I Don't Want To Be A Hero

Chapter 14 Family

Davina sped through the city, weaving between cars as the skyline blurred past her windows. Her pulse was still hammering from the adrenaline, her knuckles white around the steering wheel. The phone buzzed violently in the cupholder.

She answered on speaker.

"Where in the world have you been?" Sebastian's voice cracked through the car—tight, controlled, but shaking with worry and anger.

"I was kidn*pped at knife point and forced to drive all the way across the city," Davina said, her voice flat from exhaustion rather than calm. She rolled to a stop at a red light, the glow washing over her face like a warning.

There was a sharp inhale on the other end.

"By who?"

"Someone claiming to be my father." The light turned green, and she pressed the gas. "He said he'd run a DNA test if I didn't believe him. But I want my own results, so I snagged some of his without him noticing."

"We have nowhere to test it yet—everything is still—"

"I know that," she cut in, sharper than intended. "That's why I need you to call in a favor. Someone who can get here in five minutes."

Sebastian didn't argue. He never did when her voice took on that tone.

By the time she pulled into the mansion's horseshoe driveway, her hands were trembling—not from fear, but from the weight of everything she was refusing to feel. She stepped out of the car, the cold air biting at the cut on her palm.

"You got here quicker than I thought," she said as Ben appeared in the foyer, Sebastian closing the door behind her with a soft click.

Ben's eyes immediately dropped to her hand. "What happened to your hand?"

Davina lifted it slightly, the blood dried in a dark line across her skin. "I gave him my blood to test."

Ben blinked. "How long will it take for the results to come back?" She asked.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "Leeann usually handles that stuff, but it shouldn't be too long."

Davina exhaled, shoulders sagging. "I'd do it myself, but if I go to RenTech it'll look suspicious. And our little hideout isn't exactly operational yet."

"Don't worry, we got it." Ben placed a steadying hand on her shoulder—warm, grounding. "I have to get back. I'll see you later."

A gust of displaced air rushed past her as he sped off, leaving the faintest echo of wind in the hallway.

Davina rubbed her temples. "Just what I need," she muttered, heading toward the kitchen. Sebastian followed silently, his presence steady but heavy with unspoken concern.

"There's absolutely no way," she snapped, pacing. "Why in the world would he show himself after twenty-two years? What does he have to gain from suddenly appearing?"

"Perhaps you should sit down," Sebastian said gently.

Davina froze. His tone wasn't gentle—it was cautious. She turned to him slowly.

"What do you know?"

Sebastian held her gaze, his expression unreadable but solemn. "I only know what your mother told Master Steven."

Her stomach tightened. "And?"

"If this man really is your father… he's dangerous."

Davina's breath hitched. "Tell me everything."

Sebastian folded his hands behind his back, slipping into the posture he used when delivering difficult truths.

"Your biological father's name is Richard Knight. Your mother met him when she was twenty-seven. She didn't know at the time, but he was the head of a Russian assassin group."

Davina frowned. "He didn't look Russian."

"I don't know how he became the head," Sebastian continued, "but I doubt it was by civil means."

He moved to the oven, pulling out a ham as if discussing international crime syndicates and family secrets were part of a normal afternoon.

"When your mother discovered she was pregnant, she broke things off and claimed the father was someone else. He didn't chase her, so she believed you both were safe. Until now."

Davina leaned against the counter, her mind spinning. The kitchen smelled of rosemary and honey glaze, a painfully normal contrast to the chaos unraveling inside her.

"Speaking of family," Sebastian added, setting the ham on the counter, "your cousins Theo and Lizzy will be stopping by for dinner tonight."

Davina stared at him, incredulous.

"Of course they are," she muttered. "Because today wasn't complicated enough."

Davina stared at Sebastian, still processing the words Russian assassin group when the front door chimed—three sharp notes that echoed through the mansion.

Sebastian glanced at the clock.

"They're early."

"they always are," Davina muttered, pushing off the counter.

Footsteps approached—two sets, light and quick, familiar in a way that tugged at old memories she didn't have the energy to unpack.

Theo entered first, tall and broad-shouldered, a faint heat shimmering around him like he carried summer in his bloodstream. His dark hair was tousled, and the faint smell of smoke clung to him—not unpleasant, just… Theo.

Lizzy stepped in beside him, her presence the perfect counterbalance. Cool air drifted with her, the faint scent of rain and ocean breeze following her like a second skin. Her hair was pulled into a sleek braid, droplets of water glistening at the ends as if she'd just stepped out of a storm.

"Vi!" Lizzy rushed forward, arms already open.

Davina held up a hand. "Please don't call me—"

Too late. Lizzy hugged her anyway, cool and refreshing against Davina's overheated nerves.

Theo crossed his arms, eyeing her with that older-brother energy he'd adopted years ago. "You look like hell."

"Thanks," Davina deadpanned. "Really needed that today."

Lizzy pulled back, eyes narrowing as she spotted the cut on Davina's hand. "What happened?"

Davina sighed. "I got kidn*pped. By a man claiming to be my father. I stole his DNA. Ben's running the test."

Theo blinked once. Twice.

"…We were gone for two weeks, Davina. Two."

"Yeah, well, I don't control the chaos schedule," she muttered.

Lizzy exchanged a look with her twin—one of those silent conversations only siblings could have. Then she turned back to Davina, her voice softening.

"Are you okay?"

Davina hesitated. The question hit deeper than she expected.

"I don't know yet."

Theo stepped closer, the air warming around him. "If this guy is who he says he is, we'll handle it. Fire, water, sonic gloves—whatever combo we need."

Lizzy nodded. "You're not dealing with this alone."

Davina swallowed hard. She hated how much that meant to her.

Sebastian cleared his throat. "Dinner will be ready shortly. Please refrain from setting anything on fire or flooding the dining room."

Theo smirked. "No promises."

Lizzy elbowed him. "We're guests, idiot."

Davina leaned against the counter, watching them bicker, and for the first time since the k********g, the tightness in her chest eased just a little.

Family—complicated, chaotic, superpowered family—was here.

And whatever Richard Knight wanted…

He wasn't getting her without going through all of them.

TO BE CONTINUED