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“Ferocious, I like it,” I tell her, bumping her hip with mine.
“Glad you approve,” she states, smiling at me.
“You have your jobs. Do those first, and if they happen to cross your paths, take care of business,” Gunner reminds us. “Don’t steer off course unless that chance encounter transpires.”
“Aye, aye, boss,” Charlee rebuts, mockingly saluting him.
“Stay on task, Charlee girl,” Julius cites, tersely looking at her, singling her out.
“Yes, Pops,” she returns, appearing to be dejected, her shoulders falling slightly.
I understand his stern tone, she can sometimes be too much, but I wish they wouldn’t segregate her in front of the others. She’s fierce and loyal, she shouldn’t be admonished for that trait.
I’m spitting mad on her behalf. My steps falter and my hands get planted on my hips as I wrench my torso sideways and narrow my eyes at every single one of them. “You shouldallbe ashamed of yourselves and count your lucky stars that she cares aboutallof us as heartily as she does. Everything she does, every move she makes, she does for you. None of it is done with selfish intent, she doesn’t ask you any questions when you tell her you need her. She’s. Just. There. Balls to the wall and jumps in head first. How dare you chastise her for doing what you’ve raised her to do! There’s nobody more dutiful and courageous than she is. If this is what it’s going to be like as a sister in the club, I may have to reconsider my acceptance.”
With my rant over and done with, I loosen my fingers from Luca’s and stomp my way down the corridor. The gall of some people!
Charlee, Country, and Luca quickly catch up to me. My man, my old man, tangles our fingers together and praises me. “I’m so damn proud of you, Curly Sue. It took some guts to stand up to my brother the way you just did. He needed to be knocked off his pedestal a notch or two.”
“Thank you,” I convey, proud of myself for speaking my mind without fear.
Charlee has glassy, red-rimmed eyes when she faces me, and says, “You’ve just earned yourself a best friend status in my books, Mera. You’ll never know how appreciative of your monologue I am.”
“Somebody needed to say something,” I gurgle, tears clogging my throat. “It’s just wrong the way they single you out, but I don’t see that happening to any of the other old ladies. Whenever they’re reprimanded, it’s always done behind the privacy of closed doors. You should have the same consideration.”
“I agree,” Luca says. “Regrettably, things work differently in our world than what you’re used to, baby. But it seems things are changing, and we’ll be implementing new rules. Perhaps, your words will make everyone stop and think.”
“Tammera,” I hear my name whispered. Turning on my heels, I notice a cluster of kids hiding in the doorway of the library.
“Connal? Where are the older kids?” I ask, my voice just as low as his in case there’s a reason he’s trying to keep the focus off of us.
“They were taken downstairs. Something's going on, Tammera. We’re scared,” the nine-year-old conveys.
“How long ago were they taken down there, Connal?” Luca asks, inserting himself into the conversation.
Connal, being taught to keep his trap shut, looks at me for permission and direction.
“It’s okay to trust him and anyone wearing one of these,” I vow, patting the cut sheathed on Luca’s chest. “They’re with me. Youcanrely on them. We’ve come to take you away from here. We have good homes lined up for you. I swear, nothing bad is going to happen to any of you ever again.”
“Are you sure, Tammera?” Maizy, a four-year-old pixie of a girl, asks me through the gaps of her teeth where she’s lost a tooth or two. “Sister Magda said I could trust the other man who came yesterday, but he was mean, and pinched me when I didn’t want to sit on his lap.”
Country bends his knees and squats down in front of Connal and Maizy, swearing, “Nobody will ever hurt you again. I have a little boy, his name is Hunter, and he’s three. How old are you?”
“I’m this many,” Maizy states, holding up four fingers. “I had a birthday!”
“Two months ago if my memory is right,” I add, smiling down at her. She bobs her head, happy that I remembered even though I’m not here anymore.
Luca attempts to get Connal to talk to him again. “How long ago were the older kids taken underground?”
Looking over his shoulder, Connal looks at the clock hanging on the wall, then answers, “About an hour or so ago. Mister?”
“Yeah, Connal?” Luca answers, giving him his undivided attention.
“That’s not a good thing. Can you go and get them now?” The nine-year-old pleads, causing fear to race up and down my spine. Shit.
“Yeah, buddy. We’re going to go and get them now,” Luca reassures.
“An hour is an awful long time for them to have been at the mercy of the nuns, Luca,” I remark. “Was there anyone with the sisters, Connal?”
