Summary: Never threaten Striker's daughter if you value your life.
Maria had no idea how it happened. One minute she was by herself in the living room playing with her toys, next thing she knew, a group of mean-looking demons had burst into the house with guns in hand. She'd been quick to hide behind the chair by the corner of the wall before they could see her.
"Where are ya, Striker, ya piece of shit?"
The impling kept her mouth covered as she hid hoping they wouldn't find her. Who were these demons and how did they know daddy?
"Hey, boss, check this out!"
She took a little peek to see that one of them was looking at a picture of them.
The largest one, who was clearly the leader, chuckled, "Well, well, well. So, yer a family man now, eh? What a coincidence. Boys, check the place and see if you can find the kid."
Maria whimpered and resumed her terrified position. She wanted to run and find daddy, but what if they heard or spotted her? And what would they do to her if they did? The thought of all this made her eyes tear up with fear. Suddenly, she heard the chair shift and shrieked realizing she'd been caught.
"Well, hello, little one. Aren't you adorable?" the ringleader smirked kneeling down her level. "Tell me, sweetheart, is yer daddy around by any chance?"
She scooted back against the corner, too scared to answer.
"Not talkin, huh? That's alright. How 'bout we take ya along to go look for him. I'm sure he wouldn't want anythin' happenin' to you, now would he?" Before Maria could even try to run, she was grabbed and lifted up off the floor, her mouth covered despite her struggling in her captor's clutches. "Ah ah ah, don't struggle, darlin'. You'll be wastin' yer time. You just be a good girl and do what we say and nothing'll happen to ya... at least not yet."
Something sharp then hit him in the shoulder making him yell out in pain as he dropped Maria to the floor. All eyes turned to see an outraged Striker standing at the fallen front door hissing fiercely as he aimed two pistols at the bastards who dare try to take his daughter away. Maria hid once again as chaos insued; Striker viciously fought against the band of intruders, shooting and/or beating them to a pulp until it was just him and the ringleader. Their fight was by far the loudest and most brutal and seemed to be about over when Striker was pinned to the ground by the throat.
"Damn, I gotta say all these years and you ain't lost yer touch. Such a shame ya chose Dmitri's band instead of ours, might've worked out better for the both of ya. Ah well, least it was good to see ya one last time. And don't worry, I'll take good care of yer kid."
One yell of rage later and now Striker was back up beating the ever-living shit out of his assailant. This time, he was one on top placing his foot on the jackass' throat and shoving both his pistols in his mouth.
The cowboy snarled down at him, "You've been a pain my ass far too long, Lawrence! Now you've crossed the line by trying to take my daughter! For that, I wanna hear you beg for yer life! Do it while you're still breathing! NOW!"
Unfortunately, Lawrence was too stricken with fear to make a sound so Striker, without hesitation, pulled both triggers thus ending the prick's life once and for all. The two henchmen, battered and bruised from the struggle, were quick to gather up their boss' corpse and flee for their lives.
Striker made sure to keep his glare on them till he was certain they were out of sight then he took a moment to finally breathe.
"Dumbfucks." he murmured.
They hadn't damaged anything, save for some shattered glass and one hinge on the front door broken off; nothing he couldn't fix. Right now, however, there was something else that he needed to check on. Sure enough, he spotted a trembling, tearful Maria just now peeking out of her hiding spot. Relieved to see her unharmed, he made his way over to her. The minute he opened his arms, she ran to his embrace sobbing.
"Shhh, it's okay, Maria." Striker whispered stroking her hair. "Don't be scared. It's all over."
"D-daddy..." Maria tried to speak, still shook up.
"I... I'm so sorry, baby girl." Striker's eyes started to shed tears themselves as he held her. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner."
The two held onto each other and cried softly, neither wanting to let go.