Family Ties

by Tricia Andersen

  Ame frowned. “You lived in Prague?”

  “Aye. I’ve lived all over the world.”

  “What made you stay here?”

  “Simple. I found my home.”

  “So the United States is home to you?”

  “Nay. Your mother is my home.”

  “Couldn’t Mom just travel with you?”

  “Lass, it’s hard to hold someone to your heart when you are always on the go. Being with your mom made me want to stop running. I wanted things with her I wasn’t able to have if I were on the go all the time.” He reached up and rustled her black curls. “Like you. And those six little banshees you call brothers and sisters.”

  Ame giggled as he wrapped a strong arm around her to hug her close to him. He continued. “No place in the world compares to my family.”

  Ame stretched herself to kiss Sloan on the cheek. “I better get back to the bookstore before Grandma worries.”

  “I have nothing for a half hour. I’ll walk you back.”

  “Dad, I can walk back on my own.”

  “I would rather you not be alone.”

  Ame stared at Sloan for a long moment then nodded. Her father was beyond overprotective but she wasn’t going to say no to some private time with him. With his trademark smirk twitching his lips he stood and escorted her out.

  They chatted about school and their family life as they walked the few short blocks between Sloan Enterprises and the bookstore. Ame froze in place as Sloan reached for the door of the bookstore. “No, Dad.”

  “Why not? I want to tell your grandmother thank you for the book.”

  “Please, Dad? You can’t go in there.”

  “Amelia, why not?” Sloan looked through the large front window. His eyes narrowed as they locked on Dakota busily shelving the new books that arrived. “Who is the young man?”

  “A boy from school. Grandma hired him to help out.”

  Sloan sighed heavily. “I will stop back later then.”

  Ame didn’t ask how he felt. She could see the sadness in his chiseled face. She knew just how much her request hurt him. He and Mom just don’t understand how hard life at school is when everyone knows that they are my parents. I can’t let anyone know who he really is. She hugged him quickly and pecked him on the cheek. “Bye, Dad. See you at home.”

  He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Goodbye, Angel. See you then.”

  She watched him saunter away before she opened the door and stepped inside. The first thing she found was Dakota thumbing through her sketch book lying on the counter where she left it. He paused between each page to study each drawing with a smile.

  Ame snatched it from him. “Those are mine.”

  “I’m sorry,” Dakota apologized. “I didn’t mean to pry. You are an incredible artist. You’re amazing.”

  Ame felt her cheeks blaze. He means my drawings are amazing. But I’ll pretend he means me instead. “Thank you.”

  “Mrs. Fionnain had you deliver that book to Sloan O’Riley?”

  “Yes.”

  “He’s your dad, isn’t he?”

  Ame’s heart pounded in her chest. “Yes, he is.”

  “You both share a talent in art, that’s for sure. The rumor at school is that he left and moved to Europe. Did you get to see him now?”

  “No. I left the book with his secretary.”

  “Oh. Too bad. He’s missing a lot.” Dakota winked at her before turning to go back to work.

  Ame sighed miserably. Why did I just lie? Would Dakota judge me like everyone else since my parents are embarrassingly rich? And when they’re together they can be just embarrassing? I could barely tell Ava about Dad. I can’t tell Dakota. I can’t tell anyone. She tucked her sketch book in her backpack then wandered into the storeroom to find her grandmother. It was time to get to work and forget her chaotic, complicated life for a while.

  »»•««

  Students bounced off each other like pinballs as they passed each other in the halls. Ame huddled next to Ava as they weaved around the other kids on their way to their next classes. The chatter was deafening. She usually never looked up as she shuffled through the main foyer. Today, however, she heard her name through the noise, making her head pop up.

  Three men stood at the attendance window. Two were dressed entirely in black. The third was dressed in an expensive suit and tie. He held a smug smile on his lips as he talked to the secretary at the attendance office.

  “Who are you again?” the secretary pressed.

  “I am Amelia’s uncle, Oliver.”

  “I don’t have an Uncle Oliver on Amelia O’Riley’s authorized pick-up sheet. Let me call her mother.”

  “That’s not necessary. I have the authorization note signed by my sister.” The man slid a piece of paper across the counter. The secretary picked it up with a skeptical frown. It faded away into a smile.

  “Yes you do. I didn’t know Abbey O’Riley had a brother. You have an accent. British?”

  “Yes. We share the same father. Could I get my niece? We are running late for our appointment.”

  “Of course. Let me find Ame’s schedule and I’ll get her.” The secretary turned to her computer and typed furiously.

  Ame frowned. She never heard of an Uncle Oliver. Ava leaned against her. “Who are they?”

  “I don’t know. My mom told me she’s an only child.”

  “Ame, you can’t go with them.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Would they have stopped at the other schools?”

  Fear seized Ame’s heart. “Ethan. Colin. Aubrey and Liam…”

  “Give your books to me and go.”

  Ame piled her books into Ava’s arms, breathing a silent thanks to her friend. She raced out the nearest door, leaving the bustling school to its normal day as she sprinted across the grass to the drive that led to the other schools.

  Hoping the lofty branches over the tree lined drive would hide her, Ame hurried down the hill to the elementary school. The bell signaling the end of recess echoed across the playground. Teachers shepherded the rowdy children still bouncing full of energy back into the building. She ran across the lawn to the group. “Missus Smith!”

  “Amelia, what are you doing down here?” the teacher questioned.

  “Where are Aubrey and Liam?”

  “Liam is already in the building. Aubrey is hiding like usual. Shouldn’t you be in class?”

  “I’ll find her. She’ll come out for me.”

  The teacher looked at her warily. “All right. I’m going to help get the rest of the children into the building. I’ll be right inside the door. Bring her to me then get back to class.”

  “Of course, Missus Smith.”

  Ame’s heart slammed in her chest as she raced back to the playground. She called out her little sister’s name as she searched frantically. A whimper stopped her dead in her tracks. She looked up the slide. Beneath the mouth of the tunnel, Aubrey huddled with her tiny arms wrapped around her legs. She stared at her older sister with big, blue eyes.

  “Aubrey, come down,” Ame demanded as she pointed to the ground. “Please. Now.”

  The little girl shook her head, her black curls bobbing around her face.

  “Come on, Aubrey. We have to go inside. I think we’re in danger. Please…”

  Chills ran up Ame’s spine as a voice approached from behind her. She turned slowly to find the three men that asked for her standing there, the one named Oliver wearing an evil grin. “Look what we’ve found, boys,” he chuckled. He wrapped his hand around Ame’s wrist and tugged her to him. She stiffened as she felt the point of a blade poke her beneath her chin.

  Her captor looked up the slide to Aubrey. “Come on, sweetheart. You don’t want me to hurt your big sister, do you?”

  The only reply he got was a squeak. Aubrey straightened herself, slid down the slide, and walked to Ame, clasping her little arms around Ame’s waist in terror. She looked up with tear filled eyes. “I’m scared,” she wh
impered.

  “Me too,” Ame breathed.

  “Okay, girls,” Oliver began. “See that white van over there?” He pointed at the nose of a beaten up white van peeking from the tree lined lane. “We’re going for a ride.”

  Ame never heard someone approach over the thundering of her racing heart. There was the sound of a scuffle. Before Oliver could turn them, a voice greeted them.

  “Like hell you are.”

  Ame gasped as she noticed Oliver’s spine straighten. She knew that voice but there was no way it could be… She carefully glanced around her captor to the source.

  Abbey stood beside them dressed in her business suit for the office. Oliver’s accomplices were doubled over on the ground. Her mother had a very dangerous looking pistol pressed against Oliver’s temple. “I don’t know who the hell you are, but please take the knife away from my daughter’s throat. Because if I see you so much as flinch, I’ll put a bullet in your brain.”

  Oliver laughed, a wicked twinkle glimmering in his chocolate brown eyes. Ame breathed a sigh of relief as he lowered the knife. “Abigail O’Riley, I was hoping you would be the one they would send. I’ve been dying to meet you. If you haven’t noticed, beautiful, you’re outnumbered.”

  One of the other men stumbled to his feet and reached for his gun. Before he could pull it free, Abbey slipped her hand beneath her skirt, whipping out the pistol in the holster wrapped around her thigh. She pointed it at him. “And if you know me that well, you know I’m not alone. There are sniper rifles pointed at each of you right now. Now I have a question for you. Do you have anyone in that van of yours?”

  “Why would I tell you?” Oliver questioned.

  “Because if there are, you’ll want to get them out. Now. Call it my Good Samaritan moment of the day.”

  Ame heard the faint buzz of a motorbike approaching. It was barely audible over her stampeding heart. She was trying to stay brave for her little sister but she knew the little girl could feel her shake. Snipers? Where did Mom come up with snipers? And why is she holding those guns? Has she done this before? Does Daddy know about this?

  “Amelia, Aubrey, get down,” Abbey gently instructed.

  Both girls stood stone still. The sound of the motorbike grew louder. Abbey glanced out of the corner of her eye at her daughters. “Girls, I said get down. Now.”

  The buzz of the motor tore everyone’s attention away. Ame watched as a large figure dressed in black raced up the drive lined for a direct collision with the van. In a fluid motion, he laid the bike on its side. Sparks erupted from the scraping metal as the man kicked the bike away and tumbled onto the lawn. Abbey used the second of distraction to land a roundhouse kick into the belly of one of the captors. Ame gaped as she watched her mother incapacitate the three, leaving a particularly wicked elbow for Oliver’s chin, strong enough to cut him open. She flew to the ground and tugged the girls to her to shield them.

  The explosion was hard to miss. The van erupted in flames sending a fireball into the sky past the line of trees. The roar was quickly followed by the tinkling sound of shattering glass as several of the school windows blew apart. Aubrey screamed and clung to her mother. Ame pulled her head free enough to look.

  The motorbike rider slowly rose from the ground like a demon from the flames. He brushed the dirt from his suit then strode across the lawn toward them. Ame quaked inside. She could only squeak one word. “Dad?”

  Oliver dabbed the blood dripping from his chin as he scrambled to his feet, his eyes locked on the approaching Sloan. “Let’s go, guys.” The three men scampered across the playground disappearing between the grade school and the junior high buildings.

  Sloan towered over his crouching family. “Is everyone all right?”

  “We’re fine.” Abbey let the girls go then accepted his hand to help her to her feet. “The motorbike was a bit much, don’t you think? How’d you blow it up like that?”

  “I had a chunk of explosives in the trunk of my car. I taped it to the fuel tank.”

  “Should I ask why you’re keeping explosives in your car?”

  Sloan motioned to the charred van. “For moments like this. And no, this wasn’t excessive. These basta…” His words were cut off by an icy glare from Abbey. “These bad men were trying to hurt my girls. Nothing is excessive then.”

  “How are we going to explain the explosion and the burned out van to the Dean of Students? I’m sure Dean Williams isn’t going to be thrilled with us.”

  Sloan cocked her an evil grin. “I called Agent Dunham and cashed in one of the many favors he owes us for Afghanistan.”

  “CIA intervention? Nice touch.” Abbey slipped her gun back into the holster around her thigh.

  Ame could hear a growl slip from her father’s throat as his eyes fixed on her mother’s leg. His voice was deep and rough as he spoke. “This probably concludes the school day. Are you getting the other children, lass?”

  “Yes. Once we both go talk to Dean Williams. I didn’t blow up a vehicle on her campus.”

  “Yes, luv. But you did bring not one but two guns onto school grounds which is against the rules too. Besides, Agatha Williams hates me but she adores you.” Sloan rubbed his chin as he studied the building. “Just tell her the money to replace the couple dozen windows that were broken has already been deposited into the school’s account plus an additional million for any trouble.” He pointed toward the line of trees along the playground. “I’m going to meet up with your da and the boys so we can wait for the CIA.”

  “Sloan Michael O’Riley, don’t leave me with this!” Abbey demanded.

  He winked at her before planting a kiss on her cheek. “You can handle this, luv. I know you can. You’re brilliant.” Sloan backpedaled away from her with a grin before spinning on his toe. He jogged away toward the men in suits now mulling around the wreckage.

  Abbey muttered under her breath as she stowed her other gun in the waistband of her skirt then took Aubrey’s hand in hers. The little girl’s resolve broke. She began wailing loudly. “Mommy, no. I don’t want to go back. I’m scared.”

  Abbey glanced down at her then at Ame. Ame hugged herself tightly to try to stop herself from shaking. It didn’t work. She felt tears sting her eyes. She never had been so confused in her life. Dad just blew up a van. There could have been someone inside. I think my dad just killed someone…

  Abbey smiled at her gently. “Do you want to go home, Ame?”

  A tear slid down her cheek as she nodded. Abbey wrapped an arm around her as a gentle smile bloomed across her face. “All right. Let me go talk to Dean Williams then get you and your brothers and sisters excused. We’ll go home.”

  The girls walked with their mother back into the elementary school toward the principal’s office. Ame was shocked to see just how quickly Dean Williams had gotten there. The short, older woman with the gray bun perched high on top of her head smiled benevolently to the two girls before she ushered Abbey inside the room and closed the door. Then they heard the dean’s voice raise angrily through the door. The lecture only lasted a moment though. Dad’s right. Dean Williams adores Mom.

  When the door opened again, Abbey silently took each of the girls’ hands. They waited for the other children to be excused and then led them to her van. She drove first to the high school to speak to the principal. Concerned parents swarmed the campus as they left. The ride home was silent. Ame couldn’t get what happened out of her head. The men out to kidnap them, her mother holding not one but two guns, her father blowing up a van with a motorbike. And maybe killing someone…

  Abbey answered her chirping phone. “This is Abbey. What do you know, B?” She listened as she concentrated on the road. “What do you mean there’s nothing on these guys? Three random men targeted the daughters of Sloan O’Riley. My daughters. This can’t be a coincidence. We’ve done everything possible to prevent this. We sent them to that school to take them off the grid.” She was quiet for a bit. “The Butcher? Does Sloan know who this guy i
s?” Abbey exhaled slowly. “A British spy located out of Belfast. Terrific. Keep us posted. All right? Thanks, B.” She tapped her screen to end the call.

  “Mommy, who is B?” Aubrey murmured.

  Abbey looked out her rearview mirror at her. “Uncle Bartholomew, sweetie.”

  “Who is the Butcher?”

  Abbey sighed. “I wish I knew.”

  The moment the van touched the floor of the garage, Ame burst out and raced inside, not stopping until she reached her bedroom. She slammed the door shut behind her as her heart raced. Who were her parents? They sure weren’t the mild mannered billionaires they let everyone believe they were. Slumping on her bed, she tugged her sketch pad free from her backpack and began to draw.

  At first her scribbling made no sense, not even to her. Slowly, she straightened her strokes. She focused on the image burned into her brain and traced it onto the paper. There were a few tweaks, though. She traded in the designer suit and soft Italian leather boots for wings, a tail, and horns. She stopped suddenly at the knock at her door.

  “Ame, Aubrey and I are making cookies. Do you want to join us?” Abbey coaxed through the door.

  “No, thanks,” Ame weakly answered. “I’m drawing.”

  “All right, sweetheart.”

  Ame listened for her mother’s footsteps to fade away before she glanced down at her latest work of art. The demon emerging from the flames had an uncanny resemblance to Sloan. Probably because I’m pretty sure I’m the daughter of Satan. Tossing the pad and pencil on the floor, she buried herself into her pillow to escape the world.

  Chapter Three

  Over the next few days, Ame did everything in her power to avoid her father. After what she had seen she just couldn’t face him. From the brief glances she stole she knew it hurt him. The pain in his ice blue eyes was unmistakable. But like he always did, he let her have her distance. It was something Ame didn’t understand about her father. She knew his temper. She had seen it in action with a few of his clients. It was short, quick and violent. No one pressed Sloan O’Riley’s buttons.

  But when it came to his children and his wife, he had the patience of a saint. Not that he didn’t lose his temper with them. Oh, he definitely did. But instead of being explosive, it was strict, calm, cold. No one wanted to be on his bad side in the house. However, there wasn’t a better place than in her dad’s loving, warm arms.