Page 20 of Clean Slade
Slade put his hands in his pockets and shrugged.
“I may have woken a few people up at the crack of dawn.”
A few people? Just how many had he called for this plan? And had he just said he’d hired a boat to take us there? Because if so, that was the best part. We could avoid the whole busy ferry to Hyannis that way.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” Slade took the cereal bowl from me and set it aside before holding my hands.
“You don’t have to say anything. I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you or Mac, and I intend to keep my promise.”
“Thank you.”
It was all I could say. What more could I say to a perfect stranger willing to uproot his life to protect us?
“Come on. Let’s tell Mac about our trip. Autumn will drop by with a few changes of clothes for both of you, and we’ll swap cars. Then we can go.”
He…he’d really thought of everything.
Pfft. What are you talking about, King? He’s a SEAL. Of course he has.
Not that his plan was flawless. Just because we went away to camp for a few days didn’t mean my father was going to stop hunting me.
But maybe…maybe Wyatt, Slade, and their team could figure out how to get rid of him even if I couldn’t see a way.
Maybe I was blinded by fear, and there really was a way out of this nightmare without uprooting my daughter and my life.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. That’s what I’m here for. To keep you both safe.”
This time I unequivocally believed him. There were no ifs, no buts.
I offered him a smile, and he grabbed the bowl with the soggy cereal and carried it over to the living room, where Mac was arguing with Mr. Rogers about which plushie was cutest. The ice cream or the pink crocodile.
“Mac! Did you take Slade’s…teddies?”
Still weird that a grown, six-foot-two man had stuffed animals in all colors of the pastel rainbow.
“I’m sorry.” Her apology came too quickly to her lips, so I didn’t exactly believe it.
“It’s okay. I told her she could have any she wants.”
“Yeah, that room could use a little clearing,” Mr. Rogers said.
“Thank you!” I exclaimed, and Mr. Rogers laughed.
“What?” Slade asked.
“You gotta admit. It’s a little weird.”
He raised an eyebrow in response and pouted his lips in a way that begged to be kissed.
“What’s wrong with liking cute things?”
“There’s nothing wrong. But itisweird.”
“I think it’s cute, Slade,” Mac said.
