Page 21 of Merciless
“Let’s try to keep it that way,” Gunner joked, squeezing an arm around my shoulders.
Dad looked back at me. “So when can I meet the rest of your…husbands?” He tried out the plural form of the word like it was foreign to him.
My smile dropped. “That’s the thing. Two of them have been captured by the Sha. Gunner and Jandro are the only ones here with me now.”
“You met Reaper,” Gunner told him. “Shadow, I don’t think you’ve met yet.”
“Oh no, you did!” The memory came to me suddenly. “Shadow was the one who carried you out of the field hospital when we evacuated everyone.”
My dad’s eyes widened. “You’re married tothatguy? Jesus,mijita, you’re gonna kill me.”
“He wouldn’t hurt a fly. You’ll see when you meet him properly.”When, not if.
Dad squeezed my shoulder, noticing my downturned face. “If these guys are as great as you say, they’ll find their way back to you.”
I leaned into him, silently grateful for his support. That was my dad. It didn’t matter if I had four husbands or made questionable choices in high school. He had my back no matter what.
“Thanks, potato.”
The ache around my heart eased a little more when he snorted with laughter and hugged me tighter. The Spanish word for potato waspapa,so calling him that had been a longtime inside joke. His reaction proved that he remembered it too.
“Don’t think I’ll be a useful soldier anymore, but let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“There might be, actually.” Gunner stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Do you remember anything inside of the New Ireland fortress? A general layout or where certain things were located?”
Dad squinted and started rubbing his forehead. “Maybe? I dunno, I can kind of remember flashes of things. Every time I try, I get a hell of a headache.”
“Get some more rest,” I said. “I’ll take you back to your room. The rest of your memory probably still needs time to return.”
“Or I’m just old,” Dad chuckled.
“That too.” I took hold of his elbow. “Come on,viejito.”
“Some things don’t change,” he sighed with a parting smile to Gunner.
“It was good to meet you,” Gunner offered politely. “I’m glad you’re on the mend, sir.”
“I’ll be right back to see what Dr. Brooks needed,” I said, leading my dad out of the break room.
“I’ll let him know what’s keeping you.” Gunner planted a quick kiss on my head before skipping backwards with a bright grin. “He’ll be overjoyed to hear the news, I’m sure.”
“Nicegringoyou got there,” Dad said when Gunner was out of earshot.
“They’re all nice.” I nudged him with my arm. “In their own ways.”
“Four of them, huh? You really need that many?”
My laugh filled up the corridor as we walked and, damn, it felt so good toreallylaugh. “I didn’tneedthat many, it just kind of happened that way.”
“I trust you,mijita.You’ve always been smart. I just, fuck.” He shook his head. “I never thought I’d wake up one day and see you again, all grown up and married.”
“Someone’s looking out for us.” I squeezed his arm, steering him gently when I noticed his balance wasn’t completely stable. I’d have to see about getting him a cane, if his pride would allow him to use it.
“Yeah, the snake is.”
“What?”
“Huh?”
