Page 18 of Daddy's Reluctant Queen

We’ve both got sniper rifles strapped to our backs and handguns at our hips. I decided at the last minute that the bigger gun, the AR-500, could stay behind. This has to be cold and calculated, not a firefight.

When we got to the tree line right before the gates, we saw a collection of cars along the long driveway going up to the house. I wasn’t expecting that and Adam immediately panicked.

“You said he’d be alone at this time of night,” he hissed at me in the darkness. “This looks like the whole army’s here.”

“It’s probably a meeting or something,” I told him. “We’ll just wait them out.”

And so we did. And now… now, we’re watching the last car drive off. It reaches the end of the long drive and Adam asks, “Okay. So, that’s it, then? Let’s go.” He goes to stand up from our hiding spot behind a fallen log. I grab his shoulder.

“Hold off a second,” I tell him, pointing to the windows on the first floor. A couple of them are still glowing with amber light. “He’s still awake. Let’s wait until all the windows go dark.”

He nods, the silhouette of his head rocking in the darkness. “You’ll sneak in,” he says, “and all I have to do is keep watch, wait for your signal.”

“Right. And if you happen to see Malkin leaving?—”

“Get him right between the eyes. Like we practiced. I got it.”

I give him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Exactly.”

We hunker down and wait. Softly, Adam sucks his teeth. “Hard to believe he lives alone in that big house.”

“We don’t know for sure that he does.” He’s referring to the fact that I have yet to find any article or anything otherwise about Malkin’s family. He’s never been photographed with any women or children. I’ve been operating under the assumption that somehow, he’s managed to keep his family out of the public eye. But given that there weren’t even photos of family in the court when he was on trial all those years ago…

“You’ll never find him in there,” Adam says. “It’s huge.”

“Sure I will.” I point to one of the lighted windows on the bottom floor. “He’ll turn that light off when he’s ready for bed. We’ll probably see more lights flicker off as he moves through the house and then wherever his bedroom is will light up.”

“Unless he likes walking in the dark like a psycho.” He scoffs. “You’re cutting him too much slack.”

“I’m not,” I say, a little offended. “I’m being logical.”

“How can you be logical about a man who’s so obviously brutal?” Adam’s voice sounds deeper, angrier. He looks down at his gun in the darkness. “I hope he tries to run.”

I don’t disagree with him. I need him a little bloodthirsty right now. It’s better than the fearful rabbit he’s been throughout this.

“I’m going to start moving toward the house,” she says. “It’s been long enough and it’s at least a quarter of a mile across this lawn. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck.”

And I’m on the move. I stay low as I move along the tree line, watching out for any patrols. Curiously, there doesn’t appear to be any. It’s a little strange and makes me feel like I might bewalking into an ambush. I can’t say I feel too good about this setup.

It’s been a week since everything happened, though. Titus might be slacking, thinking that his main competitor is dead and his children have left town. It’s possible that he’s been lulled into false security.

Still. Even my father always had someone posted around the front of our house and I don’t even see anyone there. It is dark, though. I shouldn’t take it for granted.

The wooded area starts to drop off and veer to the right about halfway to the house, so I take that as my cue to slip in through the gates. The wrought iron bars are spaced apart just enough so that I can slide through fairly easily. Once that’s done, I start jogging across the green grass toward the bushes around the house, hoping the whole way that any hidden forces don’t spot me.

I get to the bushes pretty quickly and without issue. Damn. Malkinisslipping. This might be easier than I thought it would be. The bushes flank part of the driveway and porch and some of the windows on the first floor. I don’t know if any of them are unlocked, but that’s all right. From what I can see, they’re the types of windows with the locks in the middle. I can get those open easily.

I move to the closest one and peer into it. Through the drawn curtains, I can see part of the couch and the coffee table. The furnishings look modern. Black lacquered glass coffee table, leather couches… It’s a little strange for a Pakhan, but what do I know? Titus isn’t sixty like my father was.

I reach in my boot and pull out my hunting knife, jimmy the lock, slip inside, hide, and wait for the opportunity. My heart is pounding hard as I jam the knife in the space between the panes and the glass in the center of the window, sliding it over until the lock comes free with a soft click.

Easy peasy?—

The muffled sound of talking grabs my attention and I freeze for a second. The sound gets closer, so I hunker down under the window. Listening, I realize it’s coming from the other direction, toward the door.

Fuck. He’s on the move sooner than I was expecting. I might have to move through the dark.