Page 62 of Refuge (The Wanderers 2)

“I know.” She nodded. “That was a coincidence. I was having some issues that I needed to deal with and Stuart happened to find me. He didn’t want to leave me alone because that’s just the kind of man he is. So he stayed while I worked out my problems, and I’ll never be able to thank him enough for the kindness. The fact that he kept my private life secret from everyone for all these years endears me to him even more. Not many people would do that. But what’s between us is still a platonic friendship based on trust after all these years.”

Tarin cleared his throat. “Thank you.”

“No problem. I just… I wanted you to hear it from me. I’m sorry I can’t tell you the specifics. I just don’t want to share.”

“I understand. You don’t need to say a word. I’m over it, but I appreciate you talking to me. That was kind of you.” Tarin felt oddly calm and relaxed. Two of his family members were still above ground, so he should by all rights be in a full panic, but Maya’s talk lifted a weight he’d been carrying too long.

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Stuart when he’d told him basically the same things, but hearing it from Maya meant a lot. Watching Stu approach him with open arms upon his return had left Tarin tingling with appreciation too. Things were going to be fine between them. Always. They were a family now. They had a lot to live for and a great deal of love to share.

Love.

Tarin’s chest burned with the need to say that out loud. None of them had, and it was eating at him. As soon as he had his family all inside this apartment today, he was going to break the ice on the L word once and for all.

He loved all three of them. Not exactly the same way, but he definitely loved them. And they needed to hear it from him.

Maya stood. “We should get back to the entrance. I know you’re anxious to greet the rest of your family, and I want to check on Cora and wait with her to be reunited with her friend.”

Tarin stood also.

Maya headed toward the door, but when she reached it, she turned around. Tarin nearly walked right into her with the unexpected stop.

She surprised him by wrapping her arms around him and hugging him. He returned the embrace in an eerily similar fashion to the hug he’d exchanged with Stuart earlier—shock causing him to be a few seconds behind.

They headed back to the conference room in silence, but it wasn’t the same uncomfortable silence that had filled the air before their chat. Tarin felt a sense of relief. He may never know the exact details about what happened that month or why Maya preferred to remain secretive, but instead of continuing to be angry with Stuart for his part in the saga, he would choose to be proud of his partner in life for being the friend Maya needed.

When they stepped into the conference room, Cora was seated at the table, back straight, hands nervously fidgeting on the surface as she talked to Willa. “You call yourselves The Wanderers?”

“Yes.” Willa was smiling indulgently. “Though we don’t really wander so much anymore. We still can and would if the need arose.”

“And we’re safe here?” Cora rubbed her arms in disbelief.

Willa reached out to give her forearm a squeeze. “As safe as we can be. We have safeguards in place in the event we’re ever discovered. In twenty years of existence, we have not been seriously breached.”

“Grecia and I have never been somewhere safe.” Her eyes were wide.

“How old are you?” Willa asked.

Tarin’s heart ached for this woman and the other who was about to arrive. Everyone on the planet had a story of hardship, but it pained him when he met someone who had never known freedom in their life.

“Twenty-two.”

Willa smiled. “Until a few days ago, I was sponsoring another woman in my home. She’s moved in with a family unit. I’d love for you to stay with us if you’d like. My daughter, Liana, is just a few years older than you. She’s a great friend to newcomers and would be glad to show you the ropes as you get accustomed to life in the compound.”

“That’s very kind of you, ma’am.”

“Please, call me Willa. And my husband’s name is Abnor. You’ll meet him later today. We’ll find a placement for your friend and her baby too. She’ll need a bit more space.”

“Thank you.” Cora hardly looked twenty-two. But then again, Ariel was nineteen, and Tarin had had a difficult time wrapping his head around her age when she’d arrived too. They all had.

Something about Cora made her seem younger though. She didn’t have the spunk Ariel and Layla had. She hadn’t been raised in a loving environment with good role models and teachers. She undoubtedly had very little self-defense training. She would learn here though. Opportunities abounded.

Voices in the hallway made Tarin spin around and head toward the entrance just in time to see the rest of his family entering the compound.

He’d never been so glad to see anyone in his life. He rushed forward to envelop both Ariel and Kester in a group hug, not fully relaxing until he had his arms around them.

Seconds later, Stuart was behind them, both his hands on the newly arrived couple. “Thank God you’re okay. We were both so worried.” He grabbed Kester’s arm gently. “Heard you took a bullet.”

“More like a graze.” Kester shook free. “It’s nothing.”

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