Page 14

14

JEREMIAH

‘Miah’

Watching Lourdes with the three girls is breathtaking. A few hours and those three females are totally in love with my woman. Wait, did I say my woman? Where the hell did that come from? My world is slowly falling apart and I’m not that worried. Not sure if it’s because Lourdes is around, or that I am beginning to trust Nova and Malachi so much more than Dino. When Malachi, Frankie, and Vito made the trip out here, I got an upfront and close view of Malachi at work. The man is brilliant and is training his two best friends, as they both work with him now. I think Vito just jumped on that boat but from what I understand, Frankie has been with the company for a while now.

Something catches my attention and when I look up I see Lourdes, Ellie, Wren, and Lottie—all in scrubs—because one of the first things the nurses did was get the girls to clean up in the showers. Lourdes went with to make sure they were okay. Once they came back to me, she pulled me to the side, explaining Wren lost it, sobbing while in the shower. Lottie was upset too but tried to keep it inside. Ellie, being the oldest, is more like a mother than a sister to the younger girls. Lourdes said it took at least five or ten minutes to calm Wren down. When Lourdes said she asked Wren why she was upset, the girl looked her straight in the eyes and said in a soft voice.

“We’re finally free, Styx. No more eating bread with worms or dirty water with cat kibble. And I almost forgot what toilet paper felt like. I brushed my teeth for like ten minutes straight. It felt awesome. When I ran my tongue over my teeth, they felt so clean. Then I started feeling guilty because we don’t know where our brothers are and those people killed our parents and I honestly thought we were going to die in that building with those animals.”

Then she fell into Lourdes’s arms and bawled until there was nothing left. Poor kid is in emotional overload. Shaking my head so I can try to figure out and see what the four of them want. Leave it to Lourdes to say it like it is.

“Jeremiah, we have a situation. Child Protective Services wants to split the girls up and put them in foster homes. That isn’t happening as long as I’m around. I hate to ask you, but I need another huge favor from you. Can we take them to your house until something is figured out? I know it’s an enormous ask, but I can’t with a good conscience let them get split up and sent to different homes. They won’t have anyone to have their backs and in those places you definitely need that.”

Without saying it, Lourdes has just given me a sneak peek into her past, and I’m not liking what I just heard. Fuck, I know nothing about kids, well, a little with the nieces and nephews, but with them the good thing is they eventually go home. Then I look into little Wren’s bloodshot eyes and, in that moment, I feel just like Lourdes about these three girls.

“Absolutely, Lourdes. The house is huge and has plenty of room. If they want to go home with us, that’s perfectly fine with me.”

She comes at me and at the last minute jumps, which prompts me to grab her under the arms, pulling her close. Both of our hearts are beating wildly, which gives me a little solace that I’m not the only one panicking. I grab her ass cheeks as she puts her hands on either side of my face, leaning down and kissing me like her life depends on it. We are so involved with each other that until the girls start giggling, we just keep at each other. Gently, I put Lourdes down and the girls run to her, jumping up and down. Guess they do want to come home with us. This should be interesting are my thoughts as I take my phone out to dial Beatrice. She needs to know not only about the guests but everything that has been going on. Another long night with limited amounts of sleep. And these kids were going to need stuff and I have no clue what that is. Beatrice being one of the best moms and grandmas, she should know what to do. I told her to call all of my contacts if we need a store to help or whatever. She laughed hysterically, telling me the girls are young enough and since they have nothing, she’ll run out to Walmart. Since Malachi and his boys are still working around the house, she’ll hook one or all of them to go with.

Jesus Christ, I created a bunch of crazy as fuck shoppers. I had no idea when I called Beatrice that the girls might need a few things. She went on to start a phone chain and by the time we got home, not only did the girls have new clothes that—from the looks of it—they’ll fit into because of the photos I sent to Beatrice. Claire and Lucille were waiting on us with Beatrice. As soon as we got out of the car, the girls were staring with their mouths open and the three women were waiting right at the door, big smiles on their faces. If someone would have told me that everyone would come together to help look after these three little girls, the gratitude I’m feeling is humbling in every way. Because these three princess deserve everything. And I guess Walmart has just about everything. When the girls walked up the stairs to the house, each lady kind of took one of the girls under their wing. I could see the excitement and fear in each of them. Beatrice pulled me aside to let me know the suite my nieces use has been turned into a temporary room for the girls, which I’m totally fine with. Lourdes is just as shocked as I am, especially when she sees that Claire is a part of the welcoming party. I know from what Lourdes told me Claire, not too long ago, was not only kidnapped but also terrorized by someone from Danny’s past when he was in the military. Fuck, that reminds me, I need to reach out to Nova tomorrow.

“All right, girls, why don’t we show you the room we have ready for you?”

Everyone, and I mean just that, follows Beatrice up the stairs and down the left hallway to the end double doors. The girls are hanging on to each other, not sure what to expect. Now, I thought I knew what was coming until the door opened and I heard three girls shriek in such a high-pitched sound, thought my ears were bleeding. I had a trundle bed in the room for my nieces. On the other side of the room was what looks like a full bed. The room has bookshelves with books, puzzles, and a few games. Along the wall next to the entrance is a big flat screen up on the wall. Claire steps up to the girls and motions for them to follow her to the closet. Each girl has all new clothes hanging up and personal items in the drawers. Along the back wall are shoe racks with a few pairs for each of them, including slippers. Ellie is the first to literally fall to the closet floor, busting out in tears. Wren and Lottie run to their big sister and fall next to her, hugging on her. I look around and see every adult, even the guys, with tears in their eyes. Then Lourdes makes her way to the girls also falling to the floor, hugging on all of them. When Ellie wipes her tears away, she looks around, then her eyes land on Lourdes first then me.

“Why would you help us out? Do all of this for three girls you don’t even know? What do you want in return we have nothing to give back to you?”

That last question has my head jerking as I look to Lourdes. She lets the two little ones go and grabs Ellie’s face in her hands.

“Sweetie, we don’t want anything from you. We want to help all of you, and Jeremiah was nice enough to let me bring you three here.”

“Is he your boyfriend?”

I hear the three idiots next to me cackling. When I glance at Lourdes, my eyebrow is raised, waiting on her answer. She smirks my way before answering,

“Ellie, honestly, still trying to figure that out. Now, are you all okay?”

All three girls nod and get off the floor, hugging on Lourdes. Then I’m shocked to hell and back when the girls walk around hugging and thanking everyone for everything. I’m so taken aback by how these girls managed to come out of that horrible place with such kind hearts.

“Time to get y’all ready for bed. Say you’re goodnights then grab some pajamas and let’s get moving. I’m thinking it’s been a long day for you three cuties.”

Listening to Beatrice as the girls say goodnight and then walk back into the closet, I look around and say the first thing that comes to mind.

“Thank you all so very much. After seeing with my own eyes where they were being held, these girls deserve everything their little heart’s desire. From the bottom of my soul, I thank God I have each and every one of you. Guys, let’s go downstairs, I’m going to need some help figuring out what those pieces of shits’ endgame is. Beatrice and Lucille, you pick the place you want to go on vacation and I will send you there. Again, my thanks to both of you for all you managed to get done with the little notice I provided.”

Malachi, Vito, and Freddie look to each other then back at me. Malachi grins first then looks directly in my eyes.

“Might not feel that way once you look in that lonely garage you have off to the side of the building. Freddie and Vito went a little nuts, so each girl has a bicycle and electric type vehicle. One Jeep, one Barbie vehicle, and the last is a princess one. Not to mention the chalk, jump ropes, and trampoline that should be here by end of the day tomorrow. I’m thinking those two need to settle down and have some rugrats of their own.”

My mouth literally drops open as I hear the gasp from Lourdes. Fuck, after all those kids have been through, how did they get so lucky? When I look to Lourdes, her eyes are glossy but there’s a sadness around her that I can’t read. She must feel my eyes because she looks up as she’s wiping the tears off her cheeks and gives me a weak smile. There’s a story I’m dying to hear, though I will not put any pressure on her to share. I’m learning she eventually will on her timeframe not mine.

I motion for everyone to follow me, knowing both Beatrice and Lucille won’t leave the girls until they’ve been read stories and have fallen asleep. Once in the kitchen, I pop the sliding glass doors open to the patio and backyard, as I need some fresh air. When I turn, Malachi is pulling out sub sandwiches and a ton of sides to go with them. That’s when I realize as my stomach growls, I’m starving. Lourdes has already grabbed a paper plate, which tells me she feels the exact same way. At the hospital, they gave the girls some chicken soup and crackers, Jell-O, juice, and finally little cups of ice cream. Neither Lourdes nor I were able to eat at that time.

After everyone has grabbed a sandwich, we sit either inside the eat-in kitchen or at the patio table with the heaters on. I wait ’til everyone has had a chance to grab a bite or two, then I put it out in the Universe.

“We came upon something that never in my lifetime did I think would happen. Only thing that comes to mind is that was some kind of human trafficking site. No, mainly it was kid trafficking. Besides the three upstairs, I think the police captain told me they brought out seventeen children, ranging in age. What is worse is the bodies that were found along the property. I know the FBI and CIA were called in from what Nova shared. Malachi, if you don’t want to be involved, I get it. If you do, I need everything you can find on those adults who were there, from the basics to employment records and banking information. Don’t know why, but I think somehow this is connected to the shit going on with us.”

As we sit eating and talking, my mind goes back to what Lourdes said about foster care. I have no idea what she’s been through and if things were different, I’d wait ’til she was ready. But don’t have that kind of time, between my businesses being harassed, her life being in danger, and now this other problem with the trafficking location and kids found on that property. I glance up, clearing my throat.

“I’m going to contact my business manager. No, Lourdes, not anyone Dino can get to, and inform them that all needs for the children saved from tonight, I will be fronting all of their expenses. Also, that second building we’ve been working on is supposed to have a boutique hotel, but for now we will use it to house those other children. I’ll talk to the detectives on the case in the morning, as most of those kids are either still in the hospital or are being housed at the police station and firehouse, since CPS doesn’t have anywhere to put them. Foster parents have no availability, which gives me cause to think that’s how some of these kids are being taken. But for now, let’s eat and try to relax. Tomorrow is another day for us to fight the demons in our world.”