“You, Papa. You know that’s what I meant.”
My father shrugs and allows a hint of a smile. “Yes, but I’d like to hear it.”
“He’s a large angry man with a bad childhood and no one to love him. And just like with you, she can wrap him around her finger.”
My father frowns at where Cobain carries a weapons bag and food cooler into the house. “He’s dangerous.”
“So are we.”
“Yes, but we’re family.”
Exhaling, I look up at the dark gray sky. “Neri won’t go without him.”
“Did she say that?”
“Of course not. Neri doesn’t talk about her feelings. She’s like you.”
“And you’re like your mother, huh?” he grumbles before running a hand through my hair.
I’m struck by the words he said earlier. “If Sunny hadn’t grown up in a cult, she might never have loved me. If she were normal, I wouldn’t have met her. Even if I had, she wouldn’t want our life.”
My father studies me with his dark eyes. “Normal is overrated. Your mother is far from normal, and she’s the best person I know.”
Smiling, I run my hand through his messy hair like he did mine. “I love Sunny so much it hurts to think she might not love me.”
“Why would you think she doesn’t?”
“I’m the first man to treat her well. She says she loves me, but I wonder if that’s her heart speaking or her need to survive.”
“Your mother had no one. I saved her from that life. But she loves me. If she were normal, she wouldn’t love me. I don’t think I’d have loved her either,” he says, frowning at the idea of not loving Mama. “Fuck it. I don’t care what would have been if we were different. She’s mine, and I’m hers. If Sunny’s yours, then none of that other shit matters.”
Reassured by his words and presence, I hug Papa. “Thank you.”
My father’s always been a good hugger, even if he hates for non-family to touch him. Today, he gives me a solid embrace before we’re joined by an annoyed Cobain.
“Can you two get your asses in gear?” he asks as he walks toward the front entrance with another two bags while Robin follows behind. “The weather’s turning to hell, and we need to get inside and lock this place down.”
Papa unveils an impression glare at Cobain. Unfortunately, the other large man can’t see out of the back of his head and misses the entire show.
“He has a point,” I say and walk to my SUV. “We don’t have much time.”
Papa nods as his gaze studies the distant road. We both know the chance of someone attacking the safe house tonight lessens with the arrival of a storm. The ground here is already muddy in places. More rain will hamper maneuverability along with visibility. Even the stupid, bald men at the nearby compound must realize that attacking a safe house on a clear day will lead to several of their deaths. The bounty might be worth a few dead friends, though.
However, hitting the safe house in the midst of a powerful storm means they might as well just shoot themselves and save us the effort.
SUNNY
Mia is somehow more scared of me than I could ever be of her. Based on the videos I’ve seen and the stories Kai told me, I expected her to be beautiful and fragile. But she’s more delicate than I imagined.
She’s very interested in Anika as they play with her snow globes. My baby wants to keep one so badly, but I sense Mia can’t part with any. I don’t say anything, and Anika doesn’t ask, but I see my daughter eyeing them and then her bag.
“I’m going to buy you snow globes once we get home,” Kai says when he returns to the room and notices her interest. “You’re going to have so many toys.”
Anika frowns because she thinks he means the homestead when he says, “Home.”
“Kai’s home,” I tell her. “Like on the tablet with the beach.”
Smiling now, Anika wants him to pick her up. She gets more agitated as soon as we leave the bedroom. The main room has a high ceiling and shakes when thunder bangs outside.
“I love you,” Kai tells Anika, who hugs him. “We’re going to be home soon, and you’ll get to see the ocean.”
Standing as close to Kai as possible without literally clinging to him, I’m afraid to look at Jake. His dark eyes and scars make him scarier than he seemed in the videos. I worry he’s angry at me. There’s no doubt he’s mad at Cobain.
The seven of us—and Robin—stand in the main room, while the weather outside gets worse.
“Storm will last two days,” Cobain says after checking his phone.
Jake’s frown grows meaner. “We can’t stay at this house for that long.”
Cobain’s dark eyes flash with irritation. “We can’t chance getting derailed by flooding on damaged roads.”
“The skinheads won’t look for us in a storm,” Jake growls, glaring at Cobain.
I step closer to Kai while Neri inches between the men. Mia wraps her hands around Jake’s wrist and stares frightened at the ceiling. She and Anika don’t seem to notice the tension. They’re more afraid of the shadows cast against the walls of the big room.
“We’re looking at heavy rain, possible hail, and even a tornado warning. If we get stuck out there,” Cobain says in his rumbly voice, “we’ll be sitting ducks, and there’s no one around here to call for help. Every tow truck driver in the state will sell us out.”
“Papa,” Neri says gently before adding, “Cobain. Please, shut up.” They both frown at her, but she only smiles. “Even if we could safely drive through this storm and the roads weren’t an issue, we have people in our party who are very sensitive to thunder and lightning.”
Cobain glances at Anika and me while Jake looks at his wife, still gripping his wrist. Mia flinches at every snap of thunder while my baby hides her face against Kai’s shoulder when a flash of lightning brightens the room. I even cover my ears when the thunder sounds ready to tear apart the house.
Kai wraps an arm around me and nods at his sister. “We must remain here until the storm passes. Then we should do as planned and leave at dawn when the skinheads are the least likely to be on guard.”
A frowning Jake studies the house. “This place isn’t safe for a child. They left weapons everywhere.”
“We’ll clear out the important rooms,” Kai says, sounding relaxed despite the tension in the room. “Then lock the dangerous ones and make the best out of our downtime.”
“Happy shit,” Cobain grumbles, but his ugly frown softens as soon as Neri steps closer to him. “I’ll look over the security system to make sure this place is locked down tight. Also, where everything is and if there’ll be any surprise visitors.”
“We’ll remove the weapons,” Kai says and hands Anika to me. “The kitchen is right there. Why don’t you, Mama, and Neri check over our food supplies?”
“Why me?” Neri mutters.
“I don’t want them to be alone.”
“Then you should stay with them, and I’ll hide the weapons.”