Page 75 of Sapphire's Gem
“Damn. That’s power right there.” I motioned for Bryony to follow me into the clubhouse. We opened the doors, and I pulled back a little at the sound of excited children’s voices. There were no kids in the club, so it felt alien hearing them—but not unwelcome. Maci and Ham were talking Storm’s ear off as she smiled indulgently at them.
Soul was sitting watching them as he studied his sister. Some of the tension had left his shoulders at seeing that Storm was actually okay.
“I’ll show you to the guest rooms. We’ve put you in a couple of adjoining ones if that’s okay for the kids to share?” I said.
Bryony nodded. “Thank you. Maci sometimes wakes up and comes in to us. We’ve a travel cot for Grace so she can sleep in our room.”
I opened the door and let Bryony pass me by. “This is great.” She looked at me and bit her lip.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Is Storm really okay? Soul’s been going out of his mind with worry. He wants to take her back with us, but I don’t think she’ll go for that.”
“No, Storm won’t. She’s as safe here as she would be at Camden. Soul often forgets that we have powers too. He’s the typical overprotective male. But Soul needs to remember it wasStorm who looked after him all those years and who found us and gave him a home.”
“Soul mentions you a lot. He cares deeply for all of you,” Bryony said, slight defensive.
I smiled at her. “Don’t take offence, Bryony. As far as we're concerned, Soul will always be our little brother. It’s kinda hard for us to accept he’s grown up and got a family of his own. Storm brought him to us, but we all fought for him. He’s family. You and your kids are also family now. If you need someone and RBMC can’t get to you, we will. That’s a promise.”
Bryony smiled slightly, too. “We’ve gone from having no one to two massive families. It’s overwhelming sometimes.”
“Yeah. That’s how each of the Royal Harlots felt when they found their way here. At first, it was Belladonna, Sparrow, and me. Slowly, the others trickled in, making us what you see today. We’re stronger to stick together.”
“I envied Soul that, the fact he knew no matter what that you and the RBMC would be there for him. He was so secure in his place with you all. I didn’t know that. The times I spent running to protect the kids—well, you could imagine it.”
“Bryony, we’ve been there. Hiding what we are in a world that would judge and condemn us. You no longer have to hide from everyone, because there are people around you who can accept your kids. I can guess how difficult it was being a ‘normal’ mom to kids with abilities. It was hard accepting myself.”
“Thanks, Sapphire. For everything and for helping make Soul the wonderful man he is,” Bryony said, and I felt the sincerity in her words.
“You’re welcome.”
Hayden
Sapphire had said she wouldn’t be here tonight as Storm’s brother was arriving and they were having a cookout. Even so, I missed her and wished to be selfish and call her. Cassidy was on his laptop, earbuds blocking out the world, when the door opened and Hatton walked in.
“Captain,” I said.
He nodded and glanced at Cassidy, who removed his earbuds. “Okay, Capt.?”
“Yes. No. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about. Both of you. And we’re off duty, call me Chase.”
That instantly made me cringe inside. Nobody called the captain Chase. He was either Capt., Captain or Hatton. Never Chase. Hatton grinned as he saw how uncomfortable we both were.
“Hatton is fine, guys.”
I puffed out a sigh of relief. Fucker! He did that on purpose.
“How are you both feeling?”
“It’s time to get out of here,” Cassidy quipped, and Hatton nodded.
“It must be hard being you two right now. But we almost lost both of you, and that’s what I would like to talk about.”
“Us nearly dying? Sorry, Capt., not something I really want to consider,” I responded.
“What do you know about the Harlots? Stitch in particular?”
“Huh?” I muttered eloquently.
