Page 65 of The Blood Widow

“Ouch,” he wheezed out. “Rude much, Sweet Treat?”

I punched him on the side of his head, making him landed on the ground in a heap. “Don’t call me that.”

I heard Ezra yelling as I called my portal again. “You better not be dealing to kids. I swear if I hear about another kid using, no matter if they’re a shifter or not, I’ll shut this little corner down.”

It appeared under me, understanding the emergency situation. As soon as I landed in my apartment, I opened another portal. Both the girl and Brian were asleep on my bed. I walked out of the room and dialed a couple that hid children when one of the families was gunning for them. They didn’t work with Bell, but they knew her.

I plopped on the couch as the phone rang on the other end of the line. One huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I had saved the fucking kids.

When no one picked up, I dropped my phone on the cushion, letting my whole body go limp. I’d try again in a few minutes. My eye lids drooped.

“Mommy?” a tiny voice with an Irish accent said from my room.

I got up with a silent groan. Walking into the room made the girl curl up into a ball, so I sat on the ground.

“I’m not going to hurt you. I took you from some bad guys. Can I ask how you got there?” I crossed my legs awkwardly, and she did the same. It eased the tension and made me smile.

She nibbled on her lower lip and nodded. “Mommy said the man was going to take me somewheres. It been free days. I want to go home.”

I let out a deep sigh. Fuck these parents. I balled my hands into fists but forced my face to not change.

Our talking woke Brian. He jerked awake, making the little girl squeal like a pig, but he wasn’t an adult, so she didn’t move.

The confused expression on her plump face was heartbreaking. Her dark brown eyes and round face were so sweet. I really didn’t want to have this conversation with her.

“Where am I?” Brian demanded, not seeing me on the ground yet.

“Hey Brian, you’re okay,” I said, hoping to calm him.

His scared eyes met mine. “You found me.”

I nodded, holding back tears. A few fell as he burst into sobs. He crawled over to me and sat in my lap, holding on to me like he would never let go. My heart crumpled into ash. I wrapped my arms around him. “You’re safe now. I’m going to get you somewhere safe. I promise.”

The little girl scooted closer, tears on her cheeks as well. I didn’t know how much time passed as I held Brian. Eventually, the girl ended up in my lap as well. Once they were back on thebed with dry faces, I knew I couldn’t put off this talk with the little girl any longer.

I coughed into my hand. “So, I’m not sure how to put this, but you can’t go back to your mom.” My eyes met her sad ones. They opened in shock as she absorbed what I just said.

Her little mouth opened and closed once before she spoke. “Why? Mommy said?—”

“You mother gave you to a bad guy that was going to eat you.” She gasped, the fear spiking in her eyes. I didn’t want to be mean, but she had to know the truth. “Your mom will do it again if I take you home to her. But I can take you somewhere safe just like I’m going to for Brian here. You’ll stay with some friends until I can find you a new mommy. One that will protect you from monsters like that.”

Her dark eyes drifted down to her arms. She rubbed them as they shook. “Mommy bad?”

I nodded. A wave of grief wanting me to wrap her in my arms again. “Yeah, kid.”

More tears fell down her cheek. “I want to go home.”

I got up and sat on the bed between them. She stiffened but didn’t move away. “You can’t, sweetie, it’s not safe. The bad man will get you again.”

“You can stay by my side. I trust her. She saved me twice now,” Brian chimed in.

The image of his half-eaten body flashed in my mind, making me wince. All that mattered was I eventually did save him again.

She scooted to the head of the bed to grab one of my pillows. Her little arms held onto the fluffy rectangle until her sobs ran out. Brian moved over to her to comfort her.

“I be safe?”

I hated seeing the lost look in her dark eyes. She had already had doubts in her mother, and I could see it shining in herpleading eyes. Even the young knew what betrayal was. Living in this city made people grow up fast.

---