Black-clad people filled the room, gearing up, or so Bevis believed, as the term was flung around constantly. Watching her best friend, she learnt new things about her and was proud to call her just that ... a friend.

"Here," Nagid said, holding a gun toward her, "this one is for you."

"That is very kind, but I don't know how to shoot," Bevis said, "my training didn't get that far."

"I figured," he said, continuing to hold the gun out, "that is why I have this one; all you need to do is point and fire."

"Why do you think I will need a gun?" Bevis asked, slowly taking the weapon by the handle.

"I'm hoping you don't," Nagid said, "it takes a certain kind of person to take a life ... what I've seen of you," he shook his head, "...you're not that kind of person."

"Life is precious," Bevis said, "not something to be terminated without thought."

Nagid nodded, "The people we're moving against do terminate it without thought or regret. Rather them than you." Bevis sighed, nodded and waited while Nagid buckled a utility belt and holster around her waist, "That is for your gun and anything else you may require during this operation."

Looking down, Bevis inhaled, "Sanity may be required. Do you think it will fit?"

Nagid chuckled, "Perhaps enough for you but the other side ..." he shook his head, "I doubt they ever had sanity."

"I think they did once," Bevis said, "I don't think it lasted the last few generations. The current Calderone thinks nothing of sacrificing her own sister to gain her objectives."

"Your problem is that you feel too much," Nagid said, "it can be a liability in our line of work."

"Your line of work ..." Bevis looked at him, "That is the saddest thing I've heard."

"Currently, it's your line of work as well," Nagid said, "so you're going to have to block all emotion."

"Oh, you don't want me to do that," Bevis said, "the outcome of that in the long run ..." she sighed and moved away toward Chelsea and Akiva. "What do we have?"

"We found the place on the map," Akiva said, smiling, "it's not one of the properties owned by any of the Calederones ... well ..." he shrugged, "...not any who are alive."

Bevis looked at Chelsea's stony expression, "Not the one who started all of this?'

Chelsea nodded, "There are two names on the bill of ownership," Chelsea continued, glancing around, "the original and one that helped him cover it all up."

"Chels ... not ..." Bevis stopped talking as Chelsea frowned, "Well, live gets better and better ... both of us now have a vested interest in the outcome of this case."

Akiva looked at the tablet's screen before staring at Chelsea, "I would never have guessed that person was related to you in any way," he shook his head, "it just goes to show every family has a bad apple somewhere just waiting to screw everything up."

Chelsea's gaze snapped to his narrowing before her lips spread wide, and she laughed, "Akiva, you are a breath of fresh air."

"Thank you," he said, "now, shall we move out to this location?"

"I think it may be a good idea," Chelsea said, looking at Bevis' attire, "where did you get the gun?"

"Nagid gave it to me," Bevis said, "why?"

"He has a lot of trust you won't break your wrist when that thing discharges," Chelsea said, "make sure you aim higher than where you want to hit."

Nodding, Bevis turned toward Nagid, standing at another table, pushing various weapons into his belt. Did she trust him or not. It was something she couldn't decide or put her finger on.

"I choose to go with my gut and follow the training that runs in my blood," Bevis whispered, not truly knowing what those words meant. But it was the last thing her father said to her, and she would trust him before she trusted anyone else.

Nagid stood at the table, wiping his knives and cleaning his weapons; it was more for show than anything else. He had given a promise and intended to keep it, but with the way things were going and this heir not knowing what she was saying or why she was compelled to do certain things, he hoped he could do so. The phone at his waist vibrated; glancing around the room, he made sure no one was watching him and pulled the device into view, reading the text. Quickly sending an answering message, he pushed it into his utility belt and continued preparing for the mission ahead.

"Did they ask you a question?"

Nagid gasped in surprise, turning to find Akiva at his elbow, "You startled me."

"My apologies," Akiva said, "will you answer my previous question?"

"Why must I?" Nagid asked, shaking his head, "Is there a reason, or is it just curiosity?"

"Who are you working for?" Akiva asked.

"The same people you do, "Nagid said.

"Then why are they texting you instead of coming down here as is the protocol and addressing you in person," Akiva said, "what are you hiding? "

"Why are you being so nosy?" Nagid asked.

"Unlike you, I have a heritage to protect and a vow to honour," Akiva said, "what about you?"

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

Nagid stared at the younger man, noting the truth in his steady gaze and the determination in the gut of his jaw. At that moment, he felt as though he were looking at himself years earlier.

"You protect one heir. I'm obligated to fill a promise to another made decades ago," Nagid said, "I promise you it is also for the protection of our unit, agency and those dependent on the protection of both."

Akiva stared at him, "What did you tell them?"

"A progress report was given," Nagid said, "that is all."

Akiva continued staring at him before simply turning and walking away. Nagid watched him move to the group he was working with, hoping that the young man believed everything he had said; turning toward his weapons on the table, he stilled, finding Chelsea leaning on the other side of the table, staring at his various forms of firearms.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"Perhaps," she said, looking up with mistrust in her eyes and concern, "if you're selling us out, you will pay the same price they will ... that is all I have to say."

"What makes you think I'm selling you out?" he asked; as she began moving away, she paused, looking over her shoulder.

"Deception comes in many forms; a man or woman who cannot tell his brothers or sisters in arms the truth and finds it necessary to hide his intent is not a man or woman anyone can trust," she said, pausing a moment longer before joining Bevis at the round table.

Nagid rested his hands on the table, wishing for the thousandth time he could tell his fellow agents what he was obligated to do. Glancing at the two women chatting, he sighed, "If only your father would permit me to divulge anything."

Shaking his head, he pushed off the table and quickly adorned his utility belt with the weapons. Everyone had to come out of this alive, that was his mission, and that is what he needed to focus on.

Bevis smiled at Chelsea at the table as she approached her, "Did you have your questions answered?"

Chelsea shook her head, "One thing I do know ..." Chelsea glanced at Nagid, "he worked with my father ..." she frowned down at the papers on the table, "I wonder if that is who he is communicating with."

"Wouldn't he tell you if he is?" Bevis asked.

"Not if my father told him he couldn't," Chelsea said, "which is something my father would do."

"Can we trust him?" Bevis asked.

"We should be able to," Chelsea said, shaking her head, "he didn't flinch when I received the saying my father used to tell me ..." she shrugged, "... it was one of the things that gave him away. The other was the knife he is carrying ..." she smiled at Bevis' quizzical expression, "... it's the same kind of knife ... one that a unit would have been given and stays with each person no matter where they go."

"Oh...." Bevis nodded, "something that ties them all together at a certain time."

"Something like that," Chelsea chuckled, "come on ... they are getting ready to leave."

"Let's do this," Bevis said, following Chelsea to the departure point. She felt she was experiencing something that should have happened years ago but didn't; Bevis was glad she hadn't.

Would she be the same after all this was finished?

Would this be the end of it all?

What else would she find out on the way?

Although her mother was wrong to prevent her from having an understanding of this world, Bevis knew she would never be able to live like this daily. When this was all over, at least she could return to her business and do something she was passionate about.

Looking around, she shook her head, "This is a far cry from where I started this journey," she turned in a circle before leaving the room.

The phone vibrated on the solid wooden table in the middle of the cabin; a man was placing wood in the grate, and his head turned as it shook again. A woman turned from the window seat where the sun shone in, lighting the area while she read.

"Who is it, dear?" she asked, "do you want me to look while you're busy."

"Please see what Nagid has to say," the man said, "I want to get this blaze going before the others arrive."

The woman stood padding barefoot over the smooth wooden floor. Picking up the phone, she opened the message.

"New location for destruction, prisoners in attendance," she read, "what does that mean?"

"Why is he not giving the orders?" the man asked.

"Oh, there is another text," the woman said, "the heir's rights have been invoked."

"Bevis and Akiva are involved," the man said, "we need to prepare for more guests. I have a feeling everything will come to a head very soon."

"It's about time," the woman said, "I still think it could have ended years ago, but you insist on this fiasco, letting that family ruin more lives."

"I would have finished it years ago," the man said, "but my niece is part of that family, and I couldn't put her in harm's way while she was so small. Now, she seems to be struggling to fit in with all the violence and has been sacrificed; in a way, she has been extracted, and the true culprit can be taken down."

"Your niece," the woman said, "so it was true ... your brother did have an affair."

"Yes, that is why I helped Andrea and the children to find a place to hide from him," the man said, "there was no way I was going to allow my sadistic brother to kill off his family."

"You really think he would have done so?" the woman whispered.

The man nodded, "In a heartbeat."

"It's fortunate then that he is dead," she said, "I would not have liked to see you go up against him."

"I don't know if he truly died," the man said, "we have to be prepared to help the girls ... our daughter may go up against her uncle and people like him ..." he shuddered, "... I hope she doesn't die trying to fulfil the promise."

"Then we need to be prepared to step in and help if it comes to that," a man in the doorway said, "what are you going to do about it?"

"Josiah", the woman moved forward, hugging her old friend, "so good to see you."

"It is, but you're not usually on this part of the land," the man said, stepping forward and shaking his hand, "what is this about?"

"The children are doing what they are meant to," Josiah said, "but your brother lives and is heading this way to lay siege to what he believes you owe him."

"What is that?" the woman asked.

"The land you live on and the river running next to it," Josiah said, "we cannot allow that to happen."

"Then we won't," the man said, "let's finish our preparations."

"What do you mean he is alive?" the woman asked, laying a hand on Josaihs arm, "Why does he believe this land is his?"

"I have seen it to confirm it," Josiah sighed, "but I have had reports that your brother's mind is twisted. I have also learnt that he discovered the whereabouts of Andrea, but I'm not sure about the children."

"He has to be stopped," the woman said, "this has gone on long enough. If we don't stop him now ... if we don't stop all of them, this feud ... will never end."

"We are going to do just that," Josiah said, "when do the heir's rights come into play?"

"They already have," the man said, looking at his phone, "Bevis invoked them with the hereditary phrase."

"How did she learn that if she hasn't been around her parents for so long?" Josiah asked.

"No idea," the man smiled, "but we can ask her when we see her.

Nodding, Josiah smiled, "We can, but before we get to that point ..." he turned at the sound of a car approaching, "...that is our security for this sector ..." he sighed, "...time to get everything prepared to protect our people and make the final stand."