Page 66 of Faded Rhythm

“Come on,” I say gently. “Let me get y’all inside.”

I grab the luggage while Sable and the girls make their way to the door. Inside, I lead them down the hall to one of the guest rooms. It has two twin beds, a shelf of books, a stack of board games, and a small TV on the dresser. They go into the closet and find a pair of old walkie-talkies I meant to throw out. Funny to see kids playing with those in the age of cellphones, but I guess the novelty makes them fun.

I grab a couple of water bottles and a bag of Doritos and leave them on the dresser before heading back down the hall. Sable’s nowhere to be found.

Then I find her. In my bedroom. In my bed, to be precise. She’s laid out across the navy blue comforter like she belongs there. What’s even better, she’s stripped down to just her bra and panties.

A chuckle slips out before I can stop it. “Well damn. You get comfortable quick.”

She smiles without opening her eyes. “I’m tired, the door was open, and your bed is soft.”

“You don’t have to explain,” I say. “I’m gonna grab us something to eat.”

She opens one eye. “Lay down with me? Just for a minute.”

I hesitate. One minute with her seems impossible, but I close the door and strip down to my boxers anyway, climbing in beside her. Her skin is warm. Her body’s a welcome weight beside mine. I stare at the ceiling in silence, contemplating this moment and how I got here.

Then she breaks the silence.

“Who was chasing us?”

I close my eyes. “I don’t know.”

“Any ideas?”

“Ex-military,” I admit. “High level, like me.”

She shifts, turning onto her side so she can look directly at me. “How does Brett know people like y’all?”

I don’t wanna answer that question.

“How did he find you, Julian?”

I scoot closer to her, lifting the covers up over both of us. “What matters is that nobody’s finding us here. I promise you that. I’ma take care of this. Don’t worry.”

She exhales. “I just want this to be over.”

I don’t respond.

I don’t know how to tell her it won’t be. Not for a while, at least. Not until I untangle all the knots Brett has us tied up in. Not until I know how deep this all goes.

“Is this your house?” she asks.

“Yeah.”

“It’s nice. Quiet.”

I nod.

“Did you grow up around here?”

That makes me smile. “You were right on the money when you introduced me as your cousin from New York?”

She perks up. “Seriously?”

“Yes, ma’am. Brooklyn, born and raised.”

I feel it coming, so before she digs any deeper, I head it off at the pass.

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