Family Secrets
An Hope Holmes Adventure Chapter XXXIV
Faith Robin
"Hope!" Holmes exclaimed sweeping his daughter into his arms. I didn't speak, my eyes were stinging with tears and my tongue was swallowed. I heard my father's heart beat against my ear as I leaned my head against his chest. "What in the devil do you think your doing here?" My father asked angrily releasing me from his hug. I looked up into his eyes, the reflection of angry and even rarer, fear and anxiety. I swallowed.
"Trying to save you but I think it back fired." He sighed.
"I thought I told Mycroft to keep an eye on you," he said releasing her and beginning to pace.
"You did, I didn't listen to him," I said bowing my head; my face red with shame and repentance. My father placed his hand under my chin and lifted it to where I was staring into his eyes. I looked at him with tears in my eyes.
"Hope I' m very disappointed and yet very proud of you at the same time," he said.
"What?"I said my eyes widening from the surprise of his words.
"Hope, I'm proud of you, I saw your resourcefulness; getting away from Moriarty the first time," he said smiling, "but I'm not sure what to think of this now."
'He's smiling," I thought. That was a rare moment. I soaked up that smile feeling my fear and taking heart despite that I was in the clutches of one of the most dangerous men in London. I had my father back and that was all that mattered to me at that moment. Then I noticed the dried blood on his head.
"Did they hit you?" I asked brushing the hair away from the healing wound. He pushed my hand away.
"That's nothing, I'm fine; But did he hurt you?" he asked taking another look at me from head to toe then he stopped and looked at my wrist. There was a welt where Moriarty had grabbed and dragged me up the stairs and into the cab. He sighed "What did you do that it caused that to happen?" He asked me inspecting it.
"Just plain trying to get away from him," I answered.
"Hope why didn't you tell me about the blackmail?" he asked studying my face.
"I thought I could deal with it with dragging you into it," I said quietly waiting for his reaction.
"Don't you ever do that again," he scolded, "I don't care if I'm on another case or even I'm in Hong Kong! You tell me or I will ground you for a year," He threatened.
"Yes Father," I said obediently. Then the door opened suddenly.
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