tension and relax her a little but her eyes met his and he saw a little flicker in them. Something that bordered on relief and hope. As quickly as it was there it was gone, and Alex was left wondering what it had been.

"So, what do you think you want to eat?”Alex tried to relieve her tension.

"I think the chicken and waffle sandwich sounds good. I love bacon.”Raven smiled, for the first time that night, and Alex warmed a little inside.

"I think I'm going to go with the ostrich burger.”

She crinkled that tiny nose of hers and let out another giggle. "Really? Ostrich?”

"I figured this place has rave reviews for its food and its cocktails. I'm having their brewed beer so I might as well enjoy the unique food. Speaking of, how's your drink, feeling more relaxed?”

Raven took a sip of her martini, she was already nearing the bottom of it, and he watched as she put the last olive in her mouth and sucked it between her lips. That was sexy. And he hated olives.

"I think I'm ready for another,”she said without breaking eye contact.

The waitress came and took their food order and they ordered their second round of drinks.

"So, where are you from? What's your story?”

Alex decided that Raven was a girl that he could easily get in over his head with so he was going to need to get to his point and do it quickly. If not, he was liable to forget just how dangerous she was and start thinking only about how much he was staring to want her.

But their waitress brought the drink and Raven sipped hers greedily. “You first,"  she told him.

He was sure she was going to avoid any personal information, but maybe if he decided to open up a little first then maybe he'd start to crack into her. No pun intended on how he wanted to crack into her. So, he decided to play along a little and started to talk about himself.

"Well, there isn't much to tell. Nothing really exciting has really ever happened. Pretty normal childhood, good family, played sports in the streets with the neighbor kids. Went to school, got a degree and got a job.”

OK, so he had to admit that wasn't exactly opening up but it was a start. Alex wasn't used to having to talk about himself. Most girls on a date loved to talk about themselves, but Raven wanted to say nothing at all.

"There's been nothing at all in your life that's been significant? Really?”

She downed the last of her martini and sat back in her chair looking rather deflated. Ok, he reasoned, if he was going to get anything out of her then he really may have to share a little about himself.

"Well, my father was killed when I was young.”

Raven's eyes popped open.  "Really? That's awful! What happened?”

"He was shot in the line of duty…”

The moment the words came out of his mouth he saw her face pale. That was a bad move. He shouldn't have said anything about his dad being a cop, and lesson learned that he wasn't going to ever be able to tell her about himself. Not really. Why hadn't he thought of that before? Rookie mistake about revealing something that he shouldn't. He wasn't going to make that mistake again.

"Yea, that cop life wasn't for me. I hate it actually. Would never have anything to do with the cops personally.”

Maybe he was overcompensating in an attempt to keep her there, but he was fairly certain she was about to bolt from the table and he wouldn't hear from her again. Quickly he signaled to the waitress to bring her another drink. Raven seemed to be enjoying the martinis far too much to walk away, plus he saw a food runner bringing out their dinners.

"Oh, well, um, yea. I'm sorry about your dad. That's really sad.”

The plates were set in front of them and the waitress dropped Raven's drink off. She was a little trapped so once again Alex brushed his hand against hers but he lingered a little longer this time. Rubbing his thumb against her knuckles, back and forth. She could never know he was a cop, she had to think she could trust him, and he was going to do everything he could to make her feel that way.