Two Of A Kind

Chapter 10 – Familiar Faces

Shane had her fingers tightly wrapped around the semi automatic in her hand. When Alex had asked her if she could use it, she had scoffed at her. She practically grew up on the Strip. Of course she could use it, not that she was planning to. She looked at the hunched figure of Alex in front of her. They were creeping through the brush on their way to the back door of the house. Angelinas house. According to Eric Marina was in that house locked away like that princess in Shrek. Only prettier Shane thought.

Alex glanced behind her to make sure Shane and Nicky were still there. Now that they were actually on Angelinas property, Alex wasnt sure anymore how good this idea of hers was. She, Shane and Nicky were going to go in first to see if they could find Marina. If they would get caught Robin and Ice were going to bust in through the front and side doors with Eric placing a quick 999 call to the police. She paused having reached the back of the house. She pointed to the door and Shane nodded. The three of them got up simultaneously and jogged over to the house and up the back steps. Alex pulled out some kind of gizmo from her jacket pocket and stuck it in the lock. Seconds later they were inside.

Still panting slightly Shane leaned against the door closing her eyes for just a second. Suddenly she felt soft lips on hers and she sighed. When she opened her eyes Alex was smiling at her and mouthed, Come on.

They moved to the stairs and started climbing Alex in lead. Shane right behind her. And Nicky closing ranks. Theyd decided to work from the top down. That way they couldnt be surprised by anyone coming from upstairs.

Climbing up Nicky couldnt help but enjoy the view Shane was providing her. She grinned as a devilish thought crossed her mind. With an ***** and a body like that, no wonder Alex was hooked. She mentally berated herself for thinking of a thing like that at a time like this and glanced backwards to make sure no one had snuck up on them.

Reaching the top landing Alex cautiously whipped her head around the banister and into the dark empty hallway. It didnt take the women more than twenty minutes to search the entire house and to find it completely empty. Shane and Nicky were sitting on the bottom steps watching Alex pace back and forth talking into her cell phone animatedly. All of a sudden Shane had a thought.

Uh, guys, what about the basement?

Alex turned around to look at her. *****, she thought, how stupid of them not to check. Marina probably wasnt there, but there might be some clues as to where they could find her.

Yeah. You, and she pointed to Nicky, stay here. Shane and Ill go check it out

Motioning to Shane they disappeared towards the back of the house. The door to the basement was open a crack. Shane swung it open and felt around for the light switch, but when she flicked it, nothing happened.

*****, Im scared of the dark. What if the boogie monster is down there?, Alex whispered jokingly wiping fake sweat of her brow. Shane glanced at the wicked grin on Alex face.

Dude, this is no time to be kidding, her own face breaking into a big smile.

Alex started descending the steps her gun pointed downwards searching the dark for any sign of motion. When she reached the bottom of the steps she stepped to the left motioning Shane to step to the right.

A sudden light blinded them and instinctively Shanes arms flew to cover her face. Her eyes adjusting to the light she moved her arms and took in the basement which turned out to be a fully furnished office.

Ive been expecting you, a familiar drawl sounded from a corner of the room and a beautiful tall woman stepped from the shadows. Her dark brown hair curled around her shoulders and bounced a little as she elegantly moved towards them, almost gliding. Shane gasped involuntarily.

Marina. With a big relieved smile on her face she moved forward to give her friend a big hug, but she couldnt move as big hands wrapped around her arms from behind. Behind her she heard a scream and turning her head she saw Alex dropping to the floor bleeding.

Alex saw a shadow slipping from the corner behind them moving towards Shane. She started to raise her gun when she felt a blinding pain in her side that made her double over. As a heel connected to her jaw she could taste the metallic flavor of blood spilling from a cut on the inside of her cheek and with a resounding thud her head hit the floor. Struggling for consciousness she forced herself to open her eyes.

Marina NO What are you doing?

Marina looked at them with an amused look on her face.

You made a mistake coming here. My little vixen was supposed to stop you, but she, and she paused searching for the English word, merde.

Shane knew she was looking at her friend. The eyes. Those lips. That voice. But something was wrong. This was not the same woman she had spent so many nights with drinking coffee and just talking. The way she moved her hands so avidly while talking. And she lacked a certain charm that Marina possessed. The way she could make you melt when you just looked into her big eyes. This womans eyes werent warm like Marinas. They were cold and unfeeling.

Not Marina. Angelina.

Alex sat up and coughed, blood spilling from her mouth. She wiped it away with the back of her hand and stood up still a little shaky. Shanes mouth dropped even further. Damn. Marina had a twin? Twins? Shed always had a bit of a fascination for twins. And if they looked like Marina. Damn Alex voice brought her focus back from the gutter where it was headed.

Where is she?, Alex demanded in a tone as if she was in control. As if there wasnt a gun pointed at her by the guy who had just kicked her in the face. The two women were staring at each other. Sizing each other up.

Damn, these women really did get hit with the pretty stick, Alex couldnt help but thinking. Two women who looked like that. Damn. But beauty is only skin-deep as they say and when she looked into the womans eyes, she sincerely hoped she wouldnt find the same thing in Marinas. It wasnt so much what she saw. But more what she didnt see. Compassion. Kindness. Nothing but coldness.

Do you really think you are in any position to demand things?, her voice taking on an icy edge and she nodded to the man behind Alex.

Alex felt the but of the gun hit the back of her head and the pain made her knees buckle. A light exploded behind her eyes and she cradled her head in her hands. Slowly she resumed normal breathing and looked up a tear trickling down her cheek.

Shane struggled against the man restraining making him tighten his grip and grunt in her ear.

Stay still you *****.

Shane shot an angry look over her shoulder and then she kicked him in the shin. The man yelped and his grip loosened. She wrenched herself free and rushed over to Alex.

Dude, you ok?, and she put her arm around Alex and helped her up. Alex coughed and spit up some blood.

Yeah, fine. Her head turned to the guy who was still grabbing his shin and a smile graced her lips. Pushing Shane away she spun on her heel and her elbow hit the guy behind her right between the eyes. Automatically his hand shot up to his face allowing Alex to wrestle the gun away from him. Turning around she pointed the gun at Angelina as she pulled herself and Shane to the back of the room, so the two goons were no longer at their backs.

Im going to ask nicely one more time. Where is Marina? We just want to talk to her.

Angelina glared at her with a look that would have made a lesser woman, or man, surrender on the spot. But Alex knew exactly what she was dealing with which is why she hadnt yet called in the cavalries. She knew Nicky would have already alerted the others who were just waiting for the safe word theyd agreed upon.

Marina is where she belongs, the woman hissed her face contorted with rage. The two goons had now moved to her side. One of the goons was still armed and training his gun on Alex and Shane.

You dont know who you are dealing with. There are greater powers at work here.

Alex smiled. She just loved it when people underestimated her.

We just want to talk to her, Alex replied evenly her voice taking on a cold edge. Shane recognized the tone. It was the same tone Alex had used with her friend Bobby.

She is NOT available, Marinas look-a-like replied glaring at Alex probably wishing shed drop dead on the spot. She couldnt believe her little Meredith had failed in chasing these people away. Her family had been waiting for years for the perfect opportunity to reintroduce Marina to the family ways. When that little Jewish princess had dumped her and driven Marina over the edge, Angelina had convinced their father that this was the perfect opportunity. She had flown to Los Angeles and had showered her sister with all the affection she could muster. Affection her sister had never experienced from her family.

In her fragile state Marina had just been grateful to have a friendly face there, even if it was her own. None of her friends had shown and shed felt abandoned. So when her sister had suggested she recuperate in London she hadnt objected. The last few weeks Angelina had been treating Marina with nothing but kindness. On occasion letting business talk spill into the conversation and casually asking Marinas opinion.

She knew Marina had been softening to the family ways, but these women were going to spoil everything. The Ferrer reputation rode on getting Marina back. If a Cabal could not keep his own family in line, how on earth could he keep a stranger in line? Marinas days of rebellion had to be over. And she had been so close.

She is not available to you, Angelina repeated her voice permeated with venom staring at Alex daring her to make a move.

Alex stared right back into those cold eyes. The silence in the room broken by the sound of her undoing the safety on the gun.

If shes not available then neither will you be.

Shane looked at Alex in shock. She wouldnt shoot Marinas sister, would she? She couldnt. She was a doctor. It was her duty to protect lives, not take them. But then again they were trying to protect Marina. But no this was wrong. She placed her hand on Alex arm willing her to not pull the trigger.

You think you can get out of here alive, if Im dead?. Her crazed laughter bounced off the walls. Who DO you think you are dealing with?. Suddenly a voice sounded from the top of the stairs behind Alex and Shane.

Enough!. The click of heels on cement sounded from the stairs as slowly two shapely legs emerged from the stairwell.
Thats quite enough, Angelina, Marina spoke loudly and she looked at her sister with the kind of venom Angelina was throwing Alex way.

Shane let go of Alex arm and rushed over to Marina grabbing her in a big hug not wanting to let go ever.

Shane, Marina simply whispered a sense of belonging flowing through her. The first real feeling she had since that day.