Page 51 of Sacrifice

"Unka Pen Pen," the other says and I stand there, straightening my shirt and grunting to keep from taking the babies and running back into the room.

"Oh yeah, he's a softy," Ayres says to Hypnos.

Walking away from the room, the guys tell them about me, and I growl. "Don't push it."

Hypnos and Ayres laugh as they follow me. The fuckers are going to get it.

Right. You know you are turning soft. My mind argues as we all gather at the elevator.

Once we step in, the elevator moves down a floor and I think about how I'm going to win mi reina back. The elevator lights flicker and the air inside the area turns off.

We are almost to the next floor, but the elevator is stuck between the second and third floor. The elevator stops abruptly and everything goes dark.

The babies scream, and Hypnos immediately uses his phone's flashlight to light up the shaft. "Shh, babies, it's alright. You are here with Daddy Ayres and Daddy Hypnos. Nothing will happen."

I wish that were true. We can hear people shouting and gun fire happening outside. Ayres looks at me and I nod. Fuck, this is probably because of me. I'm going to have more fucking blood on my hands.

If I can get out of here, I can hopefully stop the bloodshed. Grabbing the phone from the emergency slot, I dial the number on the panel.

All I can think about is how Aribella is in danger. Again. Ayres comes over and takes the phone from my hands and listens to the ringer. He hangs up, dials again and someone answers.

As Ayres tells the person on the other line we are stuck, Hypnos comes over to me.

"Get out of your head," he whispers so no one else can hear, but his words are loud and clear to me. "No matter what happens, you can make things right."

I nod, keeping my back to him. There's no reason for anyone to see me about to have a mother fucking nervous breakdown.

"Unka Pen Pen." Oh fuck me. I close my eyes and when I open them, I turn around to see the sweet girl looking at me and notice one eye is hazel, and the other is blue.

"Yes, sweet girl?" I smile at her and she hands me her stuffed rabbit.

"It's safe," she whispers, and I take the stuffed animal. My heart is beating too fast and all I want to do is let out an agonizing scream. But this sweet child is trying to comfort me.

"Thank you." I kiss her forehead and hold the rabbit to my chest. There's more commotion outside, and Ayres turns on music from his phone. The girls don't need to hear what's going on.

Hell, the Powers aren't to be feared. They are to be admired. Sure, they are crazy as fuck, but the way they act with one another, it's on a whole different level.

Taking another deep breath, I focus on getting out of here and never letting Aribella or my family be in danger again.

By the time the firefighters get to us, the girls are crying and sweaty. The guys are trying to calm them down, but they aren't able to. I'm on my last nerve and ready to bust down the walls.

"Yes, we got them," someone says and light pours into the area.

"Mr. Domingo?" A female firefighter comes into view, along with Kronos and Charlotte.

"We're going to get you out, but can we have the babies first?" she asks, and my hackles raise. I know Kronos and Charlotte are there, but it could be a trick. They could be under duress.

"Not until you show me some fucking identification first."

Kronos comes into view and looks at me. "Are they with you?' his voice is panicked, but he's keeping it under control pretty damn well.

"They are, Kronos. I just didn't want to hand them to someone else."

Kronos looks at me with respect. Something I'm not sure I deserve, but I will take it. "Thank you. Hand me the first baby, please."

With pleasure, I take the babies and hand them one by one to Kronos and then I move back, letting the firefighters open the doors wider.

The firefighters fuss about getting us blankets and water. I step around them and go straight to Kronos.

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