Page 42 of Echoes and Oaths
And if they didn’t?
He’d make sure they had no choice.
The weight of the room pressed on him, the stale air heavy with sweat, smoke, and barely concealed fear. Brando’s voice crackled in his ear, dry and laced with dark humor. “Can’t we just take a bomb and blow up the military assholes? Let God sort them out.”
It took everything Jinx had not to smile at Brando’s feigned exhaustion. Instead, he dipped his head slightly, speaking low into the mouth of his beer glass.
“Not certain, but I don’t think He wants to deal with them either.”
However, a move that grand would shake the entire region to its core. It could be useful if things didn’t pan out the way he anticipated. A statement. Jinx was already calculating how best to do exactly that.
CHAPTER 14
Eira glanced at Teo, who stood on the framed stool she’d made for him. It was a standing playpen that was needed. Teo wanted to do everything she did, and she didn’t want him to fall, so she used scrap wood to make the contraption. He played with his wooden spoon and small pots as she worked over the stove's heat. She heard Mateo come into the house. She knew it was him. Raven had told her he was on his way back. How the woman knew that was beyond her, but how they communicated wasn’t her concern, although it was curious. Cell phones only worked in certain areas because of the sparsity of towers in the area.
She glanced over her shoulder to see Mateoleaning against the doorway, arms crossed, watching them.
“Here.” She reached over and tossed him a bag of cornmeal. “You can help. Do you remember how to make arepas?”
Mateo didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped into the cramped space and pulled down a bowl from the shelf. “How many are eating?” he asked as he opened the cornmeal.
“Mom is at Tia Louisa’s today. She’s not feeling well, so she is making food and cleaning. Uncle Ruben will bring her back when he comes for the milk tonight. So, just the four of us.”
“Three. Raven is on an errand.”
Eira glanced over at him. “What kind of errand?”
Mateo shrugged. “We need some pictures.”
“As in drawings?” she asked as she grabbed a spoon to stir the beans she was cooking.
“As in photos,” Mateo said. He sprinkled some of the cornmeal into the small bowl Teo was playing with. Teo smiled up at his father. Eira’s heart almost stopped. The boy didn’t even question Mateo’s presence. He was eighteen months old, and while he could say a few words, he was still mostly pointing and grunting or laughing.
They worked together in the kitchen the waythey had years ago. Falling into a rhythm formed over countless nights cooking their dinners together.
When he finished, the arepas were a little too thick, and a couple were too well cooked. She hid a smile and corrected herself, no, they were burned, but plenty weren't and looked good. Teo sat on her lap while they ate. She tore apart an arepa and blew on the inside to cool it before she stuffed it with a small amount of cheese and beans. Teo took it from her and started to eat it.
“I thought he would still be on a bottle?” Mateo said as he watched Teo eat the food. Mateo reached out with stunning speed, catching a large portion of Teo’s arepa that fell. The little boy took the food from Mateo’s hand and shoved it into his mouth.
She chuckled at the drop and food smash. “He takes a bottle only when he’s inconsolable. It’s more comfort for him now than necessity. He’ll be completely weaned soon.”
Mateo stopped with his food halfway to his mouth. “Is that good for him? Does he need formula or something? I can get some.”
She smiled and shook her head. “No. He’s eating foods like this. Everything has to be cut small so he doesn’t choke. But he’s fine.”
Mateo nodded and ate his food with the gusto she remembered. The man could consume a mountain of food. They ate while also giving Teo bites of everything. “Could you hold him so I can get him some milk?” She stood up and held Teo out.
“I can get it,” Mateo said. A look of complete terror crossed his face.
“He won’t bite you, Mateo.” She dropped her son into his father’s lap, got a glass, and poured some fresh, raw milk into the cup. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled as Mateo’s hands guarded his son but didn’t touch him. She chuckled. “He won’t break.”
“Are you sure?” Mateo asked. “He’s so small.”
Eira turned to him and smiled, saying, “He’s a big boy.”
Teo looked up at Mateo and parroted, “Beeg boy.”
Mateo blinked, and then a wide smile formed across his face. “He talks?”
