head, no filter.
“You doing okay there, sweet cheeks?”
“Peachy.”
“Morning! Need any help?”
They both turned at the words and found Mr. Goldhirsh approaching on his bike at light speed with his posse.
“We got it, but thanks,” Fin said, lifting a hand.
They all flew by in a long straight line, dressed in various colors of the same uniform.
“Those are their matching Ryker Wheelies shirts. Pip told me she helped pick the colors,” Maggs said.
“Nice, especially the sash of bright green on the back. Really stands out. How is it possible that man can make me feel inadequate constantly?” Fin added.
“That yoga all but wiped me out,” Maggs added. “The guy’s a machine, even injured.”
“He is that. I’ll be happy if I have half his stamina at that age. And you bailed before the really hard stuff started.”
“Good timing then.”
They watched the cyclists disappear.
“I envy him,” Maggie said. “He didn’t let what happened in his past change the way he approached his future. In fact, I think it made him stronger.” Mr. Goldhirsh had been raised in Nazi occupied Germany, and his family was Jewish.
“Yeah, he’s the strongest man I know.” Fin envied Mr. Goldhirsh too. He’d put his past behind him, not something Fin had ever managed.
The noise came out of nowhere. Loud, it boomed around them. Fin did a 180-degree turn, checking there was no danger nearby. The acoustics were pretty awesome with the mountains surrounding them, and he had a feeling it came from the military base some distance away. Seeing nothing threatening, he turned back to Maggs.
She was huddled beside her car with her hand over her ears.
What the hell?
“Hey.” He dropped down beside her. “It’s all right, Maggs. Nothing but a boom from the military base.” He touched her arm; she was shaking. In fact, her entire body was trembling, and she was making whimpering sounds.
“Maggs.” He ran a hand over her head, but she didn’t react. Almost as if she had no idea he was there. She was deep in whatever terror held her in its grip, like she had been in the bank.
Fin moved in behind her, wrapping his arms around her. No one passing could see them, as they were on the opposite side of the car to the road. He’d had medical training, had to in his profession, but he wasn’t equipped to cope with whatever this was. He thought she may be experiencing some kind of PTSD, just like when she’d begged him to save her from being shot in the bank.
What the hell happened to you, Maggie?
“Come on, sweetheart.” He said the words softly, lifting her into his arms. He then pressed his back to her car. “Everything will be all right.”
She didn’t fight him, simply burrowed in, wrapping her arms around his neck. Fin held her close, surrounded her, unsure what else he should be doing. He’d not felt this helpless in a very long time.
“Maggs, honey, it’s okay now.”
Fin knew about panic attacks; his mother used to have them all the time. He’d hold her until they’d eased. He did that now for Maggs. Held her, telling her she was all right as thoughts whirled around inside his head.
One thing he knew as he sat there with the trembling woman in his arms was that his hunch had been right. Something was really off with Maggie Winter. She’d left Ryker eager and ready for the new adventure awaiting her and come home with demons. Now he just had to get her to tell him what they were.
Chapter Nine
Maggs rested against Fin, warm and safe. It was still cold, but the large body she was pressed to warmed her, as did the arms.
What am I going to say to him?
Feeling the steady beat of his heart under her ear was comforting. She’d had so many attacks since the day those two men had walked into that restaurant and rocked the foundations of the world she’d always believed were solid.
You’re not alone anymore.
Maggs pushed that thought aside. She’d made the choice to keep what happened from her friends and family because she didn’t want to worry them at the time. Of course she’d told them she was involved, but just not to what extent. Part of her decision had been that when she came home, she could leave what happened in London behind, safe in the knowledge no one here would want to talk about it.
“I have you, Maggs. Take some deep breaths for me, sweetheart.”
His hand was on her head, the other