The Prince's Bodyguard

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N:


Chapter 53 (The Last Turncoat)

Deuce leaned against a tree, his leather jacket swaying in the violent wind, and his white undershirt blowing swiftly as though to escape from being halfway tucked into his denim jeans. His hair was slicked back and a cigar hung loosely from his lips. "Alright…" He gazed down from his hilltop overlooking a small home.

Where his right leg was bent and his foot pressed against a tree was a sniper rifle leaning upright against the tree trunk. "Let's get this show on the road then." He was calling for a personalized touch with the assassin family here, to send a message to Catherine.

The house below was where the last of the grandparent generation of the Black Star. Alice 'Nona' Valentine and her husband Louis. It seemed Henry had been mistaken, or that the family had changed their names around after he had already left.

It was intriguing this family branch, Catherine's seemed the largest. Granted several assassins existed in the other branches, and several of them were already either in custody or deceased; but to his surprise Cat's remained untouched for the most part.

Until today.

Deuce's people did some digging around and discovered just how extensive Alice's family was. She had two children, Jonathan and George. Johnathan and his wife, Margaret had three children: Chuck, Catherine, and Chris. George and his wife, Maggie, had two children: Roger and Bianca. All of these, except Cat and Chris, were married and had infant or toddler children.

On this day, December 20th, 2011, George gathered his side of the family in his mother's home to celebrate the first birthday of Nina Valentine-second child to Roger and Allison. Her older brother, Zachary, was only two. Ricky and Bianca were also present with their eighteen month old daughter, Alexandra.

With the exception of Cat's mother, none of her immediate family members were present. Johnathon had been captured in Washington DC by the President's secret service. Even though his career was in business and he had been there on a business trip, the secret service recognized him immediately when June's family tree diagram came out and arrested him under the assumption that he was there to target President Obama.

Chuck was elsewhere with his family; and Deuce's people weren't entirely certain where he or Chris were. Cat, obviously, was being trailed by Rocky and last seen in a cheap motel in Madrid.

Deuce removed his cigar and spoke into a radio, relaying a message to his wife who was close to the house with his people awaiting orders. "Remember the children that are in there. We want them out of that house first, don't let them be a part of the bloodshed. I know they're infants, but even babies can carry the memories of tragedies for years of their life."

"Noted dear!" Dina's voice chimed like a melody in his ears, causing him to smile and close his eyes. "We're going to try and incapacitate most of the assassins if possible, let the police come and pick them up."

"Of course. If they fight you, you may have little choice. Are you ready to dance the dance, Dina?"

"Yes dear."

Deuce picked up his sniper and crouched low, gazing through the scope at the open window of the house. "Then let us begin. They should be expecting something, but not our numbers."

It was a similar situation to the decimation of Trina's maternal family; the family was gathered around the kitchen table. Some might question the method of this, and Deuce would normally feel that the timing of this wasn't right; but there wasn't much choice now. It was do or die, and Raul Vega was quite persuasive with his orders.

Raul definitely wanted these people dead, feeling like they must pay for the loss suffered by his sister-in-law. Even now, some of his own soldiers were joining Deuce's men, each with order to kill. The way Deuce saw it, it could have two potential effects: Cat could go on a rage-fueled rampage, or she could break down from the loss of the members of her direct branch.

Deuce prayed for the latter.

"I don't have much more of a vantage point than that kitchen and parts of the living area, so try to keep them confined to that space if you could." The kitchen was quite open, but the parts of the living area he could see were through a narrow doorway.

"Understood." Dina swept her arm through the air, signaling the soldiers and her men to follow her into the back door. They moved slowly, remaining silent and as hidden as possible. "These dart guns June provided should help."

June was a weapons expert and had been able to provide the allies with a wide array of schematics for weapons that could be lethal or just used for incapacitation

Dina heard a growling noise and froze, glancing to the right. A Doberman was approaching them, readying itself to bark. "Shit. Forgive me." She grabbed her gun with the non-lethal ammo tended to incapacitate, and fired a shot at the dog. The dog started to whine and knelt down on the ground. "Okay, threat neutralized."

"Be careful down there," Deuce said, "These assassins not only can be crafty-but you know Cat's caliber. This is a part of her own personal family, that means they're the ones that trained her to be as powerful as she is…if they spot you, they are probably not going to be easy takedowns."

"Agreed." She had a plan, but pulling it off was the hard part. Fortunately, most of the children were not in the kitchen, but asleep in the living area. Still, the baby pen they slept in was in eyeshot from the kitchen.

The babies needed to be removed and taken to the social workers waiting outside to cart them to safety. There were two babies asleep in the pen: Zachary and Alexandra. Nina, however, was awake and in a high chair next to her great-grandmother.

Once the children were safe, they would have to use the non-lethal ammo to take out the assassins. On paper it was a good plan, but Dina had seen far too many good plans go wrong fast. She knew better than to expect this to go down without a hitch.

Her people began hiding behind furniture and throughout the house. It was possible to draw the assassins out one by one, but she wasn't sure how to do that other than to sit and wait for someone to get up and leave the kitchen on their own volition.

Seeing that the family wasn't looking through the door, Dina carefully made her way to the pen, keeping low enough to hide behind it. Her heart began to race as she quietly reached in and lifted Alexandra out.

The baby remained asleep, and she was able to get back to her place behind the couch without being seen. She handed it off to one of the soldiers and waited for him to carry the child out to the social workers.

With a large exhale, she closed her eyes and smiled. "That's one out of the line of fire." Next was Zachary. As Dina approached the pen, she listened to the conversation coming from the kitchen.

"I know it's hard on you." Alice's voice was somewhat cold and bitter, sending chills down her spine. She held her breath, keeping low and narrowing her eyes. "But they are taking the children of the Black Star away. Those babies will not continue the path of the assassins, and you know our family is being wiped out. Roger, Rick, there is truly no choice. You understand this, though your wives may not…"

"What is she saying? Deuce, are you hearing this on your end?"

"I am." His voice trembled, laced with grief. "I know what it sounds like. If June's tales of her family are accurate, and these people being as coldhearted as Cat is, then-"

A slicking noise cut him off and Dina looked up in time to hear Roger's wife Allison start to sob. "Deuce." Her blood ran cold when she saw Nina slump over in her high chair. A small pocketknife was protruding from the child's back. "She-she-the old wench…" She stammered and her entire body began shaking.

Deuce was quiet on his end for what felt like an eternity. "I saw," he spoke finally. "I think they're planning to kill the children. Allison and Bianca don't look happy about it, if they start to complain…they may very well die too."

"Allison," Alice started to order, "Go grab your son." Dina's eyes grew wide and she looked to the pen. "Now, please." The woman was blubbering, unable to console herself, and Bianca was holding her. "Allison."

"I can't. I can't lose my babies like this. I agreed to join the Black Star, I agreed to this…"

"Roger?" Dina froze, watching with horrified eyes as Roger stood from the table, looking cold and emotionless. "I'm sorry, but you know what must be done. Your wife refuses our orders, and in doing so, rejects us."

"No!" Allison started to whimper as Roger moved behind her and extended a pistol to the back of her head. "Roger, no, please…please don't do this…" Dina looked away, closing her eyes. Her body jerked when she heard the gunshot, and her stomach began churning with nausea while her blood started to boil.

"Dina…Dina if I take this shot, I'm going to expose all of us to those assassins in there. It's going to be a war, and you know it."

"No, we have to wait." It was the hardest decision to make, but she knew in order to be successful, they had to stick with the plan. "We have to get Zachary out of here."

Alice motioned to Bianca, narrowing her ancient eyes. "Go fetch the next one, Bianca dear." Bianca sniffled and rose to her feet, wiping her eyes. Her clothing was covered in Allison's blood. "Don't worry, you can grab Allison's son, that way you're not bringing your daughter to execution."

"I-"

"If you refuse, you will be killed as Allison was."

"Understood…" Bianca crept slowly out of the room, muttering to herself. "Old ass bitch." Dina perked her ears and hummed thoughtfully. There was a chance, however small, that Bianca may side with them.

As the woman approached the pen and started to reach in, she froze. "Where's Alexandra?" Horror and panic flashed in the woman's eyes and Dina grabbed her by the wrist, reaching over the edge.

"If you scream, say anything or do anything at all, I have guns on you right now." Bianca swallowed and nodded slowly. "Your daughter is safe, with our social workers."

"Who are you?"

"Part of an extensive network of people ready and able to take you and everyone in this house out in a single moment. What I need from you? Cooperation." Bianca furrowed her brow and looked over her shoulder as Alice called out to her inquiring about what was taking so long.

"My baby's safe?"

"Yes."

"And you're going to take Zachary?"

"Yes…"

Bianca closed her eyes, whimpering frightfully. Dina could see the woman's knees beginning to buckle. She was very young, and likely new to this family. "They're going to kill me if I don't act accordingly. T-They killed Allison. I know they'll kill me."

"Then help us."

"I will." Bianca exhaled slowly and pulled Zachary from the pen with shaky arms. Dina held her breath, watching as the woman held the child close to her chest and kissed its forehead. "What is your name?"

"Dina…Dina Martinez…"

"Will you-will you be sure my baby and Allison's son will be safe?"

"I can promise you, they will be safe and grow up safe."

"Will they know…know their mommies loved them?" Bianca's eyes filled with fresh tears and she gasped aloud when Alice called out to her again. Dina extended her arms, nodding slowly. She saw the two gun holsters on Bianca's waist and while she didn't approve of what was about to happen, she had a good feeling that she knew.

A mother would give their life to protect their young, and Bianca knew now the horror of these assassins. "I can't be a part of this," Bianca whispered, "I can't live knowing that I was ever in support of people-people like these. As long…So long as my baby is safe, as long as Allison's baby is safe, that's all…all that matters."

"You don't have to go back there."

"You don't understand. I do." Bianca sniffed as Dina cradled the child carefully in her arms. "Ally was my only friend now. I gave up my own family long ago when I allowed my husband's family to slaughter them." Dina's heart sank and Bianca bowed her head. "That's what happens when you marry these people, by cutting ties with your family, you're essentially allowing them to be killed…I have no choice…"

"Bianca."

"Let me…"

"Go then. I understand."

"T-Thank you."

Bianca waited for Dina to hand Zachary over to a soldier to take the child to a social worker, then turned to return to the kitchen. "Dina?" Deuce asked. "What's happening down there? I see Bianca going back…"

"She's being a mother." Dina's eyes filled with tears and she bowed her head. "Sacrificing her life for the children."

Bianca's hands hugged her guns and she bowed her head. Before entering the place, she took a deep breath to steel her nerves. Dina watched with a great sorrow as the mother entered the room. "How could you do that?" Bianca asked calmly. "Allison was pregnant even…five months…"

"It doesn't matter," Alice replied, "To reject the black star is to give up life."

"I know." Alice raised her eyebrow as Bianca slowly removed the guns holstered at her waist. "I know what it means."

"What exactly do you think you are-" Bianca narrowed her eyes and extended her right arm, folding her left underneath it. She fired off a shot from the gun in her right hand, landing a bullet squarely between Alice's eyes. Simultaneously, she fired off her left hand gun, landing a precise bullet in Roger's chest.

"That's for Allison and her baby girl. Train me in precision and then have me willingly hand over my baby so you can murder it? I don't think so, fucking bitch!" The remaining assassins leapt from the table and Bianca rolled behind a counter just as George and Louis started to open fire with their own handguns.

"What the hell are you doing!" Rick exclaimed while holding his wounded brother in his arms. "Bianca, settle yourself, damn it!" Roger's hand clutched his chest and the man looked down at the blood gushing through his fingers.

Margaret started running around the counter, to take Bianca out from behind. "Deuce, watch her back!" Dina exclaimed. Without hesitation, the window cracked and shattered, startling the family. Bianca looked over her shoulder with wide eyes, seeing Margaret standing over her with a large kitchen knife. Blood began to spread and stain the woman's shirt, and she dropped to her knees, pausing before collapsing at Bianca's side.

Bianca rose up, firing over the counter and striking Maggie in the neck and George in the left shoulder. Roger hissed at the woman, raising a pistol in the air. "You damned bitch," he said with a cough, "I warned my brother when he met you that you weren't fit for this family."

"Fuck you too." Bianca fired off two shots, each striking him in the head. "Can't be that easy to murder your own children and your own wife!"

She walked around the corner. Dina waved her arm in the air, signaling her people. "Go, go, go!" They began to move, stopping only when she saw Bianca's body jerk. Rick was standing behind her, Roger's gun raised up and clenched firmly in his hand.

"I'm sorry," Rick muttered. Bianca turned her head, whimpering as he fired another gunshot into her body; and then another.

"You bastard!" Dina stepped into the kitchen, firing a round of lethal bullets at Rick and watching as Bianca collapsed into a bloody heap on the floor.

The soldiers opened fire into the room, pelting Louis with bullets until he dropped to the floor. Somewhere in all the chaos, she lost sight of George. It wasn't until she heard Deuce calling for her to look out and she turned to see George standing behind her with a gun aimed for her head.

With little time to react, she closed her eyes and heard a gunshot ring out. When she opened her eyes, she saw George falling back with a sniper's bullet in his head. "Thanks, Deuce…"

The chaos subsided and she rushed to Bianca's side. The woman was hanging on to the last thread of life, her eyes searching the area and blood seeping from her mouth. "It's over." Dina grabbed the woman's hand, looking mournfully into her eyes. "It's over Bianca…" This wasn't the plan by any means or measure, but it didn't matter now.

"My…" Bianca coughed, her eyes moving towards the doorway. "My baby? Ally's baby…."

"Safe."

"We loved them." Tears welled up in her eyes and her heart broke as Bianca gasped. "We loved…Promise me..." A wheezing sound left the woman's lips, and the life fled from Bianca's eyes-though the woman passed with a content smile upon her face.

"I promise you, Zachary and Alexandra will grow up safe. They will live normal lives…" Dina placed her hand over Bianca's eyes and slid it down gently, closing the woman's eyelids. "Goodbye…"


Intense, not everything goes as planned. Bianca, they were lucky she was fresh enough and young enough to get on their side, because she was precise enough to be a deadly foe otherwise. What are your thoughts?