Page 55 of Declan's Hope

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"When is my mommy coming,Ms. Danford?"

The little girl’s pleading tone rang in Declan’s ear as he stood on the long driveway just outside the bus door. It was a question he had no idea how to answer. But Hope was doing her best to set the child’s and her other students’ minds at ease, while making sure they stayed in their seats. It couldn’t be an easy task, especially when one of the kids insisted he was ready to "bust out."

"Toby," Hope’s prim and commanding voice overrode the cacophony of questions coming at her. "Nobody’s busting out."

And how inappropriate was it he found Hope’s full-on teacher mode sexy?

He lingered where he stood, his fists clenching at his sides at the next question from one of the boys. "Can we get off the bus?"

"That’s a resounding, no," Garrett said low, coming up beside him.

He eyed his friend who had donned his head and face covering again. Couldn’t have any of the kids identifying them.

"I’m going to help Hope," Destiny muttered, pushing between them.

"Mask up, sweetheart."

The look she threw his friend was just another nail in his coffin.

"I’m not an idiot," she grumbled before tugging the one she had on top of her head back over her face, before tucking her hair inside as she climbed up the steps.

The doors swooshed shut.

Declan shook his head. "Are you—"

"Still not talking about it," Garrett interrupted, looking off toward the house. "I don’t see anything too graphic. Do you?"

If his friend needed to change the subject, so be it. Declan squinted off into the distance toward the front of Colonel Sheppard’s home.

"Not really. But I might not be the best one to ask at the moment. You know, having just the one eye and all."

"Yeah, yeah, Pirate Jack." Garrett grinned, then met Declan’s gaze—the moss green depths growing somber. "You saw well enough a few minutes ago."

Heat crept up his neck. He wasn’t one for compliments. It was his turn to change the subject. "So, you’re staying with the bus, right?"

"Yeah." Garrett glanced around before focusing back on him. "I don’t think we missed any of Salazar’s men. But better safe than sorry." A low laugh left his friend. "Besides I wouldn’t put it past that Toby kid to make a run for the house to get a better look."

Declan nodded. "Ah, the one ready to bust out." He cast his gaze toward the house again.

"Go. I’ve got this," Garrett assured him.

"Thanks, man," Declan said, giving him a friendly shove, then took off at a slow jog toward the house. He could trust Garrett to keep Hope and everyone on the bus safe.

Besides, Declan had a feeling it would take Hope, Garrett, and Destiny to ride herd on the group of kindergartners. Of course, he hadn’t been surprised Destiny was staying behind. She wasn’t going anywhere without Hope.

Declan understood the sentiment. He didn’t want to go anywhere without Hope either. But he needed to see about Mercy and Kara—especially Kara. It was bad enough Hope’s class had heard the violence, but his niece might possibly have seen it.

The idea sent a shudder through him.

Kara had been less than three feet away when he’d targeted Salazar’s head, and then the man with Hope. He just prayed she hadn’t actually seen what he had through his scope.

Kara might be one tough kid—she took after her mom, after all—but witnessing something like that would be a lot for an adult to handle.

He shuddered again as he passed Solace, Cal, and Chance. The three didn’t spare him a glance. They were too busy laying Salazar’s remaining men out on their stomachs and zip-tying their hands behind their backs. It didn’t look like they were putting up much of a struggle. The colonel had been right. Once their leader had been taken down, only a few had retaliated.

The rest?

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