A Family Affair
Disclaimer: I don't own the Witchblade characters. I'm just having fun. Enjoy! Oh, and Happy New Year! May 2004 bring good health, happiness, and prosperity to you all! Peace.
Chapter 58
Laughing breathlessly after her mad dash to the main house, Sara turned and smirked at her nephew from the safety of the doorway to the coatroom.
"No fair!" Joey grumbled, reluctantly dropping the enormous snowball he'd hastily assembled as he ran after his fleeing aunt. "You didn't finish shoveling your side of the driveway!"
"It's dinnertime!" she grinned. "I'll finish up after we eat. You're welcome to help me. Or you could volunteer to do the rest?"
"Yeah, right," the teen shot back, joining her in the coatroom. "Okay, so you outfoxed me. This time."
"You're darn right I did."
"Hey, Sara," Paula said, appearing in the doorway to the kitchen. "Um, I have some bad news."
"Uh-oh, I don't like the sound of that." Sara shrugged out of her down jacket and hung it up. "Please don't tell me Robbie burned the lasagna!" she said, worriedly sniffing the air. To her relief, nothing smelled burnt. In fact, the mouthwatering scent that permeated the house primed her already ravenous appetite.
"No. It's much, much worse." Paula glanced over her shoulder and then lowered her voice. "He invited Joe and Marie over for dinner, and they're on their way!"
Sara stared at her sister-in-law in horror. "B-but the street hasn't even been p-plowed!" she stuttered. "How are they gonna get here?"
"Believe it or not, they're walking over. They're only five blocks away, remember?" Paula reminded her.
"Grandpa and Grandma are on their way over here?" Joey said. "Cool! I'll go meet them halfway!" Zipping his coat back up, he bounded back outside.
"Damn!" Sara muttered, "I knew Robbie was pissed off, but why in God's name would he do something like this? I better go warn Ian."
"Warn me about what?" Ian questioned, opening the outer door and entering the coatroom. "And where did Joseph go running off to?" He shrugged out of his overcoat, and Sara saw that the icepack was ace- bandaged to his left shoulder.
"Robbie invited Joe and Marie over for dinner," she said dully. "Joey went to meet them halfway. They'll be here any minute."
A look akin to panic actually crossed her Protector's face and his hazel eyes grew wide. "We could hide in the garage apartment. They need never know we are here," he blurted out.
But Paula shook her head. "Too late. Robbie already told them you're both here. I'll bet Marie practically volunteered to shovel a path here when she heard that," she said ruefully. "Nothing short of another blizzard could stop her now."
"Ian, maybe if we hurry up and throw all of our stuff in the car, we could make a clean getaway," Sara said just a touch desperately.
Now Ian shook his head regretfully. "Unfortunately, in these conditions, it will take several minutes to reach the main thoroughfare, and there is no guarantee that we will not get stuck in the snow, even with four-wheel drive," he said.
Defeated, Sara sighed. "You're right, of course. I guess there's no escaping it. We were gonna have to face the music sooner or later. I was just hoping it would be later rather than sooner."
"Me, too," Ian murmured, breaking out into a cold sweat as he recalled Marie Siri's relentless interrogation of him over the dessert course the other night.
Robert Siri appeared behind his wife in the kitchen doorway. "Hi, guys."
Sara glared at him. "You just had to sic Marie on us, didn't you, Robbie?" she growled.
"Hey, my mom called me, not the other way around!" he said defensively. "My parents had all of us over for dinner the other night, so I'm just returning the favor."
"Yeah, and I bet the fact that me and Ian are here just slipped out, right?"
"Actually, Mom asked me if I'd heard from you since the blizzard," Robert informed her coolly. "She and my dad were worried sick about you after that fire at the warehouse the other night, but you never even bothered to call and let them know you were all right. I was the one who did that."
"Well, she was kind of preoccupied with nursing Ian back to health," Paula defended her, earning a grateful look from Sara.
"Yeah, among other things," Robert sniffed.
"Other things?" Sara questioned.
"I believe he is referring to our, um, extracurricular activities," Ian supplied, coloring. *Wild monkey sex,* he added privately at her blank look.
Sara scowled. "Okay, I get that you're pissed off about Ian being a professional killer, Robbie, but I never thought you'd stoop this low just to get back at me for going out with him," she told her brother angrily.
"Former professional killer," Nottingham interjected softly.
"Oh, come on, Sara, don't you think you're overreacting just a little?" Robert exclaimed exasperatedly. "You were gonna come clean to my parents eventually anyway, right? Telling them at Thanksgiving would have put a damper on the whole affair, so, the way I see it, I actually did you a favor."
"I guess you're right," she grudgingly admitted, "although I'm pretty sure that what Ian used to do for a living will pale in comparison to the fact I've hooked up with him in Marie's book. She'd love nothing better than for me to settle down and start popping out babies." 'And she'll get her wish if the Witchblade's visions are any indication,' Sara thought, unconsciously touching her still-flat stomach.
"If you would prefer not to have dinner with us, Robert, Sara and I can take our food and eat it in the garage apartment," Ian suggested quietly, fervently hoping he'd take him up on the offer. Then again, he highly doubted their absence at the dinner table would deter Marie Siri from visiting them after she'd finished her meal at the main house. It would only forestall the inevitable.
"What, and miss the chance to watch my mom give you the third degree again? Not on your life," Robert replied, grinning evilly. "That was the best part of the evening the other night!"
"That is so wrong, Robbie," Sara said, but she couldn't help grinning back at him, mightily relieved that he wasn't angry with them anymore.
"Here they are," Paula murmured, and Sara and Ian turned to see Joseph Siri, Sr. and Marie Siri coming up the driveway, accompanied by their grandson.
Abruptly, Gina Marie Siri pushed past the adults and rushed outside. "Grandma, Grandpa!" she cried, leaping into her grandfather's welcoming arms.
"Hello, my sweet girl!" he laughed, kissing her. She leaned down to receive a kiss from her grandmother, who wore a full-length fur coat and a hat with a matching fur brim.
"Well, don't you look adorable in that sweater I knit for you!" Marie said, beaming. "I know it's warm, but not that warm! Let's go inside, cara mia, before you catch your death of cold!"
Sara and Ian hastily retreated into the kitchen.
"Hi, Mom, Dad," they heard Robert say. "Here, let me take your coats."
*Are you ready for this?* Sara anxiously sent to Ian.
*Ready as I'll ever be, my love,* he replied, grasping her hand reassuringly.
"Ah, there you are, Sara and Ian!" Marie Siri said, coming into the kitchen a few moments later. Her sharp eyes flicked from their joined hands to their faces. "Joe and I were pleasantly surprised to hear that you both were here." Her husband came to stand behind her, followed by the rest of the Siri family, who stood around and watched the confrontation with unabashed interest.
"Yeah, I'm real sorry I didn't call and let you and Joe know I was all right after that warehouse fire the other night," Sara said apologetically. "I had a lot on my mind."
"Yes, like whether or not your Protector would survive the night," Marie said, carefully patting her silver-streaked dark hair back in place. "You're forgiven."
Sara blinked. "What did you just say?"
"You're forgiven."
"No, before that."
The older woman smiled slyly. "I believe you were made aware that ones such as your godfather and I exist."
As her godmother's meaning slowly dawned on Sara, she shook her head in disbelief, her stunned gaze going from one to the other. Joseph Siri, Sr. smiled broadly and winked at her.
"Wait a sec, you mean you and Joe are Watchers!?!"
Marie nodded her once again perfectly coiffed head. "Yes, Sweetie, we are. Now, be a dear and go get me a snifter of cognac. I'm chilled to the bone!"
*****
The feeling of satiation and wellbeing that suffused Sara was only partially attributable to the delicious feast she'd just eaten. She realized that at this very moment she was happier than she'd been in a very long time, and this had everything to do with the fact that she was with the people she loved most in the world. What's more, she was in love for the first time in her life, and she was secure in the fact that she was wholeheartedly loved in return by the man who sat to her left, her Protector and soul mate, Ian Nottingham. The astounding discovery that her godparents were also her Watchers was just icing on the cake.
"You're awfully quiet, Robbie," Sara said, green eyes studying her surrogate older brother's pensive features.
Sighing, Robert Siri ran a hand through his dark-brown hair. "Just trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my parents led a double life and I didn't have a clue," he said. "It's a lot to take in. First, I find out that your boyfriend is an assassin -- excuse me, former assassin," he swiftly corrected himself as he noticed Ian frown. "Next, you tell me that you're the wielder of an ancient, mystical weapon and that he's your Protector. And to top it all off, I come to find out that my parents are in on the whole thing and always have been."
"Yeah, I can see how all of this might throw you for a loop," Sara murmured, reaching over to grasp his left hand with her right hand. She winced as he recoiled from her touch, then realized that the stone set in the ornate silver bracelet on her right wrist was glowing like a red-hot ember.
"I'm sorry," Robert grimaced apologetically. "The special effects sorta caught me off guard." Hesitantly, he extended his index finger toward the Witchblade. "How does . . . Is It warm to the touch?"
Sara smiled. "Sometimes It can feel downright hot, but not now. Go ahead," she encouraged him, "I promise It won't bite."
Robert's fingertip touched the crimson stone. His eyes widened as the bracelet morphed into the light glove form, covering Sara's hand in intricately filigreed, gleaming metal. As It had done with his son earlier, the Witchblade's "eye" opened and appeared to study Robert Siri. Sara could sense Its curiosity.
"Um, did I piss It off?" her brother asked nervously, hastily removing his fingertip.
"Nah. Witchy here is just showing off," Sara assured him.
They watched as the Witchblade returned to Its deceptively innocuous bracelet form. "Does that mean you don't have complete control over It?" Robert asked her.
"Well, you could definitely say It has a mind of Its own," she admitted wryly. "I'll be honest with you: I still have a helluva lot to learn about wielding the Witchblade, but I'm getting better and better at it."
"So," Marie Siri said, having observed this interaction, "you and your Protector are going to confront Kenneth Irons tomorrow morning."
"That's the plan," Sara said, glancing at Ian, who grasped her left hand and brought it to his lips. She was unable to suppress a shiver of desire as he pressed warm lips against the spot on her wrist where her pulse beat rapidly.
"You'd better have a solid plan when it comes to Irons," Joe Siri, Sr. spoke up. "He's a devious sonofabitch, and he won't take kindly to Ian's rebellion."
"Tell me something I don't know," Sara murmured. "Since you've been keeping tabs on him for years, do you have any advice on how we should handle him?"
"Present a united front," Marie said instantly. "Knowing how new it is, Irons will test the bond between you and your Protector. He'll try his damnedest to drive you apart. Forgive me for saying so, but you are the weakest link, Ian. Since you've been under his total dominion for so long, the urge to submit to his bidding will be very, very strong, and he knows this, but you must find the strength to continue to defy him. One of our deepest regrets is failing to find you before Irons did," she said sadly.
Ian gave her a startled look. "You searched for me?"
"Far and wide, son," Joe nodded. "But by the time we located you, it was too late. Irons had already legally adopted you from the orphanage. Even back then he was too rich and powerful to take on, and we didn't dare risk exposing who we really were."
"Irons has gone to great lengths to subvert your will to his, as we feared he would. And although we are very, very pleased that you abandoned him to be with Sara these past few days, I will not lie to you: breaking free of his control once and for all will be the hardest thing you have ever done," Marie told Ian.
"But I will do it. This I swear," Nottingham said determinedly.
"Your injury still troubles you," Joe Sr. observed, indicating the rapidly melting icepack affixed to Ian's left shoulder. "You may be forced to do battle tomorrow. Are you sure you're up to it?"
"It's just some minor inflammation," Ian said dismissively. "I will be ready to fight if need be."
"Perhaps you should put off this confrontation until you've had more time to heal, Protector," Marie murmured. "Even you cannot completely recover from injuries as serious as yours were in less than a week."
Ian frowned, shaking his head. "We may not have that luxury, Signora. My father will have undoubtedly discovered where Sara and I are by now. As soon as the street in front of this house is plowed, we can expect to be attacked by his men. Our presence here puts your son and his family in danger, and the longer we delay our departure, the greater the danger grows. If I had been in my right mind four nights ago, I would have insisted we find shelter elsewhere."
"While I acknowledge the validity of your concerns, I must point out that the Witchblade will warn Sara of an impending attack, giving everyone more than enough time to escape," Joe Sr. said. "But if it will make you feel better, Robert, Paula, and the kids can come stay with us for the next few days."
"Save your breath, Joe," Marie said. "I can see that his mind is made up about confronting Kenneth Irons on the morrow. Tell us your plan," she commanded Sara and Ian. "Perhaps we can give you advice on how to strengthen it."
Over dessert, they did just that.
"Hmmm. It is a good plan," Marie said thoughtfully when they finished speaking. Absently, she toyed with the strand of pearls around her neck. Her dark eyes met her husband's for several moments. "Ah, yes! An excellent idea!" she smiled approvingly at Joe.
"So, you guys can do that, too, hunh?" Joseph Siri, Jr. observed, grinning.
"Do what?" Robert Siri asked.
"Nothing," Sara said quickly, narrowing her eyes meaningfully at her nephew.
"If you mean communicate telepathically, yes, my clever grandson, we can," Marie spoiled everything by saying.
"I knew it!" Paula Siri cried. "Beginners' luck, my ass!"
Robert gave Sara and Ian a disapproving look. "You guys actually used your telepathic powers to cheat at cards last night? You should be ashamed of yourselves!"
"I did not want to, but Sara insisted," Ian blurted out.
"Thanks a lot, Joey," Sara muttered and then rounded on Ian. "And aren't we forgetting who was counting cards last night?" He blushed bright red and darted guilty looks at Paula and Robert from beneath his long, dark lashes.
"They're not the only ones who cheat," Gina Marie piped up. "Grandma and Grandpa always beat you at bid whist, too! After they leave, Mommy always complains about how they never seem to lose, right, Daddy?" Now it was Paula's turn to blush with embarrassment.
Robert turned a disbelieving stare on his parents. "Please, say it ain't so!" he implored them.
"Pah! We don't have time for this nonsense," Marie said tartly, neatly evading the question. "Joe has come up with an excellent idea about how to put Kenneth in his place, but it will take some doing in order for it to succeed. Now, listen carefully."
More to come. Once again, I must thank all of you who took the time to post reviews. They really are a huge source of inspiration to me. Please, keep them coming, and I will endeavor to post the next chapter A.S.A.P.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Witchblade characters. I'm just having fun. Enjoy! Oh, and Happy New Year! May 2004 bring good health, happiness, and prosperity to you all! Peace.
Chapter 58
Laughing breathlessly after her mad dash to the main house, Sara turned and smirked at her nephew from the safety of the doorway to the coatroom.
"No fair!" Joey grumbled, reluctantly dropping the enormous snowball he'd hastily assembled as he ran after his fleeing aunt. "You didn't finish shoveling your side of the driveway!"
"It's dinnertime!" she grinned. "I'll finish up after we eat. You're welcome to help me. Or you could volunteer to do the rest?"
"Yeah, right," the teen shot back, joining her in the coatroom. "Okay, so you outfoxed me. This time."
"You're darn right I did."
"Hey, Sara," Paula said, appearing in the doorway to the kitchen. "Um, I have some bad news."
"Uh-oh, I don't like the sound of that." Sara shrugged out of her down jacket and hung it up. "Please don't tell me Robbie burned the lasagna!" she said, worriedly sniffing the air. To her relief, nothing smelled burnt. In fact, the mouthwatering scent that permeated the house primed her already ravenous appetite.
"No. It's much, much worse." Paula glanced over her shoulder and then lowered her voice. "He invited Joe and Marie over for dinner, and they're on their way!"
Sara stared at her sister-in-law in horror. "B-but the street hasn't even been p-plowed!" she stuttered. "How are they gonna get here?"
"Believe it or not, they're walking over. They're only five blocks away, remember?" Paula reminded her.
"Grandpa and Grandma are on their way over here?" Joey said. "Cool! I'll go meet them halfway!" Zipping his coat back up, he bounded back outside.
"Damn!" Sara muttered, "I knew Robbie was pissed off, but why in God's name would he do something like this? I better go warn Ian."
"Warn me about what?" Ian questioned, opening the outer door and entering the coatroom. "And where did Joseph go running off to?" He shrugged out of his overcoat, and Sara saw that the icepack was ace- bandaged to his left shoulder.
"Robbie invited Joe and Marie over for dinner," she said dully. "Joey went to meet them halfway. They'll be here any minute."
A look akin to panic actually crossed her Protector's face and his hazel eyes grew wide. "We could hide in the garage apartment. They need never know we are here," he blurted out.
But Paula shook her head. "Too late. Robbie already told them you're both here. I'll bet Marie practically volunteered to shovel a path here when she heard that," she said ruefully. "Nothing short of another blizzard could stop her now."
"Ian, maybe if we hurry up and throw all of our stuff in the car, we could make a clean getaway," Sara said just a touch desperately.
Now Ian shook his head regretfully. "Unfortunately, in these conditions, it will take several minutes to reach the main thoroughfare, and there is no guarantee that we will not get stuck in the snow, even with four-wheel drive," he said.
Defeated, Sara sighed. "You're right, of course. I guess there's no escaping it. We were gonna have to face the music sooner or later. I was just hoping it would be later rather than sooner."
"Me, too," Ian murmured, breaking out into a cold sweat as he recalled Marie Siri's relentless interrogation of him over the dessert course the other night.
Robert Siri appeared behind his wife in the kitchen doorway. "Hi, guys."
Sara glared at him. "You just had to sic Marie on us, didn't you, Robbie?" she growled.
"Hey, my mom called me, not the other way around!" he said defensively. "My parents had all of us over for dinner the other night, so I'm just returning the favor."
"Yeah, and I bet the fact that me and Ian are here just slipped out, right?"
"Actually, Mom asked me if I'd heard from you since the blizzard," Robert informed her coolly. "She and my dad were worried sick about you after that fire at the warehouse the other night, but you never even bothered to call and let them know you were all right. I was the one who did that."
"Well, she was kind of preoccupied with nursing Ian back to health," Paula defended her, earning a grateful look from Sara.
"Yeah, among other things," Robert sniffed.
"Other things?" Sara questioned.
"I believe he is referring to our, um, extracurricular activities," Ian supplied, coloring. *Wild monkey sex,* he added privately at her blank look.
Sara scowled. "Okay, I get that you're pissed off about Ian being a professional killer, Robbie, but I never thought you'd stoop this low just to get back at me for going out with him," she told her brother angrily.
"Former professional killer," Nottingham interjected softly.
"Oh, come on, Sara, don't you think you're overreacting just a little?" Robert exclaimed exasperatedly. "You were gonna come clean to my parents eventually anyway, right? Telling them at Thanksgiving would have put a damper on the whole affair, so, the way I see it, I actually did you a favor."
"I guess you're right," she grudgingly admitted, "although I'm pretty sure that what Ian used to do for a living will pale in comparison to the fact I've hooked up with him in Marie's book. She'd love nothing better than for me to settle down and start popping out babies." 'And she'll get her wish if the Witchblade's visions are any indication,' Sara thought, unconsciously touching her still-flat stomach.
"If you would prefer not to have dinner with us, Robert, Sara and I can take our food and eat it in the garage apartment," Ian suggested quietly, fervently hoping he'd take him up on the offer. Then again, he highly doubted their absence at the dinner table would deter Marie Siri from visiting them after she'd finished her meal at the main house. It would only forestall the inevitable.
"What, and miss the chance to watch my mom give you the third degree again? Not on your life," Robert replied, grinning evilly. "That was the best part of the evening the other night!"
"That is so wrong, Robbie," Sara said, but she couldn't help grinning back at him, mightily relieved that he wasn't angry with them anymore.
"Here they are," Paula murmured, and Sara and Ian turned to see Joseph Siri, Sr. and Marie Siri coming up the driveway, accompanied by their grandson.
Abruptly, Gina Marie Siri pushed past the adults and rushed outside. "Grandma, Grandpa!" she cried, leaping into her grandfather's welcoming arms.
"Hello, my sweet girl!" he laughed, kissing her. She leaned down to receive a kiss from her grandmother, who wore a full-length fur coat and a hat with a matching fur brim.
"Well, don't you look adorable in that sweater I knit for you!" Marie said, beaming. "I know it's warm, but not that warm! Let's go inside, cara mia, before you catch your death of cold!"
Sara and Ian hastily retreated into the kitchen.
"Hi, Mom, Dad," they heard Robert say. "Here, let me take your coats."
*Are you ready for this?* Sara anxiously sent to Ian.
*Ready as I'll ever be, my love,* he replied, grasping her hand reassuringly.
"Ah, there you are, Sara and Ian!" Marie Siri said, coming into the kitchen a few moments later. Her sharp eyes flicked from their joined hands to their faces. "Joe and I were pleasantly surprised to hear that you both were here." Her husband came to stand behind her, followed by the rest of the Siri family, who stood around and watched the confrontation with unabashed interest.
"Yeah, I'm real sorry I didn't call and let you and Joe know I was all right after that warehouse fire the other night," Sara said apologetically. "I had a lot on my mind."
"Yes, like whether or not your Protector would survive the night," Marie said, carefully patting her silver-streaked dark hair back in place. "You're forgiven."
Sara blinked. "What did you just say?"
"You're forgiven."
"No, before that."
The older woman smiled slyly. "I believe you were made aware that ones such as your godfather and I exist."
As her godmother's meaning slowly dawned on Sara, she shook her head in disbelief, her stunned gaze going from one to the other. Joseph Siri, Sr. smiled broadly and winked at her.
"Wait a sec, you mean you and Joe are Watchers!?!"
Marie nodded her once again perfectly coiffed head. "Yes, Sweetie, we are. Now, be a dear and go get me a snifter of cognac. I'm chilled to the bone!"
*****
The feeling of satiation and wellbeing that suffused Sara was only partially attributable to the delicious feast she'd just eaten. She realized that at this very moment she was happier than she'd been in a very long time, and this had everything to do with the fact that she was with the people she loved most in the world. What's more, she was in love for the first time in her life, and she was secure in the fact that she was wholeheartedly loved in return by the man who sat to her left, her Protector and soul mate, Ian Nottingham. The astounding discovery that her godparents were also her Watchers was just icing on the cake.
"You're awfully quiet, Robbie," Sara said, green eyes studying her surrogate older brother's pensive features.
Sighing, Robert Siri ran a hand through his dark-brown hair. "Just trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my parents led a double life and I didn't have a clue," he said. "It's a lot to take in. First, I find out that your boyfriend is an assassin -- excuse me, former assassin," he swiftly corrected himself as he noticed Ian frown. "Next, you tell me that you're the wielder of an ancient, mystical weapon and that he's your Protector. And to top it all off, I come to find out that my parents are in on the whole thing and always have been."
"Yeah, I can see how all of this might throw you for a loop," Sara murmured, reaching over to grasp his left hand with her right hand. She winced as he recoiled from her touch, then realized that the stone set in the ornate silver bracelet on her right wrist was glowing like a red-hot ember.
"I'm sorry," Robert grimaced apologetically. "The special effects sorta caught me off guard." Hesitantly, he extended his index finger toward the Witchblade. "How does . . . Is It warm to the touch?"
Sara smiled. "Sometimes It can feel downright hot, but not now. Go ahead," she encouraged him, "I promise It won't bite."
Robert's fingertip touched the crimson stone. His eyes widened as the bracelet morphed into the light glove form, covering Sara's hand in intricately filigreed, gleaming metal. As It had done with his son earlier, the Witchblade's "eye" opened and appeared to study Robert Siri. Sara could sense Its curiosity.
"Um, did I piss It off?" her brother asked nervously, hastily removing his fingertip.
"Nah. Witchy here is just showing off," Sara assured him.
They watched as the Witchblade returned to Its deceptively innocuous bracelet form. "Does that mean you don't have complete control over It?" Robert asked her.
"Well, you could definitely say It has a mind of Its own," she admitted wryly. "I'll be honest with you: I still have a helluva lot to learn about wielding the Witchblade, but I'm getting better and better at it."
"So," Marie Siri said, having observed this interaction, "you and your Protector are going to confront Kenneth Irons tomorrow morning."
"That's the plan," Sara said, glancing at Ian, who grasped her left hand and brought it to his lips. She was unable to suppress a shiver of desire as he pressed warm lips against the spot on her wrist where her pulse beat rapidly.
"You'd better have a solid plan when it comes to Irons," Joe Siri, Sr. spoke up. "He's a devious sonofabitch, and he won't take kindly to Ian's rebellion."
"Tell me something I don't know," Sara murmured. "Since you've been keeping tabs on him for years, do you have any advice on how we should handle him?"
"Present a united front," Marie said instantly. "Knowing how new it is, Irons will test the bond between you and your Protector. He'll try his damnedest to drive you apart. Forgive me for saying so, but you are the weakest link, Ian. Since you've been under his total dominion for so long, the urge to submit to his bidding will be very, very strong, and he knows this, but you must find the strength to continue to defy him. One of our deepest regrets is failing to find you before Irons did," she said sadly.
Ian gave her a startled look. "You searched for me?"
"Far and wide, son," Joe nodded. "But by the time we located you, it was too late. Irons had already legally adopted you from the orphanage. Even back then he was too rich and powerful to take on, and we didn't dare risk exposing who we really were."
"Irons has gone to great lengths to subvert your will to his, as we feared he would. And although we are very, very pleased that you abandoned him to be with Sara these past few days, I will not lie to you: breaking free of his control once and for all will be the hardest thing you have ever done," Marie told Ian.
"But I will do it. This I swear," Nottingham said determinedly.
"Your injury still troubles you," Joe Sr. observed, indicating the rapidly melting icepack affixed to Ian's left shoulder. "You may be forced to do battle tomorrow. Are you sure you're up to it?"
"It's just some minor inflammation," Ian said dismissively. "I will be ready to fight if need be."
"Perhaps you should put off this confrontation until you've had more time to heal, Protector," Marie murmured. "Even you cannot completely recover from injuries as serious as yours were in less than a week."
Ian frowned, shaking his head. "We may not have that luxury, Signora. My father will have undoubtedly discovered where Sara and I are by now. As soon as the street in front of this house is plowed, we can expect to be attacked by his men. Our presence here puts your son and his family in danger, and the longer we delay our departure, the greater the danger grows. If I had been in my right mind four nights ago, I would have insisted we find shelter elsewhere."
"While I acknowledge the validity of your concerns, I must point out that the Witchblade will warn Sara of an impending attack, giving everyone more than enough time to escape," Joe Sr. said. "But if it will make you feel better, Robert, Paula, and the kids can come stay with us for the next few days."
"Save your breath, Joe," Marie said. "I can see that his mind is made up about confronting Kenneth Irons on the morrow. Tell us your plan," she commanded Sara and Ian. "Perhaps we can give you advice on how to strengthen it."
Over dessert, they did just that.
"Hmmm. It is a good plan," Marie said thoughtfully when they finished speaking. Absently, she toyed with the strand of pearls around her neck. Her dark eyes met her husband's for several moments. "Ah, yes! An excellent idea!" she smiled approvingly at Joe.
"So, you guys can do that, too, hunh?" Joseph Siri, Jr. observed, grinning.
"Do what?" Robert Siri asked.
"Nothing," Sara said quickly, narrowing her eyes meaningfully at her nephew.
"If you mean communicate telepathically, yes, my clever grandson, we can," Marie spoiled everything by saying.
"I knew it!" Paula Siri cried. "Beginners' luck, my ass!"
Robert gave Sara and Ian a disapproving look. "You guys actually used your telepathic powers to cheat at cards last night? You should be ashamed of yourselves!"
"I did not want to, but Sara insisted," Ian blurted out.
"Thanks a lot, Joey," Sara muttered and then rounded on Ian. "And aren't we forgetting who was counting cards last night?" He blushed bright red and darted guilty looks at Paula and Robert from beneath his long, dark lashes.
"They're not the only ones who cheat," Gina Marie piped up. "Grandma and Grandpa always beat you at bid whist, too! After they leave, Mommy always complains about how they never seem to lose, right, Daddy?" Now it was Paula's turn to blush with embarrassment.
Robert turned a disbelieving stare on his parents. "Please, say it ain't so!" he implored them.
"Pah! We don't have time for this nonsense," Marie said tartly, neatly evading the question. "Joe has come up with an excellent idea about how to put Kenneth in his place, but it will take some doing in order for it to succeed. Now, listen carefully."
More to come. Once again, I must thank all of you who took the time to post reviews. They really are a huge source of inspiration to me. Please, keep them coming, and I will endeavor to post the next chapter A.S.A.P.