Page 90 of Hidden Raphael
She swept her hand across her forehead, and then he took her hand for a second. Their palms together felt right. Then he brushed past her to gather his sister in his arms. She took the other side, and he led her further down the black hallways. "Where are we?"
He lifted his finger to his lips, and she gazed into his eyes. "Can you stay here by yourself for a minute?"
The last thing either of them needed was to be alone. "Why?"
He kissed her hand. "You'll be safe here. Harry knew we were upstairs, but he won't get into the hidden walls."
Raphael took his sister in his arms, laying her down on something. Kimberly stared into the dark, making out the outline of a bed or mattress. No, a sofa. Her hands brushed against soft fabric. Michaela would be comfortable. "Can't he get a gun and shoot at us if he knows we are here?"
"No. This hall is safe." Raphael stepped back, and she couldn't make out even a shadow of his body.
She took a step back in the dark, and she sensed him in front of her. She reached out and touched his shoulder. "Let's go."
He massaged her shoulder with the hand that wasn’t holding his rifle. "Kimberly, please stay here."
His voice had an edge. Raphael knew his house. Kimberly's heart thrashed in her chest as she told him, "Okay, go get Harry. I'll stand guard over your sister."
His hand slipped under her chin. She gazed up and closed her eyes. A moment later, his mouth met hers and he kissed her on the lips.
He tasted of testosterone mixed with his usual taste of pine trees. Her arms wrapped around him. This moment burned into her and everything else became blurry. Her lips tingled as he stepped back.
He left before she could say anything. The safe room was the darkest place she'd ever been. Kimberly rubbed her arms together.
Raphael had twenty minutes or else she'd have to go help him again.
