I tucked it in and he asked if I was ready.“For what?” I asked.He loved to be teased, but tonight the tables were turned and he was doing the teas...ing. He grinned and I pushed my chair away from the mirror and switched out the lights. He escorted me to his car and drove us to his favorite Café.Mason cajoled me into undoing the top button of my shirt after a young waiter had dropped a tray of drinks ogling me. Mason’s eyes gleamed with excitement. It was all part of his game. I smiled and walked. “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have done that…” His apology went on, but Anna wasn’t listening. Her lips felt blazing hot and she knew only he could put out the fire. She wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him into another kiss; it would have been soft, if only she hadn’t started to make those little whimpering noises. George couldn’t contain himself; he kissed her more forcefully, his hands wondering slowly along her sides though his mouth was moving much quicker. Anna’s whimpers became. Presumed dead. Most likely tortured like the three petty officers. What had he been thinking, letting Tony go undercover like that? Even if Vance made the rules, Gibbs should have vetoed it. But his gut hadn't so much as twitched or whimpered.They'd lost contact with him three days ago, the surveillance equipment, his phone GPS and the tracking device in his necklace and ring all going dead. Now he was at the mercy of "The Carver" a serial killer who had killed Petty Officers Martin, Yeates,. That night, Kevin went to see the Empress to express his gratitude. Empress Clara was in her bedroom, relaxing. She had been sleeping alone in her bed since the death of her emperor husband had died. She was in her silkiest one-shoulder toga dress when she heard a knock on the door."Who is knocking on my door?" Empress Clara gently shouted."It is Kevin." He said."You may come in." Clara said as Kevin entered her bedroom."Empress Clara, I come bearing a gift to you." Kevin said as he bowed to.