“You can take my truck,” Ronan said.
“Nah, I’ll take ‘em,” Maverik said.
“Either way, as long as we get there. Eli will be up and pestering Hellen soon, so I want to be home when he decides he’s waited too long to figure out what’s going on,” Brandt said.
“That boy is just like you when you were little,” Maverik said. “Can’t slip a damn thing past him.”
Brandt grinned. “Smart like his Momma,” Brandt said.
“And don’t you forget it,” Tempest said. She laid her head on Brandt’s shoulder after he pulled her to her feet in preparation of leaving. “I’m going to need to sleep this off. Hellacious headache,” she said.
“I got you. Me and Eli will hold down the fort.”
Tempest lifted her head enough to kiss his jaw.
“Bam, you ready?” Maverik asked.
“I’m ready. I’m sure Everly is wondering what’s happening. It’s almost five in the morning!”
“She knows you were on rotation with me last night,” Maverik said.
“Yeah, but I usually text her all night. I haven’t texted her since about ten.”
“Oh, one thing I noticed,” Ronan said, looking at Tempest, “when I was carrying the boys to the truck, a couple of people in the homes peeked suspiciously out of their windows.”
“It’s okay. I sent them a suggestion that the noises they were hearing were probably some wildlife moving through the area and they should stay inside until daylight. They were probably just looking for the wildlife,” Tempest said.
“She’s good,” Brandt said.
“That she is,” Maverik said. He looked at Ronan as he moved toward the front door. “We’ll be right back, boy.”
“Thank you, Dad. Thank all of you. I’ll be forever grateful.”
“It’s just what we do,” Brandt said, winking at Ronan.
“And by the way, you’ve got a beautiful family, Ronan,” Tempest said.
“I hope.”
“There’s no hope about it. I know.”
“You didn’t…” he asked, fluttering his fingers in the air.
“Nope. But I know what they’re all feeling. Just let it happen. It’s all good,” Tempest said.
Bam got up and walked over to where Ronan was slouching on the sofa. He leaned over and hugged him. “I like your family, and I’m glad I could be a part of helping.”
“Me, too, Uncle Bam. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”
Bam grinned. “And you and your girl are both so golden. She’s a human and she’s almost as gold as you!”
“I like that,” Ronan said, wearing a wide grin.
“I’ll see you later,” Bam said and headed out to the truck.
“Call if you need us,” Brandt said as he ushered Tempest out to the truck.
“Be right back,” Maverik said again, before closing the door behind himself and heading out to take everybody to where they needed to be.
