12 He is mine

Sofie and Philip were arguing when the perimeter alarm went off. Someone was coming and the calm and collected Philip was frightened. He knew who it was and Sofie could not tell whether he was afraid for his or her safety.

"How much time do we have?" Philip's voice sounded clipped as his eyes darted along the tree line.

"About two minutes. Why are you so concerned?"

"I told you Elandra is dangerous. If they suspect I am gone…" He closed his eyes for a second to collect his thoughts. "Let's not get into this. Help me pack this up."

He hastily stuffed the half-eaten cheese platter into the basket and pushed the blanket on top before gesturing for Sofie to collect the lanterns.

"Hurry up!" His tone had become sharp. "Where is he coming from?"

"From over there." Sofie pointed towards the forest path, leading to one of Elandra's fences. "But Philip, I don't understand, why is..."

"And this is not the time to explain", he grabbed her arm to make her look at him, "I'll distract him so you can get away. Your car is nearby, yes?"

"Yes, but it's right where he's coming from. He could have seen it."

"Damit!"

He raked both hands through his hair and started pacing.

Seeing Philip lose his cool made cold shivers run up her spine. They were in danger.

"Is the car traceable to you?"

"No."

It was a rental. She got it under a false ID and paid in cash.

"Ditch it and get a ride from the highway."

"Are you serious?"

Hitchhiking from a deserted country highway in the middle of the night. How could he even suggest that?

"Trust me, it is safer than running into them. You still have your taser, right?"

Sofie grabbed his arm, the seriousness of the situation had well and truly sunken in.

"Philip, will you be alright?"

When he did not reply she added, "come with me. Away from all of this... I know I haven't been open with you, but..."

"Sofie…", he sounded calmer, "I can't come with you. And you must go now. Please."

There was nothing else to say. He has made his decision and now was not the time to argue. With a curt nod, she stepped into the woods. The dense forest wrapped itself around her like a blanket of shadows, hiding her from the brightly lit meadow. The thick underwood caught in her hair and teared at her clothes. With every step twigs snapped and leaves rattled. This is too noisy. She glanced back at Philip. He shook his head.

"Stay hidden", he mouthed and returned to the middle of the meadow.

"There you are!"

A man dressed in black combat uniform stepped onto the meadow. His clenched jaw made his angular face hollow and corded. His nose looked like it had been broken several times and never quite healed. This was a man who lived and breathed physical conflict.

He drew his gun and pointed it at Philip. Sofie pressed her hand over her mouth to silence a gasp. How can he treat one of their own like that?

"Why is your gun pointed at me?" Phillip asked with surprising casualty.

"Because I won't have any of your fucking mindgames, Primo."

Despite his crude and intimidating demeanor the guard's whole body was tense. He was afraid of Philip. "I won't end like Yates. He is still in the loony bin."

"Yates has a mental illness. It has nothing to do with what I said to him." Philip smirked. "And if it did, a gun would not help you, so put it away."

"Just shut your mouth and put your hands behind your head."

The guard lifted his wrist to speak into his radio.

"Eagle1. I got Primo. He is in Delta 3. Search the area. Out."

"That's not necessary. I was just going for a walk."

"At night?"

"Yes. Your rules, remember? I cannot be near the fences by day in case there are hikers around." Philip scratched the back of his head, "Look, I needed to get out. Take a proper hike, you know? Not just the 15 min from one fence to the other. It was foolish of me, Brent. I'm sorry. Let's get back to Elandra and grab a beer together. Yeah?"

Brent's expressions softened. He searched Philip's face for the truth. "Yeah, all right. You are buying, though."

Philip's magic knew no boundaries. We are all just people in the end. Except for Philip. He was a chameleon, able to perfectly adjust to the situation at hand. Make anyone feel valued.

The guard lowered his gun and Sofie breathed a sigh of relief, when the radio suddenly croaked.

"Eagle2. We found a car. Engine's cold. It's been here for a couple of hours. Out."

"You rat!" Brent spat, pointing his gun back at Philip. "Who did you meet?"

"No one." Philip's brows furrowed, like this was a far-fetched idea. "How would I even talk to anyone outside? You monitor my calls."

Brent flashed him a toothy grin. He was not going to buy his lies a second time.

"Eagle1, I want the woods around the meadow searched. Thoroughly. Out."

"That's really not necessary, the car could..."

"I say what's necessary", Brent shouted.

"C'mon Brent. I wouldn't..."

"I had it. You will address me with the proper honorifics."

The guard's veins throbbed at his forehead. With the back of his gloved hand he slapped Philip across the face. Sofie clenched her teeth at the loud smack of leather hitting skin. Philip's head snapped to the side. A dark cloud rolled over his eyes as he wiped his lip.

"Need I remind you, Sergeant," Philip said holding up his bloodied hand, "that Elandra will not take it lightly if you make me unfit for work."

"You think you are such a hotshot, aren't you?" Brent's nostrils flared. "The notorious Philip. The star of Elandra. Well guess what, Primo, they were discussing whether to terminate you. That's how much they value you."

The color drained from Philip's face.

"That's ridiculous. I was gone for less than 3 hours."

"Elandra's top asset went AWOL. Every minute counts when minimizing the damage," Brent explained as if to a disobedient schoolboy. "And you walking free? It's a liability to us; we don't risk that for long."

Brent stepped closer. He was half a head larger than Philip and his bulk towered over him.

"Why the ladies tell you all that stuff is beyond me." He trailed the barrel of his gun along Philip's cheek, as if to caress him. "Especially, since they all regret it afterwards and frantically call us to sort it out." The guard grabbed Philip's shoulders and tapped his gun to Philip's cheek at every word. "Yet. They. Keep. Feeding. You. Filling that pretty little head of yours with information".

"I signed non-disclosure agreements. I'm not a risk."

The guard laughed menacingly. He was in control now and he enjoyed it.

"Oh? I can think of ways to motivate someone to talk. No contract in the world would keep them silent."

He let the cruelty of his statement sink in.

"Primo," the guard's voice had turned to a dangerous rumble, "you don't seem to understand how whores are treated in the real world."

He pressed the gun against Philips' forehead.

"I think I'll show you. Right now." A sleazy snarl curved his lips. "On your knees, Primo".

"What about my mind tricks?" said Philip defeated as he sank to his knees in front of the guard.

"You won't be able to talk when you choke on my dick, will you?"

Sofie reeled at the guard's crude language and callus demeanor. Was there nothing she could do to save Philip from this brute?

Brent unzipped his fly and dug one-handedly into his pants. He was standing with his back to Sofie. But judging from Philip's dismayed expression the guard had managed to ready himself while still pointing the gun at Philip. Sofie's stomach flipped.

The guard grabbed a handful of Philip's blond hair and forced his face closer.

"And the squat?" Philip gasped. "What if they find us? They are still searching the woods."

The guard stopped his assault and fumbled for the radio.

"Eagle1." His voice sounded breathless. "Stand down. Return to base. Confirm. Out."

The radio stayed silent for a second.

"Eagle2. Everything ok, Serg? Out."

"Eagle1. Follow your orders, Eagle2. Out."

"Eagle2. Returning to base. Out."

Brent switched off the radio.

"There, no one will interrupt us." The guard licked his lips in anticipation. "Now, open your mouth for me."

"Careful Sergeant." Philip's voice had changed. There was an authority in it that a man on his knees should not have. "You might be able to do this to me out here. But back at Elandra, I am out of your reach. I am your Primo. You'll see me everyday. Think about how good my mouth felt on you. Never to have it again. Is that what you want? Have your mind poisoned like that?" He paused before adding, "what do you think Yates did?"

A frustrated yelp emanated from the guard's throat as his eyes protruded and his jaw muscles pulsed.

"You manipulative, rat. That's not ..."

"We are done here," Philip cut him off and got up from his knees.

The guard breathed through his teeth. He slammed the handle of his gun into Philip's face and a sickening crack echoed down the meadow as blood gushed from Philip's nose.

"There. Now, you won't be able to work. And that's all your fault."

A half-smile crept into Philip's face as his eyes trailed over the tree line where Sofie was standing.

"Yes, my calendar will be wide open for the next week. Maybe a select client will take up the opportunity."

"Oh, you are happy about that?" Rage made Brent's voice vibrate. "With that attitude you won't stay Primo for long. And when they kick you out, I'll be there. Waiting. Ready." He fletched his teeth in a desperate attempt to match Philip's confidence.

"Until then, Brent. Walk me back, will you?"

Sofie took a deep breath as the two men disappeared into the forest. Philip had been playing with fire. At least that's how it looked to her, although she had to admit that Philip got the exact outcome he wanted. So he had more than just reacted to the situation. He had manipulated it. Seducing the guard to abandon his mission. Making him call off his search team. That was skill, even if Philip had to take a beating for it. For her. Or had that been part of his plan too? After all, she heard the invitation loud and clear for her to book him while he healed up.

I'm not doing that though. This time, she would not take him up on the invitation. Philip could not always get what he wanted. Instead, she was going to get him out of Elandra, she decided. That place was toxic, whether he could see it or not. And his London date with Ms Hunt was the perfect opportunity.

'He is mine.' That's what she would tell Ms Hunt. And Sofie could not wait to see her face, when she did.