Chapter 6



Renee stood up from the couch and lifted Amie off of her cousin's back. "I think it's time for your nap."

"No," the toddler squealed, squirming in her mother's arms.

"Yes," Renee replied firmly.

"Otay." Amie yawned and laid her head on Renee's shoulder as she carried her up the stairs.

She laid her daughter on the small bed and pulled the blankets up to cover her. "Are you actually going to go to sleep?"

Amie nodded her head and closed her eyes. A moment later she opened one.

"I see you. Do you want the music on?" The little girl nodded again. "You sure?"

"Yes."

"She still has to have the music on to fall asleep?" Caitlyn asked, standing behind Renee.

"Yeah. She seems to take after me there. Don't know about when I was her age, but since I was a teenager, I could not sleep unless there was music playing. Sometimes if the tv was on I could."

She turned on the soft music then sat beside the bed. After a few minutes, Amie drifted off to sleep. Renee sat there for another minute, reveling in the peaceful look that came over her daughter's face. She brushed a loose lock of hair away from the little girl's face, and a corner of the toddler's mouth turned up in a soft smile.

"You sure she's asleep?" Caitlyn asked with a grin.

"Yeah, she is. She always does that." After one more glance at her daughter's sleeping form, she said, "Guess we should go back down now."

*******

"Persephone, get your big, black butt over here," Darvi called playfully to the young filly still cavorting around the pasture. The horse just tossed her head and continued to run around the field. "If you don't, I'm gonna-" She didn't have a chance to finish the threat.

A large man was making his way across the yard. Darvi knew instantly that he was the reason Ian had wanted her to leave. She also knew she should be running up to the house as fast as her feet could move. But she still needed to get the young horse into the stable. Persephone had also seen the man. Some old instinct passed down from a wild ancestor told her this man was dangerous. She galloped toward the only safe place she knew: the barn.

As the horse ran by, Darvi grabbed her mane and swung onto the filly's back. As soon as they entered the barn, she dropped to the floor again. When Persephone was in her stall, Darvi ran out the back door, invisible to anyone not at the house. She ran the whole way up to the house and was surprised when the front door opened. Ian stepped out, grabbed her arms, and pulled her inside. Then, he slammed the door.

*******

"Meghan, do you have all your homework done for school tomorrow?" Gabriel asked his niece.

The young girl shook her head. "No, Uncle Gabiel. The math is hard."

"Bring it down here, and I'll help you with it."

Danny smiled as Meghan hurried up the stairs. "You're really good with her, Gabe."

"She's a good-" The crashing of the front door interrupted him.

Both of the men turned toward the door, and Gabriel stopped cold. "Thought I wouldn't come back? You won't get away that easily," Danny Kief threatened as he advanced on Gabriel.

The young agent realized what was happening and stepped between his friend and the intruder. "You should get out now." Danny's face appeared calm, but his voice held a threatening tone.

"Do you always have someone else fight your battles," Kief sneered around Danny at Gabriel.

Danny started forward, but the man stopped him with a sharp right to the face. He shook his head then caught another blow on his chin. He grabbed the man's sleeve, but Kief jerked the arm back, throwing Danny off balance. The agent stumbled to his knees, and Kief kicked him, rolling him to the other side of the room. He laid there, softly groaning in pain.

Kief started for Gabriel again. The young man's mind raced trying to find a way out. There wasn't one. The stairs were behind him. The intruder blocked his path to the door. He would never make it to the kitchen in time and would be trapped if he made a break for the basement, and Meghan would be back down soon. He had to fight this man.

Kief grabbed Gabriel's shirt and jerked him forward as he raised his knee. The young man doubled over, gasping in pain, when the knee pushed all the air out of him. Kief sent two punches to his opponent's face. One smashed into his nose, and the other opened a gash on his right cheekbone. While Gabriel tried to set himself for the next blow, Kief sent a roundhouse to the side of his head. Before the light show stopped, Gabriel felt the air rushing by his head as another blow was ready to land. He ducked his head and felt Kief's fist brush across the back of it. He rushed in while his attacker was still slightly off balance.

He landed three punches to Kief's midsection before the larger man managed to push him away. They both panted for a moment before coming together again. Kief hit Gabriel directly under the heart. With several more blows to the ribs, he had the smaller man against a wall. He sent punch after punch to his stomach before easing away. Gabriel slid down the wall then struggled to his feet.

Kief was a fighter. He had beat many champions through his ruthless fighting style. Now he couldn't help but admire this man. He wasn't a fighter, Danny Kief could tell that with one glance. He should be down by now. He certainly had a fighter's will even if he lacked the physical strength and skills.

Kief landed another blow to Gabriel's stomach then cut up with a right to his chin. Gabriel dropped to the floor, still struggling to stand. Kief pushed him down with his foot and held him there while he drew his gun from under his coat. Danny, seeing what was happening, struggled to his feet even though his body was screaming at him to stay there. Kief saw him coming and easily dropped him to the floor with a clip to the chin. As his body hit the floor, the door opened.

*******

"Take Carina downstairs. There's a room there father had constructed in case of an intrusion when I was gone. You'll be safe there. Dakota is already there with Josiah. Stay there until one of us comes for you."

Darvi started to protest, "Ian, I want to stay with y-"

Ian wouldn't let her finish. "No, Darvi. I will have you safe. Now go."

She leaned up and kissed him. Then, she turned and went to her daughter's room. Ian turned to Jason. "Take that rifle and stand guard by the window. But do not stand in front of it. You'll be an easy target then."

He left the room then returned a moment later. Holding up a pair of handguns, he said, "If he gets close enough, use these. If he manages to get through the door, use the knife I gave you. I hope it does not come to that."

"Where are you going?" Jason asked as Ian started to leave the room.

He turned and grinned at the younger man. "Attack, always attack."

"Glad he's on our side," Jason muttered as he turned back to the window.

Ian made his way upstairs and walked to the end of the main hallway. There he opened the window, sat on the sill, and threw his cloth-wrapped sword onto the roof. Glancing once at the ground, he grabbed onto the edge of the roof and swung his legs clear of the window. He only hung there for a moment then swung his body up to the roof. After taking a second to get his balance, he was running across the roof.

*******

Renee ran down the stairs, not even realizing the door had opened. All she saw was her husband on the floor and a man with a gun standing over him. She stopped when she saw Sara enter the room.

Sara took the scene in before her at a glance. Then she started forward as the bracelet on her wrist transformed into a gauntlet. Kief turned to face her and could only stare in awe for a moment. Then he raised his gun. Sara was in close by this point. She swung her fist, connecting with the man's jaw. They all heard the sound of it breaking, then the man crumpled to the floor. He only stayed there for a minute though.

Desperation not to die in prison like his brother drove him forward. He leaped to his feet and darted for the door. Sara stepped in front of him, trying to stop him. His impetus was too much; he couldn't stop. The sword slid through his stomach. He gasped, then his body went limp.

The blade retracted, and the gauntlet returned to a dormant bracelet. Sara dropped down beside Gabriel making sure he was all right. His nose was bleeding, and his one eye was beginning to swell. There were some cuts on his face, and she thought he had a few bruised ribs. Other than that, he seemed fine.

As she stood, a vision assaulted her. Ian running across the roof of the mansion. Jason standing at a window with a rifle in his hands. Darvi and Dakota huddling in a dark room with their children. Mobius sneaking across the yard. She shook herself out of the trance. "I need to go. I'll send my partner after the body."

She hurried out of the room before anyone could ask any questions.