“You too,” he said. “I’ve…I’ve been alone for a while now, but I knew someone was out there. Something better.”
With that we backed out of Alex’s ‘eyes’.
I explained to the guys what had just happened and leaned back into Jax’s arms, tired, excited, and scared.
Chapter 32
Drake, Jemmy, and Rachel were awake when we got home, despite it being nearly midnight. Drake had some sandwiches and fresh cut French fries waiting for us.
Ella came barreling out of her room and smiled at Alex, like she was greeting a long-lost friend. “Alex!” she cried, launching herself into him and hugging him.
Even though they were the same age, you could tell the differences in their care.
“Hi Ella,” Alex smiled a little shy and embarrassed.
We all looked at each other in wonder, then realized that we were looking at two extraordinary children, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that they somehow met.
“Alex can go in people’s heads,” I explained to Remy, Will, Drake, Jemmy, and Rachel.
They all looked at him in wonder. As far as they knew, Horatio was the only other person that had that ability.
I grabbed two paper plates and added some sandwiches and fries to them and sat the kids down at the island. “Are you hungry?” I asked Ella belatedly.
She shrugged. “I can eat,” she giggled. “When you’re done eating do you want to watch a movie with me?” she asked Alex excitedly.
He smiled and nodded. “Yeah.”
“Good,” she smiled and they both started eating.
“Maybe after showers,” I stated, but then remembered we had no clothes for Alex and he was in desperate need of a shower and clean clothes. I frowned. “Maybe we can find him something to wear temporarily.”
“Rachel and I can run to the Walmart down the street. It’s open twenty-four hours. Can you wait for story time?” she begged. “It looks like you’ve had an…adventurous day.”
I laughed despite feeling emotionally, mentally, and physically drained. “Yes, I’ll wait.”
I started a pot of coffee knowing I needed a little help tonight. There was no way I was going to sleep before I met my other brother. “Can you grab me a red bull or monster?” I asked her retreating back.
“You’re not going to bed soon?” Jemmy asked then she looked around. “Where’s Troy?”
“We’ll explain,” I shooed her out the door.
Drake gently pushed me out of the way. “Go eat, I’ll bring you a cup of coffee.”
I smiled and reached up to kiss him on his cheek. “Thank you,” I murmured before heading to the dining room table.
T
he guys were quietly talking to each other as I got to the table, mindful of the children. “We’ll have the doctor come over tomorrow morning to check Alex over,” Will frowned in concern at Alex.
“He was sold to Tom,” I shuddered, my stomach hurting suddenly. “What happened to him?”
I looked over at Remy, noticing he had been silent since we got home, and I know something he had seen or done triggered something within him. The guys looked at each other hesitantly as Remy stared down at his food.
“He won’t be buying, selling, or abusing any children anymore,” Will finally said tentatively.
I felt a heaviness settle in my stomach, but then I felt a feeling of being set free. “Good,” I nodded, and I saw shock ripple across some of their features. I guess they didn’t expect me to be so blood thirsty, but I knew that young girl and I hadn’t been his only victims. He had been a predator and with the job Horatio had for him, it was his own playground, for goodness knows how long. “Was he gifted? Is that why he found Heidi, to get to me?”
“I think he was,” Will nodded slowly. “But what he could do was beyond me. I have someone investigating him right now. If my assumptions are correct, he used his position as a lawyer to find these kids and delivered the children to Horatio. We found a card in his wallet and it looked like he specialized in family law, so it’s not too far of a leap.”