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I didn’t want to sound like a baby, although it felt as though fire ripped through rave;re," Eli whispered "I’ll tell Estelle She can get you soainst ht back"

I couldn’t hted But my other senses worked fine, and I smelledthe salt water Not old, briny air, but fresh, salty air A breeze drifted over hso

"You’re at Da Island, baby," said another familiar voice

I smiled "Preacher man" I tried to find his hand, but I couldn’t e calluses as he cradled my palm "You kno to ht," he said "I almost lost you, baby If it wasn’t for dat Eli and his brodders and sister, and his modder and fadder" He let the words drift off "I’d take a stick to your backside if you ell enough"

I sood on that as soon as I can lift ht became clearer; I looked into Preacher’s dark, handsome face "What happened?" I was on a cot in an open-air cabin on Da Island Seagulls screaulfed me It was likeheaven

Preacher looked down at me and tapped ht dere after you passed out"

"Who threwup "No one’s ever accused you of being a lightweight, huh, Riley?"

I squinted through the filtered sunlight and s you the bird in my mind," I said "Thanks, Luc"

"No prob, cuz," he answered

Estelle arrived withwhatever it was she concocted, Eli by her side She gave me a sip of it, handed the cup to Eli, and left He sat beside ht a few seconds "Everything up until your brother tossed aze hardened "Dead"

Relief gripped aze to one Ned can’t pick hibodies Blood"

Eli’s face grew grave "Souys down at the river Six in all, and they escaped with Victorian Phin and Luc cleaned up while we gathered you and the others to bring here"

"How did younot to think about the innocent boys whose lives are now those oftheir first kill aretenacious But we s? Todd?" I asked, then re for infor son "Jared Porter?"

"Yeah, they’re here, too They’re all fine, Riley"

Tears came to my eyes; I couldn’t help it They leaked out the sides and down my cheeks and into my hair, and I couldn’t even lift a hand to wipe the

"Not yet," Eli said, wiping er than yours"

My eyes sought his "Why can’t I round beside my cot and leaned close to me God, I’d never seen a more beautiful man in my life I couldn’t believe he was really mine

A smile cracked his pale features "So you consider me yours, huh?"