Now that I was looking at him closely, I doubted he was homeless. His black coat was tailored, his leather shoes immaculate. I couldn't fathom who would know me in this part of the city, especially after ten years of absence.

"How do you know my name?" I asked.

Looking to the far end of the bridge, I wondered how much of an advantage this delay would offer Higgins.

He stepped from the shadows, finally allowing me to see his chiseled features. The street lights reflected off a large, jagged scar that trailed down the right side of his face.

"What is that accent," he asked, "American?"

I gasped, "Gideon?" My lips parted in surprise. He nodded slowly, shoving his hands deep into his pockets as I'd seen Kael do countless times during awkward or uncomfortable situations. The recognition sent chills down my spine as I started to turn away. Now that I saw him, I didn't want to stay, couldn't bare the emotions I hadn't prepared for.

"Don't." His one word stopped my steps, even though I still couldn't look at him. Between meeting him and losing Kael, I was slipping into the despair that threatened to swallow me whole.

"Why?" The word came out in a choked sob, the full meaning to my question not lost on him. I stared down at the wood planks of the bridge. Drizzle formed small puddles in the knots of the wood.

I heard him shift in front of me, but he said nothing. I finally looked up, surprised to find him watching me, not bothering with a response to my question. No matter, I had found my courage, as well as the words I had waited so long to say to him.

"I asked you why."

I met his gaze and, hardening my own when his didn't flinch, released my stream of questions and accusations, "Why did you abandon me, leave me to be raised in a broken, loveless system? Why did you start writing me suddenly six months ago? Don't shake your head. This is all your doing. We both know it. You set a bounty on my head, Gideon! Why? Why do you hate me so much when I never even knew you?" I was shouting and, wiping roughly at my wet face, I backed away at the end of my speech.

I looked up at the dark, cloudy sky and laughed softly through my tears, the irony of his question registering. "You want to know why I have an American accent? My life now has no resemblance to where I came from. I've tried to erase any semblance of my horrid past."

His face was blank. Any other man would have had some emotion on his face, but not my father. His expression lacked any remorse or anger. The way his dark eyes watched me should have terrified me, but they didn't. He merely said, "And yet even now you live in the shadows of your past, unaware. I wanted you to be free of this, but I see now. You can't be."

I retorted, "Don't lie to me. I know you are responsible for what's happened here." My hand went unconsciously to the locket around my neck. His eyes followed my movements and then his gaze flew to mine. He must know the locket had been in Kael's possession after Kiley's death. I whispered, "Kael's dead because of you." I loathed to hear the words spoken aloud.

He no longer hid his expression. With a haggard look he backed away and shook his head. "It wasn't me, Caraleena," he said, "You have to believe me. It was Henry. Henry did this." He took a ragged breath, wiping moisture from his upper lip. Kael had underestimated the affection this man had for him, but it was too late now. "I have always protected you. Even Mr. Kinley's death wasn't the result of a random mugging." My eyes widened and he continued. "The whole time I've been watching out for you, although your wretched childhood couldn't be prevented. Even in recent years, Kael and I always had someone monitoring your every move, protecting you."

His words shook me, realization setting in. London hadn't been the first time Kael had seen me. Either he or someone in his employment had been tracking me for years. I looked down at the locket and flipped it open.

One side pictured Kiley and Kael as teenagers, a reprint of the one I had seen on Agatha's wall. On the other side was me. Not as a baby, but a high school student. I looked up with questioning eyes, my shaking hands holding the locket in front of me.

Gideon shrugged, sounding sentimental as he squinted at the photos. "That was a gift from me to Kiley. They knew you were their sister at heart even though they could never know you." Tears filled my eyes, the twisted reality settling in. "Listen to me," he continued. "The only reason I made you, even Kael, think I wanted you dead was to try to flush out Henry. Kael's father, Henry, is alive."

With a dark look I appraised him. I was finding it hard to account for the anger and awe I felt for this man. Knowing all he had done made me loathe him, but at the same time his presence was overwhelmingly dominant. It almost demanded respect.

My emotions were written on my face; he nodded in understanding and said quietly, "Yes, it was dangerous for you, but I knew Kael wouldn't let any harm come to you. He's led your security detail for the past two years. Protecting you is in his blood. I knew he'd ignore my instructions."

He watched my face and spoke in earnest, "In my own way, I've always loved you, Caraleena. Always." He stepped forward, but I took two steps back and shook my head.

"Stay away," I spoke between gritted teeth and clenched my fists. The locket fell open on my chest. Wind whipped at my hair and sent tangled locks across my face. I felt the cold chill, knew Higgins would be here any time now.

"Harper!" The voice behind me sliced through the tension in the damp air. Gideon and I both spun to see Kael, impossibly, limping toward us. Gideon dropped back against the railing in shock.

I sprinted the remaining feet between us. Throwing both arms around him and burying my face in his neck I whispered through my tears, "I thought you were dead."

Kael kissed my forehead and brought my face back parallel to his. I looked down. There was no injury to his chest. His shirt was half opened from removing the bullet proof vest Interpol had given him to wear under his prisoner's uniform. I had forgotten.

His thigh was bleeding through his pant leg, likely from a knife wound Higgins had inflicted. Kael's eyes had already traveled over to where Gideon stood silently and watched the exchange. Keeping his arm around me, he guided us back across the bridge to where Gideon leaned.

"She said you were dead," Gideon spoke flatly, still watching Kael as if seeing a ghost.

Kael shook his head and grunted, "Higgins tried." He eyed Gideon suspiciously. "Where have you been, old man?" My gaze shifted between the two men. I found their conversation eerie yet fascinating.

Gideon ignored the question and instead ordered, "Time for you to go home." Looking down at the water one hundred feet below, he kept his grip on the railing and said, "I've never been one for confined spaces. Prison cells hold no interest for me." Pausing, his eyes met Kael's and he said steadily, "So I'll go. I'll let you both make your choices and you let me make mine."

"How did you know?" I breathed. I saw no point in trying to maintain an element of doubt in the man's mind.

He offered a small smile, the scar on his face projecting strangely from his cheek. "Tell Ava I said hello." His quiet words were his last. In one swift motion he leapt over the railing toward the black depths below.

I called out, but it was too late. Kael leapt after him, narrowly missing the sleeve of his jacket as he fell. I reached forward and grabbed Kael's arm. My grip kept him from losing his balance and falling over himself but his eyes remained frozen on the other side of the railing. Gazing down, he watched the only parent he'd ever known disappear beneath the water.

I pulled his arm to break his trance and bring him back over the rail to safety. I didn't cry as I would have expected. Sinking into Kael's embrace, I couldn't help but feel grateful that he had survived the night, even though Gideon had not.

When I finally backed away, Kael gently moved my hair back from my face. 'I'm sorry, I couldn't reach him. He was your..."

"No, he wasn't. He made his choice and I accept that. What I couldn't accept was losing you," I dropped my voice and tightened my hold on him as I threatened, "You scare me like that again, I'll kill you myself."

Kael smiled, but as he looked away I saw the moisture glistening in his eyes. He looked back and noticed the open locket. His eyes flew to mine. "What did Gideon tell you?"

I shrugged, "That you've known me for longer than I'd thought. Just when I think I know you..."

My words were cut off by sound of people approaching. Cars screeched to halt on the street at the entrance to the bridge. I recognized Ava as she jumped out and ran toward us. Kael dropped his hold of me and shoved his hands into his pockets, heading toward her.

"Where's Gideon?" She sounded frantic.

"Jumped. We'll need to search the water for the body. Higgins is dead too." Kael managed without emotion.

Ava's face betrayed her dismay. "Gideon is dead?" I wondered if she had wanted to do the deed herself or had still harbored feelings for the man. Kael nodded toward the spot where he'd jumped. Ava was quick to look over. Nothing but dark water moved below. "Well, we'll have to drag the river to be sure." Almost to herself she added, "But you're right. The man couldn't swim." She looked toward me. "You're ok?"

I smiled weakly and reached forward to hug the woman, whether she wanted it or not. Her body felt stiff beneath her Kevlar when I did so, and she relaxed only when I backed away and reassured her, "I'm fine, Ava. Kael was shot, stabbed. But I'm fine."

Glancing at Kael, Ava shrugged. "He's used to it," she said, "You get in the car. I'm going to tape off the scene, see what kind of mess Kael left for us this time."

I nodded and backed away in the direction she had indicated. Kael stood still as members of Interpol began to take over the scene with yellow tape, cameras, and spot lights. Likely, he had called to give them our location. In truth, he had lost more tonight than I had. Neither of the men killed tonight knew me at all. My heart ached for him, but as I reached the end of the bridge, he looked up and gave me a shadow of a wink and a smile.

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What did you think of her meeting with Gideon? Yes, the mention of Henry is setting us up for a sequel...! Only a couple more chapters to go. Thanks for reading guys!!

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