Page 173 of His Boys to Protect

Ward heaved a great big sigh. “Thank you for that.”

“Is he okay?”

“I think so.” Ward looked down. “Charlie? You feeling better?”

“Charlie!”

“Hhnn!” Charlie ducked his head and covered his ears. Even Ward flinched at the sound of Dakota's voice. It was so loud! So shrill. It hurt Charlie's ears.

“He's okay,” Ward insisted, the rumble of his voice a soothing relief after Dakota's scream. “He's fine.”

Charlie peeked out and saw his big brother lurch to a stop.

Dakota planted his hands on his knees and hung his head, gasping for breath. Mav and Beau came up behind him, their big hands steadying him. Dakota nodded at something they said, then he came closer and dropped to his knees in front of Charlie. “You scared the shit out of me,” Dakota said, flicking a tear away from his eye. “I thought…” Dakota trailed off and shuddered, a haunted look coming over his face.

The same look he'd worn right after Sabrina died.

Oh no.Charlie winced.Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!

Dakota reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him. “It's okay. I'm just glad you're safe. But what are you doing here? How did you even get here?”

Taxi, Charlie signed.

Dakota stared at him. “How do you even know how to order a taxi?” he practically shrieked.

Charlie scowled at his big brother. He wasn't stupid! And he wasn't a helpless kid anymore! He could do grown-up things.

Before Charlie could sign a reply, Ward held up a hand and asked, “Charlie? Why did you come here?”

Our Sky!

Ward frowned. “Sky? What about him?”

Charlie signed frantically, trying to explain to them that he saw the history of where Skylar's phone had been. The signal pinged last at San Luis Obispo Regional Airport. When Charlie looked up ways to get there, the train seemed to be the fastest option, but he had to get to the train station first, so he ordered a ride to pick him up and take him there. But when he arrived at the station, there was no window at which to buy a ticket. And when he tried to ask the uniformed lady to sell him one, she didn't know what he wanted.

“Slow down, buddy,” Ward murmured.

“Yeah, I only caught like half of that,” Dakota agreed.

Charlie huffed in frustration. He pulled out his phone, opened the tracking app, and pointed at where he'd left it, showing the airport on the map.

Ward's face went scary blank. “That's where Sky went?”

Charlie nodded.

Ward swallowed hard. “Charlie, he could beanywherenow. Hell, he could be halfway across the world.”

Charlie pouted. He knew that. Planes went all over the place. But he thought, if he could just get to the airport, he could ask someone. Charlie could show them a picture of Skylar and find out where he went!

“This was the day he left,” Ward mumbled, still looking at the phone. “I'm sorry, little mouse. He's gone. He could have taken a dozen more flights or a train or a bus or anything after that.”

Charlie's hopes sank. How would they ever find their Sky if he'd gone from place to place? They'd have to keep asking, and maybe people wouldn't even have an answer for them. Charlie quietly accepted his phone back.

“Come on.” Ward stood. “Let's have Dakota take you back home.”

Charlie slowly got up with Ward's help. Ward carried his bag and put an arm around his shoulders, steering him towards the parking lot. Charlie stared down at his phone the whole way.

It wasn't right! Or fair. Their Sky should be with them. Not out there somewhere in the world, all by himself.

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