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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 20, 2016 0:45:52 GMT -5
Her reaction was the exact reason Christian had called her method sh*t. She ran in head first without weighing the consequences of her actions or even fully discussing the options. Christian turned to Burke. "Can we figure out which girl they will send next? We could use the Imperius Curse," he suggested.
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Post by Derek Burke on Oct 20, 2016 1:15:02 GMT -5
Derek shook his head, "These aren't the usual fare for the Pleasure Club. The girls are under the imperius curse already. They're basically-"
"Slaves." Diana finished. She had already dealt with this kind of perversion, and it had been rather recent. Just before Christian showed up at the inn the second time Diana had been with a slaver who used the methods Derek had been describing. "She wouldn't be able to hurt the client. She would only do what Sanchez says. Trying to curse her again...it won't work. She'd end up taking her own life first."
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 20, 2016 1:23:57 GMT -5
"The portkeys, then. Who are these delivery agents? Perhaps we can reverse track them, find out where the orders are coming from originally." Christian was looking for every possible alternative. Before Burke could even answer he was already running through several other scenarios in his head. Nothing coming up with a positive outcome.
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Post by Derek Burke on Oct 20, 2016 1:36:50 GMT -5
Derek shook his head, "Funny you should mention the imperius curse..." he said with a sigh and another drink of scotch, "Sanchez has only asked for one girl since you told me about the Pleasure Club. The delivery agent he used was a random, picked off the street. He didn't have any clue about meeting up with anyone or handing over the portkey. Last thing he could remember was getting on the train. We could continue to stake out how the operation runs, but-"
"But, Hadelman's death complicates things. He won't keep using the same company once he hears about Hadelman's death." Diana finished.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 20, 2016 1:50:41 GMT -5
Christian exhaled hard and steepled his fingers. His mind raced running down the list of choices, which were dwindling as he realized the extent of Sanchez's cunning. His eyes passed over Diana (who absolutely would not be going in alone via portkey to an unknown location) and fell on Burke. "You're supposed to be the big intel man," he accused. "Where's the weakness?" he demanded. There had to be some alternative that Christian wasn't seeing.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 20, 2016 1:58:59 GMT -5
The only weakness was theirs, the fact that time was running out to do any proper reconnaissance. Derek had gathered quite a bit of info for them over the weekend, but he could understand Christian's frustration.
"He can't plan out every operation Christian." Diana bit out. Derek tried to plan out the operations before giving his intel to Diana ever since she almost didn't make it back from one of their riskier missions.
"This is it Ward." he said with a sigh, "If there was more time, maybe... all I know is he's put another order in...tonight."
Diana looked at Christian hard, it might be the last order Sanchez put in.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 20, 2016 2:05:43 GMT -5
Christian tossed the file back onto the table angrily. He understood Diana's desire to go rushing in to danger with a blindfold on. It was her daughter on the line. But Burke should have insisted she think this through. He disliked Derek even further for not verbally taking his side.
"Then we wait. We'll find another way," he said finally, rubbing his forehead.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 20, 2016 2:10:51 GMT -5
Diana waited for Christian's answer, she was being patient and doing things his way. Mostly because she felt bad about that morning, but when his answer was to wait, she looked over at Derek.
Christian didn't want her to go in, he claimed to love her, he didn't want to risk her. But Diana didn't care. She wasn't waiting. She wasn't going to risk losing Sanchez all together because there was risk involved. There was always risk involved.
Derek could read her mind, if only because he knew that look. He took another drink and realized his glass was empty. It wasn't like Derek hadn't tried to curb Diana's riskier behavior, but the woman was stubborn. He learned early on that she would do things her way whether you were on board or not.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 20, 2016 2:20:36 GMT -5
Christian also recognized the look she gave Derek. It was the look of a woman who was about to run head first into a huge mistake. Frustrated, Christian stood. "For f*ck's sake, Diana, this is just about the stupidest thing you could do!" He was prepared for her to come back at him, but he would take a thousand shattered door panes and glass bowls to the face if it kept her safe.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 20, 2016 2:28:43 GMT -5
"What's our other option Christian? Sit? Wait?" she asked, " We let him get away now we may never be able to get him and finish this."
If she was honest with herself she was scared, and that was new for her. She didn't honestly think that she'd have a happy ending with Alyx, and she had been willing to sacrifice herself for the "cause", but she had a life now. She had something with Christian, and they could build something with their daughter. She didn't want to give that up, but she'd never be able to have it in the first place if they didn't handle Sanchez first.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 20, 2016 2:49:16 GMT -5
Christian was quickly losing ground, thanks to Diana's uncharacteristically cool manner. He would have much preferred her yelling at him to this calm version. His frustration was peaking and yet there was nothing for it to bounce off of. Damn her for being so placid.
Christian groaned in frustration, taking to pacing between his seat and Diana. "Where's this bloody warehouse? What time is the girl supposed to be there?" This was a stupid plan. It wasn't even a plan. It was a half-cocked disaster waiting to happen. There had to be some way she didn't have to go alone.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 20, 2016 2:57:42 GMT -5
Derek was just as frustrated, well similarly frustrated at Diana's cool confidence, but he was used to it. While she had a temper, it was rarely used on Derek.
"The warehouse location changes, the club receives an owl - a borrowed owl - with the location minutes before they send the girl. I have someone watching for it now, he's to intercept the owl and send another to the club with a different address."
It didn't give them much time, a few hours maybe. Yes it was a risky plan, but Alyx was worth it.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 20, 2016 3:31:33 GMT -5
He stopped his pacing in front of Diana. His chest hurt. This was a horrible idea. "This is f*cking ridiculous," he protested again even though he knew it would change nothing. "We're using a tracking spell. You're not going in alone."
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 20, 2016 3:39:36 GMT -5
"Then we don't have much time." Diana said still watching Christian.
Derek stood and walked to where Diana was at getting her attention "Prep as best you can. Once you're in, stall. Don't try and take him out yourself, wait for us." he ordered, knowing that Diana would do what Diana felt was the best thing to do. Perhaps in this way Christian really was better suited for her. Derek would let her make her own decisions, but Christian would push her and make her question everything.
He glanced between them, "I'll take over for my contact, and meet you guys at the warehouse."
"Thank you Derek." Diana said as he headed for the door.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 20, 2016 3:50:07 GMT -5
No one invited you, Burke! Apparently Derek thought that reconnaissance earned himself a place in the actual hit, but as much as Christian wanted to rebuke Derek's plans he had to admit that they would need the manpower. Sanchez was leagues beyond Hadelman. The numbers were likely not in their favor - he couldn't refuse Derek's help.
Christian nodded in Derek's direction, his begrudging thank you for the information and support. He stood in the sitting room, watching Diana escort Burke out and waiting for her to return.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 20, 2016 3:53:54 GMT -5
Diana almost didn't want to let Burke go, that would mean being alone with Christian and confronting what he had told her just seconds after Derek got there. But she did need to gather some supplies and Derek needed to relieve his contact.
She closed the door, noting the fixed window pane, and went to face the beast head on.
She stood in front of Christian waiting for him to make the first move.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 20, 2016 4:02:14 GMT -5
Christian shook his head in disbelief. "Reckless. Utterly stupid. Bullheaded." With every word of disapproval Christian neared Diana until they were mere inches from each other. "If you get hurt because of this f*cking sh*t of a plan, Diana, so help me Merlin!" He pulled her body against his and kissed her fervently.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 20, 2016 4:09:47 GMT -5
She let him rail at her, understanding it now for what it was. It wasn't him doubting her abilities, though she knew he wished she had a better plan, it was concern for her well-being.
She fell into his kiss, limp and pliant to the demands he was making. She knew he was feeling out of control and helpless. She was also frightened in her own way and wanted his strength.
She didn't want to stop kissing him or holding him, he was a lifeline to everything she didn't know she had been missing in her life.
"We don't have much time." she said at last when their lips parted.
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Post by Christian Ward on Oct 20, 2016 4:16:45 GMT -5
"So take your dress off quickly," he replied. If they were going in with only a half-baked plan and prayer, he wasn't going to let their fight be the last thing they did together. He jabbed his wand at the window, the curtains drawing themselves closed.
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Post by Diana Ward on Oct 20, 2016 4:19:27 GMT -5
Diana had meant that they didn't have much time to prepare. She also thought that maybe they needed to talk. She quickly realized that Christian had a better way of communicating as she took off her dress and silently said all the things she wasn't ready to say aloud yet.
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