“You will never lose me. I need you, I love you,”
Carrie declared softly. She pulled him close, snuggling up against him.
Carrie felt so tired both emotionally and
mentally. Before, she had thought she had no one, now she had family. Her eyes closed and with a slight smile on her lips she drifted off slowly, hoping Dirk would take her home. Home, what a wonderful
word…
* * * *
Dirk breathed in and out raggedly. Keeping Carrie safe had been a matter of pride. He knew his father would have helped him rescue her, but she was his responsibility. He realized he was being selfish. He had never told his family of Carrie’s existence, knowing for certain she would have been taken from her mother if her mother refused to comply with their rules. She would have been devastated. It would have killed her.
Dirk had loved her mother beyond reason. No other had come close. Seeing and holding Carrie felt like he had an actual part of her with him again. He couldn’t lose his child once more. Dirk loved his father, but his overwhelming possessiveness when it came to his family was fearsome.
Looking into Carrie’s silent, wistful face he realized Carrie needed to be possessed by family. She'd had no one for so long she would most likely perch herself on his father’s knee and not let go. It was then Dirk realized with a heavy heart he was at
fault.
He didn’t want to share her. He finally had her to himself, after so many long years of watching her grow up on the sidelines, watching her play in the park from a distance. Not able to buy her an ice cream, say hello, or wave. The unfairness had eaten at him for over a decade, torturing his very soul.
“Dirk, her love for the family won’t take her love from you. Her loving me hasn’t,” Damien said softly.
Dirk rested his head against Carrie’s forehead. Her eyes had closed while she rested within the safety of his arms. Dirk remembered fondly her mother had stilled the same way after an attack while he held her close, soothing her fears.
“It’s time she truly went home,” Dirk said. He
knew Damien was right. He knew Carrie already loved her uncle as well as himself after such a short time. She thrived on love and acceptance.
Damien placed his hand onto his brother’s shoulder, offering comfort. “Hey, maybe Dad won’t be too angry.”
Scowling now, Dirk looked at his brother and
rolled his eyes. “Are we discussing the same father, or are you adopted?”
Smiling sheepishly, Damien shrugged. “Don’t worry, brother, one captivating look at her sweet smile and Dad won’t bother with you for a month,” Damien chuckled. Carrie shifted slightly in her sleep. Her hand cupped Dirk’s neck gently, pulling him
closer, whispering a soft endearment on a warm breath.
“Maybe even two months,” Damien added, still
chuckling.
Chapter Eighteen
Carrie stood looking at the tall, large, blond man before her, openmouthed. He looked just like Dirk, only older. She was informed earlier by Dirk his father’s name was James and was in his early sixties; he was immaculately dressed, his eyes sharp, and he was still quite handsome. The formidable man radiated authority. He was gazing back at Carrie, just as astonished and mystified.
“I know I should have told you, Dad. I should have
said something, but...” Dirk stammered to his father while explaining Carrie.
Carrie stood for only a moment longer beside Dirk before she propelled herself into her grandfather’s unfamiliar embrace. She clutched at him almost desperately and began sobbing; she felt so incredibly happy. He ran a gentle hand over her head with one hand and with another pulled her closer, looking down on her in awe.
“Told you, he’s captivated,” Damien whispered
loudly to his brother, grinning. “Shut up,” Dirk hissed.
“My granddaughter?” James asked, incredulous.
“I swear Dad, Carrie is mine,” Dirk replied.
“I don’t doubt your word, son, the family resemblance is overwhelmingly apparent. I can see the uncanny reflection of your mother’s beautiful blue eyes looking up at me…You better start explaining, young man,” he demanded of Dirk.
Carrie was utterly amazed as her father squirmed uncomfortably while under the direct stare of her imposing granddad. She cast her glance to her uncle, who winked mischievously at her, obviously enjoying his brother’s discomfiture. Taking a deep breath, Dirk plunged right in with his tale.
“I fell in love with Carrie’s mother when I was sixteen. She was nineteen. She thought I was older because I was big for my age, and mature. We had met at a bar, and I had fake ID. By the time she found out how old I actually was she was in love with me. I wanted her to marry me. I wanted her to know everything about me, positive it wouldn’t matter to her. I sat her down and told her about the family.
“I told her I was planning on following in my
father's footsteps and would one day take over the business. She was terrified. Her fist pressed against her chest and she wheezed uncontrollably. She had an asthma attack and cried she was pregnant. I was only seventeen. I had seen her attacks before and comforted her, thinking it would settle as it always did when I soothed her.
“She cried. She didn’t want her baby being
brought up in my environment, exposed to such
turmoil. I swore I would keep her safe. I told her you would never hurt her, but her breathing grew worse and worse, until I thought I would need to call for an ambulance. She made me promise to leave her alone, to stay away. I would have promised her anything by then. She looked like she was about to die.”
“So you walked away from your own child,” his
father demanded angrily. He sat Carrie on the couch and went to pour himself a drink.
“I backed off. I thought in time she would realize she needed me. She had no family. She was alone. I sent her money and gifts for her and the baby. Then after Carrie was born I went to see her. She was terrified of me. She only let me hold my daughter for a brief moment before telling me again she was too frightened to be brought into my world. She begged me to leave, pleading desperately while she again began to gasp.
“I was devastated. She moved afterwards, again and again. I always found her, of course. I trailed after her for years, watching Carrie grow from a distance. One day I saw her with another man. She was smiling and looked happy; they were kissing and holding hands. They married later on and I realized then she was lost to me. I was so hurt and still quite young. That was when I walked away, thinking a normal life would be better for my child,” Dirk said. He perched on the couch beside Carrie and accepted the glass of whiskey his father handed him.
“You should have come to me,” his father declared.
“Dad, you didn’t see how frightened she was. I
loved her and she cowered from me, physically shook in my presence. I hated that she feared me. She never would have settled in our world,” Dirk said.
“So you deprived your mother and me of a
grandchild because of a woman’s fear, our only grandchild. Do you know how happy your mother would have been to know of her existence?” his father stormed. He was pacing back and forth, clutching his untouched drink. “What of Carrie? Never knowing we existed, or you existed. I would have made her mother understand. I would have made certain she was always close and protected, I would have...”
“You would have terrified her!” Dirk stormed, jumping to his feet, his drink spilling.
“Your own mother was frightened at first, but she settled in time,” her grandfather yelled back.
The two stood glaring at one another; the tension
became overwhelming. Carrie’s eyes were wide as she gazed between the two of them. “Please stop,” she pleaded.
Both men turned to look at her. Carrie’s bottom
lip trembled. She didn’t want them fighting because of her.
“Come here, baby,” Dirk s
aid. Carrie rose and nestled herself within his arms.
“Listen, Dad. I know you’re upset. I was amazed
when Dirk first told me. But the time has passed. No matter how long or loud you shout you will never get it back. You can either spend the time you have arguing, or you can spend it making memories,” Damien said sensibly.
His father ran a tired hand over his face. “You still should have come to me.”
“I’m here now, Dad,” Dirk said softly.
“Obviously you require your family's backing and power for some reason?” he asked shrewdly.
“Maybe you better sit for this one, Dad,” Damien
advised.
Instead he tossed his head back and downed his drink. “Maybe I better get another.”
“Carrie was kidnapped by Roll,” Dirk said
carefully, after downing his own drink.
“I’ll kill him! I’ll make him scream for death!” her grandfather snarled so viciously Carrie cowered against Dirk.
“Well you’ll have to wait until he regains
consciousness,” Damien said, chuckling.
“Who was she sent to?” her grandfather asked. His look was beyond murderous.
“Well this gets a bit tricky. She actually wasn’t
sent to Seth,” Dirk began.
“Seth!” he exploded violently and Carrie cringed once more. She was beginning to understand her mother’s terror.
“Seth did not buy her. A man named Tyr did,”
Dirk explained. At his father’s fierce expression he hurriedly continued. “The man may be in love with Carrie. He wants her back and is looking for her.”
Dirk’s father sat quietly for a moment, then looked at Carrie. “Did he hurt you, Carrie?”
Carrie understood the question and she swallowed hard. “I wanted to be with him. I didn’t want to be at Seth’s, but I love Tyr.”
“Dad, Tyr isn’t my only concern. Seth’s first in
command wants Carrie back as well. I paid Seth restitution for stealing Carrie from his compound but...” Dirk began, but stopped when his father suddenly laughed.
“You breached Seth’s compound?” he asked incredulously, “even without my knowledge or help?”
“Hey, I helped,” Damien said quickly.
Their father chuckled. “I would have liked to have seen that and the look on Seth’s face.”
“Dad, a man named Ace will be looking for her as well,” Dirk said with annoyance.
“Ace can be dealt with quietly, son, you needn’t worry.”
“Please don’t kill him,” Carrie begged. “He was kind to me, he never once hurt me. Neither did Seth.” “It’s all right, baby, your grandfather just means he’ll have a discussion with him,” Dirk soothed and
narrowed his eyes at his father.
“Of course that’s what I meant,” her grandfather replied innocently. “As for Tyr, what would you like
done? Do you need him tracked down?”
“They’ll be tracking us soon enough,” Dirk replied.
“Oh? They?” his father asked with surprise.
“Tyr’s brother, Wolf, will be helping him,” Damien interjected.
Their father sighed. “Ah, now I understand why
you’re seeking my help. I like Wolf. If Tyr is anything like his brother and is serious about Carrie, perhaps we should all sit and discuss this rationally, after all. Having Wolf as a relative would not be a bad thing.
“Also if Carrie is in love with an assassin she would be guarded well. His profession will not cause her stress, seeing as though she has already been exposed and appears unconcerned. However, this places two different influential families into a very serious setting. Wolf is connected even if his parents are gone and he holds no loyalties to any one organization. I am happy you came to me, but I’m quite surprised you didn’t settle it between you,” their father said thoughtfully.
“I didn’t come because I need help with Tyr or
Wolf, Dad. I came because Carrie suffers with the same asthma that almost killed her mother when she was frightened. I can’t leave her alone in a safe room. She gets too scared,” Dirk explained.
Carrie was watching her grandfather, who was studying her with a thoughtful expression. She knew the man before her was an icon. He ran the family.
She shivered suddenly, although it wasn’t with apprehension. She felt Dirk was right when he explained his father took care of all within. She waited, anxiously anticipating his decision.
* * * *
“Hmm. This does present a slight problem. With your mother gone and neither of you married, Carrie is the only female we have around.” James sat quietly thinking. He turned to look at Carrie, studying her. She was exquisitely beautiful. He could understand why Roll had grabbed her. He personally never dabbled in monetary slavery unless the circumstances were completely unavoidable and every other area exhausted.
It was still not used as revenue for profit. Various
secluded compounds delegated and managed by strands of intertwining organizations were used only to aid a situation gone bad when it became necessary to expunge innocent human life.
It was unfortunate but necessary to protect his
family and their extensive organizations. These ill- fated individuals were sequestered away, given life but not freedom to keep secret what he felt was a bigger altruism. Regardless, because of his extensive knowledge in the field he knew what market price his granddaughter would bring with her breathtaking looks and innocent, captivating eyes. If in Seth’s care for even a few short weeks she would indeed be valuable.
“You honestly love Tyr, Carrie? Has your father explained you could be suffering from a condition which may have you mistakenly believing you love him?” he asked.
“Yes, Daddy told me,” she said.
Daddy? He should have known his possessive son would have already coaxed the word past her lips.
“What are you thinking?” Dirk asked his father on narrowed eyes. “I know that calculating expression. When you involve yourself in something it’s never on the sidelines. Knowing you, I bet you already have Carrie’s wedding dress picked out!”
“Relax, son, it’s just a little proposition I am
thinking of,” he replied.
“You said yourself Wolf has no loyalties. Except for maybe his brother and, hell, I never even knew they were related,” Dirk mused.
“Wolf has changed some since he became a father. I am told his wife and child are being closely guarded by Lando, although until now I couldn’t fathom what he was involved with,” he replied.
“Lando? Damn! That is one family I was not sad to
see removed,” Damien said and shuddered. “I remember Lando. He changed his name, but I know who you mean, he’s a powerful heartless man, with cold black eyes, who crossed his sick and twisted boss, Anthony Mahoney. The man has balls of steel! Damn, one angered look could send a roomful of hardened killers running in terror when he goes off.”
“I thought Lando had fallen off the face of the earth,” Dirk said.
James chuckled at Dirk’s expression and Damien’s
words. With a touch of smugness he felt no one was better connected than himself. It also occurred to him with Carrie here Dirk would be away less, giving him more of an opportunity to teach him what was expected of him. He would one day, after all, be in command. With a feeling close to awe he realized he had known Carrie only a short hour and she was already proving to be invaluable.
“I think Wolf will be agreeing to my business venture. Especially since we will be related soon,” James said, smiling.
“But, Granddad, Tyr hasn’t proposed. I don’t even
know how he feels about me,” Carrie said.
Granddad! That would take some getting used to. “Well then, I guess it’s time we asked him, my dear, isn’t it?”
“Now wait a minute, Dad. Carrie is not some
pawn, she is your granddaughter. I don’t li
ke this Tyr character! He bought her off Roll and took her to Seth. You know what the women there are taught. What if he harbors ideas of returning her there?” Dirk raged.
Carrie’s face paled to ash. “I can’t go back. Oh
no, he wouldn’t, Daddy, I know he wouldn’t, he couldn’t,” she whimpered up at her father, frightened, clutching at him. “Tyr had forbidden the
men to touch me, he promised me I would be safe under Seth’s protection. I was only given to Ace because I disobeyed his direct command. Because of Tyr and Seth’s promise to him Ace never, he didn’t…he had come close numerous times before gaining control but I swear he never. Even while away, Tyr protected me.
“Please, I want to keep my children close always, not have them sent off to private schools. I want to celebrate Christmas and birthdays the way I dreamt about them as a child. I want to sit at a table with my family laughing and arguing. Not demurely with my head bowed, accepting the food handed to me and commanded to eat like some prized pet poodle.” Her high-pitched voice bordered on hysteria.
Dirk pulled her close. “I’m sorry, baby, don’t be afraid. I would never let them take you away.”
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