The instant we walked into the house, my body went on high alert. I couldn’t see or hear anything, but I sensed something wasn’t right.
I drew my pistol and moved them away from the door. My eyes never stopped scanning. “Call John and wait here.” I ordered.
Pride filled my heart as I watched Ashley take a protective stance in front of her grandmother despite her hands shaking as she pulled her phone out of her back pocket.
So fucking brave.
The tremor in her voice as she asked for John pierced my heart like Robinhood’s arrow. “John’s not available,” she whispered.
We didn’t have time for a game of telephone, so I grabbed her phone. Keeping my voice low, I said, “This is Bravo One. I need backup at Flirty’s. Send anyone you can.”
As soon as Meg confirmed, I disconnected the call. “Sorry,” I apologized as I handed back her phone.
Thankfully, being in a small town meant it only took a minute before Cate called my cell. “We’re here. What do you need us to do?”
“Clear the back.”
“Clear the back. We’re on it.”
“Bravo Three, be discreet.”
“Roger that.”
Using our phones instead of comms wasn’t ideal for stealth, but they were all we had.
Before they finished, the rest of SSI arrived. John called for an update and then organized the Sierra team. We kept the line open, so I heard him order Jamie and Doug to cover the front.
I added Jay to the call and ordered him and Cate to stay out back and cover the door.
No one would enter or exit the house without us seeing them.
John, Jack, and AJ would help me clear the inside.
The first thing John did was hug a trembling Violet. “I’ve got them,” he said, releasing us to clear the house.
“I’m on point,” I said. If the person terrorizing Ashley and Violet needed shooting, I wanted to be the one pulling the trigger.
For their sake, I prayed the asshole was long gone.
I transitioned to operator mode and signaled to the hall. Jack and AJ drew their guns, lined up behind me, and signaled they were ready.
We searched the bedrooms and bath.
No one.
The last room we needed to clear was the kitchen.
I held up my hand to stop forward motion and pointed.
“Fuck,” Jack said behind me.
“Gloves?” I asked.
The black rose petals scattered around the blood stain could be dealt with later. First, I needed to check the mangled, blood-covered mound of black fur on the floor because we hadn’t seen Prince yet.
Jack pressed two blue gloves into my right hand. I holstered my gun, snapped on the gloves, and, avoiding the blood drops, dropped to one knee. The closer I got, the faster my breath came. “Snap some photos,” I ordered, wanting documentation before touching the bloody mass.
“Done.” AJ’s response was half growl.
