Page 18 of Desert Sky (RB MC #4)

TYLER

T yler wasn’t expecting a text from Jackson on a Wednesday.

Mr. Tyler can u come to my ball game on Saturday? Mama went on a trip. I want someone to watch!

Tyler read it twice, then again. A trip?

Skye had called out sick that morning, something vague about a migraine. She hadn’t mentioned travel. She hadn’t mentioned anything. And now her six-year-old son was reaching out to him like Tyler was the backup plan for her disappearing act?

He closed his laptop and stood. Furious, confused, and—deep down—worried.

Santa Fe Memorial Hospital wasn’t a place he ever thought he’d find Skye. But after pulling a few strings, Tyler had located her. Burn unit. Visiting lounge .

When he stepped through the automatic doors, the air changed. Heavy. Quiet. Too clean.

Malik met him just past the reception desk.

“You made good time,” Malik said, his usual calm edged with something sharper.

“Did you know?” Tyler asked, his jaw tight.

“I helped her get here,” Malik admitted. “It was urgent. Her mom’s in bad shape. I didn’t tell you because she didn’t want you involved.”

“She didn’t want me involved,” Tyler repeated, teeth gritted. “I’ve spent the last two years showing up for her and Jackson, and she just ghosts without saying a word?”

“You know why,” Malik said. “It’s about more than you.”

Tyler didn’t answer. Just pushed past him.

She was there—in the corner of the lounge, looking like hell warmed over. Pale. Tired. Eyes rimmed red from crying. When she saw him, she froze.

“Tyler…”

“That’s all I get?” he asked, stepping closer. “You called in sick. Said you had a migraine. Meanwhile, your son is texting me, asking if I can come to his Little League game because you’re on a ‘trip.’ A trip? Really?”

“I didn’t mean for it to happen like this,” she whispered.

“Then how was it supposed to happen?” he shot back. “You vanish? Leave your kid behind again? Let me pick up the pieces and smile like everything’s fine?”

Malik cleared his throat behind them. Tyler raised a hand. “No. She needs to hear this.”

Skye dropped her eyes, ashamed. “I didn’t want you getting caught up in all this. If JD’s family found out?—”

“JD’s family doesn’t scare me,” Tyler said. “They never did. You think I haven’t known who you were all along? You think Malik just got you that job by accident? Think I didn’t know your real name, Skye?”

Her eyes flew up to his. Shock. Confusion. Everything at once.

“You…” she whispered.

“I’m ex-military, Skye. Intelligence. Special ops. You don’t think I ran a background check before hiring you? Before getting close to your son?”

Her lip trembled.

“I knew who you were. I knew who JD was. And I didn’t care. I still don’t.”

She covered her face with her hands. “I just wanted to protect Jackson…”

“And now let someone protect you,” Tyler said, gently this time. He stepped forward, took her hands in his. “Let me be the man who keeps you both safe. You’ve been running for six damn years. Don’t you think it’s time you had someone in your corner?”

She looked at him, raw and torn. Silent.

“I want you,” Tyler said. “All of you. The past. The scars. The kid. I’ll take it all. Just… let me.”

She didn’t answer.

But she didn’t pull away either.