You must be one solid rock if you don't have a good amount of distrust in people

edit: 4.20.21

A week later.

I was still not used to having the bodyguards around, however ever since they have came, father hasn't really been home much.

However I'm not grounded anymore, that's a plus, Zach and I actually have gotten closer, Today is Saturday and we decided to go to a carnival festival, Of course Grant and Parker would come too, I also learned that, Zach wanted to become a bodyguard because of his little sister, I always wanted an older brother but dad proceeded to explain to me that I would be the older sister if he ever does decide to get me a brother, anyways, Zach has a really sad story, I won't get into much but his sister died at the ripe age of Five, which makes me really sad because that's when my life changed, I always knew that there's a death that happens every thirteen second in the world, then eight second of another person being born.

She would actually be the same age as me, Zach said that me and her would get together so well, I really didn't ask for her name because if I did, her name would ring in my head for days wondering why such a young girl die so young?

I buckled myself into his car as he drove out of the driveway, then I found myself lost in thoughts staring out into the landscape.

I had always wondered what would happen if I never found the courage to run away, what if I never found my dad? what if my life would be the same and my dad would be in this high pedestal while I'm trying to survive, would he still want me if I met him at this age?

I never realized just how much, my life can change in a day when I had found my courage and bravery.

Perhaps the things happened all for a reason? And that reason is to find my father, but why did my biological mother not give me to dad?

How come he didn't know about me when I was born?

I know I really shouldn't think about stuff in the past since it's happened and no matter what you do, it will never change, when dad asked me if I was mad at him, I wasn't really, but now that I really think back on it, I really just didn't want him to be upset with me, yes I was happy that he was my biological father, but the fact that he wasn't there for me when I was born makes me more upset.

Did somehow he didn't want me? Was he too busy with his job to want a child?

I sighed not realizing I sighed a bit loudly, "hey what's the matter?" I heard Zach say which pulled me out of my thoughts.

"I'm just wondering, why my father was never there for me when I was an infant" I replied as I averted my attention from the landscape to Zach who was still facing the road.

"I see, well I'm sure there is a reason for everything" he responds.

"Hey, I know it's a touchy topic... but what really happened to your little sister?" I asked being extra cautious.

"My little sister, she...well let's just say she met some bad people at the wrong time and they thought it was best to silence her." Zach says with his voice unwavering.

Does this have something to do with why he suddenly wants to be a bodyguard?

"bad people..? Like who and what" I asked.

"hey once we get there do you want to stop for lunch?" He asks changing the subject.

"yeah we can stop for corn dogs" I replied, I guess I'll have to be patient, what bar people would want to silence a five year old? Did she know something that she shouldn't?

or perhaps was she caught in a crossfire and somehow that's how she was killed.

I feel like there's more to her story than Zach is leading on.

We eventually arrived, and Parker, Grant were already there, I unbuckled myself and the sun was scorching hot, "Let's grab lunch" I heard Zach tell the others, soon we headed towards the concession stands, my bodyguards dressed more causal, not wanting to bring any attention to themselves.

I was fine with that, maybe we really could be like a big family?

my dad had some business to do, that's why he isn't here, sometimes I wonder what he really does? Like what does a CEO really do besides make the business boom and wealthy.

I brushed my thoughts away as I happily took the corn dog and picked a table to sit at, then I saw another girl maybe my age?

She was just sitting on a bench with some really torn clothes.

I already was going against Zach's command, I got up from the seat and made my way towards the girl.

"Hello, I'm Ellie" I said introducing myself and she looked up at me with interest, "Hi.." she replies, "where's your parents?" I asked now sitting beside her.

"..well my parents they told me to wait here for them till they got back" she replies.

"How long?" I asked, "3 hours now" she says sighing.

"hey you look hungry, wanna grab a bite?" I asked, "uh...I'm not sure" she says.

"ELIANA" I heard a familiar voice say, which I did a 'whoops' expression, "come on I'm sure you're hungry" I said urging her to say yes.

However to my dismay she continued to just be hesitant, and she was a bit scared of Zach.

Finally Zach came up and placed his hand on my shoulder, "I said to stay put" he says annoyed.

"Sorry I thought this girl needed help" I said.

"Ellie please don't just leave without notifying me or the others" he says stressing the 'don't leave'

"..Well sorry you would've done the same if you saw a girl in torn clothes" I said with a bit of sassiness to my tone of voice.

"you're right, but don't just leave" he said.

I rolled my eyes, what's the worse that could happen?

"I'll take care of this, just go back to Grant" he instructs which I literally have no choice as he pushed me back to the direction of our table.

I sighed as I made my way back to Grant and Parker.

I warmed up to Grant a bit more, Parker was literally a cold wall.

You literally can't get a word out of him, or if he ever does talk it's sorta mean.

Anyways, why did my dad have to get such handsome bodyguards?

As if I couldn't fan girl over my dad, then I guess it's time to fan girl over Zach...

Zach is a goof, but I really need to stop eyeballing my dad's provided bodyguards.

Why do I always fall for older men? Like it shouldn't work that way, anyways I'll just focus on Kyle.

He's cute, and within my age range, I think Zach and Parker are the same age, 21 I believe.

I can't believe that Grant is only 19 and a body guard!!!

Like shouldn't he be in school or college..? Unless the job pays well then he really doesn't need to go to college.

"Grant" I asked sitting on the table bench.

"Yes?" He replies, "how much do you get paid...?" I asked.

"Uh, why do you ask?" He says taking a sip of his drink.

"Just wondering cause shouldn't you be in school or something?" I reasoned.

"I should be, but I've been training to be a bodyguard and well it's my job" he says.

"So how much does it pay?" I pressed on.

"Well it's $500 per day, and a additional $200 for servicing you an hour " he replies.

$500 Per day!? PER DAY. $200 PER HOUR!?

"that's.. a lot" I said, amazed.

"how much is that in a week then!?" I said.

"Let's see, we stay with you for 12 hours, so if you do the math..." he begins to trail off.

"Hold up! It's the weekend! I don't plan on doing math" I argued.

"$20,300 at the end of the week" Grant replies nonchalantly.

I know that my dad is rich, but to pay three bodyguards about 20k a week!?

That's about $97K in a month! And if I do my math correctly, annually that would be estimating $1.2 million!

Damn... how rich is my dad?

"It's such a dangerous job too." I muttered, eventually I managed to finish my corn dog.

I glanced back to where the girl was and I didn't see her there anymore, nor did I see Zach.

Not that I care, "Grant how long do you plan to be by my side then?" I asked.

"It depends on what your father thinks is best" he says.

God...$1.2 million annually, that's still a lot in my mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We walked to the roller coaster that was a circle and had fake fire around it.

Grant chickened out so I went with Parker.

Strange, he's always kept a stoic expression but once the ride began it was the first time I've seen him smile.

He looks a lot better when he smiles, makes him more attractive and less intimidating..

I wonder what his past is?

What made him be so cold and distant?

Finally the ride came to a screeching halt then I was all excited to go on another roller coaster, but Grant said that he would really like to go on the bumper cars which of course me being nice decided to say yes.

"Alright I bet I'll beat you" I said as I gave held my wrist out for the person to scan my QR on the ticket band, then I was let in so I picked the bumper car number 23.

So it was Zach, and Me, Against Parker and Grant.

This is going to be so fun, I love how other people smash into you and then you try to spin and then it's a whole car jam, I laughed every time.

I quickly swerved my steering wheel to the left and smashed into Grant's bumper car.

I quickly pulled my hoodie over my head, then I secured my shades, I walked towards the alleyway.

I was met with Adams' Team, "Capo, we secured all premises, and it appears that Oliver and his men are present at the Rio de Janeiro Carnival" Wyatt, their second in command informs me.

"The Rio De Janeiro?" I repeated, for some odd reason that sounded really familiar.

"Capo, we believe that his agenda is to kill hundreds if not thousands" Wyatt continues.

"he will surely expose all of us" I uttered, I clenched my fist.

All innocent lives at stake, but what for?

"What time and when will he plan to kill" I demanded, "it's unsure, but thousands will be at stake" he says.

Rio De Juneiro... NO.

that's the exact place my daughter is at.

"Catch him before then" I urged, "Capo we don't know what he hiding as" he says.

I glared at him, "Wyatt if you wish to not have your head on my silver platter, then you will FIND HIM." I said menacingly as I stressed out.

He nervously nodded, "Of course Capo, I will do my best" he says before he bowed.

"Inform Adam that my DAUGHTER and her bodyguards will be at carnival" I continued.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oliver was watching as people came into the carnival entrance, then his eyes landed on the girl with dark blonde hair, accompanied by three men, right then he knew who they were, he recognized, Zach rather quickly, Zach had been under his apprenticeship for awhile now, he had his little sister and in fact if Zach stepped out of line even slightly then Oliver wouldn't hesitate to kill off his only family, he continued to watch as they made their way to the food stands, he glanced at his men who were stationed all over the place.

Soon he saw Zach's little sister by the bench not far from the food court, then as his plan went, The dirty blonde girl, walked over to her, then to his dismay, Zach came to shoo her away.

He continued to watch them closely before it hit exactly 2:30 pm.

Zach actually had a really fun time hanging out with Ellie, but he was in a very tough position, he had lied to her about his sister being dead, and on top of all that, his little sister is close to being dead if he screws up his mission.

He had wondered just how much he did in He past to have him land in a spot like this, sure he's killed before, but to be apart of the assassination of Eliana, made his heart ache.

The girl had so much potential in the future.

Isn't there a way to win both ways? With no deaths involved...

Of course Zach loves his little sister so much, she's the only blood family left, and as for Ellie?

He has grown fond of her, but he clearly knew that he shouldn't get attached, but what is he going to do now?

Betray Ellie and have his sister alive, or step out of line and his sister will get hurt.

he was in a tight pickle, anyone would choose their blood family over anyone, it's what anyone would do.

Because in the long run, Eliana is only a mere stranger to him, not someone so significant.

Of course his comrades didn't know about his hidden agenda, but how else would he be let alone with Ellie if she didn't trust him?

Ellie happily ate her cotton candy, as Grant kept on trying to take a few pieces here and there, Parker just covered his amused expression by keeping his stoic look, Zach sighed as he saw the three playing around.

It was 2:20 and ten more minutes is when all mayhem will break.

he's been on edge since they came to He carnival, when he first saw his sister on the bench with Ellie, he knew that it was now or never.

Of course he had to tell his sister what was happening, and his little sister, Paisley knew the plan but she didn't realize just how nice the girl, Ellie was.

She had thought that Ellie would be one of those spoiled rich brats that gets whatever they want, but when she played the role as poor girl, Ellie never gave her nasty looks, she came to her with a genuine smile introducing herself .

Paisley never felt so much pain to know that one of them may not return to their family.

Zach was pacing back and forth, he had to come up with some sort of plan.

Perhaps if he faked that he was still on the mission then he takes his sister and they run off somewhere far away.

The tension was brewing every minute that ticked by, Ellie would ask Zach as to why he was pacing back and forth and his reply was

"I'm getting in my Fitbit steps" he says, which Ellie nodded as she continued to toss Grant's hat up in the air.

"Give me that back!!!" Grant whines as she tries to catches his hat, for being a 5"11 person, he really couldn't win back his hat from a thirteen year old whose 5"1.

Parker kept glancing at Zach, he was acting rather antsy and somewhat suspicious, Parker finally went up to Zach which startled him a bit.

"Hey, why do you look on edge?" Parker asked with his signature stoic expression, "just thinking" Zach replies, only to leave a very unconvinced Parker.

"Zach, what are you thinking about?" He continues to press on, "nothing important" Zach retorts rather short, Parker cocked his eyebrow.

"Well whatever you are thinking, we're leaving now" Parker informs which Zach quickly said no.

His response and body language gave Parker evidence that he was hiding something.

"and why is that?" Parker challenged.

"because I'd still like to go on some more rides with the Missus" Zach says nonchalantly even though he felt a sweat drip down his forehead, lying isn't his best suit, and the fact that Parker, the expressionless, and aloof companion is questioning his action, isn't helping him at all.

He wanted to let Parker know about what's about to go down, but he just couldn't face the disappointment.

Parker kept his watch on Zach after their small talk, then it all happened just like that.

The first gunshot was rung throughout the carnival.

Parker quickly placed his hand on his ready-in-case emergency gun by his waistband.

Grant was on high alert as he grabbed hold of Ellie quickly.

"What was that!!?" Ellie exclaimed a bit scared, "nothing probably just an magic act" Grant says trying to ease the fear in the girl's face.

"are you sure? What magic trick involves a gun sound" Ellie says unconvinced, "lots! like umm a disappearing act" he says gesturing Ellie away from the opening.

By now a lot of people were scrambling, then Zach finally cave in, his sister was all he needed.

He convinced Grant to let him guide Ellie away from the danger, of course Ellie went with him, little did she know he was the danger that was about to come towards her.

Another gunshot was fired, Parker looked around to find Ellie, then he saw Grant.

"Grant!? Where the hell is Eliana" Parker shouted as he trotted towards Grant.

"Ellie is with Zach" Grant responds, "Zach?!" He exasperated, Zach seems to have a hidden agenda and he really wasn't trusting Ellie with Zach.

"Thank you" was all he said before he went on a search for Ellie.

Then to his horror he finally found them, but Zach was with another man while Ellie just stood there with panic streaked across her face.

"Zach, why are you doing this?" He heard Ellie asking in disbelief, Parker furrowed his brows, he speed dialed Grant, "Zach is a hostile" was all he said and Grant came rushing.

But to everyone's horror, Oliver quickly shot the intruding person who was interfering, Grant clenched his side abdomen as he defended Ellie from being shot.

Parker slid back to the wall and tried to think of a way to rescue Ellie.

Ellie was in distraught as she saw her playbuddy, Grant on the ground bleeding with his hand covering his side.

"Grant!" she cried as she fell to the ground to his side, "if you don't move away from him little girl, I won't hesitate to shoot" Oliver says coldly as he aimed his gun at Grant's head.

Ellie slowly looked up, and backed away from Grant, "Now little girl, if you don't come with me, I will do it by force" he says narrowing his eyes.

"Why do you want me??!" Ellie exclaims, Parker finally devised a plan.

then to his relief, he was met by Antonio's men.

"we have to be very quiet" Parker whispers as he told the second in command, "of course." The man said, "Stop at nothing, and grab the girl" Wyatt says, which his men nodded and Parker gave a curt nod.

Then he peered out, it was perfect time to strike, Zach just looked miserable but he had to do it, Zach grabbed onto Ellie's shoulders as he forced her into a black van, Ellie kept screaming but soon was silenced by his hand.

"I'm sorry Ellie." was all Zach said but Ellie just kept a betrayed look on her face.

Grant limbed his way towards a cover as Wyatt's EMS came and placed him on a stretcher, Parker pulled his trigger as he shot Oliver in the knees that wouldn't kill him but it would make it so he wasn't able to walk.

"Son of a bitch" I heard him curse as he collapsed onto the pavement with his knees.

"Zach, if you step out of line-" before Oliver could finish, Zach finally grabbed his gun.

"What? you will have to say it over my dead corpse" Zach says as he releases his grasp on Ellie.

then without anyone knowing it, Oliver pulled his trigger and it penetrated into Ellie's shoulder as Zach pulled his trigger piercing Oliver in the shoulder.

Ellie fell to the floor with the sudden shock and the feeling of a bullet inside of her.

"Ellie!" they all said before she collapsed and her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she fainted.

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck." Wyatt curses as he motions for his men to surround the premises and move the people away from the scene, then he quickly picked Ellie up and carried her over to the Ambulance, Parker for the first time in his lifetime he feared for her, and his own life.

He failed as a bodyguard, his simple task was to keep her safe, instead she's laying unconscious with a bullet in her shoulder.