Axel returned to Raimi’s room with the cowboy. Kelly looked at them anxiously. “Olson and Barron…?”

“It’s over,” Axel told her. “They’re not going to hurt anymore kids ever again.” He looked at the cowboy, then said, “We need your help with something. I don’t want to have to ask this of you, but it’s important.”

“You saved our lives,” she whispered. “I’d do anything for you.”

“The kids from the backroom…” he swallowed. “The detective needs help identifying them, and if you know anything else about them, if any of them have families out there…it would be a great help in finally laying them to rest.”

Kelly nodded. “I’ll help,” she said softly and looked at the cowboy. His eyes remained troubled and a little bit haunted. As intimidating as he looked on the outside, she could sense his pain inside. “Luke was closest to Grace,” she offered gently. “But I know she had a dad. I think his name was Henry. I’m not sure what their last name was, but Luke might know.”

Savannah came in just then with a couple cups of cocoa. Her attention went straight to the cowboy and it was evident she had great affection for the man. She set the cups on the bedside table then approached the cowboy. Her voice trembled when she asked, “Are you okay?”

The large man stared at her then slowly nodded. Kelly didn’t know if he really was or not; he didn’t look like he was. Savannah hugged him and for a moment he just stood there, unresponsive, then his arms went around her hesitantly and he hugged her back.

“Will you stay with Raimi?” Kelly asked her when the girl withdrew.

“Of course,” Savannah smiled. “Where are you going?”

Kelly explained, and Savannah looked sad. “It’s okay,” Kelly whispered. “I want to help the kids to be at peace.”

“I understand.”

Kelly left with the men and returned to the private waiting room where she was introduced to detective Wil Jordan. The man was friendly with gentle eyes and a soft voice that put her at ease.

“I’m sorry to have to ask you to do this,” the detective said sincerely.

“It’s okay,” she murmured.

“Thank you.” He produced a digital pad. “Rather than you having to go to the morgue, I took photos of each child.” He gazed at her. “Are you ready to look at them?”

Kelly nodded. With the first photo that was brought up, she saw that the kids had been cleaned up and their hair combed back away from their faces. They looked like they were sleeping, though their gaunt features resonated the presence of death.

Tears shimmered as she named each child and gave the detective whatever info she had on each of them. She didn’t know much about most of them; the kids who came there quickly learned to forget about their old life because it hurt too much to think about it. Grace had been one of the few who’d clung to the hope of being rescued.

“The other kids who were brought into the hospital,” the detective said, “some of them won’t talk. If you could help us identify them as well…”

“All right,” Kelly murmured.

She was taken to a large room with many beds where the kids from the orphanage were being looked after. While at the orphanage, she was so focused on keeping herself and Raimi alive, that she hadn’t really noticed how awful the other kids looked. She’d been shocked by her own reflection. How did we even survive? she wondered as tears filled her eyes.

“Are you okay?” Axel touched her arm.

She shook her head, her chin quivering. “No.”

“If you’re not feeling up to this right now,” the detective said, “we can wait.”

Kelly wiped her eyes. “No. It’s okay. I’ll do it now. If some of them have families looking for them, they should be told about their kids as soon as possible.” She swallowed thickly. “They’ve suffered long enough.”

The detective nodded. “Thank you, Kelly. You’re a very brave and caring young lady.”

“Kelly?” Luke saw her and came over, pausing a couple feet away. “Is…Is Raimi okay?”

“Yeah.” Kelly bit her lip as she stared at the boy. He had been slipping away. After Grace was taken to the back room, he’d started fading like some of the other kids. It was good to see him back. “He has to stay in the hospital for a while, but he’s gonna be okay.”

His eyes misted. “Did…did you hear about Grace?” He glanced at the cowboy.

Kelly nodded as her tears thickened. “Yeah. I-I can’t believe she was still…”

“She thought the cowboy was her dad,” he whispered with a tremor.

“I’m glad.” Kelly looked at the cowboy. “She needed him to be with her when she…” Kelly ducked her head as tears slid down her face. “I feel so sorry for him when he finds out she’s gone. He loved her so much. I know he’s out there right now, still looking for her.”

The detective cleared his throat and blinked. “We’ll find him, so he can lay her to rest properly and say his goodbyes.”

The cowboy turned around and walked out of the room. Axel stared after him, tears in his eyes.

 

•♦•

 

Axel followed Clint out into the corridor. The cowboy needed some downtime—soon.

“Find out from the detective when he wants us to bring the twins to his place,” Clint mumbled. “He needs to get them back to their parents as soon as possible. Every minute they don’t know their kids are safe, they’re suffering.”

“All right,” Axel murmured. “I’ll find out.”

The detective walked out before Axel could go back inside. He must have overheard Clint because he said, “Bring the twins to my place in one hour. I’ll take care of them first, then start looking for these kids’ families.”

Clint rubbed his mouth. “There’s more.”

“More?” Jordan frowned.

“More kids,” Clint said. “When we found the twins, there were ten other kids with them. They’re being taken care of for now. Some are from the same orphanage as these kids. At least one of the boys may have a father out there somewhere.”

“Ten more kids?” Jordan looked stricken. “Were they as bad off as these kids? Physically, I mean.”

“Close,” Axel answered. “Severely malnourished.”

Jordan rubbed his eyes. “Where are they?”

“I told you, they’re being taken care of,” Clint said stiffly. “We’ll get you their names, so you can search for their families, but they’ve just started to feel safe. I’m not going to move them around again, not yet.”

The detective nodded. “I understand.”

“I’m going to talk to Kelly,” Axel told Clint. “Then we can go.” He walked back into the room and let Kelly know they were going to pick up the twins.

“The kids you named before,” Kelly said anxiously. “You said there was a girl named Nina?”

“Yes. About fourteen or fifteen years old.”

Kelly lowered her eyes.

“Was she your friend?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Do you want me to give her a message for you?”

Kelly looked up, her eyes anxious. “Just…just let her know Raimi and I are okay. And that…I miss her. A lot.”

Axel felt the weight of those words and thought he understood. “I will. And don’t worry, you’ll see her again soon.”

 

•♦•

 

“Adrian.” Anthony and Angelo found the younger man outside on the back veranda. “What’re you doing out here?” Anthony asked. “It’s cold.”

“I’m wearing a coat.” Adrian smiled at the men as they sat down on the bench next to him, flanking him on each side.

Angelo stretched his arm along the back of the bench and stroked Adrian’s hair. “Something on your mind?”

He nodded. There was a lot on his mind. Maybe too much.

“Can you tell us?”

Adrian sighed. “I don’t know if I should.”

The two men exchanged a glanced. “As long as you’re not thinking about leaving us,” Angelo said. “Then you can talk to us about it.”

“Leave you?” Adrian laughed low. “Why would you ever think I’d leave you?”

“Well, we are a couple of old goats and you’re still a young stud,” Anthony pointed out.

“You’re not old goats,” Adrian chuckled. “And I’m not that young. I don’t think I ever was a stud.”

“We beg to differ,” Angelo smiled. “But that’s another debate. Tell us what’s on your mind now.”

Adrian was nervous about voicing his thoughts.

“Come on, tell us,” Angelo murmured. “If you do, I’ll…” He leaned close and whispered delightfully dirty suggestions in his ear.

Heat flooded Adrian’s loins and he smiled. “I might sell my soul for that,” he groaned.

“No need for such drastic measures,” Angelo laughed lightly. “You know I’ll do it for you anytime, anywhere.”

“Do I get to be in on it?” Anthony queried.

“Oh, hell yes,” Angelo nodded. “But we’re getting off subject.” He looked at Adrian and raised an eyebrow. “Talk to us.”

Taking a deep breath, Adrian nodded. “Okay. But you have to promise to be honest about what you think. All right?”

The two men nodded. “Of course.”

“So, what would you think about…” Adrian hesitated. “…adopting Jacob and Eric?”

“Adopting…” the men looked at each other.

“Honesty, remember?” Adrian murmured, his stomach churning.

“What brought you to this decision?” Angelo asked him.

Adrian wasn’t sure he could explain it. He gave it a shot. “Jacob and I…we connect. He feels safe here, with us. All of us. I don’t think he wants to leave. I think he’s afraid of him and Eric being split up, which is a real possibility if they become wards of the state. After everything they’ve gone through, all that’s been taken from them, they shouldn’t have to lose each other as well.” He released a shaky breath. “I know we already have Callum staying here, but there’s plenty of room for two more. I mean…” he looked at the two men. “…if that’s something you even want to consider. And don’t say it is if it isn’t.”

Touching his chin, Angelo turned Adrian’s face his way and kissed him softly. “You’re a beautiful soul, baby.”

Anthony drew him around and kissed him, too. “Indeed, you are.”

“What does that mean?” Adrian asked anxiously.

“It means,” Anthony murmured. “That we are in favor of adding to our family.”

Adrian looked at Angelo and the older man nodded and smiled. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” Angelo chuckled.

“I love you both, so much.” His heart went out to the rest of the kids in need of homes, but he would do everything in his power to make sure they were placed with loving families. The thought of any of them being left behind or unwanted broke his heart. He wouldn’t allow that—even if he had to convince the two men in his life to open their home to a few more.

 

•♦•

 

Marshall Banks arrived at the hospital in record time. Wil wasn’t surprised. When he’d called Misha Banks’ father and informed him his daughter was safe and waiting here at the hospital for him to come pick her up, he’d hardly gotten the words out before the line went dead.

“Daddy!” Misha burst into tears and threw herself into her father’s arms the second he came through the waiting room door. The man wilted and dropped to his knees, engulfing her in his strong embrace. She clung to him like a little child, sobbing against his shoulder. “I’m sorry, daddy, I’m sorry! I’m sorry I ran away…I didn’t mean it! I was gonna come home, I was.” She broke down completely.

“Shh, baby, it’s okay.” Marshall Banks rubbed her back and cried with her. “I’m not mad, sweetheart. It was my fault. All my fault.” He held her tight, literally shaking with relief. “Are you okay, honey. Did…” he forced the words out. “Did anyone hurt you?”

Misha’s sobs subsided, though her body continued to tremble and shake. “A man took us,” she whispered. “He…he said he wanted to help us. We told him we didn’t need help, but he just grabbed me.” Misha broke into sobs again.

His chin trembling, Marshall drew back and cupped his daughter’s wet face. “Did he do something to you? Did he…touch you?” Fear and fury filled his eyes. “Did he?”

She shook her head and cried harder.

Marshall stood up and spoke to Wil. “Is that true? She wasn’t…”

“It’s true,” Wil assured. “She was rescued before anything happened to her.”

“You…?”

Wil shook his head. “What matters is she’s safe and untouched.” If only the same could be said for the rest of them.

“Thank God,” Marshalll whispered and sank to his heels again as he pulled his daughter into his arms once more. He drew back a moment later, a puzzled frown on his face. “You said us. Were you with someone?”

Misha nodded and pointed at the boy sitting quietly in one of the cushioned chairs. “I was with Billy. I-I met him on the streets. I was hungry, and he shared his sandwich with me. We were headed home when the man took us.”

“How did he get you both?”

“He grabbed me and told Billy he would hurt me if he didn’t get in the van, too.”

Marshall looked at the boy, fresh tears forming. “You went with him so he wouldn’t hurt her?”

Billy nodded. “She was my friend.”

“You said you were coming home when this happened?” Marshall asked his daughter. “Both of you?”

“Yes,” Misha whispered. “Billy didn’t have any place to live. I told him you would let him live with us.”

Marshall stared at her in silence. Wil’s throat knotted as he waited for the man’s response.

“Can he live with us, daddy?” Uncertainty crumpled the girl’s face. “Please?”

Marshall slid his hand over his mouth, looked at the boy, then rose to feet and faced Wil. “Is it all right if he comes home with us?” he asked. “I’ll sign up to be his foster parent or whatever I have to do. I’ll give him some time, and if he likes living with us…I’d be willing to adopt him.”

Wil blinked. “Just like that?” he asked, in awe more so than shock.

“He risked his life to keep my daughter safe,” Marshalll said thickly. “I would be proud to call him my son.”

Wil nodded, his vision swimming. “Of course, he can go with you. I’ll contact you in a day or two and get you the information you need to sign up as a foster parent.”

“He can come home with us?” Misha stared at her dad with tense hope. The man nodded and his daughter grinned and ran over to the boy, flinging her arms around his neck. “You get to be my brother, Billy! I told you my dad was awesome!”

Wil and Marshall laughed softly, both men wiping tears from their eyes as the boy’s somber demeanor suddenly brightened like the sun breaking through a dark and cloudy sky.