Jonathan knew he was alone even before he opened his eyes. There was no extra weight or body heat beside him and the room was quiet. Had Penny left? He hoped not. Last night had been amazing but he didn't have any illusions of starting a relationship with her. She had a lot of things to figure out before she even considered having a relationship with anyone. They both did. And if she wanted his help, he'd give it to her without expecting anything in return. He would have also told her that of she hadn't upped and left.

Shifting his eyes open he stared at the ceiling above him. He couldn't leave Italy illegally. That was Wes' territory. If he tried to have someone smuggle him out or anything like that, his former partner would capture him in seconds. All criminals big or small reported to him and no one would dare go against him unless they wanted to end up dead. So he was left with one choice. Leave through the airport. Sure, all of them would be crawling with his men but they wouldn't notice him if he hid in plain sight. Wasn't that the first thing he'd learnt? Becoming someone else? He could close his eyes as Jonathan and open them as Diego - a drug junkie - or Victor -a banker - or even Xavier -an assassin -. He'd perfected the art of being an imposter. He could be whoever he wanted at the drop of a hat. It was why he'd succeeded in fooling Wes for so long.

Confident that he had a solid plan, he got up and went to take a shower. The lukewarm water came as a surprise considering the place. In fact he'd only expected the toilet to work. The rest weren't necessary but since the shower was in good condition, he was going to take advantage of that. Using the bar of soap that was provided by the motel, he lathered himself up remembering last night's events. He hadn't planned on sleeping with Penny but dammit, if he could have prevented it. The way she felt wrapped around was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. If he could, he'd go in search of her and never let her out of his sight. But their lives were complicated enough without adding each other to the equation. It would be best for the both of them if he let her go. Maybe he'd check on her to make sure she was okay when he got home but that had to be it. He couldn't go looking for her. Ever.

Stepping out of the shower that had already gone cold, he wrapped a towel around his waist and opened the bathroom door only to stop. "Do you need any help with that?" Penny asked pointing at his erection. He'd hoped it would go away on its own after he stopped thinking about her but clearly his dick had a mind of its own, judging from how harder he got at the mention of her offer.

"I thought you left" Jonathan said moving into the room. The immense relief he felt at seeing her did nothing to calm him down. He didn't want to show her how much he cared or he would lose it, storm across the room and repeat last night all over again.

"Yeah. I was hungry so I went in search of breakfast. Did you know we're all people are talking about out there?" she said taking off the cap on her head, he hadn't noticed she was wearing. "Two American agents turned terrorists running away from the authorities. We're famous baby" he raised his eyebrows at the term of endearment. She advanced on him a playful glint in her eyes. "I believe last night you had your fun. Now it's my turn" Jonathan watched her, waiting to see what she had in mind. They were playing a dangerous game and for the life of him he didn't have the will to stop it. He wanted her but they weren't in a position to keep doing this. Wes' goons could barge in at any moment and they needed to be on alert. Not having sex. But then again, this wasn't just sex. At least not to him. She ripped his towel off and dropped to her knees making him take a step back

"Penny....." he warned darkly.

"Come on big boy, don't tell me you're scared of me now"

"I'm not scared." he was. It scared him that if she did this he would never be able to be with someone else. Last night had already tied him in knots. Her on her knees sucking him off? He'd never get that image out of his head. He didn't need to attach himself to her more than he had.

"Then stand still" she walked on her knees closing the distance between them and dug her nails into his thighs to stop him from taking another step back. Jonathan hissed as she took his penis in her hand and kissed the crown. Her tongue darted out, licking off the liquid shimmering at the top and swirled around him then wrapped her mouth on his length taking him so deep he could have sworn he hit the back of her throat. She gagged and he tried to move back so he wouldn't choke her but she grabbed his buttocks staying him. Her head bobbed up and down taking him deeper and deeper every time she came down. One of her hands cupped his balls, massaging them and he was a goner.

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"You think this will work?"

"Yes. If we disguise ourselves properly we'll bypass Wes' men with no trouble at all"

Penny regarded him with a new found respect. Back at the Bianchi mansion he'd been only her boss. Someone she had planned on using to get back her son and destroy her father. But after last night she realized she couldn't use him like that. He was a good man who'd offered her his help before they slept together. Now? She was sure he'd do anything to help her if she asked. All she had to do was ask. Jonathan or Justin or both of them might not realize that he was halfway in love with her but she did. She saw the expression in his eyes when he came in her mouth. In that moment, he'd been vulnerable, open and she'd glimpsed at the man behind the mask. That man didn't deserve to be used. He needed to be loved, to feel what it was like to love. She couldn't love him so she decided not to take away that ability from him. It might be the only thing he had at the moment seeing as she'd ruined his mission.

"Okay. What will you be?"

"I'm thinking someone Wes' men wouldn't look at twice."

"Which is?" Penny asked smiling. She had a feeling this was going to be a good one.

"Don't laugh" he told her, color painting his neck all the way to his cheeks. Jonathan Blackwell was blushing?

"Promise I won't" she held out her pinky finger while struggling to keep a straight face.

Sighing he said "A drag queen" and she burst out laughing.

"Are you serious? Wait can you walk in heels?" when he didn't reply, she shut up her eyes bulging. "Shit. You can actually walk in heels?" Penny scrambled from the bed then bowed down to him. "Respect Jon. Real respect" and went back to laughing. She couldn't wait to see how he'd pull that off. "So what will I be?"

"Are you done laughing?"

"Not by a long shot but for now I'll put a pause on it"

"Since we can't disguise you as a boy, you'll have to be a prostitute"

"Too curvy?" she looking down at herself.

"You're perfect Penny. And I could have worked with your hips but there's nothing I can do to disguise your breasts. They're..."

"Too big?"

Jonathan stuttered "I didn't mean.... I mean... "

"Relax. I know you weren't calling me fat."

"Right....."

"Let's go shopping then" she clapped her hands excitedly. She wished Cassandra was there. They would have had a field day making fun of Jon.
---------------------------------

They bought wigs, heels, a spandex, corset, eye contacts and a Chanel handbag for Jon. Penny picked a tiny miniskirt,  a crop top, push up bra and makeup. She kept trying to contain her laugh but imagining Jon as a drag queen was hilarious. After that they went to his contact who promised him he'd have fake passports in twenty four hours. That was after he'd paid the man three times the amount they normally charged. Jonathan had refused to buy burner phones, claiming he didn't want to risk it, but Penny swiped one when he wasn't looking. She had to make one phone call to ensure that he got back home safe.

"So where did you learn how to apply makeup?" she asked snuggling into him. After they'd come back, she had insisted on having a shower and dragged him with her. Not that he'd resisted. Since she wasn't planning on going back with him, she had to advantage of the limited time they had.

"My handler thought it would be wise for me to know everything."

"And he taught you how to apply makeup?"

"No. I went to school for that. I can also cook and bake and take care of a baby if you would believe it."

"Oh I believe it alright. Is there anything you can't do?"

"No."

"Wow. You'll make a good husband someday"

"Penny......"

"Shh. We're done talking" she said climbing on top of him. Facing the other way she sunk on to him willing herself not to cry. The tears came anyway but he couldn't see them since her back was to him so she let them flow. Who had she been kidding? She'd fallen in love with him the second she bumped into him that first time. And now she had to give him up because she couldn't stand ruining his life more than she had. Dragging him into her mess wouldn't be fair. This was his chance to start over again. Become whoever he wanted to be. She wished him happiness even though it hurt her to think of him with someone else.

When he said he could take care of a baby, she'd pictured it in her mind. And she'd seen it clearly. Him changing diapers, taking the baby for a walk, braiding a little girl's hair. There was no doubt that he'd be great at it. Just not with her. She would never rest until she finished off her father and got her son back.

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"Hi. Could you please take us to the airport?"

The cab driver looked at them then said "Si. Entra" they got in just as he took out his phone and dialed a number. "Penso di aver trovato I tuoi Americani." (I found your Americans)

--------------------------------

"Hey stop right there"

"Keep walking Penny. Don't you dare stop" Jonathan murmured.

"Hey, I said stop. Can't you hear me?" they kept walking. The airport was filled with people and someone was trying to stop them? They had to be one of Wes' guys. He didn't want to shoot anyone but if it came to it, he'd point a gun at the pilot to make him take off. There was no going back. The guy chasing them grabbed Penny and swung her around making him rest his hand on his knife. It was small, disguised as mascara but it could inflict pain. A lot of pain. "Jesus can't you hear me yelling?" it was a security guard. Jonathan assessed him looking for signs that indicated he worked for Wes. Penny started talking in Russian calling him names for scaring her but judging from the guy's expression he understood nothing.

"Oh. You don't speak English. Italian? No?" he held up a purse. Jonathan didn't miss the way he struggled not to look at her breasts and he couldn't blame the man. He was struggling himself. Penny snatched the purse then bowed as a sign of thank you. The guard nodded, finally looked at her breasts then left. She blew out a breath.

"That was close"

"Yeah. Let's go before someone else stops us" they checked in and the second the lady at the check in called him sir, Jonathan knew something was amiss. "Penny what did you do?" he asked trying to pull her with him.

"I'm sorry but I'm not coming with you"

"Why? Where will you go?"

"Somewhere I won't be able to cause you any more problems. Say hi to Cassandra for me, will you?" she hugged him and walked away. She knew he wouldn't do anything because he didn't want to create attention to himself. He watched her leave, going through another gate. Somehow he knew he wouldn't see her again for awhile.

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*Sigh* Penny will be back someday. Just not anytime soon.

There's like two or three chapters left. Next is a family reunion. Who's ready to know where Jon came from? And why he wanted to help Jennifer? 🙋