Chapter 9 – Fatal Mistake (Mark’s POV)
I closed my laptop and sighed. I got up and pulled out a whisky glass and poured myself a drink. I took a sip of the whisky before returning to my desk to finish off the paper work. I knew Abby’s parents were behind this. I saw them at the Black Swan hide out and I knew they were traitors. I knew we had told Abby long ago that her parents were dead. If I am honest, I believed it until that night.
I turned to my top draw and pulled out the black swan and looked at the wing again. There were their initials on the wing and that’s how I knew it was them. I had immediately alerted the FBU and they were on full investigation on Abby’s parents. I felt bad for Abby, for believing her parents were dead, that we had to lie to her to be able to ensure that she stayed with Katie and I.
I heard a soft click and I looked up to see two very familiar faces. Abby’s mother and father; stood there in front of me, wearing black outfits and had a gun pointed to my head. I placed the swan calmly down onto my desk and I stood up.
I knew that they would be after me so that’s why I told my daughter I loved her. It was true I do but I knew tonight was going to be my last and I didn’t want to leave things undone. I walked over to the chairs in my office and sat in one of them; gently sipping my whisky.
“What do I owe the pleasure of you visiting me tonight?” I asked them; being completely calm. I was, in truth, completely terrified but I couldn’t have them seeing any weakness.
“Where is my daughter?” Abby’s father asked stepping forward. His dark brown eyes illuminated a sense of….wonder I guess.
“She’s on a mission at the moment John.” I said casually. Sarah stepped forward, her gun pressed against my heart.
“Where. Is. My. Daughter?” Sarah asked, her voice laced with venom. I raised my eyebrows.
“As I said before; she’s off on a mission. I’m surprised to see you here” I replied to her. She growled.
“Which mission? Where is she?” Sarah asked again. I sighed again and stood up.
“Why are you both doing this? I want to know why you abandoned your country, your friends….and more importantly, your daughter. Do you know how broken she was when you disappeared?” I asked them. I wanted to see more than greed in their eyes; I wanted to see the old Sarah and John.
Their eyes momentarily flashed with sadness for their daughter before it was replaced once again by greed. I had found it! I had found their weakness. I knew I wouldn’t see the light tomorrow but if I had to die; it would be telling them about my daughters.
“I adopted Abby after you left, you know. She was so heartbroken. She’s never experienced love because she’s so afraid of falling in love and having her heart broken again. Katie helped her through that, as well as Brittany. Brittany is my daughter-in-all-but-blood. You should be thankful your daughter is still alive. An agent wanted to have her hung to death for your crimes” I said.
My mind flashed to my daughters and all the time they hanged out together. Abby and Katie were like sisters while Brittany was like their cousin. They were closely bonded girls and stood by each other’s side.
“Just tell me this. Why do you not care about your daughter?” I asked them. That seemed to catch them off guard for a second.
“We do care. We just….greed I suppose. Money is everything nowadays” John said casually and I knew their weakness was now gone.
I nodded and sat back in my seat and finished off my whisky. They looked at me with curious eyes and I smiled at them.
“Never let a man die without a little alcohol in his system” I said to them.
“Mark…Just give us the information and we’ll leave. Who are they protecting and where are they hiding?” They asked me.
“You won’t just leave. You’ll kill me. If I had to guess, I would say you still care about her” I spoke to them.
“Whenever or not we care for them or not is none of your business” Sarah said sharply.
“I believe it is considering she is now my daughter” I said to them.
“Abby won’t be harmed. I can’t say anything for your daughter though Mark” John said to me.
I felt daddy bear’s claws come out at that statement. If this man dares to hurt my daughter….
“Don’t you dare touch her” I snapped at him. He came closer to me before smirking.
“I can’t promise anything Mark. She has grown into a beautiful woman” John laughed.
I growled at him. He was sick and twisted! If I lived, he wouldn’t be standing so proudly right now. He would be six feet under already! I felt the gun press lightly against my temple.
“Just don’t hurt her….Please. They’re over in Australia.” I begged as a tear leaked out of my eye.
This was it. This was my final act of defence. I had to give the girls time to defend the boys up properly. I had to pray that Katie, Abby and Brittany put aside their sadness and focus on the boys. I prayed that they would find love and have a good life.
My final thought was for my wife; when I had ran into the hospital to see her there holding Katie in her arms…..
Then my world went black.
