Page 122 of Nyx

"You don't have to decide right now."

"Will Cerberus be there?" I ask, wanting all the information so I can make an informed choice.

"In full force," she says without hesitation. "Not just casually present. Not one or two men wandering around pretending everything is fine. They have an entire security plan. It was one of the very first things we had to work through before they would give the thumbs up to this project."

The tension that had been building inside me loosens a bit.

"And here?" I ask. "If most of the staff is at the park?"

"Here, too. No one will be left unprotected," she assures me. "Not the residents. Not the children. No one."

A soft knock at the office door draws our attention.

Dana stands there with both kids beside her.

"Sorry," Dana says. "They wanted to ask about the paints."

"The paints?" Victoria asks.

"Miss Beth told us last week that there were paints for pictures, but Dean said we probably weren't allowed because he always says stuff like that," she says with her eyes pointed at her little brother.

Dean scowls, his little body getting ready for yet another battle with his sister.

"I said you should ask first. That's different."

"You absolutely can paint, but it has to be at the table or outside in the backyard," Victoria says, quick to jump in to avoid whatever confrontation is beginning to build between the two of them.

Daisy looks up at Dana. "Backyard?"

Dana runs a hand over the top of her daughter's hair. She doesn't go out there unless we're having a group and someone from the staff is with her, despite knowing that Cerberus has a guy back there and they're safe.

"If Miss Juliet or Miss Victoria says it's okay," she says, stress in her tone.

"The backyard is perfect," I say as I stand. "Are you ready now, or do you want to do it later?"

Both kids answer by turning around and running toward the back door.

Victoria drops her stack of folders on her desk before following us from the office.

The kids are hyper. Daisy is talking to her mom about all the things she's going to draw, while Dean bounces up and down.

I hate that they don't have a way to get all that energy out, but Dana has been adamant that they need to stay in the house. Even though we might have opinions about that, we have to follow her lead in what she thinks is best for her kids.

Victoria grabs the painting supplies from the living room closet before turning back to the kids.

"Ready?"

They run toward the back door, but trauma is a very real thing. Both kids pause, looking back at us, and I hate the pain and worry in their eyes.

Trauma is one thing, but kids also learn many behaviors from their parents, including trepidation around certain actions and behaviors. Dana is scared to go outside, and now the kids are too.

"Can't paint standing here," Dana says, and opens the back door.

I know how big a step this is for her.

"But I want you to be careful not to make a big mess," she tells them as we all step outside.

"I won't make a mess," Daisy assures her. "But Dean probably will."