Page 79 of Claimed By Ruin

I shook my head. “No.” I leaned back against the rocking chair, tried to let that near-silent creak soothe me. “This isn’t over. He’ll be back.”

Didn’t realize I’d reached out until Jack’s fingers, warm, strong, squeezed mine. “We’ll be ready.”

TWENTY-NINE

Asia

He was back.

It took two days, but on the third, when I saw the billowing cloud of dust rolling up the driveway, I knew. It was the same routine as before.

I glanced over at Jack.

Not exactly the same.

He said nothing, and together we watched as the doors opened. There were two men in the truck. Neither of them was Christopher.

“Hi, Asia,” one of the men said. I didn’t remember his name and didn’t try to.

“Hello.”

“Come with us, please,” he said.

“Why?” I asked, looking from one to the other.

“Christopher wants you to come for a visit.”

“What’s the occasion?” Jack asked.

The man smiled. “I assume you must be Jack. He said if you were here, you should come too.”

“Well, tell him we appreciate it, but we⁠—”

“We aren’t gonna turn down hospitality. Are we, Asia?”

I whirled around and saw Uncle Levi hobbling forward slowly. He was on a walker, and I wasn’t even sure how he managed that. Didn’t want to think about how he got down the stairs, or why.

“Levi…” Jack said.

“Hush up, Thorne, and get my shoes, Asia. Grab a jacket. Too bad we didn’t get any notice, because we would have baked a pie.”

Jack looked at me, holding my gaze for a long moment. I looked back at him. The moment was interrupted when Uncle Levi’s walker scraped across the floor.

“Let’s go!”

Jack held my gaze again, and I nodded. “Give us a minute,” I said. “Let me get changed.”

The man shook his head. “No need. We don’t stand on ceremony. Come as you are.”

I nodded and walked down the porch. Jack was half a step behind me and stopped to offer help to Uncle Levi. He took it, but wouldn’t look at either of us.

“Why don’t you and Asia sit in the back? I’m sure the guys won’t mind if I squeeze into the cab,” Jack said.

Neither man said anything, and without speaking, Jack hoisted Uncle Levi into the bed of the truck, folded down the walker, and then did the same to me. His hand lingered on my waist, and he held my gaze. I was cold when he let go.

I looked over at Uncle Levi as the truck rolled away from the farm. “You shouldn’t be⁠—”

“Hush,” he said. His tone left no doubt the decision was final, and besides, what was there to say? It was embarrassing, but I was happy he was here. I reached over and held his hand, didn’t let it go the entire time.