She shrugged, still crying. “I wanted to see him. He lives nearby.”
“Then you tell somebody. You don’t just sneak out of the camper at night and let me think we’re being attacked, for God’s sake.” He was yelling and she was already upset, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. What if things had gone down differently and he’d used his Glock, never knowing it was her? Or what if his goddamn prosthetic had gotten her killed? The possibility had his hand shaking. “Do you realize what could have happened?”
“I just wanted to meet him, and I knew Mom wouldn’t let me. I didn’t think you’d come after us with a gun!”
Her fear was evident in her voice, and he finally took a moment to see things from her point of view. She wasn’t even a teenager, she was just a kid. She wanted to see this boy and resorted to sneaking out as millions of girls had done before her.
He’d come after them with headgear and a Glock.
No wonder the poor thing was terrified.
He opened his arms. “Come here.” She didn’t budge, and his arms fell to his sides. “I’m sorry. I knew someone was out here and I needed to protect your mother.”
“You scared the crap out of me.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I think I cut your friend’s arm.”
“Bad?”
“I don’t think so. I don’t know.” She wiped her eyes and nose with one swipe, the gesture so childlike he was struck by the awkwardness of her age. “Come on. Let’s go in to your mother. She’s got to be worried sick by now.”
She sighed. “Mom’s awake?”
“Most definitely.”
She fell into step beside him. “You’re not going to tell her.”
“Of course I am.”
“She’s going to kill me.”
“Probably.”
“She’s never going to give me my phone back.”
“Absolutely not.” He picked up his NVGs and brushed off snow and dirt. “There are cookies on the counter. Milk’s in the fridge.”
The door of the camper rattled dramatically. “April’s out there!” Jo yelled.
“Calm down, I know. I’ve got her. Let go of the handle.”
“Don’t shoot her!”
“Jo, calm down. Let go of the door.” He reached in his pocket and withdrew the key, then unlocked the door and opened it. She all but fell out of the RV and pulled April into her arms. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“What were you doing out here late at night? You scared the hell out of us!”
April pulled back. “I was meeting my friend.”
“What?”
Sloan put his arm on Jo’s back. “It’s cold out here. Let’s talk inside.” He could feel the tension in her body, about to unleash. Joanne was going to lay into April but good. “Godspeed,” he whispered under his breath, following the pair inside.
All hell broke loose at that point, and Sloan quietly picked up his phone and retreated to the bedroom, perching on the edge of the bed beside the sleeping Fiona and checking his messages. Moto had answered him.
ALREADY GOT IT. THIS THE WIFE?
