Cora hugs her knees.
“Fuck,” I mutter, flopping back on the bed as the pieces click into place. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. “Porcelain doll guy is connected to the silent witness. He just told us that.”
Her eyes widen, fear giving way to a desperate need to understand. “So, the video that tried to ruin Logan, the accident, my robbery...it’s all connected?”
I nod, hating the way her face crumples at the confirmation. “Someone’s targeting your entire family. I was wrong before, thinking it was about you. It’s bigger than that.”
“What do I do, Ryder? Valerie’s wedding is coming up...”
“Hey, look at me.” I tilt her chin up, meeting her gaze. Her blue eyes are swimming with unshed tears, and it takes everyounce of willpower not to kiss them away. “I’m here, and I won’t let anything happen to you. He doesn’t know where you are. As long as we’re in Hawaii, you’re safe. I’ve got you, Trouble.”
She burrows into me, her body still trembling. I stroke her hair, the silky strands slipping through my fingers. We lay like that for a long time, the only sound our breathing and the distant crash of waves against the shore.
“You need to sleep,” I murmur into her hair, breathing in the scent of her shampoo.
“I can’t. My mind’s racing. Tell me something, anything.” Her voice is small, vulnerable in a way that tugs at my heart.
“What do you want to know?”
She traces patterns on my chest, her touch leaving goosebumps in its wake. “Tell me about you. Before the military. What were you like?”
I sigh, staring up at the ceiling fan rotating above us. “Not much to tell. I was a wild kid, always looking for trouble. Nearly ended up in a gang.”
She props herself up on an elbow, curiosity replacing the fear in her eyes. “Really? What kind of trouble are we talking about here? Stealing candy bars or grand theft auto?”
I chuckle, the sound rumbling in my chest. “Let’s just say I wasn’t exactly on the honor roll.”
“Ooh, a bad boy,” she teases, a hint of her usual sparkle returning to her eyes. “What stopped you from going full criminal mastermind?”
I pull her closer, enjoying her draped across me. The weight of her is comforting, grounding. “Mom got sick. She’d always worked double shifts to keep a roof over our heads. We didn’t exactly live in a rich neighborhood, you know? I was in and out of fights, barely scraping by in school. When she got diagnosed,it was like a wake-up call. I had to get my shit together, find a way to pay for her treatments.”
“So, you joined the military?” she prompts, her fingers tracing the scar on my shoulder.
I nod, memories of those early days flooding back. “Saw one of those recruitment posters. Figured it was my ticket out, a chance to save Mom. Turns out, it changed my life more than I imagined.”
She snuggles closer, her leg intertwining with mine. The intimacy of the moment catches me off guard. “Hmm, so I should thank Uncle Sam for my sexy bodyguard?”
I chuckle, kissing the top of her head. “Him and Zane Mercer.”
She yawns, but her curiosity isn’t sated. “Tell me about him. This Zane guy sounds important to you.”
“He was my C.O. Toughest son of a bitch I’ve ever met. Nothing fazed him. Always led from the front, took care of his men. The kind of guy you’d follow into hell itself.” As I speak, I can almost hear Zane’s gruff voice and see his steely gaze as he pushes us to our limits.
“Sounds like you’ve got a man crush,” she teases, poking me in the ribs.
I roll my eyes, but a smile tugs at my lips. “It’s called respect, smartass. He taught me what really matters. Putting your team first, protecting what’s important. I’ve wanted to join his extraction team since the day I heard about it.”
“And now you’re here, protecting me.” Her voice is soft, almost wistful. The playful mood shifts, tension creeping back in like a shadow.
“Yeah, I am.”
“Is this just a stepping stone for you? To prove yourself to Zane?”
I stiffen, caught off guard by her perceptiveness. She’s hit closer to home than I’d like to admit. Joining Zane’s elite team has been my dream. It’s the pinnacle of what I’ve been working toward, the chance to make a real difference. But now, with Cora in my arms, that dream seems...complicated.
“It’s not that simple,” I say, choosing my words carefully. The weight of the decision I know I’ll have to make someday presses down on me. “Zane’s team, it’s... It’s the best of the best. The kind of operations that change the world. I’ve wanted to be a part of that for a long time.”
“And babysitting me is your ticket in?” There’s a hint of hurt in her voice that makes me wince. I can feel her withdrawing, both emotionally and physically.
