by K E Osborn
Zero is the first to my side.
Ethan soon after. “Jesus… Coombs, get over here with your gloves. We can’t contaminate the scene if—”
“Don’t say it, Ethan. Don’t you dare fucking say it,” I yell at him, lunging forward.
Zero grabs me, holding me back.
Ethan’s eyes drop as he signals to Coombs to open the filing cabinet with the sign.
Miny
I turn away, running my fingers through my hair.
I can’t stand to watch.
The squeal of the drawer opening is like my heart shattering into a thousand pieces.
“We got something, lieutenant.”
My face scrunches up, bile instantly hits the back of my throat as Ethan rushes forward. “Oh, Jesus-fucking-Christ…”
I can’t stand the tension as I spin around seeing Ethan pick up a giant bloody dog’s bone. He pants hard through his nose, then he hurtles it across the room. It slams into a wooden crate, making it splinter into pieces. I widen my eyes.
Hammond places his hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Keep it together, Rudd. I know they’re your family, but you need to keep a straight head or wait outside.”
Ethan’s eyes meet mine, and for the first time, I look at him with understanding.
He loves Sadie and Lucas.
Just like I do.
He only wants the best for them.
Just like I do.
Maybe he’s not such an asshole after all.
“Let’s keep moving,” I tell them.
Ethan nods, and I move in, slapping his back.
We’re in this together.
We head through into a smaller room. It’s freaking cold, the chill hitting me instantly as the back of the room is blocked off by a door with a large handle and a padlock sealing it tightly closed.
It’s an industrial freezer.
Everyone’s searching the room, but we see nothing in here.
It’s a dead end.
“There’s nothing in here. I don’t understand! Why lead us this way, unless…” Ethan’s eyes widen.
“It’s a trap!” Hammond blurts out as all the cops raise their guns aiming at the door.
But nothing happens.
“No, we’re missing something…” I turn, assessing the freezer, studying it, then moving to the padlock. I lift it. There’s something engraved on the body of the lock.
My eyes widen, my heart halts with a huge thud.
It’s like time stops, and everything I was ever scared of is becoming a reality.
Moe
KEVLAR
I drop the padlock like it’s made of ice. The fucking thing sends a chill right through the center of my soul. I stand back, my entire body shaking as I stare at the giant freezer door in disbelief. I’m stunned for a second, then instantly, I reach around for my gun, bringing it up frantically, but I am shaking.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, drop the damn weapon, Liam,” Hammond yells at me, but I click off the safety unloading two rounds straight into the padlock.
The gun recoils in my hand as the frantic yelling of, “Shots fired,” echoes behind me. But my head is spinning right now as the padlock explodes into pieces—the freezer door jerking with the movement. I drop my gun to the ground running forward and yank the door open. My heart races so fucking fast it’s like it is going to burst through my skin as the blast of cold slams into my face.
A wave of bitterly cold steam washes over my vision, impairing my sight for the briefest of moments as I rush inside. Goosebumps invade every crevice of my body as a deep chill is so intense my entire body shudders as I search the freezer.
Shelves of frozen dead meat carcasses line the racks.
I rush in further when a sight almost knocks me on my fucking ass.
There, Sadie and Lucas are huddled together in a tight embrace in the corner, both their eyes are shut, their bodies turning a blue color. Bile scorches my throat as I lunge forward, Ethan now by my side as we both slide in next to them.
“Fuck,” I yell as I wrap my arms around them. They’re both freezing to the touch. I grab Sadie, detaching her from Lucas while Ethan grabs Lucas in his arms. Sadie’s got her little fingers gripped tightly to Moo, the rabbit, who’s dangling just as lifelessly as she is.
“Sadie,” I scream in her face.
“Lucas, wake up,” Ethan yells just as loud.
I stand with Sadie in my arms. “We need to get them out of here, Ethan. Warm them up.”
Sadie’s so fucking limp in my arms, her body is like a damn bag of ice. As I look over at Lucas, my entire body shudders like it’s being electrocuted. The force and my brothers all rush alongside us as we make it out of the warehouse. The sun is rising in its orange hues, but right now, I wish the sun would send down a solar-fucking-flare to heat up my kids because right now. I’m panicking.
“I radioed dispatch to call an ambulance to meet us here on the way, they should arrive soon,” Ethan informs me as we place the kids on the ground.
“Are they breathing?” I lean down, placing my ear over Sadie’s mouth as Ethan checks for Lucas’ pulse.
“It’s weak, but it’s there.”
“She’s breathing, but fuck man, it’s shallow.”
Hammond walks over, concern etched on his face. “The EMTs are driving in now. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you shooting open the freezer, Liam.”
“Not now, Hammond.”
He bobs his head, stepping back, as Zero kneels to my level. “What do you need?”
I pant for breath as I cling Sadie to me tighter. “I need my kids to live, Zero.”
Zero nods, then walks off to the side of the road to greet the ambulance which has just pulled up.
My eyes shift to my kids as I pull Sadie onto my lap a little more, trying to warm her up.
Zero and Neon run over with two silver blankets. “Kevlar, put these around them while the EMTs get ready to bring their shit over.”
I reach out, my hand shaking as I take it. “Thanks, pres.”
“Whatever you need, brother.”
We wrap the kids up in the blankets, then I rub up and down the outside to try and gain some more friction to warm Sadie up faster. Ethan does the same to Lucas as the EMTs come rushing over.
“Thank fuck you’re here. You have to help them!”
“And we will, but we need you both to step back so we can work.”
I glance at Ethan, and we both hesitate as the EMT exhales. “Honestly, time is crucial here, so please step back.”
Ethan stands, my chest tightens, my breathing accelerates, and dizziness washes over me. Letting go of Sadie seems like an impossible task right now.
“Liam…” Ethan urges, but I can’t.
I can’t let them go—either of them.
My breathing increases as my entire body wracks with guilt.
Ethan’s hands loop in underneath my arms as he drags me away to let the EMTs in.
“I can’t leave them,” I yell out, fighting to get back.
Ethan grabs me, but I pull against him. He wraps his arms around my torso forcefully, dragging me away as my brothers and my old workmates watch on with serious expressions on their faces.
“Let them work, Liam. You’re not leaving them. You never left them!”
Anger flares inside of me. I should have been there. I should have been the one watching them. I should have been able to protect them. I yank out of Ethan’s grip, shoving him. He raises his hands in surrender as I let out a long huff and start pacing, running my hands through my hair.
I spin back to look at the EMTs working on my kids.
I’m fucking useless.
“Will you do something! Why aren’t they waking up?”
My brothers move over to me as I drown in my own despair. “Kevlar, you gotta let them work, brother.”
I bring my hands up, scrubbing at my face. “I can’t lose them, Zero.”
He grips my shoulder. “I know, brother. I know.”
“Da
ddy?” Sadie’s croaky voice murmurs, breaking me from my damn pity party for one.
My eyes shoot over to Sadie, letting out a half-laugh, half-sob, then I rush over, dropping to my knees at her side. She’s still not back to normal coloring, but at least she isn’t blue. “I’m right here, baby girl. I’m never leaving you again.”
“Dad?” Lucas mumbles.
Relief swarms through me as I reach out for his hand too. “Yeah, little big man. I’m right here.”
I peer up at the EMT, my eyes so foggy I can barely see. “Thank you… thank you.”
She signals to her partner, then focuses back on me. “We need to take them both to the hospital.”
“Can you take them to the Texas Children’s Hospital, I know a doctor there.”
“Sure. Let’s get them ready. You riding in the back with them?”
“I’m not leaving their side.”
Ethan moves in next to me. “I’ll follow you to the hospital. Hammond is having the place dusted for prints and checked for forensics. See if there’s anything we can find.”
“I already know who’s behind it. I just need to know who the asshole is that put my kids in the fucking freezer.”
“We’re gonna find out, Liam.”
“You bet your fucking ass we are.”
The hours are dragging on as I sit back in the world’s most uncomfortable chair. The kids are sleeping in their hospital beds right next to each other as I wait for Chills to come back with results from more tests she’s carried out. But so far, everything seems to be okay. Just some hypothermia which is, of course, expected.
Ethan’s working with Hammond on leads, and my brothers are at the café right now, giving me a second to process.
Leaning over, I place my head in my hands, letting out a long exhale.
I should have been there.
The scraping of the curtain sliding across draws my attention. I glance up as Jovie steps into the cubical. My frozen body instantly warms at the sight of her. I didn’t even realize I was still fucking cold, but the second my eyes meet with hers, it’s like I can now see clearly again. I’m unsure how she can have that effect on me in such a short amount of time, but fuck, right now, I need it.
“How are they doing?” Jovie asks as she gestures for the seat beside me.
I nod, and she sits. She doesn’t even know how much I appreciate her coming here, how much I need her right now. I reach across, grabbing for her hand.
She laces her fingers with mine, giving me a genuinely warm smile.
I sigh, shifting my eyes back to them. “They’re gonna be fine… another ten minutes in there, it would have been a different story.”
She grimaces, tightening her hand in mine. “And how are you doing? Honestly?”
“I’ve never been so fucking terrified of anything in my life, Jovie. Seeing them huddled together, their bodies all blue like that…” I have to stop because if I keep talking, I’m going to burst into fucking tears like a girl, and I have an image to uphold.
She leans in to embrace me. “Can anyone trace it back to the Baron yet?”
“We’re trying, but I tell you what? I’ve never wanted to hurt a man more in my life than I do right now. This shit is eating at me.”
She turns to face me a little more. “Don’t go hunting for vengeance. You need to concentrate on these beautiful children. That’s where all your thought should be right now.”
Ethan pops his head through the curtain, spotting Jovie. “Shit, sorry, we’ll come back.”
Jovie raises her hand. “Don’t be silly. There’s plenty of room.”
Ethan moves in, Lou by his side as they come to stand beside me. Ethan folds his arms across his chest. “Still no leads. But we won’t stop looking. We’re gonna find whoever did this.”
I turn to face him. “I should be with them. I should be protecting them. This is my fucking job… I failed them.”
Lou places her hand on my shoulder comfortingly. “You didn’t fail them, Liam, not in any way.”
Ethan scrunches up his face. “Liam, if this is anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I’m so fucking sorry this happened on my watch. I thought the kids were safe with me. Were safer with a cop away from the clubhouse… maybe it just makes them an easy target.”
“Honestly, Ethan, they’re safer at the clubhouse with an entire club protecting them. If an attack happens, I’ll teach them where to hide. I want them home with me, where they belong.”
Lou’s eyes glisten as Ethan’s shift to the kids. My angels are sleeping soundly, oblivious to the life decisions being made for them right now.
“I never thought I would say this, but I actually agree. This just proved they’re not safe anywhere. They should be somewhere with extra protection. As long as they’re happy with the move, I am, too.” He glances at Lou, who’s wiping the tears from under her eyes. It squeezes at my chest to see her hurting, but I need my kids with me. She nods, and Ethan reaches out for her hand, turning back to me. “But I still want to see them, Liam. You can’t cut us out.”
Excitement surges through me as I stand abruptly, grabbing Ethan and pull him to me in a giant hug. Not a manly back-slapping hug, more of a tight, chest squeezing, lay it all out there, emotional embrace.
Elation flows through me like I’ve never felt before.
I can’t fucking believe it.
My kids are coming home.
“I’d never cut you out. You’re like another form of parents to them. That would be cruel. This means everything... every-fucking-thing.”
“I know it does. I apologize I held this over you for so long. Honestly, I thought I was doing what was right by the kids.”
We pull back, our eyes connecting, brother to brother.
“Thanks for caring about them the way you do. But it’s time to let me take care of my kids like a father should.”
Lou turns, looking over at Sadie and Lucas, her expression weakening. “The house won’t be the same without them.”
I nudge Ethan’s side. “Maybe this will give you guys the chance to start your own family… rather than looking after mine.”
“I don’t know the first thing about babies,” Ethan jests.
“Yeah, but you’ve proved you’re a great father, Ethan. You’ll get it right.”
“I’d love to start trying again,” Lou announces, shocking me.
“Again?”
Ethan grimaces like he’s reliving a bad memory. “We, ah… kinda were trying before we took the kids in. Then we stopped, and Lou only has a small window left.”
“Well, fuck, you need this as much as I do. Take your damn life back.”
Ethan pulls me back in for another brotherly embrace as the sudden click of a camera going off makes Ethan and I snap our heads to the side.
Jovie has a great big smile on her face as she holds my cell up. “Sorry, just thought I should capture this moment. It’s a big deal between you guys. Brotherly bonding and all that.”
I let out a small laugh as Lou giggles, joining in with the embrace.
“Oh, hold on, I’m videoing this one,” Jovie announces.
In this moment, I don’t even care. Ethan and I are finally on good terms. I just hope like hell when the kids wake up, they’re on this same page with us. Because if they don’t want to come home, I don’t think I could handle the disappointment.
KEVLAR
This night in the hospital was the worst night of my life. Not because anything went wrong, it didn’t, but because I was constantly checking the kids making sure they were okay. I’ve never felt more on edge in my life. The thought of losing one of them, or both of them, sat in my stomach all night eating away at me. Even though Chills constantly told me they were fine, Jovie still had to talk me down from the ledge multiple times.
She’s been a godsend.
I’ve heard of overprotective parents, but last night was something else.
In the light of the morning, I’m sure now it stems back to Em. The memory o
f losing her. The thought of going through that pain again, only twice this time. I’m not sure I could have handled it. Thank God my kids are awake now and so much livelier this morning as they sit eating their cereal.
Ethan and Jovie are here, and we’re going to ask the kids about moving into the clubhouse. It’s not a done deal. I want them with me more than anything, but if they don’t want to come home, I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Sadie spills a line of the cereal down her chin, then bursts out laughing. “I made a mess, Daddy.” I stand from my seat, walking over to her, grabbing a Kleenex from the box, then wipe her clean. She smiles up at me lovingly as I pat her down.
“You’re still beautiful to me, baby girl.”
“You wanna Cheerio, Daddy?” she asks, holding her spoon up to me, a little circle of sugared puff falling straight off and onto the floor. “Oops!”
I lean in, kissing her temple. “You feeling better this morning?”
“Mm-hmm… I didn’t like the cold.”
My chest tightens as I grab her hand. “I know… I’m sorry we didn’t get there sooner.”
“The man in the mask said you w… w… wouldn’t come,” Lucas adds.
I let go of Sadie and walk around in between the two beds grabbing Lucas’ and Sadie’s hands together. “The second I knew you were gone, I wouldn’t stop until I found you both. I would do anything for you. Anything. Because I’m your dad, and I love you. More than life.”
Lucas sits up on his knees, gnawing on his lip. His eyes conveying something like he’s afraid to say what he’s thinking.
“What is it, little big man?”
“I w… w… wanna come to the cwubhouse.”
I turn back to Ethan, hope filling my chest as he bobs his head. Now is the right time to talk to them. “Kids, how do you feel about coming to live with Dad back at the clubhouse, where you lived before going to stay with Uncle Ethan? You’d be with Dad all the time and a bunch of his friends—”
“I wanna go,” Sadie calls out, bouncing on the bed like she’s excited.
Lucas beams in happiness. “Is Mommy there, too?”
