Page 63 of Broken Chains

As she hesitated, shocked by my words, I kicked her foot out of the door and closed it in her face. “Get the hell off my property before I call the cops,” I yelled through the door, and I stood there until I saw her get in her car and drive away.

I went back into the playroom and picked Eve up, holding her close to my heart. I was shaking all over. I couldn’t call Oliver. It was his first day on a new job that I knew he was already nervous about.

I sat there rocking Eve and just loving on her until it was time for her next bottle and my stomach began growling in hunger. I walked through the motions on edge, as if something or rather someone was going to appear again at any second.

What was Melina doing in town? Oliver had said she had left for good. I wondered if her parents had forced her home after the encounter with Oliver. I knew it had shaken him up enough to propose and marry me quickly, not that I ever would have denied him that. We were already mated for life.

After lunch, Eve went down for her nap and I sat in the rocking chair, hugging one of her blankies close to my chest. I let my fears overwhelm me, convinced Melina was going to come back and take my child at any second.

I must have dosed off at some point too as I sat there, because the next thing I knew I was awakened to footsteps on the stairs. I moved to guard the baby’s crib and let out a menacing growl of warning.

“Relax, it’s just me,” Kenneth yelled in before entering the nursery. “What’s wrong, Pey?”

It took me a few minutes to calm myself back down.

“I’m sorry. Melina came by today, demanding to take Eve.”

“What the hell? You serious? Why didn’t you call us?” He chanced a peek behind me and smiled. “Clearly she didn’t get her way.”

“No way in hell was I giving Eve up without a fight,” I said, my protective instincts flaring once again.

“Relax. I’m not going to hurt Eve or let Melina anywhere near her. Oliver has documentation of paternity. It’s going to be okay.”

“Is that going to be enough? I mean, her parents gave her to him, but did they sign over guardianship to him. How safe is she really?”

“I don’t know,” Kenneth admitted. “We need to call Ollie.”

“No,” I finally said. “I’m sure I’m just overreacting. It’s his first day at work. There’s no reason to call him home and worry him over this.”

“Peyton, he’ll want to know,” Kenneth insisted.

“I know, but I don’t want it to seem like I’m freaking out or don’t trust he has us protected.”

Kenneth sighed. “Ollie’s not going to let anyone take Eve away from you. And it’s normal for you to feel so overprotective right now. She’s your daughter.”

I looked down at Eve and took in Kenneth’s words as the tears I’d been holding in all day spilled over. “You’re the first person to say that,” I admitted. While I had thought of Eve as my daughter even before I mated her father, this was the first time anyone had verbally acknowledged my role in her life.

Kenneth hugged me. “You’re an amazing mother to my niece, Peyton, and we’re all in this together. Melina isn’t getting anywhere near her.”

I looked at my watch, torn on what to do next. “I’m going to be late for work if I don’t get a move on it, but I don’t know how to leave her, Kenneth.”

He nodded. “Go get ready. I’ll bring her over to the diner and grab some dinner. I have some work left to do at the greenhouse anyway. If it makes you feel better to have Ruby babysit tonight, that’s okay. You won’t hurt my feelings and Evie would be safe and sound inside Collier territory where Melina would never find her. Or she can just hang out with me and Tim in the greenhouse ‘til Ollie gets home.”

I let out a deep breath I’d been holding. “Thanks. You’re right about Ruby’s, but if you don’t mind, I’d rather have her nearby so if I start to freak out I can just run out back and check on her.”

He gave me a sympathetic smile. “Then that’s what we’ll do. Now go get ready for work.”

I listened and headed for my bedroom. He had the baby packed up and ready to go by the time I was done. He rode with me in my car the short drive down the street to Kate’s Diner.

I kissed the curls on the top of Eve’s head and wished again I didn’t have to leave her.

“Relax. I’m just going to grab Tim and we’ll be in for dinner shortly,” Kenneth assured me.

“Okay,” I said hesitantly, taking another deep, calming breath and walking in through the back door.

Kate was in the kitchen and stopped mid-argument when she saw me. Her brow crinkled. “You do not look like a happily married woman. What the hell? I thought you’d be glowing or calling in begging for another day off.”

I knew she was only teasing, but my heart wasn’t in it. Kate ran over and hugged me the moment she realized too and dragged me into the back kitchen.

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