“What's special with this Don Miguel that you couldn't decline his invitation?”, Eve asked as she clipped a dangling diamonds on her ear.

Roarke cuffed his tux, and slapped a matched wrist unit. “During my misspent youth, the times when I was starting to divulge myself in the corporate world, he was my tight competitor in Italian region. It's his turf anyways, he's the Big Boss, so why clash against him if you could befriended him?”

“He's a mafia.”, she stated.

“Oh yes, and quite a tight-ass, but I learned a lot from him, especially the names of some bambinas.”

“Smart-ass.”, she scoffed. “But I don't think the two of you ended with a truce.”

“We ended a truce.”, he defended, “After I declined his offer to join the brotherhood and snagging his Colombian deal, nobody shed a blood.”

“Not safe.”

He chuckled, “Darling, we'll only have some good time there - eating, drinking and talking.”

“You do the talking, and I'll do the eating and drinking.”, she said, slipping an ankle-breaker.

“Don't eat my pizza share.”, he teased.

After a limo ride, they took a private jetplane. She just finished her recent case so her mind's not preoccupied. She was even grateful when the stewardess offered her some coffee.

Eve looked at her well-relaxed husband taking a sip of his brandy. A Dublin's street-rat who rose into the corporate ladder of business, she's fully aware about his criminal past. Even though she’s convinced that he already abandoned that lifestyle, she still felt uneasy meeting his old acquaintances.

It was a short ride, and when the pilot announced of their approach at the private island, the landing was quite smooth. A chaperone in dark suit was already waiting for them.

"Long time no see, Roarke.", the chaperone greeted. Then the two shook hands.

"Same to you, Ramon. By the way, meet my wife, Lieutenant Eve Dallas."

He has a nice built body and tiger-like eyes, which was a common characteristic of a cop, but his ambiance smells mafia.

"I know her, my daughter was her great fan.", Ramon said. "Can you sign an autograph for me? I'll consider it as a great debt to you."

"I – I Iwill.", she replied with resignation.

A dark limo was prepared and Ramon drove them to the said destination. It was akin to their home - a large fortress but with a wide bungalow and column stones, giving an ambiance of a mixed European culture.

The party was filled with high-profiled visitors; some Eve already met in other social functions. And just like what Roarke had said, all of servings were authentic Italian food.

"Not bad eating a slice of pizza here.", she muttered that only Roarke could hear.

Half an hour of talking, eating and drinking, the host arrived.

Don Miguel was a very sturdy man in his sixties. His silver hair was trimmed neatly which blended well to his flat, gray eyes. He has a strong jawline and a dent on his chin that added his superior complex. When he entered the venue, all eyes stared at him, immediately owning the spotlight.

A few greetings and kisses, the Don went to Roarke.

“Welcome again to my place, il mio amico.”

“You’re still the same as usual, Don Miguel. Never changed as the time goes.”, Roarke replied as the two embraced and shook hands.

“Not the same, my boy.”, the Don said, tapping his thigh, “My knees were not strong enough like before.”

Don Miguel looked at Eve and reached for her hands, “At last, I have finally met the lovely Mrs. Roarke. It must be downgrading for you to marry a notorious criminal like this bastard despite being a high-profiled police.”

“He pleaded.”, she answered.

“Guilty.”, Roarke added.

Don Miguel gave a hearty laugh, “Oh my, it must be interesting to know both of you, especially you Eve – you’ll never be against if I call you on your first name?”

“I do prefer to be addressed as Lieutenant, but this is a social call and this is your party, so who am I to reject?”

Don Miguel kissed her knuckles. “You’ll also approve if the three of us sat and talk for the old times?”

They were led to a small rounded table placed on the balcony. It was a semi-private area; just enough to see the activities in the function hall and at the same time enjoy the night sky under a vast garden.

Don Miguel and Roarke talked about business, but enough to have slight interruptions for Eve. It was their gesture of not letting her left alone in the conversation, but she finds it mildly irritating.

She measured the Don and scrutinized him without raising any flags, knowing he’s a man with keen instincts, with bodyguards lurking around the shadows. She had convinced herself that this man was Roarke’s friend, and old colleague, but there’s something in his aura that made her uncomfortable.

“So, Eve.”, the Don continued, “I have read some article news about you, and even in overseas and with Icove’s Agenda, you’re a stellar. A good exemplary of a righteous cop. How does it feel when somebody told you that?”

“I’m just doing my job, and I’m damn good about it.”

“But sometimes, it gets personal, right?”

When Eve gave him a glare, Don Miguel chuckled and waved his hand.

“You’re aware of my status and the nature of my businesses, and perhaps you have met several of my camerata in New York, that means you know that the likes of us often associated with the likes like you. Some hated them, while others befriended them. I am more of a latter.”

Don Miguel sipped his champagne, raised it, and looked at his reflection, “Even Roarke knows that those who have a heart on what they’re doing, on their job, excels. Both of you did the same – him on the business while yours on the system. It might be more interesting if he’s still doing the dark side.”

He was the only one laughed at his joke.

“Since we’re already talking about your work Eve, I was a bit curious on one of your case. It was about Isaac McQueen – a pedophile rapist and a killer.”

Roarke sensed Eve stiffed when she heard McQueen’s name, so he held her hand tightly. What was Don Miguel’s aim?

“It must be fate to be the one who put him down – first time when you’re an Officer and the second time when you’re a Lieutenant. I even rejoiced when I learned that he’ll be spending his sorry arse outside the planet for the rest of his life.”

“I’m not allowed to share departmental information over a casual talk, Don Miguel.”, she said in a calm tone.

“Of course, it’s your policy, right? Just as I’ve said, I’m a bit curious. Even in overseas we often heard news from other places, sometimes valuable information that others never dug out. And as to why I was curious about McQueen…well, I’m not interested about the man himself. What I’m interested was his antics, specifically the women he partnered.”

That was Roarke’s last straw.

“I’m sorry Don Miguel for the interruption, but it seems that my wife and I need to retire now. We have to travel back to New York and attend some of our appointments. I respect your desire of information, but perhaps for formality sake, you could send an appointment request to the Lieutenant at both of your conveniences.”

Eve was relieved when Roarke pulled her to leave the table.

“Thanks for the rescue.”, she said.

“Don Miguel should thank me because I just rescued him from being stabbed by my wife.”, he answered. It already occurred to him why the Don explicitly mentioned to bring Eve to the occasion, and how peculiar that they were entertained personally to create an isolation among the crowd.

Roarke knows the rules outside the law, and the gestures showed only meant for one thing – they wanted Eve.

Both realized that they arrived using somebody’s limo, and before she could point it out, they immediately noticed two figures following behind them. When they leave the mansion and almost reached the gates, the figures followed their pace faster.

Eve and Roarke have faster reflex, so when the figures reached something, they were being grabbed – one handled by Eve while the other by Roarke. It was a swift knock-out, and when another figure appeared, it was Eve who dealt with it. She used her knee to hit its torso, and then stabbed its foot with her ankle-breakers.

“Thank God for the stilettos!”, she commented when the attacker sprawled on the ground.

“Thank Him later, after we escaped here alive.”

He half-carried her as they ran and rounded the gate. A black car was parked there and before Eve could ask, she was pushed inside by Roarke on the front seat and himself on the driver’s.

“You own this car?”, she exclaimed when he entered his code and revved the engine.

“Why darling, you want me to steal one?”

It was a fully-armored car, almost similar with her DLE but with some complicated codes. On the side mirror she could spot several tails, but Roarke easily brushed them away. She bet he learned it from his past experiences.

Her first idea was to call the local police, but realized that they were on a remote island, and it might take an hour for the authorities to reach the place. This was a mafia, and it’s no wonder if most of the locals were affiliated with the said group.

After a few banters with Roarke, curses when shots hit their vehicle, even with reluctance when she discovered long-ranged weapons, Eve aided him.

“When this car enters the curb, we jump outside. One…”

“Wait – what?”

“Two…”

“Why are you going here at my – ”

“Three!”

Roarke embraced Eve when the passenger’s car opened and jumped outside, landed on the thick bush. He’s at the advantage position; landed on top with her, so it was easy to give her a long, deep kiss to wipe her scowl.

“Don’t go further pal, because I am going to use my stilettos to boot your ass.”

He chuckled. “We have to stay here for few minutes, enough to pass our chasers.”

“You gave them a dummy car? How?”

“Why do I have to tolerate such insults? Yes, I operated it on auto to follow a certain route, with a holo inside as if we’re still there, and after it reached the destination – well, let’s say after ten minutes – it’ll explode.”, he explained.

“Roarke, you – ”

“Only idiots would assume we kill ourselves, and since Don Miguel was a no idiot, same with his minions probably, they’ll going to look for us within a kilometre radius. This means we only have ten minutes to escape this island.”

When the engines of their chasers were gone, they stood up. He pulled her to the dark corners of the thick, tall trees, and spotted a motorcycle with two helmets on its cowl. He took one and laid the other one to Eve’s head.

“You’re too slick and too perfect to know that this would happen. You must have anticipated this.”, she said as she adjusted the helmet to Roarke’s head.

“Just like what I’ve mentioned, this is just a hunch. I never expected this, but I sometimes doubt. And when I’m in doubt, I do preparations. And in every preparation, there’s a contingency. Just like in the business.”

Roarke sat on the front while Eve’s on the back. He encoded his key on the motorcycle, and the engine sounded.

“I wondered – how much would be the bounty on you head if you still do the dark side? Oh well, your old foes must be grateful you quitted, because you’ll bring them nightmares.”, she said, wrapping her arms around his body. He smiled.

“Sit tight there, Lieutenant, and welcome to my world.”