Page 87 of Harbor (The Wanderers 3)

Chapter 31

It took too long. Maya was out of her mind before the van finally rolled into sight. Holding her breath, she raced for the front door, yanked it open, and ran outside. She stopped a few feet from the front of the van, trying to see inside, trying to make sure there were four heads, that no one had been killed.

Relief flooded her when all four doors opened and all four men stepped out of the van. She ran to the passenger side and threw herself into Dario’s arms, reaching for Advic next to him at the same time.

She was a mess of tears and emotions as she hugged Dario’s head tight with one arm while pulling Advic in with the other.

Keanu joined from behind, his arms coming around all of them.

She finally leaned back and glanced at each of them. “You scared me to death. What took you so long to get here?”

Dario chuckled. “Sweetheart, don’t even talk about who scared whom. Don’t think we didn’t realize you were in the trees shooting at our assailant.”

“Did you really think I would just leave?”

Dario smirked. “No, but I hoped.”

“Good thing I stuck around. You needed me.”

He groaned. “We’ll never live that down, will we?”

She swatted at his chest as Stuart joined them on the passenger side of the van. “I remember a time when I was your favorite person. Your best friend. Now I’m chopped liver.” He winked at her.

She rolled her eyes as she took a step back so she could see all of them at once. “No one has answered me. Where have you been all this time?”

Keanu leaned toward her, took her chin, and kissed her on the lips. Not a brief peck, but just shy of inappropriate for the audience they had, which now included Bethany and her three men. “We had to take care of the driver of the second car, hon.”

Maya winced as she nodded. “He knew too much.”

“Exactly,” Advic agreed.

“Don’t you think the four of them were part of a larger militant group? They will surely come looking for you. I assume others know about the bunker.”

“They won’t find us because we aren’t returning,” Dario informed her as he met her gaze.

She swallowed, staring at him. “Where are you going?” She knew the answer before the question came out, but her heart started beating faster as she waited for him to respond.

“We have an idea, but we wouldn’t dare make any decision without you,” Dario continued.

“Will you join The Wanderers?” she asked, hopefully.

“Will you be there?” Advic added.

She stepped closer to him, wrapped an arm around him from the side, and leaned against his chest. “Maybe we could come up with an arrangement.”

Dario slowly smiled. “Yeah?”

Keanu shuffled in front of her and pulled her into his chest, not dislodging Advic. His forehead came to hers. His expression was intense. His voice was low enough only Dario and Advic could hear. “We were scared out of our minds today, hon.”

She nodded against him. “I know. I was too. But I don’t want you to think I’ll stop doing my job just because it scares you. I won’t.”

“We get that,” Dario added.

Stuart headed toward the cabin with the family that lived there, giving them privacy.

Dario stepped even closer. “Stuart says your compound could use more medical help. You were in need even before Rush was taken. The three of us could move to the bunker and then take turns traveling in this area to help those in need.”

“Hmmm. You might need a bodyguard,” she teased, liking this unfurling plan.

---