Wild and Free (The Three #3)(127)

She perched on the arm of the sofa next to me and patted my shoulder.

“It will all be well.”

I looked up at her. She was seemingly cool and collected too, and she had three boys up there doing whatever they were doing, only one of them immortal.

“Yes, it will,” I agreed, lifting my hand to her leg and patting her back.

She smiled down at me and patted my shoulder again before her eyes drifted to the door.

Chen approached and threw himself in an armchair close to his mother and me. I winced, thinking he should take more care, seeing as he was still recovering, but the look on his face did not invite sisterly concern or advice.

“It’d be better if we could at least hear something,” he griped.

“We will,” Jian-Li told her son. “Soon.”

Chen looked to his mother. “You know this how?”

I watched as she looked to her son. “I know this because I’m a mother.”

“Motherly clairvoyance?” he asked. “Did you just get this, or is it something you’ve had for years but never told us about?”

I gave wide eyes to Leah because Jian-Li’s boys could be abrasive and even give lip to their mother (not that she took it, but that didn’t mean they didn’t give it occasionally), but his tone was derisive and I didn’t think Jian-Li was going to stand for that.

She wasn’t and she didn’t waste time sharing that with her son.

“I’ve always had it, Chen,” she said with patience, though that patience was strained. “From the moment each of you was born. That happens with mothers. However, in this case, it isn’t clairvoyance. It’s hope. And being here not knowing anything, not seeing anything, not even hearing anything, that’s what we have. It’s all we have. And we have to hold strong to it.”

That was a good comeback and Chen knew it because he gave her a scowl, then looked to the door.

And when he did, it opened and Caleb walked through.

The room went wired and everyone jumped to their feet.

“All’s clear,” he announced, and the tension immediately evaporated as relief flooded the space. “You’re all to stay here while they see to some cleanup.”

I watched Sonia scrunch her nose and had a feeling I knew what that meant, and what that meant was gross.

I didn’t care. I’d take gross. I wanted to see Abel.

Before I could relay this desire to Caleb, Jabber piped up.

“Can someone bring me a pack of smokes and a lighter?”

Caleb looked to him. “That’s not our number one priority right now, Jabber.”

“Can someone make it their number two priority?” Jabber returned.

“Uh, hate to cut in, but can someone at least tell the guys to come down?” I asked. “All of the male Three, but also Wei and Xun. Just, you know…because,” I finished lamely.

Caleb looked to me. “I’ll talk to them, Lilah. But Callum reported directly to me and said they’re all unharmed.”

“That’s good to know. Thanks,” I replied, still wanting to see my man.

“My smokes?” Jabber butted in.

“Jab—” Caleb started.

Jabber cut him off. “I can see the boys not wantin’ the women to see dead shit, blood, and body parts, but I don’t got a problem with that, so at least can I get outta this f*ckin’ room?”

“Me too,” Chen put in.

“Fine,” Caleb agreed shortly, stepping aside to let them pass. Both men moved quickly to the door.

“So the men can leave, but the women can’t?” Leah asked, and Caleb turned his eyes to her.

“Callum ordered you all stay here. So you all stay here,” Caleb returned.

“I’m not fond of blood and body parts, therefore, I’ll stay and have another cup of tea,” Jian-Li murmured as she sat in the armchair that Chen vacated, leaning forward to the teapot and cups that were on the coffee table in front of her.

“I’ll ask them to come down as soon as they can,” Caleb said and wasted no time backing out and closing the door.

Leah flopped on the couch, grumbling, “Maybe I will do tequila shots. It’ll serve Lucien right for sticking me in a bunker and leaving me here.”

I sat next to her and asked, “Do you want to see blood and body parts?”

I asked this because I really didn’t. I could be a tough cookie, but I was okay with not seeing that, just as long as Abel showed (and soon).

She looked to me. “I want to see my husband.”

Obviously, I got that and nodded, then pointed out, “Sorry to say, there’s no tequila. Just coffee and tea. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned it. We’ll be certain that they equip our bunker better next time.”

She huffed out a breath but said no more.

Jian-Li lifted the pot my way in a nonverbal offer of tea. I shook my head. So did Sonia and Leah when Jian-Li offered it to them. Regan accepted.

The waiting before seemed to take back-to-back eternities.

The waiting right then thankfully didn’t last that long.

The door opened and the men walked in.

Lucien whisked Leah out in a whoosh. Callum went directly to Sonia.

Abel came to me as Wei and Xun went to Jian-Li.

He looked fine. Tired but fine. Both Wei and Xun looked the same (though, Xun had a bandaged hand).