Page 93 of Shadow of Fear
Kinsley looked between the brothers. “If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”
“You don’t need to do a thing except recover from this guy’s manhandling.” Dev sounded like he might pummel the guy sitting next to him, but he kept his focus on Kinsley. “So what was this all about anyway? I know he wasn’t shooting at you because of some silly pranks you played on him when you were kids.”
Kinsley turned to place her full attention on Dev and told him about the diamonds. “It’s a wonder they survived all these years. Yapp put them in his cargo pocket, and they should still be there.”
Dev patted Yapp’s pocket, withdrew the pouch, and held it up. “And now, thanks to you, they can be returned to the jeweler where they belong.” Dev smiled at her, and Yapp growled.
Both were welcome responses. She settled back in her seat to listen to the radio as they made the final drive down the trail.
They reached the main road without incident, and even with the smoke, she could make out the compound fence ahead. Kinsley had never seen a more welcome sight in her life. Okay, maybe that wasn’t true. Maybe the most welcome thing of all was when Dev had emerged from the smoke to come to her rescue.
An even more welcome sight would be when she and Dev were alone, and she told him she loved him, then flung herself into his arms. Hopefully he would welcome her declaration and it wouldn’t be just because everyone was safe, but because he wanted a future together.
Dev loved his sister, but he wouldn’t put up with her ultimatum any longer, and he was going to tell her that the moment the opportunity presented itself. But right now, she was hugging him and had been hugging Kinsley within an inch of their lives. His mother, too.
“We really need to leave,” Dev said to the group. “We can continue this love fest once we’re somewhere safe.”
“You mean we’ll stop at the ER first.” His mother jutted out a hip. “No matter what you say, you’re going to get that injury checked out now.”
He fully intended to have it evaluated. The spear could’ve damaged his muscles or nerves. But even if he didn’t intend to go to the ER, her body language told him not to argue.
Still, everyone’s safety had to come first, so he would compromise. “I’ll go, but it’ll have to wait until we’re out of the evacuation area.”
His mom eyed him, the same terse gaze he’d expected every time he’d done something wrong as a kid. Her look was meant to intimidate him, but at this point in his life it left him knowing how much she cared about him.
“I’ll agree to that,” her eyebrow rose as if her stare needed emphasis, “if you promise not to argue once we’re somewhere safe and near an ER.”
“I promise.” He raised his first three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
“Great. You’d never go back on that promise.” She smiled. “With that settled, we can all quickly grab what we want to take with us.”
“Make sure it’s not a lot,” he said, looking at Kinsley as she couldn’t possibly take her entire box of memories and a suitcase with clothing. “We only have so much room in the vehicle.”
They split up and Dev followed Jada and Kinsley to his bedroom where most of his things were located.
“I’ll get out of your way in a flash.” He went straight to the closet and retrieved his carry-on suitcase, then scanned the room to think about what he would take with him. The most important thing was to bring Kinsley, and honestly, everything else could be replaced.
Well, maybe not the picture of his dad, or the fishing reel his dad had given him. He grabbed the photo and reel from the top of his dresser. He quickly opened the suitcase and tossed in some clothing.
“My clothes can be replaced, but these things can’t.” Kinsley set her suitcase next to his. She opened it, and dumped all of the items from her memory box into the case. Everything minus the lamp, of course. “I can put my basic toiletries in my carry-on bag and keep it on my lap.”
Dev set his suitcase on the floor. “I’ll see you in the other room. Don’t take too long.”
“Before you go,” Jada said. “I need to talk to you about something.” She bit her lip. “About that dating ultimatum I gave you.”
“Yeah,” Dev said. “I wanted to talk to you about that, too, but we really don’t have time for me to plead my case.”
“It won’t take long.” She gave a tentative smile. “I see how the two of you look at each other, and I won’t stand in your way. Just promise me if you get together, then break up and it’s not an amiable split, that it won’t ruin my relationship with either of you.”
“I don’t think breaking up is going to be a problem.” Dev gave Kinsley a pointed smile. “But thanks for not holding us to the promise so we can make decisions that are best for us.” He didn’t want to talk about this any further with his sister, and it wasn’t the time to talk to Kinsley, so he nodded at Jada’s suitcase. “Get that packed and let’s get going.”
“Aye, aye, sir.” She saluted him and laughed, the timbre lighthearted.
He rolled his eyes and gave her a gentle punch to the shoulder. He turned to look at Kinsley. “We’ll talk later.”
“Later,” she said as if in some sort of a trance.
Maybe she was thinking about them together as a couple, something she hadn’t contemplated until Jada removed her demand. He stepped out the door and did some contemplating on his own. The huge obstacle between him and Kinsley had been removed.
