"Okay, Lydia, you remember the plan?"

I let out a deep breath as I stood beside Maria in the surveillance van. My arms were outstretched as Caffrey secured my bulletproof vest. "Yes. The plan is for me and Maria to mingle and act like everything is normal. Any suspicious looks or statements can blow the whole thing. We need to make sure to engage him in conversation. Keep him talking until you guys can move in." 

"What else?" Caffrey asked as he slipped an ear piece in my ear. 

"Don't bring up Ryan Sweeny. I need to play dumb unless he brings it up. Then I have to react naturally to it. Most importantly, I need to make sure my reaction to seeing him is natural. Or else, he'll know and he can retaliate."

"Good," Caffrey answered as he stepped back while Maria helped me put on my jacket. "We'll be listening the entire time. There will also be some undercovers in there. If anything seems off, what do you say?" 

"If I feel like something is wrong I make sure to say 'It's hot in here', then you guys come in."

He nodded before offering me a comforting smile. "It's going to be okay, Lydia. We got your back on this."

"I know." I looked out of the surveillance van window and saw Sean talking to Michael. "Give me a second," I said to Caffrey before I stepped out of the van and walked over to the two most important men in my life. 

Michael had a serious expression on his face. Clearly whatever Sean was saying to him was important. When Michael saw me coming, he nudged Sean and cleared his throat. "Lydia. Hey. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Caffrey just went over everything again." I looked between the two of them. "What were you guys talking about?" 

Michael looked at Sean, who looked at me. "Same as you. Just going over everything." 

I didn't believe them for a second. "I hope you two aren't planning something stupid." 

Sean rolled his eyes. "Baby, I would never do anything to jeopardize your safety or Maria's."

My eyes narrowed. "I know that you would do anything to guarantee our safety." 

Caffrey stumbled upon us. "We need to get this started. You ready?" 

"Give us a second," I said loudly to Caffrey; never taking my eyes off of Sean. "Sean, please trust me on this, okay?"

He shared a look with Michael. My brother nodded and Sean pulled me in for a hug. He gave me a kiss and turned me away from Caffrey. I felt something cold press against my back and Sean pulled away from me a little.

He smiled as he leaned forward and whispered, "Trust me. Remember everything I told you this morning." 

"Sean--" 

"Trust. Me. Okay?" He pulled back and cupped the side of my face. "I love you. Just remember everything I told you."

I placed my hand on his and nodded. "Okay, I will. I love you, too." 

"We need to get going," Caffrey said again. I understood his hurry, but this was starting to become all too real. 

"Yeah." I turned to Caffrey and saw Maria was now standing next to him. "How about you? You ready?" 

Maria walked over to me and took my hand. "Let's do this." 

Caffrey parked the surveillance van a few blocks down the road. We didn't want anything to be obvious, so Maria and I walked the distance to my professor's gallery. We pretended to talk about random things. We laughed, made hand gestures, all while we were freaking out inside.

The closer we got to the gallery, the more I started playing out different scenarios in my head. First off, I couldn't even believe I was about to be face-to-face with my father. Not to mention, I was in the same room with him just a couple days ago without even knowing it.

Why did he have to come back now? Or at all? He was supposed to be serving out a life sentence in prison for what he did. He shouldn't be allowed any freedom, whether he has cancer, or a brain tumor, or whatever the hell it is. That shouldn't matter.

And now all of us are in some kind of crazy situation, just like in Portland. People I loved and cared about were in danger because of me. This needed to stop. I was finally making something of my life, finally working through my demons, and now this?

"It's going to work out, Lydia."

Maria's voice broke through my thoughts and I let out a long breath. We were almost to the gallery now. Just a few more feet. "I hope so," I told her. "I just want to say--"

"I know," she finished for me as we got to the door. "Here we go."

Maria and I entered the gallery and I was surprised at the amount of people inside. There were about twenty participants in the art show, so they were all here and meeting the buyer to purchased their work.

Dread and anxiety course through me as I scanned the crowd for my father. I didn't see him among any of the people, and I was kind of relieved. Even though I wanted to get this over with as much as Maria and everyone else, I wish I didn't have to be in the same fucking state as my dad, let alone talk to him.

"Lydia!" My professor, and the host of the art show, came over with a wide smile and gave me a hug. "I'm so glad you could make it. Who is this?" She gestured to Maria.

Maria held out her hand to the professor. "Hi, I'm Maria. I just want to say thank you for including Lydia in your art show."

My professor shook Maria's hand before she smiled at me coyly. "Well, it definitely took some convincing to get Lydia to accept her entry into the show. She didn't want to believe me when I told her how talented she was."

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. "Yeah, yeah."

My professor sucked your teeth and looked back to Maria. "She is so modest! Both of her paintings were our top sellers from the show!"

Maria and I shared a look before I cleared my throat and asked, "Speaking of buyers, are the two individuals who purchased mine here?"

"Yes!" My professor answered and pointed to the back. "They are both right over there. Go mingle and if you have any questions, just come and find me."

"Thanks, professor."

"Okay, ladies," Caffrey said into the earpiece, "let us know as soon as you see our suspect. We want to get him talking first. Keep him distracted while we move in to arrest him."

"Got it," I whispered back to Caffrey as we approached the table where a man was sitting. I could already tell this wasn't my father. My father was very tall with broad shoulders. This man was short and thin.

"Hi," I said in greeting as I approached the man. "I'm Lydia Preston."

The man looked up at me with a smile and got to his feet. I was surprised he bought one of my paintings. The way he was dressed, he looked like he was a lawyer or something.

"Wow, it's so nice to meet you. I have to say you are extremely talented."

"Thank you." I tucked my hair behind my ear. "So, which of the two paintings did you purchase?"

"Oh! I purchased 'Fate'. I got it for my wife. She loves paintings and I think yours will be perfect for a gift for her."

I smiled warmly at the man. "Well, thank you. I appreciate that. Please enjoy it."

The buyer left and I looked to Maria with a frown. "That was a bust. It has to be the second guy."

Maria was looking to the table by the back door and I followed her gaze. "I think that's the buyer, but...its a woman."

I let out a long breath. This is getting tiresome already. We go through all this trouble, and watch my dad not even show up here. "Let's go."

As we got closer, we could see that it indeed was a woman and not a man. I had no idea who she was. "Hi," I said with a smile. "I'm Lydia Preston. I understand you purchased one of my paintings?"

"Hi! It's nice to meet you." She smiled sheepishly before handing me an envelope. "I'm not the person who actually bought the painting. I was asked to come here and drop this off. I believe the buyer's already picked up the painting."

"Thank you," I said as I took the envelope from her. I looked down with a frown. What the hell was this? I looked back up to ask the stranger if she knew anything about the man who sent her here; but she was gone.

"Open it," Maria urged me.

I opened the letter and my heart dropped.

Lydia,

I hate that we have to meet like this, but it seems you and your FBI friends left me no choice. I know you're being watched on surveillance and I also know they are probably listening right now. I want you to take what you are about to read very seriously. Before you say anything out loud to the FBI, keep in mind that while they have been busy watching you, I've been watching them. I know they're parked in a white van down the street. Did you know in New York City, it is very easy to find someone who is willing to commit a crime for money? Let's just say the people in that van, and in your boyfriend's apartment, are in danger if you don't do what I say. You may not be able to see me or hear me right now, but I can see and hear you if you choose to say anything and warn your friends. I'm not going to hurt you or your mother. I just wanted to talk to you both. Now, if you want to make sure your friends and loved ones remain alive, I want you to go through the back door and get in the car that's waiting there. Keep in mind, I'll know if you call in the cavalry. There's a cup of water on the table, take out your ear pieces and put them inside before you do as I say.

Maria and I must have read the letter fifteen times before we looked at each other. What where we going to do? It wasn't like we really had a choice. I looked up at her and she nodded her head. I understood what she was trying to tell me. We had to do what he said for the sake of everyone else.

Without saying anything into the microphone, we started for the back door as instructed. There was a car waiting right outside and we slipped in the backseat. As soon as we sat in the car, a man in the driver's seat turned and smiled at us. It was my father.

"Looks like the family is back together again. Now, it's time for a little family discussion."