Page 114 of Safe With Me

All I could do was give thanks I’d been able to stop her before it was too late.

Maybe I wasn’t such a bad cop after all.

Keith kicked me out early and told me to take a couple of days off to be with Lila. When I unlocked her door, Lila wassitting on the couch next to my sister, looking over her shoulder at whatever book Keely was reading to her.

“Mike!” my sister yelled and ran over to me. “Dad closed the office so we could hang out with Lila. She said she was tired, so I’ve been reading to her.”

“And she’s been doing a great job,” Lila said, reaching out to poke her side. “I like hearing your voice.”

My sister giggled. “Do you want me to read you another one?” She pulled a Babysitter’s Club graphic novel from her backpack. “This one has pictures.”

I’d asked my father and Peyton to keep an eye on Lila while I’d gone to the station. Having everyone here and in one piece shouldn’t have brought me such palpable joy.

Peyton came up to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. “How are you holding up, kiddo?”

I laughed. “I’m two heads taller than you, Peyton. I don’t think kiddo applies.” I looped my arm over her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad to see all the important people in my life happy and okay.”

“Isn’t that the fucking truth,” Dad whispered behind us. “I was going to tackle the bookcase and the other furniture for Lila.” Dad laughed as he shook his head at my sister. “But Keely said if I hammered anything, Lila wouldn’t be able to hear the story and I’d hurt her head.”

“It’s okay, Dad,” I said as I came up to the couch and knelt on the carpet in front of Lila. “Building stuff for Lila is my job.” I pressed my lips to hers, lingering long enough for her to smile into the kiss.

“There’s a kid here,” she whispered before scratching at the stubble on my chin.

“I can understand that,” Dad said with a chuckle.

“I’m going to head home to change, and I’ll be right back.” I shot my father a look and motioned to the door for him to follow me.

“How did it go today?” Dad asked and shut the door behind him.

“I spoke to Amber before they shipped her to the psych hospital in Albany.”

“Did you get any answers?” Dad’s brow furrowed.

“No,” I sighed and shook my head. “I’ll never really know if she became obsessed with me over the years or if she always was—or how I missed it for so damn long.”

“You know this wasn’t your fault, right?” Dad stepped in front of me. “Everyone is as shocked as you were that she was capable of this.”

I gave him a weak nod. “If I hadn’t seen the video and watched her hold a knife to Lila’s throat, I never would have suspected a thing.”

“So stop blaming yourself that you didn’t see what no one else saw either. Being a cop doesn’t make you psychic. Keith can tell you.”

“He already did.” I chuckled. “I’ll deal with it. Somehow. I’m not sure what to say to her parents when I see them again.”

“Neither do I.” Dad drifted his gaze up the block. “I cannot wait for it to get nice and boring around here again.”

“Oh, trust me, me too.”

“I’m sorry this happened to you both. I’m proud of you.”

I gave my father a double take.

“Really?”

“I’ve told you I’m proud of you before.” Dad squinted at me.

“Well, yeah. But this job… I know you hate it.”

“I do at times, yes.” He nodded as a wistful smile curved his mouth. “But this town needs good cops like you.”

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