crazy!”

“Really? Because I’m not the one who just found out her daddy’s the devil.”

The smile vanishes just like that. Celia attacks her, all trained kicks, punches, really going for it. Soph ducks and weaves but lets some hit on purpose. If she let them all land she’d be a mess. Luke jumps in, pushes Sofia back, and circles. “Hey Ceels, feel like holding someone in a room for your own personal gain?”

“Fuck you!” she shouts, punching and missing.

He straightens up and they go back to circling each other. “Never letting them out to see the sun? Sound like a good time to you?”

She screeches, “Of course not!” tears burning her eyes as she leaps at him, wrapping herself around him and punching his head. Sofia hits my arm, motions to Atlas.

We jump in and peel the rabid Celia off Luke. She lands on the ground, one knee down, all her fingers spread on the mats as Sage jumps in. “Jeez, what’s wrong? You accidentally let one of your hostages escape today? Did the other guys make you hurt her? Did you enjoy it!”

“Stop it! I would never do that!” Celia dives for Sage, but she’s so upset that her aim is off and Sage leaps out of the way just in time. Atlas rushes to protect his sister and Celia snarls at him. He’s hunched over. She knows he’s going to chide her next.

“Hey Ceels.” He crooks a finger. “C’mon. Where you gettin’ your millions from? Sellin’ people like cattle? Sellin’ your daughter to a bunch of evil pricks? You wanna do that?”

She swipes the air with a low kick, “Never!” and drops him to the ground. He could have dodged it, but he didn’t. Jumping on Atlas, she pummels him until he grabs her arms and throws her off. But she comes running, tears flying behind her. He throws his arms over his face, lets her punch his ribs.

I grab Celia and she flails against me, so out of her mind that she almost breaks free. I pin her arms behind her, whisper in her ear, “Hey Ceels, I love you.” She goes rigid, chest panting. “You know how I know you’re not evil? I wouldn’t love you if you were, and I do. I love you. And so do they. Let it go. Let this doubt and shame leave you right now, you hear me? I love you.” Her body crumbles, back falling into my chest. I wrap my arms around her and kiss her head as she sobs. “It’s okay, I’m here. We’re all here with you. You’re not going through this alone.” Atlas, Sofia Sol, Luke, and Sage all come closer, touching her, telling her they love her and that she’s stuck with them.

She laughs through her tears as they point to future bruises she caused. “Thank you guys.”

Soph smirks, “I would say anytime, but nah.”

Four of them are facing the house and their eyes lock onto something. I look over my shoulder to our audience of elders. Everyone’s on the porch, including her parents, our President, his crew and their wives, plus the awe-struck twins and Tonk Jr. who nods, saying calmly, “That’s another way to heal.”

CHAPTER 33

SEAN

I  blink awake in the bed next to Atlas, see a sunbeam slicing through the curtains. I’m usually up before dawn so I frown at it and look over to his bed. He’s facing me, passed out, mouth open but quiet. The snores only come when he’s on his back. Looks like the bruises have taken hold over night, but I know he won’t mention it when he comes downstairs.

Throwing my comforter off I pull my phone out of yesterday’s jeans, squinting because I can’t believe it’s almost eleven.

Getting dressed and pulling my new boots on, I dash out, run down the stairs to find the house fairly quiet. The elders have dispersed to the various rooms they prefer to hang out in. Only Tonk Jr. is in the kitchen, making a sandwich. “Hey,” he greets me, barely looking up. “Couldn’t wait for lunch. Don’t tell Mel.”

“I won’t.” Checking the porch through the window I ask, “Where is everybody?”

“You mean Celia?” he smirks and goes back to spreading mayo on whole wheat. “She’s still in bed.”

“What about Sofia and Luke?”

“Same.”

“Huh.” Combing my hair with my fingers I get stuck on a knot and give up, cross my arms and lean against the counter. “Guess last night took its toll.”

“Yup. You want one?”

“Sure, if you’re offering.”

He eyes me. “Pastrami and swiss, right?”

My eyebrows rise. “Yeah, that’s right. You been watchin’ me?”

“We’ve all been watching you.” It’s so matter of fact that I smile. As he digs through the industrial fridge for the fixings, he says, “I woke up before dawn though. Never do that.”

“Why today?”

Tearing open plastic he goes to work. “Mustard?”

“Yep.”

“I’m so good,” he mutters.

When I don’t get an answer, and he hands me my sandwich, I ask again, “Why early today? Everything you found out bothering you?”

“Yes and no.” Grabbing his turkey and cheddar, he smoothes a goop of mayo off the side and licks it off his finger, leaning on the opposite countertop. “I think I’m going to become a therapist.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I might have found something I’m good at.”

Taking a bite I ask with my mouth full, “Something happen to make you think that?”

He nods and chews until his is empty. “You weren’t in the room, but I was able to help my mom out. It felt right, you know?”

“Yeah, I know.”

Locking eyes with me he nods. “Exactly. You and I have something in common.”

“This is a good sandwich.”

“We were both searching for where we belong.”

My chewing slows as I take him in, remembering this childhood song I heard on ancient episodes of Sesame Street. Three of these kids belong together. Three of these kids are kinda the same. But one of these kids is doin’ his own thing…

“Guess I slept in,” comes Celia’s voice from behind me.

Like two cups of coffee got

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