Page 90 of Crimson Flames

A look passes between us and I shake my head, willing him to keep his mouth shut. The color is just returning to Nessa’s face, her determination firm in moving forward.

Lev pulls up a computer in the center of our group and begins talking. As Alexi forces us all to say the plan out loudagain, my eyes keep drifting towards the back of the van. Just as a pair of wide eyes meet mine, Nessa follows my line of sight and gasps.

Interrupting everything, she flings open the back door and yells, “What the feck, Kai?”

A sheepish grin crosses his lips as he ducks down into himself. “Hey there.”

“Kai,” she reprimands in a stern tone. He finally looks at her, guilt written all over his face.

“I’m sorry,” he says, rushing over to her side. “I can’t do this for you. I can’t just stay back. It’s too hard being away when anything can happen.”

His lip trembles, and to my surprise, it’s Boris who steps up.

“Kai, this was a dangerous choice. You could have been hurt because we did not know where you were. We understand why you did it, but now we need to take some time to come up with a plan where you are safe.”

Kai blows out a long breath, nodding his head. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, kid,” I say. Walking up to him, I kneel so that he can’t avoid my eyes by staring at the ground. “Just say that next time you think about following us in secret, we will talkabout it more. I didn’t realize you felt this worried. I’m sorry if I wasn’t listening. You know that what you did wasn’t safe, and we always want you to be safe.”

“I just…” his voice trails off as he tries to compose himself. “I just got my family, and I’m scared it’s going to be taken away.”

That has Nessa stepping forward, wrapping an arm around him. “I’m just trying to do what any mother should, Kai. I want you to be protected. I don’t want you thinking you have anything to prove by coming out here with us.”

“I know,” Kai says, squeezing her tight. “But this is all I know. I like this stuff and it’s where I feel useful. Please, let me feel like part of the team. I’ll even stay in the van or whatever you want, but please just let me be here with you.”

Nessa and I exchange a look before she glances over to Lev. He nods, and Damien helps peel Kai from Nessa’s arms.

“Come on, little dude, let’s get you set up with Lev,” Damien says, ushering him towards the van. Nessa’s hand is resting over her stomach as she blankly stares in the direction we are headed.

“He is not here,” I confirm just as another voice pipes in behind me.

“I’ve got eyes on him right now, Ness.” A tall brunette and a short redhead stand off to the side. It takes Nessa a second before she goes running to them.

“You’re here!” They all embrace quickly. “It’s been a while.”

The tall one laughs and stares me down. “Who’s he?”

Nessa bites her lip. “Cillian, this is Kia.” The short one clears her throat. “And this is Lyra.”

I nod my head to them in greeting, not sure if I fully trust them yet. They seem to all have a history, and I want to know what it is. Their names sound familiar though.

“You failed to tell us just how insanely hot your not-so-dead ex-lover-turned-new-lover in the throuple is,” Kia says.

Okay, I like them a little more now.

Nessa smacks her on the stomach, causing her to fake grunt while Lyra shakes her head. “You like women, remember?” Lyra says.

“Oh, I remember, babe.” Kia leans down and kisses her, shocking me a bit. Not because it’s two women, but because I definitely didn’t peg them as a couple at first.

Nessa’s cheeks are flaming red as I approach and land a kiss on her forehead. Everyone seems to know the two new team members who I learned were Nessa’s roommates on the island, and more so who are loyal to Evie.

Using their ties in Ireland, they had been keeping tabs on Donovan and looking into the Reapers, tracking their changes over the past few months.

“A shift in leadership makes sense. They went from slightly organized to highly efficient overnight. The drug trade has gotten out of hand and the business owners are barely staying above water,” Lyra adds.

“Is the kid in the van yours?” Kia asks Nessa, who sighs dramatically.

“He is ours, and he’s a little shite head for not listening.”

---