Page 61 of Danger Close
Revenge.
For what happened in Albania.For burning their compound to the ground.For stealing what they considered their property.Sophia.And the other kids they pulled out of that hell hole.
Ricky’s chest hitched, and pain lanced through his ribs.He sucked in a shallow breath and gritted his teeth, forcing his mind to focus on something else.Anything else.
He pictured Sophia’s smile—the real one, not the too-perfect mask she’d worn when he first saw her.He pictured Ryan and her playing tag around the Ridge, Celia toddling after them like a pint-sized tornado, all toothy grins and baby growls.
He’d helped give them that.A chance to be kids.A chance to be safe.
Please let them still be safe.
He thought about Marsh—about the explosion, the way the truck had flipped.He’d seen the blood.Heard the scream.
He didn’t know if Marsh was still alive.
The nausea that rolled through him had nothing to do with blood loss.
And Ezra.
God.Ezra.
He remembered the feel of him—skin on skin, lips soft and breath ragged, laughter in the dark.The way he looked at Ricky like he was the only thing in the world worth holding onto.The way he said, “You’re mine,” and made Ricky believe it.
Ezra had waited for him in Albania.Stood in the storm and trusted Ricky to come.
Now it was his turn.
They were coming.
He knew it with the same certainty he knew his own name.
Pathfinders didn’t leave their own behind.Ezra would burn the world to find him.So would Bateman.Marsh.Dale.Hogan.Every single one of them.
That was what family did.
He just had to hold on long enough for them to get here.
He flexed his fingers, trying to keep blood flowing.Forced his breaths to stay even.
Stay alive.Stay conscious.Stay ready.
Because when the cavalry came, he wasn’t going to be dead weight.
He was going to fight his way out right alongside them.If he could just stop seeing stars and maybe bring things into focus, yeah, that would be a great start.
Ricky’s head tipped back.Blood trickled down his arm.
“Come on,” he whispered to the dark, voice raw and cracking.“Come on, baby.I’m still here.”
