La tabla Giovanni (samuel)

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

She had butterflies not just because she was waiting for news but Samuel always gave her butterflies. It was a strange thing for her to feel to want him almost more than air.

Dressed for the weather but stylishly.Knee high black boots over deep red cable knit wool tights. A mid thigh black soft leather pleated skirt. The silk top under her coat the first he had brought her matched the tights.

Light make up hair sleek and now shoulder length. She'd grown it out stopped getting it cut. Walking into the restaurant for their date she knew shed beat him there. Getting seated she opened her phone and sighed.

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

He’d in an effort to forget the Pride or more honestly simply be who he knew himself to be divorced himself of the Pride for the evening. He wanted no interferences. No guilt no out crying or any of the other very unlionlike behavior they had taken up with recently to impose on his evening. He left his phone he had his guards running errands that would prove difficult by any definition. He had in essence disappeared. On man, Abel and one woman knew where he was. He’d ridden the subway, walked and doubled back in cab to elude any and all. For the next few hours he was simply Samuel and he was out of touch. His grey suit spoke as much the red tie shirt and shoes he wore said other. His ever-present gloves even a reddish shade of lambskin. In short he was a man meeting the woman for whom he would end the world of may should they impeded her happiness.



Old habits died hard to keep him from ever having to do so he had been at the restaurant for the last forty minutes sitting at the bar allowing the bartender to astound with her encyclopedic knowledge of blended scotches. He watched her arrive not bothering to disguise the effect she had on him. Tonight it was simply His detective and Samuel. Rising to meet her he embraced her placing a kiss that was far to unchaste on her lips before sliding to the corner where her smile hid. Forcng himself to disengage he slid a chair for her out at the bar. Their table wouldn’t be ready for another fifteen minutes. “You look gorgeous as ever. But we were alone…”

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

It was almost comical the urge to come out of her skin at his touch . She hid no inner animal but the urge still tingled through her like some phantom. His solid warm frame enveloped her and his words went almost unheard as the kiss proceeding melted her brain for a brief beat."hmm?"

Giving him a slightly glazed gaze then snapping into her self she waved away the table thing and settled. Thanking him for his compliment, though before him dressing in such a way wasn't paramount for her she had nicer clothes but,his tastes and eye had rubbed off. So had his well placed almost strategic gifts.

The coat, a pair of boots,some gloves a scarve a bauble though he tended to go easy on jewelry because this wasn't that type of thing. She wasn't a diamond and flowers girl. She was more guns and sneakers which he knew.

Ordering an amorretto warmed with a splash of cherry juice."Alone you say?"

Smiling but glancing about just a flare of her gift looking for anything but humans. There were one or two questionables probably fae mixed humans but do far he was the only full preturnatual in the building not counting herself." Seems we are"

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

He smiled at her settling in. She as much as he was a creature of habit and he could feel her energies swirl a moment as she insured it was in fact simply she and he. No guards no security detail o waiters in the wing. Simply a man and woman enjoying each other’s company. "Indeed, we are my dear detective simply you and I." Resting his hand on hers he did the normally unthinkable he removed his gloves as show that they were in a safe place just the two of them as they had not been in some time publicly. Ceremoniously merely by accident he laid his gloves near at hand to be retrieved should things change but far enough away that it was in truth just him. No shields against the word about them.



Smiling as he infrequently did he replaced his hand atop hers turning in his seat as he did so. He fixed her with the whole of his attentions. His eyes seeking and finding the joy she instilled in him. He waited a pause as the bartender took in her order prepared and delivered it retreating to the other patrons of the bar allowing them their space.



If they were any other couple the conversation would begin with ‘So, how was your day?’ or some other banality. A small opening for a small conversation. They were not as such he filled the small camraderal silence with, “My dear detective I have news that I am sure you will find interesting. There is a gym in Miami where your former partner has alighted. He does not seem to be immersing himself in the bump and go of the community there. Of course he could simply be laying the groundwork for something more…”



She having been close enough to know how her former partners mind worked would be able to add insight into how he might go about his foolish mission. She would also be able to denote if he was playing the long game. It was also a very easy segue into what was at the heart of this pseudo-celebratory dinner. Though they in truth knew the position was hers only a fool would deny her. Though the federal government was full of such persons.

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

The comfort of his gloves coming off warmed her chest she knew well what it cost him normally to be that relaxed. Drink sipped as her brow hiked..He was where? Thinking about it glass turned a quarter turn left then back.

"Depending on who owns the gym what role he's taken and if hes changed appearance and or name would narrow down his timline better. A smash and grab going in hot would leave him no time to develop and over prep. Planned precision he would want time for and he can't do that if the target sees him coming for exsample knowledge that he's related to the girl."

There it was part of why she'd been saught after. Her aura read was cake icing for a good detective with strong ability to see plot points. Samuel was the only one she never fully figured out. Though because of their time together she could at least ball park it now.

The table was ready so she stood, theu had aa back corner booth with view of the rest of the place and private enough seating.

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

As mulled her insight into her former partner Samuel decided tonallow the man unimpeded to live for now. Miami was far enough away to not need invest time or resources. Especially as he couldn't inquire more without involving himself more. The prid here was as stable as they could be during this transition. Monica had not quite made the jump to the federal level yet once she did he would be of no real concern.

They moved to the table settling in before he spoke again. "That's interesting to know you think him a long game player. What would you think in my regard?" He asked toying at the edges off her teasingly. He knew where they stood how he felt for her and she for him. This was mental foreplay as he was sure theyd talk deeper as the night waxed and waned.

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

She smirked at him" you..long slow thorough "

Winking she meant it in a naughty way for sure.Waiter came to take their order she ordered brusetta, antipasto, garlic pesto fettuccine and portobello spinach brachiol. It would come out staggered in order.

A glass of pinot would round it out. As he ordered she slid her phine from her jacket after taking it off to turn it off during dinner and before she could it started ringing in her hand. Shooting him a sorry love look.

"Hello?""I apologize for the late hour but I thought you'd like to know what the decision was Marshal Davis...""wait what?""ink is drying but welcome to the marshals..you'll have to come down in a day or do to be sworn in and meet the rst ofbthe team from d.c
But for now have a good evening..congratulations"

She blinked hung up turned the phone off and lookedvat him knowing he heard because he could. She forgot to breath for a moment. Then teared up and hugged him.

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

Before he had a chance to reply the water was near at hand taking their orders. He listened to hers and decided to go against his usual protein heavy carnivores selection. It was harder than he would have thought not loading up with all protein but beacause it was difficult he fully through himself into the task. Placing his order as her phone rang through he continued pausing as he heard the words. He kept his face placid and added a bottle of champagne to come out first. Even as his mind went to solving any problems now. He had to sanitize himself even further so as to prevent bringing undue attention to the rest of her life. He wouldn’t allow her to be trotted out and bashed like the Marshal from St. Louis who was always in the tabloids. " Well now?" He asked as she ended the call and through herself at him. He wrapped her in the warmth of him and held her a moment. He stroked her hair placing his lips against her neck as they hugged mostly in silence the magnitude of what was ahead of her not lost on him.



Twenty one and a half weeks away from each other physically was a lot but he knew it was worth it. They would be able to speak via messengers chat apps and good old phone conversations. It also meant he would be a frequenter of Savannah as that was the closest metropolis where he could blend in. He would get able on the task of an abode. He would reach out to Mouse to arrange a message between him and the Pride if one was in the area. Lots of plans needed making and he was already well on the way mentally. They could afford her flying back often enough however it would raise a red flag and as such they would need something considerably more feasible. As a government employee she wouldn’t be fiscally able to justify such expenses.



It also meant she would in effect be carrying out orders of execution in the New York city and state areas. With their being roughly forty Marshals per district her case load would be ridiculous his job as her mate, aas her love with her being the qeeen of his heart would be to alleviate her work stress. He understood that and thought about that for a second their duties their jobs would overlap even more now. He had of the one hundred and twenty or so Marshals in New York state roughly twenty in his pocket. It would be difficult keeping her from finding that out. He realized he would need to open up far more about his business dealings both local and national. It placed him in a very precarious position. Knowing as much he pushed it aside all the same this moment was about the joy of her receiving what she yearned for a chance to make a real difference.

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

As well as they knew each other if she had known what he was thinking she would have laughed because even though she knew samuel was apprehensive about this he was being supportive. Monica wouldn't tell him unless he asked for it why she wanted this.

Helping people ond grander scale yes, less local political crap for sure but the main reason was to better protect him. She'd felt helpless in nola thinking he might get discovered and she knew del had only marginally let things go because he particularly didn't care long as the bad guys were dead or in jail at the end.

Matt cared he said he didn't belive some of the rhings ans thatvworriwd her so with him leaving she didnt have to feel guilt ever leaving him to do this.

The time away would be tough long days and only his voice or a text to get her by for near six months. It would make them stronger but her stomch notted at telling her family. Momma would worry more abuela would tsk that she was going for a harder job instead of settling down to have babies.

Biting her lip now that she had it she was scared. Only his hand on her back and the feel of his lion which shed finally gotten reused to after hos power boost kept her from calling them back and saying never mind. Monica whispered what he probably already knew " this is scary and I will miss you terribly but this is important and I know we will be ok"

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

Samuel nodded at her assertion that all would be ok. Of that he was sure even as knowing her time away from New York would be difficult. He was three steps into a plan to minimize her loss though temporary. Tomorrow would wait on the rise of day he thought and said, “Of course it we will and of course it is but this is for the best. It also means we need to insure you have every understanding as to how much you will be missed.” He kissed her not caring as to what the other diners might think. Decorum was held in permanent abeyance. No chaste peck no simple brush of lips this was a full outpouring of care and consideration of what would come.



He would miss her but would give her the time she needed to settle into her routine and apply herself fully. So as to attain the marks he knew she was capable of. While she would excel he would busy himself with arrangements here and there so as to protect them in their dealings.

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

They thought alike she was looking forward to stockpiling intimacy for leaner times. As their mouths met she gasped but melted into it. Trying to quiet the noises he normally pulled from her because most of them were not in the least deceorus.

A soft clearing of throat met her ear and she turned letting Samuel's mouth meet her throat which tightened things low in her center. Her gaze met the waiter with the next part of the meal and a raised brow. She smiled " we are celebrating tonight thanks for the champagne"

Trying not to moan as teeth grazed her ear. She could tell he was a mix of embarrassed, jealous, aroused and worried in mix. She shrugged as if to say promise this is as bad as we eill get here.

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

As Monica settled the waiters nerves some Samuel didn’t relent his assault. He instead poured it on. While he remained just shy of crossing that invisible line that would definitely cause more than a polite stir. Easing away by dint of an extreme show of will. He took the champagne flutes which the waiter had poured before making himself scarce. Samuel lifted them both handing one to Monica.



A smile sitting at the corner of his lips he toasted the two of them and her fortune. "May all of our dreams become so true we never need to sleep again and time pass quickly so we are once more never apart." Clinking glasses so that the benediction of the toast might come true. Samuel sipped it was an excellent choice. Sweet but not overly so bubbly and leaving hints of peach pear and apple on the tongue. It was crisp enough that one could drink it freely. He smiled waiting on her appraisal.

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

Though he left it wasn't quick enough to avoid the start of a moan of clear pleasure as Samuel continued his hot mouthed assault on her skin. She was blushing hard as he pulled away.

Chest heaving she chuckled "chin chin "

Oh just wait till she got him alone. Eyes smoldering she tasted it." Mmm this is,spectacular great choice. I suppose we should eat because energy for later"

Her smile was clear oh yes he was gonna get it.

[Samuel Banks-Walker]

Samuel sipped aglow in the feel of her. She as the taste above the champagne. She was the drive behind his actions more now than ever. Their time would be limited coming sooner than later and he would make sure that until then they would spend as much time as possible. It would take time to arrange but it would be worth it and then some.



Settling into Samuel met her eyes "Chin Chin indeed." Resting a hand on her thigh he went. “You know when we first met…” He removed his hand sitting down his glass. He removed a small box from inside his jacket pocket. Inside was a small platinum pendant made into the image of a speeding train. It was the eight train. It was small enough that form a distance of a few feet no one would be able to tell exactly what it was. In short it was tasteful and small enough that even if anyone had a chance to notice it wouldn’t draw too much attention. It would be an open secret. He’d picked it out weeks ago and had been intending to leave it for her in the morning but news as she shared needed a gift.



Knowing what was inside he smirked handing it to her. " This is for you."

[Monica Davis-banks walker]

Watching him as he smirked and teased then her mouth dried fast. She had thought of that train ride often, fate was funny and had they both been diffrent in any way they wouldn't be here. The link in the chain of events that forged them started violent and was colored with blood but it was strong enough to anchor freightliners.

In her head she panicked, looked at him then the box then him it was small enough and he was just that smooth but this seemed odd timing or genius she didn't know. Hand shaking slightly shed faced raging drugged out shifters but was definitely more scared now.

The click of it as she opened it then the breath she'd held released. It was still exquisite as gifts went and she beamed at him loving it. Tears of many flavors met her eyes. She lifted it feeling it in her fingers." I..love it so much and want to put it on but am worried we would..chance popping the chain later"

The burble of laughter was a soothing of nerves mostly hers. There was no doubt that should the other box ever happen she would say yes a thousand times but at that moment Monica was glad they got each other as they did.

She ate like she'd not be allowed for days pendant safe in her pocket in its box. Wine finished touching him under table cloth teasingly. Half her pasta and a quarter of her main she had wrapped to go much to the waiters relief though they had mostly behaved sibce that first one." Mm didn't drive shall I get an uber love?"