Page 35 of Sawyer (Sabre Security Daddies #6)

S awyer was just finishing up going through his notes with everyone. It had taken longer than he’d wanted, but they’d come up with a plan. If it worked, Lele’s stepbrother was going away for a very long time. Someone tapped on the door, a soft, tentative knock.

Hutch opened the door and started to say, “Hey, Peaches. How’s the candy making… Georgia? Babygirl, what’s wrong?”

Sawyer’s heart dropped at the tone of Georgia’s voice. It fell even further at Georgia’s tearful voice. “Daddy… I think something may have happened to Lele.”

He spun around and demanded, “What happened?” His words came out harsher than he intended.

Hutch glared at him. “Let’s go up front so all the girls can be with their Daddies.” As he led Georgia from the room, he glared daggers at Sawyer. “And all the Daddies can calm the fuck down.”

When they reached the front of the shop, dread settled in Sawyer's gut. This was going to be bad. He could tell it by the look on every little face. Something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.

He took a step toward Georgia, but Hutch's face warned him away. He couldn't even think straight. Of course, Hutch didn't want Sawyer interrogating his Georgia. With a short, crisp nod, Sawyer backed away.

Turning to his Little girl, Hutch cupped her cheeks in his hands. "Okay, babygirl, tell Daddy what happened."

Worry held Georgia’s body tight. She glanced at Sawyer before returning her gaze to Hutch.

“I don't know, Daddy. We were all just hanging around and talking after we finished making the boozy treats.

We were a little tipsy because we had sampled so much, and we were all being silly.

I don't even remember everything we said.”

“That's okay, babygirl, take a breath. You're doing fine. Just tell us what happened that has you so upset,” Hutch reassured her.

Georgia nodded her head. “Well. Lele was upset because we were all going to get matching tattoos that had the Musketeer era symbol on them.

But she didn't think she could go because she didn't have her crown yet.

I told her we had already planned to induct her into the Musketiaras.

I thought I had brought her crown with me, but I hadn't.

I ran to the counter and looked under it, but it wasn't there.” She looked again at Sawyer.

“I'm sorry I forgot her crown. I really meant to bring it.”

“That's OK, little one.” Sawyer strove to keep his voice calm. “Is that what happened? Did she get upset that she didn't have a crown and run away?”

“No. She didn't run away. Besides, she did have a crown. I gave her mine.”

“So, she had a crown, and she didn't run away.” He looked around the room, hoping he might find her playing hide and seek or something silly. But she was nowhere. Grasping at straws? He asked, “Did she go to the bathroom? Is that why she's in trouble? Did she get a stomachache from all the candy?”

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder. Deke stood beside him, face grave. “I know you're worried, man. I know you're trying to help. But I think maybe we just need to let her tell her story.”

Deke was right. He knew this. But it still took all he could do to keep from punching his brother in the face. He had to get to the bottom of what happened to his little girl so he could fix it. He didn't have time to wait for Georgia to tell her story.

“We had all gathered back together in front of the counter. When a man walked in the door.”

Cold dread fisted around Sawyer's heart, refusing to let go. Barely able to breathe, he still managed to get out, “Deke, go check out the camera feed.”

Deke immediately headed down the hall, but Sawyer didn't need to see the camera feed. He already knew who had walked in the door.

Breezy took over explaining. “We didn't know him, but Breezy said it was her brother, Hector.”

“I tried to tell her not to go,” Lovie said. “We all did. But she said he was her brother and she trusted him.”

Winnie chimed in. “We asked her if we should tell you. She said no. She was worried about interrupting your important meeting. But she told us, she’d be back before anyone missed her.”

“We watched the clock,” Suzi added. “When she wasn't back within the fifteen minutes, Georgia came straight to get you.”

“We weren't sure what to do. I mean, it wasn't like he had to drag her out of here kicking and screaming,” Rory said.

“Oh, no,” Gabby said. “We would have come to find you straight away if there had been kicking and screaming.”

Sawyer's head was swimming. It was like he was in a tragic comedy that wasn't funny at all.

“Looks like we've got more to discuss,” Reid said. “Thank you for coming and getting us. Don't want you to worry about Lele. She’s going to be fine. You girls wait here while we figure out a way to contact Lele’s brother. I'm sure that we will find her and she’ll be back here in no time.”

“Sawyer!” Deke called from the conference room. “Need a word.”

Sawyer's mind was reeling. He had to get his shit together. His Little girl needed him. Because, regardless of what Lele had told the women, Hector had nothing good planned for his half-pint.

When he got to the conference room, he found Deke staring at the computer screen. All his brothers filed in behind him. Without taking his eyes off the screen, Deke asked, “Sawyer, Georgia said Lele didn't have a crown, right?”

Hutch answered before Sawyer could get it out. “No, she said Lele didn’t have a crown, so Georgia gave hers to Lele to wear.”

Deke nodded. “That explains why Lele left the shop wearing one.” He turned to Sawyer. “Lele’s wearing Georgia’s tiara.”

Deke stared at him like that should mean something. Wait. Holy fuck. She was wearing a tiara. “Tell me the trackers we put on all the tiaras after Bliss ran to the other side of the country are still active.”

Deke was bringing up another program on the computer. “They are. I check them the first of every month to be sure.”

Sawyer held his breath until Deke opened the program, and eight tiny dots appeared on the screen.

Seven were clustered together in town. One was headed…

shit. “It looks like he’s taking her to the Graceview Retreat Center.

I don’t know for sure yet, but it looks like he’s taking her to the Society. ”

“The last time we had to get into their compound, we practically had to blow the fucking gate up. That thing is like a fortress. We need to get to her before Hector makes it that far,” Law said.

Sawyer didn’t hesitate. He had to save his Little girl. His brothers exchanged worried looks as he stalked toward the door. They should be worried. But not about him .

“Sawyer,” Reid said, his tone tense. “We had a deal when you came back to Darling. You remember that, right?”

Law and Gage moved to block the door. “Brother, take a breath.” Gage held up a hand.

Reid joined them. It was cute they thought they could stop him. They had no idea what he could do. He’d never wanted them to. But they were not going to keep him from getting to his babygirl before it was too late.

Reid lowered his voice. A tactical maneuver to lessen the tension. It wouldn’t work. “I’ve been where you are. We all have. But we work as a team. We always have. We’re with you, but we need a few minutes to formulate a plan. Something that will save her and you.”

“Get out of my way, Reid, if you don’t want to get hurt.”

“I can see it in your eyes,” Reid answered. “But you don’t have to go dark. That is your past. It doesn’t define you. It doesn’t control you. Not unless you let it.”

Sawyer did not have time for this shit. Lele needed him. “I’m not going to ask again, Reid. Get out of the way.”

Reid held his gaze. Sawyer saw the moment his friend realized the price of stopping him might be too high.

He loved his brothers. He didn’t want to hurt them. He would die for them. But there was only one person he’d kill for, and that was Lele. He would do anything for her, even if it meant going dark again. No one, not even his Sabre brothers, was going to stop him.

Reid dropped his gaze to the floor. Precious seconds passed. Sawyer prayed his friend would make the right call. Finally, Reid lifted his eyes. But when he spoke, it was to Law and Gage who’d been guarding the door.

With a snarl, Reid said, “Let him through.”

Sawyer could see the reluctance in their eyes, but they stepped aside .

With a nod of gratitude, Sawyer ran out of the room. As he made his way down the hall, Reid called after him. “Don’t forget, Sawyer. That deal we made was to protect you as much as it was anyone else.”

As reminders went, that one hit the mark. But protecting himself didn’t matter. Only Lele mattered.

He got in his truck and headed to his house. He had to get to Lele. But first, he had to get the bag.