“You all right there?” asked Gram, still standing next to Rurik. “You zoned out.”
He nodded.
“He’s probably contemplating taking his citizenship test,” said someone from the back of the bullpen. “I know how much he longs to be one of us.”
Rurik stifled a groan.
Duke thumbed toward the pie. “Eat up, Boris.”
“Dick,” said Rurik, in Duke’s direction.
Duke put his lighter in his front jean pocket, took another sip of coffee, and continued to smirk. “Eat the pie. I dare you.”
Duke had no doubt done something to it that would leave Rurik sick and in the bathroom for a week. That or a body bag.
Gram nudged Rurik. “It’s safe. I promise.”
“How did you know what I was thinking?” asked Rurik.
Gram snorted. “Because I’d be thinking the same thing if Duke gave me a pie.”
Chapter Two
A tall man with blond hair pulled back at the nape of his neck entered the bullpen with a pensive look upon his face, breaking up the moment. “The medical wing needs some assistance. Another bus full of children was brought in.”
Rurik merely observed, remaining quiet for the time being.
Boomer was quick to get to his feet. “More? How many does this make, Corbin?”
Corbin shook his head. “I’ve lost count. This group isn’t doing so well. Every operative with medical training is down there, but more hands are needed.”
“No one wants me around small children,” Duke said quickly. “I’m not a fan of them and they don’t like me.”
Rurik wasn’t great with kids either, but he didn’t have it in him to ignore the needs of the children. If this lot was anything like the others, the children would be underfed, with matted hair and other evident signs of neglect. In the last week, Rurik knew of at least three busloads full of rescued children that had arrived at division headquarters to utilize the medical facilities that catered to supernaturals. Additional buses were routed to other divisions across the United States and around the world as more labs were discovered.
PSI had taken to referring to the experiments as The Asia Project, seeing as how that had been where the majority of the testing facilities had been located. Rurik liked to call it the-sick-fucks-who-messed-with-children-and-who-deserved-to-die.
His way was better.
Rurik started toward Corbin at the same time Duke did.
Both men froze, their gazes sweeping to each other in a challenging manner.
Corbin rubbed his brow. “Am I going to have issues with the two of you? The children need our help, not us having to pull the two of you apart nonstop.”
“I can behave myself if the communist can,” said Duke.
Rurik entertained going at Duke but resisted, knowing it would feed into Corbin’s fear. “I can behave as well.”
Gram laughed softly on his way past Rurik. “Sure you can.”
Rurik followed behind Gram, leaving him walking nearly shoulder to shoulder with Duke. He elbowed the man and was shoved back. Within seconds, they were pushing at one another much like they were children. Rurik didn’t care. The man was a dick.
Boomer moved in between them, forcing them apart. “News flash, the Cold War is over. You two can really let it go.”
“Fuck off,” they said at the same time.
Boomer snorted. “Seriously, it’s like you’re twins.”
They both stepped in closer to Boomer quickly, squishing the cat-shifter between them.
He grunted and then shot forward, causing Rurik to snicker.
Duke did the same.
Their laughter faded quickly as they turned the corner, entering the corridor to the medical wing. There were children sitting along the corridor wall, huddled together in small groups. As predicted, they were in much the same shape the others had been in.
There were no infants that Rurik could see, but there were children who looked to be as young as four, while others appeared to be in their early teens. So far, these were the first teen test subjects he’d seen. Fear radiated off the children in waves big enough to cause him to stagger.
Duke drew up short as well, sucking in a sharp breath before whispering, “They’re scared shitless.”
“Not cool,” said Boomer, partially under his breath as he surveyed the situation. “Not cool at all. Captain, where are we needed?”
Corbin pointed to the kids in the hall. “We’re arranging for temporary living situations for them all, but for now, we’ll need to see to it they’re clean and have some food in them. If any require additional medical attention, get them into the infirmary to be seen. We’re assuming they’re all fine…well, as fine as can be, but who knows what they’ve endured.”
Duke grabbed for Rurik’s forearm as he stared at his captain. “We are not supervising any children’s bath time or shower time.”
“We don’t need you to,” said a boy who didn’t look much older than thirteen or fourteen at best. He stood and squared his shoulders, his green eyes ablaze with a challenge, and his black hair hanging just past his ears. “Show us where we can get cleaned up and we’ll handle it ourselves. The older boys and girls can help the younger ones. We don’t need or want any other help.”
Rurik instantly liked the kid. He had a grit about him that was admirable, especially with all he’d been put through.
Corbin stared down at the boy. “We were told none of you have spoken a word since you were found. We weren’t sure you even could talk.”
The boy shot him a hard look. “We can. Well, most of us, anyway. We just didn’t have anything we wanted to say to any of you—least not until we knew what your intentions were.”
With a nod, Corbin bent some to be closer to the boy’s level. “I assure you that our intentions are honorable. We want to help you all—not harm you.”
The boy glanced back at the other children,
