Page 57 of Her Protector Daddies

Selena ran around with him for a good half hour before he joined another group of kids playing ball, and she retreated back to me on the bench, panting.

“He has impossible amounts of energy,” Selena laughed, settling next to me and nudging my shoulder. “I don’t know how you keep up with him.”

“Practice” was the only answer I had.

“For sure.”

Her bright smile made her face glow in the sun and as we settled together, I grew distracted with the stray strands of auburn hair as the wind stole curls from her plait.

“I know I keep asking,” I said eventually. “But if you do need to talk about what happened, even if it’s not to me, I can find you someone.”

Selena flashed me another bright smile. “Well, it’s been a week, and I haven’t heard from him so either he doesn’t care, or he believed all the things I said to him and he’s three states away by now.”

“I don’t think he would abandon you. Not like that.” Even as the words left me, I couldn’t tell how much I believed them.

“Maybe.” She sighed deeply and crossed her legs, keeping her gaze out on Dae as he played. “I’m a little worried he never made it away from Andrés’ men.”

“Your father is smart. He’s a cop turned criminal, so if anything, he knows the best of both words. He won’t get caught,” I assured her.

“Not smart enough to stay away from drugs, though,” Selena muttered.

“That must have been tough.” I reached for her hand and she didn’t shy away from my touch. Her gaze flitted down as I threaded our fingers together.

“It was.” Her cheek indented slightly and her brow furrowed. “All I remember is how sudden it felt. One minute, he was my dad, and we were doing all the normal stuff kids do with their fathers. Going to the cinema. Playing games. He even helped me raise this dumb butterfly farm from a magazine because I had it in my head that I was going to work with them when I was older. Back then, I didn’t know it, but those farms were fake and never supposed to work, but my dad had gone and collected butterflies by hand to make it look like I had done a good job.”

My heart swelled a little and I glanced at Dae as he cheered with the other kids. That sort of love was pure. I know I’d do the same in a heartbeat.

“But then, it was like a switch flicked and everything changed. “Selena sighed deeply and her grip tightened on my hand. “I know it was probably because my mother worked so hard to keep things from me, hiding the fights and the late nights. My father went from this cool cop to this horrible man who was selling my mother’s jewelry to get his next fix, and locking me in the closet so I wouldn’t see the drug dealer and tell my mum.

“Oh my god.” I’d seen a lot in my years as a cop, and seen even more in my years as a PI. While a lot of it scarred the mind, there was nothing quite like hearing it from the mouth of someone you cared about.

Selena shrugged and sniffed. “It’s whatever. My mum left as soon as she could. She couldn’t take it anymore and I don’t blame her. But I was young and he was all I had, so I did what I’d been brought up to do. I took care of him the best I could. And I…” Selena straightened up and groaned. “I know in my head where I stand. What I should do. What worth he sees me as. But my heart just doesn’t listen.”

“A cycle like that is hard to break.” Skimming my thumb across her knuckles, I leaned in closer. “But you are not alone, Selena. You’ve done so much for him over the years and I know that makes you feel like you’re responsible here but you’re not. He’s the parent. There’s no shame in you letting go. It’s hard, I know. But you deserve so much more.”

“Like you?” Selena looked up at me so suddenly that all thoughts flashed absent in my mind. “Being with you and with Tyler and Bailey. It’s been amazing. Part of me doesn’t understand how you can all care so much about me when we’ve only known each other a few months but…” Slowly, she licked her lower lip. “I know I care a hell of a lot about you guys too.”

I couldn’t keep the smile from my lips even if I tried. The initial flash of attraction to Selena had built over these past weeks, growing into something a lot more serious in my heart. It never felt like the right time to mention it, given everything else we were dealing with but knowing she felt the same in some way was enough for me.

For now.

“Wah!” Dae launched himself forward and landed in Selena’s arms with a laugh. “I’m hungry.”

Casting an eye around the park, it seemed the other kids had dispersed with their families.

“How hungry?” Selena asked with a giggle, scooping Dae up into her arms and then pinning him to her body by tickling his abdomen.

“So hungry!” Dae squealed with laughter, writhing in her arms.

“Ice cream?” I offered.

Both of them stopped and looked at each other, then looked at me. “Yes!” They cried in unison.

“Alright,” I grinned. “Come on.”

Standing, I held out my hand to Dae who took it immediately. With Dae between us, we began to walk back through the park the way we had come, but within a few steps something prickled at the back of my neck.

The park was quiet.

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