Page 234 of Deadly Sweet

“It’s over.” I run my fingers down Athena’s hair. It’s so soft. “It’s all over. He’s gone. He won’t ever hurt us again. We’re free.” I laugh softly. “You hear that, baby girl? We’re free. He didn’t take you away from me. I’ve got you back, and I won’t ever let you go.”

“She’s covered in blood,” Jake’s choked voice sounds, but I don’t look up.

Blood?Am I? I can’t tell, it’s too dark in here.

“She’s not all there,” Walker says, voice shaky. “She’s having some sort of breakdown.”

“No, I’m not.” I snort out a laugh. “I’m fine. I’ve never been more fine in my life. How couldn’t I be? I have my baby back.” I look up at them with a big smile. “My baby never died. She was here all along.”

I don’t like how they’re looking at me, like I’ve lost my mind. I haven’t lost my mind.

“You’ve had a long night. How about you give Athena over to Jake so I can help you shower and get you changed into something more comfortable,” Walker offers in a soft tone as he walks towards me.

I frown, holding the baby tighter. “No.” I shake my head. “I just got her back. You can’t take her from me.”

“I’d never take her away from you, baby. Never. She can come snuggle with us when you’re done with your shower.” Walker lifts her away from me, and as soon as she’s out of my arms, I panic.

“No. Give her back. Please, give her back,” I beg as he walks away from me.Why is he looking at me like that!

“Shhh.” Jake wraps his arms around me. “It’s okay. Everything is okay.”

“No.” I struggle in Jake’s hold. “Give me my baby back. That's my baby!” I start to sob. I fight against his hold with everything I have in me, but he’s strong. “Give her back! Give me back my baby. That's my baby! You can’t take her from me. I won’t let you!”

Walker takes Athena out of the room, and a heart-wrenching sob leaves my chest.

I can’t lose my baby. Not again. I won’t survive.

I fall to my knees as deep, heavy sobs leave my chest. Jake sits on the ground with me and holds me tight. He rocks me, mumbling sweet things in my ear as I cry.

His purring, the motion of his rocking, and the exhaustion of everything overpowers me, and I pass out.

Caleb

The back of the vanopens, and two men drag Leroy and me out. Setting us on our feet, they take off the restraints and gags.

“What the fuck?!” I roar when I see my sister standing there with her Omega at her side.

“I’m sorry, but Savannah didn’t want to risk losing you. And neither did I.”

“I’m a fucking cop! I’m trained for this shit,” I growl.

“And I was in the fucking military!” Leroy snaps. “We would have been fine.”

“That might have been so, but I was pressed for time, and I wasn't going to argue with my best friend. Look. It’s all over now, okay? Everyone is fine. We all made it out alive. Well, everyone who mattered.”

“Where is Savannah?” I demand, looking around, but not spotting her anywhere.

My sister gives Lucy a look, and my gut sinks.

“You said everyone was fine,” I snarl.

“She is fine... okay, notfinebut alive.”

“What does that mean?” I growl. “Where is my Omega?”

“We found Savannah with Corbin. She wasn’t in good shape,” Daphne confesses.

“He hurt her?” I’d fucking kill him myself if he wasn’talready dead.

---