Divisions

Part 2- Chapter 9

2 days later

"Natalia," Rick said, lifting her chin up. "Talk to me,"

Her eyes met his.

"Yes, Rick?" Natalia asked. "What do I need to say?"

"What's happening with you, with us?" he asked, his eyes searching hers.

"I'm okay, Ricardo," she breathed, sighing. "And we're doing okay, I'm just...."

"You don't need to feel ashamed about what may have happened," he whispered.

"I was powerless, Rick. I could have been... hurt, that day." She turned away, her eyes stinging.

"If I could, I'd have turned back the time, Nat. I would have been there with you. I'd have protected you..." his eyes were shining, his voice ragged.

"I know you would have," she said, a tear falling down her cheek.

"...Can I?" he asked, gently cupping her head in his arms.

Natalia nodded, and slowly rose up to meet him.

They kissed the sweetest of kisses, as his lips stayed soft against hers.

"I want to ask you one more thing," he said, as Natalia gently pulled away.

She nodded.

"When I told you I loved you, in the car, on that first day... you were going to say something, but I stopped you,"

"Yeah?" Natalia said, regretting that she had let him ask.

"What would you have said?" he asked his voice hopeful.

She took a deep breath.

"I can't remember," Natalia said, in the convincing tone she had been taught to use as an agent.

He nodded. "Sorry, I shouldn't have expected you to,"

"It's okay," she said slowly, as she walked towards the door.

Natalia had remembered what she had tried to say. The guilt had reminded me.

She walked out of Ricardo's room, a heavy feeling in her heart.

-

It was 6pm, that day, when the text message came through to Natalia's phone.

She knew, with a heavy heart, who had sent me the message, when she saw that it was a private number.

Nobody ever texted her.

NATALIA.

WILLBURROW CEMETERY, WHERE TOBIAS SHELDON WAS BURRIED.

MEET THERE. ALONE.

YOU HAVE THREE DAYS. I WILL BE SEEING YOU ON SATURDAY.

TELL NO ONE.

I KNOW THE TRUTH.

OLIVER.

Natalia's heart dropped.

Carmen had left for another mission the Friday morning so Mr. Sanders had picked a very convenient time for her to meet him. She would be alone when he wanted me to be.

She paced through the room, her mind buzzing.

Should I tell Jarred? she asked herself.

No, she thought. He said tell no one. The consequences could be serious.

With that decision kept in mind, she left her phone on the table and continued pacing. Carmen had not come back from dinner at the cafeteria yet, and even if she had, Natalia could not tell her.