The Cartel

Chapter XIV

"Clear," Andrew whispered, gun in hand and ready to kill anyone who threatened its owner or his partner. He and Carly bolted out of the hallway and onto the floor of cubicles.

Earlier, during work, when Andrew had asked to talk with Carly in his office, he informed her on Kayla "being out on buisness." It was the perfect opportunity. While Carly took care of the cameras, Andrew could sneak into Kayla's office. How much dirt would he be able to dig up? No doubt enough to shut down The Cartel and arrest Kayla. The thought almost made him smile. 

Andrew and Carly were to split up in the hallway across this hall of cubicles. They were nearly halfway when a guard stepped out of that hallway. Andrew grabbed Carly around the waist and whisked her into a cubicle.

They ducked behind the cubicle wall, praying the guard had not seen them. Carly shut her eyes a moment, slowing her breath and heart. Andrew exhaled slowly to calm his nerves. Both made sure to be silent.

The guard did not call out, but the thud of his boots got closer and closer. Carly started towards under the desk when Andrew suddenly grabbed her arm, startling her.

'He'll see you,' he mouthed, nodding towards under the desk.

Carly saw that it was true. If the guard walked by the opening of the cubicle, he would be able to see Carly crouching underneath the desk. But, if the guard didn't...No, she couldn't and wouldn't take that chance.

Andrew branced himself with his gun, ready for a quick kill. Carly grasped his arm, shaking her head. Andrew was far from pleased, but knew she was thinking something along the lines of, He hasn't threatened our lives. We can't kill an innocent man.

Women, he thought, exasperated. You always have to complicate things.

Thud, thud, thud. His noisy boots were closing in, making Carly's heart pace pick up again and Andrew's heart skip a beat.

Abruptly, Andrew hastily took off his jacket, putting it and his gun on the task chair in the cubicle.

"Wh-" Surprised and puzzled, Carly nearly said her thoughts aloud as Andrew was resting his things-his gun of all-down.

Andrew paid her no heed; instead, he shoved her against the cubicle wall and smashed his lips onto hers.

At first, out of pure shock and instinct, Carly tried to shove him off, but his hands roamed her body and his lips moved ravenously. Understanding what he was doing, she pushed her gun into the dark corner on the desk behind her. As the guard spotted them, he flipped out his flashlight, and Andrew started to tug Carly's jacket off of her.

The guard shined the light onto them, forcing them to stop, and yelled, "Hey-" Realising what was supposedly going on, the guard stood there awkwardly, having been expecting intruders instead of a couple.

It took Andrew a moment to break from Carly. He wanted to go farther, but they were in the middle of a mission. He couldn't abandon all reason.

As Drew pulled away from Carly, she wondered if using the guns would have been better. Now she was distracted, left wanting more but unable to gain it. She forced herself to dismiss the feeling, forced herself to focus on the mission for Andrew. After all, she had been the one unwilling to kill the guard.

The guard was fairly young. Definitely not a day older than thirty. He was skinny, even a bit gaunt, and average height. Not exactly intimidating. His black hair was buzzed, and his dull brown eyes unsure and astonished at his discovery. He wore the typical guard uniform belonging to one working for The Cartel.

Andrew stared at the man expectedly, as if to say, "A little busy-move along."

Carly frowned at the guard, who was clearly regretting his decision to turn on his flashlight. Carly glanced at Andrew as the awkward silence continued.