Free Haulcon's Revenge by Yvette Hines Page B

stood beside him, she saw how tired and haggard he looked. His beard had grown unruly and his hair, more 70s afro than anything, was filled with gray and just as untamed as his clothes. She could see his slacks and shirt were wrinkled and he was wearing one brown shoe and one navy blue.
    “ How are you, Dad?” Needing some connection to him, she reached out and touched his shoulder.
    “ Fine. Fine. I just need a few more days at this and then I can take you to the movies like I promised.”
    Hearing his words brought tears to her eyes. It had been her ninth birthday when her grandparents had brought her into the city to see her father as she’d begged. She wanted to spend her day with him, eating ice cream and taking in a movie.
    They had dropped her off at his house. He had been dressed and seemed excited to be with her. He told her that something came up at his office and he needed to go in for a minute to see something. She sat in the chair in his lab for seven hours before her grandparents finally got him on the phone and came to get her.
    Sometimes she felt as if her father had some type of scientist-induced Alzheimers. That day seemed to be on time warp in his mind when he didn’t know what else to say to her.
    “ I may be going to the Grand Canyon on a trip for work.”
    “ Ah, fascinating. Very fascinating.”
    She didn’t know if he was talking about her trip or the data on his screen.
    “ Yes. I’m going to do an expo on snakes.”
    “ Snakes. Snakes. You know lizards regenerate. They may be a better thought. We tried them but their blood is no match to humans. No. No. Now the wolf species we have found. They do. Oh yes.”
    Exhausted with the conversation, she moved her hand from his shoulder. “Well, I just wanted you to know I’m alright and see if you needed anything.”
    He glanced her way. “Doing fine. How are you?”
    Her eyes burned with the guileless expression on her father’s face. He just wasn’t there, would never truly be there. He only spoke and understood things of science.
    She wondered if she’d end up just as alone as him. Her work was her only companion. “I’m good, Dad. I have to go now. You take care of yourself. I’ll try and come again soon. I can’t promise it will be before my trip.”
    “ Ah, yes. Lizard hunting. Have fun.”
    Any moment she felt as if she would suffocate from the tightness of her throat, she couldn’t talk and was barely getting air down her windpipe. With a small wave she walked briskly toward the exit.
    Offering up a prayer that she could make it back out to the front, she focused her mind on inhaling deeply and concentrating on remembering little things about stuff she’d passed earlier in the hall.
    She was unsure of why she tortured herself with keeping any kind of connection to her father, but maybe it was because she assumed it was what a good daughter did. They called and connected with their parent in their old age. It was what she had done to her grandparents until they both passed away, months apart.
    She exhaled happily when she pushed out of the security door.
    “ Hello again, Ms. Ellis, have a wonderful day. Hope to see you again soon.” The receptionist called after her.
    Adair whispered a thank you. At least she hoped she actually said it as she rushed from the place. Her life had to change. She couldn’t keep going on as she was.

Chapter Six
     
    It was just before dawn and the compound was quiet. There were two extra guards on the gate. Most of the valfs would be already in the underground mansion getting rest or about to head out in wolf form if they wanted to hunt. Most of their kind preferred sleep. That made this the best time for Haulcon and his team to take back what belonged to him, with as little bloodshed as possible. He didn’t think that most people would jump out to protect Jacin but neither did he want them injured by any of Jacin’s alliance.
    They were cutthroat and would use any of the clan as human shields