“Huh?”Jasper said—not very brilliant but it was the only word his stunned brain could come up with.
“I have your sister and niece.If you don’t get your ass moving, I’ll call my partner and have the brat shot!”
Jasper blinked.The guy was wearing oversized glasses and a hideous wig, but that voice—and the threat—made Jasper look closer.
“Mark Sinstack?”he asked, stunned.“What the hell are you doing?”
“Move!”Mark snapped, jabbing something hard into Jasper’s side.
Jasper started walking, glancing toward the house.The view was blocked by thick trees, and he couldn’t see any of the guards from here.
Then the weight of Mark’s threat hit him—and fury surged through his veins.
He spun around and grabbed the man’s sweater.“Where’s my sister?”he growled.“If you’ve hurt Jayla, I swear to God—!”
“I’m the one with the gun!”Mark barked, shoving it harder into Jasper’s ribs.
Jasper didn’t flinch.“So shoot me!But you’re not using me to get to them.”
“Jasper!”a voice screamed.
Both men turned as Jemma bolted out of the house, a swarm of bodyguards on her heels.
Mark’s grip on the pistol loosened for a second.Jasper barely noticed—he was too angry, too focused.
“Where is Jayla?!”he shouted again, jerking the man forward by his sweater.
“Who the hell is—”
But he didn’t finish the sentence.
Jemma shoved Jasper aside and, in one swift, practiced motion, drove her knee into Mark’s groin.
The man dropped with a strangled grunt, the gun clattering to the sidewalk.
Saif was right behind her, guards fanning out around them.
“Jemma!Jasper!Are you okay?”he asked, reaching for Jasper first, his hands moving quickly, checking for injuries.“Did he hurt you?What did he say?”
“He said he had Jayla,” Jasper blurted out.
The guards froze.
But Jemma shook her head.“No.Jayla’s in her bassinet.I had just put her down when I saw you from the upstairs window.”She cupped Jasper’s face, eyes scanning him.“Did he touch you?Are you hurt?”
Jasper shook his head.“No.Just tried to get me to go with him.”
“Your Highnesses,” one of the guards said urgently, “we need to get you inside.Now.”
Jasper turned his head to watch as another guard handcuffed Mark, who was now groaning on the pavement.
“What the hell did he want?”he asked.
“I don’t know,” Jemma whispered, her arms wrapped tightly around her brother.
“I’m okay,” Jasper reassured her, hugging her back.“Really.He didn’t do anything—he just tried to scare me.”
“Why?”
