Page 85 of Deserving Ryleigh
Smiling at him over her shoulder, Ry let the teenager drag her over to the punch. There were big signs in frontof each, making sure guests knew which had alcohol and which didn’t. Between the kids and the pregnant women, Robert didn’t want anyone to accidentally imbibe.
Jasna scooped a ladle of alcohol-free punch into a glass and handed it to her. Ry cautiously took a sip. Then smiled as the flavor hit her taste buds. “This is good!” she exclaimed.
“Yup,” Jasna said happily. “Maybe Elizabeth would like it.”
Ry chuckled. “I’m thinking she’s a little young for punch, but it won’t be long before she’s following you all over this place.”
“I know, I was kidding! And I can’t wait for her to walk,” Jasna breathed. “I love her so much.” Then she saw one of Cora’s new foster kids across the room. “Oh! Kason needs to try this!” And with that, Ry was standing by herself in front of the punch table, but not for long.
“That looks good,” Isabella said.
She smiled at Reese’s sister-in-law. “It is. Although I think I might want to try the leaded variety.”
They both put some of the alcoholic punch into a cup and sipped.
“Wow, this has alcohol in it?” Isabella asked as she took another swallow.
Ry was amazed herself. It tasted almost exactly like the alcohol-free version Jasna had given her. She wondered if Robert was playing a trick on everyone. Making them think they were imbibing when they weren’t. But after drinking an entire glass, and feeling the effects, she decided he wasn’t tricking anyone…he was simply that good at making punch.
Ry walked around the room, talking to everyone, foronce in her life not feeling out of place or too timid to strike up conversations with people she might not know all that well. Like Paige, the cook in Maisy’s previous home. She was sweet and obviously very fond of the woman. She kept talking about how excited she was for the baby to arrive…which would be quite a while yet, as Maisy wasn’t that far along.
She also chatted quite a bit with Khloe, who seemed intimidating at first, but once she’d talked to her for a while, Ry realized the woman felt a little out of place, and that was probably why she came across as a little standoffish at first.
Everywhere she looked, Ry saw people having a good time. When the music started, the kids were the first ones on the makeshift dance floor. The finger food had been a genius idea, as everyone could eat and drink at their leisure while still mingling and talking. Brick and Alaska stayed together, holding hands, as they made the rounds throughout the room.
The day was perfect. Everything Ry could have wanted for her friends. A day to remember, made even better because they didn’t need to worry about guests or anyone complaining about the loud party.
Ry’s gaze met Tiny’s across the room. He was standing with Wolf and Owl. As soon as their eyes met, he mouthed,You good?
Warmth filled her. It felt nice that he was concerned about her. She nodded and gave him a smile.
She was still looking at him when a loudBOOMsounded from outside.
Whatever it was shook the entire lodge. One of thehuge lobby windows broke into thousands of pieces as it shattered.
Jason immediately cut the music as everyone froze in place. One of the babies started crying, which seemed to break everyone out of the weird collective trance.
Tiny’s eyes widened in his face, and Ry saw him start across the room toward her.
He didn’t make it before another loud explosion blasted from outside. This one even louder and more powerful than the last.
Instead of getting down, like all the men were yelling for everyone to do, Ry headed for four-year-old Max. He was standing in the middle of the dance floor, crying as everyone dashed around him. The first thought in her head was to protect the kids…
The second was that somehow, someway, her father was responsible for whatever was happening. And it would be up to her to stop him.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The first explosion had Tiny freezing where he stood, but he’d started moving and was halfway to Ryleigh when the second one went off. He had to make sure she was safe! He had no idea what was happening, but it was serious, whatever it was. Explosions like the ones going off outside the lodge weren’t accidental. One, maybe. But two?
No, something bad was going on, and he had to get to Ryleigh.
Instead of getting down, as he’d hoped, she’d run toward the dance floor. For the youngest of Cora and Pipe’s foster kids. Max was standing stock still, crying. Ryleigh reached him just before he got to them both. Tiny didn’t hesitate to snatch them up in his arms, and rush them away from the windows.
Scenarios shot through his head. Snipers. RPGs. Gas leaks. He had no idea what the threat was, only that therewasa threat.
He went to his knees and huddled against the wall, putting his body between Ryleigh and Max and the nearestwindows. He felt, more than heard, Ryleigh’s phone ringing. It was in her back pocket, and her ass was pressed against his leg where he held her tightly.
Her head came up and her gaze met his. She took one arm from around Max and reaching for her phone.
