Devlin stood in the thick darkness of midnight in front of Pamela's bed, staring at her intently, watching as her chest gently rose and fell. It was not exactly a blockbuster movie, but watching her was something that filled him with peace, something he never imagined that he could feel by merely watching a person sleep.

Torrents of emotions were coursing through him, and he didn't know which one to feel. Anger, fear, uncertainty - things he hated feeling were running through his head like a buzzing fly.

He could have lost her! She could have died! Not like he cared but he promised King that he would take care of her. Also, it was his fault he was dead.

Bitterness crept through him and welled up in his chest. He owed King a lot of things. His life included. Robert had picked him off the streets when he was just shy of 13 years old. He had just escaped from foster care and had gone to a grocery store to shoplift.

Robert had entered the store with his very beautiful wife and a little girl, about 5 or 6 years old. She was crying for a Popsicle but her mother was having none of it.

"It's a no, Pamela. You've had a lot of sweets and chocolate today."

The little one bawled louder and Robert grimaced at the noise. He gave his wife a pleading look.

"Please mommy," He looked at his daughter. "Pam Pam say 'please Mommy'"

Pam Pam had turned her lips downwards in a stubborn way and said nothing.

"Come on baby, say 'please Mommy'"

Little Pamela had refused to plead until she later gave up and pleaded. Devlin had been busy trying to shoplift but he couldn't help but smile at the stubborn little girl.

Robert had caught his smile and had smiled back at him. Even at that age, Devlin had hated showing emotions so he quickly readjusted his face and tore his eyes away from the happy family, trying to focus on his mission there. His stomach had given enough warning signals.

He got to a row where burgers were displayed and drew nearer. He looked around and saw that the store attendant was busy with customers so he picked one up and shoved it into his pants. He picked another and another. His pants were huge enough to accommodate the parcels because he had come prepared.

He walked briskly and nervously towards the exit, praying and hoping he wouldn't be caught.

Just let me go free this time... I won't do this again. This is the last time, I promise. I'll go back to home and be a good kid.. I'll -

"Hey, you. Stop there." a cop hollered at him just as he was about to slip through the door.

His heart pounding in his chest, he turned around, trying to assume a straight face. The cop regarded him warily.

"Where are the things you bought?"

"I - I decided not to buy anymore."

"Why not?" If the pot-bellied man was wary before, he was now really suspicious.

He grabbed Devlin by the shirt. "I've dealt with scrawny little pests like you in the past. Get in here!" The man put his hand into Devlin's pants and brought out the parcels he had pilfered.

Panicking, Devlin wrung free and broke into a run but was held back by other guards who had been alerted by the ruckus.

"You're going to spend the night in jail, then it will teach you a lesson never to shoplift."

"I was hungry!" Devlin shot back angrily, even when he knew he was in trouble, and he was wrong. "If your government provide adequate care for the foster homes, I wouldn't be here, would I?"

That earned him a slap. The cop's hand was so fat that if Devlin hadn't been held down by the cop's second hand, he would have reeled to the other side of the room due to the impact of the blow.

Though his face hurt like crazy, Devlin refused to cry. He was that strong. His pride wouldn't let him. Not like he wasn't embarrassed enough as people had gathered to watch the scene - including the happy family of 3; and to his surprise, the father was walking up to him.

"Let him go." The tall and broad-shouldered man who should be in his mid-forties said, his voice connoting great power and authority.

"And you are?" The robust cop barked at him.

"Robert King." The man said simply and the cop let go of him.

"Ro-robert King? P-pardon me, sir."

It amazed Devlin at how frightened the cop became. He liked it, no, he loved it. It was something Devlin wanted. To instill fear at the mere mention of his name. And that was what had drawn Devlin to Robert King.

"But - but sir, the - the law says -"

"I don't care what the law says." Robert King had interjected.

"Rob," His wife came forward with their daughter in her arms. She gave her husband a look.

"I'll pay for whatever he stole, but you will LET. HIM. GO."

"Right away sir." The man turned to look at Devlin. "You're free to go."

Then Robert King turned to look at those hoping for a free-for-all and gave them the iciest of glares. That got the little crowd moving about their businesses.

Devlin had fallen in love with Robert King. Oh, how he wanted to be like him! To send people packing with a look, to command fear and obedience without complaint.

Robert King had ended up taking him home with his family. His wife had been quiet through the ride home and his daughter had been wary of him, and when they had gotten to his home, a large and beautiful mansion than he had ever entered, he had overheard Robert King and his wife arguing.

"We can't let him stay here!"

"Why not?"

"He's dangerous! You don't even know him or anything about him."

"I know his name."

Devlin couldn't help his grin. He was loving the man by the minute

His wife sighed in frustration. There was silence for a while and Devlin waited with a beating heart as the couple sealed his fate.

"We cannot just bring strangers into our home."

"Oh, Dorothea, please. Let's help him. I see strength and potential in him."

"Strength and potential for what exactly?"

"I was thinking of training him to take over the business. I think it's high time I handed it over."

"What?" Devlin hadn't heard a louder shriek in his life. "Hand over King Pharmaceuticals?"

"No. The other business."

The silence that ensued was thick and curiosity ate at Devlin.

"You've got to be kidding," Dorothea said flatly but with a hint of panic. "You promised to dissolve the cocaine business for good!"

Devlin reeled back in shock. What? Cocaine? Robert King was a drug dealer?

"I can't. There's good money in it. And if I hand it over, it's for good. I'm doing this for you, my love."

For the first time since Devlin stepped into King's manor, he felt truly afraid. Should he run? Go to the cops and tell them that Robert King was using his pharmaceutical as a cover-up for his hard drugs business?

His heart pounding, he ran off with the view of getting out of the house when he got lost in the hundred-and-one passageways. He kept on walking and taking turns without an idea where he was going when he stumbled into a room.

It was very colorful Stuffed toys and the like were scattered around and pictures of little Pamela were on the walls.

He hadn't finished his survey when Pamela came into the room. She had screamed at the sight of him. He raised his hands to show he meant no harm but she didn't listen. She grabbed a wooden sword and yelled;

"I am a musketeer and I will fight to protect my castle!"

The thought of it made him laugh out loud as he watched Pamela sleep. She moaned and stirred, his laughter must have disturbed her. He looked around him and saw he had come a long way from the scrawny little kid he had been to the boss of a thriving - though dangerous - drug business.

Little Pamela's screams had stopped him from his escape because they'd brought her parents running to her room. It had made Dorothea warier of him but Robert had waved it off.

The next day, he had been taken to the place he was to start his training, and the rest was history. He did have a lot to thank Robert for, which was why the safety of his only child was his responsibility.

He had almost lost her today...

Gritting his teeth, he tried to fight off the fear that was making him sick in the guts. He hated the feeling. Bull. Bull. Bull. How he wished he could put a bullet in his head. He couldn't help but wonder why Bull was after him. This was an enemy he had never seen in his life. He remembered the first time Bull had attacked him by first leaking the destination of his delivery trucks to the DEA and then ambushing him and causing an exchange of fire. At that time, Devlin hadn't known who his enemy was but he'd received an anonymous note the next day that had read,

Hello, dear friend. I'm Bull. My very existence is to make yours a living hell. I hope I have fun doing that.

Devlin balled his fists and cold rage rose from deep within him. He detested the fact that the contents of the letter were still etched in his memory. He'd tried so hard to get back at Bull but the best he'd done was to kill his men and that made him mad, now more than ever. Devlin could still be lenient with Bull if all he did was make him lose his products, but now that he was out for Pamela, it was a declaration of war.

One of Devlin's boys, José walked into the room, interrupting his trip down memory lane. José's feet were quiet on the soft floor but Devlin was trained to detect the smallest of sounds.

"What?" He asked quietly his eyes still on Sleeping Beauty.

"One of them is dead and the other cabrón refused to speak," José said promptly, his English laced with a Mexican accent.

"Then make him."

"We've been trying -"

"You're not trying hard enough!" Devlin snapped giving José an icy glare. He moved towards him and grabbed his collar. Devlin's anger was so great it was almost palpable. "If you don't get Bull's hideout from that bastard by tomorrow, I'll skin you and hang your hide on my wall like a fucking animal sport." He brought his face closer. "How clear am I?"

"Crystal, sir." He was shivering.

"Now get out."

José stumbled off and Devin sighed, resuming his position in front of Pamela. He should get out himself. He had nothing to do here. He shouldn't be here, invading her privacy, stealing moments from her peaceful slumber. But before he could, Pamela opened her eyes. When she saw him, her eyes widened in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" She asked softly.

~

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