(RP for and-domineering)

[afraidof_snakes]

Peyton was sitting in the office rented under one of her aliases, going over the computer systems for possible security breeches, even though she knew there wouldn't be any. Rachel might be slightly distracted when she was around Sark, but she was always thorough. With a sigh, she logged off the computer, then headed toward the front door of the

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[and_domineering]

Lauren hadn't been to Italy in a while, probably last was when she first met up with McKenas post her death, and she was almost certain she was just outside the city in some overpriced Villa that Cole was extremely pleased he had acquired. Still travel never suited her, and if she could send someone else on the errand she would have. What concerned Lauren more was the fact that Peyton had taken charge of this little adventure, even though Lauren had been the one to actually see it through to completion. It had been Peyton's original agenda, but getting caught by the CIA put a damper on most communications between any agency with Peyton. It took most of Lauren and Julian's contacts to rebuild, and yet here was Peyton, taking the reins as if Lauren had just been keeping them warm.

She'd let her believe that until something went wrong, and Lauren would have to fix it all, again. After everything that Lauren had done, she still assumed that Peyton would rather treat her as an underling, than an equal. "I'm far from delusional Miss Peyton, as it stands I've risked far more in recent months for this project, I'm just not happy that the one person that had the most time with the intel is now vacationing in Zurich, when she should have followed protocal instead."

[afraidof_snakes]

Peyton nodded, eyeing Lauren as she rummaged in her purse for her keys. "I know what you've risked, Miss Reed." If they were going to be formal... "And I do appreciate the danger you've put yourself in. I'm very much displeased with Rachel and her sudden loss of human brain function since being back in contact with Sark, but I need her. The project needs her. She's the only person I've found that can outhack CIA. They have that damned Flinkman still working for them, and she thinks a few steps ahead of him. Once she outlives her usefulness, I'll make sure you're the one to put her down."

The alpha female mentality was a hard one to let go of around Lauren, and Peyton was doing everything in her power to keep the woman in check. She'd done the dirty work in getting the 12 out of the way, and since Sloane was out of the picture, that left her as next in line. And damned if she was going to allow the alliance bending Brit or the should-be-dead double agent take her place. Even if she was in CIA custody.

Peyton finally found her keys and pulled them from the bottom of her purse, giving Lauren a plastic smile. "We're all necessary evils, Miss Reed. But unless we work together like well mannered children, we'll all end up losing." Her lips pursed and she looked up, watching the floors count down on the digital display.