Page 161 of Crimson Tears

“You did good, Maven,” Kai says as the rest of us file in. “Where is Stiles?”

The boy in question steps out from behind a dresser in the back of the room, his gun raised and a smile on his face.

“We both knew Maven wouldn’t shoot,” he says, lowering the weapon, and I notice him flick on the safety. “I put him in frontto be a distraction so I could pick anyone off who came in here for us without you.”

Well, it sure is a good thing Kai came with us instead of staying back to help form the plan for getting the girls with Nessa, Evie and Damien.

“You both did good,” Kai praises. They seem to take that to heart. This kid is a leader, and a good one at that. “Go ahead and hand them your weapons. I think we have it from here.”

Maven practically throws his weapon while Stiles is more skeptical.

“You sure, Kai?”

Alexi clears his throat and steps forward.

“I will assure you of your safety. However, if you can prove to me that you can handle the weapon, I will allow you to keep it during transport as a means of protection. Once everyone has arrived safely to the house, I will need you to return it for our protection.”

Stiles looks Alexi up and down. I have no idea what the guards here have done to these boys, but you can see thattraumais practically written on their forehead with a flashing neon sign underlining it.

“How do I know that once we get to the next destination that things will be different there than they are here?”

Alexi shrugs. “There is nothing I can give you besides my word.”

Boris steps forwards then, and Alexi nods to him.

“I might be able to do one better than that, Son.”

He slowly approaches the kid and pulls a phone out of his pocket.

“I assume you have not been allowed to contact anyone since you have been here?”

The boy’s eyes light up as he stares at the device with hope. “We haven’t.”

“Is there anyone you wish to call right now that would help you trust us?”

The boy reaches for the phone with a trembling hand. He pauses an inch away, almost as if he fears Boris will take it back and mock him. But the old man holds steady, and eventually Stiles grabs it.

He looks at Kai before dialing a number, then back to all of the other kids before he hits the call button, and the sound of ringing fills the silence.

“Hello?”

“Mom?” A beat of silence passes as Stiles’ face seems to harden. “You did it, didn’t you? You sold me.”

Another beat of silence. “How are you calling me, Stiles?”

The kid looks around the room, then seems to lock eyes with me. “Don’t worry, Mother. You will find out soon enough.”

He ends the call and hands Boris the phone. “Most of us suspected our parents sold us. If we come with you, then you have to promise to teach those of us that want to know what you know.”

I swallow hard, not wanting that life for any of them. But what other choice do they have?

“I will make you a deal,” Alexi says. “I have a person on our team who will talk with each of you individually, and if she clears you to train with us, then we will allow it.”

This time, Stiles doesn’t hesitate. He turns around and addresses the room. “Let’s go then.”

While most of them agree, the younger ones seem to still be hiding. Kai helps us coax them out, and we get the bus driver to provide a few car seats because the six year olds are smaller than I would have imagined.

Kai personally buckles each of them in when Lev says there’s chatter between the guards calling out to the others. He is able to hold them off, but wants to know the plan.

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