Page 103 of Intertwined Souls

She lets out a loud sob, and they hold each other tight. Looking over Anna’s shoulder Anthony mouths, Thank you, over and over again to Grayson. We stay until they both calm down and Anthony hugs Grayson, crying.

“You saved us,” he tells Gray, sniffling against his shirt.

We let them know we will come get them when she’s here and leave the room. In the hallway, I immediately wrap my arms around Grayson’s shoulders. He takes a shuddering breath, and holds me tightly.

“Holy shit,” he whispers.

“I know. You changed his life, you know? We all may have saved them, but you helped that boy know that he can get past this just by being you.”

Grayson sniffs and then shakes his head, pulling back far enough to look into my eyes.

“Hey, you two!” Ryker shouts from the end of the hall. “She’s here if you want to be a part of the conversation.”

“Ready?” I murmur, searching his eyes. He comes over to kiss me quickly and nods.

Ryker leads us to Rage’s office where a middle-aged woman sits in front of his desk. She has the same deep brown eyes the twins have. Her cheeks are stained with tears as Rage tells her about how we found the twins. He doesn’t go into details about the cages or anything, but he gives her the basics.

The door opens again behind us as Doc comes in, going over the injuries they have. Anna is still struggling to eat food, and they each had some bruising, cuts, and broken bones.

“They both will need help to get through this. It’s going to be a long and hard process for both them and you. I just want you to be prepared for anything that may come up. This is going to be a long road,” Doc explains.

“I don’t care how long the road is or how hard it will be. I don’t care if they won’t speak or want to scream at me. As long as I can hear them. See them. Watch them grow and live a better life, that is all I want. Can I please see my babies now?” she almost begs.

“Of course,” Rage says smoothly. “There is just one more thing. We didn’t tell the twins because it felt it isn’t our place, but we do know that they are scared of their father—”

She curses under her breath in what sounds like Spanish, and then her eyes harden in anger. “I will do everything I can to protect them. I will kill the bastard with my own hands if I ever see him again.”

Gabe pauses for a moment before responding, “You won’t have to. He is dead. You will never have to think about him or worry about him again. Just trust that justice was served.”

She shakes her head in awe and then stands up, along with Gabe. Walking around the desk, she hugs him, her tiny frame dwarfed by his burly figure. “I don’t know what possessed you all to do this, but I can’t ever repay you.” She sniffles.

“You can repay us by loving those sweet kids and helping them heal so we know they got to have a better life,” Rage tells her.

We all head out to the main room, and the second the twins walk from the other hallway and spot their mom, they race over and collapse into a heap on the floor. Hugs, kisses, and tears follow. We all step away to give them some privacy until they’re ready to go.

Rage offered her a room to stay here tonight, but she wants to get them out of this state and home to Washington where they can start over.

After everyone said goodbye, the twins left with their mom and now we’re waiting for the same thing with Tia. Grayson found her parents, and they’re coming to get her today. We told Tia earlier, and she is beyond excited to see them and be able to go home.

But her excitement didn’t last long because shortly after, she asked to go be with Oakley, who she has been attached to anytime we let her over the last few days.

Heading upstairs we find her in the guest room with Oakley, who has been doing the best she can the last few days. Doc and Brielle have been giving her minimal opioids since we are not prepared to deal with someone coming off of drugs for how long she’s been on them. But Grayson has found a rehab that we are working on getting her into.

“Hey, Tia, your parents will be here in about five minutes if you want to head downstairs.” I smile at her.

“No. I can’t go,” she says with the most determination I have seen from her since she arrived here as she straightens her shoulders and narrows her eyes slightly, but still trembles showing her fear even as she tries to remain strong.

“What do you mean you can’t go?” I ask carefully, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed she and Oakley are sitting on.

“I’m not leaving Oakley. She doesn’t have anyone here. I can’t go,” she whispers as tears gather in her eyes.

Oakley turns towards Tia and cups her cheeks. “Oh, sweet, sweet girl. I must have forgotten to tell you!”

“Tell me what?” Tia’s brows furrow in confusion.

“My parents are coming, too. They just won’t be here for a few more days,” Oakley tells her.

“Really?” Tia beams at her.

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