Control, Enkindle

"Pity," he said, not sounding at all like he meant it. "Cassie and Ana will hate to see you go."

"Maybe," I said with a shrug. "But that's how life is. I'll make sure to not be a stranger though."

"Gotta do what you gotta do," he said.

I almost wanted to tell him to remember those words but I didn't. It would be way too ominous.

"I don't think I need to remind you not to talk about any of this, right?" I asked. Not rude or pointed, just in a normal conversational tone. "You know, this," I added and tapped behind my ear.

"I'm not stupid Jason," he said. Debatable but I digress. "That shit is scary as fuck and I almost wish you hadn't showed it to me. Adds a whole new level of paranoia, you know, just knowing that stuff like that is even possible."

I just shrugged. That was his problem, not mine. "It has saved your ass more than once these past few days."

"Yeah," he said, a bit absent minded as he threw a look in the rear view mirror, ostensibly at Melinda. "Listen, we're friends, right?"

"We are," I said, somewhat guarded. A conversation that started like that usually never ended up as anything good.

He didn't immediately continue, pausing for a moment. "Do you think I could convince you to sell me two of those things?" he asked, focusing on the road. "I'd pay really good, of course."

One of my eyebrows rose. Well, that was interesting.

"Why?" I asked, already having a pretty good idea.

"Does it matter?" he asked.

"More than you can fathom."

Again he paused, giving me a quick glance before turning his focus back to the road. "Cassie already suspects what I do isn't exactly straight. I don't think she has managed to figure out specifics yet but if she does I don't really know how she would react," he said. "And well, if she suspects then Ana wouldn't be far behind."

I just chuckled and shook my head. "You're worried that your shit will catch up to you." And rightly so. "That's funny, hilarious even."

I saw his jaw tense and his knuckles turn white as he gripped the wheel tighter. "What do you want me to say?"

"Well, you could at least admit that you're losing grip of the situation," I said, ticking off a finger on my left hand. "And that you know that Cassandra would be gone quicker than you could blink if she knew," I continued and ticked off another finger. "And that you would rather turn her into something that she's not just so you can have the cake and eat it." Another finger. "Oh, and you don't like the fact that she's the one with the pants in the house."

"Fine," he spat. He was angry, that much was easy to tell. Whether it was because of what I said or because it was true was harder to tell. "I'll say whatever you want. Just name a price and I'll pay it."

Chuckling again I gave him a slap on the shoulder. "Relax man. I'm just fucking with ya." Looking in the sun visor mirror again I said, a little louder, "Hey princess. What do you think? Should I help Marcus here with turning his wife and daughter into obedient little puppies?"

She looked up, startled, and didn't respond. I didn't think she expected to be pulled into the conversation.

"Come now," I continued. "You can say whatever you want."

She blinked then turned to look at Marcus.

"I think he can go fuck himself," she said, deadpan and without hesitation.

I laughed, enjoying the look of fury that appeared on Marcus' face.

"Fuck you, you little cunt," he spat, glaring at her in the rear view mirror.

"Let me rephrase the question," I said. "What do you think is a fair price to turn his wife and daughter into obedient little dogs?"

She looked thoughtful for a second then tilted her head on the side. "A million dollars," she said, making it sound more like a question than a statement. "Each," she added.

"Done," Marcus snapped before I had a chance to say anything. "I can have it ready tomorrow evening. Cash."

Letting out a low whistle I said, "Wow. You really are desperate."

"Do we have a deal?" he asked, his voice pointed and no nonsense.

"Maybe," I said. "Let me think about it. I got all the money I need for now. Maybe I can think of something else you can do for me."

His jaw flexed again before he inclined his head.

-o-o-o-o-o-

When we got back to the house the girls were occupying their usual place on the veranda next to the pool. Allie had her laptop while Cassandra and Anastasia were doing a workout routine to some kind of zen inspired music, both of them clad in yoga pants and sport tops. As fun as it would have been to watch them I unfortunately had other things to take care of. Without alerting them to our return I signaled for Melinda to follow me back to my room, her carrying the two aluminum briefcases. Marcus disappeared somewhere else and I wasn't particularly interested in where.

"Are you really going to do it?" Melinda asked as soon as the door closed behind her. "To those two, I mean."

"Pff, fuck that," I said, pulling out an empty duffel bag from under the bed. "Not for him at least."

"Why did you act like you would consider it then?" she asked, placing the briefcases on the bed.

"Because I'm playing the game," I said, snapping open one of the cases. "You know, the thing we talked about. Money in there, by the way." I nodded to the duffel bag.

As I headed over to my computer on the desk she began taking the money stacks out and placing them in the bag.

"So you're going to what, do something to him?" she asked.

"You've got awfully many questions today, don't you," I said, pulling out my phone and connecting it to my computer.

"Just curious," she said. "I don't really care."

"Yeah well, don't you have a 'boyfriend' or something you need to text?" I said, flipping through my phone until i got to Miss Sofie. "Shut up for a moment."

Three tones passed before she picked up.

"What do you want now?" her voice cut in, swift and hard.

"Good day to you too," I replied, voice sarcastic.

"I still have a headache from whatever the fuck you did to me."

"Boo-fucking-hoo. You'll get over it," I said. "I have something else for you to do."

"No. Screw you. I'm not doing anything more for you," she all but snarled. Someone must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed.

"I'm not really asking," I said. "You have a boyfriend Miss Sofie? Maybe a husband even? Answer the question."

"Yes," came her choked response.

"Good for you. From now on you don't find him attractive anymore. In fact, the thought of being with him repulses you," I said, half grinning.

There came a strangled shout of frustration from the other side. "How the fuck are you doing this to me?!"

"Wouldn't you like to know," I said. "Now shut up and listen. Actually, go get a pen and something to write on. I don't much care to repeat myself."

I explained to her what I wanted her to do and made sure she understood. Near the end of my instructions I swirled around on the chair just out of old habit. I saw Melinda grinning like a toddler in a toy shop, obviously having listened in on my conversation and liking what she heard.

"I want it before lunch tomorrow, preferably earlier if you can manage it," I said. "Did you get everything down?"

"Yeah," she said. "Not like I have a choice. Fucking bastard."

"Indeed," I said. "And if you do a good job maybe I'll consider reversing that bit about your boyfriend."

I was just about to hang up when I remembered something.

"Oh, and how are you coming along with that meeting with your supervisor?"

"I put in a request for a face to face. It hasn't been answered yet," she said and I could hear that she was talking through grit teeth.

"Well, hurry it along as best you can. I don't care how you do it," I said. "I want to know the minute you have something."

I didn't wait for a reply before ending the call. The diagnostic I had run on her implant had finished seconds before, the data now being displayed on my computer. An initial survey told me that there had been no permanent damage from the memory copy. This was good but the method obviously needed refinement. The headache she had been complaining about didn't look too bad but I could imagine it had been much worse, to the point of incapacitating her for an extended period of time. That little kink needed to be worked out.

"You're scary," Melinda said from behind me. "You know that right?"

"I can be, when I want to," I said, not turning away from the screen.

"How do you do that anyway," she said. "Stay five steps ahead all the time?"

"Practice mostly," I replied, starting to rifle through the data. "Lots and lots of it. Go away now. I need to work and you're distracting."

"Fine. Asshole," she huffed and began heading for the door.

"Melinda?" i called just as she reached it.

"What?"

"Come here," I said without looking up from the screen. She sauntered over next to me, arms folded and scowling.

"Give it here," I said, holding out my hand, palm up.

"Give what?" she asked and to her credit she did make it sound believable. The command wasn't specific enough even though I knew she knew what I was referring to.

"Five steps ahead, remember?" I said, turning to look at her. "Last chance."

Her shoulders slumped and she sighed. Reaching down under her dress she pulled out one of the bundles of bills, placing it on my open palm.

"Only ten?" I asked, surprised. "Thought you'd try for more. I'm almost a little disappointed."

"In this dress? Impossible," she said, not at all ashamed that she had been caught. I could see her point, two of them, in fact. "Can I go now?"

"Yeah, whatever," I said, turning back to the computer.

Just as she turned around I got a hunch. My arm shot out, grabbing her wrist.

"Wha-"

With my other hand I quickly pushed it between her legs and up.

"Nice try," I said, pulling out another ten thousand bundle, having been held there between her thighs, just like the other one.

"Oh fuck off," she muttered, pulling her wrist from my grip. "It's not like you need that much money anyway."

"Maybe, maybe not," I said, throwing the stack onto the other. "That doesn't change the fact that you haven't earned any of it."

"Whatever," she said, heading for the door.

I watched her leave, her walk a lot more fluid all of a sudden. Narrowing my eyes I considered calling her back once more and have her strip, just to make sure. I decided against it though. As far as I was concerned, if she had managed to hide yet another stack, then she had earned it.

-o-o-o-o-o-

There was a knock on the door some fifteen minutes later. That meant it could only be one out of three people. And indeed, a moment later Anastasia's face appeared in the door frame.

"You busy?" she asked, speaking low.

"Not for you," I said, swirling the chair around to face her.

She gave me a smile and entered the room, still wearing her workout outfit.

"Didn't notice you got back," she said, softly closing the door behind her.

"You looked busy," I said with a shrug.

"It's mama," she said, shaking her head. "Trying to keep my mind off, well, yesterday."

"And how's that working out?"

"Not at all," she said, looking a little awkward and scratching her neck. She had her incredibly long silver hair set in the longest ponytail I had ever seen.

"Still upset about the Tom debacle?" I asked, tapping one of my thighs. It was a relatively stupid question but sometimes stupid questions show that you care. And I did. About her, that is, not Tom.

She approached and sat down on my lap, snaking an arm around my neck. Her usual flowery scent had a musky hint to it, attesting to the fact that their workout routine was more than just for show.

"Yeah, it still bothers me," she said. "But more because I didn't see it coming, because I actually thought I could trust him."

Stroking her arm I said, "Goes to show that one can never truly know someone." And wasn't that the truth? Well, unless you were me and could control minds.

"It's just so... unbelievable," she said, shaking her head. "I almost want to call him up just so he can explain how someone can do that. I mean we were engaged. That doesn't just happen out of the blue."

I noted the vacant and a little bit paler spot on her finger where the diamond ring had been.

"Maybe he didn't want to get married and just didn't know how to tell you," I said.

"Is that how you guys think? Too scared to talk about something and so you decide to cheat instead?" She sounded a little bitter.

"Some do, I suppose," I said.

"Maybe I could ask papa," she said, scowling. "He seem to have a fair bit of experience."

"That would be pretty fun to watch," I said and tried to imagine Marcus' reaction.

"He's a bad man, I know," she said and started to play with my necklace again.

Sighing I gave her a squeeze. "Suppose there's no use in denying the fact. I'd be a hypocrite, though, if I didn't admit that I'm not much better."

She got a frown on her face and didn't immediately respond. A few moments passed and I glanced at my computer. It was currently runnings scans on both Allie and Melinda. Gabrielle, it seemed, was out of reach. I would have to complete that later.

"Do you... um..." she began, hesitating. I gave her another squeeze, urging her to continue. "Do you, eh... do you hurt them... like he does?"

There was little doubt in my mind which 'them' she was referring to. I hadn't seen Marcus in action but after what he had done to Melinda I could readily imagine what he was capable of.

"Depends on how you look at it," I said, running a hand through my hair. "If you mean physically, then no. I have no interest in that. I've never understood the joy of inflicting physical harm on someone else, be it an animal or a human." Emotional and mental however... that's a different ball game.

"If you mean in a broader sense then I would have a harder time denying it. I am actively helping, after all," I said. The two stacks of cash was still on my desk and as if to emphasize I picked them up and showed them to her. "And profit from it."

She was silent for a long time, just staring at the money.

"It's different," she finally said and took one of the stacks. She began flipping through it, over and over, absentminded. "You're different."

Well, I wasn't going to argue with her. I had been more honest with her than I had with anyone I hadn't placed an implant on, yet I still couldn't count the things I had, were and probably would lie about on both my hands. Much easier to just let her believe I was 'different'.

"I'm leaving soon," I said, changing the subject. I felt her tense next to me. "In a day or two. I promised you I wouldn't just sneak away this time."

"Why?" she asked, voice a little strained.

"I'm not sure you would want to know," I said and that much was true, but for different reasons than the obvious ones.

She bit her lower lip, searching my eyes, seeming uncertain. "Tell me," she said after a few seconds.

"Well," I said, pausing, contemplating on exactly how much and what to tell her. "Because of Marcus, mostly. Things are getting... dangerous. And I'm not very comfortable in the direction things are heading. Also because I'm finished with what I came here to do."

Her eyes narrowed a fraction. "Dangerous how?"

I threw a glance at the computer, another excuse to stall for a few seconds. "Ever heard the name Viscolenti?"

She thought for a second then shook her head.

"They're a family here in Italy, a part of the mafia," I said. "From what I've been able to figure out they're a pretty rough bunch. Not the kind you'd want to have any dealings with, much less owe anything to."

"And they are somehow involved?" she asked, not showing nearly the amount of concern that she should had she been aware of how serious such a situation could be.

"Looks like it," I said with a slow nod. "I don't know if it's a new thing or if Marcus have been working with them for a while. Doesn't matter though. I'm not planning to be around when the proverbial shit hits the fan."

She nodded and furrowed her brow in thought. Another minute of silence passed. It wasn't until my computer let out a low ping, signaling the completion of the scan of Allie, that she broke the silence.

"I've been thinking about it. What you said," she said, again playing with my necklace and not meeting my eyes. "And I want to come with you this time."

Nodding I said, "I did say that, didn't I."

Her fingers stopped fidgeting with the necklace. "You don't want me to?"

"I do," I reaffirmed and I did, however complicated it would be. There was always the option of the implant though, so I wasn't too worried. "But more than that I think its the smart thing to do. I can't stress enough how dangerous it is that Marcus is working with the mob. If something were to happen, well, they're not exactly known for their mercy. If they want to hurt you they don't just beat you and be done with it. No they go for the things closest to you, like family, relatives, lovers, children, even your goldfish if that's what you hold most dear."

A look of hesitant caution appeared on her face as she looked up at me, a sign that she was starting to see how serious the situation was.

Before she could say anything I continued. "And before I leave I intend to tell Cassandra the same. Not what it is he's doing but the danger she could end up finding herself in. It's... not fair, the game he's playing with not just his own life, but yours and hers too."

"I should talk to him," she said, looking very worried all of a sudden, and rightly so.

"You could," I agreed. "But I don't think it would do much. Even if you did manage to convince him to pull out that would probably only do more harm than good. You don't just back out with these people."

"You did," she said.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I was hired to do a job and I finished it. Nothing more, nothing less. Marcus is working with them, not for them."

"But there's gotta be something we can do," she said.

"There is," I said and nodded. "Which is what I'm doing right now. I'm telling you and I'm going to tell Cassandra. More than that and I might find myself in more trouble than I can handle. Marcus is gonna have to figure this one out on his own."