The Day of the Jackal - Part 5

A/N: Finally, Diane is getting much better and is ready to kick some ass again.  She is now focused on finding /that man/ and completing her revenge. Some cracks also start to appear as she's feeling far more than she expected for the Jackal.  It's slowly getting cute. The next chapter would have some well-deserved smut too as well as a return to the flashbacks :p 

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Alex pulled the trigger without thinking twice about it. As soon as his target was at the right place, all he had to do was fire his shot. As usual, his meticulous and carefully executed plan worked like a charm. The target went down, killed with a single bullet he perfectly aimed. He didn't care much about the ruckus it caused; the screams and sirens quickly filled the air as they gathered in one place. He was already gone.  In the plane that took him back to Budapest, the Jackal took the time to think about the past couple of days since Diane saw Dylan Atwater or /that man/. It made his blood boil at the thought that she was frozen in shock upon seeing the man who was responsible for the destruction of her village. 

It wasn't the fact she froze because her reaction was absolutely normal. That man brutalized her in ways that only monsters did. Alex couldn't imagine the pain she went through, the memories that resurfaced and forced her to relive her nightmare. He also could not imagine the impact on her body; it sent him into a rage he couldn't control. Alex curled his fingers into a fist and gritted his teeth. He surprised himself by wanting to go home so he could see her. He /needed/ to see her and hear her voice. He needed to wrap his arms around her frame and keep her close to his heart. He needed to go home... where she was.  

*

Diane had started the day quietly. She took advantage of a couple of days spent without Alex. She didn't want him to see her when she was at her lowest point.  The first day alone, she cried her eyes out. She sat on the floor and beat her chest with her fist until her chest started to bleed from the cuts she made to her skin. She held fistfuls of her coily hair and scratched the skin of her cheek until it reddened. Once she finished losing her mind, Diane stood up, showered, and dressed for the day. She went to work and spent countless hours researching the whereabouts of the journalist who had a smoking gun on the leader of the far-right party in South Africa. His name was Michael C. Connor, a portly 59-year-old veteran journalist and father of two, who made a career exposing corruption in the government.  He had publicly warned that he was going after the Afrikaner Weerstandbeweging and then disappeared from the country.  After intense research, she found out that Michael was close to three other journalists famous for exposing murders and exposing mafias and other gangs. The three journalists were found dead within the first year. "Suicides" or "accidental deaths" were ruled as the cause of death, but Diane knew better. 

They all died within a week, and none of them were suicidal. One had a girlfriend who was expecting his child, and another cared for her sick mother. She was in the process of buying a house, so why would she end her life? It was /that man/'s work. It was a hit job. Diane assumed that if his friends died one after the other, he might be in danger. He probably fled the country with his family and lay low for a while.  She found out that there was no trace of him in South Africa since the year before and decided to keep digging. She saw /that man/ in Budapest, and like she said, he might have had some business there. She decided to look at the most recent deaths that made the news these past couple of months and found out that a Christian Markham, a local reporter, was found dead alongside his wife and two kids. roughly at the same time she crossed paths with him at the market.  She saw the name Markham while reading about Michael Connor. Yes! his wife! Her maiden name was Markham, and Christian was his middle name. It was her guy! She was sure of it!  The news said that he killed his children and wife and later hanged himself, but it seemed unlikely. Why would he go to such lengths if it was to annihilate his family? 

Diane contacted the coroner's office. She needed to have the autopsy reports of the Connor family to confirm her suspicions. One odd detail caught her attention:  Michael C. Connor had industrial tape marks on his wrists.  Diane put her hand on her mouth upon reading it. That son of a bitch couldn't help himself, now could he? he had to torture his target! Upon reading the autopsy reports of the children, she read that the oldest child, a 6-year-old- girl, had been raped and was shot twice. One gunshot wound was on her shoulder blade, and the other gunshot wound was at the small of the back.  Diane forced herself to keep her emotions in check upon reading the reports. Rather than think of the ordeal that little girl went through, she only focused on the evidence of /that man/'s actions. It was him, no doubt about it. He tortured the family in front of his target. He raped the little girl, shot the infant boy in the head and before he could do anything to their mother,  she died of a heart attack. She couldn't stand the sight of such horror.  Then he took care of the journalist, hung him, and staged the crime scene for a murder-suicide. 

Now that could explain why she had crossed paths with him a couple of days ago.  /That man/ killed his target and decided to lay low for a while. With some luck, he would remain in Budapest for a couple more months, which could allow Alex to kill him.  She pinched the bridge of her nose and leaned against her chair. She closed her laptop and ran her hand through her face. There, she had a lead and knew what she had to do. She stood up and went to the kitchen to fetch a tall glass of water.  Just as she was about to drink it, she heard the front door noise. Alex was home! She turned around and grabbed a knife she hid behind her back. He cleared his throat and called her name. 

" Diane! I'm back."

"Alex! I'm in the kitchen!" -She tilted her head to the side and ran her hand through her coily hair. It wasn't an enemy, so she could relax and put her knife back to where it was- "Come when you're ready!"

He made an affirmative noise, allowing the woman to turn around and finish her glass of water. Alex was home, and Diane felt warm in her heart. She could handle being alone and had spent most of her life on her own. It just felt different to have a companion, one she eagerly wanted to spend time with, one... She fell in love with. The thought made her blush and she bit at her bottom lip.  In love? Was she in love? Her heart skipped a beat, and she fanned herself. How could it be? Diane trusted Alex more than she could ever admit. She trusted him with her life, with her revenge. The hitwoman wanted him. She wanted to wake up every morning with him...Yes, Diane! You were in love with Alex and before she could even take a break from her thoughts, she felt a pair of hands hold onto her waist and spin her around so she could face him. 

"You're really back home!" -She put both hands on his cheeks and gave him a sheepish smile- "I have missed you." -She admitted.-

"I've missed you too." -He grinned and pecked her lips.- "On my way home, I couldn't stop thinking about your case.  It bothers me greatly that he's in the same city as you. I want to find him and put a bullet in him asap."

"I know, baby. I know." -She didn't think twice about calling him baby. Usually, it was Alex when she was in a good mood and Charles when she was upset. "Baby" was new, and it was welcomed. She realized she called him Baby and pinched her lips together.  He tilted his head to the side and narrowed his gaze as if it would help him see her better.-

"Can you repeat it?"

"What? That I know?" -She curbed a brow, and he smiled at her-

"No... the other thing. Call me that again." -He couldn't stop smiling-

"Baby? You like that?" -He nodded- "Then, I will call you baby again." -She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he grabbed her ass to help her wrap around his waist- "I said.. I know, baby, I know. I also found the answers to your questions."

"I knew you would." -He admitted while carrying her to the living room- "Care to share with the class?"

"Mmhh mmhhh...." -She kissed his lips and leaned her forehead against his- "You were right, /that man/ was here for a job. He killed the journalist who had a smoking gun on the leader of the far-right party.  I studied the autopsy reports, and I found out that he couldn't help himself. He had to torture the family. That journalist escaped South Africa and sought refuge in Budapest. He lived there for a year, took the name of his wife, and used his middle name. I don't know how his cover blew up, but it did. /That man/ found him and killed him a couple of months ago. I don't know how long he's going to stay here, but if he's anything like the man  I remember, he's laying low for a while."

"Are you saying that there is a chance I can get to him here?" -She nodded and stroked his cheek with her thumb.- "Then we need to figure out how to get to him. Where exactly did you cross paths with him?" -He sat them on the couch, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders-

"The market. He wouldn't go there if he wasn't living nearby. I think we could try and see in a couple of days if he shows up at the market? If he does, we'll follow him and see where he lives."

"We can do that.  I'll wear a disguise just to make sure he won't recognize me. Do you want me to follow him to his home and kill him there?" -She shook her head- "Why not? I can take him."

"He is far stronger than you think. Besides, I want to make sure there would be no one with him. I think we could first make sure he actually lives here and plan his takedown."

"Are you afraid, Di?" -She bit her bottom lip and took a deep breath- "Alright. I won't follow him to his house but I will take notes. We'll figure out what to do once we know more about it. For the time being... What about we spend the day together?" -He kissed her lips again- 

"There is a job I want to take.  The deadline is tomorrow and if I take it, I'll be one late party, but I need to do this. I need to go back to work."

"How about we talk about it after you and I actually spend time together." -He grinned and started to move her hips so she would roll her hips against him. It elicited a moan from her, and she bit her bottom lip-

"Ohhhhhh... Does that mean you want me?"

"I want you, Diane."

"Come again."

"I want you, Diane... unf... I want... I can't wait."

"Fine, baby.... We'll get to it-

-------

-TBC-

The day of the Jackal - Part 4

A/N: We're digging a little deeper into the Jackal and Ghost's relationship and how they came to be. Ghost is still reeling from the sight of the man responsible for her trauma, but she's slowly reclaiming control of herself. There is a job to do! 

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"I've been looking into Dy- into /that man/ yesterday, and I have been successful, somewhat." The Jackal told her as he leaned into his chair and crossed his legs. She nodded and looked down at her coffee cup-

She grabbed her coffee cup and sipped while her hazel eyes stared at him.  She ran her hand through her coily hair and grabbed a fistful of it.  Seeing the man who ruined her life renewed her desire for revenge, and after the good night's sleep she had, Diane was ready to focus on finding that man and killing him. She realized that her agitated sleep might have happened because of suppressed memories. For two years she stopped thinking about that man and what he did to her. For two years, it felt as if she had given up revenge altogether for something better.  

"Shoot!"

"He was always in the background during important meetings of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging. He suddenly stopped appearing in pictures a year ago, and he had never been back there. The leader of the party was not the target because he's still alive and still in power. So, if he wasn't cozying up with that man to kill him, maybe he was hired by him."

"I haven't searched for potential deaths connected to that man. Maybe, if we look into it, the leader of that party hired /that man/ to execute his enemies. I know that some journalists were onto him. Rumours had it that one of them had a smoking gun about that leader, but I haven't followed that lead."

"Would that man take on odd jobs like this? Taking care of a journalist? I thought he was more into bigger missions."

"As long as he can kill, he doesn't care about what type of job it is." -She leaned into her chair and snarled a little.- "I really need to look at odd deaths in South Africa. What bothers me is his presence here. He's usually seen in Africa or South-Asia and rarely in Europe because he knows police might connect the dots more easily and they have more resources."

"MMmhhh..."

The Jackal nodded and ran his hand over his face. He held his chin for a minute, focusing on the last words she had said to him. So /that man/ was a mercenary who enjoyed his job. It wasn't just a means for him to earn money. He was in it for the thrill of killing people. He enjoyed taking lives, and if anything, what he did to Diane was the perfect example of a man who got off of inflicting pain onto others. Toppling governments, crushing rebellions, or killing a single dissident was all the same for him, so how did she know it was his work? How could she tell that a carnage that happened was because of him? He had to know. 

"I have a question, Diane. You said that you could recognize his work from anywhere. How exactly do you do it? What makes you tick when you look at a crime scene that indicates it's his work?"

"What he did to me.... The slashed back with his machete, the two gunshot wounds... It's his signature.  There is always one victim with these wounds... Always.  And when it comes to multiple victims...He needs to make them watch the horrors he's doing to others. You can tell by the way the bodies are placed. He doesn't move them after they're killed. It's always at least one victim who is made to watch and one victim, the one he handpicked, to torture like he did to me."

"He's a sexual sadist... He always signs his crime scenes for all to see. I understand."  -Diane nodded and put both hands on the table. She tapped her fingers against the wooden table and lifted her eye to stare into his blue eyes-  "Diane. I thought about something last night while working on that case. I think you're too traumatized by our target to be able to kill him. You've tried, god knows how many times you've tried to kill him, but every time you do, you freeze on the spot."

"No shit Sherlock!" -She retorted and chewed at her bottom lip- " I'm sorry. I'm lashing out at you like that. It hurts my pride to be unable to kill him. It hurts me deep into my core to be unable to finish that job." She admitted before leaning back into her chair.- "I have to know why you want to help me. It doesn't look like you at all, Jackal."

"Diane..."

"Answer me! Why do you care that much?" -She had to ask, and since this situation forced her to reveal so much about herself, she thought that it was only fair for her to know what truly motivated him.-

"Because I want to."

"It's not enough!" -She hit the table with the palm of her hand-

"Because I like the challenge!" -He replied in a monotonous tone-

"It's not enough!" -She raised her voice and hit the table harder this time-

"Because I want to take him off the streets!" -Bullshit! He didn't believe himself, but he felt cornered-

"It's /not/ enough! Stop giving me bullshit reasons!! Why. Do. You. Care???" -She yelled. both hands hit the table and made a very loud noise that bothered him enough to reply loudly-

"It's for you!" -She blinked. He blinked. He may as well have said he was in love with her, which he didn't do. Not now.- "It makes me sick to think that the man who hurt you can still freely walk the Earth. It makes me sick to see that you're so deeply hurt, and he lives as if it didn't matter! It makes me angry! It makes me vengeful! I cannot find peace as long as he breathes the same air as you.  It makes me sick because it happened to /you/." He took a deep breath, his alabaster skin now red from the pent-up anger that exploded right before her. Diane was speechless....confused even because she couldn't make sense of what he was saying to her. -

It was simple, come to think of it. The Jackal cared about her, and the thought of someone hurting the person he cared about was enough to send him spiraling into an unbridled rage. He wanted to be the one to avenge her, the one to do what she clearly couldn't do herself. He wanted to put /that man/ down like a rabid dog for her. Alex gained nothing from this kill because he offered to help and would never accept her money. Alex had no reputation to build because he already was a big name in the business, and the two of them were already intimate, so it wouldn't be sex. No... He genuinely cared for her, and because he did, he wanted to take away the pain she felt that was embodied by that man.  She felt tears pool in her eyes, and she decided to stand up and close the distance between the two of them. 

"Alexander..." -She whispered his name, her hand slowly cupped his cheeks, and she sat on his lap. He ensnared his arms around her frame and leaned his head against her ample and soft chest- "Thank you." She pressed her plump lips to the top of his head and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.  He cared about her in ways nobody ever did, and the realization that, perhaps, that man was in love with her like she was in love with him hit her like a truck. He was doing this for love. not vanity. not greed... but Love.- "Thank you." She whispered again,  feeling comfortable in his arms. 

Alex enjoyed her body against his and couldn't fight the stir in his loins as she sat on his lap. She could feel him twitch against her, and that elicited a soft moan from her. She wanted his touch and reacted to it without thinking. Her lips peppered his skin with kisses, first his left cheek, then his left ear, then she kissed her way to his forehead while her fingers lost themselves in the luscious reddish-brown locks of his. The Jackal groaned and pulled his head back so he could have a good look at Ghost's face. He wanted more, but he also knew she didn't eat or sleep well, and that took precedence over his own desire. There would always be time for the two of them to have sex, but this morning wasn't the right moment for that. He softened his gaze and sighed deeply to signal that he was going to interrupt the beginning of a hot morning, much to her dismay. Before she could say anything, Diane heard her belly noises. She gently patted Alex's chest and chuckled. 

"No need to tell me anything. I have to eat, shower, and rest today. I'll do my part and research any strange murders here, as well as follow the trail he left in South Africa. I know you have a job in Italy, so don't worry. I'll do my part, and I'll get myself together. You do your job, and when you're back, we'll take it right where we left."

"Is it a promise?" He asked, bemused. She shook her head.-

"No. It's a spoiler. Now go grab your things; I'll handle breakfast." He chuckled and waited for her to get off of him to stand up. - 

She turned around to return to her seat, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards him. Diane's hazel eyes grew wide open, and she bit her bottom lip. Alex gently cupped her cheek and stroked it with his thumb. He then pressed his lips to hers in a good, hard kiss. She moaned into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his waist. The kiss sent a shiver down her spine, and she closed her eyes. 

-----

"What about your wife and Son? Did you find them?" -She asked while running her finger over his chest. Her lips pressed against his nipple- 

"I did." -He closed his eyes and ran his hand through her braids. He held her scalp and started to massage it. "She's no longer my wife, Enora."

"What... happened?" She furrowed her brows. "Did you...?"

"No! No! Not like that. I found Nuria and Carlito and observed them for a month just to know what her new life was like. She had a new man who had welcomed Carlito and loved him like his own son. I saw my wife smile, even laugh. She was happy. My son was taken care of and happy, I didn't feel like... interrupting."

"You? Giving up on Nuria without a fight? I don't believe you. You talked to her, didn't you?" -He clenched his jaw and stroked her cheek with his thumb- 

"I... did. I talked to her. After a while, I couldn't bring myself not to. I needed to hear her say those words."

"Which words?" - She whispered in his ear-

"That she didn't need me anymore. That she had moved on. That she would protect our son and provide him with everything he needed without me. I put their lives in danger with my lies, and I couldn't.... I can't afford to have the life I dreamed of. Not with her. Not with our son."

"Did she tell you?"

"She told me she divorced the man she married and after so long, she realized that she had married a ghost. She loved Charles but hated the Jackal. She loved Charles but realized that she was nothing but a pawn, a cover, or even worse, a lie I told myself. Nuria was harsh but right. I couldn't... make her endure another life with me. She promised she wouldn't say anything because it would compromise their lives, but to her, Charles was dead. I didn't fight her. I couldn't... I couldn't fight her because she was right. I never was Charles Calthrop. I hoped, once, that I could fully embody him one day, but it was a dream out of reach for me."

"So you parted ways.... peacefully?" -Diane curbed a brow, and he nodded-

"I realized that I broke her trust in me, and you don't ever recover from breaking the trust of someone you love.  If they had stayed with me, I know they would have been unhappy. Caring for them would mean that I should make sure they were happy. And they were happy without me. As bad as it hurt me, it was the truth. I set them free, and I disappeared."

"Did you sign those papers?"

"What do you think? I signed them as soon as I got them, and I sent them back to Nuria so she could finalise the divorce. As of today, I am a divorcee." -He bitterly chuckled-

 Ghost leaned her cheek against his chest. He was far more upset at the situation than he let on. Could she blame him? He had genuinely loved Nuria and their son, and losing them hit harder than he expected. Of course, it would hit hard. Deep down, however, she felt reassured to know that he was a single man with no ties that could leave her and break her heart. Selfish? Yes, she was selfish. At this moment in their relationship, Ghost didn't want the Jackal to leave her. She enjoyed his company, far more than she cared to admit. She wanted to spend more time by his side, and she knew that with a family waiting for him, his attention would never fully be on her.  She bit her bottom lip and leaned into his chest a little harder. Why did she feel this relief over this information? She didn't want him to see her face, so she kept it close to his chest. 

"Then you are free to break my heart anyway you please." -She said in a teasing tone.-

"As if I intended to do such a thing. Enora... I am content with the life we're leading right now."

"You can't blame a girl for trying to prepare herself, Charles." -She pressed a kiss to his chest and closed her eyes- "I'll keep you to your word then. to leave Nuria and Carlito alone so they could have a chance at being happy. I'll keep you to your word."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I don't want you to suffer. Going back would hurt you more than anything, and more importantly, it would hurt them more than anything. I'm looking after you, here."

"How generous of you..." He said, giving her a light kiss on top of her head. "I appreciate it."

And he genuinely did. He could tell she was sincere and wanted to protect him from potential heartbreak. Ultimately, she was right about something: his life with Nuria and Carlito was over. He knew best than to hold onto an old dream. Here, in her arms, Alexander Duggan felt comfortable and safe and it was all that mattered for him. 

-TBC-

The Day of the Jackal part 3

A/N: This is quite a terrible part as it explains some of Diane's past. It's quite gruesome and, unfortunately, a reality for so many people. There, you can see why her business became something personal to the Jackal. He is determined to find their enemy and put a bullet in his head. 

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When Diane woke up, she found Alex fully dressed in linen khaki pants and a blue cotton shirt with a plunging neck. He had taken a shower and was ready for the day, which made her question about her own situation. It took her a minute, but she realized that she had fallen asleep right there and couldn't help but sheepishly smile. Wasn't she supposed to help him with her research? He didn't seem upset when he turned around and set his icy blue gaze upon her. 

"Morning, sunshine."

"MMhhhh... I'm sorry I fell as--"

"Don't mention it. Yesterday was quite heavy on you. You needed that sleep. Today, you're well-rested, so you're sharp again. You should tackle that mission with a clear mind and a belly full."

"I have worked under worse conditions, you know?" -She pointed out- "But you're right, I needed to sleep it off. I'm determined to catch that bastard. I also acknowledge that there is no talking you out of helping me." -he smirked and nodded. She was right about it. He wouldn't be talked out of helping her ever again-

----

1 year ago, in London, air B'n'B: 

"I want to see you, Enora.  All of you.- " The Jackal said, almost pleading with her-

"You won't like what you see, Charles..." she sternly claimed. "Nobody can stomach it, not even me."

"Try me!" -He said in a stern voice. 

The Jackal's tone startled  Ghost, who blinked several times. Why did he insist on seeing her naked body in the light? She thought he would be satisfied with having sex in the dark, but apparently, it wasn't enough for him, at least that was what she thought-

"Sit on the bed, then. I'll stand up and turn on the light. I swear to God, Charles, if you ever make me feel like a monster, I'll kill you." -She warned.- 

He couldn't see her but could hear her voice tremble. He knew she was about to cry, and he felt a pang in his heart. He hated the panic in her voice, the quickness with which she stood, and the fact that she was preparing herself to be rejected. Why would he reject her?  She was shaking from head to toe but resolved herself to remain pro-active. She swallowed a lump and turned on the light. He watched her, a side he was familiar with. Her thick legs came first, with a few scars on them. He noticed one on her knee, a deep cut caused by a sharp object. He noticed the other scars on her legs. Bullet wounds on the top of her left thigh. They seemed more recent than the one on her knee. 

He noticed her taut belly,  also bearing scars: a mix of knife and bullet wounds. He could tell that these were recent and almost faded. He then noticed her face. She was defiant, but he could see her shaking. Her lips were still trembling, and she swallowed a lump. His own gaze softened up as he wanted to encourage her to turn around. She took a deep breath, then another, and he watched the scar on her upper lip. He never asked about it, but it became obvious that something sharp cut through her lip, and he wondered when she got that cut. Was it when she was young, or was it the business that caused that scar?   She lowered her head and swiftly turned around. She rested her forehead against the wall and bit at her bottom lip, hard, enough to draw blood to her teeth.

The sight made his heart skip several beats. Her back was covered with scars.  He could tell they were old, given how they blended well with her skin. Something sharp gave her deep cuts; a knife? Maybe something bigger. He could figure out a couple of gunshot wounds, one on her shoulder and the other on her lower back. He also noticed the type of scar that only a body trailed over rubble could do. Had she been trailed over when she was younger? He couldn't quite figure out what had happened to her, but one thing he was certain of was that someone did it to her. Anger, cold-blooded anger, overwhelmed him, and he rose to his feet. He quietly walked towards her and put his hand over one of hers. She was still shivering, and he could feel she was barely standing, so he wrapped his powerful arm around her waist and leaned his chin against her shoulder. 

"I am sorry for what happened to you. All I see is that you've been hurt, and all I feel is anger towards those who hurt you. I am not leaving you, Enora. I am /not/ leaving you." -he kissed her neck and nuzzled at the crook of her neck. The more he was giving her affection, the less she could hold it together, so she leaned into him and slowly slid down the wall so they ended up sitting on the floor.- "I have one question."

"Shoot." -She faintly said. He still didn't let go of her hand, nor did he stop holding onto her waist, which surprised Ghost-

"Are the ones responsible for this dead? If not, I will find the ones who are still alive, and I will kill them myself."

Ghost pinched her lips together, unwilling at first to speak about what she went through. The weight she carried on her shoulders ended up becoming too heavy for her, so the young woman sighed deeply and stopped fighting. The Jackal was the first person to actually stay after they saw her scars. He was the first person to actually hold her and the first to ask about those who were responsible for them. She felt that she could trust him with her burden and share her pain with him. It wouldn't change what happened to her, but she knew she wouldn't be judged if she spoke about it. She could trust him. Couldn't she? 

"I was 8 years old when that happened. I used to live in a very small city, almost a village, in the DRC Congo. I had good parents and a very fun and loving younger brother. I thought that my life would always be good because I was born into a good family. They sent me to school and on Friday, I was allowed to help my aunt at the orphanage she was running. I would do some chores, I would help with the babies... It was a good life. One day, a couple of weeks before I turned 9, our city was attacked. I was at the orphanage with my aunt, so I couldn't figure out what was happening at the time. My aunt tried her best to protect the youngest of the orphans. She hid us in the church's basement, but they found us. When they took us out, I saw the carnage, all the older orphans have been killed, and raped. my aunt was still alive, gravely injured and bound so she could watch her precious children die one after the other. The babies were killed swiftly. The children... Well, some were killed instantly, others were beaten and tortured, and I... I caught the eye of one of them."

She shook harder and started to cry. Jackal's heart twisted in rage. He knew what was to come, and he hated that it had happened to her. Ghost moistened her lips and wiped the snot and tears off her face with the back of her hand. She had to continue telling her story, even if she sounded very stoic and distant from the events she was describing. She had to keep going.  The Jackal remained silent, as he wanted her to keep talking until she couldn't before he said something. He couldn't take the risk to stop her as she was telling the story.

"I tried my best to fight him off, but he was just so strong. He grabbed my arm and took me to the unfinished side of the church. Some of his buddies followed him because they wanted to watch what he was going to do to me. I felt helpless, and I was so shocked, I couldn't even call my parents. I couldn't speak.  He tore my clothes off of me, pushed me on the rubbles on the floor, and raped me. Once I realized he wouldn't listen to my pleas and that my pain was arousing him, I stopped fighting.  I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me in pain anymore, so I remained there, lifeless. That angered him. It angered the other men with him. So he took his knife and he slashed my face. The scar above my lip that goes into my cheek? That was him.  He thought I would give in to him again and that I would scream, but I couldn't. I didn't want to. I cried still, but I made no noise. So he took me harder. He hurt me, but at this point, I was hurting so badly that I didn't care about how rough he was. I wanted to die."

How could he blame her for wanting to die? Anyone would want to if they were in her shoes.  He knew that the story she would tell him would make his blood boil, and it really did. He had a code of some sort; he only killed bad people. He only killed adults. He loathed those who killed, tortured, or assaulted innocent people. Heck, he even killed his own squad for killing innocent wedding-goers! He held onto her tighter and pressed his lips to the top of her head. It gave her some warmth, and she found the strength to keep talking. 

"I prayed that I would just die, but then I realized that my aunt was there and she saw me. She saw the blood between my legs; she saw my naked body violated by this monster. She heard them laugh at me, calling me names, and she couldn't take it, so she managed to grab one of the guns within her reach. They had tied her hands in front of her, which gave her an edge, I guess. She grabbed the gun, shot at the man she took it from, and killed him. That angered the rest of them and the man who was raping me. I watched as they killed my aunt, whose only crime was trying o try and protect me. That sent me into a rage. I wanted to kill them all instead of dying; I wanted them to die. So I looked at their faces, looked at what they were wearing. I wanted to remember everything just in case I survived."

Ghost couldn't stop crying as she told her story. She realized that after keeping her story for so long, speaking the truth felt like taking her first deep breath. In this room, with the jackal, she was at her most vulnerable, but she also felt the safest. 

"And the man who raped me? Well, he couldn't finish if he wasn't killing me, so he turned me around. He took me from behind while he slashed my back with his machete. He cut deep and I felt him cum inside of me as he tore my skin apart with his blade. There was blood everywhere on him.  When he grew tired of slashing me, he withdrew from me and stood up. He grabbed his gun and shot twice at me, just to make sure that I was dead. I didn't move because I needed him to believe I was dead. He didn't even bother to check my face. He simply left.  I waited until  I heard the noise of their truck to painfully stand up and walk my way to the window so I could see the type of truck they drove."

  

The jackal gritted his teeth as she kept talking. His mind was racing since he was trying to keep the details of her story in his mind. He already made a mental note to ask her about the man who assaulted her. He needed to get his name and whatever he could possibly use to track him down. He needed to know what she knew about him in detail so he could help and could kill that man himself. For her. For his selfish desire to see him gone from this planet. 

"It was a military jeep. They were wearing tactical gear, calling each other with military ranks... These guys were, or at least had been, in the military.  I walked to my parents' house, but they were all dead already. I remember I cried and passed out, and only after a couple hours, was I found, still breathing, by the survivors... those who fled to the forest and later came back. I survived by sheer luck and determination. That day, all I wanted was to find these men and kill them. I still had an uncle, the one who found me. He treated me well, made me go back to school, and gave me to his British friends so they could take me to the UK and give me a proper education." 

She didn't have to tell him how she came about becoming Ghost but he acknowledged that she felt the need to tell her story to him. He acknowledged the trust she had in him and planted another kiss on top of her head, mind-absently so.  Unlike him, her past shaped her decision to become a hitman. She got blood on her hands out of revenge and a need to punish the bad guys. Somehow, for someone who claimed she didn't have any humanity, he found out that she was, in fact, far more humane than he thought. 

"I researched, fine-tuned my skills, and learned to become an efficient killer. Once I was ready, I went to see my uncle on his deathbed and promised that those who came to our home and destroyed it would pay for it. He gave me his blessings, and I went to work. One after the other, I found them all. Ex-military turned mercenaries; That's who attacked us.  They first worked for Wagner and then left because they wanted to make more money. One by one, I killed them, and I made sure they knew it was the little girl in that small Congolese town who was cutting their throat. The only one I was able to find but couldn't kill was my rapist. He... Every time I see his face, I just freeze, and I can't shoot. I can't stab... I can't get close to him, so he's been eluding me for years now. I need to find him, and I need to kill him so I can finish what I started, and I can make him pay. Why aren't you disgusted by my scars? Charles? Why are you still here? Why did you want to know?" She ended up sobbing, unable to contain her tears any longer-

"Why would I leave you, Enora? Why would I be disgusted by your scars? I was in the military, and I've been to war. I know the horrors of war. If anything, this is familiar to me. What I want right now, is to find the bastard who did it to you and put a fucking bullet in between his eyes. He would pay for what he did to you and to countless others. He will pay. I swear!" 

He then gently cupped her chin and lifted her head so she could stare at him. She couldn't believe her ears, but she could see that he was genuine. So she nodded and sobbed harder. That night, she wouldn't be able to speak more about what happened to her. She wouldn't be able to talk about /that man/. But she promised him that he would know soon enough. When she's ready to talk again. He put her back to bed and turned off the light to help her fall asleep again. As they found each other under the sheets again, this time Ghost knew that she was safe and the Jackal felt that there was no turning back from then. 

"Alex. My name is Alexander Duggan." -He admitted  as he wrapped his arm around her frame and pulled her into a tight hug.-

"Diane... My real name is Diane."

Indeed... There was no turning back from this.

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The day of the Jackal part 2

A/N: I really took a liking to these characters and this storyline. As you can see, the story isn't linear as I jump from the present to the Past. In this chapter, I'll explore why seeing that man is a big deal for Diane and how it impacts the Jackal.

---------------

"You should get some rest, Diane.  We'll talk about it tomorrow."

" I won't be able to sleep. Let's get some coffee instead." -She yanked her head back and pinched her nose bridge-

The Jackal stood up and walked towards the kitchen. There was no point in arguing with her because she needed to be active. Diane couldn't sleep, and now that he told her that he wanted to kill the man she crossed paths with, they would need to talk about it in detail. He went to the cabinets and took two cups of coffee. He rummaged through the cabinets and realized they lacked coffee, capsules, ground coffee, or even beans. There was some tea, so he turned on the water heater to face Diane. She had followed him and was standing in the middle of the kitchen. Her frame was barely covered by a short grey t-shirt and a pair of black underwear, but he didn't let it distract him. Instead, he watched as she put both hands on her sides. 

"You have to walk me through that encounter. What did you notice?"

"Alex..." she whimpered, biting her bottom lip hard enough to bruise her skin. It's a little foggy right now. I don't have all the details."

"I need to know if he lives here..."

"Alex..."

"I need to make sure he hasn't figured you out." - He was growing impatient and 

"ALEX!" She shouted. Both hands held onto her skin tighter and she shook her head- "Please!... For the love of God, stop!" She then covered her mouth with her warm palm and shook her head. He could see she was still shaking, and he felt his body stiffen at the sight. He hated to see her vulnerable like this. It was unlike her. It was... like a knife being twisted in his guts. He hated it but he didn't move closer to her. She didn't want him to.-

"Fine." That was all he said as he placed the cups on the table and returned to the water heater to pour some into a teapot. As he prepared the tea, Diane pulled a chair toward her and sat on it. The Jackal brought the teapot to the table, and he pulled the chair opposite her and sat on it. "We're running out of coffee, but there's some tea."

"I'm fine with it, " she replied in a soft voice. Leaning her arms on the table, she rolled her head to the side to look at him. He remained silent and observant, waiting for the teapot to be ready so he could pour some into their cups.- "I'm sorry for my outburst. I'm a nervous wreck..." -She admitted and chewed at her bottom lip-

"I know. It's okay."-His blue eyes softened upon staring at her. Diane shrugged and  started to scratch her  cheek- 

"I think he was here for a short time. He wasn't relaxed and kept looking at his watch. I noticed he took a phone call and then left the supermarket." -She then pinched the bridge of her nose with her left hand- "I would look into the files I have on him."

"When was the last time you updated it?"

"Two years ago... A short while after we met in Milan." -She confessed, scratching her cheek again- 

"Why is that?"

"I was... distracted...I was feeling good for a while, and I thought.... I thought I didn't need to enact my revenge. I could hold onto something better."

"What are you saying?" 

"I'm saying /you/ made me feel good. I felt good for the first time in such a long time. I was so happy I thought I could put my past behind me, Alex! That's what I'm saying!" She stared at him and chewed at her bottom lip. His heart skipped a beat as he hadn't expected her to speak about her feelings so clearly. He could feel his heart fluster and his cheeks turn red, but he didn't flinch. She kept talking to refocus their conversation- "So... I haven't updated the file for this long, but I'm sure we can find his whereabouts if we pick up where I left it."

"What was he up to?" -She leaned further into her  chair- 

"Last time I found him, he was in South Africa. He was cozying up with the leader of the far-right party there. I knew because I was working a job in South Africa and after a couple years of absence, he resurfaced in the country.  He always goes on a hiatus after his jobs to cover his tracks and cut all the loose ends of his last jobs. He never gets satisfied with just giving advice... He always liked to get his hands dirty that was one of the ways I could track him. I know his work."

"How would you proceed if you were tracking him down?" -he asked, trying to make her focus on something practical. She furrowed her brows for a moment; the little crease on her forehead suggested she was genuinely thinking about his question. How would she do it if she was alone?-

" Now that I know he's in the country, I would first search for him in South Africa. See what his job was there. See if I can find him in pictures like I did last time. Is he still buddies with the president of that far-right party, or was that man his target? Then, from there, if he's left South Africa for good, I would look into the big cases of the last years. I know his work; I would recognize it anywhere. I'll look into suspicious deaths or perhaps massacres. I'll look at the victim profiles and then search for testimonies. He never works alone. He is a mercenary, but he has a squad of faithful men who would follow him anywhere, including hell." -She took a deep breath and tilted her head to the side- "I'll also look into Budapest's recent crimes. Perhaps he came here for a job."

"It may be fruitless, but at least this is a start. I need to have access to your files Diane." -She pinched her lips together and nodded- " I'll look into South Africa. You can check for any recent crime here."

He outstretched his hand, waiting for Diane to give him her files. She always kept it around her neck, in a makeshift necklace of some sort. Her hazel eyes stared at him, and she pulled on her USB key and broke her necklace. She handed the USB key to him, and the Jackal nodded quietly. He knew it was asking a lot from her, and it was a testament to her trust in him. She pinched her lips together, and once he took the USB key, she slouched back into her seat.  There was relief on her face, he could tell. It was as if she was breathing for the first time in a long time. 

He left the kitchen for a moment and allowed Diane some space for herself. She covered her mouth with her warm palm and cried into it. Her body moved back and forth as she was furiously trying to keep the Jackal from seeing her in such a vulnerable state. Heck! She didn't want to feel vulnerable like that again, but meeting that man still made her react the same way. She froze and was unable to do anything but watch that man as he went about his day. She felt as helpless as she had been all those years ago, and panic mixed with anguish and disgust took over her. She cried into her hand, and despite her best efforts, Alex could hear her. He knew what was going on but he also knew it was best not to intervene and let Diane cry it out. What it did, however, was cover his skin with goosebumps and make him angry. 

Yes, he was angry. Angry at the man for what he did to Diane. Angry at the horrors she and countless other children were forced to endure at the hands of adults. He was angry but also determined to find that man and put a bullet in his head himself. He would do it for Diane. he would do it for himself as well. Her enemy was now his, and he would stop at nothing until he was sure that man was dead.  He started his research and after a while, as the sun had risen, he heard no more noise coming from the kitchen. He decided to check in on Diane, and upon entering the kitchen again, he saw her sleeping body. She fell asleep there, her head resting comfortably between her arms. So, he decided against waking her up and went to the bathroom to grab a bathrobe he could wrap around her frame. They would talk about what he found when she woke up. 

---

-TBC-

The Day of the Jackal: Part 1

A/N: Time jump of 2 years after the event of season 1. The Jackal has moved on from his life with Nuria and Carlito. He is in a new relationship with an old acquaintance, and her past is returning to bite them. Would they spiral? Would they fix the issue? We’ll see.

---------------

"Diane?" -The Jackal's soft voice echoed in the room as he felt a shift in the bed they were sharing-

She hummed her response and sat on the bed. The faint moonlight pierced the room, helping him guess her frame. His intense blue eyes stared at her form. He could only see her back from where he was. Diane didn't move from her spot, and he could hear her breathing get faster as if she were becoming uncomfortable. She tried to control her breathing and curled her fingers around the sheets. 

 

"Alex....He's in the city. I saw him yesterday while grocery shopping..."

"Are you alright?" -In one swift motion, the Jackal stood up and circled around the bed to face Diane. She chewed at her bottom lip and shook her head. No. She wasn't alright at all. He could feel her body shake as she was trying to collect herself. The hitman cupped her cheek and gently stroked it with his thumb, and Diane leaned into his hand.- "Obviously, you're not. Did he see you?"

"No. He didn't. I froze on the spot." -She closed her eyes, and tears rolled over her soft cheeks.-

 Her hand wrapped around his wrist gently, and he cupped her other cheek with his other hand. Diane had rarely lost her composure like that, and it was unnerving, to say the least of the emotions that crossed his mind. He was furious; his anger was bubbling under the surface of his soft eyes. He knew why she was afraid of that man and he hated the fact that it had happened to her. His icy blue eyes averted from her lips to her eyes, and he steadied her head, so the only thing she could do was look into his eyes. 

"I know you're frustrated but you shouldn't be upset at yourself for reacting the way you did. This man hurt you, Diane." -She tried to push him away but he held onto her hands with his- 

"No!" -She whimpered, the strength leaving her arms the more she struggled against him- "No!" -She bit back a sob and dropped her head- "No!... Alex...."-She whimpered again- "I would never be able to heal as long as he's alive.-

"I'll do it." -She shook her head- "I'll do it, Diane!" -She lifted her head to look at his face, her hazel eyes were wide open and while they were still in the dark, he could tell how tense she was.- "I'll do it for free! Don't you dare think about paying me for this job!" -He warned her calmly. Diane swallowed a lump and crossed her legs on the bed. She put her hands on her lap, her wrists exposed to him. She conceded.-

"Let me help you. I can't get close to that man, but... I can help you."

----

Milan, 2 years ago, Caffetaria Rocca.

"Is Enora your real name?"

"Are you seriously asking me this, /Charles/?"  -She lifted a brow and grabbed her cup of coffee-

"Do I look like I am joking?" He asked, shaking his head. "I've looked into you." -She grinned-

"Have you? Seems like we share the same mind then... /Charles/" -He flinched and clenched his jaw. He hated the way she sarcastically said his fake name. It irritated him so much that he couldn't stop himself from clenching his jaw. She laughed a hearty and genuine laugh that disarmed the Jackal. He liked it. Far more than he wanted to admit to himself- "I'm not new in the game. I know it's not your real name just like Enora isn't mine. I do like Enora, though,  and I like the way it sounds in your mouth." -He blushed and cracked his knuckles, betraying his lack of focus.-

"Touché! So, you've tried to look into me and what did you find?"

"As much as what you found about me. Let me tell you. You guessed my birth country right because of my faint accent. Probably figured out that I was an orphan of war. But nothing until I entered the game. You know about Ghost's exploits. You know what I'm capable of, and you know that I have principles but aside from that, you don't know shit about me. Am I right?" -She kept grinning and mind-absently started to stroke the rim of her cup-

"You guessed right. I don't have much info about you, and I can't be at fault for that." -He grabbed his cup of coffee and took a sip. She still looked amused by the whole situation, which, strangely enough, started to get to him as well.- "Give me your best shot. what did you find about me?"

"You're British. No matter how hard you try to hide it, you can't shake it off completely. Given your skills, I'd say you were ex-military.  I've followed your trail during the whole River affair, and I've noticed you really liked Spain." -He flinched again. She's cunning!-

It reminded him of Bianca Pullman and her deduction skills that took her to Spain as well, as to his family. What family? Nuria had left him and as he found out, she had moved on from him completely. Carlito was too young to remember his father, and he embraced Nuria's new fiancé as his own. The Jackal thought about tearing this new family apart. He wanted his wife bac,k but what stopped him was seeing her relaxed and happy. She did find an honest man who genuinely loved her and treated Carlito as his own. Didn't she deserve peace? Didn't she? Didn't he? Ghost's smirk was distraction,g and he couldn't help but focus on her soft and plump lips-

"What of it?"

"You tried to escape this life when you were in Spain. I understand that. What use would we have of the money we get from our jobs if we didn't live to the fullest? You had a family there. A wife and child... A brother-in-law who forced your hand and had you reveal your location to those who really paid attention. Yet, since the hit on UDC, you've never been back to Spain."

"I have no family. I thought I could have one, and I tried, but it failed." -He honestly answered. It took her aback, and she blushed. He watched as she blinked several times and pinched her lips together. She was flustered, and that gave him an edge, so he bent forward, invading her personal space-"So you've been looking into me, and you nailed it. Impressive!"

"Relax, Charles. My investigation led me to believe that you did something so foul that your government erased your existence from the world." -She had a knack for making him tense up, especially when her voice went lower rather than higher and became almost like a purr. Distracting!- 

"Is this the same with you? Why did you pick up the codename Ghost?" -She swallowed a lump and gave him a crooked smile. Why did he care so much about the reasons she picked her nickname? Her hazel eyes set upon his face.-

"This is all that is left of me in this world. I am but a ghost with no past, no present, and no future." She confidently claimed before she leaned into her chair- " I have a question of my own now, Jackal." She said, taking another sip of her coffee before she put the cup back on the table. He narrowed his gaze and lifted a brow-

"Shoot."

"Did we meet by chance or did you do it by design?" -His icy blue eyes stared at her gorgeous face.- 

He didn't say anything but leaned back into his chair. Why did he seek Ghost? Why did he go out of his way to meet with her? He couldn't admit it, but he had been intrigued with her work. Unlike Jackal, Ghost kills her targets up close and personally. She was a master of her craft, swift and efficient and he wanted to talk with her about their craft. No. It wasn't true. He was obsessed with her. What started like a simple research project turned into a bona fide obsession with her. He couldn't say it out loud. He couldn't answer her. His heartbeat started to go faster as his eyes averted from her lips to her eyes.  Ghost was a beautiful woman. He liked her hazel eyes, stern and calculating. He liked that she was staring at him, in an attempt to decipher the mystery that the Jackal was. He liked that she was staring at /him/ and no one else.  He loved her plump lips and the nice curves of her larger nose. He loved her smile and the whiteness of her teeth contrasting with her black skin and pink lips. focus! Jackal! Focus! 

---

-TBC-