Chapter 4

"He was right there!" Izzie exclaimed as she popped another piece of popcorn into her mouth.

They'd made it back to her place, and were sat on her couch with their movie time snacks. The movie was yet to be picked but the snacks were going down well.

"I know he was," Jake sighed, dunking a marshmallow into his hot chocolate and letting it sit to melt, "But why? Why was he right there? Where were his guards? Why the hell was he shopping for himself?"

The questions were valid, and there didn't seem to be a logical answer to any of them.

Izzie didn't understand any of it. His presence at the supermarket went against nearly everything she had read about in his paperwork.

He was far too rich and powerful to be going out anywhere without guards, let alone to a lowly supermarket.

"I don't know," she said, with the excited glint in her eye that he knew all too well "but we're going to find out."

"Well, we aren't right now," he argued, "What film are we going to watch?"

Izzie groaned at him, "Hasn't this got you intrigued?" she frowned.

"It has, but -" Jake began but was cut off by his phone ringing in his pocket. He sighed and pulled it out, checking the caller ID.

"It's my dad," he said, before answering it and putting it to his ear.

The conversation was short and sounded more like his father barking orders at him. Izzie stayed quiet, trying to catch what was being said, but didn't manage to.

Finally, Jake hung up and stared at the blank screen for a few moments.

"Well?" Izzie prompted, "What did he say?"

Jake sighed again, pushing the phone back into his pocket.

"Were going to have to reschedule our movie night," he grimaced, "One of my targets has been spotted in a club downtown."

He was genuinely disappointed.

Jake wasn't as keen on his work as she was. He was good at what he did, but sometimes his heart wasn't in it.

Tonight was one of those nights.

He had been really looking forward to spending some time with her, she could tell by how excited he'd been in the supermarket.

"You want to come with me?" he asked, taking her off guard. A smile slowly crept across his face, "For old time's sake."

Slowly her lips mirrored his smile.

The dynamic duo back together for another run, of course she'd take him up on the offer.

Her earlier tiredness was long forgotten, as she leapt off the couch and ran to the bedroom.

It didn't take her long to slip into a nice club outfit. Unfortunately, her go-to cocktail dress was still drying out on the washing line, so she opted for something a little different.

She chose a high waist pair of short shorts, with her nude tights underneath to hide her scars. No one would tell that she was wearing the tights unless they actually touched them. On top, she had gone for a cute push-up bra-let and a mesh tank top.

She kept the make-up on her face to a minimum and only accessorised with a ring and a cute bracelet.

The biggest time consumer was covering up her scars on her exposed skin with foundation and blending it to make it look natural.

Finally, she fluffed up her mess of curly of dark hair, using a quick spritz of hairspray to keep the volume and she was ready.

She slipped on her black stilettos and grabbed her clutch on the way out of the bathroom and found Jake stood waiting for her by the front door, looking a little bored.

His expression changed when he laid eyes on her, however.

"Wow," he breathed, "You look amazing."

Izzie rolled her eyes and shot him an unimpressed look as she stepped past him to opened the door.

"What? You do," he defended himself.

"Well... thanks, but we have a job to do," she ushered him out the door, "Let's get going."

The very familiar atmosphere surrounded them.

The loud thumping music, the grinding bodies, the flashing lights.

She was always here for work.

This was like her office at this point and she did wish that one day, maybe just one day, she could come here for fun as everyone else did.

Not that she minded her work, not at all, but to just come in with friends for a good time.

Just her, Jake and Kayla.

That is if Kayla ever got the chance for a visit anymore.

Kayla was a fellow slayer and was Izzie's only other friend apart from Jake. The three of them were inseparable at one point. They always did their training together, even did some missions together. Not as many as Jake and Izzie had done as a duo, but still, it was nice to have the three of them together.

Kayla had been moved across the country to a different division of slayers a year prior.

It had been sad when she had to move, but it meant she was closer to her parents and could train alongside them.

It was a good move for her in all, but Izzie and Jake still missed her with every passing day.

She'd give anything to go clubbing with Kayla and just have fun, without worrying about work.

"I've got eyes on him, far left of the bar, he's with a woman and seems to have two flanking guards," Jake's hushed voice came through her earpiece.

She pushed the button on hers, "Moving to your position," she confirmed and then started to make her way towards the bar.

Their target for the evening was a young rich vampire called Darius Kroner, he was trying to buy his way into the nobles even though he was not from a noble bloodline. It wasn't going to work well for him as the nobles were very particular about staying with their own.

He was a main funder for the trade of humans on the black market. They were to torture information out of him and then dispatch of him.

A simple enough job, the only tricky part was getting him alone.

The slayers' council had been trying for centuries to halt the trade of humans as food on the black market, but they hadn't managed to so far. Every time they felt like they got a step closer to finding out who was running it, the market would move or become more advanced. They always seemed to be one step behind but pushed forward anyway.

Darius being young and dumb could hold the answers they were looking for. He would be easier to break and may give them vital information to bring them down.

Izzie suddenly spotted him at the bar.

Just as Jake said, he was flirting with a beautiful human girl and behind him were two beefy looking guards.

It looked difficult, but not impossible.

She saw Jake at the opposite side of the bar, he gave a slight nod to her and she knew it was time for plan A.

She clutched her bag tight to her and strutted over to the bar, keeping her gaze fixated on the barman.

Just as she reached it she swung her elbow out a bit wider, knocking over the glass of wine that was next to the woman. She shrieked as the contents covered her dress, soaking in an effectively ruining it completely

She wasn't getting that stain out in a hurry.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry," Izzie turned to her, feigning concern and trying to fuss over her.

In reality, she was probably saving this girls life, she should be thankful.

"You stupid bitch! My dress is ruined!" the girl hissed at her. She turned to Darius, "Excuse me," was all she muttered before hopping off the stool and running for the bathroom as fast as her heels would allow.

That took care of problem one. The girl was gone.

Izzie then turned to Darius and gave her best sympathetic look, "I'm sorry about your girlfriend's dress," she gave a sad smile, "You can tell her I'll pay for it dry cleaning."

"Oh, she's not my girlfriend," Darius laughed, "Just a girl taking up my time."

Arrogant asshole, Izzie thought and it took all her strength not to let her expression drop.

"Well, I'm sorry for making her leave," she muttered, looking apologetic. She then turned to the barman and ordered a drink, acting like she was trying to pull away from the situation.

"Well, as it happens I now have some time," she heard him say from behind her, then a cold hand touched her shoulder, "I'm sure you could help fill it."

Ugh.

Disgusting.

She turned to him, "Really? You want to talk to me?" she looked shocked, though inside she was writhing with the need to just stab something through his damn heart.

Where the hell was Jake?

She was sure her 'crazy ex' should have come in by now to distract the guards, while she took him somewhere more private.

She didn't dare look away from Darius to see where he was, she may just give the game away if she started acting suspiciously.

Not that it seemed Darius was all too bright anyway, but the guards surely wouldn't miss it.

"Back off Darius, this one is with me," a voice suddenly cut in from behind her, and it certainly was not Jake's.