4. The Art of Persuasion

            It wasn’t hard to figure out what was wrong with me lately. It was simple: Jim Moriarty was trying to worm himself into my brain. He was trying to bring me along with him to London. That was never going to happen. No matter what good things he promised would come out of leaving, I was going to stay in New Jersey.

            That was what my brain was telling me to do. My heart was an entirely different story. It was being tugged back and forth, a never-ending battle. At times my brain would end up the same way. Should I stay in America or go to London with Jim? Was it worth leaving Dean and Spencer for a man I barely knew? Would I find success with him more than I could ever here in my lifetime?

            The internal battle gave me frequent headaches.

            Dean didn’t know how the battle was affecting me; I kept it hidden from him. He couldn’t know about Jim, not when Jim was so close to leaving this house and this country for good. I could pull this off; I could keep Jim a secret for just a little longer. After all, I’d been keeping him as a guest for a few years, so what could a month or two more hurt?

            I dug through the kitchen drawers for a knife to butter my toast with. I pulled one open to have my eyes bug.

            “Dean!” I yelled, hearing my voice travel. My voice wasn’t panicked, just annoyed.

            “Raine, it’s a spider. Just kill it. You’re how old?” he retorted.

            “It’s not a spider.”

            “Capture it and kill it then if it’s a mouse.”

            “Would you just get out here?”

            I narrowed my green eyes at Dean once he joined me in the kitchen. He stopped abruptly, looking puzzled. “What?”

            I picked up the weapon. “Seriously? Why is there a gun in here, Dean?”

            “You’ve never found that before?”

            “No. Why is it here?”

            Dean ruffled his hair. “It’s a spare in case I needed one and couldn’t get to another one.” He crossed the gap to pry it from me. “I almost forgot about this.”

            “How many more do you have in my house?”

            “I shouldn’t have many, I didn’t come as a weaponry my first day.”

            “You better start remembering, because if I find one and accidentally set it off—”

            “They’ve all got the safety on, Raine. That I remember. I’m not stupid about hiding them. Though, I should do that in case one falls into the wrong hands…”

            “No, whether I find it or an intruder finds it, you’re not turning off the safety. I don’t want bullet holes in my house or in me, or you. Is there one in the bedroom?”

            “What kind of a question is that?” he scoffed. Evidently there was one lurking around. Hopefully it was somewhere Dean could reach it more conveniently than I could. I wasn’t too keen on guns, that hadn’t changed over the time Dean and I were together. Sure, I could partially accept what business my father was into, but I despised guns. I hated them more when they were in my house.

            “Which one do you take to work?”

            “That’s a separate one all together, they issued that to me. It’s in my belt, Raine. That’s where it stays, always.”

            “How come I’m finding this now?”

            “I don’t know, you tell me. You found it.”

            I pursed my lips. “You better hope I don’t end up turning on you and using one of those.”

            Dean set the gun on the counter, pulling me into his arms. “Nah. You wouldn’t do that. You don’t even like guns.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “We need a date night. Remember when we used to do those?”

            I smiled, recalling how he’d been the one to suggest the idea. Yeah, it’d shocked me too. My bodyguard turned boyfriend suggesting a date night? Let me tell you, we always had fun. Sometimes we acted as though it was our first date. It was kind of fun, because we’d get creative with it. We’d make up names and careers, sort of role play the night out.

            “I do miss them,” I sighed. We could have had many more if it hadn’t been for Dean’s job. True, he only worked five days a week, but on the weekends we were too lazy to propose the idea let alone think of something for it. “How is work anyway? Is it rough?”

            “Nothing I can’t handle. Why are you asking?”

            “We never really discuss how your work is going.” I shrugged. “All I can get from you is that you enjoy it.”

            “I do.” He smiled. “Hey, really random question, but, what are we doing about that spare room?”

            My heart quickened. Why would Dean want to ask about the room? Did he know Jim was staying in there at night? Did he happen to peek in and see whatever things Jim had lying around? Let’s calm down. Let’s not be paranoid. He could be asking out of curiosity.

            “I don’t know.” I tilted my head. “We could always make it into something instead of keeping it empty all the time.”

            “What did it used to be?”

            “Spencer’s room and mine. We shared.”

            Dean winced. “That must’ve been fun.”

            “It sometimes was,” I admitted. “It was hell when trying to settle on how to decorate it. It was worse when she brought boys over.”

            He laughed. “I’m sure it was.”

            “You know…we could always do something else aside from standing here,” I murmured coyly.

            “What did you have in mind?” Dean raised an eyebrow.

            “Nothing. I’m leaving what we do up to you.”

            I had a good idea of our activity when Dean kissed me.

*      *      *

            Nothing could trump my mood for the rest of the afternoon. Dean and I hadn’t done that for quite some time. It was nice to reintroduce that into our lives, break our monotony for an hour or two. We needed it. We didn’t abuse it like some people did, using it out of lust and not love.

            I felt like I was on cloud nine even after Dean left for work. I kept on his shirt and a pair of cotton shorts. My hair was up in a messy bun, looking somewhat tamer than it had hours ago. Today felt like a pretty good day.

            “Finally, he’s gone,” Jim breathed. Instantly, my mood plummeted. My heart beat spiked. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to get out of there.”

            “You were in there all day?” I turned around to face him.

            “I had nowhere to go today.” He shrugged.

            I paled, Jim smirked. I didn’t even have to ask him the question; he knew it was on my mind.

            “You pervert,” I snarled. “You listened in.”

            “It wasn’t my choice.”

            “Like hell it wasn’t. You could have left. There’s a window in that room.”

            “I was too lazy to leave. I tried earphones too, but—”

            I groaned. “No more! I don’t want to hear about how you heard Dean and me.”

            “Truthfully, I don’t know how the entire neighborhood never hears you.” He closed his eyes, a dreamy smile still on his face. “I can only imagine how loud I could make you.”

            “That’s all you can do, because it’s never going to happen, James. You’re really tempting me to throw you out today.”

            “No need, darling. I’m leaving. Tonight.”

            “You’re serious?”

            “Yes.” Jim opened his eyes. “I think I’ve been in hiding long enough. You can always join me, Raine. You still have that option.”

            “I still say no,” I said sharply.

            Jim shook his head, chuckling lowly. “Oh, darling, you can’t fool me.” He approached me. “I know you’ve been thinking about it. You want to leave this country. You want to come with me to see what I have to offer.” There were inches separating us now. “All you have to do is give in. What do you have here, really?”

            What did I have besides Dean and Spencer? I was sure I had family, but I was never curious enough to go hunt for them. To my knowledge, my dad was an only child. My mother’s side of the family didn’t really keep in touch after Mom passed away. I didn’t really have any friends; those that I did have were living their own, better lives. They’d forgotten about me.

            “I’ll give you some time to think on it, I’ve got a few little things to pack still.”

            I still felt wired even as Jim left to the spare bedroom. God, why was I even considering this? Why was I considering leaving Dean and Spencer without saying goodbye? Why was I risking my current future for another one?

            I looked over my shoulder to the kitchen counter. Silently, I slipped over to dig through the drawer I knew had one of Dean’s guns. I pulled it out, holding it at my side. Jim came back bearing only a suitcase. I’d never peeked into the spare room to see what he’d actually brought with him. I didn’t think he brought anything with him the first time I’d met him.

            He sat the suitcase down near the door, coming once again to me. I took a step back. This only made Jim smile. He liked to see me nervous. He liked to see me squirm.

            “Do you still need convincing?” he crooned. I looked into his eyes to see no emotion, but maybe a trace of possession if I looked deep enough into the black pits. “I’ve already given you enough incentive to leave, Raine. Take the chance. You won’t regret it.”

            Before I could even get a breath out, the door clicked open. I froze; Jim didn’t flee into the spare room. Everything was about to come apart.

            The door opened, revealing not only Dean but Spencer as well. She was off duty, but she didn’t look it with the steel look in her eyes. Dean was alongside her, rigid. I stole a side-glance at Jim, who looked to be enjoying this moment.

            “Evening,” he greeted airily. “At last, I get to meet the lover and the sister.”

            “Raine, step away from him,” Spencer ordered.

            “What’s going on?” I asked stupidly.

            “Do as she says,” Dean demanded of me. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

            “You know who he is?”

            “Yes. He’s the vilest criminal England has.”

            “Ah, I’m flattered,” Jim chirped. “I’m a worldwide celebrity.”

            “You’re responsible for a lot of homicides, and that’s just the start of the list.” Dean’s hands went into fists. “You were supposed to be dead.”

            “Well, I’m not. Surprise!”

            “How did you know?” I choked. I could ask why Jim faked his death later.

            “I saw his things in the spare room,” Dean explained.

            “So it was you who tried to get into my laptop. I should have known.” Jim’s voice went dark. “I knew it couldn’t have been Raine.”

            “What has he been telling you?” Dean asked me.

            “I’ve been telling her of the wonderful life she could have with me!” I tried to shrug off Jim’s arm slung over my shoulders. Spencer kept Dean at bay with an arm out to stop him from charging.

            “Raine, whatever he’s told you, it’s a lie,” Spencer said firmly. “Dean’s filled me in on him. You can’t trust anything he says. Step away from him so I can arrest him.”

            “Oh, you won’t do that. I’ll be long gone before you can.”

            “Funny, you’re still here. We’re blocking your only way out. What’s your move, Moriarty?”

            “I’ll let Raine answer for me. Darling?” Jim gave an encouraging nudge against my back.

            The gun called to shoot Jim. If Dean and Spencer knew what he’d done in his past, he needed to be locked up for good. But you’d be losing your only chance at a better life. He’s offering you everything you don’t have. You can get it all if you go with him. It’s worth the risk. Do it.

            “Remember what I can give you,” Jim whispered in my ear. Dean’s eyes were alight with blue fire. “Remember what I told you about when it comes to working with me.”

            I closed my eyes, feeling the angel and devil you see in TV shows pop up. Go with him. Stay loyal to Spencer and Dean. You want this. Don’t risk what you have for a man you barely know. You’re tired of this life, it’s time for change, and he can give it to you.

            “Raine.” Dean’s voice was pleading.

            With snail slowness, I opened my eyes. I fought back the tears as I made my decision.

            “I’ve got to be willing to make sacrifices,” I whispered.

            “No!” Dean and Spencer shouted. They both charged for Jim and me.

            I used the weapon I held. I raised it and turned off the safety. Being faced with a gun didn’t stop either of them. They thought I was going to hesitate, thought I was only bluffing.

 Two loud bangs erupted in the house. Both Spencer and Dean collapsed to the floor, faces first, in crumbled heaps. Without delay, Jim grabbed me, leaving me no time to pack anything. He grabbed the suitcase lying by the door before we both left. I still had the gun in my hand.

I felt numb, even as Jim tossed me the keys to my car. Luckily, Dean had driven Spencer here, so I didn’t have to worry about damaging anything. Before I did anything else after getting in the car, I handed the gun over to Jim, who took it delicately. With surprisingly stable fingers, I got the car started. I fought back the tears as I glanced one last time at the open doorway, the doorway that led to my bleeding sister and boyfriend. I kept the car in park, letting the events run through my head.

I’d just made a life-altering choice; I’d made a snap decision. I hadn’t intended on doing that to them. If there had been any other way to clear the path for Jim and me, I would have done it. I should have thought about bolting for a window to jump out of instead. At least that didn’t require shooting people.

“You could have at least let me grab some clothes,” I said lowly. “Or some toiletries.”

“Don’t worry about those little things; I’ll take care of them once we get to England.”

“One minute. I should have asked for a minute.”

“We wouldn’t have had that kind of time. I knew you’d come with me in the end, I just didn’t expect you to do that.” Jim chuckled. “You are unpredictable, Raine Whitmore. You’re not even in England and already in less than twenty-four hours you’ve killed two people.”

I flinched. “I shot them. I don’t know where the bullets hit.”

“Think logically about it, angel. By the time they try to get help, it’ll be too late. You did what you had to do. You made the right choice. You might not believe me now, but you will soon.”

I cleared my throat. “Where to?”

“The nearest airport. Congratulations, darling, you’re coming with me to London. Welcome to your new life.”

            With an eerie calmness in the car, I backed out of the driveway, lingering long enough to look at the house, picture the scene inside. Say goodbye to your old life. There’s no turning back now. Drive.

            I did just that. 

**So...things finally exploded. Who's ready for the wild ride that follows this?

Oh, and another possible song for this chapter could be Prepared to do Anything (Sherlock Season 2)**