Page 82 of Keeping Penny

The innocence of youth. Pyro never imagined he’d have such strong feelings for someone he’d known for such a short period of time. But he felt the need to caution her. “Your mom might not want to marry me. At least not right away.”

But Bowie actually smiled. “She does, silly! She talks to you the way she talks to me. All mushy-like. I can hear it in her voice. You love her, and she loves you. Getting married is what people do when they love each other.”

“Okay, Bowie-Bear.”

“Can we have chicken nuggets at the wedding?”

Pyro chuckled. “We can have whatever you want.”

“Goodie.”

He closed his eyes and prayed for forgiveness for what he was about to do. Send this innocent child out into the world with nothing but her hearing and sense of smell to guide her way.

“You ready?” he asked, before he changed his mind and kept her in the basement with him to meet whatever happened in the morning.

“Ready,” she said. Her voice wasn’t as sure as it had been, but she stepped away from him, giving him room.

He leaned over and it took a few minutes for him to undo the knots in the rope around his legs. Every time he touched his shin, pain shot through his system, making him dizzy, but Pyro ignored it. He had to stay strong for Bowie. At least until he got her out one of the windows. Then he needed to get back to the chair and pretend he was still bound. He’d have a bit of time to regroup before the men returned, he hoped. The greater a head start Bowie had, the better the chances of her getting to safety.

Pyro took a deep breath and got to his feet. Well, his foot. His bad leg felt as if someone was stabbing it with a ten-inch blade.

“I’ll help,” Bowie said, putting her arm around his waist as she’d done when they’d walked into the house.

She constantly surprised him with her empathy and strength. Having her as a tiny crutch gave Pyro just enough support to get to the wall and one of the windows facing the beach. To his relief, he was able to unlock it easily and push it open. It didn’t slide upward but instead swung up and out. Giving Bowie even less room to slither out. But she could do it. She had to. There was no alternative.

Leaning over, Pyro picked up the little girl and hugged her hard. The tears returned, and he didn’t bother trying to stop them from falling.

“I love you, Bowie-Bear. You can do this. I know you can.”

She sniffed, but the tears in her own eyes didn’t fall. “I can do it,” she echoed. “And I love you too, Kylo-Pyro. Do you think, when you and Mommy are married, I can make my name match yours?”

“What do you mean?”

“Bowie Mullins. Like you.”

Fuck. This girl. She was killing him. “If that’s what you want, we’ll talk to your mommy and see what she says,” Pyro promised.

He looked out the window and had to blink the tears out of his eyes so he could see.

“Okay, we’re at the back of the house. There are lots of trees to our left and right, but it’s clear in front of the window. Stay on your hands and knees until you reach the sand. Be careful, as I can’t see if it’s a drop-off to the beach with rocks, or if it’s a gentle slope. You know you wouldn’t be doing this if I had another choice, right?” Pyro couldn’t help but ask.

“I know. You’re hurt, too big to fit through the window, and the bad men are coming to take us in the morning. I can do this, Daddy. I know it.”

His heart broke in a million pieces at her words. “You bet you can,” he managed to say. “Be safe, Bowie-Bear. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

Pyro’s arms felt like lead as he lifted Bowie toward the window. She felt all around it with her hands, seeing with her touch, then ducked her head. Pyro gently pushed, and before he was ready, she was out.

“I’ll send help,” she whispered, before she turned around and began to crawl cautiously across the grass behind the house.

Pyro stood at the window and watched her progress. It was slow and steady. Before he was ready, she disappeared down the slope that led to the beach.

He remained at the window for a few more long minutes, but she didn’t reappear.

God help him, had he really sent a blind six-year-old out into the world to get help? He was the worst soldier. The worst friend.

The worst…Daddy.