41-Javier/Donovan

This stupid motherfukcer.

Vince is using Sadie as a shield, holding a blade against her throat. She winces when he nicks her skin, drawing blood.

I know Donnie and Sophia are safe after my partner took down Rico. From the corner of my eye, I see my partner creeping down the hall toward me with a gun at the ready.

He stops when I crack my neck.

It's our signal to hold the position.

"Let her go. You don't need to hurt her."

The asshole smirks. "Tell your men to leave, or I'll cut this bitch," he warns.

My jaw works overtime as I try to find a way to get Sadie to safety, but one wrong move and he'll make do with his promise. The panic in her eyes as tears run down her face splits my chest in two.

I raise my hands and slowly holster my gun, but he pulls Shorty tighter, and she yelps in pain.

"Shut the fuck up," Vince snarls in Shorty's ear as he glares at me. "Throw your gun toward me."

I do as he says, even though my gut tells me he will kill the victim even after he says he wouldn't.

Let's hope I'm wrong this time.

Never taking my eyes off him, I slowly bend and slide the gun toward him. He catches the gun with his foot but doesn't reach for it. I raise my palms in front of me and step back.

"How do you want to play this?" I ask, keeping my hands raised.

"You are going to get me out alive. If not—" He presses the blade"s tip against her skin. She sinks her teeth into her bottom lip with a pained expression. "I'll gut her slowly." He follows the edge as he moves it down to her belly, and she whimpers.

"Don't do this," I say in a calm voice.

He moves his gaze to me and smirks like a twisted fuck.

"Now that I've got your attention, let's play." He pushes Sadie as he steps forward but stops when he sees movement behind me.

Fuck

"Tell your partner to drop his gun, or I'll slice her throat."

"Drop it, bro," I quickly order Derick.

Derick sets the gun on the ground and kicks it over toward Vince. My partner looks at me with apprehension but gives me a tight nod, letting me know he trusts me and has my back if this shit goes sideways.

"Get your ass out of here and sit in that chair." Vince tips his chin toward the armchair near the television, giving him a lot of space between them.

Derick gives me a side eye, waiting for my instruction. When I don't give him one, he sits on the chair.

"Keep your hands on your lap," Vince tells Derick and then turns to me.

"Call your men outside and tell them to drive away from the house. Then, me and Reina," he mocks in her ear, "will walk out the door."

"Wait a minute. You didn't say anything about taking her with you."

"What the fuck did you think I was going to do? Do you think I'm that stupid to trust that you won't shoot my ass as soon as I walk out the door?" He raises his brow.

Goddamnit.

"Back the fuck up," Vince says to me as he applies more pressure against Sadie's throat.

Vince drags Sadie with him toward the front door. She trips on her feet, trying to keep up with his movements.

"What the fuck are you waiting for? Call off your dogs, cabrón."

I start to reach for my walkie-talkie, but he stops me.

"Slowly," he snaps.

I unclip my radio from my belt loop and hold down the button. "This is Agent Delgado. This is a direct order to stand down. I repeat, stand down and leave the area. Over."

Static garbles through the radio.

"This is Agent Washington. Copy that."

The sound of vehicles retreating from the house sends a wave of panic through me. I stayed up for hours for the past several months, learning about the brothers and their moves. When they eat, sleep, or take a shit. What sets them off. What their strengths and weaknesses are. From what I learned, this could go either way. He could kill Sadie as soon as he's out of our range of vision or use her to give him enough time to hop in his car and take off.

"They're gone," I tell him.

Vince slowly backs up toward the door. "Don't fucking follow us, or I'll kill her."

Sadie closes her eyes.

He reaches behind him, twists the doorknob, and pulls Sadie out the door. I move forward, but he wraps his arm around her neck, squeezing her until her face turns red. She wedges her fingers between her throat and his arm, but he doesn't release his hold.

"I said, don't fucking move!"

"Ok." I take a step back, keeping my eyes on Sadie.

As soon as he makes it to the driver's side of a black Escalade, he opens the door, shoves Sadie out of the way, and climbs into his seat.

"Sadie!" I yell in panic and run down the steps.

Vince slams on the gas and flies out onto the road.

DONOVAN

Pure panic overwhelms me as I hear Javi screaming after Shorty and the sound of screeching tires as they peel out onto the road. The urge to run outside, jump in my car, and follow Javi is incredibly strong, and I have to force myself to stay in place.

Sophia hiccups quietly as I pat her back to help settle her breathing.

Cops and emergency personnel fill the house. A female paramedic approaches me with her bright orange bag in hand.

"Are you hurt?" she asks with me with concern in her voice.

"No, we're not hurt." I glance at Sophia. She turns her head to seek the source of the sound.

"My name is Mia," the paramedic says. "Do you mind if I check over your baby?"

I chuckle, causing Sophia to look up at me. Her big round innocent eyes glisten from her tears.

"She's not mine, but she sure as hell feels like it." A grin builds on my face, followed by a low laugh.

Sophia buries her face in my chest and coos. I kiss the top of her head and rub her back soothingly.

Mia gives me a warm smile. "Do I have permission to look her over?"

"Yes," I respond.

I lead her into Sophia's room, and sit on the rocker. Mia checks her over and pats Sophia's back.

"She's going to be just fine." Mia rises to her feet and grabs her bag from the floor. She glances at me and asks, "Do you need anything?"

"Nah, I'm all right."

She nods and walks out of the room.

I could've lost both my girls and my unborn baby tonight. When is this shit ever going to end? I mean, for fuck's sake. We're teenagers. This kind of shit only happens in movies.

I lean down and rub my cheek against Sophia's forehead. "You're going to be ok, and your brother or sister is going to ok, and your mom is going to come back."

I say it as more of a reassurance for myself.

I need her to be ok.

My phone vibrates in my pants. I pull it out and answer without looking at the screen.

"Hello?" I say quietly so as not to disturb the little one.

"Donnie, it's Javi."

My heart stops beating at the emotional tone in his voice.

I shut my eyes. "Please tell me she's ok. Please," I plead with desperation.

Javi sighs heavily. "Yeah," he croaks.

"Thank fuck." I release a breath.

"Donnie, I need you to come to the hospital."

Dread rips through me.

"Wh-why? You said she was ok."

"She is, but…"

There's a slight pause that raises my anxiety.

"Just say it," I grit through my teeth.

"Jo's alive."

What?

How?

No.

There's no fucking way.

No. There's no…"

"And so is Jo's girl, Elisa." I am shocked into silence.

"Donnie, Sadie needs you."

Don't need to tell me twice.

"I'm on my way," I say and end the call.

I'm coming, baby.