Page 29 of Finding Lexie
“I swear on my family life, Lexie is safe with me,” Shermake said in a low, earnest tone.
Midas finally nodded. He still didn’t one hundred percent trust the kid, but it would be preferable to have a guide through the streets of Galkayo. Especially if he knew where his team was holed up.
He held out a hand to Lexie and something within him settled when she immediately came to his side.
“Stay next to me at all times,” he ordered. “If I go too fast, tell me. If you’re in pain, tell me so I can help you.”
“Okay, Midas. I will.”
“I mean it. We have no idea what or who is waiting for us outside this door. My objective has always been to get you out of here safe and sound. Doesn’t matter that we aren’t in the desert anymore, my goal is the same.”
“I understand,” she said solemnly.
Midas couldn’t help adding, “And after that,” he gestured to the hole in the floor with his head, “I’m even more determined to make sure you get out of here without a fucking scratch.”
Lexie licked her lips, as if remembering what had happened right before Shermake interrupted them. She nodded.
Midas reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. It was plastered to her head on one side, the side that had been pressed against his shoulder. He could see sweat marks at her neck and underarms. She was a hot mess…and he’d never been more attracted to a woman in his life.
A noise behind them caught Midas’s attention, and he looked over Lexie’s shoulder to see Shermake sitting on the floor, untying his shoes.
He took both off then stood and held the sneakers out to Lexie. “You wear on feet.”
Lexie looked confused. “What?”
“Your feet. Wear,” Shermake repeated.
“He’s giving you his shoes,” Midas explained.
Lexie shook her head and took a step back, running into Midas. “No, I’m not taking your shoes,” she said stubbornly.
“Yes. Take,” Shermake said just as stubbornly.
Midas reached for the shoes and nodded at the boy. “Put them on, Lex.”
“No. Midas, you don’t understand. When I met him months ago, he had not one pair of shoes. He was barefoot, as were his brother and sister. I’m not taking his shoes. I can’t.”
“You are,” Midas said, kneeling at her feet and holding one of the sneakers.
“I get another pair. Big box of shoes come from France. Lots of shoes for all. I get more. You need. My feet are tough. Street no bother me. You need.” Shermake looked extremely concerned.
“Shit,” Lexie said under her breath. “He’ll be offended if I don’t take them.”
“Exactly. Now come on, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get out of here,” Midas told her. He was touched the boy had offered his shoes to Lexie. It would absolve one of his many worries when it came to sneaking through the city streets. Not having to worry about Lexie stepping on glass and slicing up her feet would make him feel much better. He just hoped the boy didn’t suffer that fate.
She put one hand on his shoulder to keep her balance as she lifted a foot. Midas slipped the shoe on and quickly tied it as tightly as he could. Once the second sneaker was on, she turned to Shermake. She hugged him once more. “Thank you so much.”
“They fit?”
Midas knew they didn’t. They were too big, but she smiled up at him and nodded anyway. “They’re perfect,” she told him.
“We no need shoes,” the teenager said. “We need education. Teach us how to make shoes, and we no need charity. Teach us how to make clothes, and we no need second-hand American ones. Teach us how to make electricity, do math, make water last, and Somali people grow stronger.”
Lexie squeezed his arm. “I know. I do.”
“We would not need to take people for money if we had ways to make it for ourselves,” Shermake said.
Midas nodded. He understood. What was the saying? Give a man a fish and he can feed his family. Teach a man to fish, and he can feed a village.
