Page 16 of Tethered
He frowns before looking around. There is no way I could have known that. I try to think of something to say, but he shakes his head, giving me a knowing look before climbing off the bed and lifting me to my feet. “Another one of those things you’ll tell me later, right?”
I wince but nod. “Right.”
“You don’t need to look so worried. It’s not like you eat babies or something.”
“Of course not. Their bones get stuck in my teeth.”
“And I’m sure I’d have noticed if you could animate the dead.”
“Well…you have seen me in the morning, right?”
He grins. “Good point. How about I go investigate and make sure they’re okay while you put something on?”
“And will you be investigating naked?”
“No ma’am. All this is for your eyes only.”
“Good answer, cowboy.”
Feeling the house’s impatience, I hurry to the bathroom to take a quick shower and throw on a yellow sundress. I slip on some socks and slide on my boots before pulling my hair back into a ponytail. I head downstairs, making a quick detour to myworkshop to take something that will prevent me from getting a UTI. By the time I get to the kitchen, Hannah is digging into a bowl of cereal while Dawn watches on with a mug of coffee in her hands. Her bruises are deeper today, though hopefully a little less painful than before, if she’s been using the cream I left for her. She winces as she swallows her coffee, making me curse for not thinking of her throat sooner. She must hear me because she jumps, and coffee sloshes over the rim of the mug.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, it’s me. I’m all kinds of jumpy.”
“That’s to be expected,” I tell her softly, my eyes drifting to Hannah. “How did you guys sleep?”
“Surprisingly well, actually. I think you get to a certain point when your body shuts down.”
“I get that, trust me.”
“Here you go.” Riggs hands Dawn a plate of scrambled eggs.
“I figured it would be easier to get down something soft. You want eggs, Opie?”
“Opie? I thought your name was Calliope.” Hannah looks up from her bowl with a frown.
“I gave her a nickname. Something only I call her. That way, she knows she’s special to me,” Riggs tells her with a wink.
“Do I get a nickname?”
“Hmm…how does Hannah Banana sound?”
Hannah squeals with laughter. “No, silly, you can’t call me that. Bananas are a fruit. I’m not a fruit.”
“You’re right, of course. Can’t get anything past a smart cookie like you.”
“There’s your nickname. Cookie. We like smart girls in this house.” I ruffle Hannah’s hair as she giggles.
“I can be a cookie. I love cookies.”
Dawn watches her daughter with soft eyes. She must feel my gaze on her because she looks up at me.
“I have a friend coming today to tweak the security.”
Her eyes widen before I continue. “David is a good guy. Loyal. He’s the guardian of his little sisters, who will be coming today as well. It might be nice for Hannah to have someone to play with while we get things sorted out.”
“Okay,” she says quietly.
