Page 32 of Protecting Clove
It took them eating dinner and him reading her a book for her to start asking questions. The first was a doozy.
“That man said he was my father, but why did he try to hurt Mommy?”
Clove was in the bathroom, and he wanted to wait to answer to make sure what he said matched what Clove was thinking, but the seconds were ticking by, and Neo raised her eyebrows like she wanted him to answer now.
“Sometimes people aren’t good or even nice.”
“That’s why you have a job.”
She was very perceptive. He hadn’t said anything about him taking down bad guys in front of her. Maybe Clove had said something.
He nodded. “Yes.”
“But that’s overseas. Why would someone be mean here?”
“Meanness doesn’t need a reason. Some people just are not good people. It’s why we have locks on the door.”
“It’s why you’re sleeping on our couch. Mommy knew that man was close, and she asked you to stay here?”
“Yes. We both want you to be safe. I’m sorry he was able to find you.”
“You had nothing to do with it.”
He nodded. “No, I didn’t. Still, I hope you never have to experience anything like that again.”
Clove stepped out of her room, her eyes red like she’d been crying. “Hey, what are you two doing?”
“Reading,” Neo said before he could answer. “I’m tired. I’m going up to shower.”
Clove nodded. “Okay.”
He moved to Clove and pulled her into a hug as Neo headed up. “I’m not leaving. I brought over clothes to change into.”
“I’ll be down in a bit. She might want you to read the story tonight. She says your voice is calming and likes falling asleep to it.”
He nodded. “I’ll come up once she’s done with the shower.”
“Sure.”
He didn’t like the lost look in Clove’s eyes, but it was understandable. She had gone through hell when Neo had been taken. While she was upstairs, he set his alarm on his phone and moved his clothes into Clove’s room. He wasn’t going to leave her side tonight.
23
Clove was thankful Bud was there to hold her as she slept. When she jerked awake in the middle of the night, him pulling her closer and holding her tight kept her from falling apart. When she’d realized Neo had been taken, she’d thought her heart would stop. The one person who meant the world to her had been harmed by Keith. She hated that man and hoped something awful happened to him. It might make her a bad person to wish harm on him, but he’d hurt Neo.
The next morning, she woke when Bud’s alarm went off. He told her she could sleep longer, but her mind was working overtime, and there was no way she would get back to sleep.
“I’ll be back after work.”
“I’ll be waiting for you.”
After his shower, he was in the kitchen when Clove came in. He pulled her close before kissing her softly. “If we get called out on a mission, I don’t think you should do shopping.”
She nodded. “I won’t. I’ve been looking at my finances. I think if I’m really careful, I won’t have to do that again.”
“When is your lease up?”
“It was a year lease. So not for a while.”
