Page 95 of Hide Little Traitor

“Once this is all over, we’ll get you in to the best doctor we can find, okay?” I brush my thumb over her cheek.

“It’s okay. I can go by myself. I’m just being a baby.”

“No, you’re not, Sparrow,” Ronan says firmly. “King will get you an appointment, and I’ll be there by your side, like I should have been all along.”

A tear slips down her cheek as she nods. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank us, baby girl. It’s our job and privilege to take care of you.” I press a kiss to her temple for pushing myself to my feet, ignoring the smug smirk on Ryker’s lips. “Why don’t you choose a movie while I make you some peppermint tea?”

Chloe’s bottom lip wobbles, and I catch a tear as it falls.

“We’ll take care of everything, Mama. You just rest.”

It’s not until I’m standing in the kitchen looking at the four of them that I realize this is what it means to have a family. It’s been so long since I’ve considered myself part of one that I almost didn’t recognize it.

Because the thing about family is you don’t always get along. In fact, you spend most of the time irritated by one another, but you’d still throw yourself in front of a bullet for them.

And maybe it’s time I let myself accept that.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

RYKER

NOW

Islip from between the sheets, checking I haven’t woken Chloe before tugging on the first clothes I find and quietly leaving the room.

Ronan’s with her, which gives me a weird amount of peace because up until recently, there was no one on this earth I trusted with her safety more than me, but the net is widening.

Kingston steps out of his room at the same time, and neither of us says a word as we head out the front door into the freezing cold night.

The silent alarm at the perimeter was tripped, and although it’s most likely to have been an animal, we’re not taking any chances.

Bark crunches beneath our feet the further we move away from the cabin, and my hand clutches around my knife.

It’s been far too long since I’ve made someone bleed, and part of me hopes it wasn’t an animal that set off the alarm just so I can get my fix.

Kingston motions for me to head to the right while he goes left, and I follow the silent command. I may have made a name for myself as one of the best trackers in the country, but I learned most of what I know from him, and whenever we’re in the field together, which is rare these days, I’m happy for him to take the lead.

The cabin disappears behind trees, leaving my path to be guided by the moon alone. Thankfully it’s a clear night, and I don’t have any trouble stepping over branches as I move farther into the dense forest.

A deer catches my attention in the distance, and I sigh.

And here I was hoping to get to kill someone.

I keep moving regardless, in the off chance that there is someone out here.

It’s better to be safe than sorry, and the alarms are designed to only be tripped by humans, even if they’re not foolproof.

“Ryker!” Kingston shouts, startling the deer and sending us both sprinting. The animal, away from potential threats, and me straight toward one.

The uneven ground slows me down, and by the time I reach him, I’m a little winded. I need to get back into the gym.

“What is it?”

He nods at a set of footprints in the dirt as he types something out on his phone. “We need to get out of here.”

“It might have been a hunter.”