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Rain trickled down the window panes, coursing river paths. The room was dark, heavy with apprehension. Kevin clasped Miranda’s hand tightly as he led her into the spacious suite. He didn’t bother to flick the light switch beside the door, opting instead, to turn on the small lamps on either side of the sofa.
Not a word had been spoken between them since Kevin had pulled Miranda into his arms, except to let the cab driver know which hotel to take them to. Speaking was too painful as yet, there being so many things to say and no way to force the words past their lips. The only thing keeping them grounded was the feel of the other.
They sat on the couch, plush and luxurious. Miranda ran her palm along the fabric, wishing as she did, that it was Kevin’s skin. To be so close, able to reach out and touch him, was torture. Sweet, but torture none the less. The two figures sat apart on the sofa, like nervous thirtteen year olds on their first date. Neither knew where to begin to ease the pain of their separation. It was nearly too hard to believe the other was really there and not a figment of the imagination. Having been deprived of the other’s touch for so long, it was almost painful for them to be together. But beneath the pain, lay a sense of recovery. Recovery of the missing piece of one’s self.
Kevin stretched his hand across the space between them. Not missing the movement out of the corner of her eye, Miranda let her own palm meet him halfway. Slowly, their fingers entertwined, her smooth skin sliding against his slightly calloused hands. Kevin’s grip tightened, bringing tears to Miranda’s eyes. She had dreamed so long of this moment, and now that it was finally here, she longed to throw herself into her lover’s arms. But there were still things to be discussed. Feelings to sort out.
“Miranda?” Kevin’s hesitant voice broke through the silence. She had almost fogotten the deep and soothing tones in which he spoke. She turned her head to face him, their eyes meeting at once. “Tell me whathappened.”
Miranda cleared her throat and looked away, though she still felt Kevin’s eyes upon her. “I can’t. It’s much too dangerous. Even now, years later, there’s still a chance that one of us could be hurt by my confidances.”
“I don’t care about that. All I want, is to know what’s been happening in your abscence. I deserve to know why you left me.” hepersisted.
“You might have to pay for it later. I don’t want anything happening to you.” Miranda shook head. Kevin pressed her hand.
“Please, Miranda.”
She gave a heavy sigh and Kevin held his breath.
“I left you that night to help Anthony lock up the Mariposa. When I got there I..... three men stood in the back room. Two were restraining Anthony, and the third......there’s no easy way to say this......but the third man was killing him.” At this, Kevin inhaled sharply. Miranda looked down at her free hand resting in her lap. Her resolve to keep quiet had melted away, but it was soon replaced with unwanted memories. The same memories which haunted her dreams. “The blood was pooled on the floor-” Miranda’s eyes grew glassy, “-and I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t call for help or anything. I remember looking into Anthony’s eyes and I could swear he recognized me.....recognized that I was there. The men saw me then. I knew by the way they killed him with out emotion, that they wouldn’t hesitate to take me as well. So I ran. I ran so fast and so hard that I could hardly breathe. I collapsed on a side street. When I regained consciousness I was in the Orlando PD.” Kevin squeezed Miranda’s hand reassuringly, correctly sensing that it was difficult for her to speak of the events which took place over two years ago. As she spoke, she was reliving them. “I looked through mug shots, recounted my story a thousand times, and stayed with a woman officer. Finally, I was told I would have to go away for a time. They wanted to enroll me in a witness protection program, and an agent assigned to my case would take care of me. It turns out, the men who killed Anthony were mafia mercenaries. I was next in line for a grave, near as they could tell. That’s when Harris came into the picture. He’s my agent, and also the man you saw on the docks that day. While you’ve been climbing up the industry ladder, I’ve been moving from city to city with Harris and Amy.” Miranda faced him. “I wanted to tell you Kevin, that I’m proud of you. I always knew you would make it.” she reached across the distance between them, and laid her palm gently against his cheek. “I’m proud of you.” she repeated. A tear slid down his cheek as he echoed her touch, movingnear.
“I’ve wanted to hear you say that for so long, Mira. You can’t possibly know how much I needed you.” his voice choked, and Kevin felt his throat close up.
“Probably just as much as I needed you.”
“If you had told me what was happening, I would have come with you. I wouldn’t have hesitated-”
Miranda shook her head forcefully. “No. I could have NEVER asked that of you. You were destined to make music, and there’s no way I would have interferred with that. It was your dream.” she added softly.
“YOU are my dream. Not a night has passed in these two years when your eyes, and your laugh, and your body haven’t come back to haunt me. I miss you in my arms.” Miranda nodded her agreement and they sat in silence for a moment. “Why’d they kill Anthony? You said they were connected with the mafia?” Kevin hazarded curiously. Again, Miranda hesitated. After a moment,
“Anthony was one of them, Kevin.” she informed him bitterly.
“What do you mean?! Anthony was....?”
“Drug trafficing, money laundering, you name it. The Mariposa offered the perfect cover for an operation like that. Drug shipments came in regularly, every Tuesday. The following Monday, the payment collectors would come pick up the money which found it’s way into Anthony’s hands from dealers purchasing his ‘wares’.”
“Did you know about this?” Kevin interrupted, praying her answer would be in the negative.
“No. If I had, I would have turned him into the authorities in a heartbeat. I’d like to see him rotting in jail. I’d like that verymuch.”
“If the operation ran so smoothly, then why did they take him out?”
“Anthony was a greedy man. He was never satisfied with what life handed him, he always tried to push it. He milked everything for all it was worth, including this tidy little arrangment. Rule number one when dealing with the mafia: Don’t try to beat them at their own game. You sure as hell shouldn’t skim off the top, either.”
“Drugs or money?”
“Anthony wasn’t stupid. Coniving, yes. Stupid, no. It was always about the money to him.”
“Where do you fit in?”
“Anthony could have locked up the Mariposa that night. He didn’t need me to help him, that was for sure. It was a set up. He knew those men were coming with orders to kill whoever was present, and he was planning on convieniantly stepping out when they arrived. Unfortunately for him, I was running late.”
The only sound in the room was that of the rain falling against the windows. The remains of the day had long ago faded, leaving the night in it’s wake. The city lights shone faintly through the glass, offering minimal illumination. Neither Kevin nor Miranda made a move to remedy their situation by turning on the lights. Minutes passed, the two sitting closely now.
“Miranda?” Kevin whispered softly. She turned her face to him, only to find their noses almost touching. His hazel eyes burned into her own blue grey orbs. “Do you remember what we were doing that made youlate?”
“I remember.”
“Do you miss me?”
“Yes.”
“I miss you too.”
“Hold me, tonight?”
“I have been, every night. In my dreams.” With that, Kevin circled his arms around her, pulling her against his chest. She sat with her back to him, enjoying the feel of his muscular upper body bracing her, giving her support. No inhibitions remained between them. “When you disappeared for three days between the time you left for the Mariposa and the time we met again at the marina, I was so scared. But never more than when I watched you walk away from me.”
“I didn’t want to leave. I had to, for your safety as well as my own. If something had happened to you, I could never forgive myself....How did you recognize me?”
“Other than the ring?” she nodded. “Your eyes. I’ve never been able to forget their color and the way you look at me. The red meat thing helped a bit too.” he grinned. With one hand, Kevin began to stroke Miranda’s short black hair.
“It’s awful, isn’t it?”
“What is?”
“My hair.” she replied forlornly.
“It’s not so bad.” a tender smile covered his lips as he continued playing with her silky strands. “The color washes you out a bitthough.”
“I’ve been every color of the rainbow, Kevin. My eyes too.”
“Contacts?”
“Yes.”
“That’s probably why I couldn’t recognize you at first. Your eyes were too blue. I did have an idea, though. Subconscious as it was.” he mused. She covered the hand he had on her stomach with her tiny palms. Picking up his hand, she turned it over in her grasp, inspecting the lines and skin patterns he bore.
“Your hands were always so strong, so comforting...” she murmured. Kevin bowed his head, burrying his nose in her hair, then his face in her neck. Softly, he planted a kiss on Miranda’s shoulder. Quietly, she turned her face into his chest, feeling him tighten his hold on her. They sat on the couch like that for what seemed like an eternity.
“I wanted to marry you, you know.” he whispered into the darkness.
“What!?” Miranda pulled slightly away hoping to better see his features. “You did?”
“Yeah.” he groaned. If you were me, you’d want to marry you too. You’re perfect, everything I had ever been looking for.”
“I can’t believe you were thinking of marriage at that point in your career.” she said softly.
“That’s the thing, Miranda. It was never only about my career. Sure, it was important, but it was YOU that I wanted. I wanted to spend the rest of my life waking up next to you. Feeling you beside me.”
“But everything’s changed, now.” she sighed sadly.
“Has it?” he asked.
“Kevin.....In four months or less, I’m going to have to leave again. Who knows-”
“Shh.” he commanded, placing a finger over her lips. “I don’t want to think about that now. If you’re leaving, I’m coming with you.”
“That’s impossible.”
“It doesn’t have to be.” he insisted stubbornly.
“Yes, it does!” she stated firmly. The silence between them returned, stretching on endlessly. The clock on the mantel ticked mercilessly, reminding them of every wasted second. The rain continued to fall, pattering against the glass.
“I still love you.” Kevin told her.
“I know.”
“Then be with me.” he whispered softly. “Even if it’s only for tonight. Even if you have to leave tomorrow. Be with me. Give me something else to remember, instead of your receeding back. I can’t live with that as my last memory of you.” he said quietly.
Slowly, she pivoted to him. They gazed at one another for a moment before she gave her consent by leaning into him. Kevin didn’t need to be granted permission twice, and he captured her lips with his own. She was soft and sweet, supple and willing. Her lips tasted the same as they had two years ago, a fact that Kevin found comforting. Their kiss was hesitant, exploritory at first. He raised a hand to caress her face, and Miranda let her arms wrap around his neck. Their lips parted, and his green eyes startled her with their intensity. “I haven’t been with anyone else, Miranda. I want you to know that.” he informed her quietly. “I haven’t wanted to.” She nodded and leaned in to kiss himagain. “You’re the only one I’ve always ever wanted. I haven’t even looked at another man.” she confessed as Kevin smiled.
“Good.” They continued to kiss and reaquaint themselves. Not much had changed; each fit right back into the rhythem of their lovemaking, as though they had never left.
The moonlight poured through the window onto the bed, glinting softly off of their skin. It highlighted Miranda’s hair, and cast shadows over Kevin’s flesh. His lips never strayed far from her body and she reveled in the feel of his skin sliding slickly against hers. The rain continued to fall from the sky, much like the tears which wet their cheeks. It had been two and a half years; nine hundred, twenty two days. But the three hours left until dawn were heaven, and lasted an eternity.
*****
Miranda woke to the feeling of someone’s arms wrapped securely around her. A smile graced her lips as she remembered the events of the night before. Kevin had been as sweet and gentle as their time apart would allow; she had given herself up to him. Now, she lay cuddled in his embrace as the early morning rays of sunlight pooled onto the blankets which covered them both. Exhaling a sigh of contentment, Miranda was about to close her eyes again when she felt Kevin’s lips press a soft kiss to her head.
“Goodmorning,” he murmured sleepily.
“Hey you.” she whispered, thinking as she did that it had been much too long since she had woken up next to him.
“Sleep well?”
“Better than I have in a long time.”
He pressed his lips to her neck. “We could stay here all day. No one will miss us. I’m sure the woman you work with -what was her name?- can handle everything.”
“The woman I- OH MY GOD!” Miranda leapt from Kevin’s embrace and starred at him in shock. “Amy! She doesn’t know where I am, Oh God. She’s going to KILL me!”
“WHAT?!” Kevin shouted, jumping from their warm nest as well. Miranda realized the choice of words she had made and shook her head.
“No, no! Amy’s my agent. I didn’t tell her where we were going, let alone that I was with you. And now you kow, so I’ll have to tell her that too! What a mess....” She trailed off scurrying to pull her jeans over her hips.
“Hold up! I thought some guy named Harris was your agent.”
“I have two of them. Harris is working on another case right now, so Amy’s all I’ve got. She’s probably out of her mind, wondering where I am. I hope she hasn’t called the feds or anything.”
“You’ve only been gone four or five hours.”
“That’s four hours too many!”
“Well, come on then.” Kevin ordered, pulling a shirt over his head. “It’s not that far to the venue.”
*@*
Carl thumbed through a copy of Cosmo, and scrutinized the women between it’s covers. They were always so thin. Carl liked a bit of meat on his women. He wanted to know he was holding a lady when he pulled a female into his arms. Pausing for a moment to rifle in his pocket for a stick of gum, Carl almost missed the hotel room door opening quietly. Almost, but not quite.
Shifting narrowed eyes toward the portal, he was surprised to see his target exit the suite. What was he doing up at this ungodly hour? Carl recieved another blow when a slim raven haired woman followed him closely from the room. He did a double take. Yes, it was indeed a female, and on an even more mind blowing note, she was the chick fromwardrobe.
“Well, well. What DO we have here?” Carl muttered. His beady eyes appraised the lady, many years of being paid to notice the details assisting him. Something was different. He hadn’t been able to place his finger on it, but Carl had observed the slight change several days ago. What was it about her? Her hair was still ebony black, her complection still pale as a ghost, and her eyes still- That was it! Her eyes. No longer crystal blue, they shone blue grey; bright and true. Carl squinted his eyes and attempted to picture her with long, red, curls. It wasn’t totally far fetched. She had just about the same stature as the girl they were after. The more Carl pondered it, the more probability the wild idea had.
He watched as the couple reached the end of the hallway and impatiently pushed the ‘down’ button for the elevator. A little hair dye and colored contacts could do wonders.
“Mama always said, miracles happen every day.”
*****
Amy paced the confines of the wardrobe room anxiously. “I’m telling you, Harris. One minute she was here, and the next gone! I have NO idea where she went, let alone what she’s doing. They could have gotten her.........What if you’re wrong and we DO have a tail?..........How can you be sure?......I’m so worried Harris.” Amy spoke into her cell phone, the sound of her partner’s voice calming her somewhat, but not nearlyenough.
Just as Amy was about to have a breakdown, the sound of several pairs of approaching feet could be heard. They were coming at a hurried pace. Before Amy knew it, the door to wardrobe was thrown open and before her stood the very subject of her conversation with Harris.
“Mir- Bethany!” Amy cried, enveloping Miranda in a tight hug. “I was so worried!” she hissed in her ear. Miranda returned Amy’s embrace and was surprised to feel her guardian trembling a bit. Remorse filled her for causing her friend strife. “Harris?” Amy pulled away and spoke quietly into the phone. “She’s here now........No, don’t worry about it........We’ll be fine, though she has brought an unexpected visitor with her.......No, I’ll handle it......Thanks.” Turning back to Miranda, she awaited an explanation. Kevin stood tall and solid next to Miranda, his hand resting protectively on the small of her back.
“He knows, Amy.”
“So I see. Did you tell him?”
“I figured it out.” Kevin answered, his hazel eyes not wavering from Amy’s. She gave a curt nod.
“Smart man. We disguised her pretty well, or so I thought.”
“It took me a while, but I recognized her.”
Amy shifted her attention back to Miranda. “You’ve been with him the entire time?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, Amy. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“But you did. I was about to phone the feds, you know.” she replied. “That would have cost the tax payers a lot of money, too. Setting up a mission to rescue you from the clutches of the mafia only to find you were here all along. Not mention the embarrassment and senseless worry the Bureau would have suffered. As it is, you’ve practically given me a massive coronary, and that’s the last thing weneed.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
“I’ve violated the cardinal rule of the Program, Miranda. I’ve become involved and I care about what happens to you. I can’t help that, you’re my friend. I don’t want to lose you so promise me you’ll not do that again, alright?” Amy asked hoarsely. Both of the women’s eyes shone with tears of relief and they embraced again. When they pulled away, Amy turned to Kevin.
“So, you’re the hunky boyfriend, huh?”
He laughed. “Guilty as charged.”
“Hmmm. And all this time, I pictured him as a blonde.”
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