Page 81 of His Boys to Protect

Charlie eyed the banana, tilting his head, then must have decided it was acceptable because he peeled it open and began to eat.

The drive back began in silence. Charlie munched away happily at his banana while Dakota and Skylar gazed out the windows. Ward watched them all and couldn't stop smiling to himself. Simple as their outing was, it felt good. So cozy and domestic. Like he was part of the family.

Which was really getting ahead of himself, but no matter how much he tried to force the idea aside, it persisted.

Charlie finished his banana, then sat there, staring at the peel, looking lost.

“Shit,” Dakota muttered. “I didn't think about that. Charlie? Just hang onto it until we get back, okay? We'll be home in a few minutes.”

“Hhnn.” Charlie frowned.

“You can set it on the floor, if you want,” Ward suggested. The mats were rubber, so it wouldn't hurt anything.

Charlie eyed the mat, then scowled and shook his head.

“Or you can throw it out the window.”

Charlie tipped his head.

“The critters will eat it,” Ward explained.

Charlie took a moment to consider that. He eyed the banana peel, then scanned the endless fields that flanked the road now that they were outside the city limits. Charlie hesitated, rocking in his seat.

“Here, Charlie,” Skylar said, reaching around the seat. “I'll take it.”

Charlie handed it over. Skylar put his window down and flung the peel onto the shoulder of the road. Charlie looked back, sitting eerily still for a long moment. But he must have decided that was okay because he finally turned back around and quietly squeaked to himself.

Ward bit back a grin.

They were a mile out from the house when Ward's phone vibrated in the center console. He glanced at the screen, seeing a new text from his brother. Ward picked up his phone and braced it against the steering wheel, eyeing the road ahead as he swiped to open the message.

He barely registered the movement out of the corner of his eye before Charlie snatched the phone from his hands.

But the boy grabbed the wheel as well. It wrenched to the right, sending the truck careening towards the shoulder.

Ward yanked his foot off the gas pedal and grabbed the wheel with both hands. He carefully slowed and correctedcourse, making it just in time before the tires caught the dirt. Ward's heart thumped wildly in his chest as he slowly pressed on the brake pedal, steered onto the side of the road, and came to a stop.

He paused to catch his breath. “Everybody okay?” He twisted in his seat. “Sky? Dakota?”

“We're fine,” Skylar said between panted breaths while Dakota nodded.

“Charlie?”

Charlie sat hunched in on himself. He covered his eyes and started rocking while making soft, frightened whimpers.

“Charlie?” Ward repeated. “Are you hurt?”

The boy didn't answer.

“Charlie?” Ward tried again. When the boy still didn't respond to him, Ward set the emergency brake, threw off his seatbelt, and checked for traffic before he got out of the truck and walked around to the other side. He opened the passenger door and leaned in, trying to get a look at Charlie's face. “Hey, buddy. I need to know you're okay.”

Charlie shook his head.No look!he signed, keeping his eyes squeezed shut and covered with one hand.No look!

“What's he saying?” Dakota asked.

“'No look,'I think,” Ward told him. “Charlie? Are you hurt?”

No look!Charlie repeated.No see dead!

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