Page 4 of Deserving Ryleigh
The look Tonka gave him made Tiny want to squirm, but he held firm. Holding eye contact with his friend for a long moment.
“I think out of all of us, you’re the most…broken,” Tonka finally said.
He wasn’t wrong. “I’m good,” he lied.
“And she needs a friend,” Tonka persisted.
Tiny was done. He didn’t want to hear Tonka defend the woman he didn’t trust as far as he could throw her. He’d seen up close and personal what she could do with that computer of hers. She was ten times as deadly as a terrorist with an RPG. He had no doubt she could take out a country with her fingertips and a keyboard. If everyone wanted to stick their heads in the sand and refuse to see how dangerous Ryleigh could be to The Refuge, that was on them. He wouldn’t be fooled so easily. It was why he’d taken it upon himself to watch her like a hawk.
“Well, it won’t be me,” Tiny said firmly. “Congrats onthe baby. Henley’s going to the hospital in a few days to be induced, right?”
“Yeah. Friday.”
Tiny nodded, then clasped his friend on the shoulder and gave him a squeeze of support before turning and heading for the door. Looking at his watch, he saw that Ryleigh had left fifteen minutes ago. His heart rate sped up. She could do a lot of damage in fifteen minutes.
He hated that he felt that way, but he couldn’t help it.
As he walked through the trees toward his cabin, he tamped down the feeling of guilt he felt for thinking the worst of his houseguest. He purposely thought about some of the things she’d lied about since she’d been at The Refuge.
She’d gotten Alexis to quit so she could have a shot at getting her job as housekeeper. She’d lied about her name and her background. Her experience.
Then there were the lies by omission. He was grateful that she’d had the ability to help Jasna and Reese. But he couldn’t help but think if she’d come clean sooner about who she was and what she could do, they might’ve been found even quicker.
She’d only told the truth about who she was—and what she could do—when she’d no longer had a choice. When they were desperately trying to find Owl, Stone, and Lara.
Despite trying to remind himself of all the times Ryleigh had lied to him and his friends, he couldn’t help remembering those two simple words he instinctively knew she hadn’t meant to blurt out less than thirty minutes ago.
“I’m terrified.”
She hadn’t lied aboutthat.
Tiny had seen her face when she’d said it. Could see the fear in her eyes. He didn’t know exactly who or what she was afraid of, only that she claimed she wanted to leave but couldn’t. He didn’t understand what that meant…but the thought of her not being around bothered him in a way he’d never admit to anyone.
She’d also said something about protecting The Refuge, and that she thought her being there put the place in danger. It didn’t make sense. And Tiny didn’t like not knowing what threat might be coming for them—or where it was comingfrom.
He needed more intel, and the only way he’d get it was by talking to Ryleigh.
Determined to make her tell him outright what was going on—whether she wanted to or not—Tiny hurried the rest of the way to his cabin.
When he entered, the lights were off and Ryleigh was nowhere to be seen.
For a moment, his heart skipped a beat. Had she left after all? She’d only been out of his sight for a short time, but it was possible she’d fled. Moving quickly, he went to the room where she’d been staying and without bothering to knock, pushed the door open.
His muscles relaxed when he saw Ryleigh on the bed. She hadn’t left. Tiny didn’t even want to question why he was so relieved…but then he frowned as he continued to stare at the woman who’d turned his life upside down.
She was on her side, facing the door, knees drawn up and curled into a tiny ball. She looked…vulnerable. He couldn’t see her mahogany-brown eyes, since they were closed tightly, but her straight black hair fell across her cheek, the ends pooling on the pillow under her head.
Running his gaze over her slowly, it registered then that she’d notably lost weight in the last few months. He hadn’t thought much about when or what she ate, but he felt a deep flash of guilt, because he knew when theydidshare a meal, it was spent in complete silence, usually with Tiny glaring at her, resenting her presence. Ryleigh always left the table quickly.
He’d been a colossal ass. He could admit that. But he wasn’t sure how to be anything other than who he was. Ryleigh made him uneasy and nervous at the same time. The others might not admit it, but this woman was a threat. All he’d done was try to keep an eye on her, to make sure she didn’t do anything that would hurt his home and sanctuary.
And yet…
He leaned heavily against the doorjamb as it hit him like a ton of bricks that even if shedidtry to do something to harm The Refuge…he wouldn’t have the first damn clue how to fix it. He didn’t understand computers the way she did. Didn’t have a single idea what he was looking at when she manipulated code as her fingers flew over a keyboard.
He’d watched as she used her knowledge and contacts on the dark web to try to find Stone. And what she did…it was genius. The woman was smarter than anyone he’d ever met. So far out of his league, it wasn’t even funny.
Her confession tonight also made it clear he’d been kidding himself—he wasn’t forcing her to stay so he could keep an eye on her. She was here bychoice. She’d chosen to remain at The Refuge. Moreover, she’dchosento stay in his cabin, even though he treated her like total shit.
