Page 130 of My Knotty Mountain Men

“Thank you,” I sigh. “You see my struggle.”

We both laugh, and I get my own kiss. “I love you, Sweets. Have I told you how brave and badass you are?”

“Only a million times. But feel free to say it a million more.” I grin. He chuckles. “And did I tell you how amazing you are?” I reach up and brush some hair out of his face.

“Amazing? I nearly shit my pants. Violet, I was so scared.” His eyes turn melancholy.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault. It’s hers,” he growls. “And I can’t fucking wait until they find her and lock her ass up like they should have a long time ago.”

Licking my lips, I nod, not wanting to talk about her right now. I take his hand. “Come on, let’s go home.”

“The security system is installed and working,” Aiden reminds us, stepping away from Hazel. “I made sure to check before we left.”

“I hate that we have to worry about that,” I sigh.

“So do I,” Thomas says. “This town is normally quiet. I can’t remember the last time a crime was even committed that wasn’t done by her,” he spits. “We shouldn’t have to have a security system in the middle of the damn mountains.”

“If it helps keep our girls safe, then that’s what we have to do,” Aiden declares.

There's a knock at the door. We all look over to see an agent, one of the big dogs that got called in. “Aiden, do you mind if we ask you more questions?”

Aiden hesitates but then nods. “Thomas and I still have our cars here. He needs to finish filling out the paperwork, and I’ll speak with the officer. Nolan, are you good with taking the girls home?”

“Of course.” Nolan nods.

I pout. “But I wanted all of us to go together.”

“We won’t be far behind, Baby Girl,” Thomas reassures, pulling me into his arms. “How about you two stop in at the cafe, get something to eat that's not hospital food.”

“Oh, I like that idea,” I say, eyes lighting up.

Thomas chuckles. “Then it’s settled.” He places a sweet kiss on my lips before handing me over to Aiden so he can do the same.

Once we’re down in the car and have Hazel all buckled up safely with me sitting next to her in the back, Nolan gets outof the back seat and looks over at me. “I’ll be right back,” he says, moving to the front to turn the car on and turn up the air conditioning. “I need to pay for parking, then we can go.”

“Okay.” I give him a smile. “We’ll be right here.”

Nolan blows me a kiss and gives me a cheeky wink, making me laugh, before he closes the car door.

My eyes find my daughter, and I melt. “Listen here, little lady, I don’t think this cuteness aggression is healthy. How the hell can you be so damn adorable?”

I’m in love, utterly and deeply in love with this little girl. She owns my heart as well as her daddies’. And I have no doubt she will win over everyone in the family, too. She’s already done so with her aunties.

Aiden’s sister and parents, as well as Macy and her brothers, haven't met Hazel yet. With how stressful her day of birth was, Aiden asked them to hold off coming to meet the baby until we were back at home and settled in.

The only reason my friends were there was because they experienced the fucked up moment themselves, only it was over the phone, and they were helpless to do anything.

I hardly register the car door opening and the engine revving to life, too entranced by Hazel. By the time I do, we’re pulling out of the parking lot. When I look up, a smile on my lips to tell Nolan just how stunning our little girl is and how I couldn’t get enough, it drops, and panic floods my system.

My breathing picks up, my heart pounding in my chest, and I feel like I’m going to be sick.

Because it isn’t Nolan sitting in the front seat, driving the car, taking Hazel and me away from the hospital. It’s Sylvia.

Our eyes meet in the review mirror, and dread fills me.

“W-what are you doing?” I whisper, frozen in fear. I can’t shout; I can’t lose my cool because I have my daughter, mynewborn daughter, next to me. Fear for not my life but hers has my whole body shaking.

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