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I hand the gun back to the guard. “I’m sorry.”
The woman takes the gun with a look that says she’s not sure an apology is necessary. “No problem. You and your… friend can head back to the house. We got this, Ms. Parish.”
I turn to Sandesh. Letting the adrenaline backlash do its job, I begin to shake. I put a hand to my head. Seeing me finally playing my part, Sandesh puts an arm around me as if to hold me up. I sag against him.
It’s probably not enough to counter the scene the guards just witnessed. A vine of panic and anger is growing in my chest, sharp offshoots twisting and spreading out with angry red thorns that tug at me, telling me to go, act, do.
But Sandesh is right. The school, The Guild, has never faced this big a threat. A threat to all we’ve subtly and secretly accomplished.
I want at Walid. No doubt this is him. But not just him. I need to get home, see the security footage, and figure out which of my dumbass siblings has turned monster overnight.
The vines tighten. I tuck it all down for now. But I’m already plotting how to get my vindictive ass to Mexico. “Let’s get back to the house. Check on my sisters.”
* * *
Though the carestaff did a great job of getting the kids all into one room, things back at the main house are crazy. My sisters—girls rescued from war zones or who’ve seen violence firsthand—are at emotional extremes. The younger ones are cowering by the fire in the large family room, while the older ones in Vampire Academy have grabbed the nearest objects and now stand watch, ready to fight.
The twins—Jules and Rome—hold fireplace tools. Those two are fierce. Especially Rome, who has a chip on his shoulder Atlas couldn’t carry.
I’m glad Sandesh talked me off the edge earlier; getting me back here was the right call. I take control. “Okay, all. Deep breath.” I send a warning look at the twins. “Put the irons down.”
Jules does instantly, but Rome hesitates. His eyes dart to Sandesh. After a second of some internal debate, he complies. Kid is strung tight. Probably feels responsible as an older kid. Though the care staff are trying to calm them, they need family. Right now, I’m the only family here over eighteen.
Momma went down to meet with the police. Leland is busy handling Internal, shutting things down to keep off the authorities’ radar while assessing the damage. Tony and Bridget went to the dorms to handle the situation there.
Who knows where the Troublemakers are?
Knowing them, they went to investigate, figuring that, since the girls in the main house were being trained for combat and groomed by The Guild, they could deal. It’s unfair, but makes sense.
The dorm kids were sent by their families to an elite boarding school. They know nothing about covert ops and should be treated with kid gloves. Still, seeing my sisters huddled by the fire while the tougher of them stand guard, I’m overcome with anger.
Walid is going down.
The clink of fireplace tools shoved into the iron stand is followed by the sobs of five-year-old Bella. I make a move to go to her, but she launches herself past me to Sandesh. Her tiny, trembling arms latch on to his legs.
His eyes fill with a softness that melts my heart, and he hoists her up. “It’s okay, Bella. You’re safe.”
She buries her face in his shoulder and he rubs her back, turning to the rest of the family. “If you all sit and listen, I’ll tell you what’s going on. Or, at least, what I know.”
Damn. This man is perfect and knows the perfect thing to say.
Bella squirms out of his arms and pads, barefoot, across the room to join the others around the fire.
When everyone is absolutely still and quiet, Sandesh says, “First, I want you to know that you are safe.”
My heart lurches toward him, drawn instinctively to his strength and kindness. Not only did he recognize that they need direction to get them settled, he also realizes that, more than anything, they need to be assured of their safety.
“The police have arrived. They are checking every inch of the grounds. Beyond that, the security at this school is top-notch and all the campus staff are on alert.”
I raise a questioning eyebrow at him, because it’s true, but I didn’t tell him that.
He winks at me.
Yep, not a stupid man. “In addition, the school is on lockdown. New measures are being put in place to make sure this type of attack doesn’t happen again.”
“Who attacked us?” Rome asks, a set to his jaw that looks like he’s ready to chew glass.
Right there with you, kid.
