“Thanks. I appreciate it, man,” I tell Eastman, reaching over and shaking his hand across his large mahogany desk.

His grip is strong as he claps mine back. “I’m sorry there isn’t more I could do. If he comes back, I’ll get in touch.”

Nodding, I release his hand and step back. “Thank you, really.” For a drug running kingpin he’s seems like a decent guy. How do people like him even get into this shit?

Michael, Abe and Abe’s brother Axel walk at my side’s as we’re led out by one of Eastman’s men.

Eastman said Paco bounced this morning, and from the second the words left his mouth, agitation sunk its claws into me. When we’re inside the car, I can’t handle the tension flowing through my body—my fist shoots out, smashing into the dash, “Goddamn it,” I yell. Did he know I was coming?

“Cool it,” Abe snaps, “Michael, can you call Danny? See if he’s heard anything else,” he instructs as he reverses out of the parking area on Eastman’s estate.

“Already on it,” Michael says, his phone pressed against his ear.

I actually didn’t even want Abe here today, not with his fuck Zak attitude he’s been throwing around the last few days. But apparently Alec was busy so they traded places. It’s just another thing out of my control today and it’s grating my nerves.

Tilting my chin towards him I ask, “Why’ve you been such a dick lately? Is this situation not fucked up enough already without you being a prick?”

Abe’s hard glare locks on my face as he pauses the truck at the end of Eastman’s drive, “Excuse me? Am I not here right now trying to help you figure this shit out?”

I throw my hand up in his face, “Yeah you are, but that’s not what I’m talking about and you fucking know it.”

His jaw locks and his grip on the steering wheel tightens, “Kalista and I have been trying to get pregnant. It’s not working out so well. Actually, it looks like it’s probably my fucking fault and here you are,” he jabs a pointed finger in my chest, “Going around makin’ a baby—by fucking accident.”

“Wha? I, shit,” I breathe. I’m not sure what I expected him to say but that sure as shit wasn’t it. “I didn’t know man, I—” have absolutely nothing to say.

We drive in silence for a few minutes before my ring tone blares, filling the tense cab. Will’s name flashes on the screen, I answer immediately. “Hey man, we’re—”

“You—here now!” his voice comes through the line all glitchy from the shitty reception out here.

“What’s going on?” I demand as my spine stiffens.

“They—her–tried to stop—but I—they took—Ellie—hurt real bad—need to get here.”

I can only just make out a few words but it’s enough to make my blood run cold, “Who, Will? I need you to tell me more,” I instruct, using everything in me to keep my head. Covering the speaker, I tell Abe, “Drive faster. Something’s happened at the house.”

Before Will can say anything else, the line goes dead. We’re out of phone service and we’re still twenty fucking minutes away.

My fists opens and closes repeatedly. Why did I leave them? What the fuck is wrong with me? I launch my fist into the dash again. Motherfucker! What was I thinking?

If Paco has hurt my girls, I’m going to kill him. I swear to God, I will kill him.

Abe slows his truck as he nears the front of my house, and I jump out before it’s even fully stopped. Racing to the front door, I throw it open, screeching to a halt at the sight before me.

“What the fuck happened?” I demand, dropping to my knees in the entryway. I need an answer.

Red is out cold, blood spilling from her mouth. Sliding my hand under her head I cradle it in my palm, warm sticky liquid coats my fingers as I pull her into me. My only comfort is that her chest is still moving in and out as she breathes. “I’m so sorry, baby, I should never have left,” I murmur.

“Zak,” Michael calls softly. When I lift my eyes to him he swallows hard, “Kadyn’s gone.”

Bile rises in my throat. Lead settles in my gut. “Go-ne?” I stammer, tears filling my eyes. Twisting my head to the side, away from Ellie, rancid vomit splashes on the tiles.

I fucked it all up, just like I knew I would.

“Will shot him,” Michael says, squatting right beside me, his boot sloshing in my vomit. “Did you hear me, Zak? Will shot him.”

I blink up at him dumbly. “Shot who?”

“Paco, I think. He’s not one hundred percent sure, but he thinks so.”

If Paco’s injured he’s going to be moving slower, maybe he’ll need medical attention. Fuck, I need to find him. But Red? I gently stroke her ashen forehead then the side of her face that’s already starting to bruise.

“An ambulance is on its way for her, Will called them after the call to us dropped,” Michael assures me, his hand squeezing my shoulder, offering me his support.

With shaking hands, I delicately shift Ellie’s red locks from her face, “I’ll make it right,” I whisper. “I promise I’ll make it right,” I tell her then press a kiss to her clammy temple.

Will rolls over, handing me a cushion, and I slide it under her head before getting to my feet. “I need you to tell me exactly what happened,” I tell him.