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“Come on. Let’s have a chat with Ryan.” After Teagan slipped a lightweight pack over her shoulders, they locked the back door. Seth threaded his fingers through Teagan’s.
Ryan straightened as they approached. “Sir, everything all right?” he asked, voice low.
“It will be. We need your help.”
“Anything.”
“We don’t want any visitors to our quarters for the next four hours. Can you do that?”
“Yes, sir. What about the kids?”
“If anyone asks, you haven’t seen them since dinner.”
“I want to help.”
“You are, Ryan. I’m trying to protect you as well as them. Let me.”
“I can handle punishment, sir.”
“I believe you can. I don’t want you to face it. The kids will be safe. You have my word.”
Ryan relaxed. “Understood, sir.”
“Stay at your post, soldier.”
“Roger that.”
Seth and Teagan began their walk around the interior of the compound. They talked to four guards scattered around the quad. Two of them were doing their jobs. The other two, however, were not.
One guard was flirting with a beautiful woman Seth had seen around the compound. Teagan’s eyes narrowed. “You take Tristan,” she murmured. “I’ve got the girl.”
“Tristan,” Seth snapped.
The guard’s head jerked up. His gaze locked with Seth’s. He swallowed hard. “Sir.”
Teagan motioned for the other woman to follow her. Reluctantly, she complied after a quick glance at her boyfriend.
“Eyes right here.” Seth’s voice was harsh.
Blood drained from Tristan’s face. “Yes, sir.”
“What is your job, Tristan?”
“To guard the camp, sir.”
“Is that what you were doing when Teagan and I walked up?”
“No, sir.”
“Explain.”
A hard swallow. “I can’t, sir.”
“I can.” Seth moved to within inches of Tristan’s body. “You were more interested in flirting with a woman than in protecting your fellow Brotherhood members.”
“I was only distracted for a minute.”
“Many people can die in one minute, including the woman you’re trying to sweet talk into your bed.” He pointed at Teagan. “You see that beautiful woman talking to your friend?”