That look.

The dark eyes, like those of a predator. Lurking. Always ready to fight, ready to kill.

Ryker knew those eyes far too well, but not in the same way as their enemies. For a moment, Ray felt transported back to the base.

He remembered the loud laughter of his comrades, who had all been like brothers to each other. It was a small spark of light in an otherwise dark time, which they clung to and held on to. The hands that tapped on tense shoulders after a hard day.

The words of days gone by haunted his mind like phantoms:

"Seriously, Dylan, if you keep this up, we'll have to worry about being let back home."

"Yeah, not that we'll be categorized as a threat because even the desert snakes are having nightmares about you!"

Dylan's comrades often praised and even admired him for his commitment. He was a born soldier, a fighter through and through, even if he was sometimes a little rash.

Ray's teeth clenched tightly as he struggled to keep his expression neutral. Even though his eyes were glued to his former comrade like chewing gum to the sole of a shoe and, the fire in his veins was burning like hellfire.

'Please, don't provoke him ...'

His gaze jerked briefly to Eve beside him and slid down to her. He could see how her tense shoulders and fingers fought against the trembling.

Not. Provoke. Him.

A growl full of dissatisfaction, self-hatred, and anger rumbled deep in Ryker's chest, but he had to suppress it with all his might, and under no circumstances should it find its way out.

Who had provoked whom first?

That wanker, that scumbag, that traitorous rat had taken advantage of HIM and put him in this situation! No matter how much Dylan smiled and tried to save the collapsing house of cards. He had fooled him once; he wouldn't be able to do it again!

It was Dylan's luck that Ryker's hands were tied at that moment. For one thing, the sleeping boy on his back was oblivious to all the commotion. And he would rather not change that - especially after the incident today. Ray didn't want to imagine how Liam might react if he saw his father now. On the other hand, Dylan's appearance put the supposed handyman in a no less awkward situation. Dylan could turn the whole web of his lies into a noose that could break his neck at any moment.

"I'll take Liam upstairs. Don't worry; I'll take care of everything," he replied quietly; perhaps that was why he gave in to Kaylen's urging, even though every fiber of his body was resisting.

Everything in him cried out to pounce on Dylan and make him pay—for the betrayal, the denial, and the lies he had fed him. He had betrayed his mate and his brother! And he wanted Dylan to pay for everything he had done to Eve—every single scar on her skin and her soul—for the fact that Liam hadn't been able to be the child he deserved to be.

A jumble of emotions bubbled in his chest—disappointment and betrayal, above all. This man was no longer his brother at heart. All the years they had served and survived together no longer mattered—not with what had happened.

Wounded - so what?

Retired - Fuck that bastard!

His skills would be enough to put this mutt in his place! 

But not now and not here, not in front of Liam or Kaylen. He simply couldn't lose them, and that fear was greater than his hatred for Dylan.

For that reason alone, the look from the grey-blue earth was so cold that even a trip to Greenland could be like a Caribbean holiday as he pushed past Dylan. Without Eve noticing, he sought out the other man's gaze and sent him a clear message without words:

We would talk later, you fucking dirtbag!

🍂🗝️🍂

In the corridor, Ryker heard the cottage door slam shut a little louder than usual. Instinctively, his gaze slid along the corridor to the staircase he had climbed only a heartbeat ago. Furrowing his brow, he hesitated momentarily before taking the next step.

Part of him wanted to rush back down the stairs and see if Eve was all right. She brought the lion into her new home, already baring its teeth. Craving the flesh and blood it had tasted in the past and would certainly not give up without a fight now.

'And that's all your fault! He only found her because of you!' his conscience hissed like a venomous snake. Without him being able to stop it, the chiseled features contorted. It felt like he had bitten into a lemon while a bucket of ice water doused the flames of rage.

The tension drained from his muscles. Without Liam on his back, he would probably have sunk like a wet sandbag against the wall and drowned in the tidal wave of guilt.

"Ray?"

The little voice on his back almost made him jump to the side like a cat whose tail had been unexpectedly stepped on. His heart pounded in his chest as he jerked his head around. He found himself face to face with Liam's wide-open, childlike eyes, which looked very similar to his father's.

"Liam!" he gasped out the boy's name, stifling a loud exclamation of shock just in time. For God's sake, how many times was he nearly going to have a heart attack today?

But the boy's eyes were no longer glued to him; they were looking past him to the wooden steps. Ray felt a slight tug around his neck as Liam tightened his grip.

Despite the jacket, he felt the slight tremor that shook the tiny body on his back.

"Liam, have you been awake all this time?"

The former Seal's voice trembled slightly. It was not enough for the boy to notice, but it made the deep bass sound brighter than it usually did.

Ray didn't need to ask the question because the worry and fear were written like black ink on white paper in the eyes, and innocent features said more than any words could. And yet the question pearled across his lips, breaking the spell that held the soul mirrors of the otherwise brave child on the stairs.

Instead, Liam's eyes turned back to him, and he could see the small lips guiltily pressed together into a thin line. Liam avoided his gaze, pressed his forehead to his shoulder, and... finally nodded.

Ryker stared at Liam for a moment. His head was in chaos, and his tongue was numb. Almost as if by remote control, he lowered himself to one knee and loosened his grip on the boy's legs so he could climb off his back. Ray felt the legs slowly slip from his grip and heard the soft creaking of the floorboards under the tiny feet.

He immediately turned around and held Liam by the waist before he could put his weight on the sprained ankle. Ray was the same height as Liam on his knees and could look the child straight in the eye. Ray's pulse raced, and without being able to stop it, he stared at Liam as if those innocent eyes held the last pieces of the puzzle he was missing.

If Liam had been awake the whole time or during the conversation outside, he knew Dylan was there. He knew his father was alive. That he was standing down there. He knew everything.

But then why hadn't he taken the opportunity and...?

It didn't make any sense unless...

'She wasn't lying to him. Liam knew everything...'

The realization hit him like a blow.

Of course, he knew. That's why he'd never asked about his father, why he hadn't cried about them coming here, and why Eve had promised him that they would both start again.

"Ray... Are they going to fight?"

As innocent and childish as the question sounded, it said more than a thousand words and sent a shiver down Ray's spine like he'd never felt before.

Not as a seal, not as a detective.

Liam was afraid for his mum. He knew what Dylan had done and was afraid of his father.

'And it's all your fault... Traitor!'

FUCK!

Bitter bile settled on his tongue, and he almost retched. The claws of guilt closed even tighter around his chest, making his much larger hands tremble as he placed them on Liam's shoulders.

"I don't know," his murmur was heavy. He had to force himself to hide his worry, his own fear, and crushing guilt. "But I won't let anything happen to your mum.... happen to your mum. As soon as we hear anything, I'll run downstairs and watch your mum, Liam. I promise."

As hard as he could, he tried to allay Liam's fears. Not with much success, though, because Liam's lips trembled while his tiny hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"Come on, let's look at your foot first and wash you."

He had to fight the urge to look back at the stairs as he slid the rucksack straps off his shoulders and placed them at the edge of the corridor. Then he reached out and lifted Liam onto his hip. Ray tried to ignore the sharp pain that came with it. He couldn't be weak right now. He couldn't and wouldn't allow himself to.

'I hope you don't fuck up, Dylan... don't you dare touch her,' he thought bitterly. The whole situation was like a teetering house of cards... All it needed was a tiny breath, and everything would collapse.