Salvage

Chapter 10

Damien's Pov

The guards didn't move like hospital guards. That was the first thing I noticed, the way they entered the room without urgency, without confusion. No shouting, no panic. Just controlled steps and quiet breathing, like they already knew exactly where to stand. 

Five of them, black uniforms, Familiar posture. 

Kingston shifted closer to Aurelius Immediately, Marco moving with him without needing to be asked. Mateo pulled Moon and Lucien closer to himself while slowly backing with Eli near Kingston and Marco. Murmuring reassurances like he's done it a thousand times before. Eli stayed pressed to my side, fingers laced with mine, steady as ever.

Ambrose smiled. And that alone made my stomach drop. " Finally," Ambrose said, straightening. " You're late. Take him." None of the guards moved and Ambrose's  smile faltered. The man in front raised his front hand and snapped his fingers once. The others turned not toward Aurelius but toward Ambrose. The sound of the son of bitch hitting the floor echoed sharply through the cell.

"What the hell?!" He shouted as his arms were wrenched behind his back. "You don't touch me! I gave the order!"

" You don't give us orders." The lead guard relied calmly.

I exhaled slowly. I knew that voice. The guard stepped forward, pulling off his helmet like he always did when things were done escalating. 

Wynton Harrison... one of my twin brothers raised an eyebrow at me.

" Hey," He said casually walking towards us." You done staring, or do you want a hug?" My knees nearly gave out. "You absolute asshole," I breathed, a laugh ripping out of me before I could stop it. I see the others let out relieved sighs before Kingston walked near us with Aurelius still attached to him. " You couldn't have come five minutes earlier?" 

Wynton grinned." And miss the drama? Never.
" Kingston snorted. "You're late."

"Traffic," Wynton replied calmly." Also you have terrible timing."  Marco shook his head, relieved. "I knew those weren't hospital guards." 

Mateo muttered," Of course you did." which Marco heard and caused him to roll his eyes at him. Aurelius stared at Wynton, confusion knitting his brows then something softened.

"...Wyn?" He whispered. Wynton's expression gentled instantly as he turned toward his cousin. "Yeah, I'm here." That did it. Something in Aurelius cracked not painfully, but open. Kingston caught him as his knees buckled, holding him upright. " You're safe," Kingston said." We've got you." Ambrose thrashed violently." He's lying! You're all lying he's unstable!"

Wynton crouched in front of him, all humor gone. " You chained my cousin in a basement," He said evenly."You hurt kids, and you ran a black- site ward under falsified funding." He tilted his head a little with a smirk on his face. "Did you think we wouldn't notice?"  Ambrose snarled." You don't understand what you're dealing with!" Wynton stood." Oh, I understand perfectly." He nodded once." Take him."

Ambrose screamed as he was dragged out, his voice echoing down the hall. " DAMIEN HE DOESN'T REMEMBER HE'LL BREEAA-!" The door slammed shut. Silenced followed, thick, heavy, but safe. Moon sniffled, Lucien now asleep having to cry himself to sleep hiding his little face in Aurelius chest. Eli turned towards them, smiling gently." Hey, You're okay now." Aurelius looked up at us, eyes clearer than they'd been before." You came back." I swallowed hard. " Always." 

Wynton clapped a hand on my shoulder. " Told you we'd find him." Kingston exhaled slowly." You should've called." 

Wynton shrugged." You would've told me to hurry." Marco crossed his arms." So what's next?" Wynton's expression shifted family warmth giving way to something sharper. " Now we move because Ambrose wasn't running this alone."

The air went cold and Aurelius stiffened." No," he whispered," He said he was protecting us." My blood turned to ice." From who?" Wynton met my eyes. " Our uncle." Kingston swore softly, Mateo went stiff and Eli's grip tightened on my hand. " Does he know we're here?" Eli asked. Wynton nodded." Yeah and he's already reacting." 

The lights flickered violently overhead. Somewhere deeper in the hospital, heavy doors slammed open. Wynton straightened. " This ends tonight." I looked around my family, my brothers, my cousin, my husbands and the children. Then I nodded. "Then let's finish it." 

Because no one touches our blood. 

And walks away.