I hope you readers are still out there. I know updates aren't as quick as they were when I started this story, but that just because I've been busy with school and other things, unfortunately. But I am still working on it and it will be completed.

Part 12

"None are so hopelessly enslaved, as those who falsely believe they are free. The truth has been kept from the depth of their minds by masters who rule them with lies. They feed them on falsehoods till wrong looks like right in their eyes."

-Johann von Goethe-

Parker kept her gun trained as Jarod moved further into the room. "I asked you a question," she said.

"Parker, will you put the gun away," he said annoyed.

She lowered it and walked straight over to him. "You'd better not be here to interfere, Jarod," she hissed, pointing her finger in his face. "You made it perfectly clear that you didn't support my decision, but that doesn't mean that you get to come in here and try to meddle in this."

"I didn't come here to try and mess things up for you," he explained. "But I needed to see you before you spoke with your father."

Parker pivoted away from him. "You sure that's what you want? I am related to those murdering monster's you mentioned. Hell, I could probably even be considered one of them."

"But you're not like them, Parker. I've always known that…and I'm sorry."

Parker turned her head to look at him, shocked by his apology. He moved closer to her to say more, but both of them tensed as they heard noise on the staircase. "Quick," she said, pushing Jarod toward a corner. "Hide." She watched as he faded into the dark just as the door to her father's study slowly opened. She caught herself backing up a few steps out of the light, her gun held tightly at her side. It was the moment she had been waiting for, but she had no idea what to say to him. Parker watched him moving around the room, completely unaware that she and Jarod were lurking about. He moved so slowly, like an old, tired man. Of course, he was no spring chicken anyway, but he never seemed so old before.

Deciding to get things over with, Parker put her gun away and stepped forward, softly calling to him. "Daddy?" His head whipped around and he stared at her in shock.

"Angel," he whispered, immediately moving to envelope her into a hug, not noticing when she took a few more steps backward. "Oh, Angel, I've missed you so much," he told her. She allowed herself to believe that his concern was real and found her arms tightening around him.

"Daddy, I thought you were dead," she said, her voice quivering. "After you jumped from the plane…" she trailed off, pulling back to look at him. "Where have you been? What's going on?" she asked. Parker allowed herself to be pulled over to a small sofa, her hands firmly grasped in her father's larger ones.

"Angel, so much has changed. I came back just as soon as I could and to find that someone had tried to kill you…well, I couldn't believe it. But it's alright now. Your brother and Mr. Raines have been worried sick about you, too. We won't rest until we find out who's behind it," he said patting her hand.

"Daddy…" she said, only to be interrupted as he prattled on.

"It's alright, sweetheart. We understand why you felt you had to leave, but you should have trusted your brother. He wouldn't have let anything happen to you."

Parker looked at her father incredulously. "Daddy, for all we know, Lyle was the one who tried to kill me and Raines has done nothing but threaten me now that he's been placed in charge." He stared at her a moment before speaking.

"No need to worry about Raines now that your old man is back," he smiled. "Things have changed," he said again. "We Parker's have to stick together."

"What things have changed, Daddy?" Parker asked frustrated. "What have you been doing all this time?"

"First things first, Angel. You look worn out. Why don't you go on home and get some rest and I'll explain everything to you tomorrow morning at the Centre," he smiled reassuringly.

"No, Daddy." His smile faltered. "I want an explanation now, right here, just me and you, away from Raines, and away from Lyle," she demanded.

"Angel," he said in a warning tone. "Everything will be revealed tomorrow...at the Centre."

"Who says I'm going back to the Centre?" Parker said as she pulled her hands from her father's grasp and stood. It was obvious that he was giving her the runaround just like always. There was no such thing as a straight answer from him.

"Don't be ridiculous," he said, his voice raising some. "You're a Parker and the Centre is where you belong."

Parker paced around the room. "I can't believe that I actually came here to give you another chance," she said quietly.

"Angel, you've got to trust me," he said.

"And I suppose Jarod is still the key."

"Always has been. Jarod belongs at the Centre."

"Why! Why is Jarod the key?! You've read the scrolls, so I know you know. And what about me? How to I fit into all of this?"

"Enough!" His deep voice bellowed as he stood from the couch and moved toward her. Parker froze, making sure to keep an eye on him, her gun ready at her back if she needed it. "I won't have you disrespecting me. I'm still your father!"

"Are you?" she said defiantly. "Or is Raines my real father? The man who killed my mother...your wife in cold blood," she said, her disgust evident. He made to speak, but she raised a hand to silence him. "The truth this time!" she ground out harshly.

Jarod listened intently from his hiding spot. He had almost revealed himself when Mr. Parker had advanced on her, ready to do whatever he had to in order to protect her. The man was insane with his want and need for power.

"I raised you didn't I?" Mr. Parker growled. "You've never wanted for anything in your life."

"Except for your attention," Parker said softly. "Your love, your approval…but it seems that the only way to get that is to do your dirty work…the Centre's dirty work. If you love me so much then why would you make me stay at that place when you knew it killed a small piece of me everyday?" she said, taking a few steps closer to him. "Is power that much more important than your family? Was my mother's life worth the information in those damned scrolls?!" she demanded, looking her father steadily in the eye. They stayed that way for a few moments before he finally spoke.

"Your mother deserved better than what she got," he began quietly, turning his back to her as he spoke. "Much better and I know that now after having read the scrolls."

"You told me that before you jumped," she reminded. "You said that no one should have that kind of power. So, what's changed since then?"

"I've had a lot of time to think about it while I was away. The scrolls are dangerous if left to the wrong people. The Africans should have never had any control over them in the first place." He turned around suddenly with a pleading look in his eyes. "Angel, please, I promise I'll explain everything to you, but now just isn't the time."

Parker held her ground. "It's either now or never." When he said nothing, Parker moved toward the door.

"You'll be making the biggest mistake of your life if you turn your back on this family!" he yelled harshly. Miss Parker stopped with her hand on the knob and turned to him.

"Goodbye, Daddy." She heard him calling to her as she rushed down the hallway, wiping the tears from her eyes. There was no telling what he would do now that she had downright defied him…the Centre. A sweeper team was probably already on its way. She knew Jarod would find a way out on his own.

As she entered the kitchen to leave the way she came, it took her a moment to notice that someone was in there. Kneeling on one of the stools at the island was a small boy with a jar of peanutbutter and the makings for a sandwich laid out in front of him. He couldn't have been any older than three or four and as she stepped closer, she recognized him immediately.

"Annabella?" the small voice said.

She had forgotten that there was one other person, besides Jarod, that she had shared her name with.

Her baby brother.

Parker's face crumpled as she approached him, lifting him into her arms for a hug. "I've missed you," she whispered, kissing his cheek.

"Me, too," the boy said, his arms around her neck.

Parker started when she heard commotion from the other end of the house. Suddenly, someone burst into the kitchen and she responded immediately, her gun out of its holster and aimed steadily in front of her.

"It's me," came Jarod's voice.

Parker sighed in relief and tightened her grip on her brother. "What's going on?" she asked him.

"We have to go," he said, moving closer to her and eyeing the little boy in her arms. His head was resting on her shoulder and his hands were fisted in her hair. "Your father called a sweeper team after you left. He isn't going to let you go without a fight."

"Daniel!" They all started at the sound of Mr. Parker's booming voice. Parker felt her brother jump and he clung to her tighter.

"Please, don't leave me," he begged. Parker looked at Jarod who was watching her closely.

"Let's go," she said, moving to the back door. She sat her brother down, keeping a hold of his hand as they escaped into the night.

To be continued...