The Message.

The guys snap up and take to the downstairs, as I hold my pistol and stand guard over the babies behind me. I have already blocked off the window with the bookshelf and I have the crib in the corner behind me, so I can watch for intrusion at the door without fearing the window being brushed. I hear doors flying open below and things being searched. I hear the front door open and close. I shiver in fear as I listen and wait. Please let it be nothing. Let my babies and my guys be safe. How would I fight and protect these two behind me? What if I should be subdued or separated from them. I stifle any sobs before they can come out and mask my emotions, ready to figure it all out if I have to. The guys enter the door and I lower my pistol.

"Cia. Somebody set off the alarm. Nothing was opened, but I seen the flower bed was vandalized through the blinds." Holden states. I run to him and hug he and Daddy H.

"Don't go outside yet! Stay here." I beg. What if it's a trap to get them outside or something. They can check the damage later.

"Fine dear. Holden and I will pull cameras and wait a half hour. Then we will go outside to see if anything else was destroyed or anything is missing." He kisses my cheek and pats ny bottom. Holden kisses my lips and leans into the crib to kiss our now awake boys. I change the boys and take them to bed with me to nurse. They coo and watch me as they greedily gulp their milk. I smile at them. To be so little they have such personalities. Holt likes to raise his brows and smirk. He looks almost flirtatious and I can't help but think of Daddy H when he does this. It is fottingbhe inherited the nickname. Ace likes to hide his face and nibble his hands. If you untuck his face he squints at you all judgmental, like you committed crime. I deem this his grandma Norma showing. He is currently half under the boob.

"Get out of there. Stahp eet." I babble at him and pull him back up to eat normally. Holt is trying to flop out on his back and eat so I wrestle him around too. Ace finishes and sprawls out on my arm with a little mustache. I giggle at him and shake my head. Holden pops in and takes him in.

"He's milk drunk! Look at that soul patch and stache." He wipes it away as we grin. "Flavor savor, removal coming up." Holt immediately perks up at his daddy's voice. "Hello there big guy." Holt's little fist wiggles as he watches Holden. "No need for fists son, I come in peace." Holden cowers back as if intimidated and I lose it. Daddy H comes through the door and stands to my side.

"Is he picking on my boys? Hmmm? Is that creep picking on grandpa's boys? There you go Holt! Get that fist up. Kick his ass. And Ace. Boy oh boy. You can't handle your milk. Ha! He looks like he's binged!" Daddy leans over to kiss their heads and stands again.

"Camera shows we got a car tire popped, flowers ripped up and arranged. No vehicle in view, they walked. But you can see towards the drive they dump something out. Its blurry. But I did see the man try the door, camera caught his face. It was Ben."

"Ben?" I ask as Holden nods.

"Yes. We both watched the footage. It was definitely Ben. I can show you."

"I believe you. It makes sense. He was fucking creepy when we last seen him. All 'we aren't over' or whatever speech that was. He was foreshadowing his intended shitstorm. I just can't believe he was stupid enough to come in here starting shit. How did he find us?" I ramble. Fucking 'Been-a-dick' coming here and showing his ass with my kids in here. I can feel steam roll out of my ears. My heart is still thudding from the fear I felt.

"We've waited long enough, we need to check outside. Stay here with the boys mama. We will be back." Holden says as they draw their pistols and head back down. The hair on my arms stand. What did they dump? Why fuck up the flowers of all things? I know he is upset with me, but none of this was really my fault. It all stems from his own damn uncle. But I can't tell him this. I can only tell the story I already have. If I tell more we would have Simon and all his business partners after us too. I sympathize with Ben in a way, I know he poured his heart out to me that Sunday and I did technically spurn his advances, then I disappeared and came back pregnant. He probably thinks I was stringing him along, but he moved on obviously. I told him upfront to see other people. Did I not word it right? Did I lead him on? No. He was probably trying to get me in bed anyways. Those words he said were probably what he uses on every girl. He seemed very rehearsed. I pull out of my thoughts and focus once more on my boys. I don't want to do anything illegal anymore. I want us to wash our hands of this. But God help Ben or anyone else who tries to near my home again. I can't take risks. I can't excuse him. I don't know what he's up to, or what he's trying to pull off here, but if I see him outside or trying to enter he is a dead man. I will take him out with as little remorse as I gave Claire. I'll protect my boys at all costs.

I hear one of the guys coming up. I see it is Daddy when he pops his head in and enters. He pulls me up gently, watching out for the now sleeping boys. He pulls me into him, hands on my hips and holds me. Then he lays by the boys and looks me over.

"I'm going to watch the boys, dear. Holden needs you in the yard. There's, um, Ben dumped a girl there about your age. The flowers he picked up made a trail to her. It's a message Cia. We need to see if you know this girl. Holden thinks it's the girl Ben wanted him to kill."

"They had a deal? Why was I never told there was a deal with Ben?" Daddy shakes his head.

"We will discuss all this later baby girl. Now go." He motions to the door and I drop my head and saunter off. "I love you baby girl. We will fill you in when you come back. I promise you this."

"I love you too." I reply softly from the stairs as I descend. The front door stands wide and I slip out, taking in my uprooted plants and disheveled yard. Goddamn Ben. Dad and my men worked so hard on all this for me. I hesitate near the drive. Breaths. Deep breaths. Breathe. It's horrible, but whoever she is she is already passed. You can't help her. Just go see her, and get justice. I try to talk myself into remaining calm. I see her legs coming into view. I gulp and wet my lips. The moonlight illuminates her skin. This poor woman is naked and bruised. I go to Holden who's by her head and I shriek. +

"LAURA!!"