"Says the man who was on an assault team of two, and was the only one that breached a building with hostile forces," Solae pointed out gently as she reciprocated the affectionate hug. While she would concede that meeting with Thorne was inherently dangerous, because even Ten could not absolutely guarantee how another criminal might react, she was relatively safe compared to the risks Rene undertook. All she could do was hope and trust that he was capable of overcoming the security detail protecting the girl. They had the element of surprise but were woefully unprepared otherwise. That the soldier only encountered a few lackluster staff members was a relief. The marquise had feared that, though it was exceedingly unlikely, would be housing a small army with her slave.

She deposited a kiss on her paramour's cheek, gave one more tight squeeze of his waist, and then released him before they became more of a spectacle than they already were. Ten was waiting patiently as he reviewed data on his device. Moments before the arrival of the 'knight' he had been gifted the information on his most contentious rival as was promised to him by Solae. After some consideration she had decided he had provided enough aid and proven himself trustworthy enough to merit the disclosures before the ambush. It was a calculated move. She knew that having damning secrets of his self-proclaimed nemesis would whet his appetite to keep pursuing her favor. The broker was an ambitious man. He would not be satisfied with toppling only one competitor. Rosaria was staring at the intimate exchange with open curiosity.

"Who are you?" the youth inquired as she stared at the breathtaking diplomat. Her eyes were narrowed in scrutiny but she did not look either upset nor intimidated, merely perplexed. Rosaria could easily discern that woman was among the aristocracy at least, and Rene's lover, but was puzzled by the intentions and identities of her saviors.

"Please try to refrain divulging more than is necessary," Ten sighed as he lowered his tablet. "If you insist on allowing her the choice to return to Thorne, it's in all our best interest to say as little as possible, at least until you've secured your goal." He was not wrong. Until the girl decided where her liabilities lay it was a huge risk to take her into their trust. She was only fourteen years old, but the teenager was not dim-witted, and she could very well return to her mistress with a treasure true of confidences she had gathered while enjoying their hospitality.

"I'm the mastermind that stole this handsome man's heart," Solae winked as she pulled off her wig. She was still sporting a wig cap under which all her naturally golden hair was well-concealed. To infiltrate the embassy in which the PEA was stationed she had to look as mundane and unremarkable as possible. This necessitated yet another disguise change, this time to a mousy brown wig that was cropped at the chin and smacked of the cold pragmatism that most members of her sex favored when they enlisted. It took very little to situate this new faux mane upon her head.

"Time is of the essence," Ten reminded them.

"If they aren't already firing upon one another they should be soon," Solae agreed, "and there will be more cautious when it begins than after the body count increases. We'll be noticed as not belonging if we wait too long. Will you help me into the body armor?" she asked Rene. He had far more familiarity and would get her into the gear more quickly than if she tried to do it herself.

"Where are you going?" Rosaria asked now that she realized that no one would indulge her desire to know their names.

"Somewhere incredibly dangerous. You'll stay here for now," the marquise explained as Ten gave a look of disapproval. What she was saying in and of itself was not offensive, but he was trying to expedite matters, and he didn't see the point in humoring an adolescent that was irrelevant to their plot at this juncture. "Regardless of what happens you'll be safe," she promised.

"Mistress Thorne will come for me," Rosaria repeated with skepticism about this proclaimed safety.

"Perhaps she will," Solae admitted, "but you probably know that she hid you away from the world. We found you, her secret protege, and stole you away without her knowing we even existed. I am certain Ms. Thorne is furious. Would we have retrieved you if we weren't equally prepared for her retaliation? If we didn't already have the resources to see this through. While we're gone I want you to seriously consider what it is you want. This may be your only chance for many years to make this decision. If you truly wish to follow in Ms. Thorne's footsteps and be her partner, then you can do so, but if you wish to forge your own path, and be your own master, this is your opportunity to seize."

"I'll leave you to it," Ten stated. He was not a voyeur who would stay and watch Solae and Rene change in the empty warehouse. He motioned to Sykes who helped Rosaria back into the delivery van before he joined them both. It was a tight fit but there were not going far; the criminal mastermind had made reservations at a hotel so that he was as well hidden from the erupting violence as was possible. None of them waved good-bye. Quietly the linguist wondered if this parting was so abrupt because none of the departing trio expected them to survive the battle they were about to wade into willingly.