Ivy

It was the most quiet I've ever been. That entire road trip back to Rhonda's mystery mansion was like a blur. For some reason the new girl was going back with me.

"For what it's worth, I think you would have kicked ass on the mission." She says with a warm smile.

"Thanks. Not that it matters really seeing as I'm stuck here." I say under my breath. "I'm sorry. We weren't properly introduced and I'm already at a disadvantage."

"Oh yeah. Sorry. I'm Lisa." She says with a smile.

"Lisa, huh. I thought you people were supposedly touchy with the whole first name basis." I say.

"We are. I just don't like my codename anymore. I stopped using it." She replies with a sad smile.

"Why? What happened?" I ask.

"It cost me a friend." She replies sadly.

"Come on! You can't lose a friend over that. Friendship is something we build over time." I say. I know I sound sentimental but I can't help it. "It can't just fall apart because of one squabble."

"Wow. You really believe in people." She says with a smile. "I know someone who used to be like you. People change, Ivy. We do stupid shit. We hurt the people that matter the most to us because we're going through a phase. By the time we wake up, the damage has been done."

I don't respond. I don't know what to say to that.

"It would be good to have everything back that I lost. I lost my friend, Ivy, and he's not coming back. I know that because he promised me the next time he sees me, he'll kill me." She continued.

Wait a minute. Something about her story gives me chills.

"Say, Lisa. Why are you here with me? Don't get me wrong, I love that you're here and all but Rhonda brought you on this trip. To me that says you're good at what you do." I begin. "This wouldn't have anything to do with said friend, would it?"

She doesn't answer. She doesn't have to. I can see it all in her eyes. I've always imagined different scenarios in which I met an ex girlfriend of Don's. This was not one of those scenarios.

"Well this is bullshit." I say whilst looking out the window.

"I can help you." She says after a while.

I stare at her in shock, not quite getting what she meant.

"You want to get your freedom back. Fight to ensure your life is no longer forfeit. I want to help with that." She says.

"Really? You'll help me? Won't Rhonda be pissed if she finds out?" I ask in concern.

"She will, no doubt. But the damage would already be done." She says with a mischievous grin.

I smile at her. I like where this is going.

"So, what's the plan?" I ask her.

Using her one free hand, she takes out her her tablet.

"You put a tracking device on Prince Ahmed. So we follow him." She said. "He's the leader of Al Jeera. That means he's the one who pulls the strings and if anyone gave the order to put a price on your head..."

"It's most definitely him." I finish.

"Exactly. If we can get to him, I'm sure we can persuade him to call off the contract." She continues.

"It's that easy then." I say with a sigh.

"Not really. I would bet my last dollar that he'll be heavily guarded. And not the regular guards either." She explains. "If anyone recognises you, you'll be done for."

Great. So basically we were heading into a den full of people who wanted me dead. Just another regular day then.
We immediately ditch the car and get ourselves a new one. A Black and green Bugatti Veyron. I had also managed to change into another set of clothes. I had on a black sweater, black cargo pants, bullet proof vest plus a black cosset thingy that had a lot of pockets for various weapons. The only part of my old attire were the combat boots.

Lisa had given me a hand gun, for personal protection. Not forgetting the pair of scimitars I nicked from her collection. I braided my hair into a French braid.

I feel a little badass now. Forget that I'll probably get myself killed, at least I get to feel good about myself during the process.
Our destination, a remote family estate, is about 75 miles out of town. Quite cliché if you ask me. Coming in from afar, we can immediately make out the heavy security detail he has going on.

"We have to trick them into letting us in. There's no way we could possibly sneak into that place discreetly." Lisa says, her thoughts a mirror to my own.

"How do we do that? I mean, I'm a good actor but I'm not that good." I say.

She is thoughtful for a while before she reaches into her bag and fishes out a blond Bob wig and tosses it to me. I don't have to ask her what she's thinking. We're going to wing it. I put on the wig and try to maintain a calm demeanor as we drive to the large bronze gate.

The impossibly large and muscular guard by the gate stopped us right on the spot.

"This is private property. You have no right to be here." He says.

He's all business and obviously enjoys bullying women by the look on his face. Lisa, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be taking his bull and stares straight into his face.

"That so? If that's the case we'll be heading back but we'll make sure to mention this incident to prince Ahmed el Rasheed. I'm sure he'll love to hear how his insolent little errand boy denied us entry so we could discuss payment on his contract." She says. "My agency will hear how your organization doesn't honor its terms anymore. There'll be war. Now, are you sure you want yo be the cause of that war?"