Dreams I'll Never See (Intersex gxgxg)

My reaction to the names hadn't gone unnoticed, and while I'd hoped that it could be brushed off as a bug or something, our new friends were too perceptive. It didn't help that Willow and Lexie had also reacted. It was like a wild west standoff, with nobody wanting to say anything to start the shooting, until Bella said something that she just realized.

"Was that the Albany stop?"

Elise and Talia whirled to stare at her, and Bella shrunk back into the far corner of the hot tub.

"I didn't think your last names were Austin or Henson?" I said quickly to get the attention off Bella. It made no sense either. After seeing their parents during the street party earlier, you could easily see the family resemblance, so how they could be related to the assholes in Albany made no sense to me.

But now they were the ones uncomfortable, as were Mira and Hana, who were obviously party to whatever secret they were hiding. They all traded a lot of looks, and it didn't seem as though this was an easy secret to share. I couldn't have it drag out though, these neighbors were just the kind of people that we needed in our lives, and it wasn't like we didn't have big secrets too, so maybe If we all came clean then it could be a little cathartic?

"What does the article say?" I finally prompted, hoping to ease into it.

Elise hesitated, and then cleared her throat. "It says that the Austins and Hensons were killed along with their two oldest sons and several family friends in a murder suicide. The family friends were ones Fred and Henry Smithson. The Austins and Hensons are survived by their youngest sons, Karl and Gilbert." Mia and Hana's hands both went to their mouths at that, and I was almost itching to hear the story now.

"No mention of..." Mira started, then stopped when Talia and Elis shook their heads.

Talia pulled Elise into a hug, and cried, but it seemed like a mixture of happy tears and low giggles. These deaths seemed to be good news, which I was thankful to hear. I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling Willow and Lexie grab my hands in reassurance.

"Are you okay, can we get you anything?" Lexie finally asked, when they'd calmed down.

They both shook their heads. "No," Elise finally spoke up. "It was just a little emotional. But we're really good, thank you."

"There is obviously a lot more to this, right?" Willow said cautiously.

"I think on your end too," Mira pointed out, while reaching over to hold Elise's hand.

"We really have a dilemma here, huh?" I asked with a smile. "I really love this neighborhood, and we as a little family couldn't be happier to have you as neighbors. You've all been exceedingly helpful and friendly, and no matter what happens here tonight I'd like to keep that going. We've all been through a lot, and I'm betting you have too. But maybe if we share a little, then we can let it all out. Just trust each other. Could that work?"

There was another round of the other 4 all looking at each other, but then they finally nodded. "Yeah, maybe that will work," Talia agreed with a smile.

"Fine." I took a moment to gather my thoughts. "That wasn't a murder suicide, the article is a complete fabrication," I stated clearly.

"What?" yelped Elise, as the rest of their jaws dropped in shock. "Are you serious?"

I nodded slowly, trying to analyze their expressions. They still didn't seem upset, so that was a good thing. "The Austins and Hensons, and those friends with them, were part of a human trafficking operation. They kept women, almost all lesbians, drugged and forced to have sex with men. In many cases the girls were sold by parents or other family members to the group to make them disappear."