Elizabeth was in the kitchen drinking her morning coffee and trying not to think about the man asleep in her basement.

Jordan stumbled down the stairs late in the morning clearly nursing a hangover from hell, he collapsed onto one of the stools at the kitchen island.

"Liz, coffee, please?"

She made him a cup of coffee the way he liked it and then set it in front of him, not sure what to do next.

"I thought maybe...we could take Alex to the movies this afternoon. since I'll be leaving Sunday and I did promise."

"That would be nice," She said, then remembered the man in her basement.

"I...I'm not sure I'm up to the movies today, I feel a little queasy."

He sighed setting his cup aside, clearly fed up with whatever his wife was going through.

"What do you want me to do Elizabeth, take him alone?"

"It wouldn't hurt." She said softly.

He shook his head and ran his hands through his hair, something he only did when he was really frustrated.

"Fine, I'm going to shower. Have him dressed and ready when I get out."

He took a drink of coffee and disappeared upstairs, she hesitated a minute. Jordan was a good dad when he was around, he had played with Alexander when he was a baby even changed a dirty diaper or two but Alex was a little boy and he could be mischievous sometimes, Jordan wasn't used to it. He barely spent one on one time with his children, she wasn't sure how he would do.

She walked upstairs to Alex's room, going inside and turning on the bedside light and forcing a smile.

"Come on munchkin, time to get up."

She pulled his blankets down and leaned over to kiss his soft cheek, ruffling his hair.

"Guess what," She sat on the edge of his bed.

"What?" He asked, rubbing his tired eyes.

"Daddy is in the shower right now cleaning up and then he wants to take you to the movies."

"Why?"

"Because he's going away and he wants to spend some daddy and Alex time with you before he goes."

"What about you?" Alex asked, sitting up.

"I'm going to stay home," She replied.

"I don't want to go without you."

"Oh, come on. It will be fun." She gave his leg a quick pat and then stood and walked to his closet.

She pulled down a striped shirt and heard his tiny feet hit the wooden floor, he rushed to his dressed tugging the drawer open.

"No, I want my dinosaur shirt!"

"Okay, dinosaurs it is."

She reached into the drawer pulling out his green t-shirt with a t-rex dominating the front, pairing it with a pair of tan pants and his favorite blue and green sneakers.

"Let me brush your hair," she insisted as she stepped into the bathroom across the hall.

"No, it doesn't need to be brushed." He called back from his room.

"Yes it does," She replied crossing the hallway and back into his room.

He was sitting on his bed, his tongue caught between his teeth as he struggled to tie his own shoe but only made a mess.

Elizabeth shook her head and then climbed behind him on the bed, brushing his hair and ignoring the way he tried to duck out of the way. She brushed out his light brown hair until it looked decent and then moved to help him with his shoes, struggling with whatever form of knot he had invented.

"Who tied these?" She teased.

"I did!"

"Wow...these are some...interesting knots."

It took almost five minutes for her to get his shoes untied and redone the proper way, by then Jordan was out of the shower and standing in the bedroom doorway.

"Is he ready?"Jordan asked.

"Yeah, just let me grab him a light jacket."

Elizabeth stood and hurried for the closet, grabbing a light green hood and helping Alex slide it on.

"Okay," She smiled at her son "All ready."

He smiled back at her a wide grin showing his missing teeth, she kissed his forehead and he bounced off the bed. He grabbed Jordan's hand in his giving an insistent tug.

"Come on!" He urged.

"I'll call you," Jordan said to her before disappearing down the steps.

Elizabeth stayed sitting on Alex's bed listening to her husband and son leave, and listening to their car drive away.

Then she crossed the hall and checked on Mya who was still asleep in her crib.

She knew she had to check the basement, was he still there? was he okay? what would she do if his injuries were worse than she thought and he died in the night? The thoughts echoed in her head as she made her way to the basement door.

She opened the door and paused on the top step, listening for any movement or any other noise that would tell her he was alive but she didn't hear anything.

"Hello?" she called softly.

There was no answer, taking a deep breath she built up her nerve to go downstairs.

The basement had a cement floor and cement walls and wasn't anything spectacular but two years ago Jordan had installed a small bathroom and brought down furniture insisting he could turn it into a man-cave, like everything else in his life he quickly lost interest.

As she approached the cot she could see the figure beneath it was not moving, under the blankets, she also couldn't tell if he was breathing but he was laying on his back his eyes closed and his arms at his sides under the blankets.

"Hello?" She called again, aware her voice was shaking.

No reply came and she moved even closer, looking for any signs of life but not able to see anything. He looked dead from where she finally stood just inches away from the cot.

Her body shook with fear and her heart hammered until it was hard to breathe, what would she do if he was dead? would his men come for him? would they kill her when they found him?

She reached out with a shaky hand intending to shake him awake, her fingertips had barely brushed his shoulder when he woke up, grabbing her left wrist in a painful grip with one hand he jerked her forward, his other hand produced his gun and he forced it against her chin.

She froze, afraid to move or even breathe. His grip on her wrist was painful and made her arm throb, the barrel of his pistol dug into her jaw forcing her head back.

"Please.." She managed in a panicked voice.

He released her almost as quickly as he had grabbed her and she stumbled away from him, falling to the cement floor.

"You don't ever sneak up on me," He cautioned as he sat up fully on the cot.

She was too shaken up to manage more than a whimper of a reply as she clutched her wrist to her chest, her body shaking.

"Are you hurt?" He asked, swinging his feet over the edge of the cot to the floor.

She stared for a minute at his black boots on the floor just a few inches away from her then she slowly shook her head. She glanced at her wrist and could already see a bruise was forming there.

"What time is it?" He asked, glancing around the basement.

"Almost ten in the morning," She replied.

"I need to get back to my boys," He said pushing to his feet and shoving his gun into the back of his jeans.

He turned towards her and without a word stuck out his hand, intending to help pull her up. She hesitated a minute and he rolled his eyes.

"Ain't got all day," He said sharply.

She reached out and took his hand, he pulled her easily to her feet but she didn't miss the way he winced or pressed his free hand to his side.

"My husband took my son to a movie, the house is empty." She said.

He gave a nod and started for the stairs taking them two at a time, clearly in a hurry to get back to where ever he needed to be. She didn't know what she had expected, he couldn't stay hidden in the basement forever but she was surprised at how eager he was to return to the life that had gotten him shot. A part of her hadn't expected him to be up and moving so soon.

When she reached her kitchen he was there, pouring himself a cup of black coffee and she watched him warily as she lifted her own cup to her lips.

"Listen, you stay tight for a few days. I'll be around to check up on you but you gotta be able to handle yourself." He said without turning to face her.

"What? what does all that mean?"

"It means I can't babysit you, I got business to handle." He said quickly turning towards her.

"Do you think you were followed last night?"

"No, but I can't be positive in this game." He took a drink of his coffee.

"I...I have a baby upstairs...I have children, my husband...he's leaving for a few days I'll be here alone." She said weakly.

"Which is why I'll be around, if I ain't I'll send someone but you gotta understand this is the big leagues. That security system will only get you so far."

She glanced at the wall where the security pad was mounted, her house was in a quiet community but it wasn't Fort Knox.

"I'm gonna handle this, you just stay in your fancy house my money bought you and keep your mouth shut. You got that?" He asked.

"Yeah, I got it."

"Good," He turned dumping the rest of his coffee down the drain and heading for the back door.

"Can I at least know your name?" She asked.

He stopped and turned towards her with a bored expression that she was growing used to.

"What for?"

"I saved your life...if men who up here looking for you...I want to at least know who you are."

"I'm the man that your husband owes a lot of money too, I'm the man that can kill you without even feeling sorry about it." He replied.

She swallowed past the lump in her throat, she had no doubt he was telling the truth but she was also almost growing used to his threats.

"Fine then," She replied.

"Rhys...alright? my associates call me Rhys."

"It suits you," She said after staring for a minute.

"Lock the doors and set the damned alarm after I'm gone," He replied.

Turning he opened the back door and was gone, as silently and quickly as he had appeared. She waited a minute and then move to do as he said locking the door and typing in the numbers to activate the security system. Then she went upstairs to wake up her daughter and go back to her life.

***********************************************************************************************

He was out there sitting in his car across the street, watching her, watching the house, she could feel it.

Jordan was gone, well on his way to his conference, both of her children were sleeping soundly in their bed but Elizabeth was up. Standing in her living room and watching the car that was sitting in front of the empty house directly across from hers.

It was a black two-door Cadillac, it wouldn't stick out in the upscale neighborhood except the windows were blacked out and it was parked in front of an empty house.

She didn't know how many men were in the vehicle, she didn't know why they were there, had Rhys sent them or had someone else?

"Mommy!" Alex's voice jolted her from her thoughts and she jumped.

Turning she saw him standing in the living room behind her in his pajamas, his face stained with tears and his pants obviously wet.

"What happened?" She set her glass of water aside, turning her back to the window.

"I had an accident," He said sadly.

"Okay, that's okay."

She walked towards him, picking him up and carrying him back upstairs to his room. She found him fresh pajamas first and then turned to his bed stripping off the airplane blankets and sheets.

She carried everything to the washing machine while he dressed and when she returned he was standing in his bedroom, his mattress was wet and would need to dry.

"Why don't you sleep with me tonight?" She asked.

"Okay."

"Okay."

She picked him up, leaning over to grab his stuffed dalmatian she exited his room taking him to hers where she tucked him into the king size bed.

"Are you coming to bed?" He asked.

"In a bit, try to sleep."

She left the door slightly cracked so the hallway light would shine inside for him.

Walking down the stairs she moved back into the living room looking out at the car, it was still there and she felt even more anxiety and paranoia, who were they? what did they want?

She chewed her lower lip until it was raw and the iron taste of blood coated her mouth, then she turned walking into the kitchen.

She grabbed the silver flip phone from her purse and taking a deep breath began to type her text and hit send before she could talk herself out of it.

Did you send people to watch my house? She asked.

She stood in her kitchen, the phone laying next to her and her tapping her fingers on the countertop, waiting for his reply. The phone vibrated a few minutes later and she grabbed it, flipping it open.

Yes.

A one-word reply, not much by way of explanation but it was enough to ease the tension in her shoulders. She breathed a sigh of relief and then after a quick debate texted him one more time.

How long will they watch me?

This time his reply was quicker, rather he was waiting for it or was simply growing annoyed and wanted to deal with her quickly she didn't know.

Until I handle the rat.

She wanted to ask more questions, wanted to know how long that would take, what if Jordan came home first? was she finally done doing stupid tasks? she wanted to ask so much more but she didn't.

She closed the phone and put it back in her purse, walking to the doorway she turned off all the lights in the kitchen and the dining room.

She walked into the living room and glanced out at the black car, this time when she did they flashed their headlights back at her.

She pulled the curtains closed and then turned off the lights in the living room as well, going upstairs she closed the bedroom door and climbed into the bed next to Alexander.

Pulling his tiny body close she snuggled against him with a heavy sigh, kissing the top of his head and slowly drifting to sleep.

***********************************************************************

She woke up alone in the king sized bed, sitting up she looked around but saw no sign of her son.

"Alex?" She called softly.

She moved the blankets and found his dalmatian and that was all, she stood from the bed. Rushing to the bathroom she opened the door, he wasn't there.

"Alex?!" She rushed into the hallway and down to his room, throwing open the door and finding it also empty.

Panic seized her, her throat tightening until she could barely breathe and her chest aching with every heartbeat. She stumbled into the other bathroom and then Mya's room, both empty.

She was hurrying down the steps, hysteria tinting her voice as she called out again.

"Alex!"

"In here mommy," A small voice called from the dining room.

She turned heading into the dining room as quickly as she could.

Alexander was sitting at the table eating cereal from his favorite bowl and Rhys was sitting in a chair next to him, across the table stood two tattooed men with guns.

Anger pushed her forward and blinded her judgment, it was one thing to harass her but he wasn't to be near her children.

Rhys stood as she entered the dining room but she didn't slow her stride or stop, she stormed right up to him and shoved him hard in the chest with all her weight.

He took a step back but that was it, giving no outward sign he felt anything.

"Aye, calm down mama." He said in that deep voice.

She slapped him, hard across the face. His head snapped to one side and he didn't move for a second. Then he took a deep breath and slowly turned his head back to her.

"You stay the hell away from my children!" She screamed.

The two men stepped forward, their hands going to the guns on their side, she barely noticed them but Rhys did. Holding out one hand to stop whatever they planned to do he stared down at her.

"Kid woke up and was hungry," He said with a shrug.

"You might own this house, and everything in it but you stay away from my kids. Do you understand me?" She demanded not at all sure where her bravery came from.

He grinned down at her then slowly turned his attention to Alex, leaning down he ruffled his hair.

"Why don't you take your cereal in the living room and let me talk to your mommy?" He asked.

Alex smiled widely at him then stood from the table, lifting the bowl he spilled some milk as he hurried to the living room.

She watched him go and when she turned her attention back to Rhys he had moved closer to her. As soon as he had her attention his hand reached out to grip the back of her head in a bruising grip.

"Let's get this straight. I don't take orders from you," He threatened.

She ground her teeth and winced as his grip tightened on the nape of her neck, his hands were strong.

"Stay away from my kids," She managed.

"Your boy was hungry and you were up late. I fed him some cereal and that's it. If I wanted to hurt or steal your children I would have done it already."

He released her roughly and she winced, the pain in her neck was sharp and she rolled her shoulders a bit to try and get the pain to ease.

He walked to wear one of his men stood, they handed him a paper bag and he turned back to her setting it on the table.

"That's for you."

"What is it?" She asked, not moving to take it.

He didn't reply but his cold stare bothered her enough that she stepped forward and unrolled the paper bag to look inside. A gun lay at the bottom.

"What do you want me to do with that?" She asked, half afraid of his answer.

"Learn to use it and if you need to protect yourself."

"I can't shoot someone," She said quickly.

"No? then protect your children with it."

She bit her lip and gave a quick nod, she didn't want to have a gun in this house and would have to take classes to learn how to store it properly and use it.

"When is your husband coming home?" He asked quickly.

"Not for a while."

"I'll make sure the patrols are more...discreet when he gets home."

"Did you find out who the rat is?" She asked.

"No, but I will and then things can get back to normal. More jobs for you, more money for me."

"How long do you expect me to keep this up? keep lying to my husband and putting my children at risk?"

"Your husband...that's what you're angry about? bitch, you don't even know your husband."

The way he said it gave her the impression that he knew something she didn't, she watched him a second.

"What do you mean?"

"Maybe you should ask him."

She lifted a hand to rub the back of her neck where his hand had been, it was still aching and felt tender, no doubt there would be a bruise.

"Go take care of your kid Elizabeth, and don't ever try that shit again." He warned.

The two men moved aside opening the back door for him and he walked out as if he belonged there. She stood in the kitchen for a long minute then turned and went into the living room where Alexander sat eating his cereal.

"Mommy, who was that man?"

"Just...a friend," She said.

"Okay."

She collapsed onto the couch and Alex abandoned his cereal to climb up next to her and cuddle close.

"How about some Thomas the tank engine?" She asked.

He gave an enthusiastic nod and she turned it on, pulling him close and trying to tune out her own thoughts.

What did Rhys mean about Jordan? he