LISA

The scum didn't even put up a fight. It was as if he knew there was nothing he could do as the life drained out of him. Lisa didn't move from her position above him. Instead, she watched as his movements slowed and the light faded from his eyes. She was the last thing he saw.

When it was all over, Lisa's legs wet with the blood pooled around her, she sat back and took a deep breath. She felt….good. She felt the best she had in months. Everything around her was in chaos. Her life was filled with uncertainties and out of her control. But in this moment, when she felt his fear as she stabbed the knife into his neck, she was in control of his present and future. All of the emotions and adrenaline from the fight settled into a deep heat in the pit of her stomach.

Finally, she looked up to find Jackson watching her from the end of the alley. She had known he would not be far behind her. Shadows hid his expression from her, but Lisa could almost feel the same heat radiating from him. He slowly began to approach and Lisa rose from her position and stepped away from the body to meet him.

The closer he came the warmer she felt, the better she felt. When he finally drew close enough for her to see his face, his eyes held…pride, fascination, and something else she didn't know how to identify. Slowly he reached up and smoothed a piece of hair back from her face. "Beautiful..." he muttered low and deep as if he didn't mean to say it at all.

Lisa didn't even think to flinch. Instead, she leaned into his touch and almost sighed. She didn't dare move closer to him in case she could no longer contain the fire burning inside her. This was different from before. A simmering heat stronger and quieter than the fleeting and intense moments they had shared before. Her body was willing to wait, but it would no longer be denied.

JACKSON

Jackson knew this feeling all too well. The intoxication of the kill, the power, and confidence that can only come from an intimate encounter with life and death. But he had never felt it from someone else's kill. Watching Lisa was unlike anything he had experienced before, and when she looked up at him, her eyes clear and deadly, she was beautiful.

When she walked toward him as he approached, her eyes were determined and focused. Jackson wasn't even aware of his hand reaching out toward her until his fingers grazed her hot skin and felt a matching heat rise up inside him. This woman never ceased to surprise him.

Still, his years of practice kicked his mind into motion. While he was drawn to this confident and wild woman, Jackson hit a button on his phone, automatically calling for the cleanup. The alley was closed off, but it only takes one mess up to ruin a perfectly planned job.

LISA

The hand that had traced her face casually drifted to rest around her waist as Jackson directed the team of "Dogs" with quiet movements to clean up the scene. Lisa didn't bother to pay attention. She knew enough to trust that in a matter of moments the body and any evidence of this scumbag ever-existing would disappear. Instead, she focused on her new target.

Strange how everything became so clear, she thought to herself as she stood close to Jackson. Her goals had not changed, she would protect her family and pay Jackson back for what he had done to her life. Yet, she had been distracted. She had fought desperately to separate herself from the murderers around her, from the Company. But now, she was ruined. There was no going back and no way she could go home, she had changed. She had taken more than one life. Worse, she was still high on it, and from Jackson.

Jackson. Her mind had been on a teeter-totter of emotions concerning him. Disgust, attraction, hate, lust. Her mind chose one while her body chose another. But this was clear now too. She had to sate one desire before she could focus on the other. Then, she could finally figure out how to exact her revenge on him and his precious Company. Everything was so clear, she wondered why she hadn't given in before.

Finally, he was finished and unceremoniously led her out of the maze of back alleys, his arm firmly on her waist. They exited half a block away from the club entrance and did their best to not draw attention as they made their way to the black car they had arrived in not long ago. Luckily, the darkness hid the bloodstains on Lisa's legs. Jackson held the passenger door open for Lisa as she climbed in, whether to appear less suspicious or to ensure she was locked in the car before he moved from her side she wasn't sure.

Once they were both inside the small space, Lisa's heart jumped to match the growing fire inside her. Her heart fluttered in her chest as they drove. She was growing impatient and her foot unconsciously tapped along with her heartbeat. Without saying a word, Jackson reached over and gripped her moving leg. But this only accelerated Lisa's impatience as his hand was placed high on her exposed bare thigh due to her revealing "costume".

Jackson

He could feel the energy humming from her body. It took all of his concentration to drive and not do something unprofessional. If he had more time, he would have taken her right there in that disgusting alleyway, and from the way she was acting Lisa would be all too willing. However, the Dogs were waiting and Jackson refused to show any weakness in front of them.

Yet, instead of decreasing with time, his need to be with her only grew stronger. When Lisa crossed her leg over his hand on her thigh, he nearly lost it. After what felt like an eternity they reached their destination.

Lisa glanced out the window at the motel room in front of them. "We're not going back?" She asked.

"I've worked hard to create a safe image in that community, Leese," Jackson replied, parking the car. "Never risk looking suspicious at a safe house."

Lisa absently nodded and exited the car as he did. Jackson pulled out the key and opened the door with practiced ease, and opened the door. Lisa didn't need any instruction before quickly entering, and he pulled the door behind her.

"We'll stay here until morning, and until you get cleaned up," Jackson muttered, locking the multiple specially installed deadbolts. "Then we'll head back to the house and everything will be…"

"peachy." Came Lisa's voice. Jackson turned to find her already facing him. In the dim light, Lisa wasn't shying away. Suddenly, he understood the extra thrill that came along with the heady taste of this night's kill. Jackson prided himself on his self-control and his control of others. That was one of the reasons he was so good at what he did. But, tonight, Lisa radiated power. Jackson was no longer in control of her, and, instead, she was in control.