Got busy with the holidays, and then was catching up on a lot of stuff I didn't get to do while in classes. So, I got a little distracted. Getting back to writing though.

Anyway, enjoy! And I hope to update Agent 34 sometime soon as well.

Crystal's POV

I rubbed at my head. "You're giving me a headache."

"That is what husbands do from time to time."

"We're not actually married, thank God," I reminded him yet again.

He was going to reply, I could see it in his eyes and I knew it was going to be another sexual comment. Thankfully, however, the door to our room was pushed open as Noah came walking in and I was spared whatever Jackson Storm was going to say next.

"How did you get in?" I asked Noah.

He looked up from the tablet in his hands and then held up a small white keycard. "I made a master card," He replied. He said it in a sort of duh tone. Like I should have guessed that. Like that was the sort of thing everyone knew how to do.

He seemed to be able to tell what I was thinking because he pointed to Jackson. "It really is very easy. Even he can do it."

Jackson frowned and turned to Noah. "Now what is that supposed to mean?"

Noah rolled his eyes and went back to looking down at his tablet. "I had to set up your new email address for you," He replied. "That's what that means."

I turned to Jackson with a smile and he immediately held up a hand to me before I could even speak.

"Not now," He said as he turned his full attention to Noah. "That is not what happened."

Noah shrugged, his eyes never leaving the screen in his hands as he began typing. "Close enough."

"I'm not buying you any more electronics."

That threat didn't seem to faze Noah and he just shrugged again. "I have all your bank account passwords," He replied nonchalantly.

Jackson narrowed his eyes at him. "I never gave them to you."

Noah shrugged. "You didn't have to." He looked up from his tablet to Jackson. "I will also remind you that I do have total control over the yacht as well."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No," Noah replied simply. "Reminding you." He suddenly turned and looked at the door and then back down at his tablet. "North and Owens are about to knock."

There was no knock. Julie just about kicked down the door. FBI Agent North followed in behind her shaking his head.

"Or not," Noah said as he frowned at her. "You don't have a key to this room. How did you get in?"

Julie took off her sunglasses and hooked them in the front of her shirt, rolling her eyes as she did so. "How many master key cards did you make?" She asked Noah.

Noah continued to frown at her. "One," He replied.

"Yeah," Julie said. "You actually made two."

Noah shook his head. "No, I didn't."

Julie nodded back at him. "Yeah, you kind of did."

He shook his head again. "No. I made one. I tested it out and didn't scan correctly, so . . ." He suddenly trailed off and then glared at Julie.

She held up a second card in her hand.

"You swapped that one out with a blank one," Noah muttered.

"You are really oblivious when you're typing away on that computer. I did that right in front of you. Hot stuff was my witness."

Agent North slapped a hand over his face and shook his head. "How did I end up mixed up in all this?" He muttered to himself.

"Where have you two been?" I asked Julie.

"We were touring the hotel after checking in," Julie responded.

"You two checked in?" I questioned.

Julie smiled and nodded while Agent North just shook his head in exasperation.

Jackson held out his hand to Noah, and Noah handed him his master key card. "Right," Jackson said as he shoved it in his pocket. "I'm heading down to the bar," He pointed to me. "I expect to see you there after our bags have been brought up and you've changed into something more . . . appropriate."

I crossed my arms over my chest and shot him a flat look. "I'm pretty sure you mean the opposite."

He shrugged with a wicked smile on his face. "Take it how you want it." He paused in the doorway as he went to leave. "I expect you to join me," He repeated and fixed me with an almost threatening look.

I glared at his retreating form as he slipped out the door like the slimy snake he was.

Noah started to set up all his electronics on the coffee table in front of him, and Julie slipped off to the bathroom. Agent North stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, just staring at the ceiling, his face scrunched up like he was in actual pain.

"How are you holding up?" I asked him.

He shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "What the hell is going on exactly?" He asked me instead of answering my question.

I shrugged. "Jackson's got some sort of vendetta against this Branson person. He wants to find him."

"And why would he blackmail you to help him?"

"Branson works for my father," I told him and understanding seemed to dawn on him. "There's information on him on the SD card."

"What exactly is he blackmailing you with?"

"In the simplest description, my life," I replied as I crossed my arms over my chest. "He says he'll tell my father that I'm the one gathering evidence against him." I shook my head and looked down at the floor. "And that's a death sentence."

"Yeah," Agent North replied. "I know."

I gestured to the door. "You can leave you know, Agent North," I told him. "Jackson wouldn't care. Best to get out of this mess while you still have a chance."

Agent North shook his head. "I'm sticking around. Purely to make sure you get out of this with your life. I don't trust Jackson."

"Join the club," I muttered.

"And it's Damien."

I frowned up at him. "What?"

He waved a hand dismissively. "There's no need to call me Agent North. You can call me Damien."

"Sure you don't prefer, Hot Stuff?" I asked oh so innocently.

He practically glared at me. "Your friend is . . . something else."

I smiled. "Yeah, I know."

He nodded silently and then looked at me out of the corner of his eyes. "Between the two of us," He said. "I don't have a girlfriend."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "You told her you did."

"She fucking scares me."

I laughed. "Your secret's safe with me . . . for now at least."

He glared at me and shook his head. "You have a picture of this Branson guy?"

I nodded. "I can send one to your phone."

"Do that," He said as began to walk to the door. "I'll keep an eye out for him for you. Warn you if he's in the area."

I nodded again. "Thanks." I let out a long sigh. "I guess I'll go meet up with Jackson."

"You want out of this mess," Damien said. "Say the word."

"Funny, Julie said the same thing." I looked out the balcony doors. "I'll play this out for now. I want to know just what game Jackson Storm is playing before I decide whether or not to forfeit."

"What's your other option?"

I turned to look at him over my shoulder. "Winning."

***

"Little early for a drink," I said as I took the seat next to Jackson at the bar. "Don't you think?"

He turned to look at me and then looked me up and down, his eyes lingering on my chest for a few seconds too long. He smiled and turned away from me and back to his drink.

"Don't you say a damn word," I muttered.

He waved down the bartender, still with that stupid smile on his face. "I was merely going to tell you that you looked good."

"Your outfit choices suck."

"I have excellent taste." He turned to look at the shirt I was wearing once again. "I knew that top would look good on you."

The top was so low cut it was a miracle my breasts hadn't fallen out of it yet. And the shorts that went with it were extremely short. The other options I had had from his packing choices were all very skimpy bathing suits or dresses that left nothing to the imagination. The shirt and shorts seemed like the best option. However, I was regretting it now.

"A black eye would look wonderful on you."

Jackson once again ignored my threat and placed a drink in front of me with a smile. "Come now, that's no way to talk to your husband."

I looked down at the drink in front of me and then back to him with a flat look. "If you really think I'm going to drink anything while in your presence, you're sorely mistaken."

He finished off his drink and then shrugged. "Suit yourself," He replied as he then took mine and began to drink it.

"What exactly is the plan here?" I asked him. "What are we even doing?"

Jackson let out a scoff like he just couldn't understand me. He gestured to the bar and then to the open doors leading out to the sand beaches. "We're enjoying the resort. Have a drink, let loose. Take some surfing lessons."

"You have got to be kidding me."

He let out an overdramatic sigh and set down his drink, turning on his barstool to fully face me. "Seriously, do you know how to have fun?"

"We're not here to have fun," I reminded him.

Jackson winced like I was bringing him pain. "It really must be truly horrible to be you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"When was the last time you actually had fun?"

"Fun has not been on my to-do list lately."

Jackson groaned, knocked back the rest of his drink, dropped some bills on the counter, and then grabbed my arm and began pulling me after him. "Come on," He said.

I allowed him to pull me after him, but only because I didn't want the attention resisting him would cause. "Where are we going now?"

"It's a surprise," Jackson replied.

I shook my head, still being dragged after him. "I don't like your surprises."

"Babe, I'm hurt. Truly."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh no, however will you get over it?"

He stopped and turned to me with an amused smile. He tapped me on the nose before I could swat his hand away. "Smartass," He said.

I shook my head at him while he continued to smile at me. "What goes on in your head? I'm genuinely curious."

After I said it, I realized I probably shouldn't have asked, considering I could guess what his answer was going to be and I knew I wasn't going to like it. But, he surprised me.

"Oh a bit of this and a bit of that," Jackson replied, but it wasn't laced with his usual sexual innuendo. It wasn't said in a flirty way. No. He said it in a more playful way, more teasing than anything else.

I shook my head again. "You're something else."

"In a good way, I hope," He said as he threw his arm over my shoulders, this time I didn't throw it off.

"Honestly, I'm pretty sure there's nothing good about you."

"Now isn't that the truth."

I looked over at him. "Did we just agree on something?"

He smiled and then winked at me. "It was bound to happen eventually. Now let's have some fun."

"I don't think I'm going to enjoy your particular idea of fun."

"Babe," He said in a serious tone. "It's not what you're thinking, I can promise you that. Of course, I'm not opposed to what you're thinking."

"You don't know what I'm thinking."

"Wanna bet?"

"You can't read minds."

Jackson smiled and shrugged. "Believe whatever you want."

I blew out a breath and narrowed my eyes at him as he walked us onto the elevator. "So what exactly is your idea of fun right now?"

He held up the master key card Noah had given him. "I got Branson's room number and I have it on good authority that he's not currently it in. Wanna have some fun?"

"Breaking and entering is considered fun to you?"

"You really need to broaden your horizons."

"Have it on good authority from who?"

"Jessica."

"Who the hell is Jessica?"

"The lovely lady at the front desk."

"Do I want to know exactly how you go the room number?"

"Perhaps." He smirked at me. "Would you like the summary or the explicit version?"

"Stop talking."

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