BELLA MARTIN 16

M A R T I N

"You fucking moron!" Martin yelled, lunging at him. He was held back by two more agents. "You brought me back to Metro Manila all this time to be your scapegoat. I should've realized. I should have chosed to stay in Quezon Province and forget all about my origins." "No, he didn't! Agent Del Fierro, I've already provided you with proof. He gained access to Martin's work computer. Metzger did exactly that. You already know he did. You are aware that Martin is not guilty. I was unable to gather the information you required for Metzger. I was looking for evidence. That's why I tracked Martin down to his father." "As a field agent, you must be closely monitored. You're far too forthright. That's why I bugged you." "Did you bug me? When? ” "In your shoe, as well as the hem of your sweatshirt." "In the surveillance clothes I left at the office?" He hummed in agreement. "As well as your boss's car." "How did you know I'd do something like this? I guess it was just in case I switched sides? " He shook his head. "Did you keep an eye on me the whole time? When I worked for you the entire time? ” “Yes. You haven't received any training. We were just not going to throw you into an international case with no prior knowledge. We required your assistance. But we didn't trust you to do it on your own." Martin laughed angrily. "Doesn't it annoy you to be watched, Bella? Not being trusted by the people closed to you? ." “No.” I breathed a sigh of relief. They’d been backing me up the entire time. All that time, I had felt like I was failing and it was all part of their plan. I didn’t even mind being used to draw Metzger out. “Thank God. Are you watching my daughter? My grandmother? Are they okay?” He nodded. “They’re fine. There’s an agent who has been keeping an eye on them.” “Thank you. I’m sorry I couldn’t get you the information you needed to take Metzger down and I hope you have enough to go on. I’m a terrible field agent.” “Actually,” he started. “You did get us the information we needed.” “I did? When?” Mrs. Metzger entered the room, saying, "When you tried to warn me that my husband was trying to put a hit out on me. They said all the bad guys had been apprehended and I could come in now. I want to see my husband in handcuffs," she exclaimed as she spotted him. "Oh, sweetheart, there you are!" ” "Helena, you scumbag," Metzger snarled. "What are you doing here, Mom?" "I'm here to make certain that my jerk of a husband doesn't jeopardize us all because of his lust for power." "What exactly did you do?" Metzger tried to approach her, but the agents who were attempting to hold him wouldn't let him. "Oh, hardly anything, dear; I simply granted them access to just about everything. And when I mean I mean, EVERY SINGLE DAMN THING!" she paused dramatically. They're currently in our home. Passwords. Safes. Files. Everything you kept hidden from me and assumed I didn't actually know about, I was saving for when I filed for divorce and could use to prove your breach of contract and take all your money from you. I am, after all, a bitch," she said with a smile."But, as you mentioned, I'm always a well-dressed and put-together bitch. Do you like how I'm dressed tonight, hmm? This is my super spy outfit," she said as she spun around. She was dressed in a black pencil skirt, knee-high stiletto boots, and a tight black turtleneck. Thick black sunglasses were pushed up against her brow. She was a very fashionable super spy. She undoubtedly made me look bad. "You made your wife very, very unhappy, Mr. Metzger," Agent Del Fierro said, flashing another feral grin. “Mom.” She approached Martin. "I'm fond of this girl. I really like her. She stood up for you and proteected you with her life when no one else would." "She deceived me." “No. She shielded and protected you. She did what she needed to do. And she was the only one who started telling me what he was going to do to me, whether or not something ruined her investigation and got her fired." "This is excessive. It's all a bit much." Mrs. Metzger wrapped her arms around her son and tried to hug him. "It is indeed finished now. You're out of this . Do you hear what I'm saying? You will never be compelled to do something like this again. I'm collaborating with the FBI to bring him down. Did you, in fact, disband The Friendship That Lasts Forever Foundation? You were so pleased with the results? ” Martin gave a snort. “No. I lied to him. I did have a plan to dissolve it if necessary, but it tends to take more than one signal. But I wanted him to believe it was gone, beyond his grasp." She gave him some thought. "It's not in your nature to be devious." "After all, I am a Metzger," Martin said as he decided to stand to the side, having to watch them arrest his father and his men. "Agent De Guzman," Agent Del Fierro began once everything was completed. "I'd like to discuss your future with the FBI with you." My head shook. "There's no need. I'm a lousy agent. Even when everything went well, I know you can't employ me as an agent. I'm not the right person for this job. I'm not cut out for undercover operations or investigation. And I despise being a honeytrap." "It's true that you're not cut out for undercover operations, but you're mistaken about being a bad agent. I'd like to hire you as an intelligence operative specializing in translation." “Translation? ” “Yes. Your command of the language is outstanding. We would have come to you anyway to hire you, but when your relationship with Dr. Lawson became relevant, we drew you in ahead of time." HHe then handed me a business card. It wasn't the card he'd previously given me. "Please come to the office on Monday at 9:00 a.m. and we can go over the details with you." "Translation," I struggled to understand what he'd said. He gave a nod. "Take the weekend to think about it," he said as he walked away, looking over my shoulder. Martin approached me just as I was about to respond. I looked up at him and blinked. “Martin! Everything was so tense. I had no idea what he thought of me. I knew I have betrayed me, but it didn't feel like he'd given up on me. I didn't want him to abandon me. I was frozen in place as I started watching him intently, attempting to read him. I was terrified of hoping. "Hey," he called out, his voice deep, soft, and exhausted. "They said you were finished here and that I could take you home." "Will you take me home?" I was afraid to reach for him because I was afraid he wouldn't mean it. I'm frightened he didn't want me as much as I wanted him. "Take you home," he sighed, his voice heavy and sad. "With me," he said, his eyes midnight dark with longing. "Would you like to accompany me? I want... I want more than I can express right now, and I want the chance to resolve everything about us." "Do you? " When he nodded, I couldn't help but fall into his arms and press my face against his neck. He gave me a sense of security. "I'd like to gain your trust, Martin. I'd like to be completely honest with you from now on. I despised it. I despised lying to you. I tried not to fall in love with you. You're aware that I did. I tried to keep you at bay, but I couldn't. I really can not stay away from you because...because I love you so much." His heartbeat was strong, sure, and warm, but he said nothing. "Martin, please. Please allow me. Please give me another chance." With his nose, he nuzzled my hair. "Stay with me tonight," he said softly in my ear. I couldn't say anything. I gave a nod. Anything he desired. Anything. We didn't say anything in the car. He concentrated on driving, and I let the city lights wash over me as we sped past them, allowing the night's anxiety and fear wash away. He slid his hand over the console and took my hand, clutching it, halfway home. Basically holding it. With no words necessary, because perhaps we just needed silence, just to be there, in each other's company, accessing what had happened and all that it meant. We didn't speak when we arrived at his apartment, only connecting by our hands until the elevator door slid shut behind us. "I want to start over," he drew me in and wrapped his arms around me. He felt so at ease. I started pressing against his hard chest, my hands running over his broad shoulders and around his neck. I ran my fingers through his hair before looking into his beautiful green eyes, which were tinged with pain and sadness. "I'd like that as well, Martin. I'd like to start over with you, with no lies. I'd like to tell you everything about myself and show you who I truly am. I really want you." "It has to be truthful. This has to be completely honest between us. There are no more secrets. I When I did realize you were watching me? It ripped me apart. I assumed what we had was genuine. When I actually realized it was all a lie, it damn near killed me." "Martin, I'm sorry. That was the crux of the issue. That's my issue. I couldn't lie because I was intended to. I'm not going to lie anymore. I'm afraid not. I really can not lie to you, and I really can not keep my mouth shut. So I ruined my investigation because I was in love with you! ” “Wow. You put your entire career on the line for me? " He smiled and nudged me to smile. "I can't even believe they're still interested in hiring me as a translator." “A translator? I thought you were a private detective.”