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Echo only smiled.
Damn…he could conquer the world with that smile.
Real dumped the boy in the far back inside of his Suburban. It had three rows, but the very back would fit Grit.
The kid glared at him through a tangle of dark hair. Real leaned in close, searched the seat, and pulled the boy’s seatbelt around and buckled it tight.
Rather than shrink back in fear at his closeness, the boy snapped his teeth at him and made a hissing sound.
“What’s your name?” Real said.
“Screw you.”
“Okay, Screw. Just sit tight and we’ll get you some food.” Not sure why he did it, but Real brushed the hair back from the boy’s face. The kid jerked his head away with a glare, only this time, he was panting, fists clenched.
“My name’s not screw. It’s Azrael.” More hissing along with a throaty growl.
Real pulled back. Those sounds were going to get the boy into trouble one of these days.
“Wait? What’s yours?” the kid asked.
Turning away from those big dark eyes, Real shut the door without answering.
Ice and Echo got the other boys into the vehicle and then came around to his side.
“What’s the plan?” Echo said.
“We can’t touch Solomon yet, but we can get rid of his men waiting at your vehicle,” Real said.
“I don’t want to split up and Echo’s not leaving these kids.”
“Don’t worry.” Real lifted a hand and another vehicle door opened and shut.
Savage and Thane approached, looking casually dressed, but there were a few subtle differences. Like the shoes, gloves, and beanies. It may reach into the mid-seventies during the day, but it did drop to the low fifties at night, so they could get away with wearing what they were at this time of the morning. Ice handed over his SUV keys to Thane.
“I’ll take yours back to Dave’s place,” Ice said to Real. “Meet us there.”
“We’ll be along shortly,” Thane said cheekily and twirled the key ring around his finger with a jingle.
“I don’t even want to know,” Ice told Savage, who only laughed.
“Instead of a restaurant, we’re doing drive through,” Ice told the kids when he pulled out of the parking lot after they were all loaded up.
“What’s that guy’s name?” Azrael asked, hanging over the seat where Cash and Apollo sat.
“His name’s Real,” Ice said.
“He picked you up one-handed, bro,” Apollo chortled and Cash laughed, lifting his arms to flex his muscles.
“So.” Azrael crossed his arms and gazed out the window.
They made it back to Dave’s place in just under three hours and Ice pulled through the gate. Once out of the vehicle, the boys and Echo were frisked.
“It’s standard procedure,” Ice apologized to Echo, who gave him a dry smile.
“I work for the man, I don’t blame him for being cautious,” Echo said.
“Wow, this place is huge,” Apollo whispered, and Echo caught the boy’s wrist to keep him moving. Cash walked close next to the twin. Grit darted ahead, already knowing the way.
