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Sloan cursed as he got up from the kid. “You’re damn lucky that pipe didn’t connect to my head.”

“Yeah, well I was trying to save my ass.” He rose onto his elbows looking from Sloan back to Jared and Ronan. “Are you guys Warriors?”

Jared's phone vibrated before any of them could answer. He pulled it from his pocket, glanced at the screen, then looked at Sloan.

"It's Sid. He's been trying to get ahold of you." Jared frowned as he read the text. "He said you need to get back to the compound. Now."

"Shit." Sloan pulled out his phone, cursing when all he found were Sid's messages telling him to get his ass back to the compound. "Bring him in and call Adam. I want to know everything this kid knows."

He didn't wait for a response. Taking off at a dead run, he passed his bike without so much as looking at it. It would only slow him down. By the time he cleared the compound wall with one effortless leap, every nightmare imaginable had taken hold. He'd seen too much over the centuries not to know how quickly life could change. His worry for Becky had tripled on his way there.

He burst through the front door without bothering with the security code, his eyes instantly sweeping the entryway.

Empty.

His gut tightened.

He headed straight for the office Dawn had been using, throwing the door open hard enough for it to slam against the wall. The room was empty.

"Fuck."

Spinning around, Sloan tore down the hallway toward the kitchen.

"Becky!"

Silence.

The kitchen was just as empty.

"Fuck!" He pulled out his phone again, quickly scanning Sid's messages, hoping he'd missed something. He hadn't. Every one of them simply told him to get back to the compound.

"Becky!"

As he strode back into the foyer, his office door flew open and Becky hurried out, confusion and worry written all over her face.

"What's wrong?" she asked, rushing toward him, her eyes searching his before quickly looking him over.

Relief hit Sloan so hard his knees nearly buckled. He actually stumbled before reaching her, his hands immediately closing around her arms as his gaze searched every inch of her.

"Are you okay? What happened?"

Becky frowned, looking even more confused.

"Sloan, I'm fine." She searched his eyes, trying to understand what had him so shaken. "Nothing happened."

"Great." Sid walked out carrying an empty plate before stopping when he got a good look at Sloan. "You seriously need to answer your damn texts."

"Oh no," Becky whispered, her eyes widening as she looked at Sid. "Please tell me you didn't message Sloan."

"Hell yes, I messaged Sloan. Then I messaged Jared when Sloan didn't answer." Sid looked completely unapologetic. "I refuse to be left alone with two pregnant women. Every damn time I'm around one of you, something goes wrong."

Sloan's hands itched to rip Sid's head off, but he managed to keep himself in check. For one terrifying moment he'd been convinced Becky needed him and he wasn't there. Just the thought of it pushed him dangerously close to the edge.

"Why?" was all Sloan managed to say, his voice low and controlled.

Sid pointed the empty plate toward Becky. "She had a cramp."

Becky rolled her eyes before looking back at Sloan. "I'm fine. Really. It was just a little cramp. It's normal this close to⁠—"