Page 20 of Daddy's Little Sunshine

“Yes.”

“Good.” Another long pause. “Heard on the news Baltimore has had some freak storms lately. Be careful, Lainey. You never know where lightning will strike.”

It hit her like a wave crashing on the shore. “You knew,” she whispered.

“Stay safe and call us when you can.”

“I…” She swallowed hard against the sob welling up in her throat. “I will. I love you.”

“I love you too, Lainey-bug.”

The call disconnected and she stared at the black screen. Her father had known the truth about her all this time and never told her. Did he know about the people out to get her? It sounded like he did. But how? Had they come to the house? Were her parents in danger, all because she could make it rain a little?

It was too much. The powers, the people out to kill her, her savior/captor Daddy, and now being cut off from her parents with no way to let them know she was safe after today. No way to know if they were safe. Tossing the phone on the bed, she curled up, facing the window. She waited for the tears, or at least the rain, but nothing came. The door to the bedroom creaked open and the bed dipped beside her. She didn’t protest when he pulled her into his arms, but she didn’t embrace him, either.

“You okay, sunshine?”

“He knew.”

A hand rubbed her arm. “Who knew what?”

Lainey closed her eyes. “My dad. He knew about my powers.”

“How much did you tell him?”

“Nothing,” she said, shaking her head against his chest. “He just knew. He said he’d heard Baltimore had been having lots of freak storms and to be careful. And something about not knowing where lightning will strike.”

The hand on her arm stilled. “Smart man.”

She lifted her head and opened her eyes, meeting his clear gaze. “Will I ever see them again? Don’t lie to me, please. I need to know.”

The answer was written all over his face. “I’m sorry, sunshine. But probably not.”

“I hate this. I just want to live my life in peace.”

“I know.”

No platitudes or empty promises. Somehow, his quiet acceptance helped ease the ache inside of her. “What do we do now?”

“You are going to work on controlling your powers. I’m going out tonight to meet with someone about getting you out of here.”

Yet another slice to her bleeding heart. “You’re sending me away.”

“It’s not about sending you away, sunshine. It’s about keeping you safe. It has been since I met you.”

“By sending me away,” she pressed.

His expression was unreadable. “If that’s the only way to protect you, then yes.”

God, she couldn’t take much more. “I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to be alone.”

“I’m right here, sunshine. I will be for as long as I can.”

Sighing, she snuggled into his embrace. If that was all he could offer, she was going to take every last bit of comfort she could. “It’s not fair.”

“I know. I know, baby.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “You should eat. You used a lot of energy this morning.”

She blushed at the memory of his talented fingers before she realized he probably meant the cloud he’d helped her make. “Okay.”

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