Chapter Twenty-Nine

“What now?” Azrael whispered, clutching at Grit’s leash.

“Are we going to run?” Cash asked, glancing around.

“No, we don’t run. Ice is going to call someone to come and get us,” Echo said.

“Why don’t we just kill them?” Azrael said as if that was regular old conversation to have on the streets and Echo’s heart fucking hurt. The younger twin reminded him so much of himself at that age.

A couple passing by shot them a few concerning looks and Echo closed his eyes. Could shit get any more complicated?

“He’s just joking. We don’t kill plants,” Ice told the couple, patting Azreal on the head.

The pair smiled and continued on their way.

“Oh my god, can you be any more obvious?” Cash glared at Azrael.

“Yeah, bro,” Apollo said. “What happened to your training?”

Azrael tore away from his brother. “Screw you both!” Dropping Grit’s leash, the slender boy spun wildly around, much like a dancer would, and sprinted down the sidewalk.

He didn’t get far.

Azrael crashed into Real.

Rather than let the boy go, Real hefted Azrael over one shoulder.

Ice tightened his arm around Echo’s suddenly tense shoulders. “That’s Real, he’s with us on this,” Ice murmured and Echo nodded and relaxed.

“You guys ready?” Real said and smacked a hand on Azrael’s butt when the boy wiggled.

“Are we ever!” Ice wasn’t going to laugh and he caught ahold of Apollo when he looked like he wanted to kill Real.

“Easy,” Ice whispered next to Apollo’s ear. “He’s with us. He’s also a military assassin.”

Apollo froze, blinked, and then licked his lips with a nod. Cash walked up and slung his arm around the twin’s shoulder and Ice picked up Grit’s leash and then pulled Echo close again.

“Well, nothing like a bit of family drama,” Echo said, sliding his arm around his waist.

“We taking them home?” He quirked a curious look down into Echo’s upturned face.

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.

Ice turned when he found Azrael not moving.

“Come on, you’re safe here.”

The boy lifted his tormented eyes to his.

“Nowhere is safe.”

Ice took Azrael’s hand and urged him toward the house. There was no way out of Dave’s property once you went through the front gate, and that was mainly to keep suspects contained if they ever found a way to breach.

“Do I hear the beach?” the boy whispered.

“You do, and I bet you can swim in it later.” Ice pulled Azrael along the wide walkway, around the brick pillars, and up the front steps to where Echo and Dave’s doorman were waiting.

“All good?” Echo asked.

“Just a moment of jitters,” Ice said, urging Azrael into the house ahead of them.

Grit trotted immediately to the young boy and nuzzled into his hand.

Thank the powers that be for dogs.

Real, Savage, and Thane returned around three o’clock that afternoon with Ice’s SUV.

Echo had convinced Cash, Apollo, and Azrael to accompany him and Ice to the beach that lay several yards from the back of the massive garden.

Wearing tight swim briefs, the young assassins looked even younger as they played like wet seals in the water.

“Dave is pretty amazing, isn’t he? He got them clothes over the phone,” Echo said, turning his head to look at Ice. The man sat wearing swim trunks and sipping a beer.

“He is. A quick call to Wild, Storm, and Roscoe, and they were all over that.”

“Who are they?”

“Part of one of Dave’s specialty teams. Phoenix. Wild is filthy rich and they raised a boy about the twins’ age, plus two little ones.”

“I guess people can have families and work this type of work.”

“Not really. Those types of teams are different. They’re not like us. Why, do you want kids?”

“Not necessarily.” Echo gazed at the three in the water. “But I wouldn’t mind helping them.”

“Ah, I see, no diaper changing?”

Echo made a face and laughed. “Yeah, yuck.”

Real walked across the sand wearing blue jeans and a tight gray t-shirt, carrying a lawn chair. Placing the chair next to Ice, the former Navy SEAL took a seat.

Ice dug into the cooler that sat between them and handed Real a cold green bottle of beer. His friend gave an up-nod and cracked open the drink.

Real was looking toward the waves and Ice glanced over to see Apollo and Azrael dodging Cash, who looked determined to dunk the twins.

Cash and Apollo were laughing their asses off. Azrael was not. Nimbly, Azrael kept one step ahead of Cash, eyes wide, evading any and all lunges.

“How old are they?” Real murmured.

“Seventeen,” Echo said.

“Where are their parents?” Real asked.

“Drug addicts,” Echo sighed.

Real drank half the bottle and then wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. “Dave called another meeting in a few hours.”

“Cool. I want to ask him if the twins and Cash can stay here until we figure out what to do,” Ice said.

Real’s blue eyes snapped to him. “What do you mean?”

Ice lifted Echo’s hand and linked their fingers. “I mean, they don’t have any parents. I’m hoping that Dave can let them stay here.”

“And they’re cool with that?” Real squinted toward the ocean.

“They are. Azrael is a bit hesitant, but once he knows Dave is trustworthy, he should be fine,” Ice said.

“So, what’s going to happen? Will they be taught to be better killers?” Real growled, his hand clenched around the frosty bottle.

Silence swept over the three men and continued for several long moments. The sound of the ocean and boys’ laughter drifted on the wind.

“No, that’s not Dave’s style. Perhaps Cash can get a job and Apollo and Azrael can finish school,” Ice said.

“How far did they get in school?” Real asked.

“Solomon took the twins last year, so I’m thinking they were either freshmen or sophomores in high school,” Echo said with a quick glance at Ice.

“What?” Ice brought Echo’s hand to his lips.

“I’m just thinking that if Dave can’t keep them, what will we do?”

“We will figure it out.” Ice pressed a kiss to Echo’s fingers.