Page 46 of Pope's Penance

“I don’t know, but considering he’s intelligent enough to keep Cypher from tracing him, I’m sure it was easy for him.”

“Don’t give him a lot of credit.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate him,” I snap.

“I’ve seen what he can do, so believe me, I’m not underestimating him.I know he’s smart.What I’m saying is he’s not on Cypher’s level, but he has someone working with him who is.Don’t discount the people on his payroll.He didn’t build his business on money alone.Tell Cypher to check his business contacts.”

“I’m sure he’s already on it, but I’ll mention it anyway.”

“We’ll be there soon,” she says before hanging up.

I shove both phones in my pocket and head back inside to check on Birdie.The twins are sitting on the couch watching Birdie as she stares out the living room window.She’s gripping herself tightly.It does little to control the tremors that have overtaken her.Their worry for Birdie is in their trembling lips and watery eyes.They huddle together, seeking comfort in one another.Since they lack the maturity to understand PTSD, they’re puzzled by their mom’s sudden change in behavior.

As much as I want to go to Birdie, there are two little humans who need comfort first.

I squat in front of the twins, wrapping my arms around them and pulling them to me.“Your ma is going to be okay.She’s just having a hard time.Your aunt is on the way over, okay?”

“It washim, wasn’t it, Dad?”Legend asks.

“Yeah, little warrior.”

“I hate him.”

I lean away from me so I can look him in the eye.“We don’t give people that much power over us, son.You cannotlike someone—I have a lot of people that I don’t like—but hate is a powerful emotion.We don’t put something like that in someone else’s hands.”I run my palm over his head and place a kiss on the top of Lovelyn’s.“I’m going to take care of your mom.Why don’t you all head upstairs to play until Valkyrie gets here?”

Legend peers at his mom before coming back to me.“You’ll take care of her?”

“I promise, little warrior.I got her.”

“I’m trusting you,” he states so solemnly that my heart cracks.

Fuck, man.

My kids had to see too much dark too early in their lives.

I hold my pinky up to him and nod gravely.“I swear to you I won’t break it.”

Legend hooks his pinky around mine before releasing me.Then he grabs Lovelyn’s hand and, together, they head upstairs.

Once they’re no longer in sight, I climb to my feet.Birdie tenses when I get close to her.I stop when there’s enough room that I’m not touching her, but close enough that she can feel my heat at her back.

I need her to know she’s not alone this time.

“What are you doing, little mama?”

“Waiting for him to come,” she says in a robotic voice.

“You’re safe here, Birdie.There are too many people he’d have to go through.He won’t defeat us all.”

“Don’t underestimate him,” she says, repeating the words I said to Valkyrie minutes ago.“If there is something worse than the devil, then that’s what Frankie is.”

“I never underestimate anyone, baby.That’s a good way to get dead.”

Birdie shrugs.“I did.”She turns to face me.“Twice.”

The breath rushes from me as her words nail me in my chest.She steps around my dazed body and out of the room.

Lifting my hand to the middle of my chest, I rub my knuckles against the pain there.My heart constricts repeatedly, struggling to beat through the pain.

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