We were driven at two hundred kilometres per hour for over an hour. I did not get a chance to admire the landscape as it had been reduced to moving colors. I tightened my arms around my sleeping girlfriend, the gesture causing her to snuggle in futher. I occupied my hands stroking her hair. It was hard to believe she was anything other than the girl I loved the most. Everytime she was with me she was soft and willing in more ways than one. On the other hand the Monica she presented to everybody else was a ruthless mercenary who took no prisoners and did not accept surrender. That made me feel equal parts elated and distressed. It meant she trusted me more than anyone else but it meant she was always fighting with everyone else.
We arrived at a deserted compound two and a half hours later. Everything about the compound including the rotating camera's perched on the seven foot gate screamed secret base. The gate open wirelessly and we drove in only to be met by gun wielding men. Identifications were issued before the weapons were lowered and we drove futher in. Although the house was massive it was far from what I expected. I thought there would be thick walls and heavy curtains to emphasize the secrecy upheld it's inhabitants. The house was an architectural dream meets a modern day exhibitionist. The two story mansion was all glass. The vehicles drove past the transparent dream futher into the compound.
About three hundred meters in nestled in the middle of an artificial forest was a building worthy of a secret base. It was a green and brown building that blended into the scenery. It was long and narrow but was not big enough to even be considered a warehouse. We finally got out of our vehicle along with the rest. Park led us into the building under the watchful eyes of the armed guards that surrounded the building.
Monica woke up, a woman on a mission as soon as she confirmed we had arrived she got out hastily making her way into the building her entire stance screaming bloody murder. When we finally caught up to her she was in screaming match with someone in an isolated room. Unlike the previous hideout, this building that was bigger on the inside thanks to most of it laying underground, was better equipped and furnished. The walls were indeed thick and each room was secured with steel doors that would require a lot of time and effort for an intruder to bypass.
"You promised she would be safe but I have been saving her while still in my mission multiple times now. You assured us the south African safe house was not even listed. How was it even compromised."
I occupied myself by staring at the bare walls and at the granite floors, anything really to avoid the eyes I felt on me as Monica screamed on my behalf.
"So your bright idea was to bring her in the thick of it. How is she any safer here than where she was?"
"You don't understand do you? She is not some kid to be baby-sat. The only reason I left her behind was because you promised she would be safe and cared for. Her life has been at risk twice now, in your safe house. She can fight as well as anyone else here if not better than most. I will not have her become a sitting duck. She is coming with me!"
There was a long silence before the other voice replied. "I don't care what you and your girlfriend do as long it doesn't jeopardize my mission."
There was another pause before a loud bang, followed by glass shattering. I was at the door first with Ruben hot in my heels. On the floor of the unremarkable office lay a bat and a shattered vase next to a fuming Monica. I ran to her while Ruben went to the other occupant. He was a remarkably handsome older gentleman who was the only thing noteworthy in the office. I could still feel the tension in Monica's body as she continued to glare at the man.
"Monica you are out of order!" Ruben barked but Monica's gaze did not waver. "Mel," he turned to me "handle her!" he instructed her.
I did not want to. It was not the fact that she was defending me but she was entitled to her anger no matter the cause. However, the look Ruben gave me left no room for comprise.
"I don't know what's going on here and I don't care. I never want to tell Monica how to feel but you are giving me a worried ultimatum vibe so we'll leave. But," I turned to the man seated "fuck you for embodying toxic masculinity." I retorted trying an failing to control myself.
"How would I be doing that?" he asked mirth dancing on his handsome face.
"Making promises you can't back up and blaming others when you fail to hold your end of the deal. I don't know about you but to me that screams incompetency and unaccountability. Very 19th century male of you."
He laughed then, a full sound that boomed from his chest and reverberated in the room. He stood up stretching his six foot five frame. He easily towered over everyone in the room. He walked around his desk to where I stood forcing me to look up to him.
"Are trying to threaten me physically?" I had enough of gun wielding men eating at my confidence and denying me the control I craved. The goddess was present again calming my mind as she did.
"I haven't said a thing!" he defended himself throwing his hands up in mock surrender.
"You don't have to say something in order to mean it and pretending otherwise would be playing me for a fool. Are you trying to make me submit?"
"Again I haven't said anything!"
"You are lucky you are exactly my type. I would have killed you otherwise.' I pressed on despite his very valid argument.
He laughed at me again but this time the derisive sound failed to sit well with me. It was a spur of the moment thing. I even surprised myself. One minute he was laughing and the next his huge frame crushed to the floor clutching his dick and his stomach where I had hammered into using my knees. His pain lasted for a minute before I saw him make a move . I grabbed the letter opener lying in the.desk and with the same motion dropped in him turning him onto his back. Ruben tried to come to his rescue but Monica blocked his path. They would have engaged in hand combat had the man on the floor not intervened. He held his hands stopping Ruben.
"Like I said, I would kill you if you were not my type."
"Okay I accept." He tapped the floor and I stood up. I felt rather than saw his body tense. Ruben' s motto 'preempt never react', had me jumping out of reach just as he lunged for my feet. He lost his balance clutching at air, causing him to fall to the floor again. He picked himself up beaming all the while.
Where have you been hiding he asked settling back into his chair. He turned to Monica smile gone. "She can stay but she is your responsibility."