“Hope is okay? You have her?” I repeat again to Harley who just told me he has Hope in his arms right now. I hear her cry a little and sink to the floor of the lounge, holding my hand over my mouth as I hold in my own cry. I feel Izzy wrap an arm around me, but everything is blurry. My baby is safe.

“She is safe and healthy. Tilly . . . you need to come to the local hospital and bring all my brothers, and Izzy. I will text you the postcode,” he tells me.

“What why? What’s wrong with Hope?” I ask quickly.

“Nothing, Tilly. But, I need you here,” he tells me, his voice cracking a little.

“On our way now,” I tell him.

“I love you,” Harley replies.

“I love you, too,” I respond before the line cuts off.

“They found Hope?” Izzy asks me.

“Yes. They are at the hospital, and Harley wanted me to get you and all your brothers there as quick as possible,” I say, and she frowns, wondering what is going on as well. The police officer who has stayed with us, comes running into the room.

“They have found the baby,” she says, and I nod, holding up my phone and standing up. I grab my changing bag off the side, which is packed with anything Hope will need and throw it over my shoulder.

“Harley just called. He said we need to get to the hospital, so excuse us,” I comment.

“Yes. Can I take you?” she asks.

“It’s a good idea, we have both been awake for a long time, now, and driving wouldn’t be safe. We can call around and tell everyone on the way,” Izzy replies before me, and I nod. She has a point. I haven’t slept since Daniel took Hope. I pick up her pink blanket that I know she loves, and my phone as we follow the officer to the car. Izzy gets through to Sebastian who is with Elliot, and I call my mum who tells all my family. It takes twenty minutes to get to the hospital, as we hit some traffic on the way. I jump out of the car when she parks and run towards the hospital, with Izzy calling me as she runs to follow me.

“Harley,” I say, my words only a whisper when I see him sitting in the waiting room, with Hope sleeping in his arms. I don’t see the officers in the room, or anyone, as I run over and fall to my knees in front of him. He instantly hands me Hope, and I hold her to my chest as I feel Harley wrap his arms around me and pull me onto his lap. I silently cry as I hold her close, knowing I’m never letting her out of my sight again. I wrap the pink blanket around her, and she snuggles into it.

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” I mutter out in a whisper, and Harley kisses my forehead.

“We need to talk, Siren,” he tells me gently, and I look up at him, just as Sebastian and Elliot come into the room. Izzy is standing by the door, and I see the two police officers sitting on the other side of the room as well.

“Why are we here? Where is Luke?” Elliot asks Harley.

“Luke was stabbed by Daniel, and he shot Daniel in response,” Harley says, and there’s silence following his words.

“Is Luke alive?” Sebastian asks, his voice cracking.

“Yes. He is in surgery, now, but the police are pressing charges against him for carrying a firearm.”

“That’s bullshit,” Elliot spits out.

“Daniel is dead. This is serious, Elliot. I’ve called our lawyer, but Luke will face charges for this,” Harley tells them. I feel such a sense of relief that Daniel is dead, and some small part of me shouldn’t feel that way, but I do. I look down at Hope, knowing that she is better off without him in her life. He was an evil man, but I hate that Luke is going to pay the price for killing him.

“He’s alive, that’s all that matters,” Izzy tells them all.

“Alive, but going to jail,” Sebastian comments.

“There’s more we need to talk about,” Harley tells them and then turns to the police officers, “Can we have a moment?” he asks them.

“We cannot leave you alone until you give us a statement Mr. King.”

“I’m not giving you one until my lawyer is here, but this is personal, and none of them were there. I can’t see how a moment alone with my family is going to hurt anyone. You can wait outside the room,” Harley waves a hand at the door and gives them a look which would scare anyone. The police officers quickly nod and walk out of the room, with Elliot shutting the door behind them. I try to get off Harley’s lap, but he tightens his hands on my hips, telling me all I need to know . . . that he wants me here.

“What else could you tell us?” Elliot says with a groan and sits in one of the seats opposite. Sebastian doesn’t say a word as he sits next to Elliot and Izzy sits on his other side.

“When I finished the last fight, Arthur gave me a note. He said it was a gift for me,” Harley starts off.

“What was on the note?” Izzy asks.

“An address, a time, and a date. When Hope was taken, we were at the address. I know Arthur likely helped Daniel,” he tells them all and then looks up at me, “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. This wasn’t your fault. And, you got her back to me, to us. Our daughter is safe,” I tell him and gently kiss his cheek, before looking down at Hope who sleeps quietly, completely unaware of the world going on around her. I know she will never remember being stolen, her uncle being stabbed, or her biological father dying. I hate that he died before he could be arrested, before he could pay for everything he has done. Death was an easy escape for him.

“What was at the address?” Elliot asks Harley, who only tenses a little before he replies quickly.

“Our mother.”

“What?” Elliot shouts, waking Hope up and she starts grumbling a little. I slide off Harley’s lap, gently rocking Hope.

“She isn’t well. I don’t think she ever walked out on us,” Harley tells them. Sebastian looks at the floor, and Elliot just shakes his head.

“You can’t believe that, Harley,” Elliot says.

“Tell us everything,” Sebastian says, placing a hand on Elliot’s shoulder.

“I’m going to find her some milk,” I tell Harley who gives me a nod. I walk out of the room and shut the door behind me, just as Allie and Emilia come running down the corridor.

“I heard something happened to Luke,” Emilia says, panic all over her face.

“Is Elliot in there? And, I’m so happy you have Hope back,” Allie says, giving me a small smile.

“Luke has been stabbed and is in surgery. I don’t know anything else. Elliot, Sebastian, Izzy, and Harley are having a talk in there. I would leave them for a little bit,” I respond, answering all the questions. Emilia runs around me and straight towards the reception desk.

“Do you need anything?” Allie asks me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

I look back at the door, and give her the only answer I can. “I want everyone to be okay.”

“Me, too,” Allie whispers.