Page 137 of Midnight Curfew

Taking the cup back to the drawer, I put away the bottle and return to Sophia, squatting down to eye level. “I want to talk to your brother tonight. Will you sleep over at my house?”

I think I hear footfalls on the stairs, and I’m tempted to clean the tears from her face, but I’m not going to touch her. Hanging my arms over my knees, I lock my hands together. “I have brothers and sisters, and there are kids, and no one will hurt you.”

She shakes her head, whispering, “You can’t promise that.”

I go silent, only beginning to imagine what’s happened to her to think there’s danger everywhere now.

“I can,” I state. “People are too afraid of my oldest brother to mess with our women. Is it okay if I pick you up right now?”

She doesn’t move for a moment, but then she nods.

Approaching her slowly, I slide my hands under her body and lift her up, turning to see Army in the doorway.

I nod at him. “This is one of my brothers,” I tell her.

She’s so light. I don’t think she’s underweight, but she might be close. Could she be keeping her weight down on purpose? Anna-Katherine wants to be seen as a child.

She looks at my brother, dressed in his uniform, and he looks like he wants to talk to me, but I shake my head.

“You trust me?” I ask her.

She looks down.

“Will you trust me?” I try to catch her eye.

Finally, she whispers, “Okay.”

I lift my gaze to my brother. “Take her to the Bay, please.”

I hand her gently into his arms, and I’m sure he’s wondering why she can’t walk to his car.

“Tell Krisjen to put her to bed.” Then I look at Sophia. “You know Krisjen Conroy.”

Her eyes light up, and Sophia is back. “She’s there?”

Her voice is light again.

“So is Clay Collins,” I assure her. “She’s gonna marry my sister.”

She smiles and wraps her arms around Army’s neck.

He just tilts his head at me, glaring, albeit softly. “Ames won’t like this,” he mouths.

“I’m counting on it.”

I dig my pocketknife out of my track pants and hold it up. “This is for you, Anna-Katherine.”

I demonstrate how to open and close it as she watches. She flashes a small smile and takes it, wrapping her fist around it.

Army gives me a scolding look, like he’s not entirely sure she won’t slit all our throats in our sleep.

Only the monsters.

He starts to leave.

“If anyone asks,” I call out, “this is where Anna-Katherine is.”

He glances back at me.