Chapter 11 Rachel
“Istill think you should be staying here at The Crossroads,” Hannibal grumbled.
“But you said yourself that the threat is eliminated. There’s nothing else to worry about.”
“I should have rephrased it.”
“By lying?” I asked, shaking my head. “You know that won’t work with me.”
“Yeah, baby girl, I do. And now you’re leaving.”
“You know where I live,” I pointed out.
“It’s too far.”
“Dad. We live in the same small town.”
He still huffed and puffed like a dragon.
“I’ll see you soon. Say bye to Rylee. She wants a hug.”
His frown disappeared as she picked up his granddaughter and swung her around, squeezing her lightly before he placed her on her feet. “Bye, sugar bug.”
Rylee squealed. “I’m not a bug!”
Hannibal chuckled. “How about sugar bean?”
Rylee shrugged. “Okay!” She skipped away from us, joining Crypt as he loaded our bags into a truck.
He was taking a loaner and using a trailer for his bike. We needed the space for Rylee and all the stuff we accumulated while staying here for several days.
“You sure you’re good?” Hannibal asked.
“Dad. I’m fine.”
“Okay.” He tugged me into a tight embrace, hugging longer than I expected, but I didn’t mind.
“I’ll see you soon.”
“You will.”
Crypt drove the truck home, but we stopped to pick up food along the way. He parked the truck under the carport and helped us unload the bags. By the time we finished eating, it was already early afternoon.
Rylee reached for Crypt’s hand. “Can we check for monsters?”
He looked down at her. “In your room?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“You’re in luck. I’m a monster hunter.” Crypt revealed his gums and growled.
Rylee giggled. “That’s scary! Come on.”
She led him down the hall to her room, and I followed, pausing in the doorway to watch as Crypt searched her closet, then dropped to his knees to check under her bed.
“Oh, no!” he shouted, pulling out stuffed animals. “We’ve got a giant turtle!”
Rylee laughed. “It’s only a stuffed animal.”
