chair
flying to the floor. “How the hell did they come to be at your house?”
“They
came for me.” Niail moved to stand beside her.
“Why?”
“I
have no memory of meeting them, but Bobby thinks they might be the men who left
me for dead.”
Jake
glared at Niail, his eyes bulging. A muscle twitched at the side of his face
and for a few seconds Kimi thought he was going to have a stroke. Then, he
exhaled and swung around. His fists beat at the air and he shook his head
before turning back to them.
“Are
you one of Kowal’s contacts?”
“I
do not associate with criminals.” Niail held Jake’s gaze. “Kowal is a
criminal.”
Jake
nodded. “We’ve had him under surveillance for several months. Just when we
think we’ve got a break in the case, someone disappears.”
“Did
you have him watched two nights ago?” Kimi hoped her brother could give her an
answer that would explain why the men had shown up at her house.
“Yes.”
Jake heaved a sigh. “We lost him for about a half hour and when we had caught
up, he was alone. We don’t know where the men with him went.”
“Was
I one of those men?”
“What
kind of person do you think I am?” Jake’s voice rose in disgust. “I would never
have let you stay at my sister’s house if I had recognized you.”
Niail
nodded. “Good. I can trust you then to protect Kimi.”
“She’s
my sister for God’s sake. What do you think I would do?”
“You
did not act honorably yesterday.” Niail’s voice held a note of rebuke.
“That’s
how families are. It doesn’t mean we don’t love each other.” Jake shook his
head. “You’re clueless about people.”
“Niail
doesn’t have a family like we do.” Kimi’s voice was low.
“Okay,
I’ll overlook your lack of tact.” Jake picked up his chair and sat down. “Now
what happened to the men who came to your house?”
“I
took care of them.”
“What’s
that supposed to mean?”
Kimi
held her breath. Jake was a hothead, especially when people didn’t follow the
rules. He wasn’t going to be happy with Niail’s solution.
“I
killed them.”
Chapter 10
Niail
was fascinated by Jake’s reaction. The man had been a soldier. He should have
understood the necessity to kill. Instead, he was pounding his fist on the
table and hollering. Niail let the noise reverberate in his head for a few
seconds before grabbing the man’s arm.
“Enough.”
Niail thrust away Jake’s hand. “It was necessary.”
“How
do you plan to explain that to the authorities?” Jake was spitting his words.
“You’ve told me, and there is no way I can ignore it. It’s against the oath I
took when I accepted the badge.”
“Then
you must tell them the truth.”
“I
have to take you under custody.” Jake shook his head. “Do you understand what I
am saying?”
“You
want to arrest me.”
“You’re
darn right I do.”
“It
wasn’t like that.” Kimi stood up. “He was defending us. Those men burst into my
house carrying guns and threatening us.”
“They
had guns?” Jake frowned. “How the hell did you manage to overtake them all?”
“I
am proficient in such things.” Niail walked toward the kitchen doorway.
“I’m
skilled and there’s no way I could do that.”
“You
are not a Hunter.”
Jake
rolled his eyes. “That’s supposed to mean something to me?”
Niail
shrugged. There was no point in arguing. Jake did not understand. He was not
trained and bred as an elite warrior. He had not killed his first man when he
was ten. He had not fought his first battle when he was thirteen.
They
were miles apart in experience and knowledge. There was no training that could replace
the genetic modifications given to him. Being on Earth gave him even greater
advantages with speed and strength, not mention healing.
Niail
walked into the living room. Was his training putting Kimi and the children at
danger? It was him that they had come for. If only his memory of the mission
would
flying to the floor. “How the hell did they come to be at your house?”
“They
came for me.” Niail moved to stand beside her.
“Why?”
“I
have no memory of meeting them, but Bobby thinks they might be the men who left
me for dead.”
Jake
glared at Niail, his eyes bulging. A muscle twitched at the side of his face
and for a few seconds Kimi thought he was going to have a stroke. Then, he
exhaled and swung around. His fists beat at the air and he shook his head
before turning back to them.
“Are
you one of Kowal’s contacts?”
“I
do not associate with criminals.” Niail held Jake’s gaze. “Kowal is a
criminal.”
Jake
nodded. “We’ve had him under surveillance for several months. Just when we
think we’ve got a break in the case, someone disappears.”
“Did
you have him watched two nights ago?” Kimi hoped her brother could give her an
answer that would explain why the men had shown up at her house.
“Yes.”
Jake heaved a sigh. “We lost him for about a half hour and when we had caught
up, he was alone. We don’t know where the men with him went.”
“Was
I one of those men?”
“What
kind of person do you think I am?” Jake’s voice rose in disgust. “I would never
have let you stay at my sister’s house if I had recognized you.”
Niail
nodded. “Good. I can trust you then to protect Kimi.”
“She’s
my sister for God’s sake. What do you think I would do?”
“You
did not act honorably yesterday.” Niail’s voice held a note of rebuke.
“That’s
how families are. It doesn’t mean we don’t love each other.” Jake shook his
head. “You’re clueless about people.”
“Niail
doesn’t have a family like we do.” Kimi’s voice was low.
“Okay,
I’ll overlook your lack of tact.” Jake picked up his chair and sat down. “Now
what happened to the men who came to your house?”
“I
took care of them.”
“What’s
that supposed to mean?”
Kimi
held her breath. Jake was a hothead, especially when people didn’t follow the
rules. He wasn’t going to be happy with Niail’s solution.
“I
killed them.”
Chapter 10
Niail
was fascinated by Jake’s reaction. The man had been a soldier. He should have
understood the necessity to kill. Instead, he was pounding his fist on the
table and hollering. Niail let the noise reverberate in his head for a few
seconds before grabbing the man’s arm.
“Enough.”
Niail thrust away Jake’s hand. “It was necessary.”
“How
do you plan to explain that to the authorities?” Jake was spitting his words.
“You’ve told me, and there is no way I can ignore it. It’s against the oath I
took when I accepted the badge.”
“Then
you must tell them the truth.”
“I
have to take you under custody.” Jake shook his head. “Do you understand what I
am saying?”
“You
want to arrest me.”
“You’re
darn right I do.”
“It
wasn’t like that.” Kimi stood up. “He was defending us. Those men burst into my
house carrying guns and threatening us.”
“They
had guns?” Jake frowned. “How the hell did you manage to overtake them all?”
“I
am proficient in such things.” Niail walked toward the kitchen doorway.
“I’m
skilled and there’s no way I could do that.”
“You
are not a Hunter.”
Jake
rolled his eyes. “That’s supposed to mean something to me?”
Niail
shrugged. There was no point in arguing. Jake did not understand. He was not
trained and bred as an elite warrior. He had not killed his first man when he
was ten. He had not fought his first battle when he was thirteen.
They
were miles apart in experience and knowledge. There was no training that could replace
the genetic modifications given to him. Being on Earth gave him even greater
advantages with speed and strength, not mention healing.
Niail
walked into the living room. Was his training putting Kimi and the children at
danger? It was him that they had come for. If only his memory of the mission
would
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