Dasvidaniya

A/N: This is a story that wouldn't leave me alone. The usual disclaimer applies. It's told from an original character's point of view (I promise she isn't a Mary Sue) because I thought it would be fun to right from an outsider's view on Peter and Neal's relationship, especially after the whole Keller fiasco.

Enjoy!

She used to be beautiful.

Once, her skin was like rose petals, soft and flawless, like velvet beneath the fingers. Now it's scarred and worn.

Her smile used to light the room. It used to reach her eyes and make them sparkle. It used to be brilliant. Now her breath smells like cigarettes and her teeth are tinted from the nicotine. Her smile is full of ache and sadness and it never reaches her eyes. She doesn't smile much any more any way.

And her eyes. The innocence and light that used to be there died a long time ago. Like the embers of a fire, it slowly fizzled out, fading slowly until nothing was left but ash. When she looks in the mirror, she can never look in her eyes.

She used to be beautiful, but not anymore. Now, she is just feared.

"Inna, please show our guests in, dorogaya moya?"

She looked at her employer and inhaled on her cigarette, "Da."

She didn't bother trying to act sultry. Katarina, her employer's secretary, and she used the term lightly, took care of all the sex appeal in the office. It was enough to make Inna want to throw up.

She opened the door and stepped into the lobby. Luka was standing against the wall, his arm muscles bulging through his sports coat. Luka was just for show; Inna doubted that he could even throw a punch. His muscles were impressive, but they made him slow and all of the steroids had killed most of his brain cells. She gave him a minute nod and Luka straightened, gesturing to the two men across the lobby.

Inna watched them as they moved. The younger of the two, and the handsomest in her opinion, led the way, but the there was something off in the way the older man followed him. It was as if he were used to leading the way and he had to force himself to stay one step behind. They were comfortable with each other, but still on edge.

She let them pass and watched as they approached Dimitri's desk. The younger one was confident, almost cocky. The older one was weary, but tried not to let it show. She doubted anyone else had taken notice of her observations. Luka was too stupid and Dimitri was too busy looking down Katarina's blouse.

"Dimitri," she said as she took her place against the window behind her employer, "your guests have arrived."

Reluctantly, Dimitri turned his attention to the two men occupying his office. He leaned back, the chair squealing in protest, and folded his hands over his expanding belly. Running his tongue over his teeth, he grinned. Inna rolled her eyes. Dimitri still fancied himself as the young man he used to be, the one that women flocked to, the one with a full head of hair and a trim waist. Now all he had going for him was his money and power.

"Mr. Halden," Dimitri said, "I trust you have come to honor our agreement."

The younger man nodded, "Of course. Dimitri, I'd like to introduce you to Rick Collis. I believe you and he share similar business interests."

"I will be the judge of that. Tell me, Mr. Collis, are you as good at shipping…delicate merchandise as Mr. Halden tells me."

Collis gave a small smirk, "I tend not to take what Mr. Halden says too seriously."

"So you're no good?"

"Oh, no I'm good. I just mean to say, Mr. Halden tends to exaggerate my expertise."

Inna smirked. Her eyes weren't as bright as they used to be, but they saw everything and they didn't miss the way Halden pinched Collis' leg.

"Well, then, perhaps I will use your services," Dimitri sat up, "Provided you pass my inspection. Inna?"

She handed him the file sitting on the window sill. He thumbed through it, but she doubted that he actually read anything she'd drawn up. She was very thorough with her research, but more importantly, Dimitri trusted her opinion. He never questioned her decision when it came to business associates.

"Inna, eta kharasho?"

Inna kept her eyes trained on Halden. She wondered if he knew that her answer, no matter what she said, would end his life. He seemed so confident. How could he be so naïve?"

"Da."

"Good," Dimitri said. He stood and buttoned the bottom button of his suit. The others would stay and even that one button strained against his stomach. He rounded his desk and shook hands with Collis.

"I look forward to working with you," Dimitri said, leading Collis towards the door. Katarina hopped off the desk and sashayed to Dimitri's other arm, giving Halden a seductive look the entire time.

"Same here," Collis answered.

Dimitri looked at Halden, "Mr. Halden, it has been a pleasure working with you. You fulfilled all of my estimations."

Halden smiled, bright and brilliant, "Perhaps we will be working together again soon."

Dimitri chuckled, "Nyet. Unfortunately, Mr. Halden, I am a business man first and foremost. And part of being a good business man is never leaving lose ends. Inna."

She already had her gun out. She didn't wait for Halden to finish turning his head before she fired, twice. The first bullet hit him center mass followed a fraction of a second later by the second, directly above the heart. Halden stumbled backward, hitting his head on the desk. Inna doubted that he even felt it.

Dimitri wiped his mouth, growing pale, "I do hate the sight of blood."

Inna knelt next to Halden and pressed her fingers to his neck. Red was seeping across his white shirt front. She tossed the dark towel from the bar across him, hoping to alleviate her employer's distress.

But it was Collis' distress that interested her.

He'd gone as white as a sheet and he couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from Collis' body. He was still, but his eyes told volumes. Inna did her best not to look at them.

"Not used to the messier side of business, are you?" Dimitri said, laughing heartily and slapping Collis on the back, "Do not worry. It becomes easier with time and if you do well for me, I promise you will not meet the same fate."

Collis only blinked and stared. Dimitri leaned close to his ear, "Of course, if you do not fulfill your part of the bargain, you will meet a much worse fate. Inna is very talented. Especially with a knife."

Collis raised his eyes to hers and she saw sparks of anger and pain reflected in the brown orbs. They swore vengeance. She met his stare and sent her own challenge back.

"Come," Dimitri said, "I will walk you out. What car do you drive?"

Collis looked at Dimitri and pointed to the body, "He was my ride."

Dimitri gave a hearty laugh and squeezed his shoulder, pulling him from the room. Katarina gave a slight pout towards Halden's chilling body and followed. Inna sighed, leaning against the desk and unwrapping a butterscotch candy from her pocket.

"Luka, send up Pyotr and Vladik."

Luka nodded, "Do you want this one?"

Inna nodded, "Put it in my trunk."

Luka nodded. As stupid as he was, she appreciated his lack of interest. He never asked what she did with the bodies she claimed and she was grateful. She hated asking questions.

She tossed the wrapper into the trash and popped the candy into her mouth before following Luka out of the office and leaving the body of Nick Halden behind.

A/N: The Russian may be wrong and I'm sorry if it is. If the Internet is correct, the Russian phrases mean:

"my darling"

"yes"

"is it good"

"no"

Again, sorry for any mistakes. Please stick with it! And be sure to hit that review button!