As they walked across the street from the multi-story parking lot, Sylis gazed at the beautiful sunset before them. It was that warm kind of night that was good for walks. Cars were rare on the road at this time.

"Sometimes," Lilin whispered, looking back at Sylis while holding her child's free hand. "When Piper cannot fall asleep; she and I will walk into the fire escape and watch the sun disappear into the horizon." Sylis just nodded as he dragged his suitcase and the bag of nuts onto the sidewalk.

Lilin carried Piper and the two bags of nuts while Sylis lugged his suitcase up the stairs. Lilin unlocked the door one-handed as little snores came from the child resting on one of her mother's shoulders. They got in and Lilin rested her child to bed. Sylis started walking to the bedroom, but caught himself and moved his suitcase to the still pulled-out couch. He added his suitcase behind it so as to not make it an eyesore to the family, he also moved his briefcase there as well.

Lilin arrived in the main room and she went to the door, slowly locking the myriad of locks on the door. She noticed a pair of teal orbs watching her. She smiled as if she got caught doing something bad. "It's just a precision. I want to be safe in my own house. I assume you can feel the same thing." She finished with the last lock and walked over to Sylis after taking off her shoes. "When are you going to learn to take off your shoes at the door? Not all of us have the luxury of owning a mansion." She sat down on the other side of the bed. "Oh, by the way, do you have maids? I didn't see any today."

Sylis let out something between a high and a sigh as he took off his shoes. "I don't need maids. I have other people who take care of it." He placed his shoes under the bed. "Will this do?" he asked.

Lilin rolled her eyes. "I guess," she sighed. She stood up and said, "I'm going to change. You can use the bathroom if you want privacy."

Sylis took out his sleepwear and quickly changed in the bathroom as Lilin had suggested. He was out and getting ready for bed before Lilin was halfway done. Sylis was laying on the bed with a gun under his pillow when Lilin laid down with him. The sun was almost gone at this time with only a few minutes of sunlight left in the day. "Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite," Lilin said in a sleepy yet sing-songy voice.

"Good night," repeated Sylis as he closed his eyes to rest.

***

It was still night when Sylis Penn Youngblood opened his eyes. He didn't stir his head but instead moved his eyes around waiting for them to get used to the darkness. Someone was here and it wasn't Lilin who was still sleeping by his side. The lady moved in her slumber and her hand grabbed onto Sylis'.

"Someone's here," said a voice, but it wasn't said by someone close to him. It was like his brain thought the words. Sylis listened and then he hear it, a creak in the floorboards. It wasn't Piper, no, it was an adult male.

By this time Sylis could see better in the dark. If he moved the cheap sheets would alert the attacker of his presence and he wanted the gift of surprise.

He watched as a gun inched its way onto's Lilin head. Maybe he was waiting too long, but he was waiting for his opportunity to move.

Three inches.

Two inches.

Half an inch.

MOVE!

Sylis slammed down the gun and then sharply snapped it up. He stood up on the bed and kicked the guy on the chest trying to make him winded. The man's grip on his gun was strong and he wouldn't let go, so Sylis kicked his pillow at the guy and then grabbed his own.

In the tussle, Sylis had let go of the other gun and the chase had begun. Sylis jumped over the couch and followed the guy out of the fire escape. Lilin might have had many locks on the front door, but she forgot about the easily accessible balcony.

The man went two by two, but Sylis skipped entire floors as he swung over the railing and landed on the lower floor. Bullets flew threw the air and Sylis landed. He successfully dodged them all but didn't have enough time to stabilize himself and aim well enough to shoot any back.

They went on foot now as Sylis shot at the man, but he too dodged most of the bullets, only one grazed his arm. Sylis needed to protect Lilin and Piper so he let the man run away while saying, "Stay away from Lilin!"

The man looked back and Sylis shot again, getting his arm this time before he couldn't shoot anymore; his gun was empty and he had no magazines on him.

Sylis walked back up the fire escape. He bent down and picked up a small capsule. It was a 9mm and barely larger than a quarter. He placed the bullet inside his pocket and walked up the rest of the way.

When he reached the Cozbi balcony, he looked out at the night sky. The moon had only begun waxing into a sliver of a crescent and stars were painted far apart like space itself had pushed them away from each other.

Then, a knife was to his neck.

Sylis took in his last breath in his lower abdomen as he slowly reached for the sharp object. How had he not noticed their heavy breathing? All Sylis had was an unloaded gun and himself. Did the intruder have a partner? Were Lilin and Piper okay?

In one swift motion, Sylis hit the knife man and ducked down. They stumbled backward, but Sylis grabbed their arm with one hand and the weapon's metal blade with the other. He pulled it out and then flung it towards him. Letting go of the attacker's arm he grabbed the knife by its handle. He was about to plunge the weapon into his attacker's body when he heard a faint,

"Sylis?"

It came from under him. He looked down at Lilin was in his attacker's place. Sylis quickly fell to the floor, placing the knife at his side. "Are you okay?" he asked, holding out a hand for his client. His heart was racing. Was it because he broke the rule 'no hesitation' or was it because he had almost harmed the person he promised to protect?

Lilin grabbed Sylis' hand and pulled herself up. "I'm fine. I thought you were...my ex."

"So that's who came in here," Sylis thought. "He is pretty dangerous. I'll have to gather more information later."

"Come," Sylis said as they both stood up in the moonlight. "Let's talk about this in the morning."