Earth Bound by Christine Feehan Page A

going on.”
    â€œShe’s safe with him,” Max said. “I’m certain of it.”
    â€œWho’s safe with who?” Benito asked, looking from one to the other.
    Blythe laughed. “You have your hands full, Max.”
    Siena, the youngest child, ran to Airiana and wrapped her arms tightly around her legs. Nicia raced to leap into Max’s arms. Lucia sauntered after them. At fourteen, she was trying hard to be grown-up for her younger sisters and brother. Benito and Max had a bond, forged on the ship when Max rescued him, the same with Nicia. Siena naturally gravitated to Airiana, but Lucia hadn’t quite made up her mind yet.
    Airiana knew she wanted to stay, but she’d trusted the man who had betrayed them and sold them into the human trafficking ring. She was more reserved, watching everyone closely and keeping her sisters and brothers very near to her. This was the first time she’d ever participated in one of Benito’s plots to spy.
    Lucia seemed to feel most comfortable when she was close to Airiana. She enjoyed being around the others, but she was always very quiet and watchful. Airiana couldn’t blame the girl. She’d barely had a chance to process her parents’ murder when the man claiming to be their uncle had turned them over to be used and discarded by sex traffickers. Then Nicia’s twin sister was murdered and Nicia and Benito assaulted.
    How did a fourteen-year-old girl ever trust again? Orsmile or laugh? Lucia was trying for the sake of her younger siblings, but more than once, when she was alone with Airiana, she broke down completely.
    Airiana held her hand out to Lucia, smiling in welcome. “Lucia is giving me a lesson in making pasta the way her mother made it. I’m very excited about it. When we finish, we’re going to put on a big spaghetti feed for everyone.”
    Lucia nodded a little shyly.
    Judith’s eyes lit up. “I would love to learn. I bought a book on it, but failed miserably. Is there room for me? I’m not going into work today, so it would be a perfect day for it.”
    Lucia glanced up at Airiana, who shrugged. “It’s up to you, honey. If it would be difficult with an audience, we’ll just do it together.”
    Lucia was silent a moment, and then she looked up at Judith with her very large, dark eyes. “It would be nice if you could join us. When my mother made noodles, we always had a big group of women all working together. It was fun.”
    â€œThen I’ll come for certain,” Judith said.
    â€œI want in on this,” Lissa said. “I can bring fresh sourdough bread to the spaghetti feed if you’d like.”
    â€œShe gave me a starter,” Lucia said to Airiana. “For the sourdough bread. She made it for us when you and Max were gone.”
    â€œOf course Lissa can come,” Airiana said.
    Airiana liked having Lissa around Lucia. Lissa was an outgoing personality and she seemed to enjoy being with the children. She loved board games and often dropped by the house to play with the children in the evenings. She managed to get Benito, Nicia and Siena laughing, but Lucia rarely even smiled. Airiana hoped being in the kitchen, where Lucia excelled, would make Lucia much more comfortable.
    Rikki pushed Levi toward the women. “Levi cooks. He’s a great cook. I’m . . . um . . . working on gear this afternoon, but Levi could join you.”
    Everyone knew Rikki didn’t cook. Levi had to do the cooking if he wanted to eat. She would have been quite happy living on her beloved peanut butter, something she considered the perfect food.
    â€œHe looks good in an apron,” Rikki added.
    Thomas and Max snorted and the women burst out laughing. Benito pointed at him and roared with laughter.
    Levi scooped Rikki up in his arms. “Woman, you’re just getting out of hand. Keep it up and you’ll be the tender on the boat and