Page 51 of Echoes and Oaths
Eira laughed quietly, brushing Teo’s messy curls out of his eyes.
"I think someone likes you," she teased, glancing at Jinx with a smile that melted him from the inside out.
"I … I love him," Jinx said gruffly, pressing a kiss to Teo’s head.
The three of them sat there in the soft morning light, tangled together, the world outside forgotten for a little while. Jinx let his eyes close briefly, feeling the boy’s tiny heartbeat against his chest, the familiar weight of Eira beside him.
He could have stayed like that forever.
But reality had a way of creeping in. The now rather urgent moos of the cattle carried through the window.
“I’ll go take care of them,” Jinx said as he stood and dressed.
"Breakfast will be ready when you come back," she said softly, a knowing look in her eyes.
He smiled faintly and nodded.
Together, Eira and Teo climbed out of bed. Eira padded into the kitchen, barefoot and beautiful in the oversized shirt she’d thrown on, with Teobouncing happily in her arms as Jinx followed but veered out the front door to do the morning chores.
When he returned, she’d dressed, and Teo wore fresh shorts and a T-shirt. He was playing on the floor when Eira handed Jinx a battered mug, their fingers brushing, and for a moment, their eyes met, and a smile passing between them.
No matter what came next, they were in it together.
Teo giggled, climbing onto one of the chairs and banging his fists on the table in excitement. Eira laughed and set out his breakfast, a few eggs, and some bread. It was simple, rustic, and absolutely perfect.
Jinx took a long sip of coffee, watching her move around the kitchen, Teo babbling happily. He’d fought wars. Walked through hell itself. And yet this … this messy, imperfect,beautifulmorning was the hardest and most important battle he’d ever won.
Family.
Home.
It was reality. Yes, there was a storm in their future. One that he would win because, for the first time, he wasn’t just fighting for his company or the good of humanity. Now, he was fighting to return to his family.
CHAPTER 17
Jinx took a stroll across the stretch of pastureland that connected Eira’s ranch to the abandoned property behind her. The warm night air clung to his skin, carrying the scents of dust, dry grass, and distant woodsmoke. The stars hung low, heavy against the ink-black sky.
It had become his habit. When Eira tucked Teo into bed, he’d slip out and check the old mailbox where Simón sometimes left messages. It was also the hour when he, Brando, and Raven touched base.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Jinx tapped his comms.
"Where are we with the identification of the photos?" he asked, voice low.
Brando’s chuckle rumbled through the line. "Well, hello to you, too."
Raven’s voice immediately broke in, dry as the cracked earth under Jinx’s boots.
"You know, he’s really not all that friendly. Kind of a loner. Not at all like me. How you doing, Brando?" Raven continued with a mischievous lilt. "By the way, could you tell your cousin to stop contacting me? I mean, I’d appreciate it."
"He’s a grown man," Brando replied with a careless shrug in his tone. "What do you want me to do?"
"Oh, I can think of lots of things I want you to do to him. I have a zombie doll being made in the village. Until I get some pins to shove into it, shoving a sock in his mouth would be a start," Raven muttered.
Jinx shook his head, a ghost of a smile curving his lips. Their banter was a constant background noise and it was sharp and familiar. But tonight, he wasn’t in the mood to play.
"Could we get back to business?" he asked, scanning the tree line ahead.
"Absolutely," Brando said. "Found out something today that’s very, very interesting."
