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With the food, we’d let Penny and Mrs Ames create and then hire a catering company to replicate their recipes. Both women were now overseeing their domain with beady eyes. We were having hotdogs with the bread wrapped around them on a stick. There were the obvious hamburgers and ribs. Steaks were marinating, and chicken was being seasoned. The pulled pork and chicken smelled wonderful already. All in all, a regular barbeque. It was the desserts that got creative.
Strawberries dipped in white icing and blue glitter at the bottom. Blueberry cheesecakes with white chocolate stars and raspberries on top. Different coloured cookies and cupcakes were in huge demand, not just for the kids. Fruit salad using red, white, and blue fruit and several 4th of July trifle desserts. And the centrepiece was a massive top hat cake built over five layers. It was super cool and looked wonderful when delivered that morning.
The outside fridges were stocked with soft drinks and beers, and everything was ready. The rest of the women, including me, were putting up the trestle tables and yanking the barbeques out. Several of the security team were also helping put up tables and haul out the fold-up chairs we kept for times like this. Cody, Aaron, and Christian had already gotten out the garden games, although the water pistols had been firmly locked up.
By midday, we’d collapsed and were eating lunch. We were tired but happy. The Hall looked amazing. The caterers had prepared sandwiches and finger foods for us, and there was plenty to go around. Once the children had eaten, half tore off to the pool again. The babies were sent for a nap in the basement nursery under the watchful, beady eyes of nannies. And the rest of the Hellions scattered. I wasn’t too worried about them getting hurt or lost. There was no part of the Hall or grounds that wasn’t covered either by cameras or security guards.
Therefore, I was unprepared when Matthias—Liz’s second-in-command—rushed over.
“Motion sensors have gone off, and cameras have picked up on intruders. The kids are being collected and taken to the basement. We need to get all the old ladies to safety,” Matthias stated quickly. He handed me a radio.
“Get the pregnant women inside now,” I ordered, getting to my feet. “Ensure the children are accounted for before moving the women. None of us would leave a child outside,” I said. Gratefully, I took a moment to thank my lucky stars the catering service had left.
“Phoe,” Matthias tried to argue.
I pulled a gun. A gut feeling told me to be armed this morning, and I bet the old ladies were all packing too. It would be like Fury to fuck with my holiday, and I wasn’t standing for it.
“Your priorities haven’t changed, Matthias, the children to safety first!”
Around me, old ladies began popping up.
“What’s the plan?” Sin asked, biting her lip.
“You, Vivie, Silvie, and the other pregnant women get into the basement with the kids. Autumn, Lindsey, Casey, Artemis, Carly, Marsha, Ali-kat, Willow, and I are going to make sure everyone is rounded up,” I stated.
“The hell I’m hiding,” Sin declared.
“Sin, you hate violence,” I said quietly. I looked into her eyes and saw that same fire she had when she’d been taken with Jett. Something threatened her babies, and Sin fought like a tiger. That gleam was there now.
“Fuck, okay. Silvie, I’m trusting you to make the pregnant women get in the safe room with the kids. And ladies, no arguing. Anything happens to one of you, and your men will freak,” I said as Rosie and Jemma opened their mouths to do just that. I cocked an eyebrow, and they shut up.
“Silvie honey, I know you’d love to fight, but I need you down there,” I spoke softly to her.
Silvie gazed up at me, and I saw the resignation in her eyes. “And I’m a liability, Phoe. You can say it.”
“No, Rosie and you are the best shooters I can spare to protect the Hellions. You have to cover the door in case somehow these fuckers breach it. They’ll come for the kids if they get through security and us. If they attack the guards on the door, there won’t be many of them left, so if they broke in, you’d be able to handle them,” I said. I watched Silvie thinking about it.
“Fine,” Silvie replied. She began bellowing orders on who would get into the basement where we had the indoor pool, bowling alley, and man cave, amongst other things.
“Treasure hunt!” I heard Serenity yelling. I saw the kids begin to file into the house and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Motions sensors at the diamond just activated. They’re getting closer. Get inside, Phoe,” Matthias said.
“Everyone accounted for apart from Eddie and Davy,” Liz’s voice cackled over the radio.
Both Lindsey and I stiffened as fear hit our guts. Had they already been taken hostage? Were they hurt or hiding?
“Where were they last seen?” I croaked.
“Phoe, I got eyes on them. They’re in the treehouse. A guard is going to fire two bullets in the air. The girls know what to do when they hear gunshots,” Liz spoke calmly.
I flinched as shots were fired.
“Liz. Liz? Speak to me,” I demanded, panicked.
“They’ve done what they’re trained to. Pulled up the hatch and hunkered down. Guards are heading their way to protect them,” Liz replied.
“I’m not leaving Davy out here,” Lindsey stated.
