Page 159 of Cavern of Silence
He pulls me into his arms and kisses my head until I stop.
I sniffle. "Let's have Sloane examine you."
"Yes, ma'am."
I softly laugh.
"Sorry, forgot you hate that."
"You can call me ma'am all you want. I'll happily grow old with you."
He closes his eyes again, as if in pain.
"Come on, let's go inside," I say.
We go into the house, and after everyone hugs Ryker, Hunter hands us a stack of photos. "James said to give you these. Are those pigs?"
Ryker's eyes light up, and it's a reminder he's still in there and that Torres didn't break him so badly he'll never return. "Let me see those."
We look at them together, and Ryker holds up a picture for everyone to see, boasting, "Is this the biggest fish you ever saw, or what?"
"Is that a tuna?" Andre asks.
Ryker beams. "Yep. Julieta caught it. It weighed over three hundred pounds."
"Three hundred pounds," Zoe screeches.
"I couldn't have kept it on the line and reeled it in if Ryker hadn't helped me."
"Sure, you would have." Ryker squeezes my biceps.
I laugh. "No, it would still be in the Gulf of Mexico."
Millie comes running into the room, laughing, and holds on to my leg. "Julieta, save me."
I crouch down. "What's wrong?"
"Blaise is the tickle monster again."
I pick her up. "I'll protect you. Hey, I want you to meet someone special. This is Ryker."
She looks at him and tilts her head. "Why is your face blue?"
He chuckles. "It won't be in a few days, sweetie."
Blaise and Sloane step into the room.
"There you are," Blaise booms and holds his hands in the air as if he had claws.
Millie giggles. "Julieta is protecting me."
"Ah. I'll have to get you later, then."
"Sloane, can you examine Ryker?" I ask.
"Sure. My medical bag is in Blaise's room. Want to follow me?"
Ryker says to Millie, "Do you think I can steal Julieta for a few minutes?"
