“It’s funny.” He moved down to kiss the side of my neck.
“What’s funny?” I could barely concentrate. His tongue did amazing things.
“In a way, I feel like we’ve been given a new life. That this is the life we were always meant to have. Free, together, our family safe.”
I nodded as he pushed up. I tried to pull him closer, but he stayed on his forearms. Deep emotion blazed in his irises. “It’s as if we’ve been reborn. Like we’ve got a chance to start anew.”
I shimmied out of my top and pulled him onto my naked breasts. “And there’s only one person I want to start that new life with.”
EPILOGUE
One Year Later
I handed another string of Christmas lights to Luke. He stood on top of a small ladder. The tree we’d picked out that morning was almost ten feet tall. All twelve of us had set out just after breakfast, in search of the perfect tree. It only took an hour of tramping through the snow around our Canadian property to find it.
“Don’t you think those are enough?” Jet looked at the array of lights that wrapped around the tree. There were so many, they practically blinded me.
“I saw a tree in a movie once. It was almost completely covered in lights.” Luke scratched his head. “Isn’t that how they’re supposed to be?”
“It can be however you want it.” Jacinda kneeled beside him, plucking glass ornaments from where they were carefully wrapped in tissue paper. They were all new. She’d bought them at Tiffany’s when she’d been on a trip to New York the week prior. During the past three months, Jacinda had visited the Big Apple on a monthly basis.
“There are no rules on how to do this?” Luke untwisted another string of lights.
“Nope.” Jacinda held up an ornament. “You can make the tree however you want it.”
“I fink we should string some popcorn together.” Edgar sat cross legged on the floor. “That’s what people do sometimes, in’it?”
Jet snickered. “If you’re five years old maybe.”
Amber glared at Jet. “I think that’s a great idea. Let’s go pop some.”
Amber and Edgar trailed off to the kitchen.
It was amazingly peaceful being back at our home in the Canadian Rockies. It wasn’t where we normally lived, but we all agreed it was where we wanted to spend our first true Christmas together as a family of twelve.
The sounds and scents of popping corn soon filled the room. Susannah moved from the couch to kneel beside Jacinda. “That one’s pretty.” She pointed to the ornament in the shape of a snowflake.
“Do you want to hang it?” Jacinda smoothed a strand of long, blond hair behind her ear and smiled.
Susannah took it and stood. When she walked to the tree, it was hard not to notice her attire. Susannah wore skinny jeans and a red sweater made of some expensive, shimmering fabric that had holes cut strategically out of the shoulders. Bracelets jangled from her wrists. Glittery earrings adorned her ears. Susannah looked like a model straight out of a fashion magazine. The ankle high stiletto boots only added to the look.
I admired her long, black hair which hung in heavy waves to her waist. She held up the ornament. Her ivory skin practically sparkled with happiness. The days where Susannah didn’t eat, talk, or shower were long over. So were the days where she only wore baggy T-shirts and sweatpants. Now, Jacinda styled her on a regular basis.
My sister’s dream had finally come true. Since Susannah lived with Jacinda and Luke, Jacinda had found someone to style on a daily basis who just happened to be the perfect client. Susannah never batted an eye over some of the ridiculous things Jacinda picked out for her, like the sweater she currently wore. She had to be freezing with all of the holes in it.
“Where should I put it?” Susannah ran her fingers along its edge.
“Wherever you want.” Di sat at the kitchen table, sipping hot chocolate while trying to beat Raven in a game of chess. It seemed she’d met her match. Their games could last for hours, and on occasion, days. “Like Jacinda said, there are no rules.”
Di finally moved her piece which got a concentrated frown out of Raven.
“Hmm.” His orange eyes glowed with intensity.
Di smiled. “Your move, brother.”
I gave the last string of lights to Luke before joining Flint on the couch. He put his arm around me and offered me a sip of his eggnog. I took the mug and looked over my shoulder when the front door opened. A rush of cold air followed.
“We’ve got the presents!” Mica exclaimed excitedly.
She, Jasper and Father all ambled in. In thick winter jackets and rosy cheeks, they were the epitome of winter. Each carried enormous bags of shiny wrapped presents in gold, red and green. We’d all done our shopping back in Colorado before we’d flown up to Canada. However, there’d been so many presents, we’d left them on the plane and agreed to deal with them today.
“Is that all of them?” Jacinda frowned.
“Nope. There are more bags in the truck.” Mica kicked off her boots and jacket before lifting her nose. “Is that popcorn I smell?” She disappeared into the kitchen.
“Did Greg finally fly home?” I asked. Since Greg, our pilot, lived in Florida, he’d probably wanted to get going. It was a long flight. I couldn’t think of anything worse than Christmas where it was seventy degrees, but Greg shuddered every time I suggested he stay with us for the holiday. It seemed he preferred his holidays on the beach, especially when those beaches included women in bikinis. I’d also come to learn he was a notorious bachelor.
“He flew back after we collected everything.” Jasper set down the bags he was carrying before going back outside for the rest.
I eyed the present on top of the bag nearest the kitchen. It was the gift I’d bought Flint—a watch with a personalized inscription. I fingered the charm bracelet on my wrist. Love You Forever. He’d now have something to wear that also held the inscription that meant so much to us.
I leaned back against Flint’s shoulder. We had four whole weeks before Greg would return to pick us up. I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be for the holidays.
“Happy?” Flint leaned down.
I nodded.
Flint’s lips brushed my neck. “In a couple of years, when we have jobs, it may be harder to have Christmas trips like this. Father may have to experience his first Christmas without us.”
My heart warmed every time I heard Flint call Conroy Father. He’d been doing it for months, but it still made my heart sing. I tugged at my black and gold University of Colorado sweatshirt. Pride filled me. I was a student now and planned to become a social worker. “We’ll find a way to be together.”
All of us had settled in Colorado and attended college. Flint, Di, Mica, the twins and I lived in Boulder. Flint and I had our own place while the twins and Mica had theirs. Father, Jacinda, Luke, Edgar, Amber and Susannah lived in Denver—Father, Amber and Edgar in one home, while Luke, Jacinda and Susannah lived in another.
Since we only lived an hour from one another, we often met up on weekends, but not always. I had other friends now too, not just my family. I pulled out my phone. A text from Grace lit it up. I smothered a laugh at the picture she sent.
It was just like we’d always imagined. We now lived normal, mundane, peaceful lives. We got up for school Monday through Friday. On the weekends, we’d often meet up to study, see concerts together, try new restaurants or just hang out and watch movies. It was so blissfully ordinary I thought sometimes I’d burst from happiness.
Flint leaned down and kissed me softly. “I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.”
“Me either.”
He hugged me closer. I glanced over my shoulder.
Father stood against the wall with a wistful, content smile. He caught me watching him. Neither of us had to say anything. Father’s look said it all. Finally, our family was exactly how he’d always dreamed it would be.
Safe. Free. Together.
I turned back around and leaned again
st Flint’s shoulder. “Merry Christmas,” I whispered.
He squeezed me tighter. “Merry Christmas.”
RETRIBUTION
The Lost Children World
Book One
THE LOST CHILDREN SERIES—BOOK 4
Retribution kicks off a spin-off series that takes place several years after The Lost Children Trilogy.
CHAPTER ONE
Warm, dry air swirled around the classroom, hinting at summer. I tapped my finger against my desk. My professor’s voice droned around me, like a buzzing fly I couldn’t swat away.
“Lena! Shh!” My best friend, Grace, sat beside me. Her blue eyes flashed daggers my way.
I smiled wanly and stopped my incessant fidgeting. “Sorry.”
Grace straightened and turned primly to listen intently as Professor Dillinger continued his lecture.
Everything in me wanted to roll my eyes at my teacher’s nasally words.
Professor Dillinger was my least favorite university professor. Just last week, I’d watched as he made another pass at one of my classmates. She was a sophomore, like me, but only nineteen—unlike my ripe old age of twenty-three.
When our professor, who had to be at least forty years old, called her to his desk, most of my classmates had already left. I was still fighting to get my supplies in my backpack as everything threatened to fall out again.
From the back of the classroom, I’d watched as he’d approached her.
I knew Professor Dillinger had no idea I was still there, judging by his brazen moves.
My classmate had been visibly nervous. She’d run her hands through her long blond hair while shifting her weight from foot to foot. Professor Dillinger had stepped close enough to brush against her while telling her she’d need to improve her grades if she wanted to pass his class. He’d then invited her to his office for one-on-one coaching.
I’d snorted. Unfortunately, neither of them had heard me.
I’d seen him pull this stunt on two other women during the semester. The one who hadn’t gone for one-on-one coaching had cried to her friends after he gave her a D on our last term paper. However, the one who had gone received an A, but I couldn’t help noticing that her eyes were now downcast whenever he looked her way. She also sat in the back of the class. Before, she’d sat in the front.
“What a creep,” I muttered under my breath.
Grace gave me a sharp look.
This time, I did roll my eyes.
By the time the lecture finished, Grace was fuming.
“Really, Lena!” She collected her binder and placed it neatly in her bag, on top of her textbooks. The rest of our classmates were standing around us, packing their things. The rustle of papers and buzz of conversation increased.
“You could at least pretend to pay attention!” Grace carefully zippered her backpack closed and flipped her blond hair out of the way before slinging the pack over her shoulder.
Since she was a few inches taller than me, I had to look up to see her. I muttered a sound of disgust. “It’s hard for me to do that when the guy’s the biggest douchebag in the world.”
Crossing her arms, Grace frowned. “But you don’t have any proof that he’s done the things you claim. It could all be a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?” I ran an agitated hand through my long red curls. “Really, Grace. How can you say that? I told you what I’ve seen, and he has a—”
I cut myself off just in time.
It wasn’t the first time I’d almost alluded to Grace about my extrasensory ability. Luckily, I’d stopped myself each time, but still, it was hard. Grace was my best friend. I was very comfortable with her and told her everything.
Well . . . almost everything.
She had no idea about that side of me. Nobody outside of my family did. Father was so terrified of our secrets being exposed that he’d raised us to never tell a soul. Still . . . keeping that part of my life a secret was proving to be harder than I’d expected.
I folded my notes in half and stuffed them into the front of my backpack. Looking around for my pen, I frowned when I couldn’t find it.
Grace bent over and picked my pen up off the floor. “Here. You dropped it ten minutes ago.”
“Oh, thanks.” I stuffed it into the pocket with my notes.
“You better zipper that.” She pointed at my bag. “Those notes are already falling out.”
“Oh. Crap.” Sliding my pack off, I grumbled at my escaping papers. With careful attention, I zipped it closed. “There. Done.” I grinned.
Grace smiled approvingly.
“We better go.” Grace nodded toward the line between the lecture-hall seats. Our classmates were slowly filtering to the back of the room and out the door. A hum of conversation swirled around us as people chatted with their friends.
As Grace and I made our way out of the lecture hall, I turned to see if the professor had cornered anyone. A relieved sigh escaped me that he hadn’t.
Professor Dillinger stood alone near the whiteboard. He’d pulled out a few things from his bag and had sat them on his desk. His cell phone and a pack of Marlborough Lights were visible.
I switched my vision, activating the part of my brain that was dormant in others, just as Professor Dillinger picked up his phone.
My teacher’s cloud appeared. The dark-gray aura swirled around his shoulders, dipping and flowing as if caught in a breeze.
With a flick of my mind, I pulled his cloud off his body and molded it into a tiny energy ball. The cloud crackled. It was an infinitesimal amount of energy, since it was a single cloud, but it would do.
I carefully manipulated my energy ball toward Professor Dillinger’s pants and with precise movements lowered the zipper on his fly.
The professor continued swiping something on his smart phone. The phone was only inches from his face. He was none the wiser that his tighty-whities were visible for the world to see.
With a satisfied smile, I dispersed the energy and turned my attention back to the line before I followed Grace out the door.
Outside, the springtime Colorado sun shone down on us. Scents of freshly cut grass hung in the air. In the distance, a lawn mower hummed. The campus’s grounds crew was everywhere as they planted flowerbeds and rode lawnmowers.
Around us, other university students ambled by or power walked to their next lecture. The buzz of so many people made me smile.
Grace hitched her pack up higher on her shoulder and checked her phone. “Since we have fifteen minutes till our next class, do you want to grab a smoothie? I’m starving.”
I perked up at the mention of food. “Sure!”
Heading toward Broadway, I pulled out my phone to check my messages. A smile lifted my lips when I saw one from Flint.
When are you going to be home, babe?
I quickly typed in a reply. One more class, so maybe an hour?
Good. I want you.
A flush crept up my neck. A tingle in my belly came next. Just the thought of Flint’s large hands running over my body did that. Every time. My body hummed in anticipation.
Looking forward to it.
“Is that your dreamy lover boy texting you?” Grace smiled and gave me a side-eye.
I laughed and put my phone away. “Maybe.”
She pulled open the door to the smoothie shop. “Let me guess. He’s wondering when you’ll be home?”
I bit my cheek to stop my smile. “Something like that.”
We stepped inside. A blast of air from the HVAC system ruffled the wild curls around my face. I pulled out my wallet and stepped up to the counter so we could order.
When it came to paying, I beat Grace to the register.
She grumbled beside me and tucked her wallet back into her purse. Her blond hair fell in front of her face, hiding what I knew were pink cheeks. “You don’t have to always pay for me, Lena.”
“I know. I know.” When the smoothie shop employee handed me back my credit card, I shoved it into my pu
rse without bothering to find my wallet. “But you know how it is. My trust fund can handle it. Besides, I have a better paying part-time job than you.”
Grace took our smoothies from the employee’s outstretched hands. I grabbed my strawberry mango and sighed in contentment after the first sip.
“But I’ll never be able to pay you back.” She plopped down at an open table and pushed aside the newspaper that lay on it.
“You don’t have to.” Dropping my bag at my feet, I took another sip of the cool smoothie.
Sighing, she elbowed me gently. “Thanks, bestie.”
I elbowed her back. “No probs, bestie.”
She giggled.
It wasn’t the first time Grace had been embarrassed about me paying for her things. I was sure it wouldn’t be the last. But even though she was up to her ears in student loans, she still insisted she could pay her way. I was the one who wouldn’t let her.
Since Father had awarded me and the other lost children in my family—Flint, Jacinda, Di, Mica, Jet, Jasper, Amber, Susannah, Luke, Edgar, and Raven—with our own trust funds last year, none of us would ever be in need of money. Paying for a smoothie or a concert ticket or a meal out every now and then was the least I could do for my best friend, who struggled to pay her rent each month.
“Hey, did you see this?” Grace flipped open our local newspaper to another article about an attack on campus. “Someone got assaulted again.”
My insides stilled as I skimmed the article. Another woman had come forward after being attacked while walking to her dorm late at night. My cheeks heated with anger.
“That’s the fifth attack this semester.”
Grace gulped a mouthful of her smoothie, her eyebrows knitting together. “It’s scary. It’s almost like . . . I dunno . . . there’s a serial attacker or something around here.”
I took a deep breath and switched my vision. Doing so was an automatic habit. Anytime I felt scared or worried about who might be around me, my vision switched of its own accord.
But all that billowed around us were white and cream-colored clouds. Even people passing on the street had normal-looking clouds, except for the odd few that were grayish.
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