Angels of Darkness

keep Emily safe.
    Emily poked her pancake with a fork. “What about the house? All our stuff is there . . . my Hello Kitty blanket . . .”
    â€œWe’ll get new things.” She cast a quick glance around the table but none of the three men said anything to break down her fragile promises.
    â€œWill I get my own room?”
    Karina looked to Lucas. Please. Don’t separate me from my daughter.
    He wiped his mouth with a napkin, his movements unhurried. “You have to stay at the main house. You can come to visit your mother on weekends. We’ll set up a room.”
    â€œI want to stay with Mom.” Emily’s voice was tiny.
    â€œYou can’t,” Lucas said.
    Emily bit her lip.
    â€œYou’ll have a good place at the main house. A room you’ll share with a nice girl. Toys. Clothes. Everything you need. If anybody tries to be mean to you, tell them you belong to Lucas. Everyone is afraid of me. Nobody will harm you.”
    â€œNo,” Emily said.
    Lucas stopped eating. Karina tensed.
    â€œAre you telling me no?” Lucas asked. His voice was calm.
    Emily raised her chin with all of the defiance a six-year-old could muster. “I’m tired and I’m scared, and I’m not going. I’m staying with my mom. Are you going to yell at me?”
    â€œNo,” Lucas said. “I don’t need to.”
    â€œYou’re not my dad. My dad left.”
    Lucas glanced at Karina.
    â€œI’m a widow,” she said quietly.
    â€œI’m not your father, but I’m in charge,” Lucas said. “You will obey me anyway.”
    â€œWhy?” Emily asked.
    Lucas leaned forward and stared at Emily. “Because I am big, strong, and scary. And you are very small.”
    â€œYou’re not nice.” Emily held his gaze, but Karina could tell it wasn’t out of courage. Emily had simply frozen like a baby rabbit looking into the eyes of a wolf.
    â€œIt’s not a nice world and I can’t always be nice,” Lucas said. “But I will try and I won’t be mean to you without a reason.”
    Karina put her hand on his forearm, trying to tear his attention away from Emily. It worked; he looked at her.
    â€œPlease.” It took all of her will to keep the tremble out of her voice. “Please let her stay.”
    â€œI want to stay,” Emily said. “I’ll be good. I’ll do all my chores.”
    â€œI’ll think about it,” Lucas said.

CHAPTER 4
    A half hour later, breakfast was finished. The men rose one by one, rinsed their plates, and loaded the dishes and silverware into the dishwasher with surprising efficiency. Karina put the last of the food away. Henry had stepped out, but Daniel remained in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, watching her. Lucas loomed by the door, watching Daniel.
    â€œCan I go outside?” Emily asked.
    Karina paused. “I don’t think that is a good idea.”
    â€œWhy not?” Daniel arched an eyebrow.
    â€œBecause there are scary birds out there.”
    â€œThere are scary birds? What kind of scary birds?”
    â€œIt’s safe,” Lucas said. “The net keeps everything out.”
    Karina remembered the bird’s body hitting the invisible fence. “What if she walks into this net?”
    â€œShe’d have to walk a mile and a half down the hill before she reached it,” Lucas said.
    â€œI want to see the birds,” Emily said. “Please?”
    It would get them out of the house, away from the men and out into the open. She could get a better look around. Maybe she would see a road, or a house, some avenue of escape. Karina wiped her hands with a towel and hung it on the back of the chair. “Okay. But we’re going to stay by the house.”
    â€œI’ll come with you,” Lucas said.
    All she wanted was the illusion of being alone with her daughter. He wouldn’t let her have it. Karina clenched her teeth.
    â€œThat’s right,” Daniel said. “Bite your tongue. It will come in handy.”
    Lucas gave him a flat stare. For a moment they stood still, then Daniel rolled his eyes and casually wandered out of the kitchen into the side hallway. Lucas moved in the opposite direction, through the doorway. Karina took Emily by the hand. “Come on, baby.”
    The hallway cut through the house, straight to the door. They passed rooms: a library filled with books from floor to ceiling