Page 10 of Reaping Havoc (Royal Bastards MC Tonopah, NV #21)

I knew the moment something was wrong. The very second that my world crashed around me. I felt the sucker punch to my gut when Nylah’s cry entered my head. She called to me.

No. She called out to the Berserker.

In all our time together, she never once asked for him before me or the Reaper. Panic clawed at my chest as I realized she would never do that unless it was an emergency.

I had taken ten steps outside the hospital room door to speak with my club brothers and share the good news. They slapped my back with congratulations as I watched over my woman and our child. The only people entering or exiting the room were staff.

I never felt anything out of place.

As I ran toward Nylah, I could feel her absence. She felt dark, cold, and empty. Like she’d been snuffed out.

When I entered, I found Nylah on the bed. She wasn’t moving. Her chest barely rose and fell. The stench of harsh chemicals burned the Reaper’s nose. He roared as we realized that someone had heavily drugged her.

She needed help.

I hollered for the staff, nearly losing my shit as I glanced at the bed beside ours. Cameron. I choked on a sob when I saw her pale face—no movement in her chest. No lungs functioning to bring lifesaving oxygen into her body.

Chrome dropped to his knees beside the bed. His cry of anguish rocked me to the core. The shock didn’t end there. No. There was one more blow to come.

I glanced at the little bassinet that should have held my daughter. Her pink dress draped over the side where Nylah had left it when we dressed Gianna to come home.

Empty. The crib was fucking empty .

I saw red. I didn’t know what I was saying or doing as nurses and doctors rushed into the room. There was nothing to do but fight.

But no enemy stood before me.

My club brothers wrestled me from the room as the staff worked to save Nylah and Cameron.

Minutes. Hours. I wasn’t sure how long it took to declare that my daughter had been taken, Nylah and Cameron had been drugged, and someone tried to kill them both.

I raged at the hospital staff, stunned when nurses cried and tried to reassure me that Nylah would live.

Nylah, but not Cameron. She didn’t make it.

My horror and grief nearly stole my ability to function. I ran to Chrome, gripping him as he sobbed out his broken heart loud enough for everyone to hear.

I never felt such pain. Such fucking anguish.

And then rage. Our enemy had infiltrated and stolen from us. My child. Chrome’s ol’ lady. They nearly took my Nylah.

The hospital staff called the police. They showed up, took our statements, and tried to make sense of the unthinkable.

But I wasn’t waiting for the police to find my daughter or the assholes who did this. I would hunt on my own. My Reaper fought to lead, but he couldn’t keep the Berserker at bay.

With my monster in complete control, I cracked my neck. My gaze swept over my club brothers, who all took a step back in deference. Even Grim dipped his chin, acknowledging the demonic being who now stood ready to slaughter those who had wronged his brother, his family, and his club.

He would find our daughter and bring her back to Nylah unharmed.

Grim gestured to the exit. “After you.”

“Who will stay with Chrome?” He couldn’t be left alone. Not now.

“I will,” Shadow offered.

Hannibal, Bones, and Wraith remained at the hospital to ensure nothing else took us by surprise.

I walked to my brother, hugged him close, promised vengeance, and left the building with my brethren at my side. We rode for hours, tracking anything that might lead us to my daughter. Her light, baby powder scent teased my nostrils, but I didn’t find her.

Defeat nearly brought me to my knees. How could I return to my lifeblood without her child? How could I face her when I failed?

I swerved my bike and stopped on the side of the road on Hwy 95. I wasn’t alone. The others joined me, one by one. Engines ceased to rumble, and Reapers gave silent support.

Pain slashed at my body like a killer’s brutal blade. I hadn’t felt this level of agony since my sister Willow’s brutal rape and murder. It stole the breath from my lungs and brought me to my knees. I hunched over, slapping my palms on the desert’s dry sand, nearly retching with bile.

How did I let this happen?

“You didn’t,” Grim growled. “Stop blaming yourself, Rael.”

“I failed her.”

He didn’t understand who I meant. “We’ll get your baby girl back. I swear it.”

“My Nylah,” I choked. “I don’t have our baby to bring home.”

“She’ll understand. You aren’t to blame. We all stood outside that hospital room and didn’t notice our enemy had come so close.”

I shook my head. Excuses didn’t change the truth. “No!” I roared. “Not good enough!”

Grim yanked me to my feet and shoved his face close to mine. “You listen to me, you stubborn asshole. This isn’t just on you. We’re all carrying this burden, Rael. Every one of your brothers is feeling the same guilt, horror, and helplessness. See it for yourself.”

I turned my head, fighting tears as Grim’s words proved true. Every one of my brothers looked miserable. They were fighting this devastation and loss just as heavily as me and Chrome.

Chrome. His Cameron.

Fuck!

I shouted out my frustration, hollering for the fucking one responsible for it. “Lucifer fucking Morningstar! Bring back my daughter and Cameron. I know you can do it, you sick bastard!”

Silence greeted us.

“Of course, you don’t have the balls to show up right now,” I challenged.

Still nothing.

Either Lucifer didn’t care, or he had something else on the agenda. I didn’t give a fuck which one it was, I just wanted him to pay for this. To answer for it. Our Reapers were pissed, and he seemed like the most available target for our fury.

When the silence stretched on, I thought of my boys. My twins. They needed me, and I needed to feel them close, to know they were still breathing and safe.

I didn’t say shit as I hopped on my bike and rode home. Of course, I had an entourage. I parked on the driveway and shut down my bike, holding in the emotion that threatened to consume me.

As I stepped up the stairs on the porch and opened the front door, my boys greeted me.

Gavin and Gage rushed me like they already knew I was coming.

They dressed in Batman capes, rain boots, and held their Nerf guns.

Gage had tied his plastic sword around his waist. Gavin shoved a small white plastic pistol into the top of his underwear.

“Daddy!”

“We can help!”

Good little Reapers , my Reaper thought with pride.

Fierce warriors , my Berserker added.

My chest rumbled with approval as I hugged them tightly against me. It took all the control I possessed not to cry.

“Take us with you, Dadde,” Gavin begged.

“We’ll reap the bad guys!” Gage shouted.

I frowned. The Reaper would hear my thoughts on this later. “You both are so brave. I’m so proud of you.”

“Will our new baby come home soon?”

Gutted. That was how I felt as I struggled to respond.

Grim crouched beside the boys. “Yes,” he replied firmly. “Your mama is not feeling well, so we have to wait a little longer.”

“Should we be brave?” Gavin asked.

“And watch for enemies?” Gage added.

These kids. I touched my chest over my heart. “Such fierce protectors. I love you both.”

Grim watched as I hugged them against me. “Yes. You both be good and listen. I’ll bring Mama and your baby sister home soon.”

Fuck. I needed to keep that promise.

Jigsaw led my boys to the couch so they could put on a movie to watch. When he promised popcorn, they got excited. He nodded to me, and I knew he’d stay with them. They would be alright until I returned.

I left the house, stepping onto the porch as I closed the front door. Grim stood beside me.

“We’ll make this right.” He gripped my shoulder. “For you and Chrome.”

My phone buzzed in my cut, and I pulled it free, answering right away. “Hello?”

The officer in charge of my daughter’s abduction answered. “Hello? Ian Braxton?”

“Yeah?”

“We found your daughter. She’s here at the precinct.”

“On my way!” I shouted, hanging up the phone as I rushed down the steps and to my bike. “They found Gianna!” I whooped as my club brothers cheered.

A small victory, but one I would gladly accept.

When we arrived at the station, a dozen bikes rumbling the ground beneath us, people stopped to stare. I didn’t care what they thought. None of them mattered at the moment.

I just needed to pick up my baby girl and bring her back to Nylah. I had pinned all my hopes on this. When I walked inside, the officer ushered me into the room where a dirty infant car seat rested on an empty desk.

My heart thumped wildly as I approached, but I already knew this wasn’t my child. The smell was wrong. More than that, this baby didn’t have the same puffy pink cheeks or thick dark hair on her head.

A cry tumbled from my lips as I shook my head. “It’s not my baby.”

The officer gasped.

The other one in the room dialed a number, and I heard it ring before Nylah answered. “Yes?”

“I’m sorry to inform you—”

No! “Stop!” I hollered. This wasn’t the way to tell her.

“—that your infant is still missing.”

Nylah’s wail echoed in my head. Devastation. Renewed rage.

Her cries broke my heart as I lunged for the officer.

At this point, I felt like I had nothing to lose and raised my fist, connecting with his nose.

If they arrested me, I wouldn’t give a fuck.