Chapter Text
Some days Kaz felt like his life must be some sort of dream. How could he, the Bastard of the Barrel, have ended up with such a good life.
At that moment he could hear Inej’s voice float on a spring breeze through the open bedroom window followed by the delighted giggle of Isha. His daughter’s laugh was a sound he would never tire of and never failed to elicit a small smile.
Sitting up, he ran a hand through his hair, and got up. Inej had told him to sleep in after he’d gotten back from Ketterdam late the previous night. He’d tried, but it was hard to get back to sleep after having been awoken by a very excited three-year-old jumping on top of him. He hadn’t meant to get back to Lij until tomorrow, but he had rushed through all his business in the city, reluctant to admit that he had missed his family.
He looked out the window on his way to the kitchen. The day was still young, the sun shining across the wheat field that backed onto the house. He spied Inej and Isha walking amongst the stalks, Isha almost completely hidden. His eyes lingered on Inej, the sun illuminating her smile. He would freely admit to anyone who would listen how beautiful she was. Especially now as she entered the very last stages of her pregnancy.
Two children and a beautiful wife. He must be some lucky bastard.
He gazed at his favourite people a little longer before eventually going into the kitchen. He started getting breakfast organised. While he wasn’t an amazing cook, he could put together some porridge for them.
It was then that he heard Isha scream.
While it wasn’t unusual for the three-year-old to illicit such a sound, it was the tone that gave Kaz pause. It wasn’t until he heard Inej’s yell of alarm that he realised something was wrong.
He grabbed his cane, moving as fast as he could out the back door and into the wheat field. “Inej! Isha!”
He spotted the reason for their alarm. Two men, their attire straight out of the barrel, were surrounding Inej. A third man was chasing down Isha who was running back towards the house.
Kaz ran towards her.
Isha’s pursuer caught her, grabbing her by the arm before Kaz reached her. She struggled wildly, trying to get free all while kicking and screaming.
He slowed, noticing the assailant’s gun belt. He raised his hands in surrender. “Whatever you want, leave her alone.” He said.
“Papa.” Isha cried, trying to reach out to him, but the man’s grip was too firm.
“It’s alright, sweet pea, you just need to stand still while I talk to this man here.” He said, using the pet name he’d given her after she as a one-year-old had force fed him the bowl of peas she’d been given.
The man frowns. “You weren’t meant to be here.”
So, this was a planned attack. Whoever was behind this had been watching them long enough to know that Kaz was still meant to be in Ketterdam. And had also somehow connected him to the farm despite the property still being under the name Johannus Rietveld. Someone had done their research and had done it without Kaz finding out. An impressive feat in itself.
“Sorry to disappoint you.” He takes a few more careful steps forward.
“Not another step.” The man drew his revolver, and though it was pointed at the ground the message remained clear. One more step and someone was getting shot.
“She’s just a kid, you don’t want her.” Kaz said, trying to begin negotiations.
“The boss wants her.” The man shrugs. “Dunno why.”
“And who’s your boss? I’d like to have a word with them.” Even as he said it he noticed the Dime Lions tattoo on the man’s wrist.
“Rollins.”
“Pekka?”
“Alby.”
Kaz frowned. It had only been in recent years that Pekka Rollins’ son had taken over most of the Dime Lions. While Kaz had a history with Pekka he hadn’t done anything to Alby. That he knew of anyway.
“Well, tell him that I’d much rather a civilised chat than having his goons come and harass my family.” He dared inch forward.
“Not another step!” The revolver now pressed against Isha’s temple.
The small girl let out a whimper.
“Don’t do anything you’ll regret. You really want the blood of an innocent child on your hands?” Kaz tried to appeal. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a slight movement he knew belonged to Inej. Despite it being ten years since she’d left her spider ways, she was still the Wraith, and was all too capable of being invisible when she wanted. Her appearance also meant that she must have dealt with the men that were attacking her.
All Kaz needed to do was buy time.
“I don’t get paid to have morals, Brekker.” The man said, not having any qualms about the barrel of his gun being pressed into Isha’s forehead.
“What’s your name, since you already know mine?” He asked, changing tactic. He didn’t recognise the man, but perhaps he’d heard some dirt on him.
“I ain’t playing your games.”
“I don’t need you to play.” Kaz said nonchalantly, not daring to look directly at Inej who now stood directly behind the man. “I just needed to keep you talking long enough for my darling wife to disarm you.”
Before the man had time to show his confusion, Inej sliced across the back of his hand with one of her knives. Barrel habits died hard and she still always kept at least two on her person at all times.
The man swore heavily, dropping the revolver and clutching at his bloodied hand.
The moment he released his hold on Isha she ran straight to Kaz who immediately scooped her up into his arms, holding her so that his body was between her and the assailant.
“You bitch!” The man turned to go after Inej, who danced out of the way as he drew a knife of his own and swung it wildly. She was still graceful despite being nine months pregnant.
Before he could get any closer to her, however, Kaz swung his cane, the crow head making contact with the side of the man’s face. He crumpled to the ground unconscious.
He made eye contact with Inej. “Dime Lions.” He said answering her unspoken question.
“I though we finished dealing with them years ago.” Her breathing was heavy as she moved closer to him and Isha. As far as Kaz could surmise she was unhurt.
“Apparently not.” He said, turning his attention to his daughter. “Are you alright, Isha?” He asked, placing her down on the ground.
She shook her head. “I didn’t like the grabbing man.”
“I didn’t like him either.” He said, taking her hand and walking her towards the house, Inej coming up beside them, taking Isha’s other hand while rubbing her stomach.
Kaz sent her a questioning glance.
“I’m fine. Baby just isn’t impressed.” She said, failing to hide her wince as the baby kicked.
He frowned.
“I promise you, I’m fine.” She reiterated. “What do we do now? We have three unconscious men in our field who will undoubtedly want a go at round two when they wake up.”
They passed through the threshold and into the house, making their way into the kitchen. Inej quickly grabs a slice of bread, spreading jam on it before sitting Isha down and giving it to her.
“We’ll have to get out of here. For the time being, anyway.” Kaz said, looking out the window, watching in case anyone else tried to sneak up on them. “I don’t know how they found out we were here, but I’ll need resources from the Dreggs to find out.” He didn’t need to voice the fact that there was no chance he was going to leave Inej and Isha here on their own. Not when their location had been dangerously compromised. Not with the baby arriving in a few weeks.
“So we’re going to Ketterdam.”
He nods, looking out of the window. Thanks to the wheat the men were completely obscured.
“I’ll pack a few things.” Inej walks out of the kitchen, moving deeper into the house.
“Papa, what’s happening?” Isha asked, face sticky with jam.
“We’re going on a holiday.” He says, grabbing a cloth, wetting it, then wiping Isha’s face clean. “It’ll be a fun adventure.”
Her eyes lit up. She always begged to come with him on his trips to Ketterdam, but he didn’t want her anywhere near the barrel. “When can we go?”
“As soon as mama’s finished packing some things for you.” He hoped he was making the right choice in going to Ketterdam. He knew he was recognisable when in the barrel, but so long as Isha and Inej stayed clear of that part of the town no one would draw connections between them. The last thing he needed was for any more gangs to find out he had a wife and daughter. Most of the Dreggs didn’t know. Only the few trustworthy enough, and even then they only knew about Inej. It was just Jesper and Wylan who knew about both. He hadn’t wanted anyone to be able to use his family against him, though it now seemed to be too late for that.
“Where are we going?”
“Ketterdam.”
“Where’s that?”
“That way.” He pointed in a random direction.
“Oh.” Isha paused contemplating her next question. “Will we make friends?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Jesper and Wylan.”
“Who’re they?”
“Mine and mama’s friends. We’ll be staying with them.”
“Why?”
“Because they have a nice house.”
“Oh.”
Before Isha had a chance to ask anymore questions Inej emerged carrying a satchel.
“Isha, go wash your hands.” She instructed, pulling out the chair so Isha could get down, taking the now crumb covered plate and rinsing it off in the sink. She then grabbed a few apples, shoving them into the already full satchel. “I’ve mostly got toys and clothes for Isha, I know we’ll be able to make do, though I’ve got a change of clothes for each of us. I also grabbed some baby stuff just in case.”
He nods, taking hold of his cane as Isha finishes washing her hands. “Let’s move.”