Page 87 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

“Wanna talk about it?” Rhodes asked.

“Every time I close my eyes, I see those men with guns.”

I clenched my teeth and held back my own response. I wanted to yell, kick, scream, and hunt down every last man that even looked at her, but that wouldn’t help Emily. She was our priority, not my own revenge.

“Most of those men were captured by the police. You were there, sweetheart, you saw it yourself.”

“But…” She let out a short, ragged breath. “But they…they killed the guards. And they were so nice. They didn’t do anything wrong.”

I could feel her body shake as she cried. Not knowing what to do or say, I stayed silent, but I lifted my hand from around her waist and ran my fingers over her hair, massaging her scalp.

“You know Daddy is going to take care of you right? Nothing like that is going to happen ever again. We’re talking to the police tomorrow and then we’re going home.”

“Home?” she croaked. The hope in her tone was heartbreaking.

“Yeah, Em. I’m taking you and Maia back to California. Far away from the trouble here in France. Would you like that sweetheart?”

She nodded then was quiet for a minute. “What about Auntie Alana and Uncle Christo? Won’t they be safe if they come with us to California?”

The air thickened with that request, and Rhodes took his time preparing his answer. My guess, he wanted his daughter far away from the men that wanted revenge on Alana, even though it was Christophe’s actions decades ago that set this problem into motion.

“Right now, it’s safest if you and Maia and I go back to California alone.”

“Then what are Auntie and Uncle going to do? They can’t stay here. The bad guys will find them. They need to run away,” Emily shared.

“We agree on that.” Rhodes sighed. “It’s just safer if they hide somewhere no one would expect.”

“For how long?” Her voice cracked.

Man, teenagers were ruthless. If they wanted to know something, they’d keep prodding you until they got whatever it was they wanted.

“I don’t know, Em. Probably until the head bad guy is found,” Rhodes answered.

“That scary Angus dude?” she asked.

“Yeah. The scary dude,” he chuckled, obviously trying to lighten the situation on his daughters behalf.

“But they’ll be safe. The police will help them hide.” Her body quivered so I inched closer sharing my body heat.

Rhodes cupped Emily’s cheek. “They’ll be safe. Alana and Christophe are very intelligent, and they know a lot of people. I’m certain they’ll find the perfect place to lay low while the authorities do their job. Now you need sleep, little miss,” he encouraged. “I want you to close your eyes—”

Emily suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist. “One of you will be here when I wake up, right?”

Rhodes glanced over Emily toward me. I nodded avidly. I wasn’t going anywhere. My job now was to be glued to Emily’s side while Rhodes helped get us all to safety.

“Yeah honey, me or Maia will be here when you wake. I promise.”

She let out a ragged breath. “Okay. I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you too, baby girl.”

Emily looked over her shoulder. “I love you, Maia.”

A shockwave of surprise tore through my body at hearing those words. My heart beat hard against my breastbone and zaps of electricity prickled against the surface of my skin. I couldn’t remember the last time someone told me they loved me.

“And I…I love you, Emily,” I said and was surprised to find how much I meant the sentiment. I hadn’t said those words to anyone in…years, but Emily had stolen my heart.

“Sleep now, buttercup.” He kissed her forehead.

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