Page 74 of Moros

“What?” I turned.

“It’s obvious you don’t like it she’s off on some romantic walk with Todd.” Theodore pointed out.

I smiled and shook my head.

After a sip from my drink, I met his dim brown eyes.

“She’s not my woman.” I reported. “I have no right to tell her what she can and can’t do. My only job here is to make sure she’s safe. Outside of that?—”

Theodore sighed.

“You suck at hiding your thoughts, Khadri.” Theordore pointed out. “I’ve known you all of ten seconds and I can read you. Every time you think she’s in pain you draw a little closer to her side, do you know that?”

I shook my head.

“You do.” Theodore picked up a shortbread cookie and bit into it.

I excused myself under the premise to make a call before it grew too late but I wandered away from the house, trying to find a place to hide and scream. The need to unburden sat on my chest like a tank until my knees shook with the weight of it all.

As I rounded a bend, I found Ryanne sitting with Todd on a park bench. I backed up to hide my presence.

“You can’t be serious.” Todd was saying, his Jamaican accent rich. “The man has a face only a mother could love—be honest.”

I waited for her to say something—anything.

“Almost like a face time forgot.” Todd carried on.

Todd was referring to me.

And Ryanne said nothing.

It felt as if I’d been standing there for an eternity—for an infinite number of eternities, with time slowly tearing me apart.

Her silence?—

Lifting my chin, I squared my shoulders and stepped around what looked to be what was left of an old building, the concreate wall sand blasted after years of wind and storms.

I cleared my throat and Ryanne jerked to her feet when she saw me.

“I—” She began.

“Morgana would like you to know dinner is almost ready.” I lied.

“Khadri—”

But I shook my head, turned and left.

14

RYANNE “SHORTY” LARWICK

Khadri folded in on himself.

Each time I entered a room with him, he’d find a reason to leave. Aside from speaking about what was happening with me, he had nothing else to say to me. He’d been driving me from the house we were staying back, back into the countryside every few days to spend time with Morgana and Theodore, and usually he wouldn’t stay.

A few times he would—but only because Morgana asked him to. He seemed to have a very soft spot for her, and all his smiles and tenderness was now reserved for her.

“Hey, Ryanne.” Todd sauntered in the room. “What are you doing tonight?”