Page 8 of Cook

“I didn’t. Wasn’t.” I clung to Cook, seeping the warmth from his skin.

His fist was still pushing at the center of Doc’s chest. I shimmied under his arm, rubbing my back against his chest. The man let out a soft growl, and a small smile tugged at my lips. I don’t remember when the last time I smiled was, but it was a relief to learn Icould.

“Cook, this is meant to help her,” said Doctor Richardson. “It wouldn’t be my first choice, either. Please trust me. Maddie has had a hard life, and she needs more help readjusting to her—”

“You think sleep is going to help with that? Drugged oblivion?” asked Cook, hooking his arm around my body. He pulled me a little closer. “Of course she needs some fucking time. You know what those sick fucks did to her. You’ve heard what the kids say. And she’s been there forever. She needs help and the space to heal, not you making decisions for her. And certainly not whatever fucking drugs you’re about to give her.” His chest rumbled with every word he spoke.

I tilted my head back, catching the silhouette of his face. Just the outline, but it was strong and sure under his black and gray beard. Daddy had a beard like that, and my fingers twitched with the desire to run my fingers through it.

Cook’s face was set in a thin, grim line as he stared straight ahead at the doctors.

“Can you get me out of here?” I asked Cook. “I don’t want to be here. Please. Help me.” I clung onto him, fitting deeper into the crook of him like a gun in its holster.

When I looked up at him, I just felt okay. Not totally relaxed. How could I be when I had been held captive in one place and was now stuck in another? But next to Cook, tension fled and my body felt heavy, like I might be able to sleep peacefully for the first time in years if he were by my side.

The recurring dreams terrified me, but I trusted that Cook would keep them away. He would care for me.

“Please, Daddy,” I whispered, and Cook’s body went as still as a rock beside me.

All the air had left the room. The doctors shared a look while Cook dragged his gaze to me. Something dark lingered in his eyes, but his eyes were warm. They were identical to my father’s. He was safe. Maybe safety wasn’t a fantasy.

Cook was safe. Therefore,Iwas safe.

What did that mean? And how long could it possibly last?

After a moment, Cook jumped back. “Wait, what? What did you just say to me? I’m not...”

Pink color splattered across his cheekbones, and I was so close I could see. It was cute. Was he embarrassed?

“Why would you,” he stammered. “I’m not—”

I leaned away, confused as to why he didn’t like it. Didn’t he understand? He was my safety. My home. Daddy.

Chapter 2

Cook

What the fuck had Maddiejust called me? I looked at her and then back at Doc and then to the fucking psychotherapy doctor. Did none of them have a thing to say about Maddie calling me Daddy?

“Maddie,” said Doctor Richardson. “You’re experiencing shock. This is Cook. He was there when you were rescued, but he is not your father.”

Doc furrowed his brow. “Why would she think that, anyway? Cook’s not old enough to be her father.”

Doctor Richardson said, “It’s not uncommon in trauma cases for someone to revert back to a time when they were happy. Childhood was probably the last time she felt safe and loved. Something about him is pulling that out.”

My brows climbed my forehead.The worddaddywas fucking poison, not a goddamn vial of happy juice. “I’m sure as shit not anyone’s daddy... at least not in the biological sense.” And not in any other sense of the godforsaken word.

They both glanced over but didn’t respond. I could only imagine how it made Maddie feel, because I’d probably go feral on the doctors too if they decided to treat me like an idiot. Instead, Doc and Richardson went back to talking about Maddie and me like we weren’t even in the fucking room.

Doc had never been like this before. So, for a hot second, I wondered if he was putting on appearances for the new female doctor in the Ridge.

“Check your bedside manner, Doc,” I grumbled, earning a sour look from the burly man.

Maddie stood at my side. She’d moved closer, but with my reaction, she was slinking away. I tried to reach for her, but she jumped back. Terror filled her eyes, the same look I’d first seen in her at Signora’s. She was curling in on herself like a wilting flower, not the strong and brave woman I had seen when I had first entered this room.

She didn’t revert to a childlike phase, and she damn well knew I wasn’t her father. So why did she call me Daddy?

“Better reason to give her a sedative,” said Doc, still holding the needle toward Maddie.

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