The Way to Eden

Jeff pushed through the crowd, eager to grab his bag from the luggage claim belt so he could get home. Sin was meeting him today and he had to make sure the house was presentable. He was still feeling a little guilty for cutting Matt off earlier, but he knew he was just about to get another 'Sin lecture' and it wouldn't be pleasant. He would make it up to him when Matt got home. Grabbing his bag he raced out to the parking garage for his car. He hoped Sin wouldn't be waiting for him on his front porch. While he was anxious to see her, he didn't want her to think he was intentionally keeping her waiting.

When he pulled into his driveway, he noted with relief that she hadn't yet arrived. Blowing out a relieved breath, he quickly moved himself and his baggage into the house. Liger, his dog, went nuts when he heard Jeff was home and came bounding over to greet him. Normally, Jeff would laugh and play with his canine friend for a half hour or so to help him release all of the pent up energy. But today he didn't have the time and gave the dog an apologetic ear rub instead before moving on into the house. He set to work neatening the place up before his guest arrived.

He was just plumping up the last pillow on his couch when the doorbell chimed. Grinning, he made his way over and held back an excited Liger as he opened it for the tall woman who stood outside. She smiled back a little timidly as she took in the scene before her. Jeff grabbed one of her bags in one hand while he carried the wiggling dog in the other. Given no other option, Sin followed him inside.

"Welcome ta my home," he said when he set Liger down and placed her bag in the kitchen. The dog paced in front of them panting from his recent exertion.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

Jeff watched her closely as she looked around the room curiously. She was very different out of costume and, hopefully, out of character. She pulled her long ebony hair back in a rubber band, the pink streak hardly visible now. She'd traveled in jeans and a plain white t-shirt, and lightly. She held a small bag and the other one Jeff had carried seemed to weigh almost nothing.

"Ya hungry?"

"Not really, thank you."

She was very polite, too. Jeff supposed the man who raised her probably didn't take to mouthing off much. He frowned at the thought then noticed her questioning expression.

"Sorry," he smiled again. "I's nothin'. I was jus' thinkin' 'bout my brotha's phone call earlier."

"Is he all right?"

"Fine," he waved it off. "Jus' mad at me as usual. Ya wanna tour?"

Her face went ashen for a moment and she shook her head vigorously. "Maybe later," she said. Jeff made a mental note to question her about it when she was more settled.

"I'll jus' show ya yo' room, then," he said trying to make her feel more comfortable. "Then ya can rest fo' a bit. Ya mus' be tired drivin' all that way."

"How did you know I drove?" she asked.

"Yo' rental's got Florida tags," he grinned.

"Oh," she said, face flushing.

He picked up the bag he had earlier and held his hand out for her other bag. She shook her head, indicating she would carry it. Nodding, he led the way upstairs to a room down the hall from his own and showed her inside. He gave him an odd expression as she passed him through the doorway.

"I'm staying in another room?" she asked after a moment.

"That a problem?" he returned. He knew she would think he'd want something from her. Now he just had to explain why that wasn't the case. He knew she'd find it difficult to understand.

"No . . . just . . .I," she stammered. Words were failing her and he waited in amusement for her to stop before he broke in.

"I'm not one o' them," he said quietly.

"One of who?" she asked in confusion.

"One o' those people who wantcha ta do somethin' befo' I'll help ya," he sighed. "I like ya. A lot, girl. But I'm not gonna take advantage of ya. If somethin' develops between us, it'll be 'cause ya want it to, not 'cause ya wanna repay me."

She stared at him disbelievingly for a long time and Jeff couldn't figure out what she was thinking and he hoped she wasn't backing out now. Licking his lips unconsciously, he waited for her response.

"I thought . . ." she started. "I thought you would want . . ."

"Oh, I definitely wantcha ya," he grinned. "I ain't gonna lie. But I wantcha ta want me, too. I'm selfish tha' way."

She was still staring at him. Then, miraculously, she returned his grin. "Thank you, Jeff," she whispered, closing the distance between them and him a small hug.

"Jus' come down when yaw ready ta eat," Jeff answered squeezing her for a minute before letting her go and leaving the room.

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Eden watched him close the door behind him and released the breath she was holding. She looked around her again with a mixture of wonder and dread. She knew Henry expected Jeff to be dead tonight but she didn't know how she was going to be able to do it. He was being incredibly sweet to her. She'd been hoping that he would ask her to sleep with him. That would have fueled her rage and aided her in completing the task ahead of her. But instead he'd told her he wouldn't ask that of her.

No one had ever done anything for her in the past without asking for something in return. Samuel had saved her from the clutches of a ruthless drug dealer but demanded she give up any dreams she may have had to become the premier fighter she was today. Sergei gave her a job and expected her to thrill the audience by maiming her opponents. She'd been waiting for Jeff to come up with a demand of his own. Yet, he hadn't. Is this what Rio experienced when she met the complex daredevil? Eden couldn't know for sure, but she suspected it was similar.

But her doubts had to take a backseat to her job. She'd been contracted and paid to fulfill an obligation and her trainer expected no less. Samuel had raised her to be like him and he would be very disappointed in her if he could read her mind now. She would have to find a way around her misgivings and kill Jeff. But she couldn't do it the way Henry envisioned. She just couldn't look the man in the eye while she slit his throat. It was too much. The bile in her stomach began to rise as she mentally conjured the image.

She would need to wait until nightfall. That was for certain. She knew she could sneak into his room while he slept. Samuel had been thorough in his training. She winced as she recalled the times he'd whipped her when she failed. After the first few times, she'd learned quickly to move without making sound. Perhaps if she rendered Jeff unconscious she would find the mission easier to complete. She could knock him out with one clip to the head, then finish the job and leave quickly.

It would have to be quick. If she allowed herself any hesitation she would fail. And Samuel would come for her. She knew that he would kill both Jeff and herself if she made him do that. And he wouldn't be quick about either. Eden knew Samuel was a cruel man when he wanted to be. She knew from experience.

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The phone rang as Jeff pulled a large frozen pizza out of the oven. He quickly laid it on the cutting board and closed the oven before grabbing the phone.

"'Lo?"

"Hey, Jeff!" Tara's bright voice greeted him. "How's it going?"

"Ri?" he laughed. "I's cool 'ere. 'Ow's th' autograph session goin'?"

"No idea," she chuckled. "I left them to their own devices and went shopping. You know I can't get used to watching hordes of women drooling over my husband. This way is best for all concerned."

"I see," he replied. "Ya gonna bring me somethin'?"

"Of course!"

"I love it when ya spen' my bes' frien's money on me," he teased.

"Hey, I still have plenty of Rio money left over," she growled. "I don't need a sugar daddy."

"I wasn't insinuatin' ya did."

"Uh huh."

"Ya callin' ta check up on me, ain'tcha?"

"Not specifically," she sang. "But now that I'm talking to you . . ."

"I'm fine, baby."

"I know," she sighed. "I can worry if I want to. You can't stop me."

"I know," he smiled. "When ya comin' home?"

"Maybe sooner than expected," she said mysteriously. "Like I said, hordes of women."

"It cain' be THAT bad," Jeff barked with laughter.

"Says you."

"Well, bring me somethin' nice."

"I always do."

"Go back ta yo' shoppin'."

"You take care of yourself," she said warningly.

"I always do."

"Hmph," she said. "Bye, Jeff."

"Bye, Ri."

He chuckled as he hung up the phone.

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Eden tipped toed back up the stairs and returned to her room silently. She didn't want Jeff to know she'd heard. Well at least she could now confirm that Rio, also known as Tara, was most definitely on the opposite coast shopping her way around California.

She had mixed feelings about the silver fighter now that she was getting to know Jeff. Doubtless, Rio was in much the same quandary about her life as Eden when Jeff and his friends waltzed in and took it over. It was easy to see how she might have wanted to leave Henry's club for them. Jeff seemed so protective and comforting. Something Eden had never had in her life before.

Too bad he would never get to see the gift Rio was buying him. Eden's heart sank again guiltily. She had to pull herself together before she blew everything. Samuel wouldn't like that at all.

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Tara pressed the 'off' button on her phone and clipped it back to her belt. She felt a little guilty for misleading Jeff, but it was necessary to save his life. She'd come home before both Jeff and Sin had arrived to prepare herself for what was apparently the inevitable. She'd hidden close by and watched as Jeff came home. An hour later, Sin arrived on his doorstep. Tara's blood almost boiled over when she swathe woman boldly survey the landscaping of the house before ringing the bell. No doubt she was assessing the fastest possible escape.

Well, she would never get the chance to come that close. Tara knew Jeff's patterns and positioned herself at the basement window. She had to enter the house before he turned the alarm on for the night, which would be soon. She found the loose panel and tugged lightly, feeling it open. She slipped inside and shut it. The setting sun glittered off her silver-painted arm.