Defending Raven (Mountain Mercenaries #7)(74)

When the protein bar was gone, David smiled and looked at him. “That was the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”

“Have you ever had chocolate and peanut butter before?” Dave asked.

The little boy nodded. “Once. Mamá snuck in a piece of candy for me at Christmas one year. I wasn’t allowed to have candy or presents for Christmas, but Mamá said Santa found her and dropped off the candy for me. It was smushed, but when we were outside, we were able to eat it without anyone seeing. It was really good.”

This boy was killing him. And with every word out of his mouth, Dave was reminded of how much his wife and son had suffered, and what they’d lost. But somehow, they’d made it through almost five years and come out the other side compassionate and loving. They were a miracle. His miracles.

“I’ve got a couple more of those protein bars that we can eat later if we get hungry,” he said in a voice choked with emotion. He cleared his throat and said, “When we get to Colorado in the United States, what do you want to eat for your first meal in your new home?”

The boy’s eyes got big. “You mean I can choose?”

“Yes, David, you can have whatever you want.”

He looked excited for a second, then looked down hesitantly.

Dave put a finger under his chin and urged him to look back up. When he did, Dave asked, “What’s wrong? It’s okay, you can be honest with me. I won’t be upset at anything you tell me.”

“Will Mamá get to eat with us too? I don’t want to eat in front of her if she can’t eat too. She acts like she doesn’t care, but I hear her stomach making hungry noises, and it makes me sad.”

The sacrifices Raven had made for her son made Dave’s heart just about burst. “Your mom will never again go hungry. She can eat when she wants and what she wants. And that goes for you, too, champ.”

“We can eat together?” David asked.

“Yes. In fact, we’ll eat together as a family as much as possible. There might be some nights I won’t be able to be home to eat dinner with the two of you, but I promise right here and now to do my best to be there as often as possible.”

David’s eyes lit up. “I love you, Papá.”

His chest actually hurt at hearing his son’s words. “And I love you, champ. Now, what do you want to eat when we get back together with your mom?”

David turned big, blue eyes to Dave. “Arroz con pollo. And Mamá’s favorite is pollo empanada.”

He chuckled. “Can you translate that for me, champ? Remember, I don’t speak Spanish.”

“Rice with chicken for me, and chicken . . .” His brow furrowed. “I don’t know what empanada is in English.”

“I’ll figure it out,” Dave assured him.

Just then, they heard a car driving down the road. It was moving very slowly, and they could both hear men talking loudly in Spanish.

David’s eyes got wide, and he reached up and put his little finger across Dave’s lips.

Nodding, Dave gripped his son’s hand in his and kissed the palm reassuringly. He wasn’t surprised del Rio’s men were looking for them. He’d expected it. But that was why he’d chosen this house. Looking at it from the road, there didn’t seem to be any way to get to the roof. The tree they’d climbed wasn’t much taller than the house, and no one would think that a man as big as Dave would be able to use it to get to the roof.

The SUV continued on its way, but Dave knew the threat wasn’t gone. They needed to be patient and stay put. Eventually del Rio’s men would get called off after assuming he’d escaped.

Whispering, he praised his son. “Good job on staying quiet, champ.”

When David flushed and looked away from him, Dave once again vowed to praise the boy as much as possible. He’d had way too much hate directed at him in his short life. He needed to know he was capable and smart, because he was.

They made small talk for a while, then David asked, “When we get home . . . do you think . . . can I go to school?”

Dave nodded. “Of course, champ. Why wouldn’t you?”

He shrugged his small shoulders. “Because I’m stupid. And no one wants to be my friend.”

Hating del Rio more with every word out of his son’s mouth, Dave said, “We’ve already been over this, champ. You aren’t stupid. Not at all. And why wouldn’t anyone want to be your friend?”

“Because I’m a bastard.”

Dave flinched at hearing the crude word come out of the innocent child’s mouth.

“What does bastard mean, Papá?”

Controlling his fury at the mental damage del Rio had inflicted, Dave wished Raven was there. She’d know exactly what to say to reassure their son. He was winging it and felt completely out of his league at that moment. “I’m guessing you’re going to have too many friends to count, champ,” Dave reassured him. “You’re a good boy. Friendly. Considerate and smart. Why wouldn’t someone want to be your friend?”

Dave knew he had to be careful explaining. David wasn’t even five years old yet, but he’d heard the word and, because he was smart, knew it was some kind of insult. The last thing he wanted was his son thinking he was less than anyone else. “And bastard is a mean word that bullies use to try to make someone else feel bad.”