Page 18 of Doubling Down

“Okay,” Eric said calmly. He forced Ezra’s hands out of his hair but kept hold of one wrist. He stepped past the threshold and into the small apartment. Training had Eric calculating everything he needed to know with one quick glance around the place.

While the space was small and filled with worn furniture, it was also clean and obviously the home of a small toddler. A tiny bundle was lying on the couch, staring up at him with watery eyes.

“What’s wrong, pretty girl?” Eric asked as he approached. Eric wasn’t the best with ages, but the toddler was probably between two and four. The adorable little one was dressed head to foot in a rainbow onesie.

Ezra was clinging hard to Eric’s arm.

He bent to brush his palm over the little one’s forehead, sweeping the blonde wisps out of her eyes. Her pudgy cheeks were pink and her red lips chapped. It appeared that she wasn’t feeling well.

“Hi there,” Eric said softly.

“That’s Annabelle,” Ezra told him.

Eric nodded, although he didn’t take his eyes off the toddler. “She’s been sick?”

Ezra’s sigh was long and sad. “For two days. Her fever has finally come down though. I think she’s on the mend.”

“May I?” Eric asked. He reached for the toddler but hesitated.

“May you what?” Ezra sounded suspicious.

“Pick up your daughter,” Eric replied. There was no doubt in the world that this little one belonged to Ezra, and they were blood related. Her eyes, nose, cheeks, those she had gotten from Ezra.

The little girl raised her arms to him, but Eric waited for permission anyway.

“Sure. Just be careful.” Ezra hovered at Eric’s side.

Eric knew what he was doing. He slipped a hand under the toddler’s head and waist. He lifted gently, bringing the baby to his chest. Eric straightened before turning to Ezra.

“Is there anyone else here?” Eric asked. He should have searched the apartment before letting his guard down. He was trained better than that. Eric also trusted Ezra.

“It’s just Annabelle and me.” Ezra peered around his apartment. “I…”

“You need sleep,” Eric told his boy. And Ezra was all his. Wasn’t it obvious that Ezra needed him? There was no good reason for Eric to have run into his boy this way. Fate. This was fate and Eric wouldn’t let anyone argue with him.

Ezra’s eyes went to his daughter. “It’s been hard,” he said. “She’s been sick and the music and the traffic…”

There were so many questions that went through his mind? Was Ezra alone in this? Where was Annabelle’s mom? Ezra’s family? Priorities. Eric needed to work on the big things and trust everything else to fall into place.

“Has she seen a doctor?” Eric asked. There was a small clinic by the station that had good doctors Eric knew well. The cops in the city often had to drop in with small injuries they received in the field.

“Yes, she’s seen a doctor.” Ezra’s voice was sharp. He reached for his daughter, but Eric turned away. The way that Ezra was swaying, Eric feared he would fall over.

“Hey! I didn’t mean anything by the question.” Eric gripped the back of Ezra’s neck. “I’m just making sure that this precious girl has what she needs. Then I’ll take care of you.”

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me or my girl!” Ezra stated.

“I didn’t say you needed me to. I said I was going to. It’s obvious that you’re exhausted. Your baby girl is sick. And you need a hand.”

“I can take care of us,” Ezra argued. His voice lowered, wavered, and he sounded lost.

“Ezra.” Eric squeezed the back of his neck. “I’m not saying you can’t. But from the look of you, you haven’t slept in a few days. But this apartment is clean and appears to have everything a toddler needs. I’m not questioning your parenting.”

Ezra’s gaze dropped down to the badge that Eric wore.

“I’ll also explain my badge,” Eric promised.

Ezra’s lips pressed together. He did not seem responsive to Eric’s words.

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