Capitolo 3 :: 3

Pubblicato: 27-05-05 - Ultimo aggiornamento: 05-04-06

Commenti: For those of you who wonder where Ryo, Kaori and the rest of the gang are... Their time in the spotlight is coming. ^^ I just wanted Mick to have some alone time. Don't get mad. Kiss, M.

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The insistent ringing of the phone on his nightstand woke him from the best erotic dream of his life. It involved Cory, her delectable body – he never saw her without her clothes, but he had an awesome imagination – and her amazing lips. She could work magic with that mouth of hers.  

The phone rang again.  

»Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. « Mick muttered, bringing the receiver to his ear. »What?! «  

»Mick Angel? « a friendly voice inquired.  

»Depends. Who’s asking? «  

»Kaibara Shin. «  

Mick was wide-awake. Kaibara. What could the crazy drug lord want from him? Mick was afraid he already knew the answer.  

»What is it, Angel? « Kaibara chuckled. »Cat got your tongue? «  

»What do you want, Kaibara? «  

»I have a job for you. «  

This was it, then. »What kind of job? «  

»A hit. «  

Mick stood, walking to the window. »Who’s the target? «  

»Saeba Ryo. « There was a slight pause. »Your friend, if I’m not mistaken. «  

Mick stared out the window. »What makes you think I’ll do it then? «  

»I’ll pay you quite handsomely. « Kaibara spoke as if buying a puppy.  

»I don’t give a shit about money! «  

»Think of your lovely girlfriend, Angel. « A hint of menace entered the madman’s voice.  

»Leave Cory out of it, « Mick growled, fear clutching at his heart.  

»Miss McGuire is quite lovely. Charming and sweet. « Kaibara taunted. »Talented, too. A real catch. It would be a pity if she was whisked off, don’t you think? «  

»Touch her and you’re a dead man. «  

»No need for threats, Angel. Kill Saeba and you can live happily ever after with your beautiful illustrator. «  

»But if I don’t, you’ll kill her. «  

Kaibara tut-tutted. »I never said that. I don’t kill innocent young women. «  

»No, you just ruin young men’s lives. «  

»Watch that mouth of yours, Angel! « Kaibara cleared his throat, all friendliness again. »So, what’s your answer, Angel? Kill your friend, or lose the woman you love? «  

Mick’s jaw clenched. »Leave a black suitcase with twenty million dollars and all the data at JFK’s grave. «  

»Consider it done… that is just the prepayment, of course. Don’t let me down, Angel. «  

The line broke.  

With a savage curse, Mick threw the receiver against the wall.  

The White House was beautiful at night. The lawn and façade were aglow, floodlight beams piercing the dark, star-strewn sky. The Capitol Hill rose above Washington in all its might and beauty.  

Mick and Cory loved walking along Pennsylvania Avenue. Summer nights were lovely when the stars were out and the moon cast its glow on the city.  

Tonight, though, Cory felt something was terribly wrong. Mick was drawn, pensive, and she was starting to get worried.  

»Wanna talk? « She gently squeezed his fingers.  

»About what? « He murmured gloomily.  

She sighed. »What is worrying you. «  

»Not a thing. «  

Cory rolled her eyes. »Plah-ease, Mick. Spare me. «  

»What do you want me to say, Cory? « That I have to kill my best friend? That I’m a killer? That my hands are smeared with blood and I’ll never be able to wash it away?  

»How about the truth? «  

He stopped, glaring at her in the darkness. »The truth? Look who’s talking about telling the truth, Miss Mystery. Why don’t you tell me the truth about yourself… Cory McGuire? «  

Her face remained impassive, her eyes iced up. »Go to hell. « She took off, her heels clicking on the pavement.  

»Shit…« Mick shook his head. He was such an ass. It wasn’t her fault he was edgy. »Cory, wait. « Grabbing her wrist, he drew her to a halt. »I’m sorry. «  

There was hurt in her voice. »Just because you’re angry, you don’t have to vent it on other people. «  

»I’m sorry, « he repeated softly, pulling her into his embrace. »I’m an idiot. I didn’t mean to say that. « He kissed her forehead. »I’m sorry. «  

She hugged his waist, hiding her face in his shoulder. »I’m sorry, too. I don’t want you to go to hell. «  

I’ll probably end up there no matter what. »Would you forgive me sooner, if I invited you for an ice-cream?«  

»You’re already forgiven, « she smiled at him. »But that ice cream would certainly come handy. « She looped her arm around his. »And I know just the place. «  

…  

Half an hour later Mick looked incredulously down at the largest sundae he ever saw. There was one in front of Cory, too, albeit hugely diminished.  

She took him to her ‘secret spot’ as she called it. She has apparently been coming here for four years, since she moved to Washington.  

The lovely café had a warm and homey Victorian feeling to it. The plush armchairs and sofas were made for relaxing. The aroma of fresh ground coffee permeated the air and the sight of the woman before him, stuffing herself with sundae, made him grin. She reminded him of Ryo. He frowned again.  

Cory patted her stomach, happily clicking her tongue. »Yum! I feel better already. « Seeing the untouched sundae before her boyfriend, she eyed it longingly. »Are you going to eat that? No point of going to was… « She noticed his grim expression. Oy, here we go again. »What’s the matter, Mick?«  

»I have to go away for a while. «  

She has been sure he wouldn’t answer; she remained speechless for a few moments. Then she smiled. »That’s it? I thought you were cheating on me or something. «  

His sky-blue eyes bore into hers. »I’m serious, Cory. «  

»When? «  

»Tomorrow morning. «  

She nodded. »May I ask where you’re going. «  

»Tokyo. «  

Has he found out about her? »Why? « Her voice trembled.  

His eyes narrowed. What are you afraid of? »Nothing much. I have to… visit… my best friend. «  

»The one you told me about? «  

»Yeah. « What has gotten into him to tell her about Ryo, he still didn’t know.  

…  

It was a month into their relationship and she teased him about not having any true friends. They were curled on her sofa, watching a rerun of ‘MacGyver’.  

»Mick, « Cory turned to him during the Alpo commercial.  

»Hmm? «  

She smiled, winking. »OK, so you have friends, but do you have a best friend? «  

Mick nodded, never moving his eyes off the TV set.  

»Yeeeeeees? « She nudged him with her knee.  

»We used to work together in New York. «  

She huffed. »Another ‘security expert’. «  

His eyebrow lifted when he looked at her. »What is that supposed to mean? «  

Cory shrugged. »Well, I thought he was someone exciting… Don’t look at me like that. There’s nothing wrong with being a security expert, whatever the hell that is, but it must be incredibly boring. I mean, look at you. You don’t have an office, your work at home, and since we met, I’ve never seen you busy… and yet you’re loaded. «  

It was Mick’s turn to shrug. »People pay good money to feel protected. «  

»Whatever. « She hugged a throw-pillow, MacGyver completely forgotten. »Tell me about him. «  

»What would you like to know? «  

»Nothing fancy, I guess. « She took a sip of her tea. »What drew you to him? Why is he your best friend? «  

»We have much in common. «  

Cory was silent, waiting for him to elaborate.  

»We’re both loners. Not trusting people easily. « Mick sighed. He’s told her this much, why not continue? »We’re both orphans. «  

Cory’s heart bled for him. For both of them. She knew how it felt losing your parents at a tender age. At least she had her brother.  

»But I was luckier than him, I guess. «  

»Why? « she asked softly.  

»He doesn’t remember his parents at all. He remembers nothing before the accident. «  

»Accident? « She turned the TV off. It was hard to talk with MacGyver poking around a bomb with a pocket knife.  

Mick sighed again. »When he was a boy, his plane crashed in the middle of the South American jungle. He was the sole survivor. «  

Cory gasped. »Oh, my God. «  

»He joined the guerilla in the civil war. Had to kill in order to live. Learned everything there was about weapons, explosives, man-to man combat…«  

Goose bumps rose on Cory’s skin. A small boy with no recollection of his past growing up in a jungle, learning to kill, learning to survive by all means possible…  

»… betrayed by the man he called his father…«  

Warm tears trickled down Cory’s cheeks.  

…  

»… then he moved to Japan and I haven’t heard of him since. «  

Cory sniffled, eyes red and puffy. »I can’t even imagine what he went through… A tragic hero of modern times. «  

»Hey, « Mick pouted slightly. »Don’t fall for him. «  

She smacked his chest. »Silly. I’ve never known the man… What is his name, anyway? «  

»I don’t know. «  

Cory rolled her eyes. »He must have told you. You worked together. «  

»He doesn’t know, Cory. He forgot everything. «  

…  

»Well, « Cory stole a spoon of his sundae. »You’ll see him again after all these years. It should be a happy moment. Lose the gloomy face. «  

His lips extended into a large, goofy grin.  

»Much better, « she laughed. »Now you look like a schmuck, but it’s still much better. «  

»Ha-ha. « He playfully smacked her knuckles with his spoon. »Stop stealing my dessert! «  

Cory pouted. »It’s melting. «  

»Not any more. « Laughing, he dug in.  

Mick walked her to her door, resigned to spend another night – and many to come – in agony. He desperately needed to have her writhing naked under him, but alas, that will have to remain a dream until his return. Then, he will have her… if he returned.  

»Cory, I’m not good at goodbyes. I don’t want you to come at the airport tomorrow. I don’t think I could do it. «  

»Okay, « she whispered. Having arrived at her doorstep, Cory squeezed his fingers tightly. »How long will you be gone? «  

Mick’s heart skipped a beat at what he saw blossoming in her eyes. Was it possible? »I don’t know yet… A couple of weeks probably. «  

»Oh. « There was a fist tightening around her heart. The feeling of dread started creeping through her veins. She tightened her grip on his fingers. »Promise you’ll come back to me. «  

His eyes narrowed. What was wrong? »I promise. «  

Cory bit hard on her lower lip. She was such a wuss. Oh, hell! You only live once.  

Mick tilted his head. »Cory? «  

Placing a hand at his nape, she pulled his head to hers; kissing him with all the passion she has been accumulating since puberty.  

Feeling her tongue slide sensuously alongside and over his, Mick actually felt his toes curl. God, she could kiss. Gently pushing her away, he looked into her eyes. »What was that for? « He panted.  

»Just making sure, you come back quickly. « Her mouth curled up in one corner. »Let’s see if I can do better. « Taking his hand, she pulled him inside, circling his neck with her arms, and kicking the door shut behind them…  

…  

The early morning sun shined on the rumpled white sheets.  

The shapely leg peeking from under them started moving.  

The still-covered lithe body stretched like a cat, a mewling sound of contentment floating from under the sheet.  

A mussed red-brown mane appeared, followed by a sleepy face. Cory squinted in the bright sun looking for her lover.  

She was alone, a pink rose on her nightstand.  

Smiling, she picked it up and breathed in the scent, noticing a small folded note.  

I’ll come back. Love, Mick.  

Cory fell back on the bed, hugging the pillow that still bore his scent. »Bye, « she whispered with a smile. 

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