Page 76 of Raven

She doesn’t argue as she continues taking small bites of her sandwich, her gaze slowly roaming the counter.

She said she was fine, but I can tell it’s either a delayed shock or some sort of PTSD as she tries to process what happened.

I stay silent. Right now is definitely the wrong time to be sassy or throw around innuendos. What I do want is to pull her into my chest and cradle her. The impulse is so strong and unexpected that I pick up my phone and start going through the phone directory, pushing that impulse down and trying to remember what I’m supposed to do right now.

I don’t often rationalize my decisions, except when they are based on an instinct that proved right before.

I’ve known Skiba for a year. I chose my men wisely, and I want to know they have similar values. A moral compass, at least. A week ago, I would’ve trusted him with my life and assigned him to be Maddy’s bodyguard. After the incident on the beach, considering it was about a girl, I hesitate.

Yet that Ali guy—who is a complete stranger—something about him draws me in, either his faith or dedication, I’m not sure. I got one of my guys to deliver the package to him at work—his medication. My guard returned with a “thank you” from, quote, “that weirdo. What’s your deal with him?”

I hope Ali doesn’t think it’s some sort of a deal, but I want him on my team. I call the HR office. “I need the contact info for one of the guards.”

And when they send me Ali’s number, I dial.

“ID 23567,” he answers with the usual in-network guard protocol.

“This is Raven,” I say, wondering if I’m in over my head. After all, I don’t know this guy well. Moreover, this is a personal assignment that will require more diligence than spending boring hours at the towers or security gates. “I want you to be the personal guard for Maddy Wise. If you’d rather not, it’s not a problem, and you will stay where you are.”

I won’t blame him if he finds an excuse to refuse. I have other options, though not sure how trustworthy?—

“Yes,” he says right away.

My chest falls on a relieved exhale. “You start right away. I’ll see you at Bungalow 14 as soon as the Center calls you with the confirmation.”

I hang up, then call the Center and tell them that Ali is now on my team.

Maddy doesn’t say a word. Doesn’t even look at me.

Don’t get me wrong, I still can’t fucking relax being so close to her, in one room, with no one else around. I want to stay. Want to talk or touch or just sit in silence until I know she feels okay.

Her phone rings, and she picks up, “Hey.”

I can’t hear what the man on the other side says, but I do recognize Bo’s low, deep voice.

“I’ll call you in a little bit, okay?” she says.

Well, I guess she has better options to talk things out than me.

There’s a knock at the door. Maddy’s eyes dart to the door, but I get up and open it to see Ali.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say he looks indifferent. People who seem indifferent often learned the best ways to hide what they are thinking and feeling, and usually, the reason for it is not a good one.

I nod for him to come in, studying his work uniform and duty belt.

“You’ll need something smaller,” I say, nodding at the AK-47 slung across his back. “More inconspicuous.”

He nods, doesn’t look around or move, his calm eyes on me. Guards have an assortment of weapons that they keep even off-duty. We have too many guards on this island and even more weapons.

“This is Maddy,” I introduce her. “This is Ali. He will be one of your guards. The other one is Nilanski.” I turn my attention to Ali. “You and he will coordinate the shifts. You do not leave the shift unless the other guard is with you. Report all that to the Center. You are to follow her everywhere and stay outside the buildings. Anything suspicious, you call me. Any problems, you do the same. Anything happens to her—I’ll take your head off and your family’s. In that exact order.”

He slowly blinks in confirmation.

Silence grows around us. I can see in my peripheral that Maddy is watching us. She might not like this new arrangement, but there’s no way around it. I don’t want anything to happen to her. And I don’t want to fucking leave right now, but she probably needs some privacy and to report back to that Bob fucking Marley who she’s supposed to call back.

“When did your regular shift start?” I ask Ali, who is standing like a soldier waiting for orders.

“Three hours ago. I’m in for the night shift.”

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