There are some things that you should know about my family, or at least my step-dads family, we don't get along very well, in fact, it's common knowledge that they just don't want me there at all. I don't know the reason, but they just do so when you read this story, you'll know what kind of family that has, at least, on my step-dads side.

I have a little brother, whose name I cannot say for that would destroy the mystery, so his name is little brother, and nothing more. His age is 20 and his height is about 6 foot tall and he's a thief, who stole from me when I left my wallet out, and went to the casino.

I asked my dad if he saw where little brother went and he replied that he took the car to get something to drink and that he was supposed to be back by now, so maybe he went to the casino. The casino's age limit is 18, so a 20 year old is allowed. I asked dad he took my money and he said that he didn't, nor did anyone else in the house for that matter, so I asked my dad if he wanted to go with me to the casino, because I'm scared of the dark and of being accidently run-over by a passing car since there are no sidewalks in the country. He replied that he would accompany me because he does know of my fear, and also, because there was a cougar floatin' around the neighborhood, and I'd rather have dad there instead of going by myself. Besides, it's only a mile, if that, and its good cardio.

We get to the casino, and I asked dad how he wanted to do this, and he said that he would go one way and that I should go another, and I agreed, because I was already thinking the same idea as we would cover more ground that way. So, he went right the game tables and penny machines and I went left toward the other side of the high-rolling game tables and the other side of the penny machines. When I am searching for someone, I usually find them, but when it comes to my little brother he can blend really well like a bloody ninja, and I always have to double check just to make sure I didn't mistake him for someone else. As I was searching for little brother, I did a full circle and I should've met my dad a long time ago, but I didn't so I continued to search, and I found my dad, sitting and playing on the slot machine. I walked right up to my dad and asked if he found little brother and he replied that he did not, so I continued my search, alone, and not 10 minutes later did I find my brother on the tables playing BlackJack, which is his game as he does really good on it. I went back to where I last found my dad, and said that I found him, that I found where little brother was at, and his reply, "It's your money, why don't you go and retrieve it from your brother, and leave me out of it".

I glared, and said, "So why did you even come then, other than to hit the slots"? I huffed in annoyance.

He briefly glanced at me and said that I was a big girl and that I should handle my own battles, and then he went back to his game, and I left to find my brother feeling betrayed, because I thought that my father was there to help me in dealing with a thief, but I guess I was wrong, because I'll not receive any assistance from him.

My little brother was right where I left him, which was at the blackjack table and the table seats 5 and the table was full. I stood directly behind him as he played the game, the dealer looked up and I gave him a shushed look plus tilted head and a grin, and he grinned back and went back to dealing the game. I can be quite surprising sometimes, but that did not quell the anger that I was feeling merely hide it momentarily. Anyway, I'm standing behind my little brother, waiting for him to acknowledge my existence so that I could speak to him, but he never so much as twitched, so I tapped him on the shoulder, and he jumped as he was so focused on the game in front of him. He looked behind him to see who touched him, and he frowned when he saw my silent and enraged face.

"Are you going to return the money that you stole from me plus interest, so that I know that I get my money's worth?" I growled softly.

His reply was that I had to wait, and I said that I would not wait for him to blow my money and for you to go "oh well" on me. (By the way, he stole $80 from me)

He shook his head, sighed, returned to the game, and ignored me. I backed up into a chair and sat and stared at him for about 45 minutes, waiting for him to step away from the table, so that I can my money's worth, and then leave. He never left and I waited and watched as my brother won and lost round after round, before I came up behind him again and ask him, again, for my money back. I reached out to touch his shoulder to get his attention again, but my hand never made it to his shoulder because someone grabbed my wrist preventing me from continuing my movement.

I looked at the hand that held my hand, and then I followed the arm to the face of a stranger who sat next to my brother at the BlackJack table. Before I could get angry at the stranger for butting into business that didn't concern him, he stood up and yanked me back and away from my brother, which I nearly tripped over my own two feet in the process. I finished stumbling like an idiot and righted myself and I tugged at my wrist, but I couldn't get it back, because he held a tight grip.

"You are disturbing the game. I would appreciate it if you would consider leaving the area for another couple of hours," the stranger stated, and I growled in extreme annoyance, and tugged my hand again, nope – still stuck.

Believe me when I say that I was NOT scared, but I was slightly shaking with anger and adrenaline. I closed my mouth that had promptly opened, and stated that I would not be going anywhere until I received my money that my brother, whom I pointed to with my other hand, stole from my wallet when I wasn't near it.

The stranger looked in the direction of my pointing finger to my brother, who wasn't paying any attention to me and the stranger, who would not let go of my wrist, and continued his game. The stranger looked back at me, then at my brother, then back at me, and I was getting the feeling that he didn't believe me on either the fact that he stole from me or that we were related. It didn't matter if he believed me or not, because I was wondering if he was going to release my hand anytime soon before I did something that I'll regret.

The stranger finally seemed to understand the situation, but instead of releasing me – his grip tightened even more, and it felt like my wrist might break from how tight he was holding. I bit back a yelp and tried (again) to yank my hand out of his grip, but I couldn't as it felt like I trying to escape steel.

"Are you gonna let go anytime soon, or am I going to have make you?" I glared at him and stood at-attention (to appear taller and less scared – looking).

Instead of the stranger, I heard my brother said, or should I say whispered, "Military brat". Well, at least, now I know if he was paying attention to the situation behind him.

I shifted my glare from the stranger to my brother for two seconds, then back to the stranger who was, for some unknown reason, smiling. To say "I was stunned" was an understatement, but I didn't show him that expression, instead I kept the glare firmly in place.

He finally spoke, "So, a military brat, is it? Interesting, yes, I can see that now. That at – attention stance and posture, and the look of fearlessness; so scary, little one, but pointless as I hail from a higher military background than you." He spoke with mild amusement, but I can honestly say when he let go of my wrist I considered punching him out, but I held firm and clenched my fists just to keep my anger and fear in control.

I firmly stated that not everything is as it seems, and his reply was a simple, "Indeed". I narrowed my eyes at his reply, and I stated that if he wanted to speak his rank, then I suggested he should speak now before I knocked him out. Mind you he stands about 6'2" and I stand at 5'5", but I wasn't going to let that stop me.