Page 17 of Devlin

Devlin’s jaw tightened as he stood, pushing his chair back. “You two head back if you want. I’m going to check in about Mia. I don’t like not knowing where she is.”

Todd straightened immediately. “You want us to help look for her?”

“Not yet.” Devlin shook his head. “Let me see what I can find out first. I’ll let you know if it’s anything to worry about.”

With a nod, Todd and Cole exited the tent, their figures disappearing into the dim light outside. Devlin turned his attention to the lone woman still sitting at the table.

“Excuse me,” he said, stepping closer. His tone was polite but edged with urgency. “I’m sorry to interrupt your meal, ma’am. I was wondering if you know Mia Duff.”

The woman looked up, startled by his sudden presence. She blinked, then dabbed her mouth with a napkin before offering a small smile. “Yes, I know Mia. She’s a good friend of mine. Who are you?”

He hesitated briefly before answering. “I’m one of the security team members with the WFP. I saw her leave earlier in a Jeep, and I haven’t seen her since. I just wanted to make sure she’s okay.”

“Oh, nice to meet you,” the woman said warmly, her accent lilting and musical. “I’m Ritah, the head protection officer.” She extended her hand, delicate but firm in its gesture. “Don’t confuse that with a security officer like Moses. My work focuses on the protection of vulnerable groups—women, children, and the elderly. Most of my time is spent with women who’ve endured gender-based violence or children in need of safeguarding.”

Devlin nodded, a flicker of respect crossing his features. He could only imagine the weight of her role and the emotional toll that came with witnessing such pain day after day. “That sounds like incredibly important work, but I’m sure it’s not easy.”

Ritah gave a small, tired smile. “It’s not, but it’s worth it.”

“I appreciate your time,” he said, stepping back slightly. “I’m sorry to have bothered you, ma’am.”

“Not at all,” she replied with a wave of her hand. “But I haven’t seen Mia since breakfast.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Though I haven’t been back to my quarters today. Mia and I share a container apartment. She has her own place on one side, and I have the other side.”

“Container apartment?” he asked, curiosity edging his tone.

Ritah chuckled, a light, airy sound that softened the weariness in her eyes. “Yes, the staff quarters. They’re old shipping containers converted into small apartments. Just efficiencies, really, but each has its own bathroom. We still use the communal showers, but it’s nice to have a bit of privacy. Most of the other staff are in dorms.”

Devlin nodded, the description sparking memories of makeshift accommodations during deployments. “We had something similar in the military,” he said, his voice tinged with familiarity. “Again, I’m sorry for interrupting your meal, and thank you for the information.”

“You’re welcome,” Ritah said with a kind smile.

8

As he stepped back into the night, the cool air did little to temper the unease gnawing at his chest. Darkness had fallen, and the thought of Mia out in the camp unsettled him. The idea that she might have driven off because of him sent a fresh wave of guilt rolling through him.

But as he approached the food distribution warehouse, a flicker of relief coursed through him. The Jeep she’d driven earlier was parked in the same spot, now a welcome sight.

He exhaled slowly, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. She’d come back.

The warehouse’s front door was locked, but as he walked around the side, he spotted the large cargo sliding door open, the glow of interior lights spilling onto the gravel outside. A few workers still milled around the loading dock.

Inside, the space was brightly lit, but the noise of earlier activity had vanished. The silence was almost eerie, broken only by the faint rustle of fabric and a soft voice muttering in the distance.

Devlin’s ears perked, and he followed the sound toward the back of the warehouse. As he moved through rows of stacked crates, he finally caught sight of her.

Mia was perched on a ladder, her small frame leaning precariously as she tugged at the edge of a tarp covering several crates. Her dark braid swung over her shoulder, catching the light with each movement.

He stopped in his tracks, unwilling to startle her while she balanced so high up. Instead, he allowed himself a stolen moment to simply watch her.

She was thinner than he remembered, her frame more delicate, and he wondered uneasily if she was eating enough or pushing herself too hard. Knowing Mia, she probably worked herself to the brink without a second thought.

Her hair, pulled neatly back now, brought back a rush of memories he wasn’t prepared for. He could still feel the silky strands sliding through his fingers, the way they’d spill over her shoulders in waves when she let it down. He remembered waking up to find her hair strewn across his pillow like dark silk.

And then his mind betrayed him, conjuring images of her in his lap, her body moving against his, her hair cascading around them like a curtain, shutting out the world. Those moments had felt sacred like nothing and no one else existed but them.

His body stirred at the memory, heat pooling low in his stomach.Not now,he scolded himself silently, willing the rush of arousal to subside. The last thing he needed was to approach her while battling the evidence of his desire.

Her long-sleeved khaki shirt, now tied around her waist, revealed a fitted white T-shirt that clung to her breasts. Devlin’s gaze swept over her, catching on the curve of her hips and the way her khaki pants stretched over her figure. The sight tugged at a memory he couldn’t suppress—the first time he saw her nearly twenty years ago, chained to a goalpost, defiant and wild-eyed. Even then, her presence had been impossible to ignore. The thought brought a wry smile to his lips.