NoWayOut (3 page)

“We sleep,” he answered matter-of-factly.

“But-”

“Sleep now Tiff,”

She bit back her protest, how could he expect her to sleep when there we
re so many questions needing
answering.

Chapter Three

A quick check of the bedside clock let him know that he was wasting precious time. Yet, Fae Ramj Oloff, currently known as Konstantin Jestkov Malovich couldn’t bring himself to move from the spot and away from the sleeping woman
whose
life now rested in his hands. It was strange how one act, one brief moment
in time, could change one’s path
so significantly. Yet, there he was s
taring down at the fortune
Fate, in all her glorious but confusing wisdom, bestowed on him. It wasn’t quite the introduction he had in mind, although he couldn’t entirely complain. He stopped himself from reaching f
or her, mindful of the fact
he still needed
to meet with Alexi before the night was over.

He gave Tiffany another lingering look before easing from the bed. Although fo
ol hearted, he had to admit
he admired her gumption. Being caught hadn’t seemed to ruffle her feathers one bit. He’d had to mask his amusement at her quick recovery after being discovered on the balcony. Once this was all over he’d be sure she understood the folly of putting herself in
harm’s
way, for a story nonetheless. He gave his head a mental shake refocusing on the task to be done. He’d handle his little sleeping beauty in the morning.

Despite his
inner
desire to get the sordid business done quickly his outward appearance was of a man without a care in the world as he leisurely redressed. This assignment was becoming far more convoluted than he’d expected. First off, the real Konstantin Jestkov Malovich was dead, had been for the last two months after suffering a heart attack. If Ramj knew the mobster had just inhaled enough cocaine to lay a horse flat he would have waited before materializing in front of the man. Hell, if he’d just waited a day longer the man would have surely died from an overdose. Instead, eager to rejoin his men at arms, he’d jumped the gun thinking his very appearance and a harsh chastisement would be enough to scare the human straight. It had worked in his other limited experiences as Inte
rcessor. How was he to know this assignment
would be any different? This was the first time he’d missed the mark, but did his brother, The Fae King Tul Oloff, take into consideration how the series of unfortunate events befell him, absolutely not.

***

Ramj dropped the corpse in front of the royal throne with a thud.

“Who is this?” Tul asked without so much as a raised brow.

“My assignment,” he answered his twin in a disinterested tone.

“You killed him?” This time Tul glanced down at the lifeless body.

Probably checking for wounds, Ramj thought as he crossed arms over his large bare chest in disgust.

“No, he’s a drug user. The evidence is there on his face and my back.” He’d been sure to leave it after the man fell face down into the white powdery substance he was snorting when Ramj materialized.

“Healer.” The king called. Although his voice wasn’t raised it echoed throughout the cavernous room.

A tall, slender, female Fae appeared in answer to his summons bowing politely before his imminence, in so doing her billowy garment fell forward in a slow graceful motion. Ramj saw the way his brother’s eyes lingered on the dark skinned beauty.

“Is this really necessary Tul?”

Ramj was the only Fae who dared call the King by his first name, even their elder relations refrained from such folly.

“You know it is. Healer, please ex
amine the human,” came his brother’
s reply.

Ramj kept his irritation to himself as the Healer scanned the remains. Ultimately the examination would prevent any future questions or accusation as to the cause of the man’s death.

The King nodded his dismissal when the Healer confirmed Ramj’s statement.

“So why have you brought him here?”

“As proof that my assignment has ended.”

“By no fault of your own?”

Ramj shrugged, “How was I to know about the human’s
predilections or
heart problems.”

“I’m sure it was there in his intel
ligence
brief, if you’d made time
to
absorb it.”

“And who would train the men?”

“Train them for what? Th
ere hasn’t been a need for the w
arrior class in centuries.”

The old argument raised Ramj’s ire as he was sure was his brother’s intent.

“Perhaps it’s because we have such a well-trained army that none would dare risk a confrontation.” The Gaelin/Fae War of 1700 was
the last conflict that requiring the g
uard and was over almost before it began. Once bitter enemies Gaelin and Fae now co-existed peacefully with other magical beings. The alliance of the Order
was made of Fae, Gaelin,
Nymphs, Leprechauns, Ogres and seve
ral other magical creations who
inhabited both upper and lower earth. The Order was formed in the early 1800’s handling mainly magical affairs. It wasn’t until human interest moved towards serious weapons of mass destruction that the Order began to pay closer attention to the non-magical species.

The bombing of Hiroshima and accident at Chernobyl propelled them into involvement in human affairs or risk leaving the fate of the earth to mankind.

“Or perhaps the sensibility of diplomacy prevails. Face it little brother, warriors are an obsolete caste. It’s time you found a new role within the Order.”

“And you think being an Intercessor will suit me.” The control he’d tried to maintain was rapidly fading. He should have seen i
t coming, but never thought
Tul would seriously entertain what the stodgy Elder Body of the Order advised.

“If you open your mind to the possibility, yes.”

Ramj didn’t care to continue the subject in such a public forum.

“What do you want to do with the human?”

“We’ll keep him here, on ice, until your assignment is done.”

The younger twin’s eyes narrowed, “What do you mean until the assignment’s done. The man is dead
there’s not much else to
be done.”

“And was the assignment to assassinate him?”

King or not his brother was purposefully trying his patience.

“The assignment was to have Konstantine procure weapons from Alexi Habalov and hand them over to our operatives w
ithin the UN. But obviously it
can’t be done now since the man is dead.”

“It l
ooks like you did get soak in some intel
after all.”

Ramj n
either confirmed nor denied. H
e’d only done a partial absorption, as was his habit
since being
volun
-
told
for the role
.

“You should take his place.”

“What?”

“You’re a master at the art of cloaking. I’m sure it will be nothing for you to take this man’s form. He looks close enough to our height and build, it would be child’s play for you.”

Ramj snorted, Tul
would
choose that moment to extend a
compliment.

“Sweet talking doesn’t suit you brother.”

“Somehow I doubt ordering would get us
much further, but I can do
if you’d prefer.”

Despite Ramj’s opinion Tul was still King and he’d pledged his loyalty to him long ago.

“Do you really feel this is necessary?”

“I do.”

“Alright.” He bent to pick up the lifeless human body. “I’ll take him to cryo and finish this mission as you wish, but I’ll not be as agreeable about disbanding my warriors.”

“Then we have much to discuss on your return.”

Indeed they did and for the first time in their rela
tionship it was not a fight
Ramj looked forward to.

***

The Gaelin, Yan Rasa, was Ramj’s UN contact. Like many of his species he was a tall wiry fellow standing about an inch above Ramj. Although his features were softer it wa
s a mere deception; Gaelin’s were every bit as dangerous and Fae
.

“It’s good to see you Commander Oloff.”

The man had greeted as they met at their appointed spot the previous evening. A bustling coffeehouse wasn’t exactly an ideal place, but as himself there was no way anyone could connect him with Konstantin
. Tul was correct in saying
he and Konstantin were of a similar build, both
being 6’4” and broader in upper body
.
Although Konstantin’s form was more heavily packed with muscles honed from years of training.
Ramj was surprised at
Konstantin’s physical form but learned
he was just as addicted to the endorphin rush from exercise as he was to his physical drug habit. Their bone structure was also very close, with some exceptions in flaws. Where Konstantin’s nose was slightly bent from being broken, Ramj’s was straight. Years of healthy living and strict exercise made him look much more youthful than his 150 years. By human standards he could pass for a man in his early thirties, not quite so with Konstantin. His own hair was the color of coal and hung to the top of his shoulders, while Konstantin’s was
slightly shorter and less vibrant
.
Although their silver gray eye coloring was similar
Ramj’s
was
silver w
ith distinct flecks of blue which
would appear peculiar to humans.

“Please call me Ramj.”

“All Right, Ramj.”

“How are they treating you in your new position?”

“Good Commander…Sir… I mean Ramj.” Yan cleared his throat before starting again. “There is a new development that will require your assistance.”

Ramj’s jaw tensed. Would the surprises never end with this assignment?

“There’s a woman, Tiffany Sinclair. She’s a reporter who’s been in deep cover posing as a housekeeper.”

“Come again
?” Of all the asinine things to do.

“Apparently she’s after a different story than the one in your assignment. Alexi and his partner Enrique Cortez are heavily responsible for supplying cocaine in the western States. Her story could put them away for life.”

“Does she know about the weapons?”

“Not yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”

Ramj cursed under his breath.

“Does Habalov or Cortez know who she is?”

“Thankfully not, but there’s been a few... um slip ups.”

“Slip ups?”

“Yeah, her editor contact
ed the Drug Enforcement Agency
a few months back. He gave them tips in exchange for the story’s exclusive once it broke.”

“What about this Sinclair lady, wouldn’t it be her story?”

“At first no one knew she existed. Apparently her editor failed to mention her when he was giving up the tips on Alexis’ activities.
”

“So there’s already a case being built against Alexi?”

“Against both he and Cortez, but compared to the weapons, the drugs are secondary.”

“If the DEA has them under surveillance for the drugs why haven’t they brought them in?”

“Luck mostly. The bastards must be part Leprechaun. Steve, her editor, promised another tip and we were sure we could get them or at least Cortez, but he never delivered the goods. That’s when th
e weasel finally confessed
his information came from an insider.”

“Tiffany Sinclair?”

Yan nodded.

“Does he know how much danger he’s put her in by talking to the DEA?”

“Frankly I doubt
he cares, if she were a fatality it would just cut out the middle man and he could claim all the glory when the time came.”

“Where is this human now?”

“A safe distance away.”

“Still no word from Sinclair?”

“No, but I took the liberty of doing my own surveillance and she’s okay, nothing seems out of place.”

“Maybe she caught wind of Steve’s slips.”

“Perhaps, but we need to get her out of there quick before suspicion turns in her direction.”

Yan reached into the inner pocket of his blazer and pulled out a photo.

“This is the subject.”

If Ramj had been prepared for it maybe his body’s immediate reaction would have been different, although he sorely doubted it. She was beautiful. Not in the classical sense of what one would describe as willowy nor the modern waif look. No, she had a definite pixish quality about her. The picture caught her as she and another woman loaded groceries into a waiting car. He’d zoomed in enough for Ramj to make out every detail of her soft face, from round laughing eyes to the slight dimple on one cheek as she spoke, long brown hair was tossed by the wind away from her face, as if God himself wanted to make sure her features were perfectly captured. An indescribable possessiveness took hold of him and his original assignment was temporarily forgotten. At that point his priorities changed and he knew he had to get her out of Alexi’s reach by any means necessary.