She froze and stared at me, like a deer in the headlights, while I hid behind my fucking coffee mug. "I do."

  My heart took off like a rocket. "Cool. You'll make a great mom." Where the fuck did that come from? Why didn't I just tell her I wanted my baby growing inside her?

  "How about you? Are there tea parties and blanket forts in your future?" She turned away, back to the stove, but not before I spotted the fear on her face. Was she afraid I wouldn't want babies with her?

  Another sip of coffee gave me a few extra seconds to consider how to word it. "I never even fucking considered the possibility of kids. I'm not exactly the carpool type, after all. But then something changed a couple months ago." A little more coffee. "Now? Yeah, I definitely want kids."

  She brought a big dish of scrambled eggs over to the table. "What changed?"

  I stole a piece of bacon from the plate Chancey brought over, and took my time eating it, before I answered. "I met you."

  "Oh, God, Sarah, that's so romantic! If you don't want him, I'll take him." Chancey winked at me. "Okay, not really, but if there are any like him back home, I'm in the market."

  I couldn't help but laugh. "There's actually a few like me back in Kentucky. Be careful what you wish for, though. None of the Hell Raiders are easy to get along with."

  Both of the women sat down, Sarah beside me, and Chancey across the table from us. Chancey asked questions about the Raiders, and Sarah told her about those she met when we were there for Fabio. The delicious food kept me too fucking busy to talk, so I just observed while they chatted.

  Full to bursting, I reluctantly pushed my plate back. "That was really good, Chancey. Thanks."

  Sarah added her praise for the food, and offered to help clean up, but Chancey refused. "I've got it, hun. You guys go have some fun together."

  "It'll only take five minutes if we work together. Then you would have a little time to rest." Sarah stood and started stacking plates, undeterred by Chancey's protests.

  Yet another thing I liked about Sarah. Her kindness and consideration for others seemed as natural as her blonde hair. "While you're doing that, I'm going to go out and stretch my legs a little." I needed to take a close fucking look around the place while I had the chance. If Runner got in easily, anyone else could, too.

  Sarah sent me a little smile over her shoulder. "Don't get lost."

  "Not a fucking chance, babe. Gotta get back to my woman."

  Outside, everything around the front offered a good line of sight all the way out to the road. Around the side of the house, I found a different story, though. The big place rambled, obviously added onto multiple times in its history, and several odd angles and corners turned into ideal hiding places for prowlers.

  At the back was even worse. Some kind of fucking big flowery bushes were up against the house. A whole goddamn army could hide in those things. A little patch of overgrown woods also crowded up close to one corner, providing yet another way for attackers to get close. I hoped to fuck she had some kind of cameras concealed, but I couldn't find a single one, so I seriously doubted it. Totally fucking unimpressed by the possible defenses of the house, I went back inside.

  Sarah met me as she came out of the kitchen. "I'm ready, whenever you are." She leaned up a little to accept my kiss.

  The ride out to Betty Blue's turned into a sort of transition between the world of reality, where we had to deal with Sennit, and that of being absorbed in each other. I fucking preferred the one where I could focus everything on Sarah. The sooner I eliminated Sennit from the face of the Earth, the better.

  Runner came out as I started to park the SUV, and approached. "Fergus wants us to take care of this part at his house. Better if there's no attention brought to this place, or the Walkers, so no one can connect her to us."

  I considered for a moment. If Sennit happened to have a line on where Sarah had gone, he could already have someone watching us. If the girl we were sending in were seen with us, or in the same place as us, it could turn into a fucking disaster. "Okay, that makes sense."

  "I'll ride out with you, make sure you don't get lost." He climbed in the back seat. "Take a left out of the lot and make a left at the third light."

  We left the town behind quickly, and the rural road we ended up on seemed entirely abandoned, at least for the time. "It always this fucking quiet out here?"

  "Usually. Fergus controls all traffic on this road, from the last turn. Anyone not authorized would have been turned back there. That's how he can be certain no one connects any of us with the girl." He directed me through two more turns, onto smaller and more rural roads, until I took a right onto a lane that consisted of a pair of dirt tracks along a thin tree line.

  The house, when it appeared, came as a bit of a surprise. I didn't know what I expected, but it sure as fuck wasn't what I found. The squat structure blended into the landscape almost seamlessly. Unpainted wood had weathered to a near-exact match to the broad open field surrounding it. The place looked like a stiff breeze would fucking blow it into next week.

  "Pull in under the shed. He don't want cars or anything else to be visible from the air. Place is meant to look abandoned, and it mostly is. Only gets used a couple times a year."

  I followed directions, silently admiring the forethought that had gone into the meeting. Fergus clearly knew the vulnerabilities of his surroundings. A few minutes later, Runner led us into a surprisingly nice living room, where Fergus waited.

  Sarah:

  Fergus showed us into what could have been a living room in any nice home in the country. I clung to Crank's arm a little, because even though everything was clean and tasteful, a big part of me remembered that feral look in Fergus' eyes when we first met him. He wore the airs of civility, but deep down, his true nature sat watching for any opportunity. I didn't want to be anywhere in the vicinity when that came out.

  "Crank, Runner, have a seat." He cast a predatory glance in my direction. "Lanea is waiting for you in the kitchen." And just like that, he dismissed me and sat at a table, indicating Crank and Runner should sit with him.

  I tried to keep my hand from shaking as Crank grasped my fingers. He sat, tugging me into his lap. "Actually, if it's all the same to you, Fergus, I'd rather Sarah and the girl be included in our talks, too. Sarah has very real concerns for her safety, and she'd feel better hearing what we plan to do to make sure this comes off successfully."

  A faint hint of annoyance flashed over Fergus' face, concealed so quickly I thought I might have imagined it. "Of course. We wouldn't want your woman to worry." Even I recognized the dig at Crank's masculinity in the tone. "Lanea. Come in here."

  Crank grunted. "Considering I intend to hold onto my woman, and not lose her to some fag preacher, I don't want her worried either."

  Whatever that statement meant, the impact on Fergus was clearly visible. "Point taken."

  A slim girl of about fourteen came in and stopped beside Fergus' chair. "Yes, Uncle." Shining black hair swung loose to her waist, accentuating delicate bronze features.

  "Lanea, these are the people I told you about. The woman works with the man who hurt your cousin. She's worried about you."

  Startling gold eyes flashed to me. "No worries. I get the cocksucker that hurt Runner, I cut his balls off and nail them to the wall." A small, wicked-looking blade appeared from between her fingers. "He won't know what hit him."

  Crank must have picked up on my shock. "How old are you, Lanea? Because you don't look fucking old enough to even be jail bait."

  She glared at him for a second. "Twenty-two, but it doesn't matter. I would go anyway. This is family vengeance."

  I stiffened my spine and prepared to deal with her like I would any other rebellious girl I encountered at work. "It might be vengeance for you, Lanea, but it's much more than that to a lot of kids. Sennit isn't doing this alone. We need names and information to get them all. Otherwise, he'll just be replaced, and nothing will change. If you can't work with the rules we lay out, we'll find someone else."

  Her knowing smirk turned my stomach. "Don't pretend with me, lady. Fergus told me you work with that bastard, saw him doing this to kids. Why you suddenly want to help?"

  A deep breath helped me stay in control of my anger. "Maybe I'm stupid, but until a few weeks ago, I never suspected he could be doing anything like this. Then I thought corruption, taking kickbacks for placing kids in certain homes, was the worst. If a girl hadn't told me what he did to her, I might never have looked further."

  "Yeah, you are stupid as fuck. You give a man power over women and children, those weaker than him, and he will abuse it."

  "Men don't hold a monopoly on abuse." Another deep breath. Arguing with her was counterproductive. "Can you follow the rules Crank and I give you?"

  She rounded the table to sit beside Runner. "I can. You tell me what you need me to do, and I'll do it."

  Runner laid a gentle hand on her arm. "Your word, Lanea. I don't want you getting hurt for taking stupid chances."

  Lanea lowered her eyelids and her mouth tightened for a second. "My word. I will do as you say." When she looked back up at him, her eyes glowed with the sort of adoration a young girl might give a big brother. She would go to any lengths for him, including staying within the limits set for her.

  Crank smoothed one hand along my back, easing a little of the tightness there. "Last night, your file went into the system. We don't have a lot of time to prepare you here. Someone could already be looking at the case now."

  Runner nodded. "I have someone at the address we discussed. Since Lanea won't be at school where they can reach her, the caseworker will have to make contact there."

  "Perfect." I gave a quick overview of what she could expect from the initial visit, and Runner filled in some details for her. "Now for the rules."

  Lanea rolled her eyes. "I was hoping you would forget that part."

  "Not a chance, girl." Runner squeezed her arm a little. "First, you'll be wired up. Someone will be watching and listening all the time in case there's trouble. You will also keep your little blades, but only use them if there's no alternative."

  Blades? Something told me I didn't want to know, so I kept my mouth shut. Instead, I listened as Crank went over her background story with her. Within an hour, Fergus and Crank seemed satisfied, and we climbed back into the SUV with Lanea, and went back to the Bed and Breakfast.

  Just before we arrived, Crank pulled into a gas station lot, and got out, followed by Runner and Lanea, while signaling me to stay in the car. Lanea went with a middle-aged woman wearing too much makeup and too few clothes in a beat-up car.

  "Where is she going?"

  Crank gave me a serious stare as he climbed back in the driver's seat. "We can't very well be seen anywhere near her. That lady will drop her off at the address we gave for her in the file. Everything there is already in place. For now, we go get a little rest, then check out after dark, and head back to your neck of the woods."

  "We're supposed to just wait? And rest?" Impatience came through loud and clear in my tone.

  "Yes, we are. Right now, doing anything else will only endanger Lanea."

  That cut right through my objections. "Okay." I might not like her, but I certainly didn't wish any harm on the girl.

  He drove us back to Chancey's house, and I started inside while he followed with Runner, the two of them chatting quietly. A harsh cry met my ears as I stepped up on the porch, and I froze, terrified.

  Crank noticed my fear immediately. His breath warmed my neck as he spoke low in my ear. "Go back to the car and get behind the wheel. You hear shots, you get out of here fast and don't stop for anything."

  I nodded, even though I wanted to go straight to Chancey and help her. The rule-abiding part of me took over and I complied with his orders, while he and Runner started inside the house, guns drawn.

  The guns did it. Shocked me out of any complacence I might have had. Somewhere in that house, a woman I considered a friend was in trouble of some kind. I had to do anything I could to help her. I sprinted back for the house, coming in the door in time to see Crank's back disappear through the door to the kitchen.

  Another cry, more agonized than the first, came from that direction.

  "Aw, fuck! Runner, get Sarah in here now!"

  Crank's words spurred me onward. "I'm here. What?" I pushed past Runner and into the kitchen.

  Chancey lay on the floor, in something like a fetal position as she gasped for air.

  I flew to her side. "It's okay, Chancey, we're here now." I pushed her hair back and tried to soothe her. "Just keep breathing, honey." Vaguely, I realized Crank and Runner were turning her slightly.

  "Keep talking to her, Sarah. The baby is coming now." Runner's low voice was probably intended to calm me, but it backfired.

  "What do you mean, now? It's early. Call the ambulance."

  "No time. Crank, I need towels." Just like that, Runner took over. "Talk to her, Sarah, help her calm down and breathe."

  Chancey's shrieks of pain terrified me, but I pulled myself together. "Listen to me, Chancey, you're going to be just fine. Help is on the way. Now I need you to breathe, okay?" I just prayed the help arrived in time. I had no clue how to help anyone have a baby.

  Chancey nodded a little, and gripped my hand hard. Crank returned with towels and dropped to his knees at her other side.

  Runner spread a towel and helped Chancey raise her legs. "The two of you, hook your elbow under her knee and pull up toward her chest to give her leverage. Keep hold of her hands, too." He pulled her clothing out of the way. "Okay, Chancey, the baby is crowning. With the next contraction, push like hell."

  I fought to help provide leverage as Chancey struggled to bring the baby into the world. Finally, with one last shriek, she collapsed back.

  "Good. Perfect baby girl." Runner jostled the wet, bloody infant around, rubbing her roughly with a towel.

  The tiny red face screwed up and a plaintive wail came out.

  "Oh, my God! Chancey, you did it!" The incredible event I had just witnessed nearly overcame me. Tears flowed as I watched Runner lay the baby on Chancey's belly, while sirens cut through the suddenly quiet afternoon.

  The next few minutes passed in a blur as the paramedics came in, rushed to take Chancey's and the baby's vitals, and loaded them onto a stretcher.

  "Wait!" Chancey stopped them before they could wheel her out the door. She turned, until she found Runner and raised a shaking hand to reach for him. "Thank you. I was so scared."

  "I am honored to help." He squeezed her hand. "If it's okay, I'd like to come visit you in the hospital."

  Chancey nodded as the paramedics insisted they had to get moving.

  In the quiet that followed, Runner washed up, while I cleaned the floor and put all the towels in to wash. Crank said something about needing some air, and went outside.

  "Where's her man?" Runner's question startled me out of my jittery mood.

  "She's single, and the baby is her sister's. Why?"

  He shrugged. "Just wondering. A woman that far gone shouldn't be out here all alone. She'd have been in trouble if we didn't show up when we did."

  "It wasn't supposed to come for a couple more weeks." For some reason, I felt like I owed him an explanation. "I'm sure she wouldn't have been alone if she realized it was coming so soon."

  He gave another enigmatic shrug. "Babies come when they want to. Doesn't matter if they are human or animal. When they're done, they come out. She wasn't prepared to handle the birth herself, and her phone was nowhere to be seen. It could have gone badly."

  The words raised questions in my mind. "How do you know about delivering babies?"

  A rare grin flashed. "That was my first human one. But I've helped cats, dogs, a few cows, a lot of horses, and a pet rat."

  I couldn't help but laugh. "You helped a pet rat have babies?"

  He nodded. "It was Lanea's pet. First litter, and she couldn't seem to get it all done by herself. Lanea was scared. I was there, so I helped her." The simplicity of his words showed more about how much he cared for his cousin than anything else he could have said. "Ten little pink pups and one tired momma rat made it just fine."

  Despite the circumstances under which we met, I had to admit, Runner was a good man. I said a little prayer for him to find peace as we brought Sennit to justice.

  Crank:

  Watching that kid come into the world was a serious mind-fuck. Earlier, I realized I wanted to put my baby in Sarah's belly, but now I knew what the coming out part entailed, I wasn't so sure. Could I watch her go through that? Or worse, take the risk of not being there for her when the time came? I sat out there on the porch, lost in thought, for a long time before Runner came out to join me.

  "You doing okay, man? That shit was intense."

  I tossed my cigarette butt over the porch rail. "Yeah, I never really thought about it before, you know? Ol' ladies get knocked up, kids come out, all's right with the fucking world."

  "At least neither one of us passed out." He laughed a little. "Two Case hit the floor like a brick when his kid came out."

  "Shit, I can see that fucking happening to me." Nothing much bothered me usually, whether it was moving a corpse or torturing a fucker, but that right there was entirely fucking in a different world.

  Sarah came out on the porch before I could think any more about it. "Do you think we could go over to the hospital? Chancey left so fast, she didn't get a chance to take anything with her. She'll want some clothes and stuff."

  Made sense. "Yeah, okay."

  Runner straightened in his chair. "Actually, if you get the stuff together, I can take it to her. I was planning to stop by anyway."

  Sarah lifted an eyebrow just a little, but didn't argue. "Sure. It'll only take me a few minutes." She disappeared back inside.

  "Thanks. I have to admit I was kind of dreading going over there." The thought of seeing Chancey again so soon after watching her push that kid out of her body got to me.

 

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