Page 45 of The Last Promise You Made

Ryder eased toward her, reaching over her to unbuckle the seat belt, and she pulled back as far as she could into the seat, as if he’d struck her. The clank of the belt hitting the side of the car was as harsh as a gunshot. Ryder looked up at me with raised brows.

“You want to go shopping?” I asked.

She shook her head violently, fearful gaze directed at the mall doors.

“We’ll get some more clothes. Some toys. Things to make your room all yours,” he said, using a cajoling tone that spun like silk through my veins. I’d have a hard time resisting it if it was directed at me. “You want a new video game, right?”

She looked at him and gave the barest of nods.

“Okay, then.” He held out his hand.

She tucked hers under her little thighs.

Ryder frowned. “Can’t get a game sitting here, sweetheart.” He gently tugged at her arm. The movement had nothing mean or angry or cruel about it. Instead, it was full of tenderness, but Addy screamed as if he’d hit her.

She screamed and screamed and screamed.

Ryder’s eyes met mine, a shocked panic wafting between us.

“Addy, calm down,” I said softly. “It’s okay.”

But she didn’t. She continued to shriek, adding a kick of her legs to the tantrum that had come from nowhere. A tantrum that seemed so opposite of the quiet, shy, reserved little thing we’d experienced that it was more than baffling—it was scary.

She was so loud it began to draw eyes. A man getting out of a car two spaces over left his family and came striding over. I hustled out of my seat and met him at the front.

“What’s going on?” he demanded.

I flashed my badge. “It’s all right. I’ve got everything under control.”

He frowned, his gaze darting from Ryder, who was dripping with rain now beside the car, and Addy, still wailing inside it.

“She’s okay, I promise.”

He looked doubtful but headed off with his wife and kids.

I got back into the front seat, and Ryder joined me. Once all the doors were shut, Addy finally stopped yelling. She retreated into herself, tears dripping down her face, head dropping to a chest that heaved as if she’d run a marathon.

Ryder took off his hat, setting it on the floorboards, before sharing another look with me. He turned backward to take in the obviously distressed little girl.

“Addy, you said you wanted a new video game, right?” he asked.

She didn’t look up, but her head bobbed in a yes.

“And maybe some new toys?”

Another bob.

“And some new clothes?” She nodded and finally looked up, tears still pouring from her large brown eyes.

Ryder dragged a hand over his beard. “But you don’t want to go into the mall?”

She shook her head violently, eyes getting impossibly larger.

“No one will hurt you in there. I’d be right with you. Gia would be with you. The bad people don’t know you’re here. You’re safe.”

Her little chest heaved again, breathing at a pace so wild I was afraid she’d hyperventilate.

“Do you want to try one store? Just one. And if that doesn’t work, we can leave,” Ryder suggested, that coaxing tone back in his voice.

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