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schedules. Kirith was grateful for his presence here and his grandfatherly
ways toward Laura. She needed to have access to the older generations as
well, and most people here were of his age.
Kirith spent the rest of the afternoon tidying his office, now that the
plans he had been working on were done. He always cleaned before a new
project was started, as though cleansing out the old ideas and starting anew.
He finished just before supper and invited all his men to the table, except
those on duty. The atmosphere that night was light and cheerful, and Laura
basked in the attention of all the men present. They all adored her; some
fathers themselves back on the mainland. They rotated through shifts of
three weeks or so, only Trent remaining as a constant. As the only child on
the island, they doted on her, sometimes to the point Kirith had to put his
foot down, afraid Laura would become a handful or self-centered. Not that he
had ever actually seen such a thing in his daughter, but still& She didn t
need to come to the conclusion that she was the center of the universe, even if
she was to Kirith& and Enzo& and&
He grinned to himself. It was amusing to watch the huge men, lethal as
they were, become gentle teddy bears in Laura s presence, watching their
language and their mannerisms. Such a small dictator she was.
After supper as everyone dispersed, talking among themselves, Kirith
took Laura to her room. Their nightly ritual of reading a book together had
started when she was two, and they both treasured the time greatly.
Laura nestled up against Kirith s chest as he lay on her bed. They were
currently sharing a book on dinosaurs, an odd topic for a little girl, he
thought, but she was fascinated and drank in the facts like a sponge, often
repeating the intricate names to him the next day with perfect recall.
He himself found the topic rather interesting, and it gave them
something else to discuss on their walks and during meals. When he felt her
getting heavy against him, he smiled and closed the book, sliding his body to
the side as he laid her down carefully.
She struggled to open her eyes a little and sleepily lifted her arms for his
traditional kiss and hug.  I love you, Daddy. You ate tonight.
He smiled fondly and kissed her forehead.  I have to make my little girl
happy.
She smiled a little, snuggling down under the covers.  You always make
me happy. She cracked one eye open with effort and attempted to look stern.
 But you have to keep eating.
 I promise. He crossed his heart with a serious demeanor, and it seemed
to appease his small tyrant. She smiled again and closed her eyes totally.
 I love you, Kirith whispered into her hair as he stroked it back with one
hand, pulling the light covers over her shoulder. He stood carefully and with
a long glance backward, switched the light off and closed the door softly.
Chapter Eleven
Kirith woke sometime in the night, groggily reaching for the light on the
nightstand, dimly feeling something was wrong. He had taken his sleeping
pill before he went to bed, and it made him less than totally aware, less than
himself.
He started back as he realized someone was standing by his bed. He only
relaxed when he realized it was one of his men, Jason. The man was one of
the newer arrivals, one of Enzo s increases in the numbers of the security
force on the island.
Kirith struggled to sit up, to fight the pills in his system, rubbing his
eyes.
 What is it? he questioned blearily. Usually it was Trent who came to
tell him if there was a problem.
Jason gave a half smile, leaning toward him and Kirith only had a second
to realize something was very wrong before there was a stab of pain in his
neck from the other side. He whirled round, eyes wide. Another man stood on
the right of the bed, syringe in hand.
Kirith felt rage swell in him, and he lunged forward only to be restrained
by Jason, a hand over his mouth preventing any sound from alerting the
others.
 Give him another shot. I want to be sure he can t fight back. Dangerous
bugger that he is. The amusement in the tone drove Kirith to the brink of
Martinelli rage, and he thrashed as both men tried to restrain him.
Hampered by the bedcovers and his own drugged body, Kirith could feel
strength failing him, even as the second shot of drugs pieced his thigh. He
screamed in rage behind the hand over his mouth, felt his responses slow
until he lay limp, eyes open, aware of all around him but completely and
utterly helpless. A thick gag was forced between his lips and tied tightly,
then his hands were bound in steel cuffs behind his back. His ankles were
similarly restrained, testament to their respect of his fighting skill.
Jason patted his cheek, then rose, pulling his gun.  Now for the others.
Kirith s eyes widened, heart pounding in his chest.
Laura, oh God, Laura! Trent& the others&
He could not move, could not cry out. Growls of frustration echoed in his
throat as he helplessly watched Jason slip from the room, the other man close
behind. Kirith didn t recognize the second man at all, and with horror, he [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]