Page 24 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
I chewed the inside of my cheek while his eyes traced over my face.
“I didn’t see anyone with you, but that doesn’t mean the man wasn’t already in there. Possibly two of them. I made sure you locked the door and took you back home. I stayed the night while you two fools drank yourselves silly in celebration of the snow fight you wanted to have the following morning.” He forced a smile and tapped my nose.
“It sounds like something you’d both do,” Ryenne said tentatively.
“Why?” I asked, hating the single tear that fell down my cheek.
He wiped it away, and when he held out his arms, I let him hug me again. “Because if you did kill this man, and I’m not saying I think you did, but if you did, it’s because he hurt you. And dammit, Teddy, if he hurt you, I’ll drag him back to life and kill him myself. You understand?” he asked.
“I don’t want you lying for me and getting in trouble,” I replied.
“Rita’s refused to get security cameras no matter how many times Chief Fort’s told her to,” he said with another quick kiss to the top of my head. “There’s no proof this isn’t exactly what happened.”
“Except we know it’s not,” I countered. “Why aren’t you asking why I didn’t call you or the police or something?”
“If you were there, and that’s a bigifthat I don’t completely believe, and you witnessed whoever the man was with that killed him, or if you had to kill him, or whatever actually happened, you wouldn’t have been in the right frame of mind.” He ran a hand over my back and then to my shoulders when he stepped back. “Trauma can really mess up your mind, and that could be why you don’t remember leaving or getting home.”
I ran my hands over my arms to warm myself. Not that it helped.
“Okay?” he asked.
“Okay.”
He looked at Ryenne, who nodded in agreement.
“I have to get going.” He grabbed his jacket from where it lay across the couch. It didn’t look thick enough to keep him warm. “I’m gonna walk to the food pantry so I can bring your car back if the weather lets up.”
“Didn’t you hear what Commander Dickhead said?” Ryenne asked, her cheeks paler. “You can’t walk in this.” Her voice took on a shrill tone, and she paused to chew on the side of her thumbnail. “And you sure as hell aren’t driving in this. What if you get in an accident and no one can reach you? It’s better if you stay.”
“I can’t stay, Ry.” He said it calmly, but his eyes flared in worry. “I have to get to the food bank and check on things. I have my phone on me.” He waved his phone in the air before he pocketed it. “You can call me every few minutes, and I promise I’ll answer each time.”
When Ryenne nodded, I bit back my retort, not wanting to worry her further. But with power grids failing, how long would it be until we no longer had cell or internet service?
“You answer every time I call,” Ryenne said, her voice firm.
“I promise.” He pressed his palm to his chest. “Keep the fire burning, and if you go outside to play or go into town, call Nate to go with you.”
Ryenne crossed her arms over her chest. “We don’t need a babysitter.”
If I weren’t so shaken, I would’ve rolled my eyes at her, but I managed to smile when she winked at me.
“It’ll make me feel better knowing you’re not alone,” he replied, then smiled his big, mischievous smile. “Besides, I thought you’d want your boyfriend here to help you through the beginning of the apocalypse.”
I barked out a loud laugh, which made his smile grow wider while his sister gaped at him with her lips parted.
“How?”
“Big brother knows everything,” he tossed over his shoulder.
I snorted out another laugh.
“You know you’re my favorite brother?” she said.
More like her only brother, but I got it. He was also my favorite brother, even if I’d had a crush on him once upon a time many, many years ago.
“Donnie,” I called after him. “Be careful out there.”
He snorted, but I saw the wariness in his eyes when he turned back from the front door. “Where do you think I’m headed to?” he teased. “This is still Colina.”
