Chapter 38 To many secrets.

(Callie)

"So, vhat can I help you with?" Nakita asked, concerned. Callie created a link from her recent messages with Villus and transferred the live video of Warren to Nakita.

Nakita gasped, "Who did Zis? And what is wrong vith Warren?" Nakita asked, sounding horrified. "Calm down. He is sedated with a simple, paralyzing agent."Callie said calmly, though she wasn't so certain. "How do I help him?" Nakita asked, still sounding anxious.

"The drugs should wear off in time. All you need to do is get some oxygen to him before he runs out. Knowing Villus, if you don't, then Warren will suffocate and die in five hours."Callie said, feigning calm.

"And Vhat about this Villus? Should I be worried? Will he be with Warren?" Nakita asked, hesitantly. "No, sadly, Villus is using Warren to lure me back to Berdant. I think he is already in Valia. Thats why I need your help. I can't make it back to Berdant in time."Callie said, hoping she could trust Nakita.

"Are you going after this Villus guy?!" Nakita asked, angrily. "I will do my best. Can you get to Warren with some oxygen tanks?" Callie asked, putting Nakita back on task. She didn't want to share her doubts about victory.

"Yes, I can. Now if you will excuse me, I need to contact some people."Nakita said hurriedly, hanging up before Callie could reply. Callie was left on the street, uncertain where to go from here. Saving Warren wasn't her job anymore, but she couldn't help distrusting Nakita.

Now Callie needed to wait for Dustin to get done with his meetings. Knowing him, it might be late in the evening. Until then, Callie decided to do some research on departing ships. If everything went south in the next five hours she would need to Leave Valia, and maybe the entire empire in a hurry.

Her plan to keep her friends from danger was not the best one. Telling Dustin who she was to stop a war didn't sit well with her. She could just tell Dustin' and leave, but she didn't trust the enforcers to catch Villus. If she didn't make sure Villus was a lifeless corpse, she would never know peace.

Scanning through stolen data, Callie ponder through her plan to tell Dustin about Villus. Four hours passed, and she was even less confident of the mission after all of her research.

She only had an hour left, and she still needed to confront Dustin. If she was being honest, this part was more nerve wrecking than the upcoming fight with Villus. That was probably why she procrastinated so long..

Callie paced in front of Dustin's door. Luckily for her, he was staying in a hotel with minimal security. She paced for probably ten minutes, trying to figure out what to say. She held her hand up and paused, her hand hovering to knock on the hotel door leading to Dustin's room.

She really hoped she hadn't made a huge mistake by sending Nakita to where Villus was holding Warren captive. It was hard for Callie to trust the Slax woman, but she didn't really have a choice. A cleaning drone buzzed past her, momentarily distracting her as it vacuumed the carpeted floor.

Villus was going after the Slax ambassador within the hour, and if he kidnapped the man, it might cause a war. Callie wanted to go after Villus herself, but what if she failed? She took in a deep, ragged breath. She needed to tell Dustin the truth. Not because she cared all that much for the empire, but Dustin and Taniya might die if a war happened.

Her heart raced, and she felt sick to her stomach. Callie touched a pair of military grade art draining handcuffs under her shirt. Well, she had a way to subdue him, but now she needed him to willingly put them on. She took in another deep breath and knocked on the door.

The door cracked open and a man with short cropped dirty blond hair peered out, a smile crossing his clean-shaven face.

"Callie, what's up?" Dustin asked, opening the door wide. The man had on a white bathrobe, his thick blond hair still wet from a shower. His bathrobe was open at the top, revealing the firm lines of his neck and his collarbone. The bathrobe revealed just enough of his chest to send her thoughts in a completely wrong direction.

"Can we talk?" Callie asked, stepping inside hesitantly.

"Of course, I love your skirt by the way, it brings out your eyes."Dustin said, grinning at her mischievously. Callie glanced down at her knee high purple skirt. She wore the skirt over formfitting black pants and sensible boots.

"I like your bathrobe, it's stylish."Callie said, bobbing her eyebrows at him suggestively. Despite her nervousness, she cracked a smile. Dustin snorted, "Give me a minute and I'll go change."Dustin said. Callie reached out and rested her hand on his arm as the door clicked shut behind her.

"I'm actually here for only a moment."Callie said. Dustin paused and turned towards her, his eyes glancing at her hand resting on his forearm.

"What can I help you with?" Dustin asked, noting her tenseness. "Well, I bought these handcuffs from a black market arms dealer and I'm uncertain why they don't work."Callie said, pulling the sleek silver handcuffs from under her blouse.

"I would ask how you know a black market arms dealer, but I know what you're going to say."Dustin said, raising an eyebrow at her and taking the handcuffs. He scrutinized the handcuffs and walked over to his bag, which was lying on the floor. Dustin bent over and rummaged through the large suitcase.

Callie glanced around the hotel room, noting a couch, his unmade queen sized bed, and a table with two chairs. Resting on the table was Dustin's standard 9mm, his belt knife and his comm. This was the perfect opportunity.

"Can you fix them?" Callie asked, her heart racing.

"Yeah, this is an easy fix. Give me a minute, I just need to tighten the inner bracket, it's loose."Dustin said, pulling out several tools from his bag.

Callie waited nervously, watching as Dustin fixed what she broke not twenty minutes ago. Dustin's hands moved efficiently and the inner bracket slid into place easily with a satisfying click.

"There you go. They should work now. The inner bracket must have rattled loose."Dustin said, eying the handcuffs curiously.

"Do you have the keys to them? I want to test them to see if the containment field is properly restricting my reservoir." Dustin said.Callie nodded and held up the silvery keys in front of her. Dustin placed one of the handcuffs on his wrist.

Spiraling through the silvery cuffs were lines of clear metallic glass that channeled the art into a containment field. When the handcuff closed around Dustin's wrist, the lines glowed a bright green, sealing off his reservoir.

Callie glanced around the room and found something sturdy. Just like in her room down the hall, there was a steel vent for air conditioning that was bolted to one wall. To be certain, earlier that day, she checked the one in her room to verify how strongly the vent was attached to the wall.

That thing would take Dustin maybe an hour to pull from its bracket. Callie walked towards the vent, positioning herself right next to the wall. Dustin walked over to her, glancing from Callie to the vent and then back to her curiously.

Callie reached out slowly and wrapped her fingers around his cuffed wrist. Dustin gave her a curious look, no doubt wondering what she was up to? They were a foot away from the grate, but the chain between the handcuffs was long enough. Callie casually snapped the second handcuff shut around the heating grate.

Dustin raised an eyebrow at her, more confused than alarmed. "If you wanted to handcuff me to something, you could have just asked."Dustin said, bobbing his eyebrows suggestively.

Callie swallowed. She wanted to do just that, but she doubted he would still want to after she told him what she came here for.

Callie smiled nervously at him, staring into those deep brown eyes, her heart racing. Well, the first part of her plan was a success. Now for part two.

Callie took a few steps back from him, feeling guilty for what she was about to say.

"What did you do this time? Why do you look so guilty?" Dustin asked, his handcuff grating on the heating vent. He stood there against the wall, handcuffed to the heating vent by one arm. Dustin's look of amusement changed to a concerned look as the silence dragged on.

"I have something I need to tell you."Callie said nervously, unable to meet his intense brown eyes. "You didn't need to handcuff me, I'm not going to hurt you."Dustin said, seriously.

Callie glanced away, her face betraying her distrust. "You actually think I might hit you? T told me you had a rough upbringing, but I would never attack you."Dustin said, looking hurt by that.

"Well, I can't be certain. Everyone has reasons, and after I tell you some things, you might attack me."Callie said, wincing as a wounded look crossed his face.

"No matter what you say, I would never try to attack you! Besides, I couldn't even beat you in a one-on-one fight." Dustin said.

Callie swallowed, wetting her dry lips."Thats besides the point. And can you say you wouldn't attack me with certainty?" Callie asked."You are my friend and I trust you, of course I would never hurt you."Dustin said, seriously.

Callie's chest tighten, and she forced herself to look back into his deep brown eyes.

"You and T have been amazing friends. And that is why this is so hard. Because I have been a terrible friend."Callie said, feeling sick to her stomach. Dustin stopped tugging on the handcuffs and leaned casually against the wall.

"I'm here to listen. And if it makes you feel better, I will willingly sit here handcuffed to the wall while you talk."Dustin said, smiling to ease her worry. Callie took in a shaky breath, hating how vulnerable she felt right now.

"Do you remember senator sergile?" Callie asked. Dustin nodded, "Of course, we still haven't found out how the secari got their intel."Dustin said.

"That was me, I did it."Callie blurted out.

Dustin's face bunched in confusion."You told the secari about Sergile?" Dustin asked, his eyebrows knitting in confusion.

"Yes, but more importantly, I am one of the secari."Callie said, staring into his deep brown eyes.

"Good one! You almost had me." Dustin said, and he burst out laughing. When Callie simply stood there staring back at him nervously, Dustin's expression changed.

"Your telling the truth?" Dustin asked, looking shocked. Callie nodded, clasping her hands in front of her to stop from fidgeting.

"Why did you do it? What did I do to deserve this?" Dustin asked, sounding hurt. "I'm sorry, Dustin. I didn't mean to hurt you or T."Callie said.

"Then why did you go through all this effort? Did you ask me out just to mess with my emotions? What the hell, Callie, did you do this all just to mess with me?" Dustin asked cooly.

" Well, I honestly thought I was doing the right thing. At least until you told me about the attack on Valia. That was when I questioned my cause. And then I learned the truth. I learned we were the aggressors. I learned that the Secari started this war by attempting to annihilate one of your cities in an act of terrorism."

Dustin opened his mouth to speak."Please, let me get this out."Callie said, raising a hand to shush him.Dustin nodded, his face a mask of anger, frustration, and hurt.

"At first I was in denial. They trained me for years to believe the empire was a group of conquering bastards. But after meeting you, Taniya and Ferra, I realized that belief was a lie. Even before I learned the truth, some small part of me wanted to believe the empire wasn't a terrible place." Callie said, taking a shuddering breath.

"And why are you telling me this now? What do you gain by telling me this?" Dustin asked, his face reverting to a stony mask. Callie swallowed, her heart thudding madly in her chest..

"I did something bad recently. And now I need your help to ensure Villus doesn't start a war."Callie said, hating that look he was giving her. "What did you do?" Dustin asked sharply, every hint of his usual friendliness gone.

"I told Villus that if he kidnaps the Slax ambassador, then it could start a war."Callie said, fidgeting with her hair. "The ambassador's location is kept secret at all times. Villus won't be able to find him."Dustin said, confidently.

Callie shook her head at that. "Normally you would be right, but I found out his location by snooping through Taniya's comm."Callie said, her words coming out softy. Dustin's stony visage cracked and his eyes widen in horror.

"Why would you do that? It could start a war!" Dustin said, his calm breaking. "I needed to save my friend, Warren. Villus kidnapped him. He wouldn't release Warren unless I gave him something he could use against the empire."Callie said weakly.

"I can't believe you would do that, Callie! Millions could die if a war breaks out with the Slax."Dustin said, angrily.

"I know, but I didn't have a choice! Villus would have killed Warren if I didn't agree to his demands."Callie said defensively.

"Is Warren's life is worth more to you than millions of others?!" Dustin asked, his face flushing with anger. "Yes, I will do whatever it takes to save my friends."Callie stated, staring back into his deep brown eyes without flinching. Dustin paused, startled by her determination.

"You said I am your friend. Will you do whatever it takes to save me from this war?" Dustin asked, probing. Callie flushed at the unexpected question.

"Yes, I will! That is why I am here. Villus is going to kidnap the Slax ambassador tonight. I need you to call the enforcers and send them to stop Villus."Callie said, standing up to his anger.

"Why should I trust you? How do i know this isn't a trap? You just admitted to being an assassin and a terrorist." Dustin said with a glare.

Callie flinched at his biting statement. "Why would I reveal myself to you only to lie about something this big?" Callie asked softly. Dustin's anger cooled, and he paused in thought, taking her in. "Why don't you come over here and un cuff me? We can fix this mess together."Dustin said, calmly.

Callie shook her head."I know you are angry, and you have every right to be. But the reason I am here is that I care about you." Callie said, seriously. Dustin snorted."You care about me? You just admitted to lying about everything. How do I know you haven't been stringing me along for your own amusement?" Dustin asked, his expression one of hurt.

Callie took the keys for the handcuffs and placed them on the table, out of Dustin's reach. From his look, nothing she could say would convince him of her sincerity. She needed to do something to prove her sincerity.

She stepped forward, walking into Dustin's reach.

Dustin reached out and grasped the handle of her pistol, drawing it from the shoulder holster. Callie didn't stop him, allowing him to pull the gun free. Her sleek black and grey pistol glinted in the low light of Dustin's room, the light bouncing off the polished metal of her p223.

Dustin seemed shocked that she didn't try to take it away. " It's not loaded, is it?" Dustin asked, holding the pistol in his free hand. The barrel was pointed at her chest steadily. "Not a few minutes ago, you told me you wouldn't hurt me no matter what I told you. Is that the truth?" Callie asked, taking another step closer.

Her instincts screamed at her to neutralize the threat, but Callie pushed those instincts away. She needed to make a point, to prove to Dustin how sincere she was. Dustin's hand wavered as the barrel of the gun pressed against her chest, right over her left breast.

Dustin's hand waver, and he pointed the barrel away from her heart. His expression was concerned and his eyes were wide with confusion and hurt. Callie stopped moving forward, her chest inches from his. She reached out slowly and rested her hand on his bare chest above his bathrobe, feeling the beat of his racing heart.

"I may have my doubts about your empire, and even the devali. But both you and Taniya are my friends. I know I made some mistakes, and you will probably never forgive my betrayal."Callie said. Dustin's expression changed, and he took in a deep breath.

"What the hell Callie, why are you doing this to me? You keep making me question myself. What am I supposed to feel right now? This is just too much!" Dustin exclaimed, his chest heaving. Callie looked away, uncertain what to say.

Dustin sighed deeply when she didn't respond, and he mumbled."I can't decide whether I want to kiss you or shoot you." Her heart lept in her chest, and hope filled her.

"I'm sorry for putting you through this. And I would prefer the former if I'm being honest. I'm not a big fan of being shot."Callie said with a faint smile.

"So, are you going to uncuff me? We need to go stop Villus from capturing the ambassador."Dustin said, tugging softly on his handcuffs. Callie shook her head, "Sorry, I need time to get ahead of you and stop Villus myself. If I release you right now, I can't be certain you won't try to arrest me."Callie said.

Dustin scowled, but he didn't deny her accusation."You are going to leave me cuffed to this vent while you go after this Villus guy alone?" Dustin asked, his tone concerned.

"Yes, but don't worry, ill call T in twenty minutes and tell her to come and save you."Callie said with a smirk. "You are the absolute worst person I know!" Dustin said, sounding defeated. She let that statement hang in the air for a couple of seconds before responding.

"Soo, what are you going to do? You can shoot me, and let the ambassador be kidnapped by Villus, or you can give me back my gun and I will go stop him." Callie said, holding out her flat palm to receive the pistol.

She was close to Dustin, their bodies nearly touching. He scowled up at her, his deep brown eyes concerned, angry, and worried. The pistol settle into her hand, and she let out a soft sigh of relief.

"This doesn't mean I have forgiven you. You owe me a lot of explanation."Dustin said. She smiled at that statement. This might be the last time she ever talked to him again. Despite her bravado, Callie wasn't certain of her victory against Villus. She actually might die in the upcoming fight, and this could be her last encounter with Dustin.

Callie glanced down into his eyes, passed his upturned nose to his full lips. Well, she might never get the chance again. Callie Leaned in and kissed Dustin, catching him completely off guard. He froze, his eyes wide as she kissed him fiercely. His lips were soft and warm, tasting faintly of coffee. She pulled away, noting his startled expression.

"What was that for?" Dustin asked breathlessly. "Well, you said you wanted to either shoot me or kiss me. And since you didn't shoot me, I kissed you."Callie said.

"But, you-" She cut him off.

"Well, I should get going. I have a former instructor to kill. Then I need to hide from my irate boss so he doesn't have me arrested."Callie said, with a forced smile. She stood there, unsure of what else to say. This conversation went so much differently in her head. He was actually being remarkably calm. And as a bonus, he hadn't shot her, which was a win.

"You are the absolute worst, you know that! First, you tell me you are an assassin and that you have been lying to me. And then you kiss me? And why in the hell did you ask me out to dinner earlier today? I have never been given so many mixed signals in my life!" Dustin said, seeming overwhelmed.

Callie nodded, not denying any of his accusations. "Ya, sorry for stilling a kiss like that. But I already made you mad and I probably won't get another chance."Callie said with a shrug. Eager to leave, she turned away from him, moving towards the door.

She left Dustin handcuffed to the heating vent in his bathrobe, leaving before he could angrier at her. By the look on his handsome face, he wanted to yell at her for the next week. She smiled, hoping someday he got the chance.

Dustin was stunned speechless as he watched her leave the room. What just happened? His heart raced. He couldn't decide whether he wanted to laugh, punch something, or scream in frustration. That woman was the most frustrating person he had ever met. But despite that, a large part of him didn't want her to go.

"You better not die!" Dustin shouted, hoping she heard. Dustin scowled. If she died before he got the chance to yell at her some more, he was going to be furious. Seriously, who does that to a person's emotions? Why did Callie always have to do things in a way that made him want to scream in frustration?