Damien watched her with his heart in his eyes. His soul screamed out for hers. His heart ached for hers. And his touch longed for hers.

  Cecelia. She looked happy as she smiled at him. “Come on, Damien. We’re not getting any younger waiting here. The movie’s about to start”, she said playfully and tried to drag him by the arm.

  “Oh, goody, another chick flick”, he teased as he followed her into the theater.

  She poked him in the chest. “You promised me you’d come see it with me if I won the sparring match. Besides, it has some action in it”, she told him, and she actually sounded convincing. Had he not known the movie he would have believed her.

  His neck still hurt from their sparring match. He told himself he let her win to soothe his ego. However, not even he could deny that she could kick some serious butt. No doubt, she always held her own when they were out fighting bad guys.

  He rolled his eyes, trying his hardest not to smile. “What action could there possibly be in ‘Dirty Dancing’?” he laughed.

  She put her hands around his neck and leaned close to his ear to whisper, “I didn’t mean that kind of action”, and kissed his cheek before leading the way to find seats. A grin spread across his face. He couldn’t remember smiling this much before he met her. Or his body stirring as much. It was painful walking around constantly with a hard on. And only Cecelia could do that to him. And he loved it. Loved her.

  “What about up there?” she asked and pointed to a corner with two seats.

  He leaned close to her. “Nobody puts my baby in a corner”, he playfully mocked the quote of Patrick Swayze and swatted her on the butt. She yelped and looked shocked.

  “I believe the line you’re thinking of is ‘Nobody puts baby in a corner”, she corrected him, apparently not catching the sexual joke.

  He gave her a mischievous smile and a wink. “I know”
  
-----

  Half way through the movie, a loud beeping and buzzing came from Damien’s
waistband. Evil looks came from every corner of the theater. “Is that your emergency line?” Cecelia asked.

  He nodded his head and heard her emergency line start ringing as he exited the room with her close on his heels. “Broxus speaking”, he answered.

  He heard heavy breathing on the other end. “Damien, we got a bit of a situation on our hands”, Carson said.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “There’s a hostage situation down at the bank on 5th street. And you’ll never guess who the slimy bastard is in charge”

  He was going to say “I don’t know” until he heard Cecelia practically shout, “Charlie”. A sinking feeling suddenly overcame him. “Tell me it’s not Charlie”, he begged.

  Charlie had been part of the force for years alongside Damien. They’d gone through training together. Hell, they’d been friends for years. That had all changed when Charlie had slowly begun losing his mind after his wife and daughter had been murdered.

  Damien had been the one on scene, but it was too late. The guy had killed both of them before he made it to the room. However, Charlie had never believed him and blamed him for everything. Shortly thereafter, Charlie had quit the police force and Damien hadn’t heard from him since. Until now.

  “I’m sorry, but, yeah, it is Charlie. He’s gone insane. I’ve already contacted Parker and Harrington”, and with that he hung up and turned to see Cecelia close her own phone as well.

  She got a pout. “Oh, poo, now we won’t be able to finish the movie”, she whined.

  Damien sent a silent thanks to the gods. Sitting through that movie was torture. Especially when it was the fifth time. “What a shame”, he said sarcastically and put an arm around her shoulders.

  She slipped her arms around his waist. She could feel how tense he was. Something was wrong, and she was sure she knew what it was. “You okay?”

  He looked down at her with pain in his eyes, but he forced a smile. “I’m fine, why wouldn’t I be?” He didn’t want to worry her.

  She laced her fingers through his. Silence stretched out between them. She didn’t want to say anything to upset him, but she wanted to somehow soothe him. “It’s okay”, she whispered and snuggled closer to him as they walked to his car.

  Once inside the car, they sat in silence. She knew he was hurting and he felt betrayed. She hated to ask, but she knew she had to. She waited until they arrived at the scene and got out of the car.

  She put a hand on his arm to get his attention. “What’s our story gonna be? How about my car wouldn’t start? Or perhaps you were fixing my dish washer?” she suggested.

  His heart melted. Always, she was thinking of him. Not wanting to ruin his reputation. But he didn’t care about his reputation any more. She was all he cared about. “You don’t have a dishwasher”, he growled and captured her lips with his own.

  She was startled by his kiss, but couldn’t help the small moan in the back of her throat. “Everyone’s gonna see us”

  He pulled her closer to the heat of his body. “Let them see”, he grumbled against her lips. Her taste was intoxicating and addicting. The softness of her lips against his was driving him out of his mind.

  “But…” He took advantage of her open mouth and deepened the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him even closer to her as if she never wanted to let go.

  Someone cleared their throat and they broke apart reluctantly. All he wanted to do was throw Cecelia over his shoulder and take her to his home so he could have her all to himself.

  They both turned their attention to Harrington, who was standing in front of them with his arms crossed. “Parker”, he said and nodded to Cecelia. “Broxus”, this time nodding to Damien. “This way”, indicating for them to follow.

  They followed him, but Damien never let go of Cecelia. He kept his arm around her shoulders. He wanted everyone else to know that she was off limits. And he just wanted to feel her close to him.

  Jennifer saw them together and smiled. “Bout time you tow came out. It’ not like everyone didn’t already know”, she said, then turned her attention back to the scene.

  They found Harrington on the phone with his hand motioning for them to come but to stay quiet.

  “No, please, that won’t be necessary. I’ll send them in”, Harrington said into the phone.

  Whoever was on the other end responded by hanging up. Harrington practically
slammed the phone shut.

  “You two”, he said and pointed at Cecelia and Damien. “Charlie’s demanding we send you two in, and no one else. Or he’ll shoot another hostage”

  It troubled both of them a little, but they wouldn’t question it. “Okay, we’ll go get out gear on”, she said and started to pull Damien away with her.

  Harrington shook his head. “No, no gear or guns. Charlie’s demands, not mine”

  Damien’s heart dropped and his anger snapped. He wasn’t going to allow it. No, he wasn’t going to risk Cecelia like that. “That’s bull shit, Harrington, and you know it”

  Harrington placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “I know, and I’m sorry. I hate to risk you guys, but he’s got seventeen hostages with two of them dead already. So I have to send you two in”, Harrington said and Damien saw how much his decision troubled him.

  He felt Cecelia’s hand on his chest. He turned his head toward her and met her loving gaze. “It’s alright. We’ll be okay”, she told him, but he was still afraid for her. He didn’t want to lose her.

  All he could do was nod his head when what he really wanted was to take her away. But he couldn’t. This was their job and they had to do it.

  “Good luck you two. You’re gonna need it”, Harrington said as they walked
through the door to the bank building.

  While they waited for the elevator, Cecelia told him “I’ve got something to tell you when we get out of here”

  Puzzled, he couldn’t help but wonder what she wanted to tell him. The insane part of his brain came up with countless things. The sane part didn’t want to work; it had been left at the door when they came in with no gear or back up.

  “I’ve got something to tell you”, he agreed. He was going to tell her how much she meant to him and how much he loved her. He didn’t want to think about either of them not making it out alive.

  He didn’t want to think about Charlie either, but that was impossible. Damien still felt Charlie’s betrayal. Everyone, including Damian, knew that Charlie had been crazy lately, but none of them had even thought he’d do anything close to this.

  Holding people hostage was low, even for Charlie. The man he’d once been would look at himself with distaste.

  The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival. Eight gun barrels turned toward them as they stepped out of the elevator. Damien didn’t recognize seven of the men, but Charlie’s face he could never forget.

  Charlie stood next to a woman and pleading for them not to hurt her. “Bout time you got here. I almost had to make an example out of Ms. Chase here”, Charlie said with a scowl.

  “What do you want? Why are you doing this?” Cecelia demanded, holding her hands away from her body so as not to alarm the mad men.

  Charlie made a show of looking around them. “You mean this little heist. This was
just to get your attention. I knew that I would have control in this situation. I could care less about the money. No, that’s not what I want”

  “Then what do you want?” Damien asked, drawing the attention to himself.

  Charlie laughed, and not just a light chuckle. It was a deep laugh that echoed off the walls. “What I want? Now that’s an easy question. One you should know the answer to’

  Charlie looked back to Cecelia. “Come here, Cecelia”, he ordered when she hesitated, he held his gun to the head of the female hostage next to him. “Now, or I’ll blow her brains out”

  This time she didn’t hesitate. Careful, as not to alarm him, she slowly walked over to where he stood. She had a bad feeling.

  Charlie took his gun from the hostage’s head and pointed it at Cecelia’s head.
“Doesn’t it just eat you up inside knowing that I hold your life in my hands?” he taunted her. “Turn around and face him”, he ordered and practically spat out the last word so she knew who he was talking about.

  Damien held her worried gaze before he met the hateful stare of Charlie. “She could have been left out of this. But she’s in it because of you. Her life is in danger. All because of you. You just couldn’t leave her alone. No, you had to go and fuck
her”, Charlie spat out distastefully.

  It took everything in Damien not to charge over there and punch the little bastard. He’d never fucked her. No. They’d been making love. And now, he was hopelessly in love and he was about to lose her.

  “And you stood idly by while my sister and son were murdered. You bastard”

  “That’s bull shit and you know it”, Damien defended himself. He’d done everything he could for Marcia and Conner, but it hadn’t been enough.

  Charlie indicated Cecelia. “You have come to care for her”, he said and pointed the gun at her back. “Now you’ll know pain. The pain of losing the one you love most”

  Cecelia looked panicked. “You don’t want to do this Charlie. You don’t want to hurt me”, she pleaded.

  Damien felt his heart in the back of his throat. “Charlie, please, I’m begging you not to hurt her. Take me instead. I’m the one you’re really mad at. She’s innocent. Just let her go”, Damien begged.

  Charlie snickered. “Prepare to know pain, Damien. It’s about to become your new bedmate instead of poor, dear Cecelia”, he said, gleefully, and pulled the trigger.

  The shot rang out and Cecelia was propelled forward. She thought she heard Damien’s cry of anguish. She felt his arms close around her as she landed on the floor.

  Vaguely, she was aware of doors being thrust open and law enforcement and SWAT bursting through taking control.

  Damien felt helpless as he held her in his arms. Blood was spewing from the wound that started in her back and went through her chest. The bullet had torn all the way through, and if he wasn’t mistaking, her heart.

  “Don’t leave me Cece. Help is on the way. Paramedics will be here any second’, he told her, putting pressure on the wound, but he knew that it was too late. The rate she was losing blood and the amount was too horrible.

  Blood came out the corner of her mouth, but when he wiped it away, it just came back. “Oh, god, no”, he choked on a sob

  Her eyes stared up at his with love and nearly lifeless. “Damian, I… I wanted to… to tell you –“

  He pressed a finger to her lips. “Ssh, you’re gonna tell me when this is over just like you said. You’re gonna be fine”, he choked out in denial of the inevitable.

  Tears came from the corners of her eyes. His were as well. “You can’t die on me, Cecelia. I love you’, he told her. Glad she finally knew. He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Surely, fate wouldn’t be so cruel.

  She gave him a bloody smile and reached up to cup his cheek. He felt how cold her skin was and it scared him more than anything. His eyes met hers. “I love you”, she whispered as her eyes closed and her last breath left her body.

  Pain lacerated his heart. “No!” his cry of pain and denial echoed off the walls. He hugged her lifeless body to him. “No, Cecelia baby, wake up. You need to wake up for me”, he pleaded and kissed her eyelids.

  He thought about those eyes never opening again. Never again would he see them light up with joy. Or see them light up with fire when she was angry.

  He hadn’t cried like a baby since, well, when he was a baby... Now, he cried even
harder than that.

  He didn’t want to live without her. No, he couldn’t live without her. His heart ached as if he, to, had been shot.

  A hand fell on his shoulder. “You got to let her go, buddy”, Harrington told him,
but it barely registered until someone tried to take her form his arms.

  “No! You’re not going to take her from me”, he stated and hugged her even tighter to him.

  Harrington stooped down until they were eye to eye. “You have to let her go, Damien. She’s dead”

  Damien didn’t want to believe him. “No, she’s not dead”, he sobbed and turned Cecelia’s face up. “She can’t be. No. Come on, baby. Wake up for me”, he begged and kissed her cheeks.

  She didn’t wake. His heart shattered into what seemed a million pieces. His arms loosened and they took her from his arms. “No”, he whimpered, but they’d already taken her from him. “Give her back to me”, he demanded rising to his feet and tried
to go after them.

  But Harrington restrained him. “She’s gone man. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing you can do now”, he said and when Damien didn’t stop struggling, wrestled him to the ground. In his grief stricken state, it was easy for Harrington to restrain him.

  “She’s not gone”, he heard Damien sob into the floor. Harrington’s heart went out to him. He was grieving, but nowhere near as much as Damien. And just when he thought Damien was calming down, he started thrashing around. “It’s your fault, Harrington. Your fault. You sent us in here without our gear. You”

  Harrington didn’t take any offense at the words. Damien was in pain and saying
things he didn’t mean. If it would help Damien get through this by blaming him, then he would let him. However, right now, Damien seemed to be in shock. When the paramedics came, he sent Damien to the hospital to be checked out. The last thing he wanted was for him to be in a straight jacket.