Italy

I do not own any characters from Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Anyone you do not recognise belongs to me.


Sheldon Sands walked steadily through the streets of Italy, taking in the sights. Yes, the sights. For Sheldon Sands was most definitely not blind. Anymore. Granted, he’d pissed off everyone in the CIA by his little disaster in Mexico and cost the agency a fortune for implants but his boss considered it well worth it. Sands was not the most popular man in the Central Intelligence Agency but he was one of the best damn agents they had.

Sands had been ordered to take a month off from his job to ‘recover’, both from his implants and his ordeal on his previous assignment. To really make the most of this small luxury, Sands had decided to take a break and visit Italy, Sorrento to be exact. He’d arrived the day before and was just settling into his new environment, thoroughly enjoying himself.

He savoured the warm sun on his face and arms as he strolled through the streets. It wasn’t as unbearably hot as Mexico and it was a relief. Spotting a small yet busy café, Sands sat down on the only free outside table and ordered a coffee. No, not a tequila. Sands was in the mood for a change. At least for now. The waitress disappeared indoors to fetch his order.

‘Excuse me.’

Sands looked up, surprised to hear another American voice, this one female. A very beautiful female at that. Sands sat back and took in her appearance. Long brown hair, almost black, stylishly wavy, bordering on curly and a perfect oval face with the most startling green eyes he’d ever seen. Her nose was small and straight and her lips were full, yet also quite small. She smiled as she realised he was taking her in, showing him dazzlingly white straight teeth. He grinned back.

‘What can I do for ya, sugar?’

She smiled coyly and pointed at the chair opposite. ‘There’s nowhere else free. Can I sit down?’

Sands waved his hand at the chair, motioning for her to sit down. ‘Can I get ya a drink?’

‘Latte, thanks,’ she answered, leaning forward, her elbows folded on the table. Sands glanced over the top of his menu, not that he had been reading it at all. The corners of his mouth twitched up as he took in the sight of her round breasts, not small but not huge, accentuated by her tight blue tank top. Unconsciously he licked his lips and quickly set his eyes on his menu so as not to arouse her suspicions.

Sands stopped a young waiter as he passed the table and ordered his new friend her drink. He then turned his attentions back to her.

‘So what’s your name, gorgeous?’

She blushed slightly at the nickname and answered him. ‘Dannii, you?’

‘Sands.’

‘Sands?’

‘Just Sands.’

She frowned slightly, then leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. ‘I bet your one of those macho guys, aren’t ya?’

He stared at her quizzically as he took his coffee from the waitress and motioned for her to give the Latte to his companion.

‘So what are you doing in Italy? I take it you’re not Italian,’ he inquired.

She smiled and shook her head. ‘I’m on vacation, visiting some relatives to be honest. Well, I was. They live further south so I’m using the opportunity to travel a bit.’

‘How long are you here for?’

‘As long as I want,’ she replied curtly. Then added, ‘I got laid.’

Sands snorted into his cup. ‘Excuse me?’

Dannii looked up at him as if he was stupid. ‘I got myself fired, you know, lost my job.’

‘Oh you mean you got laid off,’ Sands said helpfully, smirking.

‘Yeah that is what I said,’ she snickered.

Sands shook his head. ‘So what did you get fired for?’

‘Oh, I was fucking my boss,’ she replied nonchalantly. Sands raised an eyebrow, surprised she admitted to it so easily. She went on, oblivious to his stare. ‘Don’t really know why the hell I bothered to be honest. He said if I didn’t, he’d fire me. Then someone walked in on us getting it on over his desk and he fired me for ruining his reputation.’ She paused. ‘He was a lousy fuck.’

Sands sat quietly, smirking. He liked this girl.