Justin is barking out orders, thank God because I’m so damn close to falling apart. I can’t think straight, nothing past Emma being gone. When Amber handed me that note, my world stopped, it’s my job to find her, and I can’t do shit to help.

“Jimmy!” Justin shakes me hard.

“What?”

“Newb is on the way here, full battle rattle. Apparently, Katie decided to have her babies today, so Logan is out. We’re going to find my sister and take these motherfuckers out.”

“Katie DID WHAT?!?!” Avery and Amber scream from their position on Charlie’s lap. In reality, I forgot that the two of them were even here.

“Go get our girl back, we will take care of Katie and Logan don’t you worry,” Amber whispers in my ear before placing a chaste kiss on my forehead and following Avery out the door.

Everything else turns into background noise as I focus in on the task at hand. Not that I’m not worried about Katie or the babies, but my mind is a jumbled mess right now. I feel a tap on my shoulder, bringing me out of my haze.

“You with us?” Justin is standing there, ready for battle.

“I’m with you.”

“When we find them, you’re in the sniper nest. Frankly, you’re one of the best Snipers the SEAL’s ever had. The rest of us will go in after her, we’ve worked together for a while now. We can anticipate each other’s movement’s, we’re a team. Anyone comes out that isn’t us, take ‘em down.”

“I don’t like it, but I agree. I’ll just mess up the flow. I’ll get my kit and be ready to go when the others arrive.”

I think about the rifle in my gun safe, I haven’t had reason to use it in years. A lot of memories are attached to that cold steel, and there’s never been a reason for me to need my sniper skills. Grabbing my kit, it's heavy and familiar in my hand, it feels good. It feels like bloodshed.

My heart is pounding as the panic begins to take over. I can’t see through the pillowcase over my head, but I’m sure I’m being taken someplace private where Javier can break me. My wrists and shoulders are sore from my hands being tied behind my back and being thrown into the trunk of the car. I don’t regret my decision, I would do anything to save someone from the pain I’m going to go through. Clay doesn’t deserve to be beaten or even worse, killed, just because he made the mistake of becoming my friend. I know what’s coming and I’ll be ready for it, Javier can try, but he will never break me. I refuse to be that desperate little girl again.

My forehead cracks against the side of the car, I attempt to stifle my sob and the urge to puke. That’s not an option, I need to be ready for what is coming when the trunk opens, awake and alert to my surroundings. There is no way that my brother or Jimmy are going to leave me here. I will hang on until they get to me, I will fight them or die trying.

Suddenly the car stops and the trunk swings open. Before I even have a chance to fight, I’m yanked out by my arms and stumble along after one of Javier’s goons. A squeaky door opens, and I’m engulfed in cold, damp air, raising goosebumps along my skin.

I’m slammed down into a chair, and the pillowcase is yanked off my head. I’m finally face to face with my worst nightmare, Javier. What shocks me the most is Clay standing next to him with not a scratch on him. Clay has a sadistic smile spread across his face. “What? Did you think you could lead me on all this time and I wouldn’t find a way to get you? Javier told me everything. How you stole from him and then left him for someone with more money and connections. So I helped him. I told him about the truck and everything. Luckily, his cousin works at the DMV, so it was easy for us to find you.”

I can do nothing but shake my head at his stupidity. “Clay, you have no idea what you’ve done! I stole nothing from him, he’s a drug dealer. Jimmy and my brother were just protecting me,” I shout.

“Lies, all lies!” Clay shouts back at me before turning to Javier. “So you’re going to get the money she stole from her brother and the old guy, and I get her. That was the deal.”

Javier stands from his seat, motioning for one of his men to come closer. “Of course. Just let me make the call, and you can take her and go.” I watch in horror as Javier reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pistol, shooting Clay right between the eyes. Tears slowly begin to trickle down my face for my friend, I was going to sacrifice myself for him when all he wanted was some pussy.

“Bienvenido de nuevo, puta.”

“You’ve been gone so long that you lost your ability to speak Spanish?” Javier makes it seem like he’s a hero saving me from a monster when in reality he’s the monster.

I steel myself for the pain that’s to come, I look straight ahead and refuse to answer. He will learn that I am no longer the scared little girl that has no one. Images of Jimmy, Justin, and the rest of my new family start flipping through my mind as I feel him backhand me across the mouth causing me to fall out of the chair. I taste blood as it fills my mouth. Getting up off the floor, I spit the mouthful of blood out at Javier’s feet.

“Me alegro de verte,” I respond as I pick up my chair and take a seat.

I take the time to look around and notice we are in one of Javier’s

warehouses. I guarantee no one will hear me scream. I fight the tears threatening to fall, he will not break me, not again.

Grabbing my jaw in his hand, Javier kisses me before giving me another slap across the face,

“Encerrarla!” He orders his men.

Someone grabs my arm and drags me into an empty room, locking the door. The room is small with one window that has so much dirt caked on it you can’t see out. The concrete floor has stains that I’m afraid to investigate, but I think this room is used for beatings, it smells sort of like urine and pennies. Curling up in a corner across from the door, I do the only thing I can, wait.