“Let’s do this.” Lauren nods and we race outside to the care before the prospects get here and stop us.

We slowly drive towards Marie’s house, careful to not catch up with the guys. The drive is quiet as we fear what we will find when we get there. Lauren reaches over and squeezes my shoulder as I focus on the road that Marie’s house sits on. I fucking hope her children are safe.

Lauren gasps and my eyes widen when we see the house. There are so many bikers here and all of them are with The Kings. When we park up I see some of the men hang their heads at the sight of us. I ignore them and get out the car, Baby is immediately in my face.

“Natasha, what are you doing here?” He asks sounding urgent. “You need to go home.”

“What’s happened?” Lauren asks, slowly rounding the car and taking in the scary scene in front of us.

I can’t see Devlin or Grim anywhere.

“Girls!” Come a shouting Scrappy. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“I wanted to know what’s happening.” I defend myself.

“We wanted to be here for Marie, she’s our friend.” Lauren steps up to Scrappy. “Where’s Grim?”

“Come on.” I take Lauren’s hand and we push pass the guys.

“Wait!” Baby shouts, trying to stop us.

“No.” I growl, fighting him off me. “I want to see Marie!”

“Oh god, something bad has happened hasn’t it?” Lauren tears up.

None of them answer and the men surrounding us turn quiet and look at their boots. A chill spreads over me, something has happened.

“Oh god.” I cry into my hands.

“You might want to go home and wait for Dev to come back.” Baby places his arm on my shoulder, bringing me into his body for comfort.

“Tasha?” I hear Devlin and look up to see him storming towards me. “What are you doing?”

“I had to come.” I step closer to him. “I know this has something to do with Strike, that’s why you’re not telling me, right?”

His eyes close in frustration and when he opens them I’m shocked to see tears. “I just wanted to protect you.” His kisses me sweetly and his hands feel me as if he’s grateful I’m here, even though he told me to stay at home.

“Devlin, what’s happened?” I dare to ask and by the look on his face I just know I’m going to hate what he has to say. Devlin takes both mine and Lauren’s hands and turns to Scrappy.

“Ring the prospects and explain where these two are and tell them to go and watch over Drew and Elise.” Scrappy nods, getting his phone out and doing as he asks. Devlin then leads us into the house and the first thing I see is Grim comforting a sobbing Spliff.

Oh no.

When Grim sees us he shakes his head in annoyance but rushes up to Lauren and scoops her up in his arms. I continue to look at Spliff as he cries, I didn’t even know that I was walking towards him until I’m stood right in front of him and he looks down at me.

At seeing me he sobs and wraps his arms around me. “Natasha.”

I embrace him, terrified at seeing this big strong man fall apart like this. “What’s happened?”

Spliff look up at Devlin in shock, “She doesn’t know?”

Devlin shakes his head in answer and Spliff opens his mouth to tells but, but then a gut wrenching cry erupts from the back garden.

“Mummm!” A child’s cry erupts and my heart squeezes in hurt.

“Karl.” Spliff gasps, running outside and I follow. What greets me has me frozen to the spot.

Blood is everywhere! It decorates the grass, pathway and patio. I don’t miss the two dead men in the corner, a few Kings members are stood by them. Another cry roars and I look back to where Spliff had ran too and that’s when my cries begin. Lauren runs out to join me, Grim quickly following and she too begins to cry.

“Oh no!” She screams.

I run over to Spliff as he holds a sobbing and screaming Carl in arms. Spliff is doing his best to calm his son but Carl won’t stop crying and I don’t blame the poor boy. As I look around the garden, the men who are out here lower their heads in sympathy and respect.

“Mummy!” He scrambles back to the floor, wrapping his arms around his mother’s lifeless body. “Please, I love you!”

“Travis!” Spliff calls and I see a crying teenage Travis walk out and tries to drag his brother away with his father. Travis has tears streaming down his face as he helps Spliff take Carl back inside and away from the sight of his mother dead on the floor. When they finally get him inside I fall down to where little Carl had just been, and look down at my friend. Marie was a tough chick. I fucking looked up to her and now she’s been killed in her family home. Who would do such a terrible thing? And in front of her children too.

I see a gun beside her, fallen from her hands maybe when she dropped to the floor. I look across the garden and see the two dead men on the floor are straight opposite. I hope to God that Marie is the one who killed them! Serves them right for invading a family home. It’s disgusting!

Devlin helps me up, burying me in his arms. “Who did this?” I cry.

“Natasha.” He sooths but I shake my head and point down to Marie.

“Who did this to her and don’t lie to me.” I cry.

“Devils.” Is all he says and I cry some more. Lauren begins behind me and we somehow end up holding each other as we cry beside our friend.

“Oh god Tash.” She sobs. “This is all my fault.”

“No.” I cry, totally understanding why she’s blaming herself because I’m doing the same. If The Kings hadn’t have brought us back to their home then Marie wouldn’t be dead.

The ambulance soon appears and we stand and watch as they load her onto the bed, I say a silent good bye to Marie as she passes. The strongest bitch I ever met.

“I think Spliff could use some help with the kids.” Devlin kisses me.

“Did Marie kill those men?” I ask him.

Frowning, he nods. “We think so.”

“Good.” I look over to Spliff as he stands with Travis, both crying. I walk up to him, cautious as to what I’m about to say.

“Spliff?” He turn to look at me and he looks torn on what he should do. “We can take the kids back to ours, if you wanted to go with Marie?”

Instantly his face relaxes and he grabs me in a hold. “Thank you.”

Travis goes to follow his dad but Spliff stops him. “No, you go with Natasha.”

“Dad.” Travis complains, looking at him mum going into the back of the ambulance.

“I need you to watch over your brother and sister, can you do that for me?” He asks his oldest son and without thinking, Travis nods in return.

Spliff crushes Travis against his chest and I have to look away. It’s their private moment. I follow Spliff and Travis into the house as he says bye to Carl and Lorena, but again I stay back enough that they have their own privacy.

On his way out, he quickly stops beside me and gives me a small smile. It’s sad look, but I appreciate it for what it is. He’s just thankful we’re here to help him in his terrible time. I still can’t believe what’s happened.

After the ambulance has gone, Devlin tells us to take the kids in my car and Scrappy and Baby will follow and help us out until him and Grim return. As I get into the car with Carl and Lorena, Lauren returns with Travis. He had helped pack a few things for them all, just in case.

The drive is silent as expected, even Lauren and I don’t talk. What is there to say?

When we get to the house, Lorena seems pretty attached to Lauren, so she’s carries her in while Travis and Carl trail behind. Lauren shows them around, but they’re not very talkative, hardly surprising. Lorena decides that she wants to watch a film in the front room so Lauren sees to her. I look to Travis and Carl, “What do you wanna do guys? Chill?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna go and sit in the front room with Lorena.” Travis smiles and joins Lauren and Lorena.

“What about you?” I ask Carl and he shrugs his shoulders. “You want something to eat?”