Chapter 8 #2
To Kit’s surprise, Red pushed Kit’s hair back from his face. “Good boy.” His tone was so soft, it made Kit’s heart melt. He so much wanted to be Red’s boy.
Red picked up the blanket again and gathered Kit awkwardly against him. “Rest now.”
“You’ll wake me if there’s an issue?” Kit said.
“I will, I promise.”
Kit closed his eyes, hoping he hadn’t placed his trust in the wrong man. He placed his palm over Red’s heart, feeling a muffled thump thump. He fell asleep with Red carding his fingers through his hair. It was soothing and just what he needed.
“Kit, wake up.”
“Don’ wanna,” he muttered, thumping his pillow.
“Ow.”
Kit opened one eye to see Red staring down at him with a pained expression and clutching his chest. “Wassamatter?”
“Apart from thumping me in the pec?” Red gave him a wry smile. “We’re here. You can stay in the car if you want. You might freeze to death though.”
Kit yawned and sat up, peering through the window, although he couldn’t see much. “Is this the safe house?”
“It is.”
Red helped him out of the SUV, and he saw Jace standing by while Padraig talked to another man.
The biting wind whipped around Kit and seemed to tear through his jacket. He shivered and clutched his jacket close to him. “I guess there’s no nightclub nearby.”
Of all the stupid things to say, but Red just snorted.
“You’d be right there.”
“Couldn’t we have gone somewhere warm? Did you have to bring me to the middle of nowhere?” Kit grumbled.
“Suck it up, kid,” Red said, way too cheerfully.
Kit’s belly rumbled and he felt hollow inside. When was the last time he ate? He couldn’t remember. Kit was always erratic with his eating, but now he was hungry.
“I’ll get you inside,” Red said, an arm around his shoulders. “There’ll be food in the cabin.”
“I’m starving,” Kit admitted, wishing he could just run away and hide.
“Me too. Come let me introduce you to Mo, then we can shut the door on everyone.”
Kit stared at him, blinking back sudden tears. How did Red guess that’s what he wanted to do?
Red held him close. “Just stay next to me. No running,” he warned.
“No promises,” Kit muttered.
Red rolled his eyes. At least, Kit thought he did. It was kinda difficult to tell in the dark. “You’re tired, hungry, and your world has turned upside down. You need food and sleep.”
He herded Kit over to Padraig and a man who looked older than them, with his hair tied back in a ponytail and dressed in a flannel jacket and jeans. He looked warmer than Kit felt even with Red pressed against his side.
“Mo, thanks for helping out.” Red said. “This is Kit Monroe.”
Mo eyed him for a moment. “Your chaos demon? I hear you ran away today. Don’t do that here.”
Kit glowered at him, both for the chaos demon crack, and the order. “Most people start with hello.”
Both Padraig and Red chuckled.
“Mo failed at charm school,” Padraig said.
“Charm school?” Kit knew he was exhausted, but he had no idea what the man was talking about.
“They mean I ain’t a diplomat,” Mo said brusquely.
Kit turned to Red and with the most innocent expression he could manage, asked, “Are you friends?”
Padraig let out a belly laugh. “He’s got you sussed.”
“I’m not complicated to work out,” Mo agreed. “Stay inside, keep your head down. Red will give the rest of the rules.”
“And if I run away?”
Mo shrugged. “In the dark? You’ll fall off the edge of the mountain.”
“Mountain,” Kit asked faintly. “Where am I?”
“Let’s get inside. Is it this cabin?” Red asked Mo, ignoring Kit’s question.
Kit scowled but Red ignored that too.
“No, the one behind,” Mo said. It’s not accessible by road.”
“Alarm system?”
“Yeah, and linked to my place.”
Red let out a deep breath. “That’s good to know. Is your boy here?”
Mo shook his head. “He’s on a business trip, annoying the Brits. He’ll be back next week. Ronan’s here.”
“Is Joseph with Griff and Jem?” Padraig asked.
Kit leaned wearily against Red. He didn’t know who these people were and to be honest, he didn’t care.
“I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. You need to get Mr. Monroe secured. Follow me.”
Mo turned and walked around the side of the huge cabin, leading them on a narrow path.
Kit found himself sandwiched between Red, Jace, and Padraig.
It was somewhat claustrophobic and he had to resist the urge to run.
Where would he run to? Maybe some of his tension communicated itself to Red because Red edged closer to him and took his hand.
‘I’ve got you, boy,” Red said, his voice low, but clearly not low enough, because all three CDR men turned to stare at him. “Got something to say?” he challenged.
“Not a word,” Mo said, not even bothering to hide his smirk. “Not a word.”
When Kit could put a coherent thought together, he’d quiz Red on what that was all about, but not now.
The walk to the cabin went on forever, and Kit stumbled more than he walked, with Red propping him up. But finally, they reached a smaller building than the previous one, but it looked cozy with the warm light spilling out from the windows.
“Wait,” Padraig said as Mo opened the door.
He and Jace went inside even as Mo rolled his eyes.
“Why can’t we go in?” Kit whined.
“They’re just sweeping the place,” Red said. “It won’t be long.”
The two men appeared in the light of the open door and beckoned them in. “All clear.”
Red placed a hand at Kit’s lower back and urged him up the stoop and into the kitchen. Kit felt like a sheep being herded by an over-enthusiastic sheepdog as he was led to a chair and gently pushed down. Kit groaned and laid his head on his arms.
“We’ll leave you too it,” Padraig said.
“Are you driving back tonight?” Red asked.
“Now you’re here we’ve been moved to another assignment. This time for CDR.”
“Thanks for bringing us here, guys.” Red did sound genuinely grateful.
Kit raised his head, blinking at them. “Thanks for keeping me safe.”
Padraig inclined his head. “You’re welcome. No running away.”
Kit sighed. Yet another order. Ignoring Padraig, he laid his head back down. Kit closed his eyes just for a moment as they talked. Just a brief moment…