OVERDRIVE 009

Chapter Six: Final Showdown

Dubai International Airport. 0020hrs

Irvin was digging through his e-mail on his laptop, the same one his father created for him years ago. Tori lay by his side, looking on as he dug mail after mail, after mail, convinced that he read them all.

All...except one. From his father's primary email before his death.

It contained an attached media file, which was a video.

To download it, he needed to key in a password which his father had kept secret, only for Tori to discover that the password was her name all along.

Irvin's father was famously known for correctively predicting future outcomes. And Irvin could see why.

He downloaded it and closed his laptop intending to watch it later, as he got back to cuddling her as the couple had an 8 hour layover before their flight to Venice at 9am the next morning.

During the download, he had tendered his letter of resignation from the KSS to make his going away with Tori, much easier.

The next day after their arrival, they rented a yacht and took a short trip across the Italian coast before sailing back to their destination.

Venice, Italy. 1430hrs

The couple looked like they had so much to do. From touring the Piazza San Marco to several gondola rides to endless hours of making love....it was like the honeymoon they would have had in 10-15 years.

Later on, back at the hotel room reserved by the President prior to the trip, Irvin was enjoying the night sky and the cool breeze while Tori dozed off to sleep after a hard day's work of keeping Irvin happy....physically.

But before then, they engaged in their first intimate conversation since Tori being kidnapped at Uhuru Park.

"Still have nightmares from that day?" Tori began in a low voice.

"Almost everyday." Replied Irvin in a deep tone. "This past couple of days has been the best sleep time in several weeks."

"I know that feeling. Because you're back wrapping yourself around me. In guard mode, as you always do every night. Plus your friend from the crash is doing very well with her recovery, and I'm happy for her too."

"I've not travelled this far in years. All my parents ever knew for a getaway was a nice beach in Mombasa. But I can't blame them. They gave me the best I could ask for."

"I remember the times we kept running into each other in the same hotel. How I once beat you in a pool game."

"I wasn't at my game yet." Irvin chuckled. "I let you win...out of kind gestures."

"Of course you did. We didn't know that pool game would bring us to this. Nice vacation in Venice. No Black Forces man chasing us around with his big gun..."

"That one must be a loner. Because they all have groupies."

Tori had short bursts of laughter.

"Irvin...I'm scared."

"There's nothing to be scared of anymore."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I want to let you know that I love you."

"Do you really? Or you love what I can do with my sexy charms?"

"That too. I love all of you. I want to spend every minute of my life with you. I'm done with fighting terrorists. Let me fight the fact that you keep avoiding my advances."

"I'm not avoiding you this time round. I'm yours forever."

"That's good enough for me."

He remembered his laptop, brought it out to the balcony silently, put on earphones and accessed the video his father recorded before his death....at his basement.