Chapter 9: The Goddaughter

Claire couldn't believe she was actually doing this. The new, two-story brick home in the fancy neighborhood was just as quiet and expensive as the other homes on the block on this chilly morning, only Claire knew the evil inside this one. She was just here the other day, breaking in to try and find something to expose Wesker, and ended up nearly being ripped to shreds by his guard dog instead. She wasn't here to break in this time. Oddly enough, as Claire stepped up to the front door and rang the doorbell, she felt she would've preferred dealing with the attacking Doberman over the corrupt STARS Captain.

She heard Odin bark once, but it was faint and sounded like it had happened on the upper floor. Still, she flinched from the awful memories of snapping jaws inches from her face.

William had stopped by yesterday evening, relaying a message from Wesker to meet him at his house after Chris was at work. Claire let her brother take his truck because Jill was off of work today and just gave the excuse that she would most likely stay home. When in reality, she was about to go see what his boss wanted with her.

William wasn't able to give her anymore information when he gave her the message and left. And that created a whole new problem. Chris had spotted William leaving.

Claire could tell her brother was starting to grow suspicious. Between her behavior and seeing William, Chris was beginning to realize something was amiss. He had good instincts; it was what made him a good cop. She had to figure out a way to keep him far off the trail, or they would both be dead - courteous of her brother's double-dealing supervisor.

Ignoring the nippy wind, wondering if Ada had found out anything yet, the door opened, making her heart rate spike considerably. Here goes nothing...

She glared at Wesker when he greeted her with his usual sneer, magnified by his lack of shades, his icy-grey eyes, bewitching and dangerous, a stopping force all on their own. "Ms. Redfield, nice of you to drop by on this lovely morning."

"It's not by choice," she grumbled and pushed by him when he gestured for her to come inside. "What do you want?"

She looked around the foyer and living room, tense from having her back to him as he shut the door. He didn't answer right away, but she nearly leapt out of her skin when his hands brushed up her back, his voice purring in her ear.

"From you, dear heart? Where to even begin?"

He took her jacket off of her and hung it up. Still reeling from his words, Claire was stiff as a board as he wrapped his strong arm around her lower back and escorted her further inside. Some kind of charged electricity sparked under her skin from the contact. She finally got a grip on herself, ignoring her stomach as it flipped in a way she would rather not admit. The younger Redfield sibling moved away from him and went over to the den area, facing him and keeping her back to a couch.

"William gave me a message to meet you here after Chris was gone. He didn't say why."

"That's because I never told him why."

Wesker wore more formal, black clothes like she saw him wearing in NEST the other day. She hated that she found him even more attractive in such attire. The college student kept herself from gawking, instead she folded her arms and gave him a dirty look. "Well?"

He instantly reacted to her animosity with a dark smirk, as though her fire sparked something within him. Claire was starting to get the feeling that Wesker enjoyed her temper and defiance, as if he got some sort of sick gratification from it. It aggravated her even more, but at the same time she knew she couldn't let him goad her. It's what he wanted.

And though Claire had kept her eyes from wandering over Wesker's chic outfit and toned body, he didn't even try and hide his roaming eyes. "You look quite lovely today, Claire."

Again with her first name. There was that light, fluttering sensation in her chest again. Claire hadn't realized it at first, but she had backed up right into the sofa when Wesker took a couple of steps in her direction. Stop messing with me, you asshole!

Claire opened her mouth, about to give him a slew of colorful, unladylike words, when the Doberman trotted down the stairs into the den, tags jingling on his chain collar. Odin gave her one short look before his snout upturned towards the stairs, alert, his docked tail wagging before he sat on his haunches.

Something else came down the stairs a bit slower, emerging into the den with soft steps. The Redfield girl gasped, not at all expecting a child. The little girl spotted Claire staring and dashed the rest of the way to Wesker, using him as cover.

The girl peeked from behind him, gripping his shirt tight. She had to be around nine or ten years old, her blonde hair in a messy bun, loose strands hanging around her cute face. Her blue eyes were curious but shy. She wore jeans and a light blue shirt and white vest. She didn't have shoes on, only socks, and there was a golden pendant necklace around her neck.

Claire's inner motherly instincts kicked right in. The girl was precious and Claire had no clue why she was in a place like this, hiding behind a man like Albert Wesker as though he was her guardian.

She slightly bent over, smiling, and gently waved. "Hello there."

Her soft greeting delighted the bashful girl and she came out a little further, although still kept halfway behind Wesker, gripping his clothes like a lifeline. "Hi!"

Claire glared at Wesker. "Kidnapping children now?"

"Charming," he mocked. "She's my goddaughter. Sherry, where are your manners?"

The name instantly clicked, and Claire remembered. So this is William and Annette's daughter? She's adorable!

"Oh, right…" the little girl mumbled. She smiled at Claire again. "I'm Sherry. Nice to meet you, ma'am."

Claire gave her a big, friendly smile in return. "I'm Claire. It's nice to meet you too, Sherry."

Sherry blushed, slightly retreating behind Wesker. "I like your name!" She looked up at the tall, silent man she was using as a shield. "She's really pretty, Uncle Albert!"

Wesker's eyes were locked onto Claire, his lips twitching into the faintest of smiles. "She is, isn't she?"

Claire shivered but quickly focused back on the girl. There was a strange, hushed excitement to Sherry that she couldn't quite understand. It was as if she was shy, but, at the same time, was really intrigued by Claire. The younger Redfield felt a peculiar, warming connection right away with the child…as though their fates were somehow connected.

"Are you Uncle Albert's girlfriend?"

Claire's mind blew a gasket, horrified at the girl's implication. "W-what?! No!"

She was about to unleash onto this little girl what kind of a monster she was hiding behind, but then quickly bit her tongue. Sherry was a child. There was no way she could even begin to understand. She looked at her godparent as though she idolized him. Wesker seemed to have everyone fooled. Everyone thought he was a good man, until, of course, they stumbled upon him in the woods blowing a man's head off.

Claire sighed, took a deep breath, and faked a smile. "No, sweetie. It's not like that." She gave Wesker a hard look. "And it's never going to happen."

Wesker smirked, his eyes entrapping her, as though he knew something she didn't. Claire forced herself to look away, feeling awfully jittery for a moment.

"Oh…I was hoping you would become my aunt and we could play."

Claire's forced smile derailed. She wasn't sure what to think about that. Wesker's goddaughter peeked halfway out from behind him, curious yet insecure. Claire had a feeling the little girl didn't have many friends and didn't get much attention from her family, if her parents and Wesker were anything to go by.

Claire stooped to Sherry's level, smiling. "We don't need to be related to play. How about being friends instead?" She extended her hand.

Sherry came out a tad bit further, eyeing Claire and her offered hand. She glanced up at her guardian, unsure. Finally, Wesker stepped out of the way. The girl froze, watching him, as if afraid her wall was gone to leave her out in the open unprotected. Wesker patted her head and gently pushed her closer to Claire.

"Go ahead. She doesn't bite, Sherry."

As if that was the only reassurance she needed, the young girl reached out and took Claire's hand, beaming. They shook hands. Their moment was soon ruined by the phone as it started ringing on the stand on one of the end tables. Sherry's smile disappeared and soon became disheartened, gazing up at Wesker. The STARS Captain checked his watch with a scowl and moved towards the phone. As he passed by the girls, he petted Sherry's hair.

"What's wrong?" Claire asked, watching as Wesker answered the phone.

Sherry sighed. "Daddy. He's running late again. Or got held up and can't come get me. I thought you were him when I heard the doorbell, even though he usually just walks in."

Claire frowned. "Well, what about your mom?"

"She's busy all the time, too. Like Daddy. They work at Umbrella and are making a new medicine to help people…but they work all the time and I don't get to spend much time with them."

At this point, Claire wasn't even sure if William and Annette were working on any kind of medicine at all, let alone anything that could help people. "I'm sorry, sweetie."

Wesker's goddaughter shrugged with a weak smile. "It's okay. Uncle Albert helps take care of me when he isn't busy. He comes and gets me from school when my parents forget. He sometimes helps them make new medicine too, but mostly he just keeps me, Daddy, and Mommy safe and protects the city."

You poor, naive little girl…if only you knew…

Then Sherry's words clicked and she looked at the Birkins' daughter. "Wait, Wesker makes medicine, too?"

Sherry nodded. "Yeah. He's really, really smart! Him and Daddy are two of the best doctors working for Umbrella…as Daddy likes to brag."

Claire logged it away. It was definitely something she could use in digging up dirt on Wesker. There was more than his corruption as an officer of the law. He was also in the same shady business as William and Annette, whatever Umbrella had to do with it. She wondered exactly how many jobs he had…

"He really likes you."

Claire shook from her thoughts and stared at Sherry's cute, curious face. "I could tell when he let you in. You look cute together!" The girl suddenly gasped, cupping her cheeks. "Your babies would be so adorable! I could be like a big sister to them! And we could play together!"

The college student almost fell over backwards from the shock of Sherry jubilating at the idea of her having any sort of physical relationship with her "uncle", let alone having offspring together. Her stomach jerked queasily. Despite her disgust, Claire had to give Sherry props for being so easily excited. She must've gotten it from her equally whimsical father.

Ah, to be that innocent again. Claire weakly smiled, trying to avoid that subject with the girl. She had come to the conclusion that Wesker liking anyone was a) highly unlikely and b) not a good thing in general, even if the Birkins told her otherwise.

She decided to see what else Sherry could inform her about Wesker. "So uh, what else does he do? Besides make medicine and protect the city?"

Claire had to keep herself from rolling her eyes at such a ridiculous notion. The only thing Albert Wesker protected was himself and his own interests, no matter how many innocent people got in the way.

Sherry pursed her lips in thought. "Hmm...he does a lot of things. He does some kind of pest control, I think? Daddy said he got rid of a big rat a few days ago. Mommy says that Uncle Albert is a workaholic like they are. But I don't know...seems like I see him more than them sometimes."

Human pest control, sweetie. You poor thing...doesn't sound like your parents deserve any Parent of the Year awards!

She'd like to give William and Annette a piece of her mind the next time she saw them. Sherry was so sweet and well-mannered for someone half-raised by self-absorbed parents and half-raised by a manipulative psychopath.

Odin trotted over, nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He licked Sherry's face, making her giggle. She hugged the Doberman. "This is Odin. He's Uncle Albert's dog and I love him. We're best friends!"

"Yeah...we're well acquainted. Aren't we, boy?" Claire replied, reminded of how the dog almost tore her throat out. Sherry would never know it, but her backpack had saved Claire's life the other day.

Odin snorted in response, but showed no signs of aggression, sitting next to Sherry and yawning.

They heard the phone click on the receiver. Sherry looked to Wesker expectantly as he returned to them. Claire remained kneeled in front of the girl, tensing as the corrupt STARS Captain came up behind her.

"Your mother is on her way, Sherry. You should go upstairs and get your things."

Sherry frowned. "But Daddy promised he would take me this time."

Wesker sighed. "I know he did, darling. Go on, now."

"Yes, sir." Sherry gave one last dispirited smile to Claire and left back upstairs. Odin followed right behind her.

Claire stood, watching the girl depart before turning to Wesker. There was a strange look in his eyes as they followed Sherry up the stairs, but Claire couldn't read Wesker like William could, and so she was lost on what it could be.

He finally looked at her, lips quirking. "Precious, isn't she?"

"You seriously don't seem the type to like kids."

"I don't," Wesker admitted. "But Sherry is the exception."

Claire snorted. "Exception or not, you shouldn't have kids let alone be a godparent to someone else's. Not sure what William was thinking."

Wesker softly chuckled. "I have no intentions...although," he looked her over again with a dark, suggestive leer. "With the right partner, perhaps I would change my mind."

It was a deliberate jab to provoke her. Claire glared at him, ignoring her heart that flailed madly in her rib cage after her stomach did a low pitch and rolled. The younger Redfield refused to take the bait, biting her tongue. She didn't trust how her body reacted to his words at all.

"Whatever. Sherry's way too sweet to be in the Birkins' care or yours. She deserves better."

"She does deserve better."

Claire was surprised by his words, his eyes lingering on the staircase for a moment before he turned and slightly glared at her. "But life never goes how we expect it to, does it, dear heart?"

"No, it doesn't."

She wished her life had just stayed the same, instead of getting caught in this spider web of conspiracy, deception, and blackmail.

Wesker took her necklace into his fingers, rubbing his thumb along the silver feather pendant and turquoise stone. His eyes found hers, and he squeezed the pendant shut in his hand, tugging her towards him using the small chain. So close, Claire's hands braced his solid chest to give her a small buffer.

"And that is why I make sure I hold all the cards and have complete control over my fate. I am no longer the ruled, I am the ruler." Wesker dipped to whisper in her ear. "And you, dear heart, will help me get even more power."

His lips grazed her temple as he pulled back, still clenching the necklace and keeping her close. The chill that came over her was more thrilling than she wanted to admit, and according to Wesker's dark smirk he had sensed it too. Dammit, what the hell is wrong with me?

The doorbell chimed. Claire's heart nearly burst, relieved in the interruption because she was convinced something was about to happen.

Sherry bounded down the stairs with a bag, the Doberman still tailing her. She paused at the bottom step, noticing Wesker and Claire's close proximity.

"Did you get everything, darling?" Wesker asked, eyes not leaving Claire's.

Claire was confused until she heard the soft voice and spotted Sherry coming back into the den. "Yes, Uncle Albert."

"Good. Get your shoes on."

Wesker stepped away from Claire, his fingers brushing her collarbone when he let her necklace go. He went to the door and answered it. Annette entered the house, looking mostly the same from when Claire saw her last, except maybe more tired. The older woman paused when she noticed Claire, surprised, but she contained it and shot a suspicious glare to Wesker's back.

Sherry pulled on her boots after retrieving them from the foyer. She grinned at her mother. "Hi Mommy!"

Annette, distracted, looked between Wesker and Claire, and that made the college student even more uncomfortable. She then presented her daughter with a listless smile.

"Did you behave for Albert?"

"Yes, I did."

Annette motioned to Claire with the same smile, though with added wariness. "Claire...It's, uhh, good to see you again."

In other words she was surprised Claire was still alive. Claire didn't blame her, although that didn't make the situation any less awkward. "You too, Annette. You're daughter is very sweet."

"Oh, right. Yes...she is." Annette turned to her daughter just as she cinched the last strap on her boots. "Come along, Sherry. We need to go."

Sherry got up and shouldered her bag. "All set!"

Annette looked relieved. "Good. Albert, thank you. William will stop by later, assuming he still isn't at the estate in that ridiculous meeting. Claire...take care. Sherry, let's go."

The little girl frowned, glancing between her mother's retreating back and Wesker and Claire. She sighed, trudging along behind Annette but soon paused and looked back at them.

"Bye, Uncle Albert. Bye, Claire. It was nice meeting you. I hope I get to see you again."

That hit Claire right in the feels, and she felt torn over it. She wanted away from Wesker, the Birkins, and whatever they were a part of. She wanted her life back to normal, meaning no Sherry. But on the other hand, there was something about the young girl that Claire was drawn to. She wanted to see Sherry again also.

Claire smiled. "I'm sure we'll see each other again real soon. Take care, Sherry."

The girl was ecstatic at that, looking the happiest Claire had seen her yet. Annette hollered at her from the door.

"She's a keeper, Uncle Albert!" Sherry added cheekily before joining her mother.

Claire flushed, paralyzed. Sherry giggled and hugged Odin before leaving with Annette. Once that front door shut, trapping her alone with Albert Wesker, he turned to her with a conceited and, dare she infer, sensual smirk. Her nerves turned to ice, although she suddenly felt feverish.

"I agree, Sherry. She is a keeper."

Chris, Forest, Brad, Joseph, and Enrico walked back to the STARS office. Chris yawned. It was still early in the morning, but their day had commenced in chaos, having had two different emergencies to deal with. A freeway accident with a tipped over bus and an active shooter in southern Arklay County. None of them had even gotten their morning coffee in them yet.

"Good work, boys. Maybe we can finally take a breather," Enrico said.

Brad rubbed his back. "Good. I need one."

Joseph snickered. "What's wrong, Chickenheart? Your ass still hurting where you busted it on the ice goin' for cover?"

"Very funny, Joe."

Forest wrapped his muscular arm around Brad's neck and scrubbed his knuckles hard into his scalp. "Aw, we're just fuckin' with ya, Vickers. You did good!"

Try as he might, Brad couldn't escape the taller, stronger Bravo member. Finally, Forest let go and dodged a swipe from Brad with a chuckle. The flustered Alpha pilot straightened his yellow vest with a glare to Forest and Joseph. Chris grabbed them both and banged their heads together.

"Knock it off, you dicks," he said with a grin.

"Thanks, Redfield," Enrico huffed and gave Frost and Speyer a mild glare. "You two knuckleheads have already given me a damn headache."

They entered the STARS Office. Richard waved at them from his desk where he filled out a report on his computer.

"Aiken, anymore calls?" Enrico asked.

"No, sir. Been quiet."

"Good." Enrico pointed at Joseph. "Frost, go make some coffee and see if there's anything left from the breakfast bar."

Joseph groaned. "Why am I always the errand boy?"

"Because you get on my nerves and Wesker's nerves, that's why. Now go."

"You couldn't tell me while we were downstairs closer to the break room?"

"Nope."

Joseph muttered under his breath and started to leave the office.

Forest hollered at him just as he sat down at his desk. "Make it extra strong, errand boy!"

Joseph flipped him off as he slipped out the door, earning him a chuckle from his Bravo friend. Brad took a seat next to Richard and Chris went to his own desk. He frowned at the empty desk beside him. Jill's hat sat on her desk as well as a photo of her Golden Retriever, Bella. It was rare for them to have different days off, but this time of year always had Alpha and Bravo Team's schedules mixed up.

Before he got busy and forgot again, he opened up the drawer to her desk and dropped a bag of her favorite candy inside. He closed it and signed into his computer. It was strangely quiet in the STARS office. Enrico had locked himself away in Wesker's office and without Joseph around, the rest of them were quietly doing their work. It was strange to have Wesker, Barry, and Jill missing all in one shift. Kenneth and Edward wouldn't be in until later.

Brad must've read Chris's mind. "It feels like something's missing…it's too quiet."

Forest snorted. "Course it is! We don't have Chris and Jill yakking away behind us, no Barry laughing at his own jokes, and no Wesker scolding Frost or barking orders. Enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts. Won't be long before Marini gets on our asses again."

Brad rolled his eyes. "As if you enjoy anything of the sort, Forest."

"Chris does seem like a sad puppy without Jill around," Richard noted.

The sharpshooter glared at them. "I'm working. What are you guys doing, exactly?"

He ignored their laughs and entered the license plate number that was on the BMW that he saw at his house yesterday. As the information pulled up, Joseph returned and announced that the coffee was brewing. Forest mumbled something about the STARS office needing to replace the coffee pot that Edward accidentally broke a couple weeks ago and left downstairs to go get some. If anyone left with Forest, Chris didn't notice, too absorbed in the profile the license plate brought up.

Vehicle is a 1997 BMW M3…everything is up to date…Registered to William Birkin of Raccoon City, Colorado. Chris did a separate search for William Birkin in their database. Not much came up. Age 35. Married. Type O blood. Height: 5'10'', Weight: 147lbs. Blond hair, blue eyes. Licensed under the Umbrella Corporation as a medical researcher. No records, no flags.

There was a picture on profile, looking to be a few years old, but it was definitely him. He didn't look threatening, but something just didn't sit right with Chris. He wondered how Claire could know this man. Surely she wasn't seeing him romantically as he was married. Claire wasn't like that. Maybe she didn't know?

It might not even be like that…don't jump to conclusions. Jill's right…this could all be harmless. Maybe he's just a friend.

Still…he did not like the feeling in his gut looking at the man's seemingly innocent picture. It was hard to decide if it was his innate instincts as a cop or his overprotective devotion as a big brother. Unfortunately, Chris couldn't do much else beside keep a closer eye on his sister and see if anything else came on his radar. Claire was still acting strange…hiding something. He was sure this man had something to do with it. Sighing, he closed the profile and got back to his other work. He remained distracted for the rest of the morning.

Before leaving for lunch, Chris had found Ralph Hendricks again and asked his neighbor and fellow brother-in-uniform to keep an eye out for anything else unusual at his house, especially if it involved that silver BMW and the man that drove it. Ralph, sensing Chris's worry, assured him he would do what he could. That made the older Redfield feel better and drove home to enjoy some lunch with his sister.

He unlocked the door and went inside. Chris usually took his lunch with Jill, and so he was sure Claire would be surprised. The house was warm, but he didn't see her when he came inside. The television wasn't on, it was uncharacteristically quiet.

"Sis, you here?" When there came no answer, he hollered again with a frown. "Claire?"

He checked the house. She was gone. Trying to remain calm, Chris thought where she could have gone without the truck. He searched for a note but found none. He had to rationalize this. Maybe a friend came and picked her up...

Or maybe that guy in the BMW?

Chris paced, knowing he was overreacting. He couldn't call his STARS teammates in to help him look for her once more, especially since last time it turned out she had been just fine. Barry was out of town with Robert, and Wesker would probably wring his neck if he called him on his day off again. He decided that calling Jill would be best. She would talk him down and help him to clear his head.

He picked up the phone with a heavy sigh. If only he could get rid of the terrible feeling in his gut. You have to quit doing this…Claire's an adult. She's out there living her life. And you cannot be there to protect her all the time. She knows how to take care of herself. She's probably just out there having fun. Quit worrying!

Claire was not having fun. This was torture. The silence ate at her, the small, confined space that smelled of leather and his cologne was dizzying. Every nerve under her skin thrummed, from what she didn't know. Demanding her to move, to escape, to fight. Or perhaps respond to a darker urge she refused to acknowledge, pushed to the farthest corner of her mind.

"You're more restless than William, and that's saying something."

The college student fell out of her thoughts, not realizing she had been so fidgety in the passenger seat of Wesker's car. His look was that of mild amusement, genuinely less snide than usual.

Claire glared at him. "Can you blame me? Stuck in a car with an evil asshole like you. What are we even doing here anyway?"

"Waiting...some of us more patiently than others."

"For what?"

"You'll see."

He stared out the tinted windows, elbow resting on the side panel of his door with his chin propped on his knuckles. He had taken his sunglasses off again when they had parked here over half an hour ago, observing and waiting patiently. Apparently, this man had the patience of a saint - and Wesker having any saint-like qualities, wasn't that the epitome of irony?

They were in southern Raccoon, on the east side of Circular River, south of Cider District where all of Raccoon City's schools were. It was mostly warehouses and old apartment complexes around here. It wasn't the poorest part of town, but Wesker's XK8 was out of place in this area, and Claire had no idea what he was waiting for.

Claire had tried to behave, be good like Ada and the Birkins suggested, but her defiance soon got the better of her being stuck in that car with him, with nothing to do but go mad. So she deliberately fidgeted and made noise, anything she thought that would get under his skin.

After a bit, certain that her antics weren't working, the STARS Captain soon glowered her way. "If you wish to irritate me, perhaps you should take pointers from Will. But let's be honest here, Ms. Redfield, I know you are above such petty antics. If you have something to say, then say it."

Claire didn't break his intimidating gaze, glaring at him in return. "Go fuck yourself."

"Feel better?"

"I will if I get the chance to kill you."

Wesker's smirk knotted her stomach again. "Don't threaten me with a good time, dear heart."

Smug prick…

Claire leaned back against her seat, folding her arms. "Why the hell am I even here? Surely, you can ruin someone else's life without me?"

"I can. But why do that when I have pawns...and pleasant company...like you?" He smiled wryly at her glare. "Don't worry yourself, my dear. No one will get hurt...today."

"How can you be like this? My brother and the STARS look up to you, respect you! The city relies on you...Sherry adores you. How can you do this to them? Do you not feel anything?"

Wesker closed his eyes for a moment but remained impassive. "You're wasting your time trying to understand me, Ms. Redfield."

Claire wasn't about to let him dissuade her that easily. She had a feeling her prying would get her in trouble, but damned if trouble wasn't her middle name. "I have nothing better to do. So...hate the world? Trying to prove something? Issues? Emotional trauma? Revenge?"

She tried to read him for any kind of reaction, even if only minuscule. Though he was probably just a psychopath and nothing more, Claire had a feeling it was more than that. His relationship with the Birkins and apparent physical attraction to her proved that. It was something much deeper. The signs were there, what little the Birkins and Wesker himself had revealed to her.

I am no longer the ruled, I am the ruler. Wesker was obsessed with power and control. Something had to have made him that way.

Unfortunately, if the corrupt STARS Captain gave any reaction to her prying, she had missed it. If only she could read him like William could...

Wesker sighed, as if he heard this all before. "Since I know you are wondering it, I had a standard childhood."

"Oh yeah? Parents? Siblings?"

He half-rolled his eyes. "My parents died long ago. I have a sister but we were raised separately."

Now we're getting somewhere!

"That's not a standard childhood," Claire stated.

He looked at her and for half a second the college student swore she could see a little into this man's darkened soul. "You would know, wouldn't you?"

The nerve he hit was sharp and sudden, like a knife digging underneath her fingernail. She scowled, no longer able to keep his gaze. She should've known he would've turned it right back around on her.

"Car accident, correct?"

Claire flinched, certain he would ridicule her for her loss and heartache on the subject. "Yeah."

Say it...I dare you! Just give me a reason to pound your face in...

"I'm sorry, dear heart."

Claire's head snapped to gape at him so fast, she nearly gave herself whiplash. Completely taken by shock, he didn't present her with anything further on the words she would have never thought to ever hear come out of his mouth, let alone sincerely.

"Ah, right on time," Wesker eventually said after a long bout of silence. "You see that man crossing the street ahead?"

Claire suppressed the turmoil of thoughts swirling in her head over their recent conversation and looked. She did see someone crossing the street; a younger man, tall and skinny, wearing mostly black, baggy clothes. He looked like a typical hoodlum, covered in tattoos, a cigarette lazily poking out from his lips.

"Yeah."

"He will get inside that parked Ford Taurus. I need for you to join him."

"What? I don't even know the guy!"

Sure enough, the hoodlum got into the driver side of the parked car just up ahead.

Wesker looked to her, lips twitching in amusement. "He's expecting you, dear heart. Just say 'not the gravy' and he will do the rest."

Claire gawked at him. "Not...the gravy? Are you kidding me?"

Wesker sighed. "Do I wish I was. William's code, not mine."

"Oh…" she mumbled. She wasn't really surprised since it was William. Still, she wasn't fond of the idea of sitting in the car of a total stranger with no weapon on her. Granted, she was sure she could pummel the guy easily enough, but one couldn't be too careful.

Wesker must have sensed her unease. "The sooner you do this, the sooner we can leave. Meaning one step closer to you going home. Trust me, Claire, as long as I have you, no one will touch a hair on your head."

Unless it's your Russian Colonel friend, right?

The Devil might as well have been telling her to trust him. Still, there was something about his tone that did make her feel a little safer...a little. The younger Redfield slowly opened the door to the black luxury car and stepped out.

Taking a deep breath, really wishing she could have her gun or knife on her, she walked down the slushy sidewalk. A lot of the snow had melted from the sun being out for a couple of days, but more snow - and cloudy gloominess - was inbound. The dropping temps tonight would for sure turn this slush into more ice.

Reaching the car, Claire slowly pulled the handle to the passenger door and slipped inside. The interior was ragged and smelled of cigarette smoke. The guy had been sitting patiently this whole time with his hands in his pockets. He looked at her, only mild surprise coming over him and he gave her a one-over. If Claire had to guess, this seemingly normal looking hoodlum was an informant of some kind.

Claire sighed. "Not the gravy."

The guy nodded, eyes scanning around them for a moment before he reached inside his coat and pulled out a small white envelope. He offered it to her. Claire studied it for a couple of heartbeats and then grabbed it. When she tried to pull it away, he tightened his hold on it.

"They only stayin' for another week. If he gonna hit 'em, he better hit 'em fast."

Claire swallowed. "Got it."

The informant let the envelope go. He reached up and turned the keys to his ignition. Claire was sure that was her signal to leave and got out of the car. She barely shut the door before the sedan pulled away from the curb, loud music blaring even through the rolled up windows. Claire watched him go for only a second before turning and going back to Wesker's car.

Once she was back inside his much nicer vehicle, shutting the door to contain the warmth from the heater, she immediately presented him the envelope. The STARS Captain took it, their fingers brushing, and Claire wasn't sure whether he deliberately did it or not. He had already placed his sunglasses back on.

"He said they are only staying for a week and if you are going to hit them, you better do it fast."

Wesker smirked as he opened the envelope and pulled out a folded up piece of paper. He unfolded it and read through it while Claire remained quiet, waiting.

"Hmm, interesting," he mused. "I may get to cut the head off of more than one snake."

Claire had no idea what he was planning or who it involved, but she knew it meant people were going to get hurt or killed. Or exploited if Wesker had his way. These "snakes" had to be problems or threats to him somehow. Or perhaps obstacles to a bigger prize. Her stomach soured just thinking about what he could do to these people, innocent or not.

All she knew was that she was sitting right next to her snake. And it was constricting around her, each new coil making it harder to breath, pulling her closer, poised to strike with venomous fangs. Claire had heard plenty of rattlesnakes growing up. She didn't hear a rattler, but she sure felt the same cold weight of dread plummet in her stomach from hearing one.

A/N: I promised some Wesker and Claire interaction this chapter, and I hope I delivered! Definitely more incoming ;) We still don't know what Wesker's got planned and why it involves Claire, but we do know it can't be good for her...right? :o Between their sexual tension and Wesker's scheming, Claire's gonna be in a load of trouble! ;D

Big thanks to all of my loyal readers for this story! It keeps me going! Please drop a review or follow/favorite if you are enjoying it. Much love! Until next time! ;3