Thread: Caught Between [LeatrixSage x Mr Quixotic]

If the hotel room did contain a corpse and Valentina had lied to him the circumstances behind how it'd come to be there, Cole's decision possessed the potential to derail his career. However, the honesty in her tone and the brief display of vulnerability told him that she'd spoken the truth. The Marshal contemplated the consequences before he made up his mind. When he responded, despite the confidence he exuded, a chill run down his spine. Maintaining eye contact with Valentina, he wondered what other compromises he'd need to make along the way. For as simple as the plan sounded get the audio tapes and get Curic it'd be much more complex and involved than that. Once out of the precinct house, she was his responsibility. Could he trust her at all, or did the woman possess ulterior motives? Was it even possible that, gracing him with a performance worthy of a Hollywood actress, she was deliberately setting him up for a fall? In the end, however, the answers were irrelevant because of one name, one man. Viktor Curic. Thankfully, Valentina offered no resistance when he cuffed her. Cole led her by the arm out of the cell and handed her over to one of the guards, who seemed more content to take her off his hands than Whittaker expected. A pity we can't take the jumpsuit with us. His parting stab before they headed downstairs and he confronted the desk sergeant. What the fuck do you think you're doing. She's not going anywhere. You want to take her submit a formal request in the morning. The Sergeant's confidence was as irritating as his arrogance. This time, after he'd again dragged him across the desk by the lapels, Whittaker curled his fingers in the man's hair, jerked his head back and forced his eyes up to his. Whittaker could smell garlic on his breath. 'I told you before, asshole, she's a Witness to a Federal Investigation. The woman is coming with me. Now get out of my fucking sight before I jump that desk and embarrass you in front of everyone in this goddamn station. Capiche? I'll have your badge for this Whittaker. It was an empty threat, and both knew it. No, you won't. The sound of the man bouncing off a metal filing cabinet coincided with Valentina's reemergence from the bathroom. Whittaker's attention was first drawn to the pencil skirt he had to admit the jumpsuit paled in comparison then to her face and the man adjacent. His brow furrowed. The scene struck a discordant note, but he couldn't put his finger on why. I'll take it from here. After he'd walked over, he gripped the woman's arm and jerked her away from the guard. Adrenaline still rushed through his veins from the encounter with the desk sergeant and manhandled her more roughly than intended out of the station and into the backseat of his car. Once they were on their way, he caught her eyes in the rear-vision mirror. The first words out of Valentina's mouth elicited a grit of Cole's teeth. She was going to be a royal pain-in-the-ass. Taco Bell lowers your life expectancy. He glanced over his shoulder. So, instead, you can rustle up a healthy dinner for us once we get to the house. After all, the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and our relationship won't stand a chance if you can't cook. Cole grinned finding the thought of Valentina Rossi as a kept woman amusing. Not to mention, highly improbable. In the meantime, keep yourself occupied while I make some calls. Whittaker claimed a small victory when he hit the button to raise a perspex screen between them, cutting off any further chatter from the back seat. By the time they arrived at an unremarkable two-story residence in Newark a short while later, Cole had appraised his immediate superiors of the situation - at least, a version of it - and ensured they'd have the safe-house at their disposal for the next week. He opened the garage door with a remote and after parking inside, rolled down the perspex screen to address Valentina. 'Come on in, and be quick about it. I'm famished. Leaving her to deal with exiting the vehicle and maneuvering while still cuffed, he stepped out of the car, keyed off the alarm and entered the house through the interior access door. Cole headed straight for the liquor cabinet to quench his thirst for alcohol. It'd been a long day.