Chapter 31 – Before Thanksgiving (Ansel Conrad POV) Pt.2

Then. Parents hope that their children, when not in their sights know right and wrong. As a parent I hoped that my children would put each other first as my siblings and I had.

We live in this world where the enemy shouldn't be with someone with whom we live with.

Family should be the people you turn too, not from.

Walking past Brennan I couldn't even stop to talk to my son. Anything I said now would be in the heat of the moment. Words that I may not mean would be released and I knew better.

Climbing the stairs, I stop in my office first and shut down all my electronics. Pulling them offline, I shake my head at each wire, at every email or piece of data that Devin might have gotten her hands on.

Worse even, is whom she may have shared that data with?

Frustrated, the network down, I lock up my room before shooting my sister a message. She was the one with skills to know how to stopping Devin, or in this case catching her in the act.

Right outside of Harleigh's room I hear her strumming on her guitar. Resting my head against the wall, my emotions are wild inside me.

Harleigh was my baby girl. The one that would lay her head on my shoulder when she was little and fall asleep on my chest. Kalenah had a way with our children, but Harleigh, Silas and Paige, they were the children that clung to me.

My kids thought their mother could do anything, but those three thought I was the fiercest and bravest in the world. I made the best sounds during bedtime stories. Could always find them in hide-and-go-seek. Made them laugh, and when they cried and I couldn't make the pain go away, I held them just right.

Harleigh... what was Taylor thinking? To say that Harleigh wasn't a part of them family was the blackest lie or statement ever verbalized.

I wasn't the therapist like Kalenah, but it also didn't take a genius to realize that Taylor only said it because she wanted to hurt Harleigh.

Taylor threw the mud that she knew would have the utmost impact. Harleigh's biological family died, but the smallest part of her I know thinks that in a way they still left her.

It couldn't be explained away. That way she felt.

No amount of love from our part touched those feelings of abandonment. It didn't mean that Harleigh loved us any less as parents. It just was.

That was how it worked sometimes.

When my fury has settled, I tap quietly on her door, removing all expressions of pity from my face.

Harleigh didn't want pity.

The strumming stops and moments later the door is pulled opened. Dark brunette hair pulled into a ponytail, her face splotchy, "can I come in?" I ask though it's my house. Still, unlike Brennan Harleigh has done nothing to garner my distrust.

With pursed lips and wobbly chin she moves aside, letting me into her space. Going to the computer chair, I face Harleigh as she settles on her bed, plucking her guitar strings halfheartedly.

"How you doing kiddo?"

Shifting her thin lips to the side of her face, she shrugs, swallowing. "Thaddeus told us what Taylor said." That puts a small smile on her face, but not enough to take away the pain that Taylor caused to newly erupt.

"I'm upset but I know that I'm part of the family," Harleigh answers in a lackluster tone. "I don't even know why it's bothering me," she plays it down but I knew better.

"You're entitled to feel anyway you want," I reassure her like the many times before.

"Honestly, I know she wanted to hurt me dad."

I nod, "I'm in awe of how strong you are," I tell her honestly, looking at this from a whole new perspective. And I know she hasn't either when he turns her bluish green eyes on me in disbelief.

"No, really," I chuckle, "If it had been me I would have decked her," she snorts now.

"Are you advocating violence?"

I laugh only because of the affronted, scandalous manner in which Harleigh asks. Her hand placed lightly over her chest, eyes wide and filled with mocking humor.

"I'm just saying. I would have punched her. Or in the least, I wouldn't pretend that things are all peachy when they aren't," the last part said seriously.

She shrugs, "I mean... what's the point? Here – not just in Bend – you and mom are the leaders of our kind. It's not like I can just avoid Taylor – Talia is dating Taylor's brother-"

"And one has nothing to do with the other. She hurt you, it was wrong to say Harleigh, not only because it's not the truth, either. If you don't want her around, then she doesn't come here, we banned Devin from coming here," I inform her though I know she's probably already heard.

Our walls had ears-

My eyes widen and thoughts all swirl and change when reality slaps me across the face. "What's wrong dad?" Harleigh asks noting my subtle change in demeanor. I rest back pulling away and my face drops and heart pounds frantically in my chest.

I jump to my feet, hands shaking in panic.

"Daddy?"

Blinking, I focus on Harleigh, "I'm okay sweetheart, I just need to speak with your mother."

She doesn't quite believe me, nodding slowly still. I turn to the door but whip around to face Harleigh once more, "If you don't want Taylor here in your home, say the word – that's the end of it." I wait for her to acknowledge and let my words register.

"It's fine – I'm not going to ignore how Taylors acted but I'm also not going to lose sleep over her words."

"That's my girl," I nod proud.

One thing put to rest I leave Harleigh's room walking down the hallway passing the sitting area on the far end of the second floor. I'm nearly to my office when Brennan is coming up towards me, Kalenah not far behind him.

Raging, I don't bother to hide my rage and disappointment in Brennan especially now that I believe that what he's kept from Kalenah and I have reached far beyond just us. Noting me, he slows unsure and shamefaced but I can feel myself losing to my nature.

Two steps towards him; I grab Brennan by his shirt, manhandling him. Pulling him, uncaring of the stumble or the gasp that Kalenah releases.

"Ansel?"

Ignoring her wary tone, I slam my door shut once I've practically thrown Brennan in one of the armchairs.

"Ansel!" Kalenah snaps. When I meet her eyes, they flicker to Brennan who was also staring at me in shock.

Ignoring Kalenah I glare into Brennan's eyes.

"Elbert Massey."

"Ron Pena."

"Jose Ward."

"Catherine French."

"Donna Freeman."

"Ana Burton."

"Laura Moss."

"Emily Tucker."

"Erika Ramos."

"Monica Lynch."

"Sue Terry."

Brennan gazes at me and his expression only deepens with confusion.

"For the last eight months, those people, our kind. They've all been murdered or gone missing," his eyes widen and the disgust in what he's kept from Kalenah and I flares.

It overwhelms me; even my mouth fills with bitterness.

"You knew what she was doing was wrong Brennan... my private files?"

He slowly shakes his head from side to side, eyes wide as he's picked up on where I'm going with this. "Devin she isn't a killer," he stresses.

"Between you two, the blood on your hands Brennan. Make sure you know and understand that they are on your-"

"Ansel!" Kalenah growls again. But this time, it's like the answers I've wanted have been dropped in my lap. "You – don't-" I shake my head at my wife.

"For the last eight months, each person, one of our kind that I've had contact with, discussed their gifts, have either been found murdered or disappeared all together!"

"Eight months worth of people. I've lost more people in the same months that Brennan says Devin was hacking our computers, than in three years combined!"

The pure, raw anger in Kalenah's eyes morphs to sadness as she shakes her head.

"Nothing has been different Kalenah... for months I've thought that it was something on their part, that they didn't follow the instructions we've given them. They slipped up somehow because for years we've helped those like us-"

"You said the Elders-"

"I did but now we know better," guilt hits me full force. "Dad, Devin isn't a killer – there is no way that-"

"She hacked out network! And you – Brennan you knew and let it happen for eight months! It doesn't matter if they died by Devin's hand. All it takes is one person to use Devin's attempts to enter the network and servers we have... follow her trail and get what they need!" I roar angrily, taking a step back from my son lest I strike him.

I would never hit my children in rage. Training them in self-defense yes. But never when angry or as punishment.

Rightfully ashamed, Brennan looks away. Gripping the chair hands, they take on the force in which he's squeezing them.

In my fury, when my phone rings I grab it from my pocket, storming out of my office and going to my car.

"Hey what is this message you're sending me?" my little sister Angela chuckles. The sound echo's as I race away from the house, swerving to the side of the road angrily.

Smacking my hand against the steering wheel, panting, I growl out. "Damnit!"

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© 2016 roxann_season All Rights Reserved

Lots of comments last chapter but one that stuck out was:

Gabriel hacks into computers/networks/servers and it doesn't seem wrong, but Devin does it and... it's a problem. So what do you guys think? Why is it okay for Gabriel but not Devin? the awesome comment writer said that it was about intention.

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