Leslie linked arms with Kyra, practically gliding her out the door. As they left, he locked eyes with Ryder and flashed a knowing smile before the door clicked shut behind them.
Ryder’s jaw tightened. The thought of Kyra being in a foreign country, even momentarily out of his sight, with someone he barely knew, set his instincts on edge.
Dorian noticed Ryder’s unease and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “Don’t worry, Ryder. Kyra is more than capable of handling herself. And don’t underestimate Leslie. He’s flamboyant, yes, but that man has been in every major war since the 1800s. She’s safe with him. What kind of parent would I be if I couldn’t keep my only daughter safe?”
The words hit Ryder like a blade, reopening an old wound. His chest constricted as memories surged forward—memo
