Vincent was finishing a call when I came out and I could see the anger radiating off him from the wrinkles on his forehead and the snarl on his lips.

When I told him that I got the job he didn't say a word. It was as if he hadn't heard me.

Though when I tried to repeat myself he lightly grabbed my arm and dragged me to the car. The dragging brought up the past memory of Claire being in the same position. The only thing that was different about this was that there was a tinge of a smirk on his face.

Vincent drove and didn't even touch the radio. The draft of the air coming through the vents could clearly be heard, but Vincent had yet to utter a word.

Silent but deadly.

I could only wonder who was on that call because asking him wasn't an option. I've known Vincent long enough to know that when his eyes changed to stay out of his way. I didn't need Henry to warn me again.

After going a ways on the expressway and narrow roads, the car stopped behind a huge warehouse.

The sun was still peaking out and the sky was painted with the color of rain clouds.

My confusion stricken face went past Vincent as he got out to open my door.

He looked around as if checking the perimeter and offered me his hand.

"Is everything alright?" I asked and looked around also.

"Let's just get inside."

Vincent threaded his fingers through mine and pulled me close to him as we walked to the dusty compound. Even though my focus was on the good feeling of his hand in mine, Vincent's eyes were focused on everything but me.

I had an inkling that something was wrong and I could feel that someone was watching us. At the moment I was thankful for the gun tucked under the back of my shirt.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Vincent went behind me to cover my eyes with his hands.

"Are you trying to see if you could scare me?"

"Definitely not. You're the hardest person to frighten."

I tried to peek through one of his fingers but he kept them sealed as we continued to walk forward. At least I think we were walking forward.

The aroma of potatoes and salt flew around my nose and my stomach growled on command which made Vincent chuckle.

"I'm getting déjà vu from the first night we ate together," he whispered next to my ear which sent tingles down my neck.

His innuendo made me realize even before he uncovered my eyes that he planned a dinner of some sort which would be great because I was starving.

To my luck there were three valuables in the warehouse: an unbelievably amount of sand floating off the ground from the wind, a large bowl of steaming hot golden steak fries with a bowl of melted chocolate next to it, and...my father.

"Dad?"

I grinned widely as my vision became blurred with excitement. Dad was standing beside the table with his arms wide and a crinkle in his eyes.

I didn't hesitate to embrace him tightly.

"Hey, I just saw you honey." Dad laughed when I gripped onto him tighter.

I never wanted to let him go ever again.

"I missed you baba," I said as I finally loosened my hold on him.

"I missed you more kunya." He kisses my forehead and I was able to see how good he actually looked.

He smelt of mint and embers instead of the dirty smoke and alcohol he used to smell like. His beard was trimmed down and was more uniformed since I saw him last. His attire consisted of a leather jacket, a t-shirt, dark jeans, and boots which was refreshing to see since I'm used to seeing him in his neon green construction jacket and dirty jeans.

"How did you get out so fast?"

"Luckily Vincent is keen on his word. The boy is persistent."

I turned around to Vincent and saw him pulling out a chair that was in the wooden of the table.

"Thank you," I said to Vincent as I let go of Dad and sat down.

"It's only a chair." He winked and sat at one end of the table while Dad sat at the other.

After one more glance at the table I did something that rarely happened. I cried.

Sobbing was included, even though it wasn't asked for.

"Amari, what's wrong?" Vincent asked with worried eyes. "I'm such an idiot—you probably don't want to eat this because of your mom. I'll order something else-"

I'd never seen him like this. He was too cute.

"No, it's more than perfect. Thanks, Vince."

Were we smiling at each other without hate in our hearts? Was it possible that I was wrong? That we could not only heal each other with touch, but also with a stare?

Dad cleared his throat and broke our reverie.

I didn't miss the look my father gave either.

"Shall we eat? Even though this wouldn't be my first choice of food to eat when I got out, it's still with my baby girl."

I could not be any happier. I also couldn't wait to eat.

First I heard a loud pop, and then my shoulder was dripping before it healed up.

"Get down!" Vincent and I both yelled.

Vincent flipped over the table which made every bowl spill to the ground to form a shield against our enemy.

I pulled the handgun from my pants and filled it with the bullets that were stuffed in my pockets.

"Why do you have a gun?" Dad yelled as more shots rang out making my ears tingle.

Much to Dad's dismay Vincent decided to pull out his gun too.

"Why do you both have guns?"

"Dad, stay down. I'll be right back," I said to him and tried to crawl from behind the table but Vincent caught my shirt.

"Where do you think you're going?" His eyes were bulging with confusion.

"I'm going to kill whoever is on the other side. Let me go," I said with wide eyed. He was wasting time with stupid questions. I was the only one here who could heal like a mutant. Again I attempted to crawl away but another tug was made at my shirt.

"Vincent-"

"Amari, stop. You're being reckless, and I don't know how much you can take," he warned with concern dragging down his brows.

I knew this was hurting him, but I wasn't going to lose my father again.

"We'll just have to see then."

With a strong tug, I was able to stand up from behind the table and my body was already eating the bullets that our enemy was spitting. It hurt like hell but I needed to protect him.

There were three.

I caught sight of one of them and shot him between his eyes. His life left his body as he fell onto the dusty ground.

My first kill. Ever.

I thought that person would always be Vincent.

One down. Two to go.

Even though I was still in shock from the blow, not long after, one of the attackers tried to grab me but I took his wrist and flipped him over. With a press to his shoulder blade with my fingers he was knocked out instantly.

One more.

Where was he?

Quickly, my head was locked in between someone's elbow and I could feel the air leaving my lungs. Before I could fight back, another shot rang but it wasn't from my gun nor my enemy's. It was Vincent.

Blood splattered on the side of my face after the blast that went through the man's head and he fell to the ground.

"What were you thinking?" Vincent boomed as he turned me around by my shoulders.

"I was thinking logically! I can get hurt without dying," I explained. "Who are they?"

Vincent ran his hand though his dark hair and inhaled harshly.

"They are my father's capos."

Leonardo probably found out where we were from the pictures that were taken of us at the carnival. Hopefully he doesn't know that Violet is here; God forbid he knows that Joey exists.

"He can't possibly know about the success of your experiment so why did he send them? What does he want?" I asked confusingly.

"He wants me."

Dad was kneeled by the man that Vincent shot and pulled the familiar rose insignia bag from the man's jacket. The two purple pills.

It was like time was going backwards.

"He wants me," he said again.