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Work the next day was slightly tenser. It wasn’t because they knew what we had planned.

It was the possibility of Deon appearing that made the five of us more alert.

Today’s five were me, Alfred, Leon, Dimitri, and Thoryn on the inside.

Outside, I had no clue who was out there.

I knew there was more than one, but Bones said it was best if I concentrated on the inside, and they’d be taking turns guarding throughout the day, so that it would be constantly changing.

Bones informed me on the drive to work that Agony spoke to the Dark Patriots and Gio. Gio verified that Leon was a man he’d trust with his life and that you were golden if he gave you his allegiance, which relieved the men.

The first several people who came and knocked at the door to be let in had made me jump.

Most were regular customers. A new one was referred to us by a regular.

He wanted an appraisal setup at his home for several pieces.

I hated to lie and say that we were booked for the next month.

He agreed to a later date, and I assured him that if something opened up, I’d call.

I hoped we’d resolve the Deon mess quickly, and I could call with a “surprise” opening.

I relaxed as the day passed, and there were no issues. The five of us ate lunch in the back room. Since no one was to leave, we had deli sandwiches delivered. I hoped whoever was outside got to eat.

Glancing at the clock, I saw we had two hours before closing.

I was ready. Today had been wearing on me.

The constant hyper-alertness sucked the energy out of me.

I was sleepy, but roused when there was a knock at the door.

Thoryn and Alfred together went to answer it.

When they opened the door, I saw a brunette who I’d place a handful of years older than me.

She was smiling as they led her to where I stood.

The prospects maintained a decent distance so they wouldn’t hinder the work or make our customers uncomfortable, but they were close enough to keep an eye on me. The woman laughed at something Alfred said. When they reached the desk, I was standing and waiting for them. I gave her my best smile.

“Blythe, this young lady says her name is Tavia.” Alfred made the introduction.

I held out my hand to her. “Hello, Tavia. I’m Blythe, as Alfred said. It’s nice to meet you. What brings you to Treasures?”

“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard from various sources that this is the place if you want to find antiques or need an appraisal.

You have the best quality and prices, and you know your stuff.

I recently inherited my grandmother’s estate, and she had many things I believe are antiques.

I can’t keep them all, so I’d like to put a selection up for sale.

I came to see if I could get you to do an appraisal.

I’m sort of in a time crunch. I’ll be leaving the country for a job and desperately want to finish this before I go.

The job came on suddenly, and they needed me there yesterday. ” She sighed.

“I’d love to be able to help you, but we’re booked solid right at the moment. When do you leave?” I asked. Another person I was lying to. I’d be lucky if my nose didn’t grow to be five feet long.

“I fly out in two weeks.”

I grimaced. “I’m sorry, but we’re looking at it being at least a month unless we have a cancellation. Could someone here please take me to see the items in question if you’re unavailable? Maybe another family member or friend? I would love to help you.”

She grimaced this time and shook her head.

“No, I don’t have anyone. My family is all gone, and my friend, whom I’d trust to do it, is on an extended honeymoon.

She’s gone for six weeks. Isn’t she lucky?

Are you sure that you don’t have any availability?

I’m willing to pay extra. I thought I had plenty of time, and then I got promoted and offered my dream job in London.

I hate to leave items in an unoccupied house for months.

I have no clue when I’ll be back in the States. ”

I felt terrible and wanted to help, but I couldn’t promise her anything. After thinking for several moments and seeing her pleading expression, I sighed.

“I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try. Do you happen to have an idea of how many you want appraised? Pictures? Are they all easily accessible? As you can see, I can’t climb around for them.” I pointed to my belly.

“I have pictures if you’d like to see them,” she offered.

“I would. Please, come back here, and we can sit at my desk and look through them.”

As she came around the desk, she chuckled. “I can see why you wouldn’t be able to climb. Congratulations. Mind if I ask? Is it a boy or a girl? Or do you want to be surprised?”

She and I sat next to each other.

“We had to find out. We want to decorate the nursery. My man is going crazy. We’re having two girls, and he’s gone full girly mode.” I laughed.

“Twins, wow, that’s incredible,” she said.

Tavia took out her phone. My attention was diverted to Alfred. “I’ll be in the back if you need me,” he said.

“I’m good, but thank you.”

Tavia tapped away on her phone. She stopped and gave me an apologetic smile. “Sorry, it’s work. I swear they can’t turn around without me. Where were we? Oh yeah, the pictures. Here they are,” she said.

Two more taps, and she showed me the phone.

The first item was a gorgeous antique desk.

I was entranced. I moved on to the next picture, which she let me study without interrupting.

I was finishing the fifth picture when an incoming text message flashed on the screen. I couldn’t help but see what it said.

“ Grab her, now! ”

A wave of unease swept through me. My eyes came up, and I met her gaze.

The sweet, friendly woman was gone. In her place was a cold, heartless bitch.

I didn’t have time to scream for help or anything.

The next thing I knew, she was up and behind my chair, and I felt something small and hard press into my side.

Terror hit me when she barked out her command.

“I want all of you to put your hands on your heads. No one tries anything stupid. If you do, I’ll shoot her dead.

I either get out of here unscathed with her and those babies, or I get out with them dead.

Either way, I intend to walk away. Anyone attempting to signal outside help, she’s dead.

I’m not afraid to kill every last one of you.

You’ve been nothing but a pain since this bitch screwed up things for us. ”

Thoryn, Leon, and Alfred did as she demanded.

I could see their fury at being caught unaware.

I didn’t blame them. I was the same. None of us thought of a woman being involved in something this disgusting.

However, I didn’t see Dimitri. Had he left and I not known?

Or was he somewhere in the store and would be able to rescue us?

I sent up a prayer that he would. The guys didn’t give any indication that there was anyone else in the store.

“Now, back up slowly until your backs are against that wall. Then I want you to scoot down and sit. Cross your ankles,” she ordered.

They did it, though Alfred struggled to do it without his hands.

When they were seated, she yanked back my chair.

“You thought you were so smart and safe. Running to those bikers and then having them place guards in the store and outside it. Not as smart as you thought, are you, Blythe? I’ve been waiting for months for you to pop this kid out.

No one is fucking this payday up,” she hissed.

“Why do you care? It’s Deon who’ll be making the money, not you. What did he promise you, a cut?” I asked.

“Stand up. On your feet,” she snapped.

I rose shakily.

“You’re wrong. Deon and I are a team. He lures you stupid bitches in with kindness and sweet words.

He does the deed until he knocks you up.

Then, all it takes is to keep you hooked until the kid comes.

Sometimes, he has to isolate you from friends and coworkers, which he did with you.

But you just had to go and run off after he gave you an attitude adjustment.

We didn’t know you knew anyone at a motorcycle club,” she hissed.

“And what’s your part? It sounds like he does the work,” Leon said.

“Shut up! I do plenty. I help find the buyers and set up the deals. I have the connections. However, you may just make it up to us, Blythe. Twins are unexpected and will bring us a double payday.” She laughed.

“You’re a woman. Why would you do this to another woman?” I asked.

“Easy. Why shouldn’t I be rich? And we’re helping people by getting them children when they otherwise wouldn’t be able to have them. We’re doing a civic duty.”

“You’re sick fuckers, is what you are,” Thoryn growled in disgust.

“You shut up, too.”

“So the two of you are partners in this. What about the moms? They surely don’t just allow you to do this,” I asked.

I was scared but had enough sense to ask her for information.

I was confident that Bones and the club would somehow rescue me, now or later.

I refused to imagine that the monsters would win.

It might’ve been stupid of me, but it was the only way to stay sane.

She sneered. I was off to the side so I could see her face.

Tavia, if that was her name, rolled her eyes.

“Of course, the dumb bitches don’t allow it.

Do you think we’re stupid? We can’t chance them going to the cops.

When they drop those brats, we whisk the babies off to be with their new parents.

As for their moms, we have friends who pay us a pretty penny for them.

The whorehouses south of the border always need new meat.

Their customers and owners seem to be hard on them. They don’t last long.” She cackled.

My fear was seeping away to be replaced by fury.

She was a sociopath who felt nothing for anyone.

Movement behind and off to the side of her caught my eye.

I didn’t know how I did it, but I didn’t react.

It was Dimitri. He was sneaking up on us.

I knew I had to ensure she didn’t turn his way and spoil it.

And I had to get myself out of the line of fire.

She wasn’t digging the gun into my side anymore, but it was hovering close.

“Oh, oh God,” I moaned as I clutched my stomach and bent forward.

“What’s wrong?” she snapped.

“I-I don’t know. Pain, pain in my stomach. God, please, I can’t be losing them,” I cried as I panted. I remembered what the pain was like before and relived it. I stumbled a few steps forward and made gagging sounds like I was about to puke.

“Stop it!” she cried.

“I can’t!” I screamed and moaned as if I were in agony.

Needing to get lower, I let myself drop to my knees as if I were collapsing.

It hurt my knees like a bitch, but it got me below the gun.

Tavia had no clue what to do, and she was panicking.

The next thing I knew, Dimitri lunged for her, grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the gun, and squeezed, causing her to scream in pain.

Her fingers opened, dropping the gun. In a flash, Leon was on his feet and over to them.

He picked up the gun, then grabbed her by the throat.

I thought he was choking her to death, but he let go as soon as she passed out.

“Hurry, find me something to tie her up with, Dimitri. Thoryn, help Blythe up. Alfred, are you alright?” Leon asked.

“I’m fine. Just not as spry as I was. Let us help you up,” Alfred said as he and Thoryn approached me. I thankfully accepted their hands. I was effortlessly hauled to my feet.

“Are you alright? Do you need an ambulance?” Thoryn asked anxiously.

“No, other than sore knees, I’m good. I was faking it,” I told him with a smile.

“Nice job. You had me convinced. Is there something else I need to do? If not, I need to let Bones know what happened. If we don’t, he’ll kill us,” Thoryn said.

“No, Dimitri and I have this bitch. You let them know, but tell them not to come running in. We’ll take her out the back and put her in Alfred’s trunk.

He’ll drive her out of town to the compound.

It would be great if some guys would meet and escort him once he’s away from here.

The rest of us will stay and act like nothing happened,” Leon said.

And just like that, we went into action.

My head was whirling with the implications of what could’ve happened and what this meant.

We had Deon’s co-conspirator. Surely, if she didn’t leave the store, they’d wonder what happened to her and why she never came back.

Were they watching somewhere outside? Or was she to get me away from here and take me to them?

So many what-ifs. I wanted this to be over with, but the night was just getting started.

I wondered what more we’d learn and how upset Bones would be that she had gotten close enough almost to take me.