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“No.” I shook my head firmly, wishing I could spare her the truth. “They come out and hunt at night. You’re safest in the closet. They won’t find you there.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Her little shoulders lost some of their tension. “Okay.”

“For this to work, I need to close the closet door most of the way. I’ll leave it cracked,” I assured her, seeing her eyes round with fright. “It’s to keep the monsters out.”

Her chin wobbled again like it did when she first arrived, and I reached out, patting her on top of the head because I heard that was how you comfort someone. It worked.

Katrina closed her eyes. Her little hand rose to her face, and the two fingers closest to her thumb slipped into her mouth.

I didn’t judge her. We all wanted to feel loved and safe. It just wasn’t possible in this house.

Tommy was asleep by the time I stood, barricaded a chair against the door handle to our room, and turned off the light. I slid beneath the blanket on the bottom bunk and hoped Katrina would spend her first night in hell without nightmares.

“Fuck, Cuckoo,” Diablo swore, pulling me back into the present. “I didn’t mean to see. Shit.”

“Katrina,” I replied. “You saw how we met.”

“Yeah, man. I felt your bond with her. It was strong from the start.”

“It still is.”

He swiped over my chest, wiping away the blood. “I’m done.”

I guess we both got lost in my memory of the past.

“Take a look, brother. It’s bitchin’.”

He cracked me up when he used words like that. I stood up and faced a full-length mirror on the wall. He was right. “It’s fucking bitchin’,” I agreed with a laugh.

“I’ll say. It’s give me a chub.”

I lifted my hand and flipped off Rael as he walked toward me. “Don’t start your shit.”

“Aw, bad day, honey?”

I shook my head, unable to hold back laughter. “Actually, we need to talk.”

His grin faded a little. “You good?”

“My girl needs help.”

“Then let’s talk about it over food. I’m fucking starving.”

“What about Nylah and the kids?”

“I’ll be able to eat again when I’m home,” he assured me.

“Then we eat.” I turned to Diablo. “This is fucking fantastic. What do I owe you?”

“A soul to reap.”

He was serious. I never paid for ink with money.

“Done,” I agreed. “I’ll let you know when I find the right one.”