Torrent (Cosmic Forces Book 1) by Elle Thorne Page A

Leaguers, to tell them her nephew was missing. Then of course they’d find him, and promptly take him away.
    No. She couldn’t do that. Hurry up, Jesse. Hurry. Sitting at the kitchen table, she dropped her head into her hands and prayed for him to be home quickly, though she knew that they had no control over when the bus would drop them off.
    The sound of a key in the door shoved her heart into her throat. She leapt to her feet.
    Voices.
    Jesse, Sonya, and Belinda.
    She blew out her held breath. Tears sprang into her eyes.
    Belinda took one look at her and dropped her bag onto the floor with a heavy thunk. She pulled her into a hug. “What’s wrong?”
    “Gillie.” His name came out merged with a sob.
    “Leaguers?” Jesse asked.
    Alyssa shook her head.
    “Where’s Omar?” Sonya said.
    Tears blinded Alyssa, her sobs overtaking her ability to speak coherently.
    “No.” She gulped air in and fought to get control of her sobs. “Omar took him out.”
    Belinda handed her a napkin to wipe her face.
    “I mean, I guess he took him out,” Alyssa added.
    “What do you mean, you guess?” Jesse frowned.
    “They were here when I left. I stepped out. When I came back, they were gone. No note, nothing.” She was talking fast. She slowed down to breathe.
    “How long ago was that? How long were you gone?”
    “I don’t know, right before lunch, maybe? An hour? Could have been a hair longer.”
    “Where did you go?” Jesse’s tone wasn’t accusatory, but the way that Alyssa felt, it was as if he’d stabbed her with a knife of blame.
    “I had to go check on Torrent. He saved our lives last night, and then when I found out that he’s Gillie’s father…”
    “Slow the fuck down,” Jesse said. “Who is Torrent? He’s Gillie’s father? Why did we never hear of this before Melissa died?”
    Alyssa shook her head. “It’s—”
    “And whose lives did he save? What kind of a name is Torrent?” Jesse interrupted her.
    Belinda put her hand on Jesse’s shoulder. “Let her speak, primo .” Cousin.
    “What do you think I’m doing?” Jesse’s voice was gruff, his face red. “ Tengo preguntas .” I have questions. “What are these bombs she’s dropping on us? These surprises.”
    “Simmer down,” Sonya said.
    A sound came from the front door, and they all turned.
    Gillie, followed by Omar, walked in the door. His face was dusty and dirty as if he’d been playing in the crumbled dirt and concrete from the ruins. His hair was a tangled, curly mess.
    “Look. Look what Omar let me have.” He was holding up a rubber duck which was just as much a mess as he was.
    Alyssa dropped to one knee and held her arms out, and Gillie ran into her embrace. She buried her face against his neck, smelling his sweaty little boy scent, happy to see him again. For the moment everything was at the back of her mind, everything except that Gillie was okay and safe in her arms.
    “Where’d you go?” Jesse said.
    Alyssa assumed he was talking to her, and turned to look at him. His stony gaze was on Omar.
    Omar fumbled with his keys. “I’m grown.”
    “Yeah, Mister Grown?” Jesse slammed his palm into Omar’s shoulder. “’Cause I been hearing talk about you and some privateer’s sister. Want to explain that?”
    “No.” Omar sounded more petulant and childish than Gillie did when he was denied a toy.
    Alyssa knew Omar. She knew that look on his face. He was guilty of just that. A privateer’s sister? What was he thinking?
    “You didn’t take Gillie around privateers, did you?”
    Omar snorted. “Do I look stupid?”
    “That’s a yes,” Sonya replied.
    “Fuck you,” Omar said.
    Jesse grabbed him by the collar. “You don’t use that language in front of Gillie. And you don’t talk to her or anyone like that. Got it? Not in my house.”
    “Your house?” Omar scoffed. He threw the keys on the floor. “I’m out of here.”
    “Omar, don’t be stupid,” Belinda said.
    It was too late. The door slammed