Grace didn’t move from her spot in the corner of the cell or even look up when the door opened.  “Get the fuck away from me.” She said, although her voice was wavering a bit.

 

“You know, you could help us,” Dylan Kincaide said as the door hissed shut behind him.  “Tell us what you know.  If you did, we might not kill your daughter.”

 

“I haven’t been involved in years, you sick bastard.”

 

“You know what was happening before that.  The new Lord Spencer over there won’t have changed anything.  We don’t want missions, we want infrastructure and codes and locations.  And maybe, if you’re especially helpful, someday you and that little kid of yours can have a couple nice rooms without windows someplace in the top of a building to call your very own.”

 

“You don’t have my daughter.”

 

“Ah, but we do,” Dylan said.  “Once we had you knocked out, a group left with you and another group stayed.  Little Courtney there didn’t understand why her baby brother wouldn’t wake up.”

 

“I probably would have believed you if you got her name right, dipshit.  You’ve got to be seriously sick if you think you’re going to get me to help you with *anything* after what you did to my son…your nephew.”

 

He shrugged.  “Never was good with names.  There’s one I know, though, and fortunately, she *is* in this building.  Want to know what’s happening to Sister Dearest?”

 

Grace looked up at him.  “You just made a big mistake.”

 

“Oh, on the contrary.  She won’t be anywhere near here when the king of the pricks arrives.  She just has to be kept around for a day or so until Bryce takes care of things.”  He paused.  “You see, I haven’t got the time to be married, and having seen what *wonderful* relationships those shiny little bands create, I don’t really want kids… but naturally we need *someone* to take over after me… it’d be nice to have the IMF back with the Callahans, I thought.”  He smiled, but there was no warmth in it.  “Dear Cassidy’s going to have more in common with our mother than she’d like.”

 

“Yeah…Garrett’s going to *love* that one.  Make sure you kiss your balls goodbye before he separates them from your body.”

 

“Oh no, *I* won’t be the one handling that.  How’d you like another halfsibling, Gracey?”

 

“Don’t CALL me that.” Grace jumped up and fairly lunged at him.

 

Dylan stepped aside.  “Not nice.  I’ll be back later.  Don’t get lonely.”  He sneered and walked out.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Cassidy was fast asleep, finding herself honestly grateful for the nap, until something kicked her in the gut.

 

“Get up.” Bryce sneered.  “Is that anyway to treat a host, you fall asleep on him?”

 

“I fall asleep a lot of places lately.”

 

“Well isn’t that a shame, hope you don’t fall asleep during what I’m going to do to you.”

 

“Nah, I’m feeling a little more rested at the moment, I think I might just be able to hold conversation.  Maybe even scream a little bit for mercy, bet you’d like that.”

 

“Can’t say it wouldn’t be a nice thing to hear…especially since I’ll be the only one listening to you strain your vocals.”  He paused.  “No one’s looking for you anyway.”

 

She was silent; for the first time in her life, she expected he was probably right.  After all that had happened…

 

“Spencer’s so drunk out of his mind, he probably doesn’t even know you’re gone.  Besides, it’s not like he’s got any use for you anymore…”

 

She *knew* the first part was true, but didn’t say it.  “You know, Bryce Callahan, I think you’re just a little bit jealous.  We offed your precious little bundle of shit, and there’s two little boys growing up under Nathan’s successor.  You had to take David Kincaide’s little accident.”

 

“On the contrary.  You see, with my…situation, I was able to choose a competent successor and with your husband handling the oh-so-unfortunate demise of Nathan Spencer the way that he has, I don’t expect the Spencer Organization to last much longer.”

 

“Then you don’t know much about the Spencers.”’

 

“I know more than you think, that little family of yours is crumbling.  And this is just what’ll send Spencer over the edge.”

 

“Kill me if you really want.  I don’t reckon he’ll much care.”

 

A small smirk appeared on Bryce’s face.  “Oh, I’m not going to kill you.” He took a few steps towards her.  “That would be such a waste…What I’m going to do will be much worse for you.”

 

“You’ve done the worst there is, I’m not concerned,” she barked, remembering the child that had never been born… back when things had been simpler somehow, back when Garrett had been gentle and helpful and loving with her…

 

“You see, Dylan is going to need a successor…”

 

“That’s just fucking gross, he’s my brother!”

 

He laughed a little.  “No…you misunderstand.  We’re going to get the IMF back into Callahan hands.  Dylan will do as the successor for now…”

 

She felt sick suddenly, though she knew *precisely* why this time as she backed away from him.

 

“Aidan told me all about you… from what he said, you rather enjoyed it.  Though I suppose that could have been the broken ribs keeping you from doing much about it… I certainly wouldn’t want to have to break anything.  You’ll be here until we’re sure, then shuttled far, far away long before your precious *husband* notices you’re gone.  I’ve been watching that little family of yours, Cassidy Kincaide, and it does seem there’s one thing you’re good for…”

 

“Spencer.  Cassidy Spencer,” she corrected, finding she had backed into a wall.

 

“Not like that little detail will matter…you think your husband is going to want you after what you did?  Not a chance.  You’ll be all alone, and I will be your only lifeline.”

 

“And I’m not terribly afraid of dying.”

 

“I plan on keeping you alive until you completely satisfy me.”

 

“You’re like friggin’ seventy, you can’t even get it up anymore, what the hell are you playing at?”  She spat, but she knew fear was in her eyes.  And Garrett wouldn’t be there to rush to her rescue this time.

 

“You know, it’s such a shame.  If your sister hadn’t killed my son, I wouldn’t be forced to do this.  But I’m a man who grabs an opportunity when it arises…” Bryce pinned her against the wall.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“I’d just like to point out to you that this is your friggin’ fault.  Is that even the right building?” Garrett demanded as they were forced back behind another car by the firing IMF agents.

 

“And how the fuck is it my fault your little house slave got herself kidnapped?”  Gavin hissed.

 

“Don’t talk about her like that.  And if they didn’t want your slut, they wouldn’t have even come near her.”

 

Gavin’s eyes narrowed.  “My *what,* please?  When Dylan Kincaide and that horny old bastard are probably up there taking turns on your wife?”

 

Garrett stopped for a second, never actually realizing that what he said was true.  That they were actually doing that to Cassidy…  “What makes you think they aren’t having a go on yours?”

 

“’Cause mine happens to be the kingpin’s daughter.”

 

“Right and she killed his only son.  What makes you think she’s not already dead?”

 

“I’m sorry, and they’re really going to keep your precious little baby machine alive up there?”  Gavin snorted.

 

“Well it wouldn’t make any sense to rape someone who’s dead, would it?”

 

“Be one hell of a story to tell *you* once we get in there… Callahan is going to bait you.  He knows you haven’t got any sense when you get angry.”

 

“And that’s why he’s keeping Cassidy alive.  He’s trying to break me.  Your wife, on the other hand, has no purpose for staying alive.  You’re nothing.”

 

“I’m –“ Gavin began, but stopped.  As far as the IMF was concerned, no one really cared that he was a successful lawyer… someone like Garrett, with power and weaponry and influence, really did have more value.  Even if in the *real* world, Garrett would probably have been entirely useless.  “I have different skills for different purposes,” Gavin replied.

 

“Well maybe next time you can hone your skills to be better adapted to what kind of life you’ve been forced to lead.  You don’t see any of my kids on the ground with a bullet through their head, do you?”

 

“Oh trust me, the survival influences dear Dad burned into you infected me too.  I wasn’t even home!  And if you ever talk about Nathan like that again –“

 

Garrett never found out what would happen if he talked about Nathan like that again, because from somewhere behind Gavin, more shots were heard.  Clearly, they’d been spotted.

 

“Get back here.” Garrett told him.  “We’ll have to get in through the top of the building.  Wouldn’t make much sense to run into the middle of the street while they’re firing at us.” He pulled Gavin into an alley.

There was a moment’s pause.  “Thanks,” Gavin said.

 

Garrett shrugged.  “Neither of us is any good to them dead.”

 

“Yeah…”

 

“Oh, and next time someone’s firing at you from behind, get down, you stupid shit.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Once the two of them had gotten onto the roof of the IMF building, Garrett stopped and took out his computer. “We’ve got to find out where they’re being held first.”

 

“Classmates.com isn’t gonna help you out on this one,” Gavin snapped impatiently.

 

“Do you want to find your wife before they kill her or what? Shut up and cover me.” Garrett barked as he tossed Gavin a pistol.  “We’ve got two cells….the one up top is probably where they’re keeping Cassidy…” Garrett said, almost to himself. 

 

Gavin found himself staring at the gun in his hand, the same gun he had slammed on his father’s desk when he told his parents he was finished with the organization.  It had been the very day he’d earned his law degree… he’d stomped in and told them he was done and he was leaving.  His mother had been furious, his father looked distraught.  But Grace had been proud, she’d supported him.  And he’d done it, he’d gotten his little family safe… or so he’d thought.  He clicked the safety off.

 

“Okay…” Garrett said, standing up.  “Okay, we’ve got to get in the building through that vent…we’ll be able to get to the first cell pretty much undetected if we move quick.  I set off the fire alarm in another sector of the building.  And if we move fast, we’ll be able to get them both out before Callahan even realizes what’s going on.”

 

Gavin stared blankly for a moment, feeling incredibly stupid for once.  Clearly he’d underestimated his brother a bit… as far as this was concerned, Garrett knew what he was doing.  “Right.  Then… let’s go.”  But Garrett was already half way to the vent.

 

The two of them crawled into the building and jumped into a nearly deserted hallway.  “Not too smart to leave a high security prisoner completely unguarded.” He said quietly, practically running to the door that would lead to Cassidy’s cell.

 

“It opens on palm print, genius, have you worked a way around that yet?”  Gavin asked in the same quiet tone, chasing his brother down the hall.

 

“It also opens by code.” Garrett pulled out a small device and attached it to the security pad.

 

Gavin simply waited, staring at the door.  Grace could be in there… and they were out here, and he was waiting for his brother (who he’d always considered not terribly bright) to save her… but Garrett *was* the only one who could do it.  Without his brother, Gavin would probably already be dead behind a car.  “Can that thing… do whatever it’s doing any faster?”

 

A few seconds later the door hissed open.  “It goes as fast as it can.” Garrett replied, stepping into the room.  Something inside him broke when he saw not Cassidy’s red hair as he’d hoped… but Grace’s brown hair.

 

Gavin slipped in behind Garrett.  The guard, it seemed, was inside the room… he was hurting her, he was hurting Grace… the gun was in his hand before he’d realized it and suddenly he found himself unsure how the man had simply died and fallen to the ground.  He glanced at his hand and found the gun in it, barrel still smoking.  He dropped it and hurried to Grace.

 

Grace blinked.  It couldn’t be…this wasn’t…they had to be playing some kind of trick…to get her to help them… “Gavin?” 

 

Gavin gently lifted her.  “That’s me… I’m sorry… are you okay?”

 

Grace touched his face and felt tears forming in her eyes.  “Nathan….he killed him….”

 

“Touching reunion, but we really have to get Cass and get the hell out of here.” Garrett interrupted.

 

Gavin kissed her forehead as they went back out of the room.

 

“Follow me, and stay close to the wall.  It won’t be my fault if you two get caught.” Garrett said, suddenly feeling a wave of dread wash over him…what if they didn’t get there in time? Some of the things Gavin had said could be true…they could kill her… or… rape her if they felt like it… and once the alarm sounded, they’d kill her rather than risk him finding her… or do *something* to hide her…  Garrett tried shaking the thoughts out of his head as he led them down into a hallway where they found about six identical doors leading to six identical cells.  “Grace, do you know which one she’s in?”

 

“I wasn’t exactly some kind of willing houseguest so I really couldn’t tell you.” Grace replied.

 

Garrett stared at the hallway for what seemed like a year.  “Cassidy, where are you?” He muttered to himself.

 

A door hissed open, and Bryce Callahan emerged.  “Well look who’s arrived… pity you’re too late, Garrett Spencer.”  Bryce pulled his gun, not pointing it at Garrett but rather into the cell.  “Turn around and walk away or she bites it.”

 

Garrett pulled his gun as well and didn’t hesitate to fire.  He wasn’t sure if Bryce’s gun had gone off as well…he stepped over the body and into the room.  “Cass…” He approached her. 

 

She was crouched in a corner, naked as the day she was born and clearly having been beaten.  She looked up at him, and the fear didn’t melt from her eyes how it always had in the past.  She stared up silently, motionlessly.

 

Something in the way she looked at him made his heart break.  Garrett grabbed Cassidy’s dress from the floor and helped her put it on, covering her with his jacket as well.  “I’m so sorry…” He picked her up carefully.

 

She was silent another moment; then she suddenly threw her arms around his neck and began to sob.

 

“Let’s get you out of here.” He soothed, going back into the hallway.  “There’s a fire exit down that way.” He told Gavin.  “The sooner we get out, the better, don’t want them realizing Callahan’s dead and the top two prisoners gone.”

 

Gavin nodded and led the way, and before long the group had made it safely out of the building.

 

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