The Assassin's Love - 23

A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away.
Bil Keane

~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I got sick and tired of being stuck in that stupid house like some kind of mole. And always getting a smaller share of the money. Always being overlooked! You always did it. Always underestimated me. Thought that just because I can't fight like fucking Bruce Lee, I was worth less than you!" he spat.

Niamah blinked.

"No. Daniel I never ever thought that"
"Spare me the lies Niamah. In the end, I got fed up with it all, and then Xavier came along" he looked up at him and Niamah felt physically sick. He was playing Daniel. He was using Daniel's feelings and good trusting nature to his advantage. She reached for her gun, tempted to shoot a hole through that smug, fake smile.

"Daniel, he doesn't love you. He's only pretending!" she shouted. Daniel's face clouded over.
"He told me you'd say that. That you would try to twist things around. Well I'm not falling for it. I'm sick of you, and I want you out of my life. And Xavier is going to take care of that for me" he smiled. The whole time Xavier said nothing.

Niamah sent a silent prayer to the heavens. Then she pulled her gun out and fixed it on Daniel.
"Daniel, you need to move away from him. If you don't then I'll have to shoot and I can't
guarantee it will miss you".

Daniel sniggered, "I'm not going anywhere!". Niamah focused and then pulled the trigger. It passed through Daniel's hand and into Xavier's hip. Daniel cried out and nursed his hand close to his chest, while Xavier staggered and almost fell down the stairs. Taking his chance, Jacob shot Xavier in the leg so that he crumpled down and couldn't go anywhere.

Daniel glared at them and then crouched down.
"Are you alright?" he asked dumbly, not so sure what to do.
"OF COURSE I'M NOT!" Xavier roared, "I JUST GOT SHOT"
Blinking Daniel straightened up. Then he turned back to Niamah.

"You just can't stand that I'm happy without you!" he shouted and then rushed down the stairs and tried to hit her. She let him punch her feebly a few times before she gently spun him around and grabbed his hands. Jacob checked that Xavier wasn't going to bleed to death while Niamah rang for an ambulance to come and get him, and then Alfie.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Her lips were numb and it took her a while to answer.
"Yeah, I'm...unharmed". She hung up and then watched as Jacob tied Xavier to the staircase.

"Xavier! Don't worry, I won't let them lock you up" Daniel called.
"Daniel, fuck off" was the only reply he got.

Niamah cold tell he was upset by the way he went quiet, stopped struggling and started breathing all haywire.

"I'm sorry Daniel. I'm so sorry that happened" she told him. He shrugged.
Jacob came over and they left the mansion together. He put his arm around her shoulder.
"Hey. It's gonna be fine. He'll soon realize what happened was a lie and then, yeah he might be disgruntled, but you'll soon have your little Daniel back" he soothed.

"Don't count on it" Daniel muttered from in front of them.