Chapter 27
Etan knocked on the door to Iris and Gena’s apartment barely ten minutes later, hoping all their children were asleep. He was too early for their normal bedtime, but this had not been a normal day. Gena opened the door a crack, her blonde hair and one eye barely visible past the chain Etan had never seen her use.
His heart ached at such an antiquated notion, as if locked doors would keep the monsters away ever again.
“Etan, hon, come on in. Laura just left, she said Alex came through the surgery.”
She pushed the door closed, then opened it wide. He had time to relax into her hug, her warmth, for a few seconds before he took in the room behind her.
Iris sat on the floor, surrounded by nine children. All of them awake. All of them staring at him with their eyes wide and afrai
