“You bet we will,” Rocko chuckled, and that sexy grin of his almost had Apollo pulling his lover back into bed, but duty called.
By the time they made it downstairs, Rosaline was busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast, and the rest of the team was up and moving around the house.
“Anything coming from the other side of the lake?”Apollo asked Ace, who was sitting at the table with his laptop.
“Not a peep.The sensors and mics you guys left hidden on your way out haven’t picked up any movement or talking,” Ace said.
“Okay.Keep me informed because sooner or later someone’s going to come looking for them when they don’t answer their phones.”
He and Rocko went to the spare bedroom to find Renee, Tom, Mary, Asher, and Frank all waiting for them.Frank looked the happiest Apollo had ever seen him, having his whole family back.Frank nodded at him, appreciation written all over his face.
“You’re looking better,” Rocko said to Tom as they walked in.
“Thanks to you guys,” Tom said as Asher cuddled in her father’s arms.“I never thought I’d see my family again.”
Mary looked as though she might burst into tears again at any moment as she sat beside her husband.
“Thank you for bringing him back to us,” she said.“It feels like a dream to be here.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Rocko said.“Do you remember much from your time with them?”
“A bit.It’s fuzzy in my brain between the kidnapping, questioning, and drugs.I can’t make much sense of it all,” Tom said.“I’m sorry, but other than what Mary has already told me about Levy and his people, I really don’t have much more useful information to add.I wish I could help.Do something, anything to stop this from ever happening again.”
“Maybe I can help with that,” Rocko said as he approached the bed.“May I touch your hand?”
“Yes, whatever you need to do, I want to help,” Tom replied, and Apollo stood close to Rocko in case he needed his support after reading Tom’s memories.
Everyone watched and waited as Rocko laid his hand on top of Tom’s and closed his eyes.Minutes passed as Rocko remained motionless, but Apollo could sense his growing concern.When he finally opened his eyes and stepped back, Rocko appeared no worse for wear and smiled.
“Thank you, Tom.I trust that you’ve been made aware of the plan after you’re healed enough to travel.”
“Yes.Your friends and fellow survivors will be coming here and picking us up.”
“There’s an airfield outside of town that our friend Brick and his team can fly into at night, and with the help of his contacts, no one will be the wiser.All of you will be safer in Fire Lake, where Levy and his goons won’t find you, far away from here, and you’ll have the opportunity to be with others like us, and children like Asher.”
“I don’t know how to thank all of you,” Tom said.
“I do,” Frank said, stepping forward and handing a piece of paper to Apollo.
“What is it?”Rocko asked.
When Apollo looked down and read it, he wasn’t sure what he was seeing.
“The deed to your property?”
“Yes.It’s yours,” Frank confirmed.“Signed over lock, stock, and barrel.”
“You don’t owe us anything,” Apollo stated as he tried to give the deed back to Frank.
“We know you wouldn’t ask for anything, but this is our way of contributing to the cause.We’ll be living in Texas and never intend to come back,” Mary said, pulling her daughter and husband close.“With your contacts, you’ll be able to sell the property without being named.Use that money to save more people.Save more families so that these evil people never have the chance to hurt anyone ever again.”
“But it could be sold with the proceeds going to you,” Apollo said.“We could help you sell it, of course, but you’ll need the money to rebuild your lives.”
He’d never expected anything like this.Other than Apollo’s grandmother leaving him this land, he and his team had never received anything.They’d had to fight for everything they’d ever had.
“No,” Frank said.“We have all that we need.”
“Please accept this from us,” Mary said.“You and your team have given us our lives back.My family is alive and safe because of you and your team.This is only a small part of what we truly owe you.”
