“Can I bring my own coffee?”
Dan’s final thrust hit home, and Rachel enjoyed the barb along with the rest of the crew. Jean watched the group with excitement. She knew every time her stepdad went out with the three companions with him, bad people died. Jean harbored thoughts of being just like him, and she weighed the input everyday as to the shortest route to get there. She knew bypassing her Mom would be a written in stone fact. Since learning how to throw daggers, Jean practiced daily with Nick at her side. Nick had helped her find a knife to learn how to throw with deadly accuracy. It was perfectly balanced with a seven inch blade, Nick bought for her at a gun show after handling the knife with the expertise of a without peer assassin’s touch.
“Can I stay while you guys talk,” Jean asked.
“I’d rather you didn’t, Dagger, but I’ll leave the decision to your Mom. I stopped pretending or ignoring the interest you have in what I do. You’ve seen so much I can’t hide what I am or what I do without endangering all of us, so look to your Mom. She calls the shots as to your involvement as a kid. She already knows you remind me too much of me when I was a kid. I can only hope to turn you from the dark side.”
Jean’s face turned feral, all aspects of a preteen kid disappearing. “You saved me when I was duct taped in a van, heading for death, Dad! Mom can’t erase that. I’m happy you haven’t tried to erase it. No one’s taking me anywhere after what you’ve taught me. You never have to pretend for me… ever!”
“Oh shit!” Rachel hugged Jean to her without any pretense. “You are something else, baby. I’m to blame for everything because of what I tried to ignorantly do with your real Dad. I’m an idiot after all we’ve gone through to make the assumption you’re an ignorant kid needing something beyond my grasp to provide. I’m proud of you. The way you handle those knives is scary good.”
“It’s okay, Mom. Everyone here knows we’re the ‘Addam’s Family’. Don’t worry about it so much. Tina even refers to Dad as ‘Gomez’. When my baby brother, Quinn arrives, I’ll take him under my wing. He’ll be a premier killer in no time.”
“Oh…my…God,” Rachel mumbled, her face tilted to observe the universe with a ceiling barring the look of humble thoughts, praying for an absolution not forthcoming.
“Calm down, love,” Nick soothed. “It’s not a bad thing that Dagger can protect herself. She can throw the target type knives as well as anyone I’ve ever seen, including the people who have won fame with them. Yes, I have taught her how to throw the knife she has to carry for protection, and she does so with deadly accuracy. Such is life in our world. If you have to blame anyone, blame me… as always.”
Rachel gripped her mate in a gasping acknowledgement of facts in reality. “Jean and I are only alive because of you! I’m sorry each new instance of my preteen daughter’s deadliness upsets my Mommy hormones.”
Rachel released Nick, and embraced her daughter. “And you, Daughter of Darkness, I see what wells within you. I’m proud of you. You don’t run, hide, or fall on your face crying. You know right from wrong, and you’re the strongest willed kid I could ever know. You’re a Nick clone for sure, carrying someone else’s DNA. I know if there’s a way to stay alive in a bad situation, you’ll find it. Thank God that’s true.”
Jean pushed Rachel aside. “So… can I go on Dad’s next mission?”
Rachel went for the throat immediately with both hands to much amusement. She shook Jean’s head as if really throttling her. “You… are… so… grounded.”
“You can’t ground me. I haven’t done anything,” Jean replied in a vibrating gargle.
“Actually, everyone will be going on this next mission.” Nick hugged both females in his life. “I’m calling Cassie, and see about a book signing gig in Olympia, Washington. If you ladies can start talking about specifics while I contact my agent, I’d be grateful. It would be nice if you three maybe scrambled together some food in the kitchen, it would be much appreciated.”
“C’mon, Rachel,” Tina said, heading for the door, after kissing Gus. “Let’s do Gomez’s bidding while picking out a movie. I’ve had enough of the fog scene anyway. These three will be boring the hell out of us with ‘Addams Family’ business anyway if we stay here.”
Chapter Two
Mission: Isis