Page 8 of Guarding Zuri
He cocked a brow and angled his head back, looking into her eyes. “Do you mean that?”
“Of course! I wouldn’t say it, if I didn’t mean it.”
He snorted. “I think you said a lot that you didn’t mean.”
Her hand fell away from his shoulder. “If you’re back to Daemon—”
His laugh interrupted her. “You’re not going to escape him, Zuri. Once he fixates on something, he doesn’t let it go. His focus and determination are relentless. I’ve never known him to lose at anything, except poker. He can’t bluff his way out of anything.”
She believed that. The man exuded confidence and he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—hide it from anyone.
“Zuri! David! Come join us,” Bayo said from the table.
Zuri and David met Bayo and his advisors at the table. Joqi reviewed the main and alternate routes of travel to and from tomorrow’s meeting. They reconfirmed times for security checks. Bayo summarized the meeting topics and what he expected from the foreign contacts. At the end of the meeting, everyone agreed to move forward with the plan—and that it was the right decision.
Bayo came around the table and wrapped an arm around Zuri’s shoulder. “Walk with me, daughter.”
They exited the room and walked down a long corridor that connected several buildings above where homes and retail shops hid their base of operations from the world. Little air funneled through and Bayo’s arm grew heavy and sweaty around her slick neck.
“How did you like Mr. Knight?”
“I didn’t.”
“David recommended him.”
Zuri sighed. “I know, and I trust David, father. But Mr. Knight wants us to delay when we’re so close to freedom!”
“But we will not delay.”
Zuri was satisfied the meeting would continue as planned, but she had a feeling Daemon would try to stop them. “I’m worried that trusting another outsider will cause more to die. Her father frowned, likely recalling the assassination attempt. “We’ve come this far on our own. We can defeat Gohi by ourselves.”
“There is no shame in accepting help. We’ll need it to defeat Gohi’s army. There are times when caution is the right approach.”
“I agree.”
“And there are times when taking a risk will be the right option and you will gain a great reward. I hope you will recognize when to be still and when to act. One decision is based on facts and the other on instinct. All the other things cannot be considered.”
Her shoulders stiffened, but her father’s arm remained. “What ‘other things’?” She suspected he meant her feelings. She hadn’t hidden her displeasure of Daemon from the moment he entered the room. What reason did she have to give him the benefit of the doubt? Because David trusted him? Half Bendolan, David spent most of his time out of the country. If he had fought alongside them for the length of the resistance, then he would better understand how close they were to freedom—and why now was the time to act.
“Pride.”
“What?” Zuri asked, taken aback by his response.
“Pride will blind you to what is right in front of your face. Shield you from the truth of your heart. I saw you look down your nose at Mr. Knight for being an outsider. He has to prove himself to you—earn your trust. I’m asking you—for my sake—to let him do that.”
“Why? With the help of our allies, we’ll soon defeat Gohi. I won’t need protection.”
“Until we defeat Gohi, youmustbe safe.” He paused in front of her door and circles her shoulders with his large hands. “Now is not the time to be prideful. But I agree, that it is the time to take risk.” He chuckled and cupped her cheeks. “I still see you as the little girl who used to chase after predators when they came into the village. You always take the risk.” His gaze bore into hers while his hands crushed her shoulders. “But I’ve lost too much, Zuri. Your mother… I can’t lose you. Promise me, Zuri. Promise me you’ll let Mr. Knight protect you!”
Her shoulders contracted underneath his powerful grip. Fear shot through her heart, causing a shudder. For the second time in her life, she saw unadulterated fear in her father’s eyes. The first time was right after the death of her mother. As life slipped out of her eyes, her father’s own dark orbs filled with a dread that had frightened Zuri. Later, he had told her the trepidation of living life without his true love overwhelmed him. “Father, what are you not telling me?”
He closed his eyes and hung his head, exasperation in his voice. “Can you not even promise me this?”
“I promise.” The words rushed out. “I promise, Father, but—what is wrong?”
His head lifted and a closed smile softened his rigged features. He leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead. “We are so close to the end. It can only get more dangerous.” He squeezed her shoulders and dropped his hands. “Get some rest, Zuri. Tomorrow will test us all.”
He left her standing there, staring at his retreating back as he walked back in the direction of the command room. Would they discuss more plans without her? Was there something else he didn’t want her to know?Like hiring Daemon Knight to protect me.They were all skilled at hiding things from her—Joqi, David, her father.Father still thinks I’m seventeen and that I’ll sneak out. Haven’t I proven myself?
