Page 75 of Crimson Tears

“We need to get to them now. I can show you where they are,” I insist.

Alexi shakes his head, and Evie’s hand wraps around my arm gently. “We have no idea what we are walking into,” she says sympathetically. “We want them out too, but we need to be smart about this.”

I clench my hands into fists and glare at Alexi. He shakes his head, siding with Evie.

“Nessa is hurt. Badly. She was having a hard time breathing when I left.”

Evie runs her hands through her hair, starting to pace. “Okay, in the car. We will find a place to hide out close by and come up with a plan. Damien, call in your alpha team. I want Havoc here. Lev, keep working, get all of the information you can as Boris tells you everything he knows. Alexi, you drive.”

Everyone begins to move and Evie pulls me to the car. “How long can she hold on?” she asks quietly.

“A few hours. It took me most of the day just to get here, so I don’t know how much she has worsened. But Cillian found a medical kit so he might be able to help.”

In truth, I have no idea. But based on her wounds, the way some of them already looked infected, and the severity of the bruising on her midsection, I worry it is less than that.

Once I get in the car, things move quickly. I give Lev every ounce of information I can recall, including the layout of the small bunker. He creates an estimated 3D blueprint and sharesit with Damien while he stays on the phone with his alpha team, talking through a plan as I direct them to the best areas and tell them where they need to focus their fire based on the layout.

My adrenaline fades, and defeat swirls around me. I did not even try to get them out with me. Logically, I know that it was the right move to leave them there. Cillian had a plan and the best way to fuck it up would have been to question him or not follow through. But sitting here in a car parked a few miles from my girl with nothing to do is quite dreadful.

“Boris,” Evie says softly. “Want to talk about it?”

I shake my head because that is something I cannot do. My son turns in his seat, a disapproving look on his face. Without a word, he looks at Evie, a silent conversation passing between them.

“Let’s stretch our legs,” Evie suggests.

We have been hunkered down for a while. Alexi forced me to eat and drink a bit so I no longer feel as weak, but I do not wish to stretch my legs. I want to go get my girl.

“Alpha team is twenty minutes out,” Damien informs us. I sigh, knowing what they are doing. My hand curls around the handle as nausea churns inside me.

Evie follows me out of the car, and we take a few steps away as she stretches out her limbs. I do the same and try to get ready. Just a few more hours before Nessa should be in my arms.

“Want to tell me why one of my best friends looked like she cried herself to sleep six days ago when we showed up at your door?”

Well, I guess we are getting straight to the point.

“With all due respect, Eydis…” Her nostrils flare and her face turns red. Normally she doesn’t mind if I call her by her birth name, but I can see that right now, she minds.

“Don’t feed me that bullshit, Boris. We’re a family. Spit it the fuck out.” She crosses her arms, and I am reminded of thewoman I have watched torture men to death, bathing in their blood without so much as a second thought.

“I fucked up, alright?” My words come out a little too harsh, but she doesn’t flinch, showcasing just how much power she holds.

“That part was glaringly obvious. Let’s talk about how you’re going to fix it.”

Clenching my fists, I pace back and forth, trying to keep my anger over everything at bay while I talk to the small girl who seems to have more strength in her than her three husbands combined.

“I tried to give her space so she could be with the love of her life.”

She laughs and I turn to glare at her. “What is so humorous about that statement?”

She laughs again. “Did you forget that you’re one of her loves?”

My anger fades to confusion in a snap. “Not everyone is like you, Eydis. We cannot all be in polyamorous relationships.”

Her brows furrow, and she cocks her head to the side.

“Why is that?”

“Because that is just not normal!” My hands fly up in the air as frustration overtakes me before the car door opens.

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