Page 61 of Raven

“They believe one was a family member who thought they could hold them for ransom. They found him dead thirty minutes ago.”

“What did he die from?” I asked.

“A bullet to the back of his head. And it wasn’t today, the police said he must have been shot three or more days ago. His body was dumped today, in the park,” the captain said.

“So the killer didn’t leave him in the apartment to burn. Isn’t that strange? He could have left him in the apartment. God, that sounds horrible,” I shook my head, so much death.

I looked at the captain. “I think we need to have guards on those children. What if that guy goes to the hospital? I’m calling River,” I said, picking up my phone.

I explained what had happened, and River said he would have someone at the hospital in ten minutes. “They’ll have guards within ten minutes.”

I glanced at everyone. Their faces were tense, marked with the grime of smoke and sweat, but behind the exhaustion was a quiet pride. We’d saved lives today. Mandy had saved lives today.

I sat down heavily on the bench by my locker. My hands were shaking. Not from fear exactly—more from adrenaline that hadn’t yet found a place to land. Raven would have known how to talk me down, would have taken my hand and said something steady, something that made the chaos feel manageable. But he wasn’t here. And I had to be strong on my own.

Again.

“You okay?” my brother asked as he handed me a bottle of water.

I nodded and gave him a half-smile. “Yeah. I’m good. Just... thinking.”

“About Mandy? Are you still scared she ran into that burning building? Like I was when you ran into it behind her.” His face were tense, marked with the grime of smoke and sweat, but behind the exhaustion was a quiet pride. We’d saved lives today. Mandy had saved lives today.

“It's about Mandy. About those babies. About how close we came to not hearing them.” I reached down and scratched behind Mandy’s ears. She leaned into my touch like she knew I needed it more than she did.

I couldn’t shake the thought of that apartment. The smoke, the flames licking at the ceiling, the cries we wouldn’t have heard if it weren’t for her. And those kids—how long had they been missing? What had they gone through before we showed up?

And the man who died. A bullet to the heart. Dumped in the park like trash. Someone had taken justice into their own hands... or perhaps it was part of something bigger and darker. I’m sure he had to be part of the kidnapping. I wasn’t sure what scared me more—the fire, the kidnapping, or the fact that someone was out there knowing those two little kids could recognize him.

I stood up, wiping my hands on my pants. “I’m going to the hospital,” I said out loud. “I want to see the kids for myself.”

My brother nodded. “We’ll keep things locked down here. Be careful.”

“I always am,” I lied, then kissed Mandy’s head. “You coming, girl?”

She leapt to her feet like she’d been waiting for the invitation. Mike whined from his spot near the wall, but he stayed. He knew the drill. He was way too hyper for the hospital.

The drive to the hospital felt longer than it should have. I kept glancing in the rearview mirror, half-expecting someone to tail me. Paranoia or instinct—I wasn’t sure anymore.

When I arrived at the hospital, I presented my ID and was promptly directed to the children’s room. Mandy walked by my side. Tag and Gage were already stationed outside, just like River promised. I explained to them what happened.

The room was quiet and dimly lit. A nurse looked up from her chart and smiled softly. “They’re sleeping, poor babies they are stable. A little dehydrated, but they’ll be okay.”

I stood at the window, looking in at those two tiny bodies. I didn’t even know their names. But I already felt this fierce, protective tug in my chest. No one was going to hurt them again. Not on my watch. Mandy lay down next to the bed, guarding the children.

Maybe I wasn’t as strong as Raven. Perhaps I didn’t have his training or his ability to remain calm under pressure. But I had this fire in me now. A need to protect. A need to fight back.

If whoever took those kids and whoever killed their captors are still out there, they’ll come looking again.

And when they do... I’ll be ready. I talked to Tag and Gage, and I expressed my concern about how scared I was that a man was going to try to end these little ones' lives.

Tag took my hand. “You get some rest for the next time you're called out on an emergency. If anyone shows up here, they won’t get anywhere near those kids. We’ll make sure of that.”

“I’ll rest in the kids' room. I want to be here in case they get scared.”

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Raven

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