My words and everything else were cut off by a door slamming so hard, it rattled. It was followed by a blood-curdling screech that hit my gut more than my ears.

“Maisie,” Beth said with a gasp. She took off at a run, almost busting her ass on the overly waxed floor.

The commotion upset Zoe, her little bottom lip popping out to quiver. She frantically looked around for her mama, and the tears started fast and loud.

It broke my damn heart. Especially since I had no clue how to fix it.

“Hey, kid, I’m new to this, so you think you can ease me in?”

She screamed louder.

“Sing her a song,” Haze suggested.

Bouncing up and down, I serenaded Zoe about my love of big butts while keeping an eye on the stairs.

“I meant a lullaby,” Haze interrupted, just as I was getting into it.

“I don’t know any. Babs wasn’t exactly the nurturing, motherly type.”

Haze knew that better than anyone else. The one time she’d come to visit while he was still a prospect, she’d barely spoken to me ’cause she’d been too busy trying to fuck him.

The terror on his face would’ve been funny had the whole thing not mentally scarred me for life.

“Don’t have to tell me,” he muttered.

“Hey. Are you saying my mother isn’t a lovely woman? You could do a lot worse.”

“No, I… Wait. You can’t fuck with me like that.” He tapped the spot where his official patch had replaced the prospect one.

“Ah, kid, I’ll always fuck with you.”

More stomping came from above, followed by more sobs.

Shit.

It wasn’t the first kid to freak out, but I’d never heard any of them cry like that. So gut-wrenching.

Something was wrong.

I handed Zoe to a startled Haze—who held her away from him like she was a steaming bucket of horseshit.

“Hold her like a baby,” I said.

“I’ve never held a baby.”

“Neither had I. You don’t see me bitching.” I thought for a moment. “Hold her like your edibles just kicked in, and she’s the last burrito in the world.”

Instantly, he tucked her closer to his side.

“There ya go.”

Taking the steps two at a time, I found Beth and Judge outside a closed door. Anna hovered in an open doorway down the hall while Scythe packed in the background.

“What’s up?” I asked.

Since we’d arrived, Beth had been solid. Anxious and jittery, but still. Solid.

Till right then

Fat tears rolled down her cheeks. “My daughter Maisie won’t come out. There’s no lock, but something must be wedged in. The door won’t open.”

“She say why?” I asked.

“Just that she can’t go.”