the end of the hall where my parents had disappeared.
“Let’s go eat.”
Although I knew something important had been discussed, I didn’t ask. She would tell me when she was ready.
Together, we walked to the commons. Her brothers were waiting for us. As we ate, they talked excitedly about everything they’d discovered during their day. It didn’t take them long to finish their meals. To their disappointment, Michelle insisted they come back to the apartment with us. We played a few games of Go Fish before getting ready for bed.
She went to bed with them, snuggling them tightly. I tried not to let my disappointment show as I went to our room alone.
Chapter 17
The next morning, I understood Michelle’s abandonment of me the night before when I heard her anxiously tell Liam and Aden that she would be leaving them with Jim and Winifred for a few days. I was just making my side of our bed. Her side was still undisturbed.
The boys cheered and rushed to our room.
“Aren’t you going to miss me even a little?” she asked, getting out of their bed to follow them. She was adorably sleep-rumpled and slightly put out as she watched her brothers cram her clothes into her bag.
“Mimi, you said four days. That’s not a long time. We get to have a sleepover with Paul and Henry.” Liam didn’t seem the least bit affected by the news. It gave me hope that all they had suffered would fade from memory. I briefly thought of Carlos and wished he would have had the same chance to forget.
After Michelle dressed and repacked, we went down to breakfast. The boys sought out Paul and Henry. Mary had anticipated Liam and Aden’s arrival because she had two plates waiting for them. The cubs joined their table and excitedly started talking about all the things they were going to do with Paul and Henry. Michelle’s scent gave away her concern. Mary grinned and gave her a quick hug.
“They’ll want to miss you, but we’re going to keep them so busy they’ll forget to. It will be easier for them that way.”
Michelle nodded and followed me into the kitchen so we could get our own food.
While the boys laughed and talked at their table, our breakfast was quiet, and after we finished, Michelle said a final good-bye to her brothers. They didn’t comment on her lengthy hug or sad expression. They were too busy planning their sleepover.
She and I silently walked back to the apartment for our bags. Once the door was closed behind us, I turned her to face me. Her grief at leaving the boys was palpable. Tears welled in her eyes, and I pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly.
“You don’t have to go,” I said, hating her pain, hating the reasons she needed to face what she feared most.
She pulled away to face me. “I do. I want to be free. I want to protect the boys. This is the only way to do it. Why are you saying this now?”
“I see how hard this is, leaving your brothers. I can go alone,” I lied. “There’s no need to come with us.”
“You know better. I’m the bait.”
I wanted to argue but couldn’t.
“You’ll keep me safe,” she said seriously. “I don’t doubt that.”
* * * *
Carlos drove us to the airport. It was a quiet, short ride, during which Michelle managed to text Winifred, worrying about her brothers. Once we arrived at the airport, we focused on checking in and finding the right gate. The flight went smoothly with the four of us sitting close. Michelle remained silent through landing and picking up our bags. Carlos, Grey, and I scanned the crowd and tested the air. There was nothing but the usual human scents and pollution.
The cab ride to the hotel was pleasant. Since there wasn’t much room in the back seat once Carlos sat to the left of Michelle, she was pressed against me the entire way. Unfortunately, the ride was short.
While Carlos and Grey went inside to check us in, Michelle stayed near me as I grabbed our things from the trunk. Her fear made me edgy.
We walked inside and the sting of chlorine in the air burned my nose. It would be hard to smell anything in the main corridors. But, it meant that Michelle’s scent would be hidden as well.
Carlos and Grey handed over a room key then followed us down the hallway to the left. They stopped at their room