Ryder nodded. “He thought it’d be good for Audrey to start over somewhere new after everything that happened as well.”
“Start new withhim?” The jealousy in my tone bled straight through, and I didn’t know where that’d come from. That feeling had no business being anywhere near me.
Ryder read my expression correctly, and I knew I needed to immediately backpedal.
“I’m sure she’s not a fan of being under the same roof with her ex.” I’d run the wrong direction I was supposed to go with that. Like, straight into the truth. I was the one who was uncomfortable with the idea. What the hell was wrong with me?
“I don’t know,” he grumbled. “Better with him than at a hotel, I suppose.” He shook his head. “This whole brother thing might be new to me, but I know I need to be there for her. Not just work the case from a distance.”
“What about the White House?” Reed pointed toward the recruits, who were younger than us but limping through the final obstacle. “Thepresident’s man today won’t listen to us; it has to be you that tells him we don’t need to expand.”
Ryder hung his head, sighing. “Seraphina’s flying here from Charleston tonight too.”
“Then let one of us go ahead. We can get a room at the lodge and stay close until you’re free tomorrow,” I suggested. “And if her ex gets territorial, we’ll remind him Delta guys make SEALs look like weekend warriors.”
“I’ll go,” Reed offered.
I arched my brow. “You? You hate people. You’re going to play nice with Audrey’s ex?”
“I can be civil when I have to.” Shockingly, Reed sounded offended.
“Sure you can. Your idea of being nice is using cyanide to kill a guy instead of putting one in his head,” I deadpanned.
Reed smirked. “And that is more humane.”
“Watching someone choke on his own vomit, hmm?” Ryder cracked a smile. “Alex is right. He should go. He’s better with kids.” He winced as a form of apology to Reed.
Reed sat again, resuming his rocking. “Animals like me.”
“And that’s your lane; stay in it. Nothing wrong with that.” I winked, then turned back to Ryder. “She’s going to be fine. We’ll figure out who broke in and deal with them. It’s what we do. Don’t lose sleep over this.” I nodded. “I’ve got this.”
“This big-brother thing ...” He rubbed his chest like something heavy sat there. Probably the weight of that moral compass we all did our best to follow. “Should’ve come with a damn manual. I got a late start.”
“Yeah, well, better late than never.” I stepped back. “I’ll go pack.”
Ryder frowned. “We’ll meet you there tomorrow morning.”
“Roger that.” I turned to go, but he caught my arm.
“Alex?”
“Yeah?”
“She’s my sister.”
I blinked. “I’m aware.”
He dragged his sunglasses down his nose and locked on to me. “Sis. Ter.”
Ah.I heard the subtext loud and clear that time.
“You don’t have to worry. Falling for anyone is the last thing on my mind. My ex-wife tried to kill me, remember?” I pointed to the spot where Beth had shot me just last fall. Physically, I was fine. Emotionally? Probably still teetering on the edge of being wrecked.
Thanks to that woman, I had zero plans to date or get married again.
Ryder didn’t respond. Didn’t even crack a smile. He just stared.
“I’m serious,” I said, holding his gaze. “I promise.”
