Page 65 of Smitten with the Single Dad

“She’s safe on the property and at the house. Nobody can hurt her when I’m there.”

She didn’t have to say it for Wyatt to know Myla was thinking, “She nearly got killed on your watch tonight.”

“Tonight was a one-off and fucked up,” he said. “It won’t happen again. We’ll keep her on the property. She can work in the kitchen at the pub and be at the house. And if sheneedsto leave, then we can have security escort her. I’m not against having security detail posted at the gate, but I don’t want one in my home.”

“And I don’t want to leave Wyatt’s home,” Vica said, entering the staff room with Justine behind her. “We just got married so that I don’t get deported.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t be telling a cop that?” Wyatt said, mostly in jest.

Myla rolled her eyes. “I’m chill. You know that.”

“I feel safe and comfortable there,” Vica went on. “With Wyatt. I don’t want to leave.” But worry filled her eyes. “Unless you think I am bringing danger to the door.”

Myla shook her head. “Wyatt says that when you called out that there were children in the car, the vehicle that hit you sped away and the gunshots stopped. I don’t think whoever is after you intends to hurt the children.”

“It has to be Wyndham Croft, or those guys who came to bully me into a settlement,” Vica said. “Who elsecouldit be?”

Voices and footsteps down the hall indicated Dom, Bennett, and Clint. They arrived in the staff room a second later. “Everyone good?” Clint asked.

Wyatt and Vica nodded.

“I just want to go home,” Wyatt said.

“Me too,” Griffon mumbled through a mouthful of Zesty Nacho Doritos. His fingertips were bright orange to match the dust around his mouth.

Vica’s lips twisted for a moment before she turned to Clint. “Can you take Wyatt and the boys home with you?” Then she addressed Myla. “And can I get a ride home with you?”

Clint nodded. Myla nodded as well. Nobody needed to ask Vica for her reasoning. She was worried—and rightfully so—that if they were all in a vehicle with her, they could be targeted again. Wyatt hated that it came to this, but he understood, and he appreciated how thoughtful she was being about it all.

They exited the hospital, waving and thanking Grayson on their way out. Justine and Bennett rode with Myla and Vica, since there wasn’t enough room for everyone in Clint’s truck.

“You’ll all probably be sore tomorrow,” Clint said as they drove back to the property. He deliberately took the longer route, so they didn’t have to drive past the crash site. Wyatt appreciated his brother’s thoughtfulness. “Probably best to take the day off work.”

Wyatt grunted, but nodded. He’d been in a few minor car accidents in his twenties and even though he walked away with only bumps and bruises, he was always very sore the next day. You don’t realize how much impact your muscles take, particularly when adrenaline and shock kick in.

They pulled up to the security gate, but Clint waited until Myla was behindhim before he punched in the code for the gate to swing open.

“Do I have to have a shower tonight?” Griffon asked as they climbed out of Clint’s truck. “I’m tired.” He was also still caked in orange Dorito dust.

“You should at least do a wash with a warm cloth. You look like a dusty pumpkin,” Wyatt said to his youngest.

Myla pulled the cruiser up beside Clint’s truck and Vica, Bennett, and Justine all piled out. Jagger and Brooke met them all out in the driveway and immediately swept them into hugs.

“Fucking Christ,” Jagger said as he hugged Wyatt tight, “been going damn near insane waiting to hear if you were okay.”

They broke their embrace. “Wait, nobody let you know?” He glanced at Bennett, Clint, Dom, and Justine.

“Don’t look at me. I was dealing with my patients,” Justine said.

Clint, Bennett, and Dom all managed to look a little guilty.

“We were caught up in the chaos,” Clint finally said, earning him a swat to the shoulder from Brooke. “Sorry.”

“We’re okay,” Vica said, running an affectionate hand over the back of Jake’s head. “The boys have been so brave. They’ve kept my brain from going out of control.”

“I’ll be back in the morning to check on things and get more information,” Myla said. “For now, I’m going to let you all rest.” Her eyes landed on Wyatt’s. “I’ll have security posted tomorrow too, see if I can get someone here on the first ferry.”

“Appreciate it,” Wyatt said with a nod as the cop got back into her cruiser.

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