Blaze (Steel Brothers Saga 21)

“Tal, I understand, but they have to be quiet.”

“I’ll get them to be quiet,” the first man says. “I know what they need right now.” He sets me down on the floor next to Dale and then sits beside us.

He takes off his black mask.

I shriek again. He has dark hair, dark eyes. He looks like a normal guy, but he could easily hurt us again.

I don’t know him. I don’t know anyone here except Dale.

The third man covers his ears. “Damn it, mon! We’ve got to leave them.”

“We are not leaving them,” the second man says.

The first man holds me so I can see him. “Shh. You see? I took off the mask. I’m just a normal person, like you. Only the men who wear masks hurt you.”

I don’t believe him. I don’t believe anyone anymore except Dale, and he told me no one was coming. This man is not a nice man. He’s mean, like the others. I don’t scream again. I just cry.

“You two,” the first man says to the other two. “Take off your masks. Show him he doesn’t need to be scared.”

“Mon…”

“Do it! Just fucking do it!”

The third man sighs and pulls off his mask. He has dark skin and dark eyes. The second man has brown hair and brown eyes, light skin, and looks kind of like the first man.

“See?” the man holding me says. “We’re not going to hurt you. I promise. As long as you’re with us, you’re safe.”

Dale is still cowering in the corner. He’s crying. He’s not helping me. Why isn’t he helping me?

The man holding me nods to Dale. “Ryan, get that one.”

The second man walks forward, and Dale cringes.

“Please,” the man says. “It’s okay. We’re friends. I promise.” He pulls Dale into his arms.

“We know you’ve been around some bad people who hurt you. We won’t hurt you,” the first says. “I know how you’re feeling right now. You’re scared, and you’re hurting, and you don’t know who to trust. You’re also a little embarrassed. You never imagined the things that have happened to you, that such horrible things could even exist. But there is good in the world still, and you’ll be okay. You’ll be okay again. I promise.”

I cling to the man. Then he kisses the top of my head. Like my mommy used to.

And I feel a little bit safer.

“I don’t want to scare you guys,” he says, “but we have to put the masks back on. We won’t be able to get you out of here if we don’t, because the bad men will recognize us and know we’re not supposed to be here. Will you be okay if we put the masks back on?”

I let go. It feels good to let go. I decide to trust this man. “Yes,” I choke out.

I don’t hear Dale answer, but I think he nods.

“All right,” the first man says in a soft voice. “I’m going to put the mask on now. And the others will too. Then we’ll go.”

Somehow he gets the mask on while still holding me.

“Are you both ready?” he asks.

I look over at Dale in the second man’s arms. This time I see him nod.

“Uh-huh,” I gulp out.

“I still think you’re crazy,” the third man says, donning his mask.