Page 17 of G8
“You brought puppies?” T8 drily remarked.
“Something better.” He bent slightly to show them the box’s contents. K8 gave a squeal of delight and reached inside to lift out one of the infants.
“These are the other two mouths to feed?” F8 inquired with a big grin. Extending her good hand, she ran her fingertips across the baby’s cheek. “Hey there, little one. My gosh! They’re so tiny! How old are they?”
“A little over three months.”
“Are they twins?” K8 asked.
“No. They’re about a week apart.”
“Boys? Girls? One of each?”
“Both boys,” he replied.
“Who are their parents?” T8 inquired.
G8 gave them a lopsided grin. “Just wait until we tell you the whole story.”
P8 started to touch the other baby when he abruptly stopped. His eyes widened, and he glanced over at Ingrid who still remained by the car. “They aren’t…”
“They aren’t what?” T8 asked, cooing at the second baby.
“They’re like you,” Ingrid answered, finally walking up to join them.
The others paused in surprise.
G8 placed the box on the ground and took the other child out of it to hold in his arms. “Ingrid worked at Docenti Labs. These babies are second generation Chimera. They’re like us, but supposedly stronger. Better. Maybe with greater abilities. She doesn’t know to what extent yet.”
T8 stared at her. “You’re their mother?”
Ingrid answered with a shake of her head. “No.”
“She saved their lives,” G8 told them. “Those scientists set fire to the labs soon after we escaped from there. Ingrid refused to abandon them to die in the labs and took them out without anyone realizing what she was doing.” He motioned toward the main lodge with a nod. “Let’s go inside and she’ll tell you everything.”
He was aware of P8 lightly brushing Ingrid’s sleeve when she walked past him. The man saw he was being observed and shook his head to convey what he’d found.
Ingrid wasn’t like them. She was human.
In a way, G8 was relieved to know.
She bent down to pick up the box but P8 beat her to it. Thanking him, she went to join G8. Mutely holding out her arms to him, he handed the baby over to her and followed her into the lodge.
The babies were awake, which meant they were hungry. The guys took turns holding the infants and trying to placate them while they waited for K8 and Ingrid to fill a couple of bottles from the supplies in the box. When the women returned to the table they were sitting around, K8 took the baby from T8 but G8 held onto the one he cradled. He found he liked the feel of the tiny life. The warmth. He sniffed.
“There’s an odd smell coming from this one,” he announced.
Ingrid laughed. “As soon as they’re finished feeding, they’ll need their diapers changed.”
“We’re waiting to hear your story,” T8 reminded her.
Everyone listened attentively as she gave them the details. G8 was aware she included several bits of narrative she hadn’t told Sheriff Biggs, but he believed they weren’t relevant pieces of information the man needed to know. Even so, G8 made a point to keep them in mind in case Biggs needed them later.
“That’s when the sheriff said I would be safer bringing the babies here. He also suggested I remain here, too. At least for a little while,” Ingrid concluded.
“How long is a little while?” K8 inquired.
“That depends,” G8 inserted.
