“The terrorists? Had they arrived?”
His nod confirmed that.
He turned to Ryder. “Please bring me your report on this incident. It appears, once again, we were close to capturing Ranik, but he slipped through our fingers.”
“Of course.” Ryder gave a slight bow of his head. I could sense a lessening of his animosity toward his father. “I’ll see if I can return within the week.”
“That would be fine. I’d better get back to your mother. She’ll want to know why I’ve been gone so long.”
“Please give her my love.”
“Certainly.”
“And...thank you...for your help,” Ryder offered with all humility and sincerity. “Taylor means the world to me.”
“I understand.” Talon offered his hand, which Ryder readily shook. “You’re my son. I’ll always help you.”
Before long, Talon departed in a flash of blue light, presumably to the transfer unit in the Malibu canyon, where he would then be able to transfer home.
Insisting that I eat something, Ryder made us a light snack. Briefly, I told him about the information I’d learned about my mother and father. I wanted to find my mother and see if she could find refuge on Te’re for a while. Ryder insisted that I go back to bed when we finished our snack, which had me eye-rolling, as I’d just had a four-hour nap. My bruises were freaking him out. I only agreed when he said he would join me there. That arrangement had more appeal for me.
“Where’s Sy?” I asked, shrugging out of my robe and climbing back under the covers.
“Looking for Jory.” He yanked off his T-shirt, which allowed me to appreciate his fine, muscular chest. Remembering the trail I’d blazed with my lips on his chest the other night, I felt the beginning of some tingles. The stirrings continued as he dropped his pants and slid into bed wearing boxers only. Yum. Very distracting.
“She was your girlfriend, right?”
“She was.” He got comfortable on his pillow, facing me. “And before you ask, I have no idea why she would be helping Ranik.”
That answered my next question, but I had a few others.
“How did you know something was wrong so fast?”
“Sy was out checking the waves and saw you and Jory pull up to the condo. You weren’t here when he came back to get his trunks, and then I couldn’t get you on your phone.”
“I know! I paid the bill, I swear it.”
“Jory was using a signal jammer on your phone.”
“That bitch!” I scowled. “She totally played me.”
A flash of anger touched his eyes. “I was afraid I would be too late. Will you listen from now on? Do as you’re told? This wouldn’t have happened, had you followed my directions.”
“Yeah, but then Paul would have been killed along with his father, and you guys wouldn’t have been able to find out about the stash of mylunate he hid. At least now he’ll have medical care, and you have your ore back.”
“I care about you.”