She smiled down at me and patted my shoulder again before her eyes drifted to the door.

Chen approached and threw himself in an armchair close to his mother and me. I winced, thinking he should take more care, seeing as he was still recovering, but the look on his face did not invite sisterly concern or advice.

“It’d be better if we could at least hear something,” he griped.

“We will,” Jian-Li told her son. “Soon.”

Chen looked to his mother. “You know this how?”

I watched as she looked to her son. “I know this because I’m a mother.”

“Motherly clairvoyance?” he asked. “Did you just get this, or is it something you’ve had for years but never told us about?”

I gave wide eyes to Leah because Jian-Li’s boys could be abrasive and even give lip to their mother (not that she took it, but that didn’t mean they didn’t give it occasionally), but his tone was derisive and I didn’t think Jian-Li was going to stand for that.

She wasn’t and she didn’t waste time sharing that with her son.

“I’ve always had it, Chen,” she said with patience, though that patience was strained. “From the moment each of you was born. That happens with mothers. However, in this case, it isn’t clairvoyance. It’s hope. And being here not knowing anything, not seeing anything, not even hearing anything, that’s what we have. It’s all we have. And we have to hold strong to it.”

That was a good comeback and Chen knew it because he gave her a scowl, then looked to the door.

And when he did, it opened and Caleb walked through.

The room went wired and everyone jumped to their feet.

“All’s clear,” he announced, and the tension immediately evaporated as relief flooded the space. “You’re all to stay here while they see to some cleanup.”

I watched Sonia scrunch her nose and had a feeling I knew what that meant, and what that meant was gross.

I didn’t care. I’d take gross. I wanted to see Abel.

Before I could relay this desire to Caleb, Jabber piped up.

“Can someone bring me a pack of smokes and a lighter?”

Caleb looked to him. “That’s not our number one priority right now, Jabber.”

“Can someone make it their number two priority?” Jabber returned.

“Uh, hate to cut in, but can someone at least tell the guys to come down?” I asked. “All of the male Three, but also Wei and Xun. Just, you know…because,” I finished lamely.

Caleb looked to me. “I’ll talk to them, Lilah. But Callum reported directly to me and said they’re all unharmed.”

“That’s good to know. Thanks,” I replied, still wanting to see my man.

“My smokes?” Jabber butted in.

“Jab—” Caleb started.