Page 19 of Guarding Zuri
“Thank you.”
Daemon stared at Zuri. Her shoulders slacked, and the hand holding the bar shook as she brought it to her mouth. “I am sorry for her. Bayo was a good man.”
“Tell her that.”
In a matter of hours, Zuri, Daemon, and a few of Daemon’s men sailed out of Bendola’s waters. Night afforded them cover for movement through the city. The airstrip was being watched like a hawk, but the port wasn’t as secure. The rich didn’t want to be hampered if they decided on a whim to take their boats out to sea.
Daemon stood at the bow of the ship, allowing the wind to settle his anxious nerves, but only by a notch. He wouldn’t relax until they were out of Bendola’s jurisdiction. The country lacked a navy; any boat they encountered, Daemon’s souped-up yacht would outrun it. To the casual observer, it looked like something owned by the affluent, but its engines, the command-and-control room below deck, and the technology made it more like a vehicle Batman owned.
Zuri had argued every mile from the safe house to the port. She hated not saying a proper goodbye to David. He had left soon after calming her down to run route protection. He had kept to his car, circling the area as a lookout when Zuri and Daemon rushed to the boat. She’d wanted one last minute to say goodbye, which Daemon had denied—with David’s approval. David had agreed she was delicate; now was the time to steel nerves.
To start, they denied her the chance to bury her father.
Daemon felt for her on that one. There wasn’t time for a ritual burial. Daemon promised her that his people would deliver his body back to her native village. She had vehemently opposed this solution—the anger stage of her grief settling in. Once again, David explained that if she buried her father, she might join him in the grave.
Daemon was sure Zuri agreed with this on some level. He wasn’t up to date on any of the burial rituals because he hadn’t planned on losing his client. Her father was in excellent hands. David and the people of the village would handle everything. One day, Zuri would return and pay her respects.
Daemon looked over his shoulder, half expecting Zuri to be there, ready with another complaint. He’d protected movie stars and politicians before, so he was used to demanding diva behavior. Irritation paid well. Strange, Zuri’s stubbornness only fueled his desire to get into another argument with her for a chance to win again. Did he have an ego problem?
Daemon made his way below deck, searching for his nemesis. He found her asleep on the bed in her private room. He shouldn’t have entered without permission, and it surprised him to find she hadn’t locked the door to keep him out.
He leaned against the frame of the open door and watched her chest slowly rise and fall. The image of her tear-stained face next to her dying father had burned into his memory. It would haunt him, much like the death of Jeremy. He wished for the power to rewind time. Save her father so she wouldn’t have to cry.
He sat on the edge of her bed. She didn’t stir. He smoothed a hand over her soft, wiry hair. She moaned, but her eyes remained closed. The light from overhead shone off her glistening cheeks. She’d been crying again. Zuri’s relaxed features gave her a youthful appearance not marred by the devastation of today’s events. Vulnerable and tender, alone in the world, now that both her parents had died. Accepting this job pro bono would be worth it to see her live through all of this. Besides, he owed David a favor. His friend had saved his life more than once in the desert. He would put up with a lot to pay back that debt.
She’s lost so much today.Her father…. Joqi…“You have my word, Zuri. You’ll never lose anyone again,” he whispered. He stood carefully so not to rock the bed and left the room.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Zuri awoke with a start.Where am I?She blinked swollen against the light shining down from the recess lights above her head. Her fingers brushed over the soft cotton duvet she’d been sleeping on for—she looked at her watch—less than two hours. She swung heavy legs over the side of the bed.I feel like I’ve slept all day.She’d been more exhausted than she thought.
My father’s dead.
It was still the day her father died. Would she ever move forward in time? Her eyes stung as reality settled back in and kept her anchored to the bed. Zuri blinked against the hot tears pooling at the edges of her lids. She let out a breath, releasing the building tension in her chest.
She moved her feet across the floor and tested her sea legs. The boat wasn’t moving. Had they left Bendola? When she came above deck, she squinted, forcing her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Even in the inky night, the shore appeared different. Her eyes scanned the deck and found Daemon’s men disembarking.
Daemon stood off to the side of the gangplank, shaking hands with a man dressed in all black. Multiple similarity-dressed men intermingled with people she recognized from Daemon’s team.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate your help.” Daemon remarked.
“Any time, Major.”
“You know I’m no longer in the service,” Daemon said with a shake of his head. “But if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”
“Got a spot on my team whenever you’re ready to come back.”
“Never, if my father has anything to say about it.”
The unidentified man chuckled. “You’re the heir. I get it. Well, hit me up if you change your mind. We’re always here for you. And tell David the offer extends to him as well.”
What had they done to help? With their stealth looks and intimidatingly huge sizes, Zuri wasn’t sure she wanted to know, but she imagined it had something to do with their safe travel.
Major was an officer rank.Daemon commanded troops.Did he want to return to the military? Daemon walked like he owned every piece of land his foot touched, and his men followed him without question; all with the presence of military training.
And what about being the heir? Was his father in control of his destiny?
Zuri shoved the questions to the back of her mind. Daemon’s life was none of her concern, nor did she have an interest in knowing the man. He was supposed to guard her. That was it. They weren’t friends and wouldn’t be lovers. Zuri closed her eyes and shook her head. Lovers? Why did she even think…?
