Lioness: Cruz and Aaliyah - The Whole story

by BuffytheSlayHer

Summary:

Chapters 1 -4: The story we saw, filled in

Everything else:

Months after eliminating Amrohi, former Lioness, and Marine Cruz Manuelos, is taken from her post in Africa by a group of foreign mercenaries. While in captivity, Cruz is asked to answer for her crimes, bringing her back to the mission that changed her life, and the love she can't let go of.

Chapter 1: It's The Most Beautiful Place on Earth

Notes:

* Strong language and sexual content. *

AMROHI ESTATE

THE HAMPTONS, NY

 

Cruz wakes from the sound of a scream. It takes her a moment to realize Aaliyah is no longer beside her in bed. Another scream, then laughter. She relaxes a little. 

Cruz sits up – it’s early. Light spills into the room from an open curtain.

She shuffles out of bed and heads down stairs toward the sound. Memories from the previous day play in her mind. She laughs to herself, as if it were a fever dream she’s remembering – Aaliyah’s spa day that ended with her plastered with mud, pledges of friendship that pierced her soul. The intensity of Aaliyah’s eyes when she spoke. That fucking movie, The Notebook. Aaliyah wiping her tears and later asking, “Have you ever been in love?”

Cruz’s thoughts flash to the previous men in her life, the way they had only wanted her as an object. Aaliyah’s words cut through, “I am the one who stands up for you.” Replaying that moment makes Cruz feel uneasy. Guilt, her growing companion.

More shouts of excitement from below.

Cruz makes it downstairs, sees Aaliyah twirling in front of a wide window. Cruz can’t help but smile at her light. Everything about the woman is infectious.

Aaliyah stands with her hands over her head, “My mother called. They have chosen a place for the wedding – Mallorca! Mallorca! Ha ha.” Her words ring out like a song. She throws her hands up in celebration and walks to Cruz.

“That’s good?” Cruz asks, bowled over by Aaliyah’s feral joy.

Aaliyah grabs Zara by the shoulders. “It’s the most beautiful place on the earth!” She throws her hands up again, shrieks, grabs Zara’s face, KISSES HER.

They both pull away, stunned. Aaliyah slowly slides her hands to Zara’s shoulders.

Cruz’s heart races as they stare at each other. She tries to calculate the moment, but she feels frozen. Aaliyah’s hands run down her arms, slowly. There’s something new in her eyes, or maybe it was always there, just veiled. Aaliyah stares at Zara’s lips and moves in.

Cruz closes her eyes as Aaliyah’s lips brush against hers. She breathes her in, Aaliyah’s expensive hair products and morning skin. Her stomach knots with fear and desire. WHAT THE FUCK.

Aaliyah pulls back again, stares at Zara, her eyes dark with question. Does she want this too? She kisses her again. A slow peck. Gentle. Patient. The two women stand, woozy with waiting. Aaliyah stares at her, brushes her nose against Zara’s like a challenge.

Before she can even think, Cruz RUSHES in, inhaling Aaliyah with a kiss. Their arms entangle. Aaliyah’s lips part and their tongues desperately search one another, a hunger only the other can feed.

They moan into each other. Cruz’s hand searches Aaliyah’s soft frame, grabs her breast, sending a jolt through both of them. This is a fire and there’s too much fuel.

Aaliyah breaks for air, drags her lips down Zara’s neck, her left hand reaches up her shirt, her fingertips trace the muscles of her stomach. Cruz gasps, a split-second of clarity, “Wait!”

Aaliyah jumps back. They stare at each other. Startled, bewildered.

“Whoo. What was that?” Aaliyah asks, finding her footing. She runs a hand nervously through her hair. She can scarcely breathe.  

“I don’t know.” Cruz’s heart thunders, she stares at the beautiful woman in front of her. Her friend. Her mark.

“Well, you won’t believe Mallorca.” Aaliyah says with a chuckle to deflect, returning to their conversation as if nothing happened. “You won’t believe your eyes.” She turns away, walks towards the kitchen. Stops, “And now we must shop. We must shop!”

Aaliyah turns again, grabs the chair next to her as if to steady herself. “You want some breakfast?”

Cruz just stares, dumbstruck. Aaliyah heads to the kitchen without an answer. Cruz’s breath catches in her throat. What the fuck just happened?

She turns towards the giant window. Walks to it.

She’d kissed a girl or two before. When she used to dance, at the club. Because that’s what you did. For the men. For better tips. But it had never been with want – with need.

She stares out at the ocean. Something has awakened in her.

A sudden wave of grief washes over her.

Chapter 2: It's All I Think About

Summary:

Chapters 1 -4: The story we saw, filled in

Everything else:

Months after eliminating Amrohi, former Lioness, and Sargent Marine Cruz Manuelos, is taken from her post in Africa by a group of foreign mercenaries. While in captivity, Cruz is asked to answer for her crimes, bringing her back to the mission that changed her life, and the love she can't let go of.

Notes:

* Strong language, and sexual content *

MENDEL’S

UPPER EAST SIDE, MANHATTAN

 

 

“We have picked out some wonderful things for you both to try.” The waspy blonde floor manager says, clasping her hands together.

“Really?” Aaliyah muses warmly.

It feels like theater and Cruz is trying her best to play along. She’s never been in a clothing store like this, let alone an entire suite dedicated to rich women’s dress-up. The space is larger than any room she’s ever had. Racks of clothing and a lush sitting area, the coffee table full of fruit and champagne.

She takes a sip of the glass she was handed at their arrival.   

“Miss Amrohi guessed that your shoe size was a 9?” Cruz feels a wave of awkwardness, remembering she’s a part of the play.

Aaliyah turns to her, “I cheated—I looked in your shoe.” Her green eyes pierce Cruz, sending a flutter through her. The attention, the care. Cruz looks away with a laugh.  

“This is Hillary.” The woman nods to a petite blonde associate. Cruz wonders how much these women must make on commission.

Hillary reaches a hand out to take their empty glasses from them. Cruz nods with thanks.

“She’ll be just outside if you need any sizes or any assistance.”

“Thank you. Thank you.” Aaliyah offers, fluent with the script of this place.

“You’re welcome.” The manager exits the room, Hilary behind her. They shut the large double door, leaving Aaliyah and Cruz alone.

Cruz crosses to a rack of pre-selected garments.

Aaliyah goes to the table, pops open a bottle of champagne. It startles Cruz. “I spilled,” Aaliyah laughs, filling two new glasses.

Cruz doesn’t know how to exist in this space, she’s entirely out of her element. She offers a chuckle and returns to the clothes. Turns over a price tag on one of the dresses. $12,000. “Holy shit.”

“No, no no. Don’t look at the price.” Aaliyah’s low voice comforts. She moves towards Zara with the glasses.

Cruz watches her walk to her. Aaliyah’s cotton dress hugs her small frame, every detail and curve held perfectly. Cruz can barely extend her arm to receive the glass of champagne Aaliyah hands her. “Cheers,” Aaliyah whispers, a giddiness in her voice.  

Cruz raises her glass with a ‘clink’. They stare at one another as they drink. Aaliyah finishes hers in a single gulp, steps forward, pushes Cruz’s glass back, teasingly, “Finish it. Finish!” Cruz manages to get it down before breaking into a laugh. Aaliyah laughs with her. She steps back and runs a hand through her hair like she did after their kiss, lets out a breath and returns to the couch. There’s an electricity still building between them.  

“This’s how you shop?” Cruz gests.  

“Eh. The world within a world.” Aaliyah responds before eating a piece of fruit.   

“Okay,” Cruz nods.

“So… Which one?” Aaliyah asks, methodically going through the pulled selection. A khaki cut-out dress catches her eye. “Yes, yes. Try this one.” She hands it to Zara.  

Cruz grabs it, looks it over, she’s both moved and skeptical.

“And now we need shoes.” Aaliyah crosses the room, opens a box. “Try these.” She hands a pair of black flats to Zara.  

Cruz takes them, obediently whispers, “Okay.” They smile at each other, Aaliyah laughs. Returns to the table, pours herself another glass as she watches Zara undress.

They carry on like this for a while. Picking clothes for one another, throwing back champagne. They finish one bottle, then open another.  With each new look Cruz tries on, she feels like a different woman. Chic. Expensive. Is this what she likes? Cruz notices Aaliyah’s eyes take her in each time. She looks so pleased. Whether it’s from the clothes she chose, or the fact that it’s Cruz’s body inside of them, Cruz can’t tell.  

Aaliyah tries on a leopard printed dress. She pulls her hair to the side. Nods for Zara to help. Cruz comes over, hesitant at first. Stares down at the woman’s glowing skin. Cruz’s body sways as she takes her in. She reminds herself to breathe.

The sales associate, Heidi, brushes past them, her arms full of new dresses to try. Cruz takes ahold of herself, zips Aaliyah up and steps back, her heart in her throat.

“Thank you.” Aaliyah says, blushing. Does she feel it too? Aaliyah pulls the tight dress over her ass. Cruz forces herself not to look.

More champagne.

Aaliyah’s on fire. Her mind races, trying to find excuses to touch Zara. To kiss her again. Until this morning, it was all theory. A question that formed from the moment she saw her in Kuwait. Zara’s dark eye seared into her mind. Since then, it was Zara’s face she saw whenever she touched herself, whenever she came. And now she knew what it was like to kiss her. And Zara had kissed her back.

Aaliyah spins in her chair, her mind lingering on that moment between them.   

“I don’t know, I don’t like this one,” Zara’s voice breaks through. Aaliyah spins to find Zara in an ill-fitted A-symmetrical dress. There’s not a single woman it would look good on. She bursts into laughter. Zara joins her. “Yeah, no. Try the lavender one, maybe.”

 “Okay.” Cruz goes to the clothing rack and retrieves the new dress.

Aaliyah anxiously plays with her engagement ring. She can’t hold it in any longer, “What did you think about this morning?”

Cruz glances at her, a nervous breath escapes as she pulls off the ugly dress. “I don’t know what to think about this morning.”

Aaliyah swallows, smiles. “Me neither.” She finds the courage, “But… it’s all I think about.”

Cruz stops in her tracks. Aaliyah continues. “Have you thought about it?”

Cruz has never seen her look this vulnerable. It forces confession. “Yeah, I’ve thought about it.”

Aaliyah’s heart races. She takes a deep breath. This desire is too much to bear. She manages to utter out the words in a whisper, “Come here.”

Cruz can barely move. The lavender dress falls to the ground. She slowly strides towards Aaliyah. Aaliyah stares at Zara. She thinks she looks like heaven, her thin long body, bare all but the black underwear and bra she’s desperate to remove from her.

Zara stands in front of her. Aaliyah grabs her by the hips, begins kissing the lines of her abdomen. Woozy with drink and desire, Aaliyah’s desperate to have her, but lacks confidence in the mechanics. Zara runs her hands through Aaliyah’s hair. Her touch is so unbearably tender.

Cruz stands over Aaliyah. Her body’s on fire as Aaliyah’s lips move down her torso. It’s like she’s never been touched before, and she’s afraid she might be shaking with want. Aaliyah’s hands begin to travel. One to Cruz’s ass and the other to her breast. Cruz almost buckles from the sensation—

A KNOCK at the door.

The women break apart. Cruz rushes to the corner to put on the clothes she came in. She feels a wave of shame. This could get us killed.

Aaliyah stands, nervously clears her throat a few times as Heidi enters the room, more clothing in her arms. The two lock eyes for a moment. Heidi has seen enough to understand she’s interrupted a private moment. She sheepishly backs up towards the door, “And I’m right outside if you need me.”

“Great, thank you.” Aaliyah says, running a hand through her hair.

Heidi shuts the door behind her.

Cruz crosses the room, looking for her boots. “This is not the place to figure this out.”

“No, it’s not,” Aaliyah offers, almost hoarse with nerves.

Cruz turns to her, her body still hot from Aaliyah’s touch.  

“But I do know a place.” Aaliyah swallows, “If you want me to take you there.”

“Take me,” Cruz breathes out, betraying all wisdom and caution. Since the moment Aaliyah’s lips touched hers – she’s had no choice. 

Chapter 3: These Two Are a Couple

Summary:

Chapters 1 -4: The story we saw, filled in

Everything else:

Months after eliminating Amrohi, former Lioness, and Sargent Marine Cruz Manuelos, is taken from her post in Africa by a group of foreign mercenaries. While in captivity, Cruz is asked to answer for her crimes, bringing her back to the mission that changed her life, and the love she can't let go of.

Notes:

* Explicit sexual content and strong language *

THE PENDRY HOTEL

MANHATTAN, NY

 

 

Cruz walks through the entire hotel suite as Aaliyah’s bodyguards linger with all of the bags from Mendel’s. Despite the reason for being here, Cruz can’t fight her instinct to ‘clear’ a new place. Her eyes graze over the bed in one of the rooms. Suddenly thoughts of Aaliyah naked play through her mind. Her face flushes, blood rushes to her groin. Her body is alive and wanting.

She enters the main room where Aaliyah is still occupied with her detail. She brushes past her, making contact so subtle no one could fault. A wave of danger and pleasure runs through her. She drops her bag to the floor and removes her shoes.

“Which room for your bags?” Asif asks Aaliyah in Arabic.

Aaliyah, frustrated they’re still there, “Uh, just leave them there.” She points to the counter by the door. “We’ll figure it out.”

The men oblige. Cruz walks over to a large window that overlooks Manhattan. Her desire, a pulse throbbing through her every cell. If the men stay much longer, she might have no choice but to take Aaliyah in front of them and deal with the consequences. She’s lost all sense of herself, in finding this need.

During the car ride over, Aaliyah had taken her hand – inviting it between her legs. Cruz was flushed and frozen – the most she could do was caress her thigh, knowing Asif was good at his job, good at noticing the tiniest of things. She wondered now if he knew what was about to happen – the energy between the two women like the seismic activity before a leveling quake.

Aaliyah watches as the men slowly set each bag down. She has to stop herself from screaming at them to get the fuck out. Asif turns to her and nods as he closes the door. The door ‘clicks’ with a lock behind him.

The women turn to each other. Aaliyah stands, breathing deeply as she stares at Zara – the woman who asked to come here for this, for her. They’re all alone with no threat of interruption.

Zara crosses the room with urgency. Takes Aaliyah’s face in her hands. Exhales like she’s been waiting a hundred years for this. She kisses Aaliyah with a force that echoes Aliyah’s own hunger. It’s fast and devouring. Aaliyah wants to be devoured – she wants to be destroyed by the woman in her arms.

Aaliyah slips off Zara’s leather jacket. Runs her hands up her sides. They slowly move towards one of the bedrooms. In between kisses, Aaliyah’s hands travel to the front of Zara’s dress. She RIPS it open, exposes her glowing skin. They both laugh. “Don’t worry. I’ll buy you five more.”

Cruz kisses her with urgency, whispers, “I don’t care about the fucking dress.” It sends a jolt through Aaliyah's core. Cruz pulls her closer. The two stumble, laughing and grabbing each other to stay upright.

They make it to the bed. Cruz can feel its soft frame behind her knees. Together they peel Aaliyah’s dress off her shoulders and it falls to the ground.

Aaliyah pushes Zara down to the mattress. Zara laughs, stares up at Aaliyah. “You’re so beautiful it hurts,” she whispers.  

Aaliyah stops in her tracks.

Cruz panics.

Aaliyah climbs on top of Zara and pulls Zara’s hand to the outside of her damp silk underwear, her voice is low and desperate, “I’m the one who hurts.”

Cruz pushes her palm against Aaliyah’s heat. It sends unfamiliar waves of desire through her. She sits up. Aaliyah wraps her arms around her as she straddles her, one hand through her long black hair, the other traces Zara’s cheek. She pulls her closer as they kiss. It’s sloppy and rough.

Cruz’s fingertips begins to move in circles across Aaliyah’s underwear. Aaliyah sucks on Cruz’s bottom lip and lets out a quiet moan. Cruz rolls Aaliyah onto her back. Her swiftness and strength take Aaliyah by surprise. Her eyes light with delight.

Aaliyah bends her right knee and pulls Zara onto it, feeling her cloth-covered lips slide against her skin. She moves her body to fit Zara, grinding herself against her thigh as well. Zara’s rough hands explore Aaliyah’s body.

Aaliyah arches her back and peels off her bra. Cruz does the same. They take each other in, but only for a moment before Cruz’s lips are around Aaliyah’s nipple. Aaliyah’s body rolls with pleasure.

Cruz grinds onto her leg, harder, flicks Aaliyah’s nipple with her tongue. It feels so good Aaliyah thinks she might cum right there and then. Not like this.  

Aaliyah pushes Zara onto her back, taking control. She rides Zara’s thigh, her rhythm building. She runs her tongue down Zara’s neck and to her bare breast. She can barely breathe as she takes it in her mouth. She reaches her right hand down to Zara’s underwear. Pulls them down. Zara helps. Aaliyah’s hand travels up and down Zara’s inner thighs, as if to ask permission. Cruz nods with quickening breath.

Cruz trembles, the feeling of Aaliyah on top of her, a euphoria. She can’t believe she gets to touch her, and want her, and know her like this. Aaliyah’s fingers slide inside Cruz’s lips, interrupting all thought. Both women softly moan at the sensation. She’s so wet. Aaliyah finds Zara’s clit, starts rubbing slow circles. Cruz’s breath catches. Aaliyah pulls her face away and stares at her with a mischievous grin, “Do you want me, inside you?”

Cruz’s eyes are dark and hungry as she whispers, “I want you inside me.”

Aaliyah slowly pushes two fingers inside Zara and then pulls them out. Cruz watches as Aaliyah lifts her fingers to her face and sucks on them. Cruz stares in open-mouthed awe, feeling like her heart might burst out of her chest.

“Come here.” She kisses Aaliyah, tasting herself on the woman’s wild tongue. She pulls on Aaliyah’s underwear to come down. “Take these off.”

Aaliyah pulls off her underwear and throws them to the floor. They both turn onto their side to face each other. Aaliyah throws her leg over Zara’s hip, opening herself. Aaliyah reaches her hand back down and rubs Zara’s clit.

Cruz arches her back. She grabs Aaliyah’s breast. Kisses her deeply. Aaliyah slides her fingers in and out of Zara slowly, almost toying with her. Her thumb is pressed against her clit while she does this.

Cruz moans, runs her hand down Aaliyah’s body until it reaches her bare mound. She rubs the outside of it, feels her sticky warmth. Aaliyah bites her lip.

“Is this okay?” Cruz asks.

Aaliyah nods fervently, “Please.” Cruz slides two fingers inside of Aaliyah. She feels her wet flesh tighten around her.

The two women begin to move in unison. Aaliyah wraps her thigh tighter around Zara, pulling her closer, wanting her deeper. Cruz bites down on Aaliyah’s shoulder. Panting now, feeling herself closer and closer as Aaliyah’s fingers curl into her g-pot.

“Fuck,” Cruz whispers. Aaliyah lowers her head to suck on Zara’s breast. “Fuck,” Cruz moans louder. She can feel Aaliyah smile.

Cruz begins to fuck her harder, her fingers pulling Aaliyah’s whole body back and forth by her center. Aaliyah lets out a loud moan. Cruz smiles, clasps her free hand over Aaliyah’s mouth. They have two doors between themselves and Asif, but a part of Cruz is still aware of the risk.

Aaliyah buries her head in Zara’s neck. The two continue to fuck each other furiously, their bodies shaking and on the edge. Aaliyah lifts her lips to Zara’s ear. She sucks on her earlobe then whispers, “I want you to cum.” Cruz’s heart quickens, her breath jagged. “Can you cum for me?” Aaliyah kisses her neck. Cruz nods, but she doesn’t want this to end. Aaliyah pounds her fingers into her g-spot. Harder and harder.

Cruz flexes her ass, her hips, her abs, ripples of pleasure tip her over. Aaliyah watches Zara cum and gives herself over. Cruz feels Aaliyah’s core spasm around her fingers. They both moan into each other’s necks, their bodies shaking with relief. Aaliyah slides her fingers out of Cruz, and Cruz out of Aaliyah.

Aliyah turns to Zara and she can’t look away. As they breathe heavily, they take each other in – some kind of holy shock and ecstasy. In their eyes, they both see it, the thing that was maybe always there.

Cruz’s eyes fill with tears. She tries to swallow them back but one spills down her cheek. Aaliyah trails it with gentle kisses, until she finds the hollow of Zara’s neck and lingers there, breathing her in deeply. She lifts her eyes back to Zara’s face, taking in this woman that she loves. I belong to you, and always you, Aliyah thinks, wanting more than anything for it to be true.  

They lay like this for a few minutes, taking turns stroking each other’s hair, face, body, until a hand travels a little too far, or fingertips circles the others’ breast a little too long, and they both flood with fresh desire.

Cruz crawls on top of Aaliyah, takes in all her beauty. She can’t believe her touch makes this woman moan with want. Cruz has never felt anything like this before. An endless ache to be closer. To be one. She kisses Aaliyah’s neck, then lowers her mouth to her breasts. She sucks on her nipple, then the other, she gently squeezes them. She can feel Aaliyah squirm beneath her. Cruz lowers her head and runs her tongue down Aaliyah’s stomach. She’s both nervous and hungry. She doesn’t know that she’ll like it, but she’s overpowered with want as she moves lower and lower down Aaliyah’s body.

She kisses Aaliyah between her legs. Aaliyah moans softly and rests a hand on Cruz’s head.

Cruz settles onto her stomach, grabs Aaliyah’s inner thighs and spreads them, deepening her reach. She begins to lick Aaliyah slowly. She’s so wet, it covers every part of her face that makes contact. It only takes a second for Cruz to know that she’s never wanted anything more than this. Than her.

She runs her hand up and down Aaliyah’s inner thighs. Aaliyah’s hips begin to rock, wanting more of her. She lifts her feet so that they rest on Cruz’s shoulders.

Cruz’s tongue traces circles around Aaliyah’s clit. Slowly at first, and then quicker, finding rhythm with her mouth as she takes it in.  

“Ahh,” Aaliyah gasps. Cruz smiles, blowing hot air against Aaliyah’s sex as she laughs.

“Please,” Aaliyah begs.

“You want me to fuck you?” Cruz teases, looking up mischievously.

“Please.” Aaliyah moans again, her hand caresses Zara’s face.

Cruz sucks on Aaliyah’s clit. Aaliyah gasps, her fingers dig into the top of Zara’s shoulders. After a moment, Cruz lowers her tongue and shoves it up Aaliyah’s center. As far as she can get. She grabs Aaliyah’s ass and starts rocking her back and forth, tongue-fucking her as fast and as deep as she can. Aaliyah’s breathing is heavy and loud. Cruz pulls back, inserts her fingers, looks up at Aaliyah’s face, a contortion of pleasure that makes Cruz mad with pride and desire. She returns her mouth to Aaliyah’s clit while her fingers thunder against her g-spot. Aliyah’s body starts shaking.

Aaliyah moans louder. Cruz lifts her free hand to Aaliyah’s breast, begins to squeeze her nipple. Aaliyah’s whole body quivers, at the precipice. Cruz moans with her. Thrusts her fingers harder, and harder, and—

Aaliyah gasps, squeezes her eyes shut as she rides out her orgasm. Cruz’s free hand pushes on Aliyah’s lower abdomen as Aliyah shakes. Cruz releases the clamp of her mouth from Aaliyah’s clit and licks at the sweet warmth of her opening.

After a few moments, Aaliyah pulls on Zara so that they’re face to face, and kisses her wet face, sucking herself off of her lips. Before she can even catch her breath, she whispers “God, I want you like that.”

Cruz lifts her hand up to brush back Aaliyah’s hair, but stops when she sees her fingers still wet with her. Aaliyah notices the smirk, looks at Cruz’s fingers. She blushes and pulls Zara’s hand to her stomach and wipes them off against her skin.

Cruz’s heart quickens. She looks down at Aaliyah’s glistening stomach. Together they’re so feral, and they’re not going to stop anytime soon. She kisses Aaliyah with a laugh. Aaliyah lifts herself onto her elbows, clears her throat, “It seems like, maybe you have done this before.”

Cruz sits up, “No.” Catching her breath, “Not with a girl.”

Aaliyah clicks her tongue at her, shocked, “How no?” She laughs, “I thought I was going to see God.”

Cruz blushes. She doesn’t want to ask, but she can’t help it, “And you and girls?”

Aaliyah sits up, holds onto Zara for leverage as she straddles her, “I kissed a girl, or two when I was younger, hiding deep in the orange grove, terrified of being caught. But not this.”

Cruz is surprised by how much relief floods her. Aaliyah grabs Zara’s face in her hands. “Never this.” She kisses Zara deeply. After a while of making out, Aaliyah lays back down on the bed, grabs Zara’s thighs and pulls herself between them until her head is directly under her heat.

Cruz stops for a moment, unsure of what to do. Aaliyah lifts her head up and kisses her center. Cruz feels like she might fall on top of her. She looks at the headboard. “Here,” she motions towards it. They move closer to the top of the bed.

Cruz crawls over Aaliyah and resumes the position, now able to support herself against the wooden slab. She pulls a pillow under Aaliyah’s head. Aaliyah kisses Zara’s wrist in thanks. Every touch, a shock of want.

Aaliyah lifts her face to Zara’s center, her searching tongue parts Zara’s lips. Cruz shivers with pleasure. Aaliyah licks at Zara’s clit furiously as her mouth keeps suction, repeating what had just been done to her. She loves the taste. Loves hearing Zara moan, loves having her and giving her pleasure. She could stay in this room and make love to Zara forever. She eases on the pressure, looks up at Zara, who looks down at her with an open-mouthed smirk.

Cruz stares down at Aaliyah, her wetness all over her beautiful face. Fuck, I love her. Cruz freezes.

Aaliyah stares up, “What?”

Cruz’s heart is in her throat. She sits back on Aaliyah’s chest, her weight still on her knees.  “What is it?” Aaliyah asks again. She runs her hands up and down Cruz’s thighs.

Cruz forces the thought out of her head as Aaliyah brushes her lips over her mound, eager to resume.

“Nothing,” Cruz rasps. She raises back onto Aaliyah’s face. Aaliyah grabs her hips and guides her back and forth against her tongue. Instinct takes over and Cruz begins to rock back and forth, fucking Aaliyah’s beautiful face. Moaning and aching with need.

Cruz releases her vice grip from the headboard and arches her back until she’s in a back bend. One arm supports her weight while the other reaches between Aaliyah’s legs. She slips two fingers inside of her. Aaliyah GRIPS Zara’s thigh and lets out a muffled moan. Cruz continues to ride Aaliyah’s face, her right hand now fucking her at the same time.

Aaliyah grips the tops of Zara’s thighs with both hands as Zara gently curls the tips of her fingers against her g-spot. Aaliyah can’t believe how good it feels, to have Zara on her tongue and feel her inside at the same time. She opens her legs wider and moan’s into Cruz’s center.

Cruz starts to tap her fingers faster against Aaliyah’s g-spot. Aaliyah gasps with pleasure, lowers her head to suck Zara off harder than humanly possible. The two stay like this for a few more moments, sucking and fucking each other as hard as they can until they both start to tremble. Cruz flexes her ass, and lets out a cry she’s never heard from herself as she cums in Aaliyah’s mouth. Simultaneously she feels Aaliyah’s center pulsate around her fingers and she pounds her harder until the woman beneath her screams into her heat.

Cruz falls from her knees to the side of Aaliyah. So much for being quiet. They both lay panting. After a few moments, Cruz spins to re-orientate herself. Lays her head on the pillow next to Aaliyah. They turn on their sides and hold each other’s face. Eye to eye, heart to heart, it’s impossible not to know it now, what they see in each other’s eyes — and they’ll never be the same.

Chapter 4: One Last Time

Summary:

Chapters 1 -4: The story we saw, filled in

Everything else:

Months after eliminating Amrohi, former Lioness, and Sargent Marine Cruz Manuelos, is taken from her post in Africa by a group of foreign mercenaries. While in captivity, Cruz is asked to answer for her crimes, bringing her back to the mission that changed her life, and the love she can't let go of.

Notes:

* Strong sexual content. Strong language and depictions of violence. *

FORTALEZA ESTATE

MALLORCA, SPAIN

 

Cruz stares at the ceiling. Always faithful, always faithful. The old Marine motto runs through her mind on loop as she thinks of the videos Joe made her watch on the flight to Spain. Men beheaded. Crowds blown up. Children murdered. Unspeakable horrors, and her heart, Aaliyah, at the center: her father, the ace of spades, her target, here for his daughter’s wedding.

She didn’t know what time it was, or how much longer it was until breakfast, when she would meet the man she was supposed to kill.

“…All I will know of love, is what I can imagine, and what I can remember.” Aaliyah’s words interrupt the loop. And with them, flashes of Aaliyah, her eyes, her smile, her naked body shaking beneath hers, Aaliyah on top of her, inside of her—

Cruz’s bedroom door opens. Before she can react, Aaliyah enters in a silk nightgown, her skin glowing under the moonlight.

Cruz rushes to get the words out, “I don’t want to do anything. It’s too confusing.” She sits up.

“I don’t want to get married,” Aaliyah chokes out.

Cruz can tell she’s been crying. All she wants to do is comfort her, but she steadies herself and stays put. “Tell him.”

“I did.” Aaliyah breathes out. “Doesn’t matter. I don’t have a say. No one cares what I want.” She stands, shaking.

“What do you want?” Cruz breathes out, scared for the answer. 

Aaliyah looks around the room, fights back tears, “Not this.” She walks towards Zara, sits down beside her on the bed.  

Cruz backs away, leaving space between them. Aaliyah grabs her hand and pulls it towards herself and rests her other hand over Zara’s heart.

“Come.” She leans back against the headboard, pulls Zara’s head onto her chest and cradles her. “I’ll never have this again. This is the last time,” she breathes out. She runs a hand down Zara’s shoulder.

Those words are true for Cruz as well. She snaps out of it, takes a deep breath, “I, I can’t.” She moves over so that they’re not touching anymore. She has to fight this. Remember the mission. Remember the—

“I just want to feel loved one last time.” Aaliyah says, turning to her.

“You don’t want that from me,” Cruz says flatly, trying to turn off her heart. “You don’t know me.”

Aaliyah stares lovingly down at Zara, amused by her words. “I know you.”

Cruz shakes her head, committing to the painful truth between them. “You don’t.”

Aaliyah lowers to her elbow, runs a hand over Zara’s collarbone. “You’re kind.”

“I’m not.”

Aaliyah grabs Zara’s face, “You’re honest.”

“I’m the furthest thing from honest,” Cruz snaps.  

Aaliyah cocks her head, almost amused “Oh, yeah? Then what are you?” She turns Zara’s head, forcing her to meet her eyes.  

“Not what you think,” Cruz answers, so vulnerable under Aaliyah’s gaze.

“Are you my friend?” Aaliyah asks, an ache in her voice.

“Don’t ask me that.”

“Are you?”

Cruz gasps, turns away, “I don’t know what the fuck I am.”

Aaliyah turns Zara’s face back to hers, lowers her head so that her lips are hovering above hers. She’s so desperate to have Zara, to know this woman one last time.  

Cruz’s heart is racing.

“But you know you want this. You know that.” Aaliyah brushes her face against Zara’s. “Tell me that you don’t.” She kisses Zara softly. And again. Then again, this time sucking on Zara’s lower lip.

Cruz is heavy with need. Before she can think, she spins Aaliyah onto her back and begins to kiss her feverishly, her hands search the length of her small frame. She grabs Aaliyah’s breast and feels her arch beneath her.

Aaliyah’s hand moves up Zara’s inner thigh. The image of a man being shot point-blank in the street breaks into Cruz’s head. She jumps off Aaliyah— “I can’t fucking do this.”

Cruz stands in the center of the room now, chest heaving as she stares down at Aaliyah and all of her beauty. She paces.

Aaliyah sits up, “But you want to.”

“Yeah, that’s the fucking problem.”  

Aaliyah sits back against the headboard, “It’s not a problem.” The look of hurt on her face pierces Cruz.

“I need a drink. I’m gonna get some water.” Cruz knows she only has a few moments of clarity before she gives in entirely. “Do you want some water?”

Aaliyah looks away, her face contorted like she might cry. “I want vodka.”  

“That’s the last thing either of us need,” Cruz says, the ache of want and guilt pushes her out of the room.

Aaliyah watches her leave. She almost asks her to stop, but she’s too raw. She’ll wait until Zara returns to mend this. To talk to her, to touch her, to hopefully make love to her all through the night for what may be the last time.  

Chapter 5: Just Point And Shoot

Summary:

Trying to avoid the pain of her past, Cruz has buried herself in a new mission with the Marines. While on assignment in Africa, she's taken by a group of foreign mercenaries.

Notes:

* Strong language & depictions of violence *

MARINE CAMP

WESTERN AFRICA

 

 

Eight-Months Post Geronimo.

Sergeant First Class, Cruz Manuello and her team of 6 Marines enter the barracks. From the smiles on their sweaty faces, their mission was a success.

A muscular black man named Jonah, no older than twenty-two, pats Cruz on the back, “You keep making us look bad, Sarge.”

She smirks, runs a hand through her short black bob.  

“Ain’t no one can keep up with the Cruz count.” A bearded man, Mick, late 30’s, adds, stripping off his body armor. 

“I mean, for fuck’s sake, was that 50?” Dee, a career Marine asks, setting her gear case down.

“Yeah maybe this week.” Jonah laughs. 

It’s a defense mechanism to talk about it so casually – a numbness to what the job asks of them. There’s no pride in the killing of others, just relief that they were the ones still standing.

Cruz takes off her boots. Strips down to her briefs and sports bra. Her body’s stronger and tougher from all the months at sea, gunslinging to defend vital trade routes from violent pirates.

The others follow suit and take off their clothes – modesty a commodity for civilians.

“I just point and shoot…”

The others chime in, like they’ve heard it a million times, “…Ain’t nothing more to it.”  

Cruz throws her hand up to say, ‘exactly.’ She grabs a towel from her cubby and heads for the showers.

Cruz  hangs her head under the water, all but forgetting where she is. Ever since that night in Mallorca, everything just blurs together. One moment from the next, the eroding hum of a broken heart. She turns the faucet to cold, trying to feel something other than the ache she carries for Aaliyah. The pain she must have inflicted—

Dee enters the showers. She recognizes Cruz is in somewhat of a trance. This isn’t new, but Cruz’s shivering is hard to ignore. Dee looks at the faucet, reaches over and bumps it back to warm. Cruz turns to her, almost like slow motion, feigns a smile through chattering teeth. Dee nods a ‘you’re welcome,’ and returns to her own shower.

 

A group of Marines finish up dinner in town. Empty plates of beef and plantain line the table. They stand to leave. Cruz continues to sip on her Guinness, one of several from the night.

“You coming?” Mick asks, him and Dee already trailing behind the others.

Cruz looks up. Jonah sits back down to stay with her, “Go ahead guys, we’ll catch up in a few.”

Ever since they arrived at their Nigerian outpost, Jonah took Cruz on like a big sister, and for the life of her, Cruz still didn’t know why, but she was grateful. He was the only one who could make her laugh. Something about his caring nature made her feel safer than she had any right to feel.

An attractive Nigerian waitress approaches the table, sighs at the mess. Jonah stands up, “I’ll, hey, let me, I can help you.”

The woman looks him over with playful contempt, “Help me? Boy, you help yourself.”

Jonah looks down at his white shirt, notices a stain from the beans. Cruz laughs to herself.

“What… it’s a compliment.” He starts collecting plates and follows the waitress back to the kitchen.

A few moments later he returns.  Cruz sighs, “Just fuck her already.” 

Jonah blushes, “You’re worse than Mick.”

Cruz shrugs, finishes her beer. Stands, finally ready to go.

 

The two walk slowly down the dark dirt road, shoulder to shoulder.

“You ever been in love?” Jonah’s low voice breaks through the silence. Cruz hears Aaliyah’s voice and forces it out of her head.

“You’re telling me you love her?”

“No, that’s not what I -- I mean, maybe I could, someday.”

Cruz waits.

“I’m just saying… I like to feel love for someone before I get to know them biblically. You know?”

She glances over at him, smiles at his beauty. They walk in silence for a moment. She cranes her head up to the night sky, takes in the stars.  

“When’s the last time you… you know…”

She sighs, “Are you asking me about my sex life, Marine?”

“No Serge, not with that tone I’m not, I stand down.”

Cruz laughs, warmly bumps her shoulder into his.

All of the sudden, HEAVY HANDS pull Cruz and Jonah into the dark. The two try to fight off their masked attackers but there are too many.

Cruz pulls a handgun from her waist but it’s KICKED down immediately and disappears into the tall grass. Jonah reaches for his but DROPS to the ground with an agonizing SCREAM as a large man KICKS his knee from the side, breaking it.

Cruz runs towards him with a blade drawn but is thrown to the ground by another assailant. She swings her legs and takes him out. She rolls on top of him and STABS his side. He gasps. She drags the blade up his torso.

These aren’t locals, and they’re not pirates. A new fear runs down her spine. She removes her blade, about to strike again when the butt of an assault rifle SMASHES into her temple. She falls limp to the grass. Next to her, Jonah scrambles to get up but gets knocked unconscious by a heel KICK to the face.

Chapter 6: What I Want No One Can Give Me

Summary:

Cruz wakes up in a holding cell. Tortured for the murder of Asmar Amrohi, she soon encounters the most painful parts of her past.

Notes:

* Strong language & depictions of violence *

NONDESCRIPT HOLDING CELL 

ARABIAN PENINSULA

 

The first thing Cruz notices is the heat. Her body is covered in sweat and she can smell herself – as if she hasn’t showered in days. She tries to stretch and is brought back to reality – her arms and legs are bound to a metal chair under her. Everything hurts. She opens her eyes, squints at her surroundings. Her vision is a little blurry at first, she opens her mouth, half-expecting sand to fall out. Cracked lips and a dry tongue, she tries to swallow what little saliva she has.

They’re in a cement room the size of a private office or a large storage room. Fluorescent lights buzz from above. 

Jonah is tied to another chair, just like her, except his face is more bloodied and swollen. A broken nose for sure, maybe more. He’s unconscious. She looks him over, notices his knee at the wrong angle. Fuck. They’re not going to have the quick exit she’d like.

She tries to slow her breathing. Orientates herself. She scans her body, feeling the sensation in every part of herself, assessing for injury or violation. She’s relieved to be in the same black cargo pants and black tank top she was taken in – whoever they are, they hadn’t assaulted her. 

“Hey,” she whispers. She clears her throat, trying to wake Jonah. She would call his name, but you don’t give that shit away.

She can hear passing cars and muffled distant voices. We’re reachable, not too deep underground or in the desert – it sounds busy out there. Maybe a city. She looks up at the ceiling and locks eyes with a security camera. Whoever took them will be back soon, now that she’s awake.

Until then, Cruz thinks to herself, sleep more, heal, and then fight like hell.

 

COLD WATER snaps Cruz awake, her whole body covered in a momentary chill. A large man shakes the empty plastic bucket out over her head before throwing it to the ground.

Cruz locks eyes with Jonah who is awake now. He nods at her to say he’s okay. Four armed men stare them down. Cruz sizes them up to be Middle-Eastern mercenaries. They could have been moved to Northern Africa.

One with a square jaw looks to the security camera than back to Cruz. “What is your name?” His accent sounds Iranian. 

Cruz stares, remains silent. A shorter man PUNCHES her in the stomach. She tries to double over but her bound arms won’t let her.

“Hey, hey man,” Jonah chimes in. “Can we be chill? Can you just, tell us the end goal here, and make this a civil hang?”

Cruz turns to him. Smirks.

One of the men with a thick beard kicks Jona’s broken knee.

Jonah SCREACHES out in pain.

Square-jaw watches, bothered by the brutality. Refocuses on Cruz, “I said, what is your name? Do you not know it?”

Cruz stares at him defiantly.

Thick beard turns to Jonah, “Tell us her name?” His accent is harder to place.                               

“Oh, for real?” He asks through gritted teeth, in serious pain, “ You took us and you don’t even know? Shit, well this is so embarrassing for ya’ll, that’s Ariana Grande, man.”

The fourth man punches Jonah’s bruised face.

“If you’re not a fan of her music, you can just say so, okay? Use your words!”

Cruz laughs despite herself. Jonah smiles at the sound, his personal mission accomplished.

Cruz had never been detained with another Marine. Mind you, the only times she’d been detained were all training, (even when she was lead to believe otherwise), but still, she never thought she’d hear herself laugh.   

Thick-beard drives his KNEE into Jonah’s face. Cruz soberly looks away at the sight of fresh blood.

Square-jaw kneels down in front of her, stares into her eyes, whispers, “I don’t like to hurt women. Not even American murders. But I have a family, and this is how I keep them safe. Work with me and I’ll try to keep you safe too.”

Cruz takes this in, “Who hired you?”

He stands, taps his earpiece and listens intently, as if receiving instruction. He looks up at the security camera and nods, a new stiffness in his demeanor. He turns to Cruz as if with apology. Raises his gun, SHOOTS Jonah in the head.

Cruz GASPS. Watches her friend’s eyes roll back into his head and his body go limp. She can’t breathe.

She turns to Square-jaw. He flicks his eyes up to the security camera and then bows ever so slightly to her, as if in apology.

The men leave, locking the door behind them. Cruz sits, tastes salt from a stream of tears she didn’t realize she was crying. Her head fills with rage, anguish, self-hatred. Whatever this was, she knew it was about her. She should have done more to protect him.

“I’m sorry,” Cruz cries out, barely able to look at his lifeless form.

 

A little while later, when Cruz’s clothes have dried and begun to dampen with sweat all over again, and the smell of death has begun to fill the room, she hears the distant melody of the Call to Prayer.

There’s another, and another – overlapping broadcasts, clear and regulated from loudspeakers. She’s somewhere with a high density of mosques, and the tone, it’s not Nigerian, it sounds like the Gulf. Cruz stiffens with revelation – they’ve been moved across continents. This answered the question of rescue. She steadies herself. She’s on her own now.  

She thinks to Square-jaw’s words, a murderer? Of course I’m a murderer. I’ve killed more men that I can remember on duty, but whose vengeance this was, she couldn’t be sure.  

A hand SLAPS Cruz awake. Thick-beard stands over Cruz, his eyes empty and cruel, “Wake up.”

She opens her eyes, stares at him defiantly.

“Why don’t you untie me and try that again.”

He SLAPS her again, splitting her lip. She spits blood and stare back at him.

Square-jaw clears his throat, signaling that’s enough. It’s just the two men this time. That’s a mistake, Cruz thinks to herself. She’d managed to loosen her arm restraints just enough to – she STANDS with the chair, HEAD BUTTS Thick-beard, pushes him with all of her weight until he falls backwards. She spins in the chair, CRASHES its leg down onto his throat. Its rough metal edge SLICES through his wind pipe. A GUNSHOT startles her. She jumps back to her feet, the chair still tied to her. Square-jaw stands with his gun trained on her. That had  been a warning shot. They glance over to his choking colleague. They both know there’s too much blood for him to be saved.

The other two men RUSH into the room, pull Thick-beard out, apply pressure to his open wound, but it’s a lost cause. From the hallway behind them, a large man wearing a suit and sunglasses RUSHES towards them. Cruz feels the pit in her stomach open.

He ignores the dying mercenary outside the door, pulls a handgun from his hip and points it directly in Cruz’s face.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t put a fucking bullet in you, right here, right now?” Cruz tries to swallow, as she stares back at KAMAL.

Mallorca comes rushing back. Ehsan’s limp body on the floor after she’d stabbed him in the neck. She’d killed Kamal’s brother after he’d discovered her identity. She always knew she’d pay for that night, she just thought it was the death-by-a-million-cuts type she already felt for having betrayed the only person she’d ever loved.

“WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?” Kamal SCREAMS, strands a saliva thick in his mouth.

“Zara Hadid.”

He throws his hands to his head, a man tormented. He STRIKES Cruz’s face with his gun. Her cheek splits from the force of the metal. Everything in her has been pushed to not give up a single piece of information. Even if he’d learned what Ehsan knew, even if he had her real name and that’s how she was eventually tracked all the way to her outpost in Africa, she still wasn’t going to give him anything.  

Kamal trains the gun on her. “Why the fuck did the United States Military want my brother dead?” He asks through gritted teeth. 

They didn’t. Cruz stares at the wall. Kamal paces, at the edge of himself.  

Square-jaw, sensing the tension, grabs Cruz’s chair and sits her back down. He secures her arms more tightly to the chair with zip-ties.

Kamal goes to her, removes his sunglasses, his face inches from hers, shaking with rage. “We’re going to drain every last piece of information out of you, Marine, if we have to take it bit by bit.” He nods to Square-jaw and then leaves the room.

Square-jaw puts on a pair of latex gloves and pulls a pair of pliers from his utility belt.

Cruz betrays herself with a look of fear. This could mean a number of horrors.

Square-jaw approaches. Lifts the pliers to her mouth.

“I’m gonna bite your fuckin’ hand off.”

He pauses for a moment, goes to Jona’s body, cuts off a piece of his stained t-shirt. Shoves it in Cruz’s mouth like a bite guard to keep her jaw open. Cruz tries to spit it out, the putrid taste of sweat and death, but it’s too big and she’s scared she might choke.

“I am sorry for this,” he whispers. Square-jaw takes the pliers and begins to remove one of Cruz’s back molars. She screams despite herself.

 

There’s no way to tell what time of day it is, other than the distant noise from outside dying down. Middle of the night? Cruz’s head throbs. She’s too dehydrated and she hasn’t eaten in days.

The smell of Jonah makes her dry heave. She looks around the room, the fluorescent light above still buzzing bright. It’s all a blur. I wonder if Joe will find out about this. She thinks of the Lioness team she quit. I shouldn’t have been so fucking eager, she thinks to herself. What had she needed to prove by signing up? Was it fear? Did I feel untouchable being the best? Impenetrable by the faceless dark forces. But she wasn’t impenetrable. Aaliyah had been the stray bullet Cruz hadn’t seen coming. Her tenderness and attention led Cruz to more darkness than she could have ever fathomed.

The door OPENS, Kamal stands, drunk and swaying, a handgun loosely held to his side. To his right, a sight that rips through all of Cruz’s resolve. Aaliyah Amrohi.

Kamal and Aaliyah cover their noses at the smell of death.

Kamal, “Fuck, man, get that shit out of here,” he says, gesturing to Jonah.

Two of the men grab Jonah’s lifeless frame, still attached to the chair, and carry him out.

Cruz looks at Aaliyah as she watches in horror. She looks smaller, thinner, her eyes darkened and her skin pale. Her mouth is suspended in a silent gasp.

She turns to Cruz and the two women lock eyes for the first time since that night. This time, the truth stands between them. Cruz, no more than a government-sponsored machine sanctioned to eliminate the regional conflict that was Aaliyah’s father.

A wave of fresh shame washes over Cruz. She looks down.   

“Here she is. You wanted to see her, well here she fucking is.” Kamal gestures with his gun.  

Cruz tries to swallow but her mouth is too swollen.

“And my brothers know?”

“They’ll be here tomorrow.”

Aaliyah stares for a moment, “Good.”

Kamal scratches his chin, “Not sure how I’m gonna convince them to let me keep her alive though.” He taps the gun to his temple, “A lot of people in this part of the world will be very interested to find out what kind of information you’re holding in that head, Marine.” 

“Get her some water,” Aaliyah commands in Arabic.

Kamal scoffs.

“You heard me,” Aaliyah barks.

Square-jaw obliges, re-enters the room with a water bottle. Touches it gently to Cruz’s lips. Cruz tips her head back and drinks so quickly she gets some up her nose and begins to cough.

“This bitch killed your father and your fiancé, but sure, let’s make sure she’s well hydrated!”

Aaliyah stares at Cruz, expressionless, turns to Kamal, “You said you want answers and you want to trade her? Keep her alive until she gives you both.”

“And what do you want?” Kamal asks, drunkenly grabbing her arm. This would be the perfect time to make a move, but Cruz isn’t willing to risk Aaliyah’s safety, not knowing what Kamal’s drunken rage might lead to in a struggle.

“What I want, no one can give me,” Aaliyah says, staring into Cruz’s eyes with finality. She turns on her heels and heads down the hallway.

Cruz feels like all the air has been sucked out of the room.

Kamal stares at her, waves the gun. “Tomorrow.”

The door shuts and silent tears roll down Cruz’s face. She hangs her head. Sucks her cheek then SPITS out a blood-clot from where her molar used to be.

Chapter 7: I Was Given Too Much Money For This To Be Your End

Summary:

Settling into her fate, Cruz is surprised by an unlikely rescue effort.

Notes:

* Strong language & depictions of violence. *

NONDESCRIPT HOLDING CELL 

ARABIAN PENINSULA

 

 

Hours have passed since she saw Aaliyah. She couldn’t fall back asleep – all around her, there’s too much pain.  

Square-jaw opens the door, swiftly steps in and shuts it behind him. He lifts a knife and approaches Cruz. She JUMPS back in the chair. She falls against the cement with a ‘THUD’. She manages to roll onto her side and KICKS her legs out so that the chair makes contact with him.  

“Stop. I’m here to help.”

Cruz grunts as he takes ahold of her arm – lifts the blade and SLICES off the zip-tie. He does the same to the other one before she has time to grab him.

“You killed my friend.”

“I am sorry for it. If I didn’t, one of the others would have, and maybe not so quickly.”

Cruz stares at him, calculating the moment. She knows this is true, but she can’t let her guard down. She tries to untie her legs from the chair— “Why would you help me?”

“Miss Amrohi wants you alive,” he says, lifting the knife.

Cruz freezes. Can she trust this? She nods for him to approach. He cuts the ties to her feet and she stands for the first time in days, caked in her own sweat and mess, but finally untethered.

Cruz looks up at the security camera.

“I disabled it,” he says. “Come on.” He rips the door open and sprints down the hall. Cruz follows, her legs are slow from being tied up.

They come to a metal door. He pauses before opening, holds his gun at the ready.

“Got one of those for me?” Cruz whispers, out of breath.

“I was paid to free you, not to arm you.” He takes a breath, “When we exit, we’ll walk slowly. When you see the jewelry store on the right, head to the back, it leads to an alleyway where there’s an SUV waiting for you.

“To take me where?”

“I don’t know, but I was given too much money for this to be your end.”

“That’s what worries me,” Cruz challenges.

From down the hall, they hear men’s voices. They’ve noticed she’s gone.

Cruz PUSHES through the door, disoriented by a flurry of people. They’re in some kind of a market. Square-jaw guides her slowly past a few storefronts selling various clothing, spices, etc. and into the jewelry shop. From behind them, yelling voices cut through the sound of the crowd. The men are after her.

Square-jaw takes her hand and runs towards the back of the jewelry shop. They duck beneath a counter and out of view. In the back, a dark office filled with decades of cigarette smoke. An old man watches them from behind his desk. Turns his head, as if to not see them.

“This way,” Square-jaw barks. He PUSHES through a curtain and shoves open a metal door, breaking into DAYLIGHT. Cruz takes a step back, blinded by the first real-light her eyes have seen in days.

In front of them, a black suburban, like he promised. Square-jaw sees her hesitation, throws the passenger door open for her. The driver turns, “Ms. Hadid?”

Square-jaw nods.

“Where are you taking me?” Cruz yells in Arabic.

“Just get in!” Square-jaw yells.

Another door from the market RIPS open, three men file out, begin SHOOTING.

Cruz jumps in the back seat. “Get in!” She yells to Square-jaw.

He slams the door shut behind her. Runs down the alleyway, luring the men away. He ducks behind a building and manages to shoot two of them down.

The other one turns to the SUV, fires a few rounds into the door.

“Go, go!” Cruz yells to the driver.

The driver PUNCHES the gas. Plows down the alleyway, the last man chases after. A round hits the back window but it’s bullet proof. Square-jaw uses the distraction to take his shot. Cruz watches the remaining man FALL to the ground, a bullet through his chest.

Square-jaw turns to the passing SUV, waves goodbye. She sits back, exhales. In the side of the car door, a handgun and loaded magazines. She smiles to herself.

The driver stays the course, weaving in and out of city traffic. Kuwait City from the looks of it. But why here? Kamal was Saudi. Unless it was all orchestrated by Aaliyah’s brothers. But then why the gun?

After about twenty minutes, the driver pulls into a que for a ferry.  

“Where are we going?”

The driver nods at the sign for Failaka Island. “Is safe,” he says. “Very beautiful.”

Cruz knows she should jump out of the car and head straight for Camp Arifjan, or Buehring, or Doha – there’s no shortage of U.S. military bases in the region – but if there’s a chance of seeing Aaliyah before all of this ends, she has to take it.

Chapter 8: My Name is Cruz

Summary:

Having just escaped Kamal, Cruz decides to go to Aaliyah, even if it means risking capture again.

Notes:

* Strong language, sexual content, & depictions of violence *

AMROHI ESTATE

FAILAKA ISLAND, KUWAIT

 

The ferry ride is about a half-hour. Cruz had wanted to get out for some fresh air and water, but the driver insisted she stay in the car. To his credit, she couldn’t risk being in the background of a tourist’s TikTok.

Once on the island, the drive only takes ten minutes. They pull up to a tall gate. What lies behind its walls, impossible to tell. The driver stops at the entrance. “Here,” he says.

Cruz looks around, there’s no one watching them, and no sign that they’d been followed. She loads the extra gun magazines into her pocket and gets out, stares at the gate.

The driver rolls down his window and motions to a panel that blends in with the wall. He holds out an envelope for her.

She grabs it. Breaks the seal. Inside, a single piece of paper with a code handwritten: 168952.

Cruz goes over to the wall, enters the numbers. The gate CREAKS open. The driver backs up and leaves.

Cruz pulls her weapon to the ready. Walks slowly into the grounds. The gate closes behind her. She takes in her surroundings, fruit trees line the path to the house. A modest one-story white dome, its roof, one giant skylight.

The front door opens. Cruz tucks herself behind a shrub – Aaliyah’s petite frame comes into view. She’d seen Cruz from the window.

The women lock eyes, holding each other with a pained stare. Cruz lowers the gun, tucks it into the belt of her cargo pants, holds her hands up in surrender. Aaliyah stands, her chest heaving, chokes back a sob and RUNS towards Cruz.

Aaliyah throws her body into Cruz and wraps her arms around her, holding her closer than life itself. Cruz drops to her knees, too weak from the past few days to keep her resolve. They sit like this for a while, silently crying into each other.

Finally Aaliyah pulls back to look at Cruz. She’s frozen as Aaliyah runs a finger along her bruised cheek. “Come, I’ll run you a bath,” Aaliyah whispers. Cruz can all but nod as Aaliyah pulls her weak body up from the ground.

 

Cruz lays in a spa-sized marble tub filled with a milky substance that smells like oranges and cloves. Her loaded gun lays on the towel just beside her. On the counter across from her, an assortment of new and expensive clothing laid out for her when she’s done. They hadn’t spoken any words before Aaliyah left her alone in the bathroom, and Cruz feels frozen with shock.

She knows she needs to call someone. Her CO in Nigeria. Joe. Anyone. She had been detained for at least three days, and her friend was killed. His family deserved to know. Jonah’s bright smile flashes in her mind and Cruz squeezes her eyes shut.

Aaliyah knocks gently on the door.

“Come in,” Cruz calls out. She hurries to cover herself. Aaliyah enters and notices Cruz’s discomfort. She turns around to give her some privacy. “I wanted to ask what you’d like tonight, for dinner?”

“Oh,” Cruz smiles through the pain.

“I would have had our cook make us a meal, but nobody’s supposed to be here. That’s why it’s safe.” Aaliyah turns around to her.  

“Thank you,” Cruz all but whispers. “Something soft?” Cruz touches her swollen jaw.

Aaliyah frowns at Cruz’s pain. She looks like she’s about to say something, but then she glances down at the gun.

Cruz holds her breath.

Aliyah’s eyes flicker back to Cruz – she walks over to the bath and kneels beside it. “May I?” She asks, pointing at the washcloth Cruz has covering her breasts.

“Uhhh,” Cruz awkwardly lifts it from her chest and covers herself with her other arm. Aaliyah rings out the cloth and touches it to Cruz’s face. She gently scrubs dried blood from behind her ear.

“Here, sit up, if you can.” Cruz leans forward with a grimace. Aaliyah watches her so closely, as if everything that hurts Cruz hurts her too.

She moves to Cruz’s back, slowly rings the warm water out across Cruz’s shoulders. She wipes at the remaining dirt, realizes what she’s trying to scrub away is a bruise. Cruz closes her eyes. No one’s touched her since their last night together. 

Cruz’s heart is racing. She can’t live in the silence when there’s so much between them now—“Aaliyah,” she says finally. Aaliyah stops, her hand on Cruz’s bare skin.

“My name is Cruz.”

Aaliyah’s eyes are unreadable. She sets the washrag down and leaves the bathroom.

Chapter 9: Ever Since Your Bruises

Summary:

Cruz and Aaliyah reunite and try to navigate the chasm of grief and betrayal that lies between them.

Notes:

* Explicit Sexual content and strong language. *

AMROHI ESTATE

FAILAKA ISLAND, KUWAIT

 

 

Cruz lays in bed. It’s just after eleven.

They had eaten dinner in near silence. Aaliyah had a tomato and beef broth and warm bread waiting for her when she came out of the bath. Cruz was starving, but her stomach was full of nerves, and getting food down was harder than she’d expected. Aaliyah disappeared mid-dinner and returned with a bottle of wine. She offered Cruz some, but she needed to keep her head clear. When she declined, Aaliyah got up and walked off with the bottle.

She hadn’t seen her since then, and when it became clear she wasn’t coming back to the table, Cruz cleaned up and made her way to the bedroom which Aaliyah had earlier pointed out was hers.

Cruz stares up at the ceiling – the glass paneling. The sky is bright with stars. She thinks of Aaliyah, of her father – after living in darkness for these past eight months, she was seeing a glimmer of light, getting to see Aaliyah again. Aaliyah had saved her, but that didn’t mean there was anything beyond that. It also didn’t mean she was safe. Kamal and Aaliyah’s brothers had tracked her down once – she knew she needed to leave the country, and soon. Would Aaliyah come with her?

Cruz thinks of the way she hugged her outside the house. A small flutter of desire fills her, but she shoves it down. She knows they can never go back.  

A little while later she hears a CRASH. She jumps out of bed, gun at the ready. She quietly opens her bedroom door – from somewhere in the house, the sound of sobbing.

Cruz moves swiftly towards the source of the sound – Aaliyah’s on the floor in a silk pajama set. The sun-room is dark all but a few small floor lights. She’s crying – next to her, a broken wine bottle.

“Are you okay?” Cruz asks.

Aaliyah looks up. Something feral in her eyes. In one swift motion she stands, goes to Cruz, grabs her face and KISSES HER. It’s sloppy and desperate, and full of a million words that can’t be translated. Aaliyah’s mouth tastes rich with wine. After a moment, Cruz pulls back. She’s trembling.

Aaliyah looks hurt by the interruption. Steps away from their embrace “I suppose that was a lie too.” 

Cruz is wordless, still trying to steady herself.

Aaliyah begins pacing. Cruz looks down at the glass from the broken bottle, right in front of –

“Aaliyah—”

“Please, no more lies.” Tears spill down her cheek.

“No, the —”

Before Aaliyah registers her words, she steps onto a large shard of glass and LEAPS with pain.

Cruz rushes to her, sits her down on the chaise, “Shit. Here,” she kneels in front of Aaliyah, rests her injured foot on top of her bent knee. She takes her shirt off – an expensive cotton tee, wraps it around her fingers to protect herself as she grips the glass. Slowly she pulls it from Aaliyah’s foot.

Cruz wipes the excess blood with her shirt, then takes the sole of Aaliyah’s foot to her mouth – gently sucks to make sure she got all of the glass. She looks up at Aaliyah – whose eyes watch her with a blend of pain and desire.

Satisfied she got it all, Cruz lets go of Aaliyah’s foot, and spits the remaining blood into the T-shirt, then wraps it tightly around Aaliyah’s foot.

“I need to find a bandage.”

Aaliyah sits up. “Did you feel it too, ever?”  

Cruz is thrown by the question, “Do you have a first aid kit?”

Aaliyah, “I don’t need a bandage, Cruz, I need the truth.”

Hearing Aaliyah say her name out loud stops her in her tracks. She sits at the end of the chaise. Breath heavy, she hangs her head. She doesn’t mean for them to, but tears come, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

“I went looking for you. When you didn’t come back to the room. When you said you’d gone for water…”

Cruz looks up—her face contorting with pain.

“I found them.”

Cruz cries harder.

“My father and Ehsan, both slaughtered. But what’s worse?”

Cruz waits--

“I cared more that you were gone.” Aaliyah chokes back tears. “I’d grown up prepared to lose my father from the time I was a child, and Ehsan, well, he didn’t deserve to die.”

Cruz throws her head back and takes a deep breath, trying not to explode with pain and shame.

“But I knew… well, I thought, I’d never see you again, and everything I’d felt – falling in love for the first time – that was all gone too.”

Cruz’s pain fills the room. She’s speechless.

Aaliyah grabs her chin, turns Cruz’s head to face her. “You think I couldn’t see you? That you weren’t always revealing yourself to me?

Cruz looks away, waiting. Aaliyah continues, “Ever since your bruises -- you carried them like they were nothing. And that night, in Mallorca, you all but confessed. What did I do? I still wanted you. And for that, maybe I am as guilty as you.”   

Cruz takes this in. Stunned.

Aaliyah waits for Cruz to say something – anything, but she stays silent, lost in herself. Aaliyah stands up.

Cruz grabs Aaliyah’s hand. She doesn’t know how to get the words out, but every part of her is on fire. “I felt it.” She says, her mouth trembling. “I still do. I have no right to say these things to you, after what I—but it’s the truth. And what I did will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

Aaliyah stares at her, still standing. “So you’re a Marine?”

Cruz turns her head away.

“And you were following orders?”

Cruz, stifles a sob, doesn’t answer.

Aaliyah sits back down, finds Cruz’s eyes, “But… you love me?” She lifts her hand to Cruz’s chest, rests it over hear heart.  

Cruz looks up, nods her head through tears, whispers, “I love you.” A swirl of emotions flood through her. The last time she said those words, she was sixteen and saying goodbye to her mom. This feels like something oddly similar – the potential of total devastation looming.

Aaliyah moves inches away from Cruz’s mouth, “Do you still want me?

Cruz nods, breathes out, “I want you.”

Aaliyah kisses Cruz. Slow at first. Cruz is too stunned to fully give in to the moment. Aaliyah climbs into her lap, straddles her. She can taste a trace of blood in Cruz’s mouth.

The feel of Aaliyah in her arms, her soft skin, the scent of her long hair, draped around them --  something dormant begins to awaken in Cruz. She pulls on Aaliyah’s silk pajama shirt.

Aaliyah unbuttons it – opens to her bare chest. Aaliyah reaches for Cruz’s sports bra, pulls it off over her head. Pushes back her hair and kisses her harder, now skin to skin. Cruz’s entire face feels like a bruise but she’s too overwhelmed with desire to care.  

Cruz stands, lifts Aaliyah with her and walks, the two of them topless. Aaliyah continues to kiss her, her legs wrapped around Cruz’s waist as she carries her to the bedroom.

Finally inside the room, Cruz sets Aaliyah down on the bed – locks the bedroom door, and pulls the gun from the back of her sweatpants and sets it on the nightstand.

Aaliyah looks at it, “We’re safe here.”  

Cruz kneels in front of Aaliyah and takes a hold of her pants. She looks up and Aaliyah nods for her to take them off. Cruz throws the silk pants to the floor and spreads Aaliyah’s legs.

Cruz kisses her thighs, working her way up to her underwear. She runs her nails over Aaliyah’s legs, eventually reaching the elastic waistband. Aaliyah moans in anticipation. Cruz moves her mouth over Aaliyah’s cloth-covered mound. She licks through the fabric. Aaliyah sets a hand on the top of Cruz’s head. “Come here,” she rasps.

Cruz looks up, obeys. She moves to Aaliyah’s face, kisses her hard, her body over hers. Cruz can feel Aaliyah wrap her legs around her waist. Her hand returns to her underwear, she moves them to the side, desperate for access. Cruz thrusts two fingers into Aaliyah’s wet core. Aaliyah grabs Cruz’s shoulder, their mouths still entangled. Cruz moves so that she’s straddling one of Aaliyah’s legs. With Cruz still inside her, Aaliyah pulls Cruz’s sweatpants and underwear down to her knees.

Cruz moves her body against Aaliyah’s with every thrust, faster and faster. She grinds her wetness against Aaliyah’s leg, on the edge. She watches Aaliyah squeeze her eyes shut, mouth open – she can feel her center clench around her fingers as she continues to curl them up into her g-spot. Aaliyah opens her eyes, finds Cruz’s face – they stare at each other as she cums. Once Aaliyah stops shaking, Cruz lays her head into the bed. Kisses Aaliyah’s shoulder, her neck.

Aaliyah is ready for more. She grabs Cruz’s ass and pulls her down her thigh to her hot flesh where they align. She pulls Cruz’s body back and forth over herself. The sensation is irresistible to Cruz – she sits up, puts weight on her knees, and begins to glide back and forth over Aaliyah – their clits rubbing together with a frenzied friction. Cruz’s breath begins to build. She lifts Aaliyah’s leg into the air, wraps her arms around it and begins to thrust her hips harder.

Aaliyah moans. Cruz kisses her extended knee, her calf, down to her ankle. She takes the t-shirt off of Aaliyah’s foot – the blood has stopped.

She looks down at Aaliyah – their eyes lock as the pressure in between her legs grows. It feels so good, to have her like this, a pool of want and wetness between them. They both breathe like they’re sprinting – getting closer and closer to – Cruz’s body spasms with pleasure – she can feel Aliyah under her, needing just a bit more – she continues to grind, every muscle shaking. Aaliyah lets out a moan, her body finally surrenders.

Cruz falls to the bed, her body on top of Aaliyah’s. They’re both panting. Cruz laughs, Aaliyah follows. Aaliyah pushes back Cruz’s hair – her forehead sweaty.  

After only a few moments, Aaliyah turns Cruz over and lays on top of her, still trying to lower her heart rate. Cruz stares up at the glass ceiling – just beyond it, the stars. She holds Aaliyah’s naked frame on top of hers. She would cry more if she wasn’t so weak. Aaliyah lifts her head, “I don’t think I can ever have enough of you.” Cruz smirks, knowing it’s the same for her.

Aaliyah kisses her collarbone, works her way down to her breasts. Squeezes them while taking one in her mouth. Cruz moans. Aaliyah moves her hands over the long lengths of Cruz’s bruised body. Eventually working her way further and further down until she lays her mouth on Cruz’s mound.

Suddenly Aaliyah tongue parts Cruz’s lips. One side and then the other. Cruz runs her hands through Aaliyah’s hair. She opens her legs wider – Aaliyah begins to circle Cruz’s clit, flicking it back and forth in her mouth. Cruz moans a little louder. Aaliyah looks up – they lock eyes. She inserts two fingers, and begins to thrust her while she sucks on her clit. Cruz’s breath is ragged. She’s not going to last long.

Aaliyah continues to stare into her eyes, watches her bite her lip and gasp. Her hand crumples the bed sheets to her side. Aaliyah moans with her until finally Cruz cums. Aaliyah takes her fingers out and wipes them off on the sheets. She crawls up Cruz’s body and lays on top of her. Cruz wraps her arms around her. Their hearts pounding.

Aaliyah speaks into her chest, whispers in Arabic, “I love you.” Cruz tries to say it back, but she can’t keep her eyes open. Within moments, she’s asleep. Aaliyah watches her – she should feel anger, fear, disgust, rage, hatred, but all she can find is relief. Relief to have her again. Relief to know that the strongest thing she’d ever felt in her life wasn’t a lie. It was here, with this woman. She kisses Cruz’s forehead, pulls the covers up around them, and closes her eyes.

Chapter 10: When I Know Something, I Know It

Summary:

After finally finding some peace, Cruz must decide her next move, and whether or not it includes Aaliyah.

Notes:

* Strong sexual content, the mention of violence, and language. *

AMROHI ESTATE

FAILAKA ISLAND, KUWAIT

 

Cruz STARTLES awake. The room is dark all but a corner where Aaliyah sits. She sets a book down and comes to the bed, sits beside Cruz.

“Was it a bad dream?”

Cruz nods, disoriented.

“Was he your friend?” Aaliyah asks.

Cruz stares blankly.

“The man, in the room with you.”

Cruz’s mind flashes to Jonah, dead beside her. She grimaces. “Yeah, he was my friend.”

“I’m sorry.” She says, laying a hand on Cruz’s chest.   

Cruz nods thanks. “What time is it?”

Aaliyah smirks, “It’s ten, at night.”

Cruz sits up, alarmed.  

Aaliyah, “You needed it, after what you went through.”

Cruz shakes her head, “I’ve seen worse.”

“That’s terrifying.”

Cruz stands up.

Aaliyah, “Do you need food? You must be hungry."

Cruz, caught off guard by her full day of sleep, “I need to call someone. I need to get out of here.”

Aaliyah stands up, “What do you mean?”

Cruz starts pacing, “I was taken about four days ago, and there are people who need to know what happened.”

“People who will come and kill Kamal and my brothers?”

Cruz stops, “I don’t know,” she grabs Aaliyah by the hips, “But I’m not safe here – we’re not safe here.”

“So you’re going to leave now?”

Cruz can feel Aaliyah pulling away. She leans forward and kisses her. “I don’t think you understand,” Aaliyah braces herself, “how much I need you.” Aaliyah looks shocked. “But I can’t stay here.”

Cruz steps back, grabs Aaliyah’s hand, “For now, will you come to the bathroom with me?” She asks with a quick grin, “I really have to pee.”

Aaliyah smiles, nodding ‘yes.’

 

A little later the two women sit on a curved white couch in a cozy living room, a smorgasbord of food on the coffee table in front of them. Cruz’s mouth has healed more, now able to chew a little. They share stories about themselves, about childhood, about first kisses and getting in trouble. Cruz wants to be known by her, but she is cautious, understanding there are still things she can’t share, not now, and maybe not ever.

Aaliyah sets her empty plate on the table. Grabs her glass of wine and takes a sip. 

“So, what was it, when we met?” Aliyah asks. “I was just your sad mark?”

Cruz thinks for a moment, “Do you remember when you asked me my name… and I didn’t answer?”  

Aaliyah’s rolls her eyes, “I thought maybe you didn’t want to be my friend.”

Cruz laughs, “I didn’t know what was happening, but I sorta got lost, staring at you. I don’t know how to describe it.”

“Attraction.” Aaliyah jokes.

“Yes, attraction,” Cruz flashes her toothy grin.

“Desire?”

“Yes, desire. But also that maybe that I’d already known you. I know that sounds stupid.”  

Aaliyah’s smile fades. She swallows, “From the moment we met, I knew I would love you.”

A look of shock rolls over Cruz’s face. “Just like that?”

“I don’t know a lot of things, but when I know something, I know it.”

She crawls across the couch and kisses Cruz. It’s slow and full of deep feeling.

After a few moments, Cruz pulls back, “Hey,” she says gently, and lifts a hand to Aaliyah’s face to wipe away her tears. “What is it?”

“Take me with you.” The look on her face breaks Cruz’s heart all over again. She knows she should say no, that it isn’t safe and it might not even be possible, but in this moment, all she can do is nod. This woman is her whole heart, and a person can’t live without their heart.  

Chapter 11: Joe, I'm In Trouble

Summary:

When Cruz's plan to leave the country with Aaliyah is threatened by Kamal's mercenaries, Cruz must call upon the woman who brought her into all of this.

Notes:

* Depiction of violence & strong language. *

ON A FERRY 

THE PERSIAN GULF, KUWAIT

 

 

Cruz and Aaliyah stand in front of the front gate. It’s early, and they both have backpacks on. Cruz’s gun is in her waistband, extra magazines in her pocket.

She glances at Aaliyah, notices something sticking out of her backpack. “What is that?” She asks, turning.

Aaliyah turns her back away from her, “I grabbed it from the kitchen. Shouldn’t I have something to defend myself with too?”

Cruz smirks, holds her hand.  

They hear a car pull up and turn to each other. “If anything goes wrong,” Cruz says, squeezing her hand. Aaliyah turns to her and kisses her quickly, “I love you.”

Cruz melts under the words. Aaliyah kisses her again then walks towards the wall of the property and pushes a button. Slowly, the gate opens. Cruz stands out of sight with her gun at the ready.

Square-jaw steps forward. He has a brace on his knee.

“Emad,” Aaliyah greets him with a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you. This belongs to you,” she says, returning a small beacon. Emad had given it to her for this very moment – “Push it, and I will come to you,” he’d said.

Cruz watches their interaction, determining if it’s safe to leave with him. He notices her gaze, glances at the gun in her hands, “I see you got my present.”

Cruz, sizes him up, “What happened to your leg?”

“Credibility.”

“And it worked?” Cruz asks, suspiciously.

He nods ‘yes.’

“When I was younger, Emad was my guard whenever we were here in Kuwait. He is loyal.” Aaliyah says with a smile.  

Cruz thinks back to Aaliyah and Emad’s interaction in the cell. Aaliyah was already hatching her plan, acting as if they were unfamiliar.

“Does Kamal know this?”

Aaliyah sighs, “Kamal thinks his money is god.”

“Kamal hired me because he believed I would want to avenge Mr. Amrohi’s death just as much as Aaliyah’s brothers.”

“And you don’t?”

“What I know, is that these last several months have been… peaceful.”

Him and Aaliyah exchange a somber look – they both know it’s true.  

“And you’re sure you weren’t followed?”

“They’re all out looking for you. They think I am too.”

Cruz has too many concerns. Stares at the SUV. She goes to it, opens the doors, her gun pulled. She searches the entire vehicle.

“The airport is going to be tricky, but I know someone who can sneak you in.”  

“We’re going to the U.S. Embassy,” Aaliyah responds.

Emad looks surprised, begins speaking to Aaliyah in Arabic, challenging the plan. Cruz doesn’t mind, it lets her hear his real thoughts, and he’s right, it is dangerous to stay in the country, and possibly stupid to give herself over to the Americans. Aaliyah’s brothers brought their own task force – at least a dozen men, highly trained in combat, torture, and finding people.

Cruz responds in Arabic, “We’ll be safe there.”

Emad turns to her, “To most, Kamal’s money is god. No place in this country is safe for you.”

“Then give me your phone.”

“I didn’t bring it.”

Aaliyah clicks her tongue at him.

“I’m telling the truth.”

“Where’s the nearest one then?”

“The ferry.”

“Let’s go,” Cruz says turning to Aaliyah.

 

They wait a few minutes in the car after the ferry takes off. Emad leaves the SUV in search of a stranger’s phone Cruz can use.

Aaliyah grabs Cruz’s hand. Cruz puts her other hand on top of it. “This is a lot scarier than I imagined,” Aaliyah whispers.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Aaliyah plays with the hem of Cruz’s shirt, “What if they don’t let me come with you, what if they make me stay here?”

Cruz hugs her tightly to herself, “That’s not going to happen,” she whispers, even though she knows that’s not a promise she can make. Aaliyah’s asylum wasn’t a guarantee.

The driver’s door opens, then the passenger side.

Aaliyah screams. 

FUCK.  

Cruz pulls the gun from her waist. Before she can fire a shot, the man in the passenger seat has his gun pointed at Aaliyah’s head.

“The ship’s guards will be here in seconds if you fire that,” Cruz says in Arabic.

The man in the driver’s seat stares at Aaliyah in the rearview mirror. “Shame on you. What a shame you bring to your family, to your brothers.” He says in Arabic.

The passenger sneers at her, “We were only told to bring in this one,” he says, nodding at Cruz, “But what happens to her,” he says, “they don’t need to know.”

Cruz tries to get Aaliyah’s attention. Aaliyah finally turns to her and notices her signaling to the door handle.

Aaliyah finds the courage, and PUSHES herself out the door – the same time, Cruz BREAKS the man’s wrist and grabs the gun from him. She WRAPS the seatbelt around the driver’s neck and CHOKES him while she drops the gun and pulls the KNIFE from Aaliyah’s bag and STABS the man in the passenger seat in the throat. He succumbs to his wound, gasping for air as blood pours from him. She turns to the strangled driver and slits his throat.  She turns to Aaliyah who is standing just outside the car, watching, in shock.

Cruz grabs their bags and gets out of the SUV. She takes Aaliyah’s hand. “Hold these,” she says. She opens the passenger door and lowers the seat back so the dead man is out of view, takes his gun. She does the same to the driver’s side. She returns to Aaliyah who’s still staring blankly in shock. “We have to go.”

Aaliyah comes to as Cruz pulls her away from the scene. “What about Emad?” Aaliyah asks, scanning the deck for him.

“He either sold us out or he’s dead. Or both.”

Cruz is in survivor mode. She pulls Aaliyah quickly across the deck to another section of cars. She crouches down, Aaliyah follows.

“What are we going to do?”

Cruz sets her sights on a white sedan in the front of the line. In the driver’s seat, a young woman on her phone. Cruz stands.

“Just follow my lead.”

Aaliyah nods and trails behind Cruz as she walks up to the car.

Cruz starts crying, and taps on the window. The woman startles, then turns.

She rolls down the window, concerned. “Yes? What is wrong?” She asks in Arabic.

Cruz, still crying, responds “It’s my uncle. He kicked us out of the car, because he found out that my fiancé, he ended our engagement.”

The woman takes her in. “Did he do that to your face, too?” She stares at the gash on Cruz’s cheek.

Aaliyah moves closer, “My father, he’s a monster. He thinks she’s to blame, he’s very conservative. Won’t even let us drive, so he had to give us a ride, but now he said we must find our own way home.”

The woman sighs angrily, “Suji,” she says, extending her hand to Aaliyah. Aaliyah takes it, “I’m Fatima,” and this is “Aisha,” she says, nodding at Cruz. Cruz shakes Suji’s hand as well.

“Please, please, get in,” Suji says. “I can at least get you off this ferry,” she says warmly.

“Can I borrow your phone first?” Cruz asks, “I had to leave mine with my uncle and I need to let my mother know when we’re due home.” She wipes away a tear.

Suji nods and hands her phone over without hesitation. Cruz smiles, thanks her. Nods at Aaliyah to get in. Aaliyah opens the passenger seat and sits. Suji rolls up the window and Cruz steps far enough away from the vehicle not to be overheard.

Cruz stands, scanning the ferry for any sign of further threat as she dials a number she never wanted to have to use.

Someone answers but they don’t speak.

Cruz waits a moment, then finally… “Joe, I’m in trouble.”

“Cruz? What happened?” Joe stands in the dining hall of a military base. Around her, her team is loudly ribbing Two Cups for a recent disgrace. 

“I need an extraction.”

Joe walks away from the group. Bobby notices and gets the others to shut up.

“Extractions are for operatives or assets, and you decided not to be either.”

“I was taken from my post in Nigeria 5 days ago by a group of mercenaries hired by Kudra Petrol and Amrohi’s sons. Another Marine was taken with me, KIA. Jonah Wisher.”

“Do you know how they found you?”

“No ma’am.”

“Okay. Leave that to me. Where are you now?”

“On a ferry to Kuwait City.”

“Can you get to Camp Arifjan?” 

“I’m with a civilian and the city’s full of hostiles.”   

“Drop the civilian.”

“It’s Aaliyah. She helped me escape.”

Joe hangs her head for a moment, suddenly more worried for her former asset. “Can you trust her?”

“Yes.”

“Can you trust her?”

“Yes.”

“Cruz…” Joe sighs, “think with your head, not your heart.” Joe’s team takes note of the name, suddenly protective in demeanor. They all saw Cruz as their younger sister and there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for her.

“I can trust her.”  Cruz paces behind the car. She catches Aaliyah’s eyes in the side mirror.

“Is this a secure line?

“I borrowed a passenger’s phone.”

“Smart phone?”

“Yeah."

“I’m sending an address as an encrypted GIF. Memorize it. Delete it. Someone will be there soon.”

“How soon?”

Joe looks at her team and reads their eagerness for the fight, “We’re not that far from you.”

“Joe?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“Just focus on staying alive for the next twenty-four hours.”

“Yes ma’am.”   

Chapter 12: You Don't Want To Know This

Summary:

Finding Refuge in the CIA Safe House, Cruz and Aaliyah begin to process that night in Mallorca.

Notes:

* Explicit sexual content, mention of violence, strong language. *

CIA SAFE HOUSE 

KUWAIT CITY

 

Cruz and Aaliyah enter the safe house. They parted ways with Suji a few miles after the ferry and got into a taxi. It dropped them off at a tea shop, two blocks  away from the address Joe sent. The building was an innocuous eight-story apartment complex. New and nestled into a neighborhood with the right amount of busyness and cover. The safe house was on the second floor.

Cruz drops her backpack and sweeps the place before letting Aaliyah step inside. It’s modern and simple in dressing. After clearing it, she leads Aaliyah to one of the bedrooms and sits her down on the bed.

“Some people are going to come get us in twenty-four hours or less. Until then, we have to stay here. Don’t go on the balcony, or look out the windows, or open the door, and we’ll be safe.”

Aaliyah nods, finally able to succumb to the shock now that the adrenaline has subsided.

Cruz kneels in front of her, “Hey,” she brushes a piece of Aaliyah’s hair back and rests her hand on her shoulder.  “Are you sure you want to do this? There’s no going back once you do.”

“Is that what it was like?” Aaliyah asks, re-focusing her eyes.

Cruz waits.

“The men in the car. There was so much blood. I’ve imagined it so many times – is that how it was, that night?”

“You don’t want to know this,” Cruz goes to stand but Aaliyah grabs her by the arm. It’s tender, but heavy. “Please, tell me. Please.”  

Cruz sits down on the bed beside her, turns to her, her head down. The words are cautious and slow, “I was in the kitchen. Your dad came in. He was after the Gelato.”

“Gilatti,” Aaliyah says in what almost sounds like a laugh.

“Yeah. He made me try some.” She pauses, trying not to relive it, “Then Ehsan ran in yelling what he’d discovered, about who I am.”

Aaliyah swallows, her whole body tense.

Cruz stops, “I don’t—”

“Please.”

Cruz continues, hesitant, “He had a gun, and I didn’t have anything to fight back. He came at me and I saw the knives, I—”

Aaliyah nods, sparing Cruz from having to say it.

“Then your dad, he attacked me with a frying pan. I still had the knife.”

“They say he was stabbed, so many times.” 

Cruz swallows, “They train you to fight in a way that… leaves no survivors.”

Aaliyah stares at her with blank eyes.

“It was fast. Both of them. And then I ran like hell.”

“There was gunfire. The whole security, they were all killed. You weren’t alone?” 

Cruz can’t answer that. She feels everything closing in around her. This was a mistake. Within a few days she’d convinced herself that her and Aaliyah stood a chance, but hearing herself say the words out loud – what she did was unforgivable. Her chest is tight and she can’t breathe. She stands up and steadies herself. “I’m going to make you some tea.” She heads for the kitchen. Aaliyah stays on the bed, motionless as she takes it all in.

 

Cruz stands under the shower, the water helps stave off the onslaught of her thoughts. She doesn’t notice when the door opens.

Aaliyah steps in, naked, her long hair draped over her bare skin. She leans against the wall opposite the shower head. Cruz turns around to look at her. She’s been crying. Neither one says a word, they just stare at each other.

Cruz notices goosebumps forming on Aaliyah’s skin. She steps out from under the water, making room. “Please, while there’s still hot water.”

Aaliyah doesn’t move. After a moment, the words come out, soft and cutting, “I forgive you.”

Cruz wipes the water off her face. Her chest rises and falls quickly.

Aaliyah steps forward, grabs Cruz’s head in her hands. “I forgive you.”

Cruz shakes her head ‘no,’ as tears roll down her cheek. “Don’t do that.”

Aaliyah kisses Cruz, her mouth full of love and desire. Cruz pushes her away again.

Aaliyah stares at her, begging for her surrender.

Cruz takes a deep breath, terrified and cut wide open. Aaliyah can see the softness returning to her. She steps forward and kisses Cruz again. Slow at first, then all consuming.

They stay like this for a moment, their arms entangled, kissing long and deep. The sensation of wet skin and the taste of each other. Cruz grabs Aaliyah’s breast. Aaliyah grabs Cruz’s ass and thrusts herself into her, their pubic bones connecting. Suddenly Aaliyah turns Cruz around and pushes her up against the wall. The cold tile excites her breasts.

Aaliyah wraps an arm around Cruz’s chest and grabs her with possession, while the other explores the length of her body. She kisses her neck, her back, moves her hand down to the front of Cruz’s body. Her fingers push against Cruz’s sex. “Spread your legs,” Aaliyah commands.

Cruz does, she would do anything this woman asked.

Aaliyah begins circling Cruz’s clit with one hand, and continues to squeeze her breasts with the other. Cruz rests her forehead against the wall. Aaliyah leans against her, her wet nipples pushed against Cruz’s back. Aaliyah continues to play with Cruz’s clit, stroking faster and faster, listening to Cruz’s signals to know if she’s in the right spot. Cruz’s breathing quickens. Aaliyah curls her fingers and enters her. Pulling for a few moments against her g-spot. She takes her fingers out and sucks on them, moaning as she tastes Cruz. She lowers her hand again and continues to massage her clit. Just as Cruz seems close, she enters her fingers again and pulls against her inner wall. Aaliyah is playing with her, bringing her to the edge again and again. Finally Cruz begs, “Please.”

Aaliyah stays on her clit, rubs it faster, and faster with more pressure each stroke. Cruz gasps for relief. Flexes her ass. Aaliyah bites her back, holding her skin between her teeth. Cruz’s whole body starts shaking with orgasm. Aliyah lets go of her skin and drags her lips over the mark.

By now the water has cooled, but they’re so worked up, the temperature feels nice. Cruz steadies herself and turns around, takes Aaliyah’s head in her hands and kisses her hard. She lowers herself, kissing Aaliyah’s body as she makes it to her knees. She kisses Aaliyah’s nipples, her stomach.

Aaliyah leans her back against the wall as Cruz puts her mouth to Aaliyah’s heat. Aaliyah runs a hand through Cruz’s wet hair and gasps, as Cruz takes her. She works her mouth like she’s starving, devouring all of Aaliyah.

Aaliyah almost falls, but Cruz grabs her left leg and lifts it over her shoulders. The sensation is too much, Aaliyah’s about to burst. Cruz feels her nails dig into her shoulder, and she pulls back, stares up at Aaliyah, both women breathing hard.  

Cruz stands, opens the shower door, pulls a large towel down from a shelf and lays it across the bathroom floor. She takes Aaliyah’s hand and leads her out of the shower – leaves the water running. She kisses Aaliyah, their bodies swaying against one another’s. She kneels down and pulls Aaliyah with her to the ground. Aaliyah lays on the towel and Cruz wastes no time, crawling between her legs. Aaliyah wraps them around Cruz’s naked waist as Cruz engulfs her in a kiss. She sucks on Aaliyah’s lip and thrusts her fingers into Aaliyah’s wet center. She starts thrusting them in and out in sync with the weight of her body.

Aaliyah lets out a moan and arches her back. She reaches her hands down to grab Cruz’s ass, guiding her to a faster pace. “I want more of you,” she whispers in between kisses.

Cruz enters a third finger and watches Aaliyah’s face contort as she takes it. “Is this okay?” Aaliyah nods, her mouth open with want. Cruz kisses her and feels her tight against each thrust.

“Harder,” Aaliyah begs, her body on the edge.

Cruz stops thrusting and starts curling her fingers up, pulling against Aaliyah’s wall.

“Fuck,” Aaliyah gasps. Cruz grabs the back of her head to protect her from the hard floor. “Faster,” Aaliyah begs. Cruz quickens the speed, kisses Aaliyah’s neck, her collarbone. Aaliyah’s body begins to shake and Cruz watches her face, continuing to pound inside her. They lock eyes, and what takes moments feels like a timeless space where their souls speak.

Cruz stops and watches Aaliyah ride out the pleasure. She is gasping and glowing, and she pulls Cruz closer and kisses her, sucking on her tongue. After a few more moments, Cruz gets off of her and lays beside her, her body half on the towel and half on the tile.

“You left the water on,” Aaliyah manages to say. The two laugh. “You should finish your shower,” she adds, “alone. If I’m in there, I’ll only take you again,” she kisses Cruz’s arm. Cruz smirks, knowing this desire is endless.

Chapter 13: I'm Going To Need Your Help With Something

Summary:

While waiting for extraction, Cruz and Aaliyah are greeted by a new danger. Will Joe's Lioness team get there in time, or will Cruz and Aaliyah's future end before it gets its second chance?

Notes:

* Sexual content, the depiction of violence, and language. *

CIA SAFE HOUSE

KUWAIT CITY

 

 

Cruz and Aaliyah lie together in bed. It’s late. After they showered separately, Cruz heated up some canned food that was stored in a cupboard. It wasn’t great, but they were both starving. Cruz knew she was still recovering from her few days of captivity. Not that her times with Aaliyah had done much to build up her strength either.

Cruz spoons Aaliyah. The two women are both in a new pair of unisex sweatpants and oversized shirts Cruz pulled from the dresser. She breathes in Aaliyah’s hair. Even away from her expensive products, she smells like honey.

“Are you asleep?” Aaliyah asks.

“No,” Cruz whispers, squeezing her tightly.

“What will it be like, life in America, together?”

“What do you mean?”

Aaliyah’s voice is warm with melody, “Where will we live? What will I do? For money? I’ve never had a job before.”

Cruz suppresses a laugh. Aaliyah can feel it, turns to playfully scold her. “Oh yeah? And what was your first job?”

“Uh, I bagged groceries at Aldi.”

“Ah, a supermarket?”

Cruz nods.

“At how old?”

“Fourteen.”

“Fourteen!” Aaliyah’s eyes go wide.

“What were you doing at fourteen?” Cruz scoffs.  

“Probably shopping with my mother, and secretly dreaming of kissing beautiful girls.”

Cruz kisses her.

“And now I have my beautiful girl.”

Cruz laughs, Aaliyah kisses her again.

“You don’t have access to any of your family’s money?”

Aaliyah shakes her head no. “I have something stored away, but no, I was on allowance from my brothers,” she looks down, the gravity of what she’s sacrificed not lost on her. She looks back up at Cruz, “What else did you do, for work?”

“After my mom died, I worked at a club.”

“A dance club?”

Cruz smirks, “Not exactly.”  

Aaliyah gasps. “What kind of club?”

Shyly Cruz answers, “A strip club.”

Aaliyah’s eyes light up. “You were a dancer.” She thinks for a moment, “but you don’t like to show off your body.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Now you will dance for me some time,” she says with a laugh.

Cruz’s eyes grow dark, “It wasn’t the best experience.”

Aaliyah recognizes her pain, “Did something happen?”

Cruz nods silently.

Aaliyah kisses her forehead. She pulls Cruz closer. This was the first time anyone had shown compassion after hearing even a hint of what she experienced that gruesome night. Cruz feels on the verge of tears but breaks through it with humor. “I also flipped burgers.”

“What is ‘flipped burgers’?”

“Like at a restaurant.”

“Fast food?”

‘”Yeah.”

“Ahh. Maybe that’s what I will have to do.”

“Yeah right.” Cruz flashes her brilliant smile.

“You watch.” Aaliyah kisses her, pulls back to see Cruz still smiling. “And after that?”  

“After that, I started to do what I do now. Sort of.”  

“Burgers to this? How does that happen.”

“I was being hunted.”

Aaliyah’s face grows serious.

“Remember what I told you, in Montauk, about a man who hurt me, and me running for my life?”

“That was true?”

“That was true. Just, years back. He chased me right into an office, and they were there for me when I needed help. I just kind of never left.”

Aaliyah swallows. “Do you think you can tell me, one day, the things you can’t now?”

“Some of it.”

“And the rest?”

“If I don’t, it’s because I can’t.”

Aaliyah nods, takes this in. “Will you stay in it? After all of this?”

There’s a ‘knock’ at the door. Cruz jumps to alert. Grabs her gun. Aaliyah sits up, “Stay here,” Cruz commands. She tip toes to the door. Looks out the peep hole.

Obscured through glass, Emad stands on the other side. His face is swollen and he has a head wound.

He knocks again.

“Who is it?” Aaliyah whispers. Cruz rushes over to her. “I need you to lock yourself in here. Do you know how to use a gun?”

Aaliyah nods – Cruz hands her the gun she grabbed from one of the dead men on the ferry.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s Emad."

“He’s alive?”

Cruz leaves the room, locking it before she closes the door behind herself.

She returns to the main door and looks out the peep hole again. Emad is still standing there. Cruz puts the gun in her waist band and in one swift motion, opens the door, PULLS Emad in, locks the door behind him, and slams him to the ground. She hovers over him, her knee to his chest, her grip on the collar of his shirt. 

“How the fuck did you find us? Huh?” She drives her knee in harder.

She pats his pockets down for weapons. He seems unarmed and his clothes are damp. He holds his hands up in defense. “I put a tracker, with Aaliyah.”

“Why?”

“To protect her.”

Cruz scoffs, “Like you did on the ferry?”

“They spotted me. Threw me over the rail. When I made it to shore, I saw the police with the SUV.”

“Why are you here.”

“Where’s Aaliyah?” He asks, trying to crane his injured head.

“Why are you here?”

“I made a vow to help her whenever she was in need.”

“What a fucking saint.”

“Please, let me see her.”

Cruz gets off of him, hoists him up, grabs a kitchen towel and ties it tightly around his wrists. She sits him down in a chair, grabs duct tape from a drawer and binds his legs and torso to the chair.

“This isn’t necessary,” Emad says, breathing heavily.

“If you’re lucky, I’ll even remove a molar,” Cruz replies. She goes to the bedroom, knocks. “I need your bag.”

Aaliyah opens the door. She’s already dressed. Good girl, Cruz thinks.

“What’s going on?” She asks, handing Cruz her backpack.

“He put a tracker on you.” Cruz brings the bag out to the kitchen, dumps its contents out on the table. “Which one is it?” Cruz barks at Emad. Aaliyah watches, confused. “Which one is the tracker?” Cruz repeats.  

Aaliyah looks over the contents. “That’s not mine,” she says, pointing at a lipstick.

Cruz grabs it, sets it on the tile floor. Goes to the cupboard, pulls out a can of beans. She SMASHES the can over the lipstick, breaking the plastic tube. Inside, electronic components. She smashes the can down again and again until they’re obliterated.

“Emad,” Aaliyah scolds, staring at him. “What is this?”

Emad starts to cry. The sight is a shock even to himself. “I would die to protect you, ya zghiri.”

“What did you do?” Aaliyah asks, her breath shallow.

“They have Sherifa.”

Aaliyah’s face goes pale. Cruz raises her gun to Emad’s head. “No,” Aaliyah says, grabbing her arm. Cruz holds it steady at him. “Sherifa is his wife.”

“I don’t give a fuck.”

“What if it was me? And you were Emad, huh? What would you do?”

Cruz takes in Aaliyah’s desperation. She sighs, turns to him, “What did they ask you to do?”

“Lead them to you.”

“And have you?”

“I have,” he says, nodding.

Aaliyah sighs.

“How long do we have?” Cruz asks.

“Minutes,” he says, “maybe less.”

“We gotta go,” Cruz turns to Aaliyah then heads for the bedroom, throws a sweater over her braless-shirt. Slips on her shoes, grabs her bag and the extra gun.

In the kitchen, she hands Aaliyah her empty bag, “Pack it up.” Cruz takes a kitchen knife and rushes at Emad. He braces himself. Aaliyah watches, half-expecting massacre.

Cruz kneels and cuts his tape-restraints but leaves his hands tied with the towel. “This one I know you can get yourself. Stay here until we’re gone, you hear me?” She barks, holding the knife to his throat. He nods, obediently. “And then go get your wife.”

Aaliyah has her bag on her shoulder and stares at Emad one last time. In their eyes, a painful goodbye. Cruz grabs Aaliyah’s hand and leads them towards the door. She pauses, grabs the second gun from her waist and sets it on the table in front of Emad.  A gift for a gift.

She leads Aaliyah out of the apartment. The women start down the stairs when Cruz sees the shadow of several men heading up. She pivots, and sprints up the stairs in the opposite direction. Within a few moments, they hear gunshots ring out and Cruz hopes Emad managed to kill a few of them.

Aaliyah is frozen in fear. “Come on,” Cruz whispers, pulling her up the stairs.

They make it to the eighth floor, both in a sweat. “There’s no roof access.”

“The elevator!” Aaliyah pants, moving towards it. “We’d be trapped.” They hear footsteps heavy on the stairs a few floors below.

Cruz hatches a plan, grabs Aaliyah’s face in her hands, “We’re going to get out of here, okay?” Aaliyah nods. Cruz leads her to one of the apartments on the back side of the building. She tries the handle. Locked. She smashes the back of her gun against the door handle and it breaks off. She kicks the door in.

Cruz drags Aaliyah through the door. Inside, women and young children are screaming. Cruz assures them in Arabic that they mean no harm. “Any men?” She asks, her gun trained. “Are there any men here?” The women shake their head no.

She rushes to the balcony, slides the door open, and looks around. “Fuck!”

“What?” Aaliyah asks.

“There’s no fire escape.” Cruz realizes they only have a few seconds.

She pulls Aaliyah inside, finds the bathroom. “I want you to lay in the bathtub, okay?”

“Cruz, no” she says grabbing her hand.

“Do what I say,” she says, kissing her before she leaves the bathroom.

Aaliyah is terrified, the last thing she wants to do is let go of Cruz, but there’s no time to argue. She lays down on her back and tries to steady her breathing.

In the family room, Cruz ushers the family into one of the rooms, telling them danger is coming. Once they’re away, Cruz grabs a small fire hydrant from the kitchen and discharges it in the entryway, obscuring visibility. She stands behind a wall and waits.

Thundering feet approach. “In here,” one of the men yells.

Cruz steadies herself. Just point and shoot.

They KICK the door open. The fire hydrant powder is still settling. Cruz fires six rounds then hides behind the hallway wall. One man falls to the ground with a chest shot. Another drops to his knees and grabs his abdomen. He fires blindly into the apartment. A bullet ricochets and grazes Cruz’s upper arm. His gun clicks. He’s out. Cruz RUSHES towards him, KNEES him in the face. He falls back and she shoots him in the head. A third man was hiding outside, he GRABS Cruz by the throat, PUSHES his gun into her chest and – a GUNSHOT rings out.

Cruz realizes she must be in shock. Something isn’t right. Blood pours from the man’s mouth and he falls to the ground. Behind him in the hallway, Joe.

“The building’s clear, but Tex just spotted more SUVs on the way. Let’s go.” Joe yells to her. She’s in black tactical gear and armed to the nines.

Cruz nods, “Aaliyah.” She runs to the bathroom.

Aaliyah is lying in the tub, armed with a piece of broken mirror wrapped in a towel. She startles as the door opens. As soon as she sees it’s Cruz she drops the mirror and stands. Wraps her arms around her.

“We gotta go,” Cruz whispers.

Aaliyah grabs her bag and follows Cruz. The two leave the apartment in disarray. Three bodies strewn on the floor. Cruz ejects her mag and loads a full one.

Aaliyah stops when she sees Joe. The two women stare at each other for a moment.

“Are you sure about this?” Joe asks, almost glaring at Aaliyah.

“They’ll kill her if she stays.”

“That’s not our problem.”

Cruz walks up to Joe and through gritted teeth, “She’s coming with us.”

“You don’t make that call.”

“I can give you intel,” Aaliyah offers.

“I’m not looking for shopping tips.”

Aaliyah walks over to them, “About Kudra Petrol.”

Joe raises an eyebrow and waits.

“Ehsan’s account, it hasn’t been deactivated.” 

“You have access to their accounts?”

“I have access to everything. I don’t know for how long, but I have it now.”

“If I do this,” Joe says, turning to Cruz, “I’m going to need your help with something.”  

Cruz glares at her, if Aaliyah wasn’t here she would explicitly remind Joe of their last conversation when she quit the Lioness program. “No fucking way.”

Joe glances at Aaliyah, challenging Cruz’s desperation to see her to safety.

Cruz sighs, “Fine. But then that’s it.”

Cruz and Joe stare at each other for a moment, in a silent standoff. Joe turns to Aaliyah with a condescending smile, “Let’s go then.”

They follow her down the stairs, both Cruz and Joe hold their guns at the ready. They hit the lobby, “Bobbi, how’s it looking?” Joe asks over comms. She hears the response in her ear, relays to Cruz, “We’re clear."

The women exit the building and file into a black SUV. In the driver’s seat, Bobbi.

She turns to Cruz for a moment, “Good to have you back.”

“I’m not back.” She taps Bobbi’s shoulder with a ‘thanks.’ “Where’s everyone else?”

“Tex and Two Cups are about a mile back. Tucker and Randy are clearing a path to the base.   

As soon as the car doors close Bobbi slams on the gas and speeds out of the neighborhood.

Joe turns in her seat to Cruz, “How the fuck were you blown?”

“The guard that helped me escape had a tracker on Aaliyah. They took his wife and he gave us up.”

“And you believe that?”

“Yes,” Aaliyah responds.

“I wasn’t asking you,” Joe barks.

She reaches into the glove box and retrieves a small black device. She tosses it to Cruz. “Sweep her.”

Cruz sighs, activates the device and runs it over Aaliyah’s body. She does it to herself, then their bags. “We’re clear,” she hands it back to Joe.

“You fucking better be,” Joe mutters.

“Was anyone left in the apartment?” Aaliyah asks.

Joe doesn’t respond.

“Joe...” Cruz pleads.  

Joe’s eyes are still trained on the road in front of them, “There were three men dead in the kitchen, same tactical gear.”

Aaliyah grabs Cruz’s knee, hopeful Emad made it out.

Joe glances in the rearview mirror, notices Aaliyah’s hand on Cruz.

Chapter 14: I Need a Shadow

Summary:

Separated once they made it to the base, Aaliyah is questioning her decision to give herself over to the Americans. Meanwhile, Cruz is reminded of the cost of Joe's help.

Notes:

* Strong language. *

CAMP ARIJAN 

U.S. MILITARY BASE, KUWAIT

 

Aaliyah stands alone in bland room. It has an attached bathroom with a shower, a bed, a desk and a dresser. Everything is a shade of gray or khaki, down to the bedding. She’s in a new pair of unisex sweats and her long hair is wet from showering. She sits on the bed and brushes it out, letting her eyes lose focus. Everything she’s known, before today, it’s all gone. She had surrendered herself to the CIA. After hours of questioning, photographs, fingerprints, and an invasive search, she was placed in an ugly room that locked from the outside.

Once they reached the base, the bitchy woman separated her from Joe. An escort came and took her to a separate part of the base to be processed. That was hours ago. When someone knocked on the door, her heart leaped at the thought it was Cruz. Instead it was a guy in a uniform who handed her a tray of shitty food. The remains of which sat on the desk.

She sets the brush down and stands up. She’s anxious, exhausted, sick with adrenaline, and restless. She shakes her body. Stretches. Decides to do yoga. It must be nearly morning, but she can’t sleep. She browses a shelf that has a few books – they’re all written by men about America and its celebrated violence. She feels sick to her stomach. Thoughts of finding her father and Ehsan fill her mind.

She’d forgiven Cruz. Not because she was in denial about what she’d done or what she was capable of, but because she was a loaded gun, already pointed at a target, and when Ehsan attacked, his actions in that moment pulled the trigger. The people who had loaded that gun and pointed it in the first place though, that’s who she’d just given herself to. What other choice did she have though? By now, her brothers and Kamal knew she’d helped Cruz escape and that they were together. There was nothing left for her but torture and death. Even as she’d been secretly funneling money out of Ehsan’s account, money wouldn’t buy her safety from their reach.

Her mind flashes to holding Cruz as she slept, that first night on Falika Island. Even if she could find a way to stay safe out there, she knew Cruz didn’t fit in that world. After seeing her again, having her again, she knew the only choice she had was the one that allowed them to be together. After a while she turns the light off and lays in bed. The exhaustion takes over and she falls asleep.

 

It's six in the morning. Cruz lays awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling. She was grateful she’d been given her own room – not too dissimilar to when this all started just before she met Aaliyah. It gave her space to sit with everything that had happened over the last six days. Jonah, Kamal, Aaliyah. A week ago, Cruz was a lifeless husk, hellbent on numbness and duty. Now, she didn’t know what she was, but every time she tried to imagine the future, all she saw was Aaliyah.

Cruz wanted to be with her. She knew they’d taken her to another part of the base, and she knew Joe had an eye on it, so Aaliyah would ultimately be safe, but it still hurt to know she was going through all of this on her own.

“I forgive you,” Aaliyah’s words replay in her head. The way she was able to embrace her, love her, after what she’d done. The way she cared for Eman even after he gave her up. The way even now, she would give up everything to be together. Cruz knew she could live her whole life and never meet anyone like her again.

There’s a knock at the door.

Joe enters, “Remember that favor you owe me?” She asks, reading something on her phone.  

Cruz sighs.

“That starts today.”

Cruz sits up. “What? No fucking way.”

“No?” Joe asks, her tone threatening.

Cruz swallows what she wants to say, Joe continues, “I’m inserting a double, I need a shadow. A close contact to protect her. Intervene if she flops.”

“It’s not enough I kill a foreign national for you, now you want me to kill a fucking agent?”

“How’s that working out, by the way – with his daughter?”

“Hey, fuck you. Fuck you and your mind-fucking twisted words,” Cruz stands, paces. “You have thousands of operatives to choose from.”

“No, I don’t. You’re the only one who understands what I do… I don’t know if I can trust this girl. I hope I can, I need to. But I know that I can trust you.”

Cruz stops pacing, “What about Aaliyah? I’m just supposed to leave her? ”

“That’s really not your concern right now”

Cruz walks towards Joe, challengingly.

“Be careful what you say to me next. One phone call, and she’s on her own out there. You do understand that, right?”

Cruz glares at her, takes a beat to calm down. “What’s your double’s cover?”

“She doesn’t have one.”

Cruz runs a hand through her hair. She knows there’s more to this story, but all she can think of is securing Aaliyah’s safety. “Get Aaliyah out of Kuwait as soon as possible. Relocate her. WitPro stateside.”

“Na, ah, ah,” Joe says, stopping her, “You don’t get to have conditions.”

“Apparently I’m the only one who can do this.” She raises an eyebrow. “So promise me Aaliyah’s safety and we have a deal.”

Joe stares her over, a smirk of amusement. “Alright, Cruz.” She heads towards the door, “I arranged that call with your unit you wanted. I suggest you take it now. We ship out in two hours.”

Chapter 15: I Want This, Forever

Summary:

Called away on a job for Joe, Cruz says goodbye to Aaliyah, reassuring her of their future together after her mission's complete.

Notes:

* Explicit Sexual Content. Strong language *

CAMP ARIFJAN

U.S. MILITARY BASE, KUWAIT

 

“Hey,” a low voice whispers softly.

Aaliyah opens her eyes – Cruz is kneeling beside her bed. She can barely take her in before Cruz kisses her. Her hot mouth sends a wave of desire through Aaliyah’s body. She is awake and wanting.

“Where’ve you been,” She asks in a whisper, raising her arms so Cruz can remove her shirt. Cruz throws Aaliyah’s shirt to the ground, grabs her face and continues to kiss her, long and deep. Aaliyah reaches her hands underneath Cruz’s black t-shirt. Lifts it over her head. The interruption forces eye contact. It’s then that Aaliyah can see it—

“What’s wrong?”

A breath catches in Cruz’s throat.

Aaliyah pushes a strand of Cruz’s hair behind her ear. Cups her face. “What is it? Tell me.”

Cruz looks down, holds Aaliyah by the waist. “I have to go somewhere.”

“Leave? You’re leaving me?”  

Still unable to make eye contact, “I just have to take care of something.”

“Something with my brothers?”

“No,” Cruz whispers, shaking her head, “Something new.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“I don’t know yet.”

She swallows, “How long will you be gone?”

“I don’t know that either.” Cruz looks up, sees the tears pooling in Aaliyah’s eyes.

“Come here,” she says. She pulls Aaliyah’s face to hers and kisses her.

Aaliyah pulls away, runs a hand down Cruz’s chest. “But what about us?”

Cruz puts a hand over hers, “I know. I’m sorry, I know. I just have to do this one thing then it’ll be us.”

“What’s going to happen to me?”

“You’ll be put in witness protection – in America. And as soon as I’m done, I’ll come find you.”

Aaliyah’s face contorts as she tries not to cry. “And if you don’t come back?”

Cruz wants so badly to stop the pain – to run away with Aaliyah. She’s right to ask – it’s always a risk. Until now, Cruz didn’t have anyone who would feel her absence. “That’s not going to happen,” she says, kissing her.

“You can’t promise that. You know that.” Her voice is so vulnerable it breaks Cruz’s heart.

“I promise I’m coming back to you.” She kisses Aaliyah again. Aaliyah leans into it, her mouth opens to let Cruz in. Her desperation feels like a flame, and she could swallow Cruz whole. 

Cruz pushes Aaliyah to the bed and removes her sweatpants. She’s naked underneath. Aaliyah runs a hand up Cruz’s torso. Cruz removes her clothes. She climbs on top of Aaliyah and kisses her deeply. Aaliyah moans from the sensation of Cruz’s warm skin on hers. Their hands explore one another as they stay like this for a while.

Cruz pulls back for a moment, and stares into Aaliyah’s eyes, “My heart,” she moves her hand down and cups Aaliyah’s left breast, over her heart, “it lives here.”

Another tear spills from Aaliyah’s cheek. Cruz kisses it, her lips trail across her face until their mouths meet again.

“Make love to me,” Aaliyah whispers. Cruz’s movement begins to quicken. The slow caress becomes the desperate search. Cruz’s right hand squeezes Aaliyah’s hip and eventually finds itself between her legs.

Cruz can feel Aaliyah’s heat, her need – she gently glides two fingers between her lips– she’s so impossibly wet. Cruz lets out a small gasp at the sensation. She watches Aaliyah’s face as she moves in a circle around her clit. She increases the pressure. Aaliyah bites her lip. Cruz enters Aaliyah, keeping her palm firmly pressed against her clit as she curves her fingers, tapping against Aaliyah’s front wall. Aaliyah wraps her left leg around Cruz’s hip and begins to rock as Cruz pushes the growing pleasure further and further.

Aaliyah’s hands dig into Cruz’s sides, holding her by the top of her hips. Cruz watches her scrunch her nose and knows that she’s close. They lock eyes as Aaliyah gives herself over, moaning as pleasure rolls through her. Cruz feels like her chest is going to explode. She’s so turned on and so in love with this woman.

Cruz’s fingers are still inside Aaliyah. Aaliyah lets out a breath, laughs. Cruz smirks, kisses her. She wastes no time and begins to move down her body. Kissing her breasts, her stomach. She licks Aaliyah’s left thigh. Drags her tongue from hip bone to hip bone, kisses her groin, the inside of her right thigh, then her left thigh. She licks everything but Aaliyah’s sex. Aaliyah is already aching for more. Cruz hovers, blows lightly against it. Just when Aaliyah thinks she can’t take it anymore, Cruz rushes her tongue between her lips – the sensation sends a jolt of pleasure through Aaliyah. She gasps and runs a hand through Cruz’s short hair.  

Cruz is insatiable. She sucks and licks and flicks and teases and worships Aaliyah’s sensitive flesh. Her hands explore Aaliyah’s body – she grabs her breasts and continues to suck her clit. Aaliyah is panting, her hand’s still on top of Cruz’s head, grinding herself rhythmically against Cruz’s face. Cruz moans with her and pinches Aaliyah’s nipples gently between her fingers. It pushes Aaliyah over the edge and she shakes with release. Cruz continues to lick, not letting a single drop go to waste.

After a few moments Cruz rolls to the side and crawls back to Aaliyah’s level. She wipes her mouth on her arm. Aaliyah props herself up and climbs on top of Cruz, straddling her.  

Aaliyah bends down and kisses her, exploring Cruz’s mouth with her tongue. She grinds her pubic bone into Cruz’s. The connection is sensitive. She grabs Cruz’s wrists and pins her arms over her head. Cruz flashes her beautiful smile. Aaliyah pushes her hair out of her face with her other hand. Continues to grind on her. She changes her position so that they’re now interlocked. Each roll of her hips brings more sensitivity and friction. Cruz breathes harder, desperate for release. She tries to get her hands free, but Aaliyah clicks her tongue, grips them tighter, putting her full weight into their wet connection. Cruz closes her eyes, her mouth open and panting. Just as she’s about to cum, Aaliyah moves off with a smirk and crawls down Cruz’s body. She lays to the side of Cruz and begins to lick her heat.    

Cruz turns on her side and grabs Aaliyah’s leg. She pulls the lower half of her body up to her face so that they’re inverted. Aaliyah smiles, continues to lick. Cruz’s hand begins to rub over Aaliyah’s clit. She moans into Cruz’s sex, licking harder and faster. Cruz matches her pace, rubbing harder, quicker – she grits her teeth, so close – Aaliyah moans, also on the verge. Aaliyah puts her lips around Cruz’s clit and begins to suck, her tongue still flicking it with fervor.

“Fuck,” Cruz cries out, she flexes her ass, “Fuck.” She puts her fingers inside of Aaliyah and finishes her off with a few powerful thrusts. Cruz’s body shakes as she cums. Aaliyah follows shortly behind. After a few moments of stroking and kissing each other’s limbs, Aaliyah crawls back to meet Cruz at the head of the bed.

They lay on their sides, eye to eye. Aaliyah holds Cruz’s face, “I want this, forever.”

Cruz kisses her.

There’s a knock at the door. Cruz sits up, covers herself with the top sheet.

Bobby enters, she snickers at the sight of them. Makes a face at the heavy smell of sex. “You really waste no time, do you, Cruz?”

Cruz and Aaliyah stare back blankly. “Joe’s been looking for you. We leave in ten.”

“Ten fucking minutes? She said two hours,” Cruz yells.

“Uh, yeah, and we’re coming up on that.”

Cruz runs a hand through her hair, how long had Bobby been waiting to interrupt?

Bobby looks at Aaliyah who is still laying down, her hair a mess, covered by a single sheet. “Sorry for interrupting.”

Aaliyah looks at her, nods.

Bobby looks back at Cruz, “Ten minutes.” She shuts the door.

Cruz jumps out of bed, begins to throw her clothes on.

“Hey,” Aaliyah says, standing up, still naked.Cruz turns to her.

“I’m not done with you.”

“I don’t want to, but I have to go.”

Aaliyah walks over to her, pushes her up against the desk, “I said I wasn’t done.”

Cruz stares at her.  She can’t lose her resolve, she can’t give in. There’s no time.

Aaliyah begins to touch herself.

Cruz’s mouth involuntarily opens as she watches.

“Let me watch you,” she says, gesturing to Cruz’s pants she just put back on.

Cruz obeys, unzips her pants. Pulls them to her thighs as she leans against the desk.

Aaliyah stops for a moment, walks to Cruz, lifts her sports bra up enough to see her bare breasts. She kisses one, then the other. She takes a step back and resumes. “Come on,” she whispers.

Cruz starts stroking herself faster. She stares at Aaliyah’s naked body. Her perfect breasts, her full hips, her fingers rubbing back and forth over her clit. Aaliyah uses her other hand to grab her own breast, pinching her nipples between her fingers. Cruz wants nothing more than to touch her, to feel her rush to pleasure.

Aaliyah can read it on Cruz’s face, “You want me?”

Cruz nods, quickening her fingers on herself, “Uh huh.”

Aaliyah approaches, still touching herself. She uses her free hand to pull Cruz’s head to the side by her hair. She licks the length of her neck then moves down and takes Cruz’s nipple in her mouth. She begins flicking it with her tongue.

Cruz pants harder as she looks down and sees Aaliyah sucking her breast.  

Aaliyah moves her mouth up to Cruz’s and kisses her hard. The two continue to fuck themselves as they make out, both on the verge.

Aaliyah pulls away, moves her mouth to Cruz’s ear and she moans, “Come for me.” Her low voice sends chills though out Cruz’s whole body. She flexes her abs, her hips, and starts to tip over, shaking and panting. Aaliyah sees and pushes herself off the edge. They watch each other shake at their own hands.

Cruz collapses against the desk, breathing heavily. Aaliyah closes the gap between them and wraps her arms around Cruz, cradling her head against her bare breasts. “I love you,” she whispers.

Cruz pulls back to look up at her, “I am coming back to you.”

Chapter 16: There Are More Important Things

Summary:

While entrusting Aaliyah to Witness Protection, Cruz learns that the CIA's Senior Supervisor, Kaitlyn Meade has other plans for her.

Notes:

* Strong language. *

CAMP ARIFJAN

U.S. MILITARY BASE, KUWAIT

 

Cruz follows the QRF through the hanger and towards a jet that just landed. It feels great to leave the city where she was held captive, where her friend was murdered, but she can feel a deep pit opening inside of her with each step she takes away from Aaliyah.

Cruz thinks to the short phone call Joe arranged with her unit in Nigeria. They’d taken the news as well as anyone could, learning that they’d never see Jonah’s sweet smile or hear his deep laugh again. She couldn’t answer whether or not she’d see them again either, all she could relay was “classified.” Any rumors they’d shared about Cruz being involved in dark ops had more or less been confirmed over the course of those five minutes.  

The jet door opens. The CIA’s Senior Supervisor, Kaitlyn Meade, descends the stairs. She’s in a navy suit, her hair pulled back in a way that usually means business. Joe greets her – they step to the side to speak more privately. The rest of the team boards the flight. Kaitlyn and Cruz lock eyes as she walks up the stairs. There’s no surprise on her face – Joe must have clued her in to the rescue op.

Cruz takes a seat near the back of the plane and hopes she doesn’t end up sitting next to Kaitlyn. There was a very short list of people that made Cruz nervous, and Kaitlyn was one of them – her energy like the still blue surface of shark infested waters.

Joe boards the plane and the flight crew closes the door. Cruz takes a beat to realize Kaitlyn isn’t flying with them. She stands up, looks out one of the windows, watches Kaitlyn walk into the hanger. “She’s not coming with us?” Cruz asks Joe, trying to hide the fear in her voice, already suspecting the reason.

The jet begins to taxi the runway.  

“There are more important things for her here.”

“Like what?” Cruz demands.

Joe takes a seat, ignores her question.

“No, no, no, let me off the fucking plane. Like what?” Cruz heads to the front of the plane where Joe’s sitting.

Bobby’s on alert, stands up to guard Joe.

“You better get the fuck out of my way.”

Tex stands up, puts a hand on Cruz.

Cruz glares at it, about to—

“Before you take a swing, Marine, ask yourself how Kudrah Petrol was able to track down your location – your exact location, down to your deployed unit.”

“You think Aaliyah had something to do with that!?”

“I think she’s our best shot at figuring out who did, and how.”

“You said you were going to get her out!”

“I said we’d keep her safe. Kaitlyn doesn’t change that.”

Cruz stares, takes a few calming breaths.

“I need you to get your head in the game, Cruz.”

Cruz’s eyes narrow, realizing she’s out of options. “Yes, ma’am,” she forces the words out behind gritted teeth. 

Bobby and Tex sit down. Cruz turns around and returns to her seat. She buckles in, stares out the window as the plane takes off. The base below begins to disappear – and with it, Aaliyah, who’s been fed to a shark.