[ WP ] You take your new wife to the city for your honeymoon . She has no idea you have a kilo of heroin in the trunk to deliver .

`` Oh my GAWD!!! I still ca n't believe we're going to Paris!'' I could understand her excitement and could feel her energy from across the car. I put on a brave face and echoed her optimism. 
 `` It's going to be great, honey. Just you see!'' It was a promise I hoped I was going to be able to keep. One last stop, one last shipment, then I was done. I was doing it for her. The life I had was n't one she deserved to get caught up in. I just had to get this package out of the car. I pulled into the airport parking and put the car into the long-term lot. If this went bad, it would turn into really long-term. 
 She burst out of the car and made a move for the trunk. I almost soiled myself until I realised that I had the keys in my hand still. 
 `` Honey, you ca n't to them without these.'' I playfully jingled them to get her away from my potential landmine. She came over and gave me a pout, holding her hand expectantly. `` Do n't you worry about a thing. I'll get those heavy bags out of there.'' 
 `` Okay...'' she said with false regret. Luckily, she backed away and let me get it. Even though the drugs were hidden in my suitcase, I did n't want leave anything to chance. 
 We walked arm-in-arm, dragging our bags behind us into the international terminal. Once through the doors, I nervously started to sweat. Why here? Why of all places did he want me to deliver drugs to a goddamned airport? While placating my new blushing bride, my eyes darted all over. Security to my left, dogs down at the far end of check-in counters, Christ, this was going to be tough. Why could n't it be an empty warehouse in the docks? 
 We get in line to check-in. Of course, only one counter is open. Why would I be lucky and be rushed through the line? The queue inched forward as other tourists have trouble answering simple questions, such as'did you pack your own bags?'. She started talking with other people in line, telling them all about our wedding last weekend, our honeymoon plans, the great future ahead of us. I'm more worried about the dogs methodically moving towards me and my one-way ticket to a small cell up-river. They're about 10 yards away when I get my saving grace. 
 `` Next, please!'' The woman behind the counter smiled and waved us over. I rush to get the bag on the conveyor. He told me once it was checked-in, the drop was done.'His people' would take care of it from there. I almost missed what the attendant had said. 
 `` What was that?'' 
 `` Passport, please.'' I hand it over. She skims my lady's and intently looks at mine. Her eyes dart up to my face. ``... do you have anything to declare, sir?'' 
 My mind goes back to the instructions, this is a key phrase. Now, having one counter opens makes sense. He's planned this all out. 
 `` Only that I'm an American and proud of it!'' It sounded cheesy as hell and even got a laugh out of the missus, but it was supposed to give them the sign that this was a special case. The attendant smiled softly, turned my boarding pass over and wrote `` SSSS'' on it, and handed everything back. For the first time since I'd arrived, I legitimately smiled. 
 Everything was going to be alright. 
... 
 And then I went through security. Shoes off, belt off, pockets emptied, no jacket. I watched the missus go through first, the image of a girl in front of a toy store, just waiting to see all the wonders inside. I hand over my boarding card to the security agent. He takes one look at it, slips something behind it and gives it back. I walk through the metal detector and alarms sound. The 2nd agent pulls me aside and asks for my boarding pass. My wife is asking what's wrong as I'm getting pulled into another room. I tell her not to panic and have my lawyer on the phone. 
 Next thing I know, I'm in a white room with a desk and two chairs. No windows, no cameras, just me and the silence for a good 15 minutes. A man in hi-vis bursts into the room lugging my suitcase. My asshole involuntarily slams shut at the sight of my crime. 
 `` This your bag, sir?'' 
 ``... yeah...'' I hung my head as all the certainties of my future became more and more clear. 
 `` Okay. The suit is outside. I'll send him in.'' I hear the baggage handler leave and his footsteps are replaced by someone in leather shoes with heels that make a very authoritative click with each step. I look up to see a 30-something man in a blue pin-striped suit, perfectly-kept hair and a flashing smile. The prototypical G-man. I was fucked, right fucked. Or at least I thought... until he started talking. 
 `` You done good, Jimmy.'' I'd know that voice anywhere. It's the man I've been working for, the voice on the other end of the phone, `` So good we could finally meet.'' 
 `` Y-you did this?'' 
 `` Of course! You think I'd let this shipment go to chance? This had to move, and I knew where you were going. You think I do n't keep tabs on you? Jimmy!'' He extended the'y' at the end of my name, `` What kind of employer do you take me for?'' His smile is disarming, but I get the feel this man is very dangerous. He motions to the bag. `` It's in there, right?'' I nod slowly. `` You can understand I can; t open that myself. I do n't have the proper authority and breaking into someone else's goods is an offense. Would you mind?'' 
 I slowly ascend from the chair, unlock and unzip the bag. Without facing him, I ask `` This is it, right? We're even after this?'' 
 `` Sure thing, amigo. Square is square. I pay you, you give me what I need. Good to go.'' I unfold the bundle of shirts at the bottom of the bag and hand him the parcel. He does n't even inspect it. `` The money's already there. Let's get you on your flight.'' 
... 
 He leads me through a maze of halls and opens a door into the gate hall, strangely, right in front of my gate. My wife is standing at the counter, berating the flight attendant for my whereabouts. 
 `` Go on,'' he said, `` Go get her.'' I walk up behind her and tap her on the shoulder. The cinders in her eyes and sharp look softens on realising that I'm there. She wraps me the warmest hug I think I've ever felt. I could have frozen that moment forever. I had it all in that moment; Freedom, love, money, the prospect of adventure and a bright future ahead of us. I do n't know how long passed, but a page went out over the PA. 
 `` Paging Mr. and Mrs. James Dixon. Please see our attendants at gate C27.'' We turned to the desk and shared a laugh with the attendant, not realising we had been standing right there. 
 `` It appears your booking has been changed. Your seats have been upgraded to first class.'' The missus lost her mind. She was ecstatic and could n't believe our good fortune. At first, I smiled, but then a cold feeling went straight up my spine. I turned back to the door the man with the voice had lead me out of. He was still standing there with a huge grin on his face. His gaze stony and looking directly at me. Even as he closed the door with one hand, he gave me a thumb's-up with the other and held that stare until the door cut him off from me. 
 That moment, the greatest truth became apparent. I would never be out. I would never be free. There would always be a way for him to keep me under his thumb. For my honeymoon, he'd given me a two-week reprieve. In saying nothing, he'd said everything he needed to. I was his, and nothing was going to change that. 
 
 Edit: spelling
