Page 32 of Protecting Christina

I trusted the black knight.

When he turned onto Park Avenue, I wondered what he was up to. I called him. “I think we could find something a little more affordable for Faye than Central Park.”

“I live in this building and I have an empty apartment she can use at no cost.”

He pulled into the underground of the building and spoke to the security guard about letting the car behind him in as well.

“Sure thing, Mr. Nash,” I heard him say through the Bluetooth speaker. “Not a problem, sir.”

I admired the respect in the guard's voice and wondered what Will had done to earn it.

After parking my car next to his, I climbed out. Glancing at the backseat of Faye’s car, I smiled at the serene look on the children’s faces. They had fallen asleep on the car ride here. I hated having to wake them.

Will opened the door behind him and scooped the five-year-old girl into his arms. Then he walked around and did the same with her little brother. They both slept soundly on his shoulders, and a small piece of my cold, dark heart melted.

We waited for Faye to come out. She sat in the front seat of the car for a few minutes, unmoving.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

“I just need a minute.”

I opened the back door, prepared to unlatch the baby’s seat belt.

“It’s okay,” said Faye. “I’ve got her.”

I nodded and grabbed the baby bag instead.

Will and I waited a few minutes before Faye stepped out and picked up her sleeping infant.

Adjusting the children in his arms, he said, “Follow me.”

Entering the elevator, Will pressed the button for the top floor and I marveled as neither child stirred in his arms.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, I felt at peace. Faye and her children would be safe, and I would ensure that she was the only one who would have custody of them. Especially after I personally witnessed the vitriol that came out of that man’s mouth.

The elevator stopped at the penthouse floor and Will led us down a plush-carpeted hallway lit with ornate sconces on the wall. It was an apartment building, but the tiny details made it feel like a home.

Without needing a key, Will opened the door using only a retina scanner. It was impressive, even I had to admit that.

Although he described it as an apartment, it resembled a suite at some five-star hotel. I’d never stayed in one, but I’d always checked out the pictures before booking the standard room with the double bed.

The kitchen was black with white countertops and gold knobs. Will turned to the right, and we walked down a narrow hallway. Stopping at the first door, he opened it, revealing a King-sized bed. “If you can turn down the sheets, I’ll put these two in this bed together.”

I pulled the white duvet down and gently grabbed the little boy and laid him on the bed. Will lowered himself until the little girl rolled onto the mattress, linked her arm with her brother’s, and fell back asleep without even opening her eyes.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have a crib for the baby tonight, but I’ll have one delivered first thing in the morning.”

That was an ambitious promise, but he’d said it so confidently that neither Faye nor I questioned it.

“That’s no problem. She’ll sleep with me in the bed and I’ll put pillows on the other side of her. She’s too young to roll off just yet.”

“That’s good.”

Faye’s eyes began to water again, but before I could tell her that everything would be all right, Will stepped up and put a hand on her shoulder. “I will take care of everything while you get back on your feet. Don’t worry about a thing except taking care of yourself and those kids.”

She swallowed a large lump in her throat and managed to squeeze through a “Thank you.”

“Now, we’ll let you get some rest, but we’ll see you in the morning.”

---