Dark Roses : Assassin In Her Nest

CHAPTER SIX : NEW PLAN

She perceived a familiar fragrance and then she knew what was wrong.

The guy is around.

The assassin! And she knew immediately that this time, he isn't here for a conversation. The real deal is tonight.

Her senses became alert. She can't deny the fact she was somewhat afraid. Where in the world would he be hiding this time? A shot may very well infiltrate into her head from any point.

Damn! Will she kick the bucket like the other detectives?

She was as bold as a lion the other night, why is she feeling frightened at this point? Was this is on the grounds that she was sure Red would kill her for sure?

She's just wearing a bulletproof vest. She wore it earlier today as a result of him. She had the hunch he plans to hunt her soon.

She hurried to her bed and took out her gun from under her pillow. She scanned the room however, there was no sight of anybody. Could he be in the closet?

The restroom?

"Just come out from wherever you are and face me if you're really up to the task." Yvonne dared, despite the fact that she shuddered inside. She's making an honest effort not to seem frail or shaken before the real battle begins.

"Come on, I don't bite. You're not afraid of me now, are you?" She prodded, searching for him. She heard an applaud coming from the door post. She turned abruptly and there he was, leaning on the door frame. Yvonne fixed her hold on the gun.

"What are you here for?"

"To kill you." Red reacted casually with a shrug and looked round the room.

"I forgot to say this the last time I visited, decent room you have here."

"What the heck do you want?" Yvonne terminated.

"I try to avoid repeating the same thing."

"Bold of you to come here again. I'm not going to hesitate to kill you."

"You were moved from New York to Chicago just to catch me and here I am, go on ahead. Why can't you do what you were sent for?" He taunted, causing Yvonne to feel like a simpleton.

"Whatever trap you're setting, I won't fall for it!"

"Smart ass." Red drew out his gun and pointed it at her.

"You were correct. I came to test your strength the other time but I'm here to kill you."

"You think you can?"

"Obviously. I'm an assassin, remember?"

He doesn't have a clue about her vest being bulletproofed. That is a benefit.

Yvonne chuckled. "I thought you were smart."

Red positioned the gun and continued to converse to divert Yvonne so he can pull the trigger and she will not have the option to evade it. But Yvonne is cleverer.

Red still doesn't know who he's dealing with. Yvonne stunningly concentrated on Red's finger on the trigger while she halfway paid attention to all he was saying.

Just as Red's finger pulled the trigger, Yvonne ducked. The bullet met the TV instead. She heard it break however she didn't turn. Assuming she does, Red will utilize that opportunity to shoot one more shot.

Yvonne will probably continue to dodge the bullets till there are no more bullets in his pistol. She's pretty sure he isn't with extra bullets. He's holding a self-loader gun which holds up to 7-9 bullets.

The maximum number of bullets Yvonne can dodge is seven. Would she be able to dodge two more? She should simply continue to move, that is certainly going to confuse him. Yvonne stood up and made him think she was rushing to the door. In the course of dodging, Yvonne's gun flew to the other end of the room

He pulled the trigger two times, squandering additional two bullets. This ought to have alarmed Alex. Yvonne trusted he wouldn't come in. However, it would be of benefit of he called the police.

Yvonne was delighted at the possibility of Red's enraged face underneath his mask. She looked sideways for whatever she could protect herself with. The shoe rack? She dragged the shoe rack to her front when Red pulled the trigger. She wasn't fast enough to pull the rack so the bullet met her arm.

"f**k!" Yvonne cussed, squatting down in torment. Four shots gone. Three remaining. Great job, Yvonne, just keep it together. Red kicked the shoe rack away in anger.

"Such a pity you will die tonight." Red grinned in triumph.

"I'm sorry, please don't kill me. I'll return to New York." Yvonne faked a plea, raising up her hands in fake surrender as she planned on the next thing to do. How to dodge the remaining three bullets with a bleeding arm.

Red chuckled. "It's late, my dear. You should have surrendered when you had the chance. So sad your beautiful face will go to waste."

Red pointed the gun to Yvonne's chest. Good thing her vest is bulletproof. She'll survive this one too. Red shot at her chest and was obviously surprised when he discovered it was bulletproof.

"Damn!" He swore.

Two bullets remaining..

Good!

"f**k this, I'm ending it." He said, aiming the pistol directly to where Yvonne was crouched.

Even if she's able to dodge this one, there's a slim chance of her dodging the last bullet. She's losing blood so much that she's starting to get weak. Red is going to pull the trigger any moment from now.

Red c****d his gun, determined to hit this spot this time around. He can't miss! He mustn't! Yvonne slowly got up. She studied Red's finger as it slowly pulled the trigger. Yvonne dodged with expertise. She didn't give Red time to think as she rushed towards him.

The both of them started tussling the gun. Yvonne tried her possible best to collect it from him. In the course, Red's finger pulled the trigger, wasting the last bullet in the ceiling.

Yes!

Finally! No more bullets. Red kicked Yvonne away angrily. Yvonne tore a park of her shirt and tied it in her wounded arm.

"Damn!" Red groaned angrily and didn't waste any time in rushing at Yvonne.

They began to exchange punches and this time, Yvonne didn't take it easy on him. She's at a disadvantage. She's getting weaker by the minute and Red is still as strong as a rock.

Red unleashed his fist on and was about twisting Yvonne's neck when she braced up. Yvonne's hand fell on his mask. She was ready to pull off the mask when Red kicked her in the stomach and tried to move to the window side but Yvonne pulled him back with his coat and landed a blow on his face.

Yvonne raised her leg to kick him but he caught her leg halfway. He flung her to the other side of the room with it. He was about approaching her when he heard the sirens from police cars. s**t! Unknown to him, Yvonne had already gotten hold of her gun. She got flung to where exactly her gun lied. She had no strength to stand but there was enough strength to pull the trigger.

A bullet met Red's shoulder just as he was about to jump out through the window. This made him lose balance and fall off to the ground. There was no time to groan, he took to his heels with his left hand on his wounded shoulder. He climbed the fence house and rushed to his parked car. The police were just approaching at this time. He stepped on the ignition and sped off.

***

Yvonne breathing was shallow. She was slowly losing consciousness. She wiped the moisture off her forehead and used every ounce of strength remaining in her to stand. She held the wall for support as she walked out of her room. She tasted blood in her mouth felt liquid roll down her face.

Was that blood or sweat?

She climbed down the stairs, half conscious. She felt her leg slip and she lost balance. All she remembers is falling into someone's arms.

***

Red has never felt this pained before. This will be my first failed mission ever!

How will he face Desmond? How will he face his peers? Most importantly, how will he face himself!

He's so disappointed in himself.

He has gotten back to the base already but he's been sitting in the car for minutes.

He couldn't go in.

He's a fool!

He feels so stupid!

He should have figured out what that detective had planned but he just kept releasing bullets like he's releasing breath! He was blinded by his anger and urge to kill her.

Why didn't he take extra bullets? Who would have thought he would waste nine bullets!

Nine bullets!

He opened the car door and stepped out. His mask is off. He would have twisted her neck to death if she hadn't attempted to pull off his mask. Yvonne knew it was his weakness and she used it to her advantage.

She walked slowly to the door and hesitated before opening it. He walked in and banged the door close.

He got to the living room and as expected, everyone of them was waiting. He was surprised to see Killian there with them. He hasn't been home for a couple of days.

"He's back again from another successful mission." Fred smiled, his smile soon faded when he saw the look on Red's face.

"Redmond." Desmond called.

"Mission failed!" He said for the first time and everyone, absolutely everyone couldn't believe what they just heard

"What did you just say?" Joaquin asked, trying to convince himself that he heard wrong.

"Redmond." Desmond called again, sternly this time.

"I said I failed the damn mission!" Red fired in anger. Killian scoffed softly.

"H..how?"

"She dodged...she dodged eight frickin bullets!"

Fred and Daniel's mouths dropped open.

"I need to be alone." Red said as he took the stairs.

Red kept punching his punching bag in anger, trying to control himself. He was blazing in fury. His arm is wounded but that doesn't hurt him. Red raged out loud as he continued punching.

"Red, Redmond! Stop!" Redmond stopped punching and slowly turned to Venessa.

"I thought I said I needed to be alone."

"Just come here."

Red didn't budge. "come here." Venessa went to him and pulled him to sit on the bed. She placed the first aid kit beside her and reached to take off Red's coat.

"You know, if you want, I can kill her for you."

Red chuckled. "She'll kill you before you take a step towards her."

Venessa disinfected his wound and took out the bullet. She dressed the wound and bandaged it up.

"Look, Red." Venessa took his hand and sighed. "You've been going on several missions and you've been accomplishing them. Just because this one's different doesn't make you a failure. You're the best assassin I know. All I'm saying is, don't start underestimating yourself."

"I wouldn't say that helped but, okay."

Venessa smiled. She gave him a peck on the lips. Red swiftly got on top of her, his hands already unbuttoning her shirt.

"I'm all yours, Red."

***

Yvonne opened her eyes, the banging pain in her head almost rendering her unconscious again. The curtain was opened and sunlight streamed into her ward. She wondered why she was feeling so much pain.

Her vision became clearer. It's morning already? Last night's incidence replayed in her head.

Damn!

She's glad I'm still alive. That assassin is freaking good. She should also be applauded of dodging eight bullets. She never believed she could do that.

She smiled. That little got her so weak that she almost lost consciousness again. She blinked and tried to sit up on the bed. She turned to her left and saw Alex sleeping. His head was on the bed but he was sitting on a chair by the bed.

Yvonne smiled as Alex slowly woke.

"Agent Yvonne!" Alex exclaimed in surprise.

Yvonne smiled. "Hi, Alex."

He helped her sit up. "I was so worried."

"It's okay. I'm fine. I hope you haven't called anyone?"

"Well, no but I called the police last night."

"Yeah, thanks for that. I could have died if you haven't."

"Someone has been trying to reach you since last night."

Alex showed Yvonne the contact. It was Brendan.

"Ohh..." She collected her phone from him.

He would have been damn worried.

She rubbed my forehead which is a bit hot.

"I'm starving, can you please get me something to eat?" Yvonne asked.

"Of course, give me some minutes."

Alex left the ward to get breakfast for Yvonne. Yvonne sighed as she looked around. Alex must have been the one who caught her before she lost consciousness.

A WEEK LATER

A week has passed by and all efforts to assassinate Yvonne Smith proved abortive. Red's other missions has been successful except Yvonne's.

Here they are again, in the dark room, planning on how to bring down Yvonne. They all stood, waiting for Desmond to speak up.

"Red, you're going to be a live-in housekeeper in his house for three months." Desmond dropped the bomb.

"What!" They all exclaimed. Red scoffed, unable to believe what he just heard.

"A what?" He asked.

"A live-in house keeper." Desmond repeated. "I heard she's searching for a housekeeper and she's taking both genders. Male and female. Being close to her is a good way to finally get rid of her."

"You would make a really good housekeeper." Fred teased and Red threw a glare at him.

"There is no way in the world I'm gonna do that." Red objected.

"Well, do you have any other plan? Any other way we can go about this? You can't assassinate her! This is the best way. You're doing this and that's final."

And that's it. Red has no more say.

"So... Red's doing this?" Joaquin asked for confirmation and Desmond nodded.

"No, I object! He's going nowhere. There is no way I'm allowing this!" Venessa protested sternly.

"We are doing this, sweetheart, and that's final!" Desmond said with finality. It's official, Red is going to do this even if he detests the idea.