Page 134 of Caught from Behind

Knox bumps into me from behind, and I realize I’m just standing in the open door, so I move forward, crossing the room, positioning myself between my woman and whoever the fuck the man is.

Though…I have a sneaking suspicion exactly who the asshole putting that look on Ella’s face is.

“Who’s this?” the man sneers.

“No one you need to know, Dad,” Ella replies coolly.

I clench my hands into fists because…suspicion confirmed.

“—and everything in the world to me.”

“Excuse me?”

She lifts her chin toward the door, completely composed. Together. Or is she…numb?

Fuck.

I can’t have her numb.

I need her alive and bright and beautiful, that gorgeous soul of hers shining out, her heart—battered and bruised and somehow still kind enough to love those around her to distraction—safe to continue caring.

Because if she allows the numb to take over…

“You should go, Dad,” she says, still speaking in that completely neutral tone. It’s devoid of everything that makes Ella, Ella and I fucking hate it. “Tahoe’s big enough that you should be able to visit without bumping into Knox and me, and if we happen to cross paths, then I’ll make sure to be…polite to Anne.”

I frown.

“Daniela—” he begins.

“Ella,” I correct, once again drawing her dad’s focus.

He narrows his eyes. “Excuse me?”

“You’re not excused,” I say. “You have a lot of nerve showing up here with that fucking attitude. This is your daughter. The little girl who needed you when her mom died?—”

“She was a teenager?—”

“And she was still your little girl,” I snap. “You should have protected her. Should have been there for her when her whole world fell apart.” Ella rocks next to me, and I draw her back against my body, feeling that she’s trembling against me. Thank fuck. Thank fuck she’s not as composed as she appears to be. Thank fuck she’s not lost in herself, shutting everyone out. Thank fuck she’s not shutting me out. I glare at the prick. “And you sure as shit shouldn’t have gone off and built a new life without her and Knox. I’ve experienced some shit parenting in my day”—my dad jerks but doesn’t comment or otherwise react—“but at least I always knew that I was loved.”

Ella’s hand finds mine and she squeezes tightly. “Riggs,” she murmurs.

I look down into those beautiful blue eyes of hers.

“I’ve got this.”

I settle my forehead against hers for a heartbeat. “I know you do.” But when I start to lift, she slides her hands in my hair and holds me in place. “I love you.”

Every cell in my body shifts and realigns, becomes different. More.

Because I know exactly how big this is.

It’s the most precious gift of all.

“Chérie,” I rasp.

“You’re here,” she says. “I see you. And I love you.” Then as those words are wrapping around my soul, she turns to her dad. “It’s time for you to go.”

“Daniela—” he begins.

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