As soon as Mancini left the room, I looked for a quiet corner to get two minutes downtime. No one has mentioned anything about the stuff we'd learned here today; I guess the boys were still processing the fact that their lives have been changed in a second. I sat with my eyes closed, and my mind going to blank. I'm not thinking about the sh*t Mancini dropped in my lap, not right now, too much to take in at once.The others were still looking into the new case Mancini had mentioned as a distraction, but I'm sure they all pretty much know what the hell is going on there. From the little bit, Mancini had all you have to do is follow the breadcrumbs, which is what I guess he has those two kids doing. As to what the hell was going on there, that too is very obvious. Someone was avenging some sh*t that these nasty f*cks had done to either them or a loved one in the past.I'll just wait for the kids to find out who where and when to get involved. If this person, whoever it is, is just kil

I still have a hard time accepting that I deserve the life he's given me, as grateful as I am. When you've eaten out of dumpsters for a couple of years, it's hard to assimilate that with the fact that you're now wearing a Rolex watch that the man who adopted you as his brother bought you for your eighteenth birthday.Or the fact that the greasy grimy kid who hid from child predators on the street because he'd learned the signs to look out for way too early in his young life was trusted with little babies who were born into a life of excess luxury. My life has been just too confusing from the time I was taken in by them, and it only seems to get better. Best of all, apart from having my sister back in my life and the new family she and Gideon have given me, is this new venture Mancini has drawn me into.It's like giving a starving man a buffet of all his favorite foods. Saving kids from these trafficking assholes is my lifeblood. With what Mancini had shared so far, it looks like he

I listened with half an ear to the men as they talked about their new 'squad' at least that's what Lyon had decided to call it since as he says organization sounds too much like law enforcement and he hates any f*ck that has to do with that f*ckery. His vocabulary is even more colorful than Gideon's, and my brother has got a fine grasp on gutter speak. Mostly I was organizing my moves once we land in my head. I'd already mapped out what needed to be done from the specs Mancini had given me earlier, so it was just a matter of getting there and letting my senses do the rest. There was a certain kind of excitement in the air. One that stems from working with a new crew for the first time and also because this was all new to me, and I have no idea how this person is going to react once found.Usually, when I go on a search and rescue, the kids on the other end are only too glad to see someone who isn't there to hurt them and can't wait to go back home. This person, this stranger, is b

My eyes popped open, and I came instantly awake. Something had awakened me, some sound, what was it? I held still and listened, my heart racing with fear until I remembered that I was no longer the defenseless little girl who'd been awakened many times during the night to face torment and horror.I sat up slowly in the dark and pulled on my shoes with my back to the wall as I listened and peered around in the darkness. Whatever it was had come from outside, there was no one in my direct vicinity, I was sure. Crawling on my hands and knees, I made it to the nearest window, or the place where a window once was I should say since they'd all been long gone.Looking down into the night, I didn't see anything which meant whatever it was might be around the front of the building. From my place on the top floor, I should be able to see fine, but if it was indeed a person out there, they might have a better shot at me from their vantage point since the moon was so high.'Stop borrowing tr

Outside the night air washed over me, and I was able to breathe easy again. Inside the building, her scent had wreaked havoc on my senses, and though it wasn't much better now with me holding her this close, at least the cool air was giving me a break.The SUV slid to a stop in front of me just as I made it to the sidewalk. Creed got out and opened the backdoor, and I slid in, still holding her safely in my arms. I was trying hard not to breathe her in and embarrass myself. "That is definitely a female, look at all that hair."Both men turned in their seats to look. Her hair had come undone during the fight and now covered her face and trailed down to the floor of the vehicle. It was a soft, shiny black that was straight as a pin until the last six or so inches, which had a kind of bouncy wave-like thing going on. "Turn around!" My order startled both of them, but they just laughed and did what I said.I held her possessively not quite comfortable with the closeness of both men i