“Bowling, of course.” I laughed. “I thought she was so silly. But if you listen, it sounds like a ball hitting pins.”
“Why lightning?” Olivia whispered.
“To celebrate the player, maybe a strike…I dunno, Tenny and I were unclear about that part—like maybe you need to be up there to know all the rules.”
“Like Mommy.” Owen’s tone was soft and yet louder than the storm outside.
“Maybe your mom and Tenny are putting on a tournament for us.”
Olivia gasped. “Cool!”
I peeked through the opening of the fort, surprised that none of Gideon’s men had come to check on us. But we were okay, and once the next clap of thunder came Matteo shouted, “Great job, Auntie Ella.”
My heart ached for them, their loss. I missed Tenny like a person would an arm, but I was an adult, and I understood this sort of thing.
The next crash of thunder had Olivia standing in the fort. “Yay, Tenny!”
Owen chuckled and smashed his face against my chest. He was truly the sweetest kid in the world.
I heard footsteps and peeked through the fort opening only to freeze. I didn’t recognize the two men. I grabbed Olivia and pulled her to me.
“I need you three to do everything I tell you to do.”
Matteo’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong, Penn?”
“In a moment, bad men are going to open the fort. I need the three of you to hide.”
“Penn,” Olivia whimpered.
“It’s okay. Under there?” There was an opening under the sofa that she and Owen could fit. “Get there now, please, sweetheart.”
The footsteps were getting closer, but Olivia and Owen did exactly what I said.
“What about me?” Matteo asked, and I pulled out my cell phone and handed it to him.
“I’m going to hold them off. You run, get into Uncle Gideon’s office, hide in his closet, and call him.”
He swallowed, fear evident on his face. “Run, hide, call.”
“You got it, big guy.”
A second later, the fort was torn apart. There were only two men, so I knew I’d be able to keep them at bay. I stood, punched the one closest to me in the face, and tackled the other one.
“Go, now, Matteo!”
He raced passed me toward the stairs. I saw one of the guys trying to chase after him, so I grabbed a vase, chucked it at his head, and watched him go down.
My victory was short lived. When I spun around the other guy was up, sneering.
“Where are the twins?”
“Go fuck yourself.”
“Oh, I’ll find them.”
I chuckled darkly. “Do you think you’ll find them before Gideon returns?”
I enjoyed the flicker of doubt that crossed his face. “Owen, Olivia, you better come out or I’m gonna shoot Penn’s pretty little face off.”
