Page 20 of Lace 'em Up

So, I touch her cheek, drawing her focus. “You kept them both safe, princess,” I murmur. “Good job.”

Her nod is shaky, her whispered, “Thanks,” equally so.

And then silence falls.

And…I don’t know what to say, how to make this better.

How to fix this.

You’re not your father.

I clench my teeth together then exhale silently. “Can we get out of here?” I ask. “Or do you need to keep packing?”

Packing she was supposed to wait for me to do.

But even though that has a sharp rebuke sitting on my tongue, I don’t allow it to escape.

Not the right time.

Especially as she nods again and says, “I’m going to Chrissy’s.”

Like hell she is.

Risk that bastard going after her somewhere I can’t protect her? Fuck that.

But I don’t say that out loud and I don’t allow the logic that Chrissy’s place—set up with panic buttons and a killer alarm system—would probably be safer than mine.

Phillip’s been there before.

He hasn’t been to my place.

That’s enough for now.

The rest—the utter possessiveness that’s boiling in my belly at the thought of her somewhere else—I push down.

I can’t think about that right now.

I just…need her safe.

“That all you need?” I ask, nodding to the backpack propped next to the duffle and suitcase.

“Yeah,” she whispers. “I just need my box. And my bracelet.”

“Okay, princess,” I murmur. “I’ll load the car. You okay to sit there for another minute or two?”

She bobs out a nod, and I hate that she flinches when I stretch my hand out.

But something settles in me when my thumb brushes lightly over her skin, her eyes slide closed, and she whispers, “Yeah.”

Right.

I pull my hand back, straighten, and snag the bags.

Less than a minute later, I’m back for her, scooping her up, careful with that box she’s holding on to for dear life. I track the wince that crosses her face, adding it to the list of shit this asshole needs to make up for.

And then we’re moving down the hall, out the front door, down the driveway.

“Buckle up,” I order softly, drawing the belt across her middle, holding it steady until she grabs the metal clip.

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