Carrying Blaze's Mark

a nod.
“I’ll go get them,” Pitch Black grumbles as I nod.
No one else speaks and when Pitch Black gets back with Raul and Matthew, I reach out and take my son in my arms.
“Da-da-da-da-da,” Matthew babbles, looking up at me. “Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma.”
“Hey bud, you’ll see Momma soon,” I say, kissing the top of his head.
“Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma.” He continues to jibber jabber.
“Let’s get you to his momma,” Alverez mutters, showing us the way to Raven’s room. “Soon as the police get here, I’ll send them in here to speak to you all.”
“Thanks, Alverez, I appreciate it,” I mutter, cupping the back of Matthew’s head.
“Ma-ma-ma-ma,” Matthew babbles.
“We’ll find him, Blaze. I’m sorry, this is my fault,” Alverez says somberly.
“This isn’t on you,” Pitch Black states.
“If I’d . . .”
“No, Alverez. You were doing as you were supposed to. Taking care of my woman who somehow had been drugged,” I snarl, becoming more aggravated by the minute.
Nodding, Alverez steps over to Raul, hugs him, and leaves the room to get back to work. I’m sure he’ll be doing everything he can to clock off and be back in here with Raven.
“Would it be possible this was done by one of Raven’s enemies? Could Matthew’s mom have escaped?” Tracker asks.
“I’ll call Trevor, but no one has ever escaped his institution before,” Pitch Black says, furrowing his brow as he pulls his phone out to make the call to his cousin.
While I wait for him to get off the phone, I grab a chair next to Raven and hold her hand with my free one as the others stand around.
“You’re gonna be okay, Little Bird,” I murmur, lifting her hand to press a kiss to the palm of her hand.
“Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma,” Matthew squeals loudly and tries to launch himself out of my arms to get to his momma.
Raven stirs.
“Trevor is gonna call back in a couple minutes. He’s been somewhat preoccupied with a situation and wants to verify something before he says anything.” Something about Pitch Black’s words doesn’t sit well with me.
Fuck.
What if Dixie is behind all this shit? And is coming after Matthew.
Or took Mark as retaliation for us keeping Matthew from her. Woman’s fuckin’ nuts but I didn’t want to see her dead. If this is her doing, I’ll eat my words wishing Raven ended her.
“Liam,” Raven’s voice draws my attention to her.
Shit.
How do I tell her Mark has been kidnapped?
Worst part of all neither of us have actually gotten to hold him, other than the brief moment he was placed on Raven’s chest.
“Hey, Little Bird,” I murmur as someone’s phone rings.
I tune everyone around me out as I look at my ol’ lady.
“Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma,” Matthew says excitedly at hearing his momma’s voice.
“Find him, Liam. Find him before it’s too late,” Raven whispers, tears sliding down her cheeks as she closes her eyes and drifts back to sleep.
Motherfucker.
I’m going to put a bullet between the eyes of whoever is behind all of this shit. I don’t care if I get caught in the process. They’re going to pay.
“Brother,” Stoney says gaining my attention. “Nerd just found footage. I’m guessing you already think it but I’m going to confirm it, Dixie is behind this. With the help of some other women.”
“Those women are Victoria’s aunts,” Pitch Black adds. “Tracker, I suggest you go get Victoria and your son. We’re going to be having a blood bath here soon. Especially when Brake tells Tyres.”
Oh fuck.
Closing my eyes, I inwardly groan.
Can this day get any worse than it already is?
Not only do we have Dixie to deal with once again, but we also now have Victoria’s crazy as fuck aunts who, if I remember correctly, one of them tried to kill her son. I don’t even know what the other one did to Brake and Tyres.

Chapter Six
Raven
‘She’s coming and not alone. Have faith in the man who you’re anchored to. Allow him to carry you through the pain.’
My head is throbbing as I try to think of what those words mean alongside trying to understand what’s happened.
Voices surround me, all of them different. Some of them sounding strange as if on another plane all together.
“Would it be possible this was done by one of Raven’s enemies? Could Matthew’s mom have escaped?”
“I’ll call Trevor, but no one has ever escaped his institution before.”
“You’re gonna be okay, Little Bird.” I’d know that voice anywhere.
“Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma.” Oh God, that’s my little boy calling for me.
The voices continue to speak, but I focus more on the ones screaming in the distance. I need to hear them. It sounds horrifying. A baby’s cries of fear and hunger. A woman’s insane laughter. I want nothing more than to take the baby from the woman and gut her for hurting the child.
My child.
Wait a minute didn’t I just hear someone say something about Dixie? Could she have? Oh God no. I knew I should have killed her instead. ‘She’s coming and not alone. Have faith in the man who you’re anchored to. Allow him to carry you through the pain.’
Using all my strength, I open my eyes and call Blaze’s name.
“Hey, Little Bird,” he says, giving me a weak smile.
“Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma,” Matthew says excitedly and tries to launch himself at me.
“Find him, Liam. Find him before it’s too late,” I whisper and allow the darkness to take over once again. I don’t know what’s coming our way for sure but I will be ready when the time comes. I just need to regain my strength once again.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Sliding my head side to side, I slowly open my eyes to find my room bare of anyone besides my brother, Pitch Black. What is he doing here? Then I remember, Mamma said he was coming up here to visit.
Now I wonder if she knew what was going to happen.
My chest aches at what I know without anyone telling me. Mark is gone.
“Hey, Ray-Ray,” my brother says gently.
“What do you know? Where’s Blaze and Matthew?” I ask, cutting to the chase. I love