Page 166 of Crimson Tears

“Cool,” the kid states before turning around, like the idea of a throuple is no big deal. I guess to someone like him it isn’t.

Bright lights flicker in the distance, drawing Kai’s attention. We called Doc to have some ambulances with stretchers and body bags brought out, wanting to give those who have passed as much dignity as possible.

So, as the stretchers roll into the building, I step up to help. Nessa tries to go too, but I can see the nausea already on her face. I shake my head and she huffs, crossing her arms over her chest.

But the moment the first body is loaded into the ambulance, she turns around to face the trees.

“Watch out for her,” I tell Kai as I step forward to help. Cillian comes over to give Nessa a kiss and whisper that they did it, the joy of saving so many helping ease the ache of the ones we lost.

If this experience here has taught me anything, it’s that Nessa is going to be an amazing mother. She’s fiercely protective and has a heart big enough to go around. And so does Cillian.

“Little Fox,” I say before I get too far. “We need the whole team here.”

She nods, knowing exactly what I mean. Cillian and I share a look. I cannot believe we got these kids out and no one was hurt. Maybe the universe is finally deciding to give us the life we deserve.

Chapter 52

I loosen the vest around me as I pull my phone out of my pocket. It falls down slightly to cover more of my stomach. Not that I need to be concerned anymore. We got everyone.

Cillian informed me that my father was just here, but I find that strange. We’ve had eyes on him around the clock, and no one reported him leaving. I make a mental note to check in with my girls in Ireland when we get back to the house.

Maybe he’s using someone on his trusted team?

Kai follows me, sitting in the grass by my side as I call Laney. She picks up after the second ring.

“What is it, babe?” Laney asks, her voice worried.

“Speaker,” I say. After a second and some rustling I ask, “Is everyone there?”

“Yeah, we’re all here,” Laney says. I knew they were having dinner tonight with Dr. K, Akio, and Adrian.

“Good. We’re going to need your help down here. Turns out what they were doing with these kids was bigger than we ever could have imagined. We have a lot of terrified children down here right now.”

Kai looks at me with confusion, but I lay a hand on his arm as I remove the phone from my face.

“It’s okay,” I whisper. “I am going to get everyone the help they need.”

He nods, accepting my reassurance, so I put the phone back to my ear.

“We need Dr. K down here to help. There are a lot of little ones we can’t trace back to their families. Akio and Adrian should come meet them. Maybe their future kid is here. But for now, we just need all hands on deck.”

I think about Ani and Ami and how Akio and Adrian would spoil the shit out of them. If anyone can help those girls heal, it would be them and immense amounts of therapy from Dr. K.

“How many kids, Ness?” Laney asks.

Another stretcher with a black bag exits the building, and the urge to vomit becomes stronger.

“Yes, how many are alive?” Havoc asks.

“Forty six.”

Silence, and then Laney speaks. “How many dead?”

My throat tightens as the final stretcher is brought out and loaded into the ambulance. Doc looks at me and holds up his fingers, signaling a number.

“Four.”

Four innocent souls we didn’t reach in time. Kai takes my hand and squeezes it.

---