CHAPTER 6: MEETING HER DAD

DANIEL

There was tension so thick in the air, it was as if one could cut it with a knife. Rebel had been a whirlwind for three months since she arrived in my life, sneaking out, evading guards, and testing every limit I set. But I did think that finally she'd begun to understand that she wasn't a prisoner; her safety was simply not up for negotiation. Her previous organization had been brutal, and the coded signals we had intercepted had guaranteed us that her latest mission was to kill me. The irony was that she did not even realize it, or at least did not show it. Her movements of the past couple of days had been unusual. Silent. Too silent. It was not like her, and I did not think so. My second-in-command, Klaus, had discovered a lead: a man named Michael had been desperately trying to reach her. Only the name had made her pull further inside herself, blank-eyed into space. Michael was her adopted father, Klaus's investigation revealed. But I could sense that it wasn't the entire story. I couldn't put my finger on the dynamic between them, but there was more. There was a hint of fear and reverence in the way her expression tightened at his name. And then there was our first genuine fight. She had visited a clinic with Catya to take birth control pills. I felt insulted by the suggestion, it was not her choice to make on her own. She didn't wish to risk an intimate relationship since she didn't want to deal with the depth of her emotions so I exchanged her pills for vitamins. It was a deliberate betrayal, but in my mind, it was justified. If she ever found out the truth, hell would rain, but I just could not help myself. The fight with Michael was inevitable, although I hadn't expected it to go the way it did.

On the way back from town, we were halted by a black shiny motorbike. A tall, fair-skinned man in his late forties got off the horse and pointed a revolver at my car. Rebel's body tensed next to me, and her breath was stuck in her throat. I wished mentally for her to remain calm as I reached across and squeezed her hand hard. Bloodshed was not what this day required. With my hands half-raised to indicate that I was not carrying anything, I stepped out of the vehicle. I met Michael's stern stare and replied softly, "Let's talk." "Rebel is with me, but you can ride in one of the cars or follow behind us." He let out a cold laugh. "I ride with her." "Not gonna happen," I said, my voice firming. "She rides within three paces of me the entire time," I informed him, my voice one that wouldn't be disobeyed. Michael's jaw went hard, his gaze darting to Rebel, and for an instant, I was sure he was going to shoot, but instead nodded abruptly. "Fine.". Take the lead. We drove back in silence, Rebel sitting still beside me with her hands clasped tightly together in her lap. Michael remained behind us on his motorcycle, the motor's rumbling a persistent sign of his tail. My own hands gripped the steering wheel more firmly as I looked over at her. The woman who had defied all the rules I had set, who had lit a fire in my otherwise structured life, was now as motionless as a statue. It was apparent that she was not prepared to confront whatever past she had discussed with Michael. Tension coursed through the house. Rebel pulled her hand out of mine and headed to Michael in the conference room, her voice steady but gentle.

"Dad." Michael's face was unreadable as he turned. He glared at me for a second, then back at her with his icy eyes appraising her. "Did I not teach you better?" His voice was a knife slicing through the room. "When did you begin using your legs to think? Do you have any idea what they will do to you? To the two of you?" His words cut like a lash. I braced myself rigid by clenching fists. Just because he was her father, this man's tone was actually impolite. Yes, I did. Michael didn't give me time to respond. Do you think this is a game? You become weak when you fall in love. I told you that how many times? Rebel jutted his chin out in defiance.

"I'm not helpless.". This is manageable. It doesn't alter me. "It changes everything!" he burst out, his mask slipping. "You're dead the moment you let your guard down. Or worse, what then happens when he's dead? Do you lose your edge when you've got your revenge?" She spoke softly but firmly. "That isn't so. I'm aware of the risks." "No," Michael angrily snapped back. "You don't. You wouldn't risk all your training if you did. You become vulnerable when you fall in love. Being vulnerable is dangerous." Rebel's voice was firm as she stood tall. "I won't let them kill us. Michael scowled in disgust.". "It's already begun, you've got a bull's eye painted on your forehead. Don't make me wish I'd kept all my secrets to myself." She stood firm and answered brusquely, "I won't," her eyes flashing up at him. Michael stared at me, his unblinking and intense gaze sending a shiver through me. "This is the chap, then." Rebel's glance flickered at me briefly before he answered in a gentler tone. Indeed. Daniel is this chap. He glared at me. "I hope you're worth it.". Because I'll do it myself if you don't. There was complete silence after Michael had spoken. I would not flinch from his gaze as I glared at him. Rebel's hand shifted position at her side as if she did not know whether she should take hold of me or step away completely. She was more upset about her father being there. I saw the anguish in her eyes, and it was much deeper than she cared to acknowledge. Finally, I responded, "You have a lot of nerve," firmly but clearly.

"Showing up here guns drawn and behaving as though you still had her in your pocket." Michael's eyes turned serious. "Authority? Do you think there's power at stake here? It's a matter of survival. Something that is quite beyond your comprehension. I said, "I know more than you think." "But you're mistaken if you think you can just charge in here and intimidate her into submission." With her hands raised as if to physically separate us, Rebel intervened between us. She spoke quietly, "Enough," in a soothing voice that belied the tension radiating from her. "You two." Her tone softened but lost its edge as she spoke to Michael. "I understand your intentions, but you no longer have the right to control my decisions.". You showed me how to think for myself and stand firm. I am doing just that. Michael's jaw did tighten, but he did not utter a word. I did momentarily think that he would hear me out. Then, in a low, menacing voice, he spoke. "You think this is going to work out for you and him? You have no idea what's going to happen. Rebel, they won't stop. They never stop." "I understand," she said firmly. "And I'm ready for that." The night wore on with the conversation. The danger that dogged Rebel like a shadow and the organisation she used to work for weren't the only urgent threats.  It was about trust. About the unseen but long-lasting scars that still existed between her and Michael. Michael shared pieces of their history, tales that painted a picture of a guy who had once had a strong affection for the girl he had taken in but had become cynical with their way of life. He talked of failed missions, bloody sacrifices, and lessons learned. Rebel's face was unreadable as she listened. She would look at me sometimes as if she was looking for reassurance or gauging my reaction. It was evident that the fight was far from over by the time Michael departed. Rebel was clearly exhausted as she leaned against me, but I knew that we would face whatever came next together.