Page 103 of Bleed Me

Tired from a trip to Idaho, our brothers went home, while Giver and I went straight to Saph’s. Phone calls home, while traveling, told us Saph was taking another step in her life. She had met a man and was ecstatic over him. I was so happy for her. She deserved a life outside of school and our kids. Giver had been happy for her, too, but asked that she not bring a stranger around Gracie and Ice since there were many unknowns with our situation. In Sapphire style, she totally understood and had Old Ladies or members babysit when she went on dates with this man.

I smiled when Giver’s bike picked up speed, and I had to do the same in order to keep up with him. We ached to hold our babies. Those two kids had become the center of our world. It is amazing the love a child can pull from your heart and soul, how much life they can breathe into a tired spirit.

That’s why they were covered by a member or Prospect at all times. There was no word or sign that our enemy was in Austin, but we took no chances. We kept our true treasures protected while we fought to give them ultimate safety. If someone wanted me dead, or at least to hurt me, Giver, Gracie, Ice, my brothers, or Saph were the way to go.

Parking in Saph’s driveway, Giver grumbled when seeing the Prospect’s bike there. “I don’t like this kid. Why is he here?” He unloaded off his bike.

The Prospect was in his early twenties, the same age as James, so I found it comical how he called him a kid. Giver refused to admit he didn’t care for the crush the ‘kid’ had on me.

Putting my gloves in my side satchel I used for traveling, I chuckled, then headed up Saph’s porch steps. “Let’s go get magic hugs before you get all crabby.” The sun was just now setting so we knew we weren’t too late. The kids would still be awake.

Even tired, routines can’t be denied. When something feels ‘off’, bells in your subconscious ring. Twisting my key, I quickly realized the front door wasn’t locked. Saph always followed our precautions. She had been a bunny long enough to know we didn’t scare easy. If we told her that locked doors are a must, she made sure to lock them.

My sight had barely landed on Giver before he was pulling out his gun. With it pointed at the closed entrance, he nodded for me to open the door, then move out of his way.

Grabbing my own gun, my boot lightly knocked the door open, then I backed away two steps to not get shot if anyone was waiting inside. Giver was gifted with the gun, yes, but he was also a bit alpha and didn’t give a shit about me outranking him when my life was on the line. So, he would be going in first, not interested in any argument from me.

As the door swung open, we were greeted with silence. I couldn’t see inside yet, but no toddlers were laughing. No TV was playing cartoons.

With his left hand, Giver tapped his back; he had spotted something that had him needing his back protected. My gun aimed with a straight arm, I quickly pressed my back to his. He walked forward, and I followed, walking backward. He whispered, “One down.”

My heart exploded with fear. I fought to keep my breath under control. Where are my babies? I knew Giver wasn’t referring to Gracie or Ice because he never would have been so calm if either were on the ground.

As he turned to the left, my gun followed to the right.

Headed toward the kitchen and dining room, I saw the Prospect on the floor in the living room, face down, not moving.

Heading down the hallway toward Saph and the kids’ rooms, I kept my gun aimed at the hallway entry to be sure no one was following us.

Giver led us into Saph’s room first. Checking behind the door and closet, we learned it was empty. Exiting her room, me still walking backward, I noticed her made bed and clean room. She loved her house and kept it immaculate. Desperate to see her safe, my throat tightened.

Entering Ice’s room, the closest to Saph’s, Giver’s steady breathing started to change. In a whisper, I begged, “Talk to me.”

“He’s not here,” he whispered back.

When he turned to face the door again, that gave me a view of Ice’s room and his crib. That adorable baby wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I swallowed down a sob of panic.

Next was Gracie’s bedroom. Giver’s breathing was becoming completely labored, which had me groaning. “Noooooooo.” Whatever he saw was causing him to unravel.

“No.” He fought for control. “Empty.”

I sagged against him. Empty meant hope was still possible.

Giver, now leaving the room, gave me a chance to study her room. Her little pink toddler bed was made, just like her mama’s. All her toys were in their proper place. Please be alive.

No intruders were hiding in the bathroom or kitchen, so we rushed to the Prospect, no longer guarding each other’s backs. Rolling him over, we were surprised to see him blink. He struggled to open his mouth. The blood revealed a hard hit to the back of his head.

Giver shook his shoulders, demanding, “Where are they?”

The Prospect just kept blinking. I begged, “Did someone take them?”

“C-Captain.”

“Yes! Talk to me now!”

His arm lifted then and fell over his head, his finger extended. The Prospect was pointing toward the back door. Giver pulled out his cell phone while we both ran to the door. Running onto the back porch, he yelled into his cell, “Dagger! Saph’s! Now—”

“No!” I screamed when seeing Saph out in the yard, on her stomach like the Prospect had been. My feet were moving before I even told them to carry me to her.

“Bring everyone!” screamed my husband, chasing me. “No, babe, no!”

He must have seen the blood pooled in the grass, that I was too panicked to notice, and was trying to save me the horror of what I was about to see.