took in a deep breath. “I’ve heard the screams echoing from the vents. How I’ve remained hidden this long is beyond me… and I feel so powerless to stop him in fear of putting Jane at risk.”

“Above all else, L’uomo Rosso prides himself on never getting involved with the *dirty* part of the business. On paper that is. Only few can tell you that he’s responsible for many agents — all different agency’s — going missing or even their deaths. He doesn’t kill them himself but —“

Charlotte ++

Charlotte turned her head away. “Perhaps I hoped this could end without taking the life of my child’s father. But you’re right, such thought is mere delusion.”

She sighed and looked back at him again. “My help? What can I do.” Charlie said firmly.

name. I’ll scrub my prints and any pictures he has of me before I leave. AISI will provide a location for me to live safely with my daughter.”

“I know. It was never suppose to -.” She shook her head.

“I was suppose to rise up in his organization, not seduce him. Yet somehow I ended up his wife and mother of his child.” Charlotte crossed her arms.

“The only way to make a clean break is for him to get locked away. He doesn’t know my real +

If he’s faked his death and I expose myself as AISI, he will try to hurt her to get to me.”

“The mission was to get close to L’uomo Rosso. Trouble is, I got closer than expected. I somehow ended up married to the worst criminal in all of Italy.” Her brows furrowed.

“It’ll look suspicious if I try to leave now that he’s “dead.” And there’s incentive for me to stay — my daughter, Jane. ++

because it was too risky.”

She shook her head. “If L’uomo Rosso’s organization picked up on me at the bar, my life would be in danger. I couldn’t risk simply clueing you in in such a public place.”

“No.” She said firmly. “The gentlemen who walked in to retrieve me work for L’uomo Rosso.”

Charlotte closed her ID. “L’uomo Rosso is my husband. He’s not dead, I can assure you. I can also assure you that I’ve no idea where he is. I’ve been deep undercover for years — had to drop contact with HQ ++

footsteps. She pulled out an ID. “Charlotte Watson, AISI, Italian Intelligence. Deep undercover.”

Later that night, Charlotte waited for James to arrive.

If her husband had faked his death, could it be he suspected something of Charlie?

She was no longer a blonde — now sporting her natural red hair color. “You came by at an inopportune time, Agent Bond.”

Charlie looked up when she heard his +

down.

She puts it under the champagne glass and pushes it closer to him.

“There you are, Madam. You were expected back at the estate hours ago. We have the will reading today.”

“Yes of course, how silly of me.” Her eyes gesture for James to look at the paper when she leaves.

Charlotte raised the second glass to her lips. “He’s still alive.”

She said, glancing at him while sipping the champagne. As she said this, two people came into the bar.

“Like I said, he’s dead so you’ll have to look somewhere else for answers, sir.” Charlie pulls out a pen and writes something ++

“Oh?” She smirked softly.

Charlotte found it lucky that the bar was mostly empty. “Martini, fine choice.” She finishes the first glass of champagne.

“You wouldn’t happen to be here in regards to L’uomo Rosso? Notorious Italian crime boss.”

glass.

Charlotte offered him the second glass, now with champagne within.

“Buonasera,” Charlotte responded in turn. “No, you may sit.” After being in deep cover for so many years, she’d started to have a natural accent but one could still deduce she was not from Italy if they listened properly.

“What brings you here to Italy?” She gestured the waiter to bring another ++

sip it slowly. She can’t afford to be caught with her guard down.

Charlotte then glanced over at Bond again, raising her glass in gratitude.

Charlotte’s head turns toward where the waiter had gestured. “Grazie,”

She was no ordinary woman, no. In fact, Charlotte Watson was deep undercover for AISI, an Italian Intelligence Agency.

Charlie slowly swirled the champagne around.

Her ruby lips press against the glass and she starts to ++

The woman raised her brow. “L’uomo in Nero?” He didn’t look like a gangster, more like someone who’d take them down. “Polizia?”