Page 15 of Bone

“You’re doing everything right, Bone,” said Doc. “Being here for her, holding her hand, talking to her, all of it is showing her what kind of man you are, and that man is nothing like Perez. She needs to see that every day. Kill Perez. Slaughter his men. But don’t let her see that side of you. Not yet.”

“Thank you. Thank you all for being here and talking to me. Is Parker okay?”

“He will be,” said Cruz. “We’ve been talking to him every day. He realizes that he saved her. He just hates that he didn’t listen to his gut when he dropped her off.”

“They might have killed him,” said Bone. “Then where would she be. Four men, even on Parker, would have been tough to overcome.”

“That’s what we’ve said,” said Wilson. “Stay close to her, Bone. Sleep on the floor or in the chair, not in the bed. Just be near her so she knows that you’re not leaving her.”

“I appreciate all of you,” he said, nodding at them. “Any news on where Perez might be?”

“We’re working on that,” said Gaspar. “The guys at the shop are going to do some road trips to check out the area with Callan. He might be able to spot that tattoo on someone else. We’ve got the church ladies and the cousins keeping their eyes open, and God knows that’s a better search team than the military has. Until then, you stay here where you belong. When it’s time, we’ll call you in.”

“I’m gonna go sit with her,” he said, standing. HG called after him.

“Ty? Remember the dove we rescued from the nest when we were seven? The one that fell out of the tree. Mom told us to hold her gently, or we’d break her. Do the same with Londyn. Gently.”

CHAPTER NINE

As the men filed out of the cottage, they smiled, seeing Mama Irene, Alexandra, Tinley, Erin, Lauren, Grace, Faith, and Ruby on the front porch. Alexandra rose, pulling on her husband’s shoulder so that he would lower his head to her. She kissed him, touching his face.

“You did so good in there,” she said, smiling up at him. He shook his head, admiring that strength once again.

“Is he alright?” asked Tinley.

“He will be, Mom,” said HG. “He’s torn between going on a killing spree and protecting her. Right now, he’s chosen her. We just need to make sure if he leaves here, he’s not alone.”

“I’m proud of you all for telling him your stories,” said Erin. “I know it wasn’t easy. I remember you coming to Virginia, Mac. I wasn’t sure you would ever be whole again. Then Rachelle changed all that.”

“You changed her as well,” smiled Mama Irene. “That girl of mine loves you fierce. But you all love your girls that way.”

“You know, it was the same for me when Ghost found me,” said Grace. “Your father held me in his arms when I collapsed. Did you know that?”

“No. I don’t think I knew that,” said HG.

“He said everything would be alright because only good men lived there. He was right. I’d been beaten, rape was attempted, but he couldn’t finish the act, but it was losing my girls that was eating me alive. Oh, how that man has loved me,” she said, shaking her head. She felt his big arms wrap around her body.

“And oh, how this woman has loved me,” he whispered in her ear. The others smiled.

“I’m gonna go in for a while and just sit with him,” said Mama Irene. Faith and Lauren nodded, following the older woman into the house.

“We’ll be back to relieve you,” said Grace. Tinley started to go into the house, but HG held her hand.

“Give him some room, Mom. Maybe only a few people at a time. As it is, we’ve got part of Team Big in there guarding the entire place.” She smiled, nodding.

“Maybe we should send up one of the dogs,” she said, looking around.

“That’s probably a good idea,” said Gaspar. “I’ll go check with Lucy and Sniff and see who might be best. Truck is the newest, but I don’t know if he’s fully trained yet.” They heard window-rattling barks and turned to see Truck standing behind them.

“Well, hello, buddy,” said Mac, kneeling to pet him.

“I think he knows Londyn is in there,” said Lucy, running toward him. “This is the third leash he’s broken today, and he keeps stopping in front of this cottage.”

“Is it possible he senses that someone needs protection?” asked Gaspar.

“Oh, definitely. Truck is a mix of some pretty fierce protective breeds. He’s part Cane Corso, part Tibetan Mastiff, and part English Mastiff. And he’s just a puppy,” smiled Lucy.

“What the fuck?” muttered Mac. “He has to weigh two hundred pounds.”

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