Page 65 of Guardian Daddy

He didn’t?

Oh.

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because I want to be here with you.”

They were now inside her room, and he walked to her closet. “You want to go into your closet?”

Now that she could think clearer, she was regretting this.

“Please put me down.”

She felt more in control now. She had this.

Only, as soon as he set her down, everything started to crack again. She fumbled for the door to her closet, diving inside.

This was her safe place. Where she could relax.

Except she didn’t feel safe anymore. She felt like she couldn’t catch her breath. Everything just seemed too much. There was too much noise. Too much light.

“Fuck, baby. What can I do? I’m getting your brother.”

“No! Don’t!”

“Do you want me to leave? Please don’t say you do. I don’t think I can.”

“Stay. Shut the door.” She curled up on her cushion and started to give herself butterfly hugs.

But it wasn’t enough.

She needed more.

She needed Ethan.

“What can I do to help?” he asked.

“You. I need you. Hold me. Now.”

17

Ethan never panicked.

He was always good in a crisis. He never let his feelings overwhelm him or sway him from what needed to be done.

So why the heck was he in such a state of uncertainty right now? He had no idea.

All he knew was that Cate was panicking. And he had to help her.

“I need you,” she whispered in a broken voice.

“You’ve got me, baby. Whatever you need.” Perhaps he should call Rhodes. The other man would surely know what to do. But Cate was asking for him. And the last thing he ever wanted to do was deny her.

So he stepped into the closet and closed the door. He wasn’t entirely sure what they were doing in here. But when she fumbled, finally managing to turn on a nightlight, he took a moment to take everything in.

Cate was sitting on a beanbag chair on the floor and had pulled a blanket over her. She had her arms crossed over her chest and was patting her chest with her hands.

Was she trying to comfort herself?

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