🗝️Detective Ryker Viltarin must uncover dark secrets before he loses not only his heart but also his life.🗝️
You're on your own, far from home
The wind is blowing in the top of the pines
A gloomy sky where the sun never shines
Deep...
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"I don't want to go to bed yet!" whined Liam, wrinkling his nose. His mouth twisted into a big pout, and he crossed his arms in front of his body. Ryker put the little soldier and horse figures back in the box. Offended, the otherwise sweet boy stamped his foot. The feathers of the headdress bounced in protest, as Liam hadn't taken it off all evening because he wanted to savor his triumph for as long as possible.
The corners of Ryker's mouth twitched in a desperate attempt to remain stern. Not so easy with that damn sight because Liam was playing the insulted man in his pajamas and feathers and looking too cute.
"Come on, Liam, I let you stay up late," Ryker admonished in a calm but firm voice.
Liam grumbled at him, but you could see how small his eyes had gotten. Especially in the last half hour, he had noticed how the little Indian's jaw muscles kept tensing as he stifled a hearty yawn, like now, before his tired eyes slid to the door.
Liam wasn't usually like this. He had seen Eve put the boy to bed many times before, and he had never made such a fuss.
His stern features immediately softened as Ray realized the problem: this was the first time Liam had been home without his mother. The boy fought valiantly against his obvious exhaustion to ensure she got home. Something about this boy reminded Ryker of himself. He had been like that as a child when his parents weren't home.
"You miss your mom, don't you?" he asked so abruptly that Liam's eyes widened. The boy stared at him for a moment, seemingly unable to answer, then nodded timidly.
"You don't need to worry. Aunt Ri is watching over her, protecting her like I protected you."
Ryker saw the little lips tremble a little. "Is Mommy coming home soon?« Liam asked softly, and Ray cuddled the boy even tighter.
"If you sleep well, she'll be back soon. How about this?" he raised his hand gently, reached out, and placed it on the boy's head. Small tears had gathered in his green eyes and threatened to run down his cheeks, red with excitement.
"We'll both brush our teeth now. Fix your arm, and I'll tell you a great bedtime story. And then I'll stay awake until your mom and Aunt Riona return?"
Still undecided, Liam looked at the door, pursed his lip, and seemed to be thinking hard. "Mom looked pretty," he murmured.
