Page 45 of Hidden While In Sight

He’d felt awkward holding it, but now, having his own hand back, he had no idea what to do with it. He rubbed it along the thigh of his sweatpants, still feeling her warmth.

Hannah looked so damn distant. She was fading away from him.

“I’d never hurt you or your kids, Hannah. I hope you know that.”

Her eyes searched his. “Why?”

“Why?” Diego’s simmering anger rose inside him. He really should have killed her husband more slowly. “Because I’m not a fucking prick, that’s why.”

“Why save me?” She swallowed, looking away. “Why help us?”

That she wouldn’t look at him made him even more furious. She was scared of him. Well, why wouldn’t she be? He stared at her profile. She’d shown him the slack side of her face, bruised from Ashford’s last blow. Proof that she’d learned the hard way to expect pain.

He pushed to his feet. “We’ll talk about that later, too,” he said and strode toward the door. “Get some sleep,” he told her gruffly, knowing she’d take it as an order but still unable to clear the lump from his throat.

Chapter 21

Diego listened with half an ear to the men sniping at each other as he finished cutting the video to capture what he’d found. He always had to add more than just the juicy bits; the clients needed context to prove he hadn’t made the shit up. The current assholes he was watching weren’t even trying to hide their dealings under the table.

Not that he was complaining about an easy job. It’d been perfect, with how divided his attention was lately.

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing at his burning eyes and pulling off his headphones so he no longer had to listen to their constant jabber.

A happy squeal had him swiveling his chair toward the hallway. Emma was booking it toward him, almost tripping over the soft blanket Ramiro had packed in her suitcase. She dragged the blanket in one hand and clutched her stuffed dino in the other.

Her arms lifted as she drew closer to him, and she squealed, “Up, pwease!”

She was so fucking polite even when making her demands. He grinned down at her, then scooped her up into his arms.

Hannah paused in her chase, moments behind the little imp. “I-I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to interrupt.” Her face grew pale as her hands shook.

Diego leaned back in the swivel chair, making room for Emma to settle against his chest, her head nuzzling under his neck and making him smile. He moved his hand to rub her back, knowing she liked it.

“Nap time already?” he murmured, looking forward to the toddler drooling on his tatted skin yet again that day. Emma had no fear of him, and he was wrapped around her little finger already.

Hannah shifted her feet as her gaze dropped to the ground.

“I told you before. I don’t mind.” Diego caught the toy dinosaur with his elbow as Emma let go of it, drifting off to sleep. “Not like she’s heavy or anything. Unless… do you think it’s not right for me to hold her? Me being, well, me?”

Hannah’s mouth parted, but then she pressed her lips flat and continued looking at her feet.

The warmth that the little girl had brought him began to fade. “It’s okay if that’s the case. You can tell me. They’re your children, Hannah. I want to help, but it’s your call.”

She pressed her hands into her sides to stop the shaking, and her face lifted. “You really don’t mind holding her?”

In the weeks he’d watched the Ashford family, he’d never once seen Ashford touch his children. Hell, he’d only ever seen them together at those toxic dinners.

“I don’t say shit I don’t mean,” Diego told her.

She nodded. “It’s not just about the interruption. You’re spoil—” She blanched as she cut off the accusation.

He flattened his hand to hold Emma still as he swiveled, dropping the dinosaur on his desk. “A little spoiling might be what she needs.” He let out a small laugh. “Though what the hell do I know? Your kids are the first ones I’ve been around.”

Hannah’s eyes widened.

Diego grinned back. “I’m doing pretty good, ain’t I?”

Her cheeks flushed as her eyes drifted over her daughter, fast asleep and drooling on his chest. “You are,” she admitted. “I appreciate all you’ve done. Even I—” She cleared her throat as she looked down again. “I don’t always know what I’m doing. Colin didn’t like me being with the children.”

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