Rica puts her thumb back into her mouth and nods eagerly.
Rica squirms, and when Nova sets her down, she takes off. Nova looks at me, confused for a moment, before Rica comes back, this time with a group of kids behind her.
They all approach us hesitantly.
“Erica said you have stuff for us?” an older boy, looking to be maybe thirteen or so, questions.
“Erica?” I ask, brows furrowing. “I thought her name was Rica?”
“It’s her nickname. She can’t say her name right,” the boy explains.
“Ahh.” I nod.
“What’s your name?” Nova asks, her voice nothing but gentleness.
“Tyler.” He holds his head high. “My brother is Rafe. He said he knows you.”
“He does.” I nod. “He’s our cousin. That means so are you.”
Tyler’s shoulders relax. He doesn’t look like the other kids. While his clothes have some rips in them, he doesn’t look dirty like the others..
I didn’t know Rafe had a little brother. He’s never mentioned it before. I’ll have to ask him about that.
“Well, Tyler. Erica was right. We do have stuff for you all. Some toys. And cupcakes,” Nova says.
All the kids' eyes light up as they run towards us. Five little boys, not including Tyler, and a girl who holds Rica’s hand.
Tyler comes closer to me while Nova hands out the toys and cupcakes. The once sad and guarded kids are looking bright and happy. It breaks my fucking heart all over again.What the fuck did my father do to this place?I’m glad the monster is gone, they’re all better off without them.
“How many kids are there?” I ask Tyler.
“These are the ones old enough to talk,” Tyler grumbles. “The rest are just babies.”
If this is how the older ones are being treated, the thoughts going through my head on how the babies are cared for makes me sick. “How many?”
“Only two.” Tyler looks up at him. “But they don’t stay here all the time. Their mamas live off the compound.”
I guess that’s better than living here.
“How are you doing?” I ask Tyler. He lost his father too.
Tyler doesn’t say anything, just glares up at me. He looks a lot like Rafe, same dark hair and green eyes.
“I know this might be a lot for you, losing your dad and all the men you grew up with but I promise, we’re not here to hurt you.”
“I’m glad they’re dead,” Tyler spits.
“Ah, not a fan of Pops?” I ask, raising a brow.
“No,” he grunts, looking back at the kids. “All of them were monsters. They deserved to die.” Tyler looks back up at me. “Are you guys going to take us away?”
His question catches me by surprise. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s what they’re doing inside, figuring out what to do next.”
Tyler nods.
“Would you want to be sent away?” I ask. I’m sure if Kane wanted to, they could work something out with the system. Or take them back with them. I don’t know much about Kane’s MCchapter, but I do know they are well respected and good people. I’m sure there are people who would take good care of these kids.
“No,” Tyler says, looking down at Erica with a protective stare. “Not without her.”
