Criminal - Chapter 14 Added! Pictures coming soon!

Lachlan's body was warm against mine, his hand limp over my side. The sun was just starting to peak through the windows casting shadows from the window frame onto my bed. I turned over, careful not to disturb the sleeping body next to me. I brushed my lips against his and his eyes fluttered open.

"Good morning," he said, smiling. Is this what life was like for average people? I could get used to this.

"Hi," I whispered, letting my lips part in a grin. His eyes stared into mine.

"Um, can I get you something to eat?" I asked.

"I make wonderful pancakes. Let me make you some." He planted a kiss on my lips and swung his legs over the side of the bed. It was then I remembered that we were both naked. I felt my face blush and felt silly. I've seen naked men before.

He put on his boxers and made his way downstairs. I dressed quickly and followed. Lachlan was already mixing a variety of ingredients into a large bowl.

"Let me take you to dinner tonight," he said as I plopped myself on the couch.

"Dinner?"

"Yeah, something nice that's not at a bar." He flipped a pancake over on the pan.

"Are you asking me on a date?"

"Some would call it that, yes."

"Oh."

Lachlan turned around, plate in hand. "Would you rather not?"

"I don't know. I was never allowed to date co-workers."

"We're hardly co-workers. We don't flirt at the water bubbler or hook up in the supply closet on our lunch break."

"So, we go on dangerous missions, then hook up afterwards, instead?"

Lachlan winked. "Let me take you out. I don't want this to seem like just a thing."

"Is it?"

"Of course not. I like you, Kari, and it wouldn't be right to sleep with you and not at least take you out to dinner. And then sleep with you again, of course."

I chuckled. "I don't know."

"It's just dinner."

"That's how it starts. Next thing you know you're married with three kids."

Lachlan brought a plate of pancakes over to me and escorted me to the table. "Three, huh? What about two? A boy and a girl. They'd be beautiful with your hair, and stunning with my eyes."

"Are you really trying to imagine what our children would look like?"

"Why are you so unsure about this? God forbid someone wants to have a life with you."

"I've never had a serious relationship. They just get you in trouble."

"Trouble? What kind of relationships have you been in?"

"Relationships with co-workers." I cut into my pancakes and poured the syrup over them.

"How was that trouble?"

"It just was."

"Was that at Sunset Valley?"

I nodded. I stabbed a piece of pancake with my fork and brought it to my mouth, chewing with my head in my hand, staring at my plate.

"Well, obviously it wasn't that bad or they wouldn't speak so highly of you and Romeo wouldn't have stolen you from then."

I said nothing but continued to eat.

"Let me take you to dinner," Lachlan continued. "No trouble, I promise. Can I at least have a chance? We could have how ever many babies you want."

I smiled at my plate. "I'll think about it."



The next day, I got a call from Romeo.

"Lachlan has been doing a steak out on some hot spots for criminals and we got a lead. I want the two of you to try to catch them tonight. Come down to HQ and I'll give you the details."

I sighed. I wasn't in the mood to hunt for idiots that didn't know how to properly rob a bank. Lachlan's offer had been on my mind ever since he cooked me breakfast the day before. I made my way to HQ anyways. Lachlan was waiting for me outside.

"Have you given any thought to my offer?" he asked, walking inside with me.

"Still thinking about it."

"That's a lot of thinking."

Romeo stood in the lobby with another man, a folder in his hands.

"Ah, perfect timing. Let's walk."

Lachlan and I followed him as we navigated through the building.

"Lachlan has been following some leads and doing some steak outs and we believe we have a clue as to where these guys are hitting next," Romeo said, filling me in. "We've been trying to catch them for a couple of years now. It's hard to connect who's with who, but we believe they're all working under the same man." He handed me a picture of a man. I immediately recognized the man as Wogan, the man who allowed me into their 'business' just over a year ago.

"We believe there's a hierarchy in their group. Police have records of catching the same few people in small crimes; breaking and entering, theft, and what have you. We think some of the better guys are the ones robbing banks and possibly even assisted Mr. Arenas. There are some clues to them being in contact, but nothing solid as of yet. I need you and Lachlan to try to get your hands on one of these guys. This will be a big step into finally exposing their whole group and hopefully ending their crime spree."

I said nothing. We arrived in front of a set of double doors. Romeo pushed through, reveling a room I had never been in before.

"They're sure to be armed, so take your pick of some of our better equipment."

The room was covered with weapons and gadgets and documents - secret documents I was surely not allowed to see. This must have been one of the rooms Romeo didn't want me to find when he first 'hired' me. Yet, here I was, seeing it all.

"Kari?" Romeo was by my side while Lachlan studied the equipment. "Can you do this?"

"His name is Wogan," I whispered, my gaze fixed, staring into nothing. "That's all I know."

Romeo nodded. "This is huge, Kari. I trust you won't do anything stupid?"

"I told you his name, is that not enough for you to trust me?" My eyes met his.

"Well, you're a criminal, remember? You've made that much clear."

"Kari, check this shit out. It's like a James Bond movie over here." Lachlan waved a pistol in the air. I walked over to him and he handed me the gun. I loaded the chamber, feeling it's cool body against my hands. I met Romeo's gaze and nodded.

"Let's do this."

"Ready to have some fun?" Lachlan asked me. We were at the military base where the criminals were expected to me. I knew that, if they were here, they'd be here for the weapons and secret documents. Wogan would only send the best. It had been over a year since I had been with them, though; would their best be the same group of guys I knew? How much could have changed while I was gone?

I forced a smile. "Yeah."

"This is a big place," Lachlan said when we got inside.

"Maybe we should split up?" I suggested.

"I don't know about that. It's just the two of us in here."

"We have back up waiting right around the corner," I reminded him. "They'll be in here quick as soon as we call them. Otherwise, we could be here all night, going right around them."

"I guess." He looked at me with concern.

"I can take care of myself," I reminded him. "And then we'll grab that dinner."

Lachlan smiled and pulled me towards him, wrapping his arms around my waist."

"Lachlan, we have a job to do," I scolded him with a smile on my face. His lips met mine.

"I wish I could watch you kick ass."

I pushed his chest. "Go."

"See you outside." He gave me a wink and took off down a hall way.

I sighed loudly, then headed through a door down another hall way. I walked slowly, not having any idea of where to go, and not really wanting to bump into anyone I knew. I peaked into a few rooms casually, but they were dark and empty. Most were offices, others were storage.

I don't know how long I walked aimlessly. It must have been at least a half hour, but time meant nothing as I walked down seemingly endless hallways, their white walls all blurring together. I walked casually, not feeling very sneaky. There was no reason to sneak. There was just nothing.

I neared a corner but stopped dead in my tracks when I heard voices nearby. I listened carefully, trying to recognize the voices. One I recognized for sure, and it wasn't Lachlan's.

Footsteps. My heart thudded loudly in my chest, threatening to give me away. I threw myself against the wall and slid across until I reached a door. I twisted the knob, but it was locked.

"Shit, shit, shit," I whispered under my breath. The footsteps grew louder. I quickly judged their distance in my head and figured I'd have enough time to pick the lock. I got on my knees and maneuvered the mechanisms inside until I heard the door click open. It swung open and I threw myself inside, leaving the door open a slight crack so I could see into the hall way.

The footsteps grew louder and rounded the corner. I heard the thump of each step echo off the bare white walls. A shadow stretched before me. Legs passed. Each step was slightly softer than the last. I stood and pushed my self through the door into the hall way, staring at the back of the man's head. He stopped. My heart thudded in my throat. Get the gun, get the gun! I shouted in my mind, but my hands wouldn't obey. The man turned. Our eyes met.

"Kari."

My knees shook. I couldn't take my eyes off of his face. It was that damn, crooked smile...

I forced myself to stay standing, even though I wanted to collapse onto the floor.

"Martin."

Neither of us moved. We stood, staring at each other, for what felt like hours. I wanted to turn and run, but my feet were glued to the tiled floor.

Martin ran his hand through his hair. "Um, how have you been?"

"Martin-"

"You're with the C.I.A."

My heart jumped further up my throat. My stomach twisted into a knot.

"I was blackmailed. I didn't say anything to them, I swear."

Martin nodded. "What are you going to do?"

"Kari!"



I spun to see Lachlan behind me, his gun raised. I spun back to see Martin had his raised.

"Kari, what are you doing!" he barked at me. "Shoot him or get out of the way."

I didn't move. My mind raced, but I couldn't make sense of any of it.

"Kari, move," Martin said. I heard Lachlan's gun cock.

"Kari, get out of here," Martin said.

"Martin-"

"What the hell is this? You two know each other?"

"I-"

"Kari, please get out of here."

"Kari, what's going on? Don't just stand there, he'll kill you."

"Kari, please-"

"Kari, get behind me. Get out of there."

"Don't trust him, Kari, he's using you."

"Kari, don't listen to him. Whatever's going on, don't listen to him. He's trying to intimidate you."

"He's doing Romeo's dirty work. He's using you to get you to stay with them."

"How do you know about Romeo?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"Kari, you were gone. First it was a week, then it was a month. Your phone was disconnected. I had to find you."

"You stalked me?"

"Kari, he's using you. Whatever he's told you - it's not true."

"Kari, don't listen to him. Romeo didn't set me up to anything. How do you know this guy?"

"Kari, don't trust him."

"Did you work with him?" Lachlan asked. I met his gaze and said nothing. His face was pale, his eyes empty. "You were never with the C.I.A."

"Kari, he knew all along. Don't buy this shit."

I met Martin's gaze. His eye pleaded with me.

What was true? What was a lie? Martin's life was all about lies. We were criminals. How could I trust anything he said? How could I trust his feelings for me?

Martin wouldn't lie about this. Was Lachlan really using me?

Lachlan wasn't a criminal. He was good. He cared for me. We would get married and have children together.

I was being stupid. I stupidly fell in love with that life. The life of a criminal was what I was meant for. And now that Lachlan knew, he'd want nothing to do with me.

I remembered what it like to feel his body next to me in bed. I could have that every day. I wanted to love. I wanted to be loved. My whole life, I was never loved. I was cold, heartless, emotionless. Lachlan changed that.

No. Matt changed that. And he betrayed me. Surely Martin would only do the same.

No. He loved me. He never let his guard down. He was like me. That could only mean he did care.

"Kari-"

A gun cocked. My stomach twisted. My heart pounded. I was almost sure it would rip right through my chest. That's how it felt, anyways.

"Kari, get down."

I didn't move. A shot fired. I blacked out.

I dropped to my knees, hands against the cool tiles in an attempt to hang on. I looked up, but the room spun around me. A voice echoed. My vision was a doubled haze. I felt nauseous; was I swaying?

“Kari! Kari!”

I squinted at a doubled, dark, blurry mass in front of me.

“Kari!”

The blurred image came together, and I recognized the mass as Martin, motionless on the floor.

“Martin!”

I tried to push myself up, but my legs collapsed under my weight.

“Kari, they’re coming, we need to go!”

I heard Lachlan’s footsteps coming towards me.



“No!” I crawled towards Martin and pulled him into my lap. “What have you done?” I shouted.

“Kari, leave him, he’s who we came for.”

“How could you?” I shouted, my voice raspy.

"Kari-"

I slapped Martin’s face. My hands searched rapidly, pressing against his wrist and neck, searching desperately for a pulse.

“Martin. Come on, Martin.”

Voices shouted from somewhere close by. Lachlan grabbed my wrist, pulling me to my feet. I watched in horror as Martin’s body fell off my lap and onto the floor.

“No!” I shrieked. “No!”

Lachlan’s hand gripped my wrist tightly and pulled me forward, but my legs would have none of it. My vision blurred again. Hot tears raced down my cheeks. I felt strong arms wrap around my waist. I felt my feet lift off the ground, only to meet the ground with my ass. It was dark, now.

“Don’t move,” Lachlan ordered. Gun shots. There were more gun shots. Yelling.

“Lachlan!” I yelled, horrified and helpless on the ground. Through my blurry eyes, I could see a man come into the room I was in. Arms once again lifted me up and I was thrown over a shoulder. Another gun shot, followed by two more shots, closer to us.

Footsteps ran down the hall and through the door at the end. I gripped the back of the man’s shirt, squeezing my eyes shut.

The air was cool, suddenly. There were voices shouting and footsteps rushing. Hands grabbed at me, lifted me down.

“Kari? Kari, are you okay?”

“She’s fine, Romeo. I think she’s in shock.”

“EMTs are on their way. How many?”

“Three dead. I heard others behind us.”

“Dead? You were supposed to bring them out alive.”

“I don’t think it was anyone worth our time.”

“What happened?”

“There was an incident. We were found. I had to shoot them.”

“Fine, fine. I need you back in there.”

“No,” I tried to shout, but my voice croaked. My vision was still blurred and I blinked rapidly in an attempt to clear my eyes.

“Romeo, let me stay with her.”

“Alex, get in there!” Romeo’s voice was fierce. He was not happy. Footsteps directed him away from us. I felt Lachlan’s body next to mine, sitting on the ground. I suddenly realized I had my arms wrapped around my knees. I unfolded my arms and let them drop to the ground. I looked at Lachlan, but he was looking straight ahead, watching as a S.W.A.T team hurried into the building. His eyes finally met mine, but he said nothing.

“I… Lachlan… Thank you for getting me out of there.”

Lachlan’s gaze was hard. He turned back towards the building.

“Lachlan, I’m sorry.”

He remained silent. My stomach churned uneasily. Martin’s limp body flashed into my mind. I turned to my side and vomited, tears rushing down my face. I felt a cool hand against my face, then slide back, collecting my hair and holding it behind me. When I finished, I leaned back, feeling Lachlan’s chest against me. His arms wrapped around me and I leaned my head against him, letting the tears flow.

“Kari, I’m sorry.”

I sniffed. “What are you sorry for?”

“I… I shot him.”

I said nothing. Martin’s body was plastered in every corner of my mind, haunting me.

“You loved him.”

I nodded, staring at the men now coming out of the building. I suddenly noticed the red and blue flashing lights. Two men bent down. I heard their voices, felt their fingers feel for my pulse on my wrist. They must have been there longer than I thought because a team of paramedics were now exiting the building.

“Kari, can you hear me?”

Stretchers rolled through the double doors, lump masses covered in a clean, white blanket. Hands pulled a blanket back, revealing Martin’s pale face.

Hands felt my body. Fingers intertwined with mine. Voices echoed. My head spun, my stomach churned. I let my vision blur and blocked out the world around me.



When I came to, I found myself in a brightly lit room, a beeping ringing through my ears. I turned over to find the source of the beeping - a heart monitor. I lifted my arms and saw that IVs were pushed through my skin. I felt a hand touch the side of my face, causing me to jump. On the other side of the bed was Lachlan's concerned face.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

I let my head fall back onto the pillow, resting my face against his hand.

"Okay."

"Good." His voice was soft. Quiet.

"What happened?" I asked.

"You passed out. We got you onto an ambulance and brought you to the hospital."

"How long was I out?"

"Few hours. Most of the night. It's early, now."

"I screwed up." I closed my eyes tightly, hoping the tears wouldn't spill out.

"You didn't screw up."

"I screwed up, Lachlan. I should have done my job."

"You didn't expect to see him. It wasn't your fault."

"I should have known he would be there."

"How could you have?"

"We worked together."

When Lachlan didn't say anything, I opened my eyes and turned to him. He was studying me carefully. I sighed and turned to stare at the tiled ceiling.

"I was never a C.I.A. at Sunset Valley. I was a criminal."

Lachlan said nothing, so I continued.

"I had a shitty childhood. I didn't have a home. My parents were druggies and I was taken away. As soon as I turned eighteen I left my foster family and lived on the streets. I broke into homes and stole everything I could just to survive. I made connections and started working with a group of people. I was young and stupid and fell for a guy on the team. Long story short, he betrayed me and left me on one of our heists. I left Sunset Valley and came to Bridgeport. Wogan allowed me to join his team. I worked with them for several months. I met Martin there. We were a pretty spectacular team together.

And then Romeo found me. He knew about my work in Bridgeport and he blackmailed me into joining the C.I.A. I didn't have a choice, so I did it. I changed my number and never contacted anybody again."

I turned back towards Lachlan. He was looking at the floor now.

"Say something," I said. His eyes met mine.

"I don't know what to say."

I turned back towards the ceiling. I felt Lachlan take my hand in his and squeeze.

"I'm really sorry, Kari."

"You were doing your job. You didn't know."

"I killed someone you love."

I turned towards him and pulled his hand to me.

"I loved him once. I never admitted it. I couldn't love him. For all I knew, he would betray just like what happened in Sunset Valley. I wouldn't have let anything happen."

"I think he truly loved you. If he didn't, he would have shot you right then and there."

"Maybe. It doesn't matter. Romeo saved me from that life. He only wanted me for his own personal gain, but it was probably the best thing to happen to me. I wasn't meant for that life. I wanted to be, but there was no freedom in a life like that. I couldn't love. I couldn't leave. I fell in love with this life. I fell in love with the freedom. And I think I fell in love with someone, too."

"Oh yeah? That is allowed here, you know."

I smiled. "Yeah. I know that, now."

"Is that why you were so hesitant on going to dinner with me?"

"I didn't want to make anymore mistakes. I didn't know who I could trust."

"Well, I would never betray you. Plus, it's part of my job."

I laughed. "Just part of your job, huh?"

"I'd jump in front of a bullet any time for you, even if we're not on a mission." He moved his face close to mine. "I love you, Kari."

"I'm so messed up."

"Then let me give you the life you deserve."

"I'll live any life as long as it's with you. I love you, Lachlan."

Our lips met. The beeping on the heart monitor sped up and I pulled away, embarrassed. Lachlan smiled.

"You need rest. I need to talk to Romeo. I'll come back for you soon." He kissed my forehead and left the room.

I closed my eyes and saw Martin's lifeless body. I let a tear drop down my cheek but wiped it away quickly, pushing the image out of my head. I was ready to start my new life with Lachlan, and that was all I wanted.

Will add more pictures to chapter 14 soon!

Kari has a (sort-of!) happy ending Finally. she will have true happiness

Maybe. It's not over yet! lol xD

P.s. Stop changing your name! I get so confused when you do lol

Skwittlez wrote:Maybe. It's not over yet! lol xD

P.s. Stop changing your name! I get so confused when you do lol

NOOOOO! It must be over before she experiences even more misery! Evil simmer.

Confusing people is fun. Not really. But I can't think of a decent username, and this one is shameless self promotion for my fanfiction

Maybe she experiences more happiness? I haven't gotten there yet! lol

Haha well, I guess that's okay then :p