"Zane we are literally on top of a building downtown so you can watch this guy through his apartment windows."

"I am failing to see your point angel." He smirked and looked through the binoculars again.

"What's your favorite color?" I ask while sitting myself in a cross-cross style. "Let me guess. Black."

"Purple." He responded not moving his binoculars. "Why do you ask?"

"I just...I don't know. I know nothing about you."

"Well then ask me something else." He pressed his lips together, Giving me a second to think.

"If you got takeout-Mexican or Chinese?"

"Chinese."

"When's your birthday?"

"July 4th."

"Born on the Fourth of July? That's interesting." I smile

"Mhm" He says still looking off in the distance.

Let's really get his attention.

"How many girls have you dated?" I grinned. He cleared his throat...twice.

"I. I don't know."

"Okay next question." I laugh awkwardly. "You ask me some maybe?"

"Ooooooooh." He shoved his hands in his pockets giving up all hope of avoiding me. "What's-" the phone ringing stopped his question.

"Joab it's almost 3 in the morning what could you possible want- they did what? Where? How many? When?"

Zane hung up and grabbed my hand dragging me down the emergency exits and to the car hidden down below.

He frantically pushed the keys in the ignition before reving the engine and taking off.

I clutched into my seat as I braced myself from Zane's crazy driving.

"What's going on?" I pant.

"We've got a problem." He shifted gears making the car speed up.

"And?"

"There's been a shooting. One of the men in my top unit was attacked in his home. I need to make sure he's still alive."

"Can I help?" I brace myself when Zane takes a sharp curve into a dark street.

The car comes to a halt at a apartment complex.

"I'm coming." I state opening my door.

"No way. It's dangerous. There could be people still up in there. And backup is 20 minutes out." He say from across the car hood.

"There could be people hurt!" I tie my hair in a ponytail as I trot around him and head toward the building.

"Moriah no. I don't have time for this."

"Then don't argue. Lead the way." I say but was already way out in front of him. His footsteps jogged up to me right as a cold object touched my skin.

"Here take this. You do know how to shoot a gun right?" He asked as I grip the handle. I gave him a nod and that was all he needed. We darted in the building and up several flights of stairs. Zane searched the hallway with me close on his heels before stopping at a door.

The door of the apartment was open. The door and the lock had been shot leaving several holes in the old wood. He tapped the door with his boot and the door creaked open.

Just a ⚠️ warning ⚠️ this might get bloody and kinda morbid read at ur own risk.

Nothing could have prepared me for this. Blood was splattered across the walls. the ceiling fan blade had been shot off making a horrible squealing sound as the bladeless fan rotated.

Zane was in full combat mode as he held the gun in front of himself and checked every spot. Behind the couch lay a man, or what was left. He had obviously been shot several times and even from a distance there was no missing the dead look in his eyes telling us his fate.

My skills kicked in as I approached the body. Even though I knew he was long gone I still checked his pulse. A mountain crushed my heart as I looked back at zane and shook in sorrow. Zane cursed then he disappeared down the hallway.

My fingers grazed up the man's arm until I reached the hand clasping the paper. With steady fingers I opened the crunched note to find the words "save makayla" scribbled sloppily.

" Angel! I need you now!" His words yelled. I jumped to my feet and rushed to him. He stood in the bedroom a woman at his feet. She lay on the floor a hand firmly pressed to her gunshot wound her. I knelt down and felt for a pulse while listening for any other signs of life.

"She's gone." I sigh. She could have been saved but her time was up. She bled out on her bedroom carpet floor with no one to save her. No one to get to her in time.

A cough sent me into panic. Zane heard it too as he lifted his gun again and immediately started inching towards the bathroom. He kicked open the door but the room was empty.

"There's no one here." He gruffly stated as he pocketed his gun. "We were to late."

⚠️ end ⚠️

I stood from my spot on the floor. "There was nothing we could do." I say placing my hand on his arm.

Before he could answer another sound came from the bathroom. "Stay behind me" he whispered grabbing his gun again. He stepped farther into the bathroom and yanked the curtain back.

Empty.

Next he checked the towel closet but had the same result.

"There's no one in here-" he started but we cut off by another cough sounding inches away.

I turn towards the sink and stare at it. Slowly and ever so carefully I bend down and throw back the cabinet doors below the sink. A terrifying shriek filled the room as a small girl looked up at us with the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen.

"there's a baby!" Zane panics as the child still cries and tried to hide itself better. In a swift motion I grab the child from under the sink and clutch her to my chest.

"Hey." I coo rocking the kid back and forth. "It's okay, your going to be fine." I shipper in her ear.

The child stopped yelling and clutched into my hoodie. The girl cuddled into my side and squished her face into my chest.

"This is bad." Zane grumbled.

............................

I stood in what I assume is zanes office. He paces the floor as 5 different people are talking at once.

"Everybody be quiet!" He yelled smacking a fist on the table. I jumped making him send an apologetic look my way.

"Reports. And this time do it one at a time." He folded his hands together and laid them on the desk in front of him.

"The apartment has been taken care of." One man informed.

"We had a group go in and extract the bodies. There is no living relatives of either so will be making burial plans." The second man added.

"We will have a replacement man in by the end of the week tops, sir." The 3rd said, his pale face panicky.

"I- sir, we contacted foster care and they are sending someone within the hour to get the child. We also found these files and birth certificates telling us that the child name is makayla franklin. She is currently 17 months of age and as of today has no living relatives."

No one.

I look at the small one sleeping on my chest and my pain multiplies. Both of her parents taken and she has no one. When my parents left I was lucky enough to have my siblings to help and to move on with but this girl didn't have anyone to turn to.

"Very well." Zane nods and shoos off the crowd. He turned his office chair so he faced us before resting his elbows on his knees. He watched as I rocked the child back and forth whispering encouraging words to her whenever she would whine. Over half an hour went by and neither of us had the guts to speak to the other.

"I'll send for someone to get her." He eventually sighed shaking his head.

"What will happen to her" I whisper.

"Well you heard. She'll go to foster care and probably go to a good home." He shrugged.

"You and I both know that is not the best option."

"Your right but it's the only one." He straitened his suit coat as I let out a huff.

"Sir, a person is here to pick up the girl." A man poked up his head in the door.

I stood from my spot on the couch and watched as a woman in her mid 50's approached us.

"Let me have her," she gruffly said chewing her gum rather loudly.

"Watch how to talk to your queen." Zane snapped standing from his chair.

"Zane it's fine," I whisper. I peel makaylas arms from around my body and try to hand her to the woman.

She awakens with a jump before looking around. When she sees that I was no longer holding her she panicked. Cries escaped hers mouth and she kicked and squirmed shoving her way my direction.

"Get her to the authorities." Zane sighed sitting back down.

"Yes sir." The woman replied tightening her hold to make sure she didn't drop makayla. The woman turned and opened the door.

"Wait!" I yelled surprising myself. I rushed over and took makayla in my arms and calmed her cries.

Zane gazed at my with sternness in his eye making me all the more uncomfortable. With one last glance at makayla I knew what I wanted.

"I want to keep her."