Page 83 of Moros

Instinctively, I reached over to grab her arm.

“The place is secure.” Pitbull explained. “She can go in.”

Closing my eyes to gather myself, I exhaled and released her arm. Ryanne turned and slowly walked away, periodically looking over her shoulder at me. Though I didn’t feel good about letting her out of my sight, I nodded to encourage her.

When she was inside, I still stared.

“You want to go with her.”

I scoffed. “Not yet—she needs a moment with them to have it sink in that they’re fine. That kind of adrenaline will take a little time to wear off and I don’t want to crowd her.”

Pitbull made a sound in his throat—it was the kind of sound one made when they hear something but didn’t quite buy it.

“I know that feeling.” Pitbull spoke, softly, his German accent rich. “I know it very well.”

“What feeling?” I exhaled and faced him.

“The one where you want to protect her from everything but is slowly realizing that not even with an army, you can’t keep her from getting hurt.” Pitbull did a motion with his hand, and we began walking.

I knew that was his way of communicating with Mouth from wherever it was he was watching us through the scop of a sniper rifle.

Strange how that was normal for me.

Mouth was the negotiator of their team. But CIRO’s leader, Beast, had insisted that his crew be cross-trained. Barbie, the single female on their team was one of Germany’s best snipers—she trained Mouth and he’d become lethal at it.

Mouth hated it—but it was the job.

“She’s not mine.” I admitted. “The Todd guy?—”

“That idiot?” Pitbull asked. “She doesn’t look like the type that would fall for that.”

I chuckled.

“Yeah well—did Tex say if Paul had any connections on the island?”

“Yeah—” Pitbull responded. “He has a sister who lives in Golden Springs—about an hour from here.”

“Listen, can you and Mouth pay her a visit?” I asked.

Pitbull smiled knowingly and nodded.

“We’re on it.” He replied. “We’ll call in if we get anything worth getting’.”

Pitbull patted my shoulder and turned to leave.

I stole a moment to exhale before making my way into the house to find Ryanne making tea for her grandparents. When Morgana saw me, she tapped the corners of her eyes, and I assumed Ryanne told her what happened that a day.

Theodore was sleeping on a hospital bed close to the window.

Morgana extended a hand to me, and I allowed her to take it and gently pulled me close.

“You will take care of her, will you?” Morgana asked. “She’s the only family we have left now.”

Glancing up at Ryanne holding a tray with a teapot and mugs with the sugar and milk, I rose and took it from her hands to set it on the center table.

“I’ll make sure she’s safe before I go anywhere.” I told her. “I promise.”

She relaxed as she nodded.

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