Page 110 of Saving Sophia

“But you could give that to Hayden,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “That’s the evidence he needs to arrest Mr. Roscoe.”

Valerie Vasili eyed me with cold, dispassionate eyes. “Detective Valero will get the evidence he needs to clear my name in due time. Mr. Roscoe, however, will not be going to jail. I have other plans for him.”

“Valerie, wait, we can talk about?—”

Whatever Mr. Roscoe might have wanted to talk about ended when one of her men shoved a handkerchief into his mouth too. I pictured him and Lewis, tied to chairs in an empty warehouse somewhere before I forced myself to lock the thought away. I buried my face in Daddy’s chest as her men dragged those monsters out the door.

Valerie tilted her head like a bird of prey, her piercing gaze boring into me. I lifted my head and looked at her.

After a moment, she dropped her cigarette onto the floor and ground it out into the carpet with the toe of her stiletto. “Thank you.” She said it like the words tasted unfamiliar. “You’ve saved me a lot of trouble.”

She looked at Daddy, staring at him hard and unblinking for an endless moment before she shrugged and added, “Griff’s still downstairs, dealing with some bartender. Tell my little brother that Father would love to see him.” She waved a dismissive hand as she turned and walked through the door, her entourage following in her wake.

I jerked my head up and swiveled to look at Callie. She mouthed the word brother to me and widened her eyes in disbelief. I widened mine right back.

The three of us stood there in silence for what seemed like an hour, but might have only been a few seconds. “We should go,” Daddy said finally.

Callie came over and squeezed me tight, in a beautiful perfume-infused hug. “You were amazing Soap,” she whispered.

“I wouldn’t have done any of it without you,” I whispered back.

She let me go and looked around, tugging at a strand of her hair before walking toward the door. “I’m gonna go … downstairs. You take care of her, Mister Ethan.”

Daddy nodded and pulled me back into his arms. I pressed my face against his chest then realized there was something lumpy in his pocket. He grinned down at me and pulled out a bright pink-and-white lollipop.

“Cotton candy?” I asked, not quite believing it.

“You said it was your favorite.” He dropped it into my amazed hands.

I tore it open and popped it into my mouth, the sweet flavor flooding my senses. Suddenly, it was all too much. The stress of the last twenty-four hours surged over me. I couldn’t draw another breath. My body sagged against him. He picked me up, holding me like I was tiny and there was no trouble in the world that could get to me through him. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, curling into his embrace.

“I didn’t mean it,” I sobbed into his shoulder. “The things I said. I … had to?—”

“I know, baby girl,” he whispered into my hair, holding me safe in his arms, rocking me gently. “I know.” His chest hitched. “I know your heart. What you did was so smart, so brave. I’m so proud of you.”

“I love you, Daddy,” I whispered against his neck.

“I love you too, baby girl.” He cupped my face in his hand and took my lips in a slow-burning kiss that absolved me, consumed me, vanquished the haunted parts of me. In his love, I was free. In his love, I was safe.

29

SOPHIA

“Are we going to the waterfall after Aunt Carol’s, Daddy?” I asked a few weeks later, trying to sound casual. I had a plan for the next time we went there, and thinking about that would calm my nerves.

“Yes baby,” he said with a teasing grin.

“Oh good,” I clapped my hands and ran to the back room to grab a small black bag.

He noticed the bag but didn’t ask. Instead, he said, “I thought it might be the only place we wouldn’t be interrupted.”

“But what about the elk?” I whispered, my mouth turning upward.

“I gave them the night off,” he whispered back.

I giggled. He gave me a wink and led me out to the SUV.

We pulled into Aunt Carol’s driveway, and my nerves flared up again. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. I looked at Daddy, so handsome in profile in the driver’s seat. A sense of peace washed over me. I had a Daddy and he loved me. He rescued me from the monsters, helped me find my strength, and loved every silly, tongue-tied part of me. I trusted him, and he thought this was a good idea. My nerves would just have to accept that.

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