I have no excuses, just apologies. College has been kicking my ass lately but I'll try to find more time to write. Hope you like it, it's not much but I think a little necessary information about Louis's background is explained.

Chapter 21: The Frying Pan Attack

Louis parked the stolen car across the street from the Hardy home. Luckily, it was to early for anyone to notice. The street was quiet and empty, not a soul to be seen, peaceful. The time was almost six o'clock in the morning, Louis had driven most of the night but was not tired at all, in fact he was quite the opposite. Despite his eagerness he had to get his bearings, it certainly wasn't worth being caught now that he had come so far.

Also in the rearview mirror, the sun was just peaking over the horizon. Hazy beams lit up the sky as it changed from indigo to a light blue to pink to a brilliant orange. It was truly breathtaking. The golden ball was blindingly bright as it rose slowly in the sky. As soon as the rising sun was above the Hardy home, a giant cloud blocked the bright light, darkening the neighborhood as if foreshadowing what was to come.

Louis noticed Fenton's car was nowhere to be found, not in the driveway or in the street, he was also aware the Hardy's did not have any kind of police protection outside their home. However, Laura's car sat on the right side of the driveway. As if on cue, a light turned on upstairs in what Louis assumed was the master bedroom, he could see a silhouette through the thin curtains. Louis could feel himself harden as the silhouette slipped on a bathrobe. He watches as she moves through the house, going from the bathroom to the bedroom and then downstairs. She puts coffee on as she makes breakfast. At this time another figure enters the kitchen, another woman, plain and tall, Louis presumed it was the boys' Aunt Gertrude.

Bored and daring, Louis crept out of the car and approached the house. He quietly placed the package on the front stoop before positioning himself at the bay window, concealing himself in the bushes. Then he watched the two women as they continued their morning routine.

"How did you sleep dear?" Gertrude asked Laura while she poured the coffee.

"Fine." The mother responded absentmindedly. She in fact had slept terribly, cried herself into a nightmare induced sleep which left her mentally and emotionally exhausted. She had dreamt of taking the boys to the park when they were little and not being able to find them when it was time to leave. Much like that dreaded July 4th that they were taken.

"We will find them you know. I'm sure of it." Gertrude replied, fingering her cross necklace which hung from her neck.

"I just wish there was something more I could be doing. I feel so useless just sitting at home." Laura said sadly. "It feels like we had just gotten them back and all of a sudden they were taken from us again."

"We are doing all we can do right now. We have to keep making flyers, waiting for ransom calls, and finding leads in our own way. Fenton and the police will bring them home."

"But in what condition Gertrude? They almost died last time! He's hurting them. He's hurting my babies." Laura became exasperated and her eyes darkened. "He won't get away so easily this time."

While Louis watched the exchange he couldn't help but feel something. Was it guilt? Regret? Remorse? He didn't know but it was new and different, his heart ached and his throat was tight. He had never felt anything like this before. Putting these newfound feelings aside, he shifted his weight to get up but a branch snapped under his foot. He looked up in horror but the women hadn't noticed anything. He sighed in relief.

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Fenton's phone rang in his pocket, awakening the man from a fitful sleep. He was hunched over a desk at the precinct, numerous files and papers spread over the desk.

"Hello?" He answered groggily while checking the time, 6:24AM. who was awake this early?

"Fenton? It's Sam. I think we found something." Officer Sam Radley and Chief Ezra Collig were also hunched over paperwork.

Fenton was wide awake now. "What is it?"

"Acerbi's nephew? Alfonso Difranchesco? His sister-in-law has a cabin up in the mountains. Very secluded, only accessible by foot. It's the perfect place for a crime. According to a park ranger there has been a lot of activity up near the cabin, but it's private land so he couldn't see what it was." Sam paused. "We think that's where he's keeping the boys."

"Ok send me the address. I'm leaving now."

"Fenton, stay at the precinct. We'll meet you there. We're bringing in the rest of law enforcement but we need to come up with a plan first. These are top tier criminals, we can't just go in there, guns blazing." Sam said calmly, not wanting the frazzled father to jump into action just yet.

Fenton gritted his teeth. "Fine. You have two hours. Then I'm leaving to get my boys back."

He knew Sam and Ezra were right, they had to strategize, come up with a plan that had the boys' best interest in mind. They also would need more enforcement to deal with the gang.

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After careful consideration, Louis raised a fist to knocked on the front door of the Hardy home. He didn't like these new feelings, they showed signs of weakness. And he, Louis Michael Callaway was anything but weak. The feelings of grief were replaced with those of anger. He couldn't let these women make him feel weak, he regretted nothing! He was not the guilty one here, they were! It used to just be a game. Now it was about revenge, and they were going to pay.

He paused, fist in mid air. What would Vivian say? Would she be disappointed? That he got her children back for her and they'd never leave again, and he was tying up loose ends so the boys would be with him forever? Even if it meant killing the boys' entire biological family? No, she'd be proud, proud he was trying to be the father she knew he was. Sure it didn't go as planned, he never really meant to kill all those people, they just got in his way and became casualties. No he never did treat the boys very well, but they never listened. Maybe if they actually did as they were told all of this wouldn't have had to happen. But maybe if Vivian could have had children of her own this could've been avoided.

His mind drifted to his own childhood, he grew up in an environment similar to that of which he brought his boys up in. A word to start and a fist to end. That was his father's motto, the man was a drunk who couldn't hold a job and beat his wife and his children for any little infraction. It wasn't until his father killed his mother was he able to escape. Louis had vowed to be nothing like him, but he was. He was just like his father, a monster.

Suddenly his mind flashed to a life that was only a dream now. One where him and Vivian had a few amazing children that they both loved dearly. He would go to his children's sports games and theater performances and band concerts to cheer them on, they would have family dinners every night, he'd spoil them on Christmas, read bedtime stories and put a band aid over a cut. He would've been an excellent dad, would've loved them so much, he would never have started drinking and would never have turned into the villain he knew he was. He would've been so happy, it was everything he had ever wanted. But she took that away from him when she miscarriaged their only child.

Louis was breathing hard. Vivian's fault. It was all Vivian's fault.

He knocked on the door.

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Gertrude heard the knocking and approached the door with hopeful eyes. Maybe the police had found the boys or a clue to their whereabouts. Who else would be knocking at 6:30 in the morning?

She opened the door slightly to peer out, but the door was forcibly pushed open, slamming against the wall behind it. Gertrude screamed when she saw the man who was standing on the front porch.

Louis wrapped a meaty hand around her throat as she started to scream, he shoved her back into the wall. Gertrude's small hands scratched at his face trying to get him off but he wouldn't let up. He easily threw her against the stairs as he saw Laura run into the room and freeze.

"Hello Mrs. Hardy." He said, voice dripping with menace. "My Danny boy looks just like you." He lunged at her, grabbing her arms as she stumbled back into the kitchen landing against the kitchen table. He pinned her there.

She tried to kick him to get free but to no avail, he was just too strong. "Breakfast smells delicious" he said as he lightly nipped at her ear with his teeth. She shivered at his touch. "Fuck you!" She screamed.

At that moment, Gertrude came running in and jumped on his back, startling Louis enough he let go of Laura. She stuck her fingers in his eyes and he howled in pain, this was going to be harder than he thought. Ripping her off his back he threw her to the floor once more, being sure to smack her head on the edge of kitchen table.

Laura sprung into action as soon as Gertrude had jumped on his back, she ran to the stove where the bacon was still frying and grabbed the handle of the frying pan. As soon as Gertrude was on the floor, out of range, she smashed the hot flat bottom of the frying pan with all her strength into the back of Louis's head. Bacon scattered the floor and grease flew everywhere. The big man stumbled and grabbed the back of his head but did not fall. Again she brought the pan back, delivering a second blow which put him out cold. He was partially under the kitchen table, a small bit of blood dripping from his burned head.

Wasting no time, Laura helped a dazed Gertrude up and the two women ran upstairs and locked themselves in the master bedroom.

"Are you alright? Let me look at your head." Laura said out of breath.

"I'm ok, just get Fenton on the phone right now." Gertrude instructed taking the frying pan that was still in Laura's hands.

Laura's hands shook as she dialed but luckily her husband answered on the second ring.

"Fenton! He's here! He attacked me and Gertrude but we're ok, you have to come home right now!" She was almost in hysterics, the man who took her babies was on the floor of her kitchen.

Fenton was in his meeting reviewing maps of where the cabin in the mountain was. He sat bolt upright in his chair, his eyes bulged out of his head. "What? Laura slow down! What happened who attacked you?" The entire room fell silent hearing the unsettling questions.

"Louis." She let out a breath. "Louis attacked us. Fenton hurry, he's unconscious in the kitchen!"

Fenton paled, the entire precinct got ready to head out on Fenton's orders. "Where are you? I'm coming now." He got up to leave which was the rest of law enforcement's cue.

"We're upstairs, in the master bedroom." Laura was crying now.

"Ok stay there, get my gun. It's in my nightstand. I'm on my way." He paused. "I love you."

Fenton got into his car and sped off towards his house flanked by several police who's sirens were wailing. Fenton was outraged, there should've been a protective detail at his house at all times! That bastard had hurt his children and now his wife and sister, he was just thankful they were ok. But one thing was for certain, if Louis was making house calls he was getting careless. And if he was there in the kitchen as Laura had said, they got him.

Fenton's car squealed to a stop in the driveway. Already he could see signs of struggle, the front door was wide open and the women weren't in sight.

While the police force entered the home with guns drawn, Fenton raced up the stairs to the master bedroom. "Laura!" He yelled. "Gertrude!"

The bedroom door opened and Gertrude peered out. When she saw Fenton she rushed into his arms. "Are you okay?" He asked her, checking for injuries. He saw the finger shaped bruises around her neck and the bump on her head and his eyes darkened.

"Really I'm fine." She said, sensing his anger. At that time Laura also came out of the room, the frying pan and gun in hand. She looked a bit shaken up.

When Fenton saw the frying pan he started to piece together what had happened. He embraced his wife. "I'm so thankful you both are okay. And I'm proud of you for fighting him off." A tear came to his eye, he had already lost his sons he couldn't lose anyone else.

"Fenton?" Ezra called from downstairs.

"I'll be right back. I'm going to send Con up to take your statements." Fenton told the women as he squeezed their shoulders before heading downstairs.

Before Fenton could ask, the chief cut him off. "He's not here."

"What do you mean he's not here?!" Fenton roared. He closed his eyes, couldn't let his emotions get the better of him.

"The back door is wide open, after the girls called you he probably fled." The chief led the detective to the kitchen where the struggle had taken place. Strips of partially cooked bacon and grease scattered the floor and table. There was a very small pool of blood on the floor and a bloody handprint near the back door.

"Barricade the area. I want a five mile radius." Fenton commanded, back in detective mode.

"It's already been done." The chief assured him. "If he's still in the area, we'll get him. We have to go over the crime scene now. Why don't you go be with Laura and Gertrude for a bit. I'll let you know if we find anything important."

Back upstairs Fenton sat with the two most important women in his life as Con took their statements. After listening to their accounts Fenton mentally kicked himself for not being there.

"Fenton!" Came Ezra again from downstairs, more urgent this time.

The father ran back down the stairs to see the chief holding a small package, the words Hardy Family were scribbled across the front. "What is it?" He asked as he put on latex gloves to not get fingerprints on the gift.

"It was on the front porch. This is why he came, to deliver it." Ezra looked a little pale as he handed over the contents of the package.

Fenton pulled out the note first.

Der Hardy's, yer boys are fine. For now. They are alive and miss ya. They will be returned to ya in pieces. Sending our love.

He tossing it aside and emptying the rest of the contents. Out fell a piece of scalp bloody and blonde, and a few bloody fingernails.

"That bastard." Fenton swore under his breath. "We have to get to that cabin. Now"

***IMPORTANT- It has been brought to my attention several times that my stories are too violent and mature for the M rating and it was suggested they should be taken down. What do you guys think? After reviewing my stories I do agree they are very violent and mature. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by writing this it was not my intention. Please let me know if you'd be more comfortable with me removing the story. Thank you.