Page 19 of Retribution

“Fates.” Ellis’ voice was breathless. “Is that a – leg?”

No one answered for the longest until Oak’s hand covered his mouth and slid down to his chin. “That is definitely a hand.”

“I do not think my mate is handling this too well,” Lenin announced.

I spared Justice a glance long enough to see a pale version of himself clinging to the closest wall. “He’ll live.”

“I assume so.” Lenin nodded.

If Justice didn’t get his shit together soon, he was going to faceplant on the floor, and not a single one of us was going to help him. We couldn’t take our eyes off the screen; we couldn’t look away. What if we missed a movement? What if it did something fascinating and new? It could blink, and we could miss it.

We watched until the screen went black, then we all stared at the door anxiously waiting. Liberty didn’t walk through the door immediately. I swear she had us waiting to come out until she was sure we were ready to bust down the door. But when the door cracked open and she walked out, relief flooded us all.

She held up a string of black and white photos, mirror images of what we had seen on the television screen. None of us moved. “So, are you ready to go?”

“It has legs,” Ellis mumbled.

“And a vagina,” Michelle confirmed and behind me, I heard Oak repeat the words.

“I think –” Lenin stepped forward, taking Liberty’s hand. “I think it is real.”

“No shit,” Maggie added.

Lenin licked his lips. “I mean, in their minds. Before, it was easy to acknowledge it but neglect the thoughts. Now, they have seen its existence. It is very-” He paused, his eyes turning white before rolling back. He blinked. “We must leave.”

Chapter 9

LIBERTY

I clungto the black and white photos like a lifeline as Lenin announced we needed to leave. I knew it most likely would happen. Hell, I gave myself enough fucking pep talks to not even be shocked that some shit was about to go down. But, I was just – disappointed. I was enjoying the time with my men, enjoying the time outside of the house, and enjoying the air outside of the gates for the first time in weeks. Plus, I really, really, did want to visit Target.

Instead, the men went into action in a flurry of movements, each one frantically looking for an exit, seeking an escape. Oak found my hand, as he always seemed to do. “We need to take the stairs; the elevator wouldn’t be safe.”

Stairs. Excuse me? “Sir? We are five floors up; you’re joking, right?”

He squeezed my hand. “Look, if they take out the electricity, we could get stuck in the elevator. We need to take the stairs.”

“Oak is right,” Maggie chimed in, and damn it. I thought we bonded these past weeks, but here she was, being a traitor.

“But –” I whined as an arm pulled forward, and Oak’s determination to find the stairwell had become a full-fledged mission.

“If you even bring up Target right now, Liberty, I swear to the fates –” He stopped talking, not even finishing his threat which was disappointing.

I hoped it was a threat he could play out in the bedroom. Maybe the shower. Garden sex, would you believe I hadn’t partaken in garden sex yet? I looked at all my men and their worried faces and wondered which would be the best to have garden sex with.

We rushed down the hall toward a neon red sign above the door the said exit. “When we get home, can I borrow someone for garden sex?”

Michelle snorted, but only Lenin replied, “Copulation under a full moon is an excellent way for one to recharge their energies.”

“Aww, thanks for volunteering, babe.” I patted Lenin’s arm.

“Liberty, this is dire. You are in danger, and you’re worried about sex.” Oak scolded.

Oh, I was worried about danger, but I was deflecting with thoughts of sex. “I’m aware that Lenin saw danger ahead, and I trust him. But right now, I haven’t seen anything to worry about.”

“Yes, well. If we could get you home before we are forced to worry, that would be ideal,” Ellis said behind me.

“It had a hand. No,She. My daughter had a hand,” Justice mumbled as he trailed up the back. Poor guy. It was going to take time; I got it. I sobbed like a damn baby in that room, then made the girls promise not to tell on me.

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