With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter One

Reini sighed. “I wish I could.”

“You have to, though,” said Eena, sipping her drink. “We have a mission, remember?”

Reini nodded. “Of course.”

Reini watched as the orchestra played lively music, the guests grinning as they stood up and went to the dance floor, swaying in time to the music. She found herself smiling as she saw the young girls dancing with their fathers, some laughing as their fathers tripped, not knowing how to dance.

“Daddy, you have to learn how to dance!” exclaimed Reini, immediately taking hold of her father’s hand and putting it on her waist.

“I know how to dance,” he said, smiling.

“You have to be better though. When I get married, I’ll be dancing with you.”

“I see him,” said Eena. “He’s headed to the gardens.”

“We’re clear to go upstairs, then?”

“We’re clear,” answered Eena.

Reini took one long sip from her drink and put it gently back on the countertop, smiling gratefully at the bartender before hopping down the stool and standing up, unclasping the stick from the mask and tying it to her face using an elaborate piece of green silk. She slid the stick until it became much smaller and put it inside her purse, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles on her gown. She took a deep breath and smiled at Eena.

“I’m ready.”

Eena raised an eyebrow, putting her stick into her purse. “Are you sure?”

Reini nodded. “Of course.”

Eena nodded and walked towards the polished staircase, her steps sure and steady. Reini walked beside her, smiling as she looked at the dance floor one last time, at the people who were having fun and living their lives to the fullest, when suddenly, she collided with a hard body, dropping to the floor in a not so very lady-like manner. She stood up and was about to help the man up when she froze, looking at the man who had dropped his mask.

Every memory came back to her mind. Every smile, every lingering touch she had wanted to remove from her mind came rushing back with just one look at the man.

She took a deep breath and relaxed, offering her hand to the man, helping him stand up. The man took her hand gratefully and smiled at her.

Reini glanced at Eena’s direction and cursed mentally when she saw her gone, probably to give her some privacy.

“I’m Samuel,” said the man helpfully, holding his hand out.

Reini bit her lip and expelled the breath she didn’t know she was holding. She took his hand daintily and smiled radiantly, trying to be as relaxed as possible.

“Natalie. My name is Natalie Jones.”

“You know,” said Eena out of the blue, holding a cup of coffee in her hands and walking towards the couch, “your life could be a soap opera.”

Reini raised her eyebrow and closed the curtains, walking towards the couch and grabbing the television remote. “You don’t say.”

Eena nodded. “Look at it, Reini. You have your antagonist, your somewhat unbelievable life story, your romance with a hint of drama…the possibilities are endless!”

Reini laughed. “You’re not thinking of actually submitting my life story to a television or movie producer, are you?”

Eena chuckled. “No,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone, “I’ll wait until you get your happy ending.”

Reini smiled at her sadly. “If I get a happy ending, you mean.”

Eena laughed. “You’re going to get your happy ending. I’m sure of it.”

Reini leaned against the wall, clutching her pistol tightly near her chest. “Do you see anyone?” she whispered.

Eena clutched her gun tighter against her chest, quickly glancing around the corner. Finding no one, she quickly took a deep breath and nodded, Reini immediately running forward with her gun outstretched, ready for possible intruders. Eena took her place behind Reini, turning around with her gun outstretched so that she could quickly shoot anybody who would try to shoot Reini from behind.

“I hate these heels,” whispered Eena.

Reini chucked softly. “Part of the job, honey.”

“Doesn’t mean I like them,” snapped Eena.

Reini grinned and quickly turned at the corner, looking at the long hallway before her. Polished hardwood floors stared right back at her, gleaming under the soft lighting of the candles in glass containers which were on every wall, left and right. Reini walked quickly, her heels clicking softly on the polished wood. Reini turned a sharp corner and looked at the French double doors at the end of the hallway and lowered her gun, walking with confident strides, eager to just finish the mission and go home.

She really wanted to get away from Samuel. She feared that the next time she saw him; she might not be able to help herself and just tell Samuel everything.

“Where’s your locket?”

Reini closed the car door and put on the seatbelt, giving a thumb up to let the driver know that they were ready. She closed her eyes as the car started its smooth journey, the slight vibrations helping her aching head.

Reini sighed and opened her eyes, looking at Eena who was seated beside her. “I threw it.”

“Why would you throw it? It’s the only thing that reminds you of Samuel that you kept!”

Reini sighed, leaning against the car’s window, looking at the beautiful lights of the various buildings they were passing by. She looked behind her and got one last glimpse at the Eiffel tower before she replied.

“That’s the thing, Eena. It is. That’s why I threw it. I can’t look at it anymore,” admitted Reini. “I can’t look at it without being reminded of all I left behind.”

Eena nodded slightly closed her eyes.

Reini smiled sadly and mentally thanked Eena for the blessed quiet.

But without a doubt, the locket and what she did with it weighed heavily in her mind, a memory that refused to be forgotten.

And she wished that she had looked back.

Reini took one confident step forward and opened the door quietly, getting inside after Eena.

They had a job to do.

And she was not going to let one man crumble everything she had worked hard for. She would not let one glimpse at Samuel destroy every attempt she had made to forget him.

But that was it, wasn’t it? They were merely attempts. She had not forgotten about Samuel despite how hard she tried.

She closed the door and took a deep breath.

She willed herself to forget about Samuel. At that time, she wasn’t Special agent Reini Saunders, CIA agent extraordinaire.

At that time, she was Special agent Natalie Jones, CIA agent extraordinaire.

Natalie Jones knew nothing about Samuel Milton.

Reini took a deep breath.

“Let’s get started.”