Disclaimer: Acheron Parthenopaeus, Nick Gautier, Talon of the Morrigantes(sp), Kyrian of Thrace, Madam Selene, Amanda Devereaux-Hunter and all other Dark-Hunters are a registered trademark of Sherrilyn Kenyon, © ?-2003. I am merely a humble fan who wishes to pay homage to one of my favorite authors. You go girl!

Miss Parker, Jarod, Lyle, Sydney, Ethan, Margaret, Charles, Mr. Raines, Mr. Parker, (and any other Pretender character I might have mentioned) are property of TNT, AOL TimeWarner, Craig W. Van Sickle, Steven Long Mitchell and whoever else owned/owns them during the Pretender's 4 season run on NBC and it's re-airing on TNT. It's just that I love these people so much, even though I know they don't actually exist. To me, they will always exist in my heart and the heart of other fans like me who keep these characters alive by writing fic about them. Someday, the Powers that Be will listen to us and put the entire four seasons on DVD, perhaps in time for next Christmas????? *here's hoping*

On with the FIC!

Synopsis: Though MP and J have just shared an incredible night of passion, Jarod knows that it is forbidden to be with her. Lyle has just had a run-in with Selena, who freaked Lyle out when she accurately "saw" what was going on. Our unknown female assassin sent by the Triumvirate is due to arrive anytime after sun up, and MP is only wearing a silk shirt, and her lavender panties… there is something seriously wrong here, since J has just torn two pieces of her clothing apart. Any questions? Mwehehehehehe!!!!

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The shack appeared all too soon.

Jarod expertly steered the catamaran into the dock inside the dilapidated building and helped Parker out of it. He unlocked the door and they exited the building, with Jarod closing the door with the small remote control and replacing it inside the bizarre mailbox.

Nick wasn't there yet.

Jarod handed Parker the cell phone, "Here. Call Lyle."

Taking the phone, Parker dialed her brother's number and waited for him to pick up. It took four rings before he finally answered brusquely, "What?"

"Lyle, it's Parker," she finally answered, her eyes never leaving Jarod's face as she spoke.

Jarod, however, seemed to be all but ignoring her, refusing to meet her eyes in the darkness. It was so frustrating.

There was silence. "Where the hell are you, Parker?" Lyle managed to demand when he could finally speak again.

"You don't want to know," she evaded, "Listen, I am fine, the guy that kidnapped me wasn't Jarod after all. He looks a lot like him, but I've spent the last 24 hours with him. He knows nothing about us."

Lyle snorted, "Quit screwing with me, Parker. I am not in the mood for whatever bullshit you have up your sleeve. We bring Jarod back to the Centre, together. That's final."

Parker closed her eyes for a moment, feeling a headache coming on, "Lyle, listen very carefully to what I am saying," she began slowly, as if she were talking to a dimwitted child and not her twin brother who was equally as shrewd as she. "This man is not Jarod. He has nothing to do with this. Jarod is dead. How can you doubt what you and I both saw that night? I shot him; hell, you shot him, for god's sake. He can't have survived two shots like that."

She had succeeded in shutting Lyle up for a moment, but he recovered quickly, "If that's true, then how did he know my name? For someone who knows nothing about us, he certainly seemed to know enough to fool us both that night."

Parker was trying to come up with a retort when Lyle spoke up again, "Shit, he's finally gotten to you, hasn't he? That son of a bitch, you're on his side now, aren't you? Well it's too late, Parker!" Lyle began laughing hysterically, almost, "It's too late, because our Daddy dearest is sending someone else in to clean up this little mess."

Stunned, Parker felt as if the ground had suddenly dropped from underneath her, "What the hell are you talking about, Lyle? Who did Raines send in to replace us?" she practically yelled.

"If I were you, Parker, I'd get as far away from Jarod as I could. Hell, if you can't live without the bastard, take him with you, but get out of New Orleans tonight. Don't you know what you're up against? The orders to bring Jarod in unharmed came directly from the Triumvirate. Just like the orders to capture and execute Jarod and his family did. I didn't even have to search for any of them, not even Jarod. The location of each of my targets was provided with the orders. All I had to do was go pick them up."

The implications of Lyle's confession scared the hell out of Parker. She blanched and opened her mouth, but couldn't find her voice.

Lyle's voice softened, "I know I am the last person you would ever expect to hear this from, but get out, sis. Get away from then Centre, while you can. They're going to kill us both, the Parker name be damned, for failing to capture Jarod."

"Lyle," Parker choked out, afraid of what he had said, "Come with us then," she whispered.

There was a humorless chuckle, "You know I can't. For one, Jarod would kill me the first chance he got; and two, I'm too far infected with this disease. It's too late for me to change from what I am now, sis."

Though Parker would never have admitted 24 hours ago, she did then, "I can't lose you, Lyle. Not you too," the words were one of the hardest she had ever said out loud.

He paused before he finally told her, "You'll survive, Parker. You always have. Somehow, I'll find a way to survive as well. If there was one thing Mr. Parker passed on to us both, it was survival at all costs," he swallowed heavily, "Promise me you'll get away from this life, before its too late for you too, Parker."

"I promise," she whispered so softly, just before Lyle hung up the phone.

She would have crumpled to the ground, but Jarod was there, holding her and stroking her hair. He wiped away the tears she didn't even know she cried, pulled her close enough to absorb her trembling into his own body. He whispered words of comfort, some nonsensical, some just assurances that he would always be there for her, knowing that even as he spoke them, he could never fulfill them.

When Parker got a hold on herself, she pushed away from the comfort Jarod offered her and walked a few steps into the darkness to separate herself from simply losing herself in Jarod's strength. It would be so easy to do, she thought. However, from what Jarod had told her, she knew that he had been serious about them parting ways. She had seen it in his eyes, in his face before they had left.

"Lyle told me something you should know," she spoke quietly, after she knew her voice would no longer tremble.

"What would that be?"

Parker took a deep breath, "He said that when he was ordered to bring you and your family in, the orders came directly from the Triumvirate, that he didn't even have to search for you," she paused, "Because each of your locations was already included with the orders."

Jarod sucked in a sharp breath.

Parker pushed on, not allowing Jarod to speak, "He also said that because he and I failed to bring you in, Raines is sending a replacement, doubtless from the Triumvirate, since our present orders came directly from there as well."

She felt him walk to her and put his arms around her slender body hesitantly; "They will never stop hunting me."

She turned to him then, her eyes shining with the tears she refused to shed, "Leave New Orleans, Jarod. We can go together. I don't want to go back now. Not after all that has happened. There is nothing left for me there."

Jarod shook his head violently; "I can't Parker. I can't run anymore."

Her laugh sounded strained and brittle, even to her own ears, "You can't win, Jarod. As long as the Centre exists, the Triumvirate, they will never stop hunting you! They're the ones making up all the rules to whatever twisted little game they want to play."

Jarod leaned down and placed a feather light kiss on her forehead, calming her down quite a bit by the serenity he presented, "Trust me, Parker. The Centre cannot even hope to win against me. Don't you think my Dark-Hunter brethren won't help me if I need it? I've got the resources of the ancient Greek gods at my disposal, and the power to transform myself into anyone I want to be," he wrapped his arms tighter about her body and simply held her. "I'm tired of running, Parker."

She allowed herself to lean against his hard body, allowed herself to absorb some of his strength. It was such a relief to be able to do that. To rely on someone else to protect her, to hold her, something she hadn't been able to do since her mother died. She calmed down and simply inhaled the intoxicating scent she'd come to associate with Jarod. Leather and musk.

"Awwwwww, how sweet. Somebody get me a Kodak quick!" an extremely sarcastic voice surprised them both.

Feeling like she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, Parker jumped and pulled away from Jarod.

"Nick," Jarod greeted the stranger, "Bout time you got here."

Though it was too dark to really get a good look at him, Parker could see her was tall, looked to be in his mid-twenties with long, dark brown hair.

"Yeah, well screw you, Jarod. I couldn't get into your damn house; you're lucky I found the key. You're fake dog poop was not funny. My hands STILL smell like shit," Nick groused as he led Jarod and Parker back to an all black Viper and opened the door. Nick rummaged around the backseat of the car for a moment before pulling out a new set of clothes for Jarod.

Jarod just laughed as he grabbed the clothes and began undressing without batting an eye at either of them.

"Ah jeez," Nick muttered as he turned away, "You know, you didn't have to pick up all their bad habits, Jarod. You're not some ancient warrior with no sense of shame, shit." To Parker, he explained, "Most Dark-Hunters are used to parading around naked for the hell of it. They don't care who sees them," Nick laughed, "I always figured that since Jarod was the Renaissance man, he wouldn't drop his drawers for all the gods to see."

Parker began laughing too; her eyes never left Jarod's amazing body as he dressed in the clothing Nick had brought him. A black cotton shirt, a tight pair of black denim jeans. He didn't ask her for his jacket back.

"Jarod has always surprised me with his ability to adapt so well," she told Nick, finally turning to face him and getting a good view of his features for the first time by the dome light inside the Viper. He was handsome and did he know it, too. The way his hazel-blue eyes twinkled, his dimples appeared whenever he smiled, he looked cocky.

She also saw that he was eyeing her bare legs with more interest than she liked. But before she could do anything to teach Nick a lesson in manners, Jarod grabbed Nick and shoved him away towards where his bike was parked.

"You get the drive the crotch rocket home, Nick," he told him a little too cheerfully, "And by the way, have some respect for the lady, Nick. I seriously doubt you want me to watch her kick your ass, do you?"

Nick snorted, "Yeah right—" but Jarod cut him off.

"Never underestimate her, Nicky." Jarod warned as he crossed his arms over his chest and smiled so devilishly that Parker couldn't help but play along with him. She eyed Nick as if she would have liked nothing more than to do exactly as Jarod had threatened. "The last time I underestimated her, she dislocated her thumb just so she could shoot me," Jarod chuckled.

Nick sneered at them both, but he ambled obediently over to the bike and moments later sped off down the rode.

They both got into the car and rode in silence, until Parker finally asked him, "Where are you taking me?"

Jarod tensed at the question. But hell, he'd been expecting it. He took a deep breath and prayed that he was doing the right thing by being honest with her. "I'm taking you to a friend. You'll be safe there until you decide where you want to go."

Parker wanted to hit him, for the blank look on his face, so impersonal that she could have meant nothing to him. Instead she snapped, "You're getting rid of me so soon?"

"Parker," he began, his voice cracked. He looked at her briefly and she swore she could see the pain he was in, but the next moment he was impassive again, "When I became this, I took oaths. I walk alone, Parker. It's forbidden for me to be with you. Gods, you don't even know how many codes I've broken in the last twenty-four hours. Besides, if you stay with me, you'd become a Daimon target. No matter how capable you are, you couldn't fight these guys, Parker. They'd eat you for breakfast. Literally."

She sighed, "So what are we supposed to do now? Are you just going to walk away from me? Pretend last night never happened?"

"No!" he said the word so forcefully that she had no choice but to believe it. "Parker, do you know how long I've wanted you? Wanted this?" he glanced over at her again, his grip on the steering wheel was so tight, she saw his knuckled protruding. "From the very first moment I laid eyes on you, when my heart rate increased and my stomach tightened, I didn't even know what was happening to me, but I knew it was because of you."

She turned away and looked out at the passing trees, wishing that she could go back to when Jarod had asked her to run away with him just after his capture on the island of Carthis. She crossed her arms over her breasts again, this time to shield her heart from the pain she felt.

"Parker," his voice broke over her name, "I – I have no choice," he finally murmured.

She nodded, resolute. But for just a moment, she had thought he was going to tell her he loved her. Something he had yet to tell her. Damn him, she thought peevishly, if he thinks he can just screw me and then dump me off on someone else, he's dead wrong.

The rest of the ride was silent.

A familiar custom built Buell motorcycle sat outside the house that Jarod pulled up to in the Garden District. He should have known that Ash would be there, ready and waiting to kick his ass back in line. He heaved a sigh and got out of his car, and then led Parker up the walkway and knocked on the door.

Amanda Devereaux-Hunter answered the door. She was an attractive woman, with long curly, dark auburn hair pulled into a ponytail and pretty blue eyes. On her hip was a blond moppet, with her father's hazel-green eyes that were more green than hazel.

Jarod smiled widely at the pair, "Hey Amanda, Kyrian's home right?"

Amanda gave Jarod a welcoming smile in return; she looked pretty tired though. "Yeah, he's in his study. With Ash." She opened the door wider and allowed both Jarod and Parker to slip past her.

"Amanda, this is Miss Parker," Jarod introduced them.

"Nice to meet you," Parker murmured, Amanda nodded and smiled back at her.

Marissa reached for Jarod, her chubby face breaking into a smile as Jarod spoke. "Uuh!" she vocalized, expressing her wish to be picked up by Jarod.

Jarod reached for her, and then Amanda turned her attention to Parker. "Hi, sorry about the wreck this place is in. Marissa learned to walk a few weeks ago and I've been running after her ever since."

"Why don't I take Marissa to see her daddy, then. You look like you could definitely use a break Amanda," Jarod offered.

Nodding her head and giving Jarod a grateful smile, Amanda sighed, "Thanks Jarod," she turned to Parker, "Would you care for something to drink, Miss Parker?"

Jarod was still cuddling the little girl, but she caught his eye and he nodded to her, so Miss Parker pasted on a fake smile and agreed to get a drink with Amanda. Though it annoyed her that she had let herself be dismissed so easily, Miss Parker walked behind Amanda into the kitchen, and watched as she poured her a glass of water.

Eyeing her guest up and down, Amanda smiled indulgently, "You need some clothes. Jeans, t-shirt and a pair of sneakers all right with you?"

Parker was a little taken aback, but knew she looked a little ridiculous standing there in an over-sized leather jacket that only covered her to her knees, an unseen pair of lavender panties complete with embarrassing yellow daisies and a rumpled silk shirt. "That sounds wonderful, thank you," she said quietly.

Nodding, the younger woman left and came a back a few minutes later, carrying a pair of faded denims, a pink sweater, a pair of white socks and scuffed tennis shoes. After being directed to the bathroom, Parker gratefully changed her clothes and once she was fully dressed again, she felt almost human. If it weren't for the fact that she was still bra-less and wearing clothes a bit too baggy for her slim figure, she would have felt more herself again.

She came back out and found the kitchen where Amanda was waiting for her at the kitchen table.

"I can see it in your eyes. You're pretty bewildered. I take it that Jarod told you about his unusual occupation?" she waited for Parker's confirming nod before continuing, "I'm almost just as certain that he didn't explain everything to you either?"

"No, he didn't."

"Ask away."

Parker blinked, not used to having someone be so completely open about something that was so obviously a secret. She nodded though, but still not certain how to begin. "Your husband? He's a Dark-Hunter?"

Amanda shook her head, "No, he was. He's … retired."

Frowning, "I didn't think this was the sort of job you could retire from. I hadn't seen any 401k forms to fill out, either."

Laughing, Amanda took a drink from her glass of water, "No, usually Dark-Hunters don't retire. However, Kyrian's a special case. You see, he found his out-clause, a way to drain his Dark-Hunter powers." Here Amanda blushed, but then she held out her hand for Miss Parker to examine, the palm was scarred badly, she saw.

"What happened?"

"I gave Kyrian back his soul."

Her own blue eyes wide, Miss Parker wanted to ask all of the questions she had running through her mind, she just didn't know where to start. So she asked Amanda to tell her everything.

Chuckling, Amanda shook her head, "Where do you want me to begin?"

Parker raised an eyebrow, "How about at the beginning?"

Amanda nodded, an amused smiled still on her face. She began explaining about the origins of the Apollites, Apollo's curse, and how Artemis began creating her Dark-Hunters to combat the Daimons.

"So these Daimons are the vampires?" Parker asked

Nodding, Amanda could tell her guest was having trouble believing her, "Yes. As I understand it, the term vampire didn't even exist back then."

Parker, who prided herself on knowing what threats surrounded her, couldn't help but ask skeptically, "But there can't be that many vampires, can there?"

"Oh, you'd be surprised, Miss Parker. There are countless Daimons, that many more Apollites yet to turn, and thousands of Dark-Hunters to combat them."

It was too much for Parker. She had always lived in the real world, she told herself. Yet, even she couldn't deny that there were some unexplainable things in this world. Her inner sense was one of them.

She finally worked up the nerve to ask the question she hadn't dared to think, "How did you get your husband's soul back?"

Amanda sighed. "I didn't. Acheron did."

Frowning, Parker demanded, "Who the hell is Acheron?"

If Amanda was offended by Parker's show of temper, she had the grace not to betray it, making Parker feel uncharacteristically guilty for slipping. Instead, Amanda smiled sympathetically, "Acheron is like their unofficial leader. He's the oldest and the very first Dark-Hunter. Whenever Artemis makes a new Hunter, she sends Ash to train them. Whenever a Dark-Hunter gets out of line, Ash is also the one who is sent in to deal with them."

That sent a chill of foreboding down Parker's spine. "How?"

Amanda hedged, "Well, it all depends on what they've done."

Though Amanda was clearly reluctant about saying anything more, Parker's interrogation skills had been honed on more tight-lipped and secretive prey than she. "Amanda, whatever you know, you must tell me."

"Oh all right. I'm not certain how accurate this is, but there's a rumor that Acheron is Artemis' unofficial assassin whenever a Dark-Hunter gets out of line and goes rogue. Dark-Hunters have an very strict code of conduct they must abide by, and if they step out of line, there are consequences to what they've done."

Jarod's words came back to haunt her: It's forbidden for me to be with you. Gods, you don't even know how many codes I've broken in the last twenty-four hours.

Parker had to know what she was up against, "What about what Jarod did? I've known him since he was a child. He kidnapped me yesterday evening and took me to some cabin out on the bayou."

Amanda's face was comical, "Woah. That's not good, though not unlike what Kyrian did to me," Amanda giggled girlishly.

Somewhat relieved, Parker couldn't help but ask, "What exactly did Kyrian do to you?" Whatever had happened couldn't have been too bad, because Kyrian was still alive with all his vitals intact.

"Well, he didn't kidnap me. A Daimon named Desiderius did who then proceeded to handcuff us together. Once I was free, he tried to leave me, but he just couldn't. He ended up bringing me here for several days. Once Desiderius almost killed Kyrian, Ash consulted the Oracle who said something to the effect that the only one who could beat Desiderius was the Dark-Hunter with a soul. Which is impossible since Artemis keeps all of her Hunter's souls in case a Daimon gets lucky and beats a Dark-Hunter; they wouldn't be able to steal the most powerful souls of all.

"That was when Ash came to me. He's truly scary. You'll probably get to meet him soon, since he'll want to see for himself why Jarod would break so many rules for you. When you meet him, you'll see what I mean. Anyway, Ash wanted to know if I truly loved Kyrian, because if I failed the test I had to take, then Kyrian would be lost forever." Amanda's eyes looked a bit haunted.

Parker could only assume Amanda had passed, "So you were able to restore Kyrian's soul."

Amanda nodded. "I won't lie to you, Miss Parker. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. I had to let Desiderius kill Kyrian, after I drained his powers. I stood there and watched as that monster released a bolt straight into his heart, watched Kyrian die thinking I'd betrayed him, heard him whisper his last words in my ear: I love you, Amanda. Only then could I place the medallion over the double crossbow and release his soul back into his body."

Parker nodded, her face impassive as she thought about what Amanda had said. But she had come so far now. She realized she wanted Jarod for her own, if only she knew that was what he wanted too.

"How did Acheron get Kyrian's soul?"

Amanda's eyes widened, "I have no idea. I asked Sunshine the same thing. She doesn't know either, and no one else seems to know."

"Sunshine?"

"Oh, right," Amanda laughed sheepishly, "I forgot you didn't know everyone. Sunshine is Talon's wife. He owns the cabin you and Jarod stayed at last night."

Parker blushed, but then she sat up straighter, "Is Talon tall, blond, extremely good looking, with some sort of a brogue and Celtic tattoos?"

Amanda nodded slowly, "You've met him?"

Parker had to laugh then. The strange man that Jarod had transformed himself into to ease the alligators, it had to have been Talon. "No," she admitted, "But Jarod showed me what he looks like."

Clearly confused, Amanda decided not to pursue that. Instead she stood and asked Miss Parker if she wanted to rest, but Parker declined. "I'm not tired right now."

Stretching and yawning, Amanda laughed sheepishly, "It's way past Marissa's bedtime, and I am exhausted. When you're ready to go to bed, let Kyrian know and he will show you to your room, all right? I hope you don't mind."

Shaking her head, Parker couldn't help but smile. "No, go ahead."

Amanda disappeared out the door.

Parker sat there for a little while longer, thinking about what Amanda had told her.

Jarod climbed the stairs and found Ash and Kyrian right where Amanda had said they would be. As soon as Marissa saw her daddy, she wiggled from Jarod's arms and toddled over to Kyrian, who stooped and picked up the child and snuggled her close.

Ash merely stood there watching Jarod, his eyes were covered by sunglasses, and today his hair was flaming orange and red. It was something of a joke among most Dark-Hunters how often Ash changed hair color. One day it would be blue, then black, then purple. There were bets going around as to whether Ash was a true blond, brunette or red head.

"I think I'll go play with Marissa," Kyrian laughed as he watched Jarod and Ash simply stare at each other.

Once Kyrian left the room, Ash took off his sunglasses. His eerie gaze unsettled Jarod, but he refused to let Ash intimidate him.

When Ash spoke, his voice was quiet, but deadly nonetheless. "She had better be worth it, Jarod."

He gritted his teeth at Ash's tone, "She is."

Ash stalked forward, towering over Jarod by several inches, his face pressed closer until Jarod felt stifled by him. "Are you certain? I don't think you're exactly one to judge for yourself. You should know better than to let a piece of ass get in the way of your duties."

His fist clenched involuntary, "Ash," Jarod hissed in warning.

"Listen Jarod, this is no longer about you. Once you became a Dark-Hunter, you took that on. I am not going to allow you to put everyone in danger just so you can get laid."

Jarod took a swing at Ash before he even realized he intended it. Ash simply laughed at him as he dodged the blow, then threw his own punch that caught Jarod right in the jaw and sent him sprawling on the floor.

"Man, you're as bad as Talon was," Ash commented idly as he leaned over and offered Jarod a hand. Jarod glared up at Ash, but he took the hand anyway and was hauled to his feet.

"You're a real asshole, Acheron, you know that?"

Ash just sighed, "Yeah, I've heard that one before," he answered dryly. He opened his mouth again, but another voice beat him to it.

"Yeah, and if I remember correctly, his retort was something along the lines of, I'm an Ash, not an ass." Kyrian laughed as Jarod turned and threw him a sour look. "Oooh, Jarod, you've got the dark and evil look down pat. I'm impressed."

Ash didn't look amused at Kyrian's interruption. "Well, I think I'll be even more impressed when you guys come up with better insults. In the last one hundred years alone, do you know how many Hunters have called me an ass? I've beat the shit out of some Daimons who had better material than you guys."

This time both Kyrian and Jarod laughed at Ash's annoyed tone.

"Don't worry Jarod, he's just insulted because you dared throw a punch at him," Kyrian taunted.

"Heh, no. I'm annoyed because I had to listen to a pissed off goddess rant about one of my Hunters breaking all sorts of rules and causing undo attention to himself," Ash answered, his arms crossed over his chest as he gave each man before him a piercing look with his metallic, ever-shifting eyes.

"I know what I am doing," Jarod insisted, meeting Ash's piercing stare, "I came to Kyrian because I was hoping he could help me find somewhere for her to go. She's no longer safe and I can't just abandon her."

"Perhaps now is a good time to explain to me who was chasing you the night Artemis sent me to you."

Jarod's look said he'd rather not, but he owed it to these men to at least let them know what sort of enemy they were up against.

"When I was six years old, I was kidnapped by this organization called the Centre. I was kept there for most of my life, forced to run simulations, forced to be their guinea pig. They used many of my sims by selling them to the highest bidder, who then used what I'd thought up to kill hundreds of people. I escaped from the Centre in 1996. I began helping people, using my gifts to bring justice to those that deserved it.

"The Centre wanted me back, and ever since my escape, they've sent people after me. Miss Parker is the one who led the search. Two years ago, I was captured by her twin brother, Mr. Lyle and my entire family was murdered in cold blood before my very eyes. The only person that I loved that wasn't killed was her. When I was shot and killed, well you guys know the rest. I agreed to Artemis' terms and when I tried to get my revenge against Lyle, Miss Parker stopped me by shooting me in the back."

Ash and Kyrian, both, burst in laughter. Ash clapped him on the back, "Jarod, if I didn't know any better, I would say you were full of shit. Unfortunately, I was told what you were and that someday your past might catch up to you."

"Your belief in me is overwhelming, Ash. But I have bigger problems than your belief or disbelief. I am tired of running; I am tired of looking over my shoulder. I want it to end."

"Off hand, I'd say that Jarod is right. We need to get these people off Jarod's ass for good," Kyrian commented.

Ash nodded, "All right, Jarod. You know better than any of us what they are capable of, so what do we have to do to get rid of these bastards?"

A creak by the door caused all three men to look up sharply. There stood Miss Parker. She didn't smile at any of them, just merely gave them a challenging stare that told them she would not be leaving without a fight.

"It's not as simple as that," she finally told them, "The Centre is an entire network, their influence is everywhere, unseen, but definitely there."

Kyrian and Ash both seemed to be sizing her up, Jarod gave her his dopey half-grin, which she ignored. She walked into the room and shut the door behind her.

"So how do we get rid of them?" Kyrian asked.

Parker's smile was more a smirk as she stared at the three men before her. All of them were extremely handsome; the one she figured was Acheron especially, except for those mercurial eyes that shimmered eerily. He was one of the tallest men she had ever seen, dressed in a black leather jacket, no shirt, metal studs running down the seam of his leather pants and black biker boots, similar to the ones Jarod was wearing, but the metal work on them was completely different.

The one she figured to be Amanda's husband was just as devastatingly attractive. He was blond, lean, and muscular like a predator. His gaze was sharp and intelligent, with hazel-green eyes and classic Grecian features; he was a man to be reckoned with. Yet, Parker had eyes only for the lethally dark man between them. Jarod. With his dark hair, black eyes, and well-known features, he was easily the most handsome man in the room to her.

She shrugged, "I'm not even certain it can be done. When my great-grandfather first came to America, he was supposed to have brought these scrolls with him that foretold his family's rise to power. Then the Triumvirate came along and only left control in my father's hands because they thought he still possessed them."

"What scrolls?" Ash asked sharply, his gaze fixed on her.

Jarod was giving Parker a measured look now, his eyes never left hers as he answered for her, "The Vespusian scrolls. They were hidden on an island off the coast of Scotland for hundreds of years called Carthis, until Parker and I found them almost three years ago. Her father took them and jumped out of a plane with them in his arms, and has not been seen or heard from since."

Kyrian was watching Acheron's reaction to Jarod and Parker's revelation, finally he asked, "Do you know what they're talking about, Ash?"

But Ash didn't answer. He seemed very far away for a moment before finally answering, "Did either of you get to read the scrolls? Do you know what they said?"

Both Parker and Jarod shook their heads. "We never got the chance. Her father caught us just as we found them and we were taken back to Scotland."

Ash nodded, then looked straight at Parker, "You mentioned a Triumvirate. Who are these people?"

Parker shook her head, "I only know they are located somewhere in Africa. As far as any knows only my fa – Mr. Parker or Mr. Raines has ever had contact with them. They've sent two different men, but I think they were only mediators, not actually part of the Triumvirate."

His face tense, Ash put his Ray Bans back on his face and pushed past everyone to leave. Jarod's voice stopped him.

"What do you know that you're not telling us, T-Rex?"

He didn't even both turning around, "Your friend stays here for the night, Jarod. You need to patrol your area and I have some things to take care of." With that, he was gone, out the door and they all heard the faint rumble of his motorcycle rev and take off down the street.

"Well, you can bet whenever Ash evades a question so neatly, he's hiding something." Kyrian remarked dryly.

Jarod looked over at Parker, who looked adorably uncertain as she stood there. "The only question is what?"

"So that's your boss?" Parker asked after a few moments of silence.

Jarod nodded.

"Why do his eyes look like that?" she wondered.

Neither man knew, or else they didn't want to tell her. She wasn't certain which one, because Kyrian and Jarod glanced over at each other blankly.

Finally, Kyrian spoke up, "No one really knows. Ash doesn't like to talk about himself or what he knows. All I know is that ever since I've known him, he's been just as he is now."

"Just how long have you known him?"

Kyrian grinned, "Twenty-one hundred years."

Parker gaped; she just couldn't help it. He looked pretty damn good for a man that was over two thousand years old!

Kyrian merely laughed, amused by her reaction. He held out a hand to her, "I'm Kyrian Hunter, by the way."

Parker took his hand and shook it, "I figured as much. Marissa has your eyes."

Again, Kyrian grinned. "I'll leave you two alone, your room is just down the hall, second door to the left, when you're ready for bed."

Jarod growled low in his throat as Kyrian threw him a wicked smile on his way out.

"Nice people you work with, Jarod." Parker told him.

He smiled and shrugged, "They're sarcastic bastards, but I don't know anyone else I'd rather have at my back."

She smiled softly. "You should go. I don't want you getting into anymore trouble because of me."

He closed the distance between them, his presence invading her senses. He used his forefinger to lift her chin up so that she could see the longing in his black eyes. "Parker," he began softly.

"Yes?" she whispered, her voice breaking because she wondered if he might actually tell her how he felt about her.

Why was it so hard for him to admit it? He didn't know, so instead of telling her what was in his heart, he leaned down and kissed her so passionately, all either of them could do was cling to each other mindlessly.

Parker was the one to pull away, afraid that if he kept touching her they'd end up on the floor, or in the bed two doors down the hall. "Go, Jarod," she urged him, knowing that if he stayed any longer she would tell him what was in her heart. She knew it was foolish of her to want him to say the words first, but she couldn't help a lifetime of betrayal and mistrust.

He nodded and pulled away from her, leaving her alone and vulnerable. His footsteps faded away and Parker fought against a sudden wave of tears.

"Don't, Parker," she whispered to herself fiercely, "You're overtired and for the first time in your life, you're not under the Centre's influence. Don't do something stupid, like cry because he didn't say he loves you."

Once she had her emotions under control, Parker slipped from the room, went to her bedroom, and fell into the bed gratefully. It was a long time before she was finally asleep.