Page 98 of Crimson Flames

“MacBook Pro would be preferred, but I know they are pricey.”

Lev turns in his seat, assessing the girl as the rest of the team gets settled into their cars. The other kids start introducing themselves as we all split up into different vehicles, making sure everyone is comfortable.

“The scrolling performance is shit when hacking or programming with an Apple device. What are you trying to accomplish?” Lev questions.

Rhea shrugs, inspecting another item that looks like a metal brick. “There is a secure online chat I made with some contacts a few years ago. I need something that will let me talk to them without leaving a trace.”

Lev runs a hand through his white hair before snapping his fingers. “I’d go with the MSI GS66 Stealth 10SGS-036. It’ll give you better scrolling, plus the battery life is top notch.”

“Ugh,” Rhea shakes her head. “That’s the one with the crazy noisy fan though. What about an Acer Nitro 5?”

Lev looks amused. “That’ll work so long as you’re never going to need to use an SD card or you always want to carry a dongle with you, and I have a feeling you won’t want to be limited like that.”

“Well, shit.”

Watching them go back and forth is amusing. Eventually, she settles on Lev’s original suggestion, so long as Lev helps her to replace the fan with something quieter.

The rest of the kids are getting to know us, and Kai seems to be blending in well.

“These kids are so different from the first,” Nessa says, coming up to me and allowing me to wrap my arms around her as she folds into my chest.

Resting my chin on the top of her head, I let out a long breath. “We got them though. They are safe now.”

“Ten years, Boris. They have had some of them for as long as they can remember. No matter how we feel about it, these are trained killers. What are we going to do with nine weaponized teenagers?”

I cannot help the chuckle that escapes me. “You forget,Lisichka, Cillian is basically the same thing.”

She leans back and shoves my chest playfully. “Yes, and now we have nine more of him. Do you not see the problem?”

Her eyes sparkle in the night, so full of life it makes me feel as if I can finally breathe again. She is healing, we are healing. Nothing is going to get in our way this time. I will not allow it.

“We will figure it out, my little fox.”

I kiss her on the head so we can begin to load up. Arrow says he is going to ride with Damien and keep the hostage in check, so I ask Kai if he will ride with me. His gaze drifts to Nessa and Cillian, but he agrees.

I know I am the old man here, the odd one out. But I want a relationship with Kai too, and I plan to foster it as much as possible. I know that I failed with Alexi, but I will not let myself make the same mistake twice.

We sit in comfortable silence on the way to the airstrip. Once the cars are loaded, everyone begins to pile out. Alexi says he will show some of them around the plane, and others are planning to sit and eat on the top deck.

Kai moves to get out, but I put a hand on his shoulder. “Can we talk?”

He visibly deflates, making me feel like shit. “Are you angry with me?”

“Kai, I am not angry. I just want you to know that what you did today was reckless.”

He nods. “I know, but I needed to show you that I can be part of the team too.” Pleading eyes look up at me. “I wanted to fit in with you all.”

“Misha, you are so much more than that. You are part of our team, but you are our family too.”

“Misha?”

I smile at him while ruffling his hair. “You know that I call NessaLisichka?”

“Yeah.”

“It means little fox in Russian. When I first met her, she was always darting around; there for everyone in our circle, including me. That, mixed with her bright red hair, reminded me so much of a fox.

ButMishameans ‘little bear’. It is a term of endearment for a son, but it also fits you well. Bears protect. They are fierce and devoted.”

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