DPOV

I wished I could have pulled her back in the car the second she left.

I had to force my self to drive away after I saw her go in.

Jesse and Christian were waiting for me in his office.

"How'd it go with Lissa?" I asked leaning against the wall.

"Well she's a lot stronger than she looks. She packs a hard punch," he explained rubbing his cheek.

"Why'd she hit you? You say something stupid again?" I asked trying to stifle a laugh.

"Would it be surprising if he did?" Jesse muttered.

"I didn't say anything stupid. Actually, I did but that's not why she hit me. I thought she'd be the easy one and your brunette would be the more difficult one."

"Nope. She was ready and willing."

Jesse and Christian both turned to look at me.

"Not like that you pervs! So what happened?"

"I went up to her as she got back to her house. She invited me in, we talked, some other stuff happened, and then I explained about the case. She didn't like that. You'll be happy to know Lissa is very loyal, just not to us."

"Wait, what other stuff happened?" Jesse inquired.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Christian quirked.

"So she's not going to help us."

"She didn't want to at first but after I calmed her down and she stopped yelling at me and threatening me she said she'd think about it and then I left.'

"Which was stupid," Jesse insulted. "For all we know, the second you left, she called her father, told him what was going on, and there's a hit out onus right now."

"I don't think she'd do that," Christian said.

"Why not?"

"Because I told her Rose was helping us. Turning us in would put her in danger too."

"She could've left he out of it."

Christian stood up, certainty on his face. "She wouldn't turn us in."

I looked at him, reading the expression on his face.

"I believe him."

Jesse made a weird twisted sound between a scoff and sigh.

"I don't care if you believe in big foot. We've known these girls for twenty-four hours, I want certainty. You two need to find a way to get in on the inside to keep an eye on them," Jesse ordered.

"I'd feel better being on the inside too," I admitted.

Christian sighed reluctantly.

"I would too. But I'm only doing this to keep her safe, not to check up on her because I trust her," he rambled.

"Whatever. Find a way in," Jesse ordered.

It never gets any easier.

RPOV

I didn't get the welcome home party I'd been anticipating.

I walked through the front door (a brave act in it self) and the house was way too quiet.

I turned around to shut the door and was met by the beast known as my dog Bear.

Weird name for a dog but his wide dark eyes and crazy fur the sticks out in every direction making it look like he stuck a paw in an electric outlet made Bear the perfect name for the dog.

He growled at first, probably unfamiliar with my scent, but then approach me, tongue hanging low ready to slobber all over me. I patted him down and he relaxed.

"Where is everybody, huh, boy?"

His reply was to lick my face.

"Thanks, boy."

I stood up and reluctantly made my way up the stairs. I didn't know who I was looking for specifically but I was hoping I'd run into my mom first.

I walked past my father's office, the biggest room in the house. He preferred the best things in life and this was the best room for him and his business since there was a back door that led to the basement and lord only knows what he does down there. It was empty, the three computers that sat on his desk flashed and pinged telling he had an email.

I walked past that room and the spare bedrooms where "guests" stayed or in other words, enemies best kept close. My bedroom was at the top floor; the farthest away from whatever business went on in the other floors.

I went to the last room down the hall, the room my mother would most likely be in. Her bedroom. Always near my father.

"Ma," I whispered into the door.

There was a cough that answered.

I pushed the door openly slightly.

My mom lay on the bed, pale and wheezing.

And beaten.

"Rose," she huffed.

I climbed onto the bed and pushed her wild hair back from her face as gentle as I could.

She flinched at my touch, because of how bruised her face was.

I felt water fill behind my eyes but sniffled to keep from crying.

"Rose." She sounded happy, disappointed, and surprised all at once. "What are you doing here? You have to go?"

"What? Ma-"

She gripped my hand tightly. I could tell it hurt from the strain on her face.

"Rose you have to go. It's not safe here. Go." She shoved at me, barely moving me.

"Why? What's going on?"

She opened her mouth to explain but was interrupted by the slam of the front door.

I jumped.

She gasped.

"Hide, Rose, hide!"

I did as I was told and slipped into the wide closet at the front of the room and waited.

Footsteps neared climbing up the steps…

Down the hallway…

The bedroom door opened…

Oh no.