Aiden could not sleep, and he spent the night online, searching for an escape plan.
 If what Ryder said is true, it doesn’t matter where we go. Oculus is everywhere. I should have been looking over my shoulder this entire time, training myself like Xander and Ryder. Instead, I’ve been living a dull existence, oblivious to the fact that everything could blow up in my face on a dime. How could I have thought that my abilities wouldn’t come back to haunt me? What the fuck did Drake Conway do to us?
 He was angry at everyone; Drake, Oculus, Xander, even the brothers he had just met. They had brought danger to his doorstep without any regard for Audrey.
 His eyes flittered toward Sage who lay on the bed in one of the bedrooms of the suite they had at the hotel. Audrey slept soundly in the other room, the door closed so that his online investigation into Oculus didn’t disturb her. 
 I bet she’s regretting this little road trip now, isn’t she? Tomorrow, after I get Sarah, I’m taking her back to Bethesda where she belongs. She has a practice, a home, a life. I can’t involve her in this insanity anymore than I already have.
 The knowledge that he had to let her go filled him with sadness, made his chest squeeze tightly. But he willed himself to push all emotions out of his mind. He had to do what was best for her, not himself.
 He slid the chair away from the desk where he was seated and slipped onto the bed beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist.
 Instantly, her body relaxed into him and he inhaled the softness at base of her neck, wanting to revel in their last moments of closeness.
 Whatever happens with Oculus or my new-found family, I will likely never recapture whatever it is I have started with Sage, he knew.
 “Can’t sleep?” she murmured, and he shook his head. “Me neither.”
 She snuggled her curvaceous frame back as if trying to become one with him and he tightened his arm around her, his jaw locking.  He considered telling her his plans to send her home, but he didn’t want an argument.
 I am just going to spend one night holding her, the only night we’re getting because the damn fates are cruel, and always have been.
 He knew that his moment of self-pity couldn’t last, but he couldn’t let go of the overwhelming sensation of longing for the life he felt he could have built with Sage.
 “I know this has all been a whirlwind,” Sage whispered to him without turning her head. “But if there’s anything you want to tell me, I’m all ears.”
 For a fleeting moment, the desire to spill the entire sordid story, including his family’s powers, almost overwhelmed him.
 “Tomorrow,” he murmured. “Right now, I just want to be with you.”
 He felt her sigh, although whether from disappointment or relief, he couldn’t be sure.
 Tomorrow I will send her home where she’ll be safe. She doesn’t need to be a part of this.
 He hoped that in time, Sage would learn to forgive him. But for right now, he needed to hold her, be with her one last time. And he was going to make these memories last a lifetime, for both of them…

________________________

“Just wait here,” Aiden instructed as he leapt from the BMW. “I won’t be long and then…”
 He trailed off, not wanting to lie to Sage or Audrey who stared at him with huge, trusting eyes.

  “I’ll be right back.”
 He closed the door and hurried toward the main building for the second time in fourteen hours, hoping that the words he had spoken were true. When he had woken that morning, Sage was already up and dressed, ready to fight it out with him, as if she knew he had made up his mind to bring her back to her home first thing. He had lost that battle. Again. One thing he’d give her, she had the stubbornness of a fuckin’ mule.
 As he walked back into the mental institute, he knew that if there was resistance, he’d have to find a lawyer to get Sarah out. He yanked open the glass door and headed toward reception.
 To his surprise, the same nurse was on duty that had been there yesterday.
 Her eyes widened when she saw him.
 “Mr. Van Hoyt!” she gasped, her voice showing her surprise. “I wasn’t sure if you would return.”
 “I said I would,” he commented dryly. “But I’m afraid I’m in a rush. I need to check my sister out immediately.”
 She visibly swallowed.
 “I understand. Let me page Dr. Anderly.”
 Aiden’s brow furrowed in confusion.
 “Dr. Cruthers is Sarah’s doctor,” he corrected but she was already on the phone, turning her body away as if to shield him from hearing the conversation.
 Aiden was far too distracted to listen. Time was ticking and while he wasn’t sure precisely what he was up against, he could feel the darkness closing in around him like a shroud.
 “Dr. Anderly will be with you in one moment,” the nurse told him, trying to smile but there was unmistakable fear in her face.
 Aiden’s eyes narrowed, a spark of alarm running through him as he held her gaze.
 “Where is Dr. Cruthers?” he asked, his firm jaw locking slightly. Her terse smile faltered.
 “Dr. Anderly will be with you in one moment,” she repeated as if she was a parrot trained to say only specific phrases.
 “I want to see my sister’s doctor,” Aiden insisted, but she darted her gaze away as if the answer he sought lay on the oddly pristine desk before her.
 Sensing danger, Aiden whirled in the direction of the elevators.
 I have to get to Sarah, he thought, his heartrate increasing as his long legs strode away from the nurse’s urgent calls to stop.
 With each step he took, his stress level mounted as if he knew whatever waited for him in Sarah’s room would only create more problems.
 “Mr. Van Hoyt!”
 He glanced behind him to see her hurrying toward him and Aiden decided to forsake the elevator, turning instead for the stairwell to his left.
 “Mr. Van Hoyt, wait!”
 His athletic form flew up toward the third floor and as he threw open the door, he paused, trying to orient himself.
 That way, his brain called out to him. Her room is at the end of that hallway.
 Almost running, he willed himself not to attract attention as he moved, but he did not have the luxury of time, not anymore.
 Throwing open the door to her room, he froze in his tracks.
 “Hello, Aiden.”
 Sarah cowered on her bed, legs drawn beneath her nightgown as she stared at him with terrified blue eyes.
 “Aiden, run!” she screamed as the man at her side stepped toward him, but Aiden stood firm.
 “I am not going anywhere without you, Sarah,” he told her firmly, closing the space between them. “Who are you?” he demanded, pinning a stare on the other man.
 The old man smiled dimly, stepping forward to offer his hand.
 “I am Dr. Anderly,” he replied. “I am Sarah’s primary doctor.”
 “No,” Aiden replied slowly, ignoring his outstretched palm. “Dr. Cruthers is her doctor. I don’t know you are and I don’t want any trouble. I am just taking her out of here.”
 His mossy eyes traveled to his sister’s face which filled with hope.
 “I’m afraid that Dr. Cruthers is…indisposed,” Dr. Anderly commented but Aiden was already gesturing for his sister to get up. The sense of impending doom was growing in the pit of his stomach.
 “Come on, Sarah,” he told her firmly but as she moved, Dr. Anderly blocked her way.
 “I’m afraid that’s not possible,” he said, sighing. “You are both required to stay with us, Aiden.”
 Fear prickled through him, but he held the older man’s eyes.
 “Sorry,” he said flatly, moving toward his sister. “We have somewhere to be.”
 He reached for Sarah’s hand, but the gun was in his face before they could make their escape.
 “No, Aiden,” the doctor explained in a patient voice. “You are coming with me. Do as I say, and no one will get hurt.”
 Suddenly, there was a scream in his head as Audrey yelled out for him.
 Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!
 The blood drained from his face as he backed away slightly, his arms raised.
 “There is no need for this,” Aiden said sharply, his mind whirling. “Whatever you think you want from me, I promise I don’t have.”
 “Aiden, you, me and Sarah all know that isn’t true, right Sarah?”
 “I’m sorry, Aiden! They made me tell them about you!” she gasped, tears streaming down her gaunt cheeks.
 He was filled with fury, not at Sarah but at her captors and himself.  He wondered how he had been so oblivious to what was happening.
 “Come along, Aiden,” the doctor said, pressing the steel of the gun against his face.
 “I’m not going anywhere,” he snarled, but suddenly the butt of the gun smashed against his cheek.
 Aiden saw stars as Sarah began to scream.
 “It doesn’t need to get worse, Aiden but if you continue to struggle, I will kill Sarah,” Dr. Anderly told him matter-of-factly. Aiden believed him.
 Audrey, what is happening? Are you hurt?
 There was no answer and terror gripped his heart as he slowly shuffled toward the door, tasting blood inside his mouth.
 There was nothing he could do, not inside the building.
 I could create an earthquake but there are no guarantees that will work, and innocent people could die.
 His mind again swept to the ice storm which had killed his classmate and bile rose to choke him as he walked.
 Audrey, answer me! Answer me, dammit!
 The barrel of the firearm wedged against his ribs and he heard Sarah whimpering behind him.
 He gritted his teeth and walked, knowing that there was only one more way to ensure his and Sarah’s safety.
 Swallowing, he closed his eyes and inhaled sharply.
 Xander, are you there?
 “I am right here, brother.”
 Aiden’s eyes flew open and he blinked several times, thinking that he was hallucinating as his twin strode toward him.
 “How – wh – “
 “You think we were going to let you go that easily?” Xander snorted but his eyes were fixated on the scene beyond. “We’ve been following you, biding our time.”
 “Xander!” Sarah screamed. “No!”
 “Oh shit!” Dr. Anderly gasped, as he realized he was in over his head. There was nowhere for him to run and Aiden watched as his brother projected himself into the gunman’s body.
 Aiden turned and grabbed Sarah’s arm as Dr. Anderly raised the gun to his own head.
 “Don’t look!” he ordered Sarah. “Keep going.”
 The gunshot reverberated through the corridors and screaming erupted as the siblings fled through the halls.
 “Keep going!” he urged his sister who sobbed at his side.
 “I’m sorry,” she gasped. “I didn’t want to – “
 “Shh!” he told her. “It’s not your fault, Sarah. None of this has been your fault, but we have to get outside, now!”
 Alarm bells started to blare as announcements began screeching out of the PA over their heads.
 Aiden did not turn to see if Xander was behind them, but he wasn’t worried; his brother could take care of himself.
 His daughter and Sage needed him.
 They burst through the front doors as havoc seemed to explode on the main level, doctors and nurses running around in confusion.
 They can’t all be Oculus, he told himself. Just get to the car.
 But when the BMW got into view, Aiden’s worst fears were confirmed as he watched his lover and daughter confined by two men. Two others stood by, assault rifles pointed at them.
 “Don’t do anything stupid, Mr. Van Hoyt,” one of the masked men growled but surprisingly, there was an unmistakable fear in his voice.
 “You’re not giving me much of a choice,” he breathed, the anger inside him mounting as Sarah whimpered, covering her eyes with her hands. “Let them go and take me wherever you want. I am giving you ten seconds to decide.”
 Daddy, no! Audrey cried, her face contorting in fear but he did not meet her eyes, calling out to his twin again.
 Sage trembled but maintained a stoic expression on her beautiful face.
 Xander, where are you? You need to get out of the building – I’m going to take everything down.
 “Mr. Van Hoyt, you are making this much worse than it needs to be,” the lead man explained, cautiously stepping closer. “My employer does not wish to hurt you. You and your brothers are very valuable to them.”
 Aiden inhaled deeply.
 He knew what he had to do.
 Daddy, please don’t…
 He raised his head, pinning the first gunman with an intent stare.
 An abrupt crash of thunder exploded from above their heads and everyone, but Aiden jumped.
 The black clouds poured in, like the sky was filling with smoke.
 “Let go of the girls,” Aiden said quietly, knowing that he couldn’t do anything while Sage and Audrey were in their grips. Any action risked hurting them while they stood so close. He needed Xander nearby.
 “She can go,” the leader agreed, nodding toward Sage and instantly, she was released. “But not the child.”

  Aiden spoke into his daughter’s mind, “Be strong, honey, just a little longer, ok?” She nodded slightly at him.
 “Come here,” he ordered Sage.
 She didn’t argue, but first she bent down to Audrey and grasped her arms, looking intently into her eyes. “It’s all going to be okay. I promise you. Your dad and uncles are going to make sure.” 

  “I know, Dr. Pierce. I’m not worried anymore,” she said with just the slightest quiver in her voice.

  Sage stood and looked at Audrey proudly. “Good girl,” she whispered.

   “Take my sister, Sage, get in the car and find safety,” he whispered to her, pressing the keys into her hand.
 “No!” she cried. “I’m not leaving you here alone! And Audrey – “
 “Audrey will be fine,” Xander told her conversationally from behind Aiden.
 The younger twin exhaled in relief and nodded.
 “We’ve got this,” he murmured to her. “Just go. I’ll find you both. Sarah, go with Sage now.”
 “Aiden – “
 “Go!” he insisted but Sage still gripped him.
 “I don’t know how this can be,” she whispered, her eyes wide. “But I think I’m falling in love with you. Please, don’t leave me when I’ve just found you.”
 A spark of warmth touched the cold fury in his heart.
 “I’m not going anywhere,” he promised. “Now go. Please.”
 Sarah pried Sage away from him, leaving the twins to watch as they backed away, the panic in her face apparent.
 “This is your last chance,” Aiden told the group who had raised their guns to aim at the brothers in unison.
 “No matter what you do now,” their leader explained. “One of you will die before you take all of us out, starting with your daughter.”
 Aiden had never known such a rage and Xander seemed to feel it.
 They were at a standoff, Audrey caught in the middle, trying to call out to him, but Aiden blocked her communications, focussing on Xander.
 You take the one holding Audrey and I’ll – Aiden started but Xander cut him off.
 If this goes awry, Aiden, they might kill her. Have no doubt.
 Aiden did not need the reminder.
 “Walk toward us, slowly,” the head of the militia said quietly, sensing their resolve. “Everything will be fine.”
 The twins exchanged a look and stepped forward together. As long as Audrey was in the line of fire, there was no way out.
 Oculus had just made their move. Checkmate.