Harper

RESCUE

2 months later.

Harper's pov:

In the dim cell, time dragged on. Must've been a year. My whole body ached from being cooped up, and knowing Henry was out there in danger only added to the weight on my shoulders. Sending him away had seemed smart at the time, but now I doubted everything.

Just when a bit of hope crept in, chaos broke out. Gunshots pierced the silence, setting my heart racing. I begged for answers, but the men rushed past, ignoring me completely.

With the door left open, I saw my chance. Adrenaline pumped through me as I geared up to escape.

But then, River grabbed me. Despite being part of this mess, he'd been surprisingly decent, tending to my wounds and all. Conflicted, I followed him through the halls, past bodies left behind.

Had they finally found me?

The question hung heavy as we moved forward

Tyrus pov:

It's been two months since they took my baby girl away. I can't deny I deserve this pain. I shut her out when she returned, carrying her son. Disappointment engulfed me, like any father might feel upon learning his 13-year-old daughter had a child.

"Sir," one of my men burst into my office. Have I taught them nothing?

"Kne—" I began, but he interrupted, breathless, "We've found her."

Harper's pov:

"We have to run away," River's urgent tone cut through the tension as he strapped on a bulletproof vest, swiftly preparing for escape. He tossed another one to me, his gaze intense with determination.

"Take off your shirt," he commanded bluntly, causing my eyes to widen and my cheeks to burn with embarrassment.

"Stop it, Harper. This is not the time or place to entertain such thoughts," I scolded myself internally, desperately trying to focus on the task at hand.

River's chuckle only added to my discomfort. I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of my changed appearance. My once-lustrous blonde hair was now shorn off, a stark reminder of the ordeal I had endured.

Now I looked like some sort of discount Rapunzel, my insecurity soaring to new heights.

With a resigned breath, I began to change into River's clothes, trying to ignore the ache in my bones and the self-consciousness gnawing at me.

"Hendrix!"

"Harper!"

The sound of Hendrix's voice filled me with a surge of relief as he enveloped me in a tight hug. Ignoring the pain radiating through my body, I hugged him back, grateful for his presence. I had intended to introduce him to River, but when I turned, River was gone, vanished into thin air.

"River?" I called out, panic rising within me as I scanned the room frantically.

"I've found her," Hendrix whispered into his earpiece, and with that, I knew it was time to go. Grabbing my hand, he swiftly led me out of the building, leaving behind the chaos and uncertainty of captivity.

***

Hendrix pov:

It was my first mission, and I was determined to make it a memorable one—hopefully for all the right reasons. Armed and ready, I ventured into the fray, tasked with infiltrating the right wing and neutralizing the guards.

"Just take out the guys at the entrance," I reminded myself, trying to quell the nerves gnawing at my gut.

"There's a door to the basement," Andrew's voice crackled through my earpiece. He was the tech expert on our team, and I couldn't help but notice he was kinda cute. "Do you copy?"

"Y-yes," I stammered, mentally kicking myself. Smooth, real smooth.

"HARPER!" I bellowed, relieved as she came into view. Well, that was easier than I expected, I chuckled inwardly before pulling her into a bear hug.

"Found her," I relayed back to Andrew, a grin spreading across my face. His response was swift and to the point: "Run."

With that, I wasted no time. Scooping up Harper, we dashed out of the building, dodging bullets and leaping over fallen foes. "Note to self: this is definitely not what they meant by 'running errands,'" I joked breathlessly to Harper as we made our escape, adrenaline coursing through our veins and laughter bubbling up

***

Harper's Pov:

Beep Beep Beep

As the annoying alarm blared, I groaned, my head throbbing. "Turn it off," I muttered, barely coherent, expecting some new form of torture. "It's okay, amor," a familiar voice soothed. Tyrus? I questioned internally.

But there was no time for confusion. Henry was in danger, and I needed to find him. I needed to inform Max. My baby needed to be safe with me.

Attempting to rise, a figure gently pushed me back down. Slowly opening my eyes against the stabbing pain, I was greeted by a room full of... happiness?

"What's happening?" I managed, my voice gravelly and sore.

"Have some water, baby," Caroline, or should I say "mum," offered, bringing a cup to my lips. I smiled weakly, taking a sip, causing jaws to drop all around.

Oops, did I just call her "mum"?

"I'm so glad you're okay, Harper," Caroline said tearfully, pulling me into a hug. She's such a softie, I thought, considering her offspring are a pack of wild beasts.

"What's wrong with me?" I inquired, bewildered.

"You just got out of surgery," Hayden explained, planting a kiss on my cheek. Hunter then surprised me with not one but two cheek kisses, eliciting shock from everyone, including me.

"You're getting soft, brother," Hayden teased, prompting laughter, except from Hardin, who stormed out in a huff. What's eating him?

"Henry," Hades interjected suddenly, and my heart skipped a beat. Where is he?

"He's with Max," I replied, noting my brothers' furrowed brows.

"Who's Max?" Hunter questioned, and for the first time, they all seemed united against me. When did they start getting along?

"I'll call him," 

Hansel offered, handing me his phone. Dialing the number, I called twice before someone finally picked up.

"Who are you?" Max's voice came through suspiciously, Henry's cries echoing in the background, sending a chill down my spine.

Before I could respond, Hades snatched the phone from my grasp. "Bring him back," he demanded, urgency lacing his tone.