Page 73 of Game Changer

“Remind me when we do the Boone report tonight to let our little flower know that Big Daddy Boone now has sole legal and physical custody of one Lily Boone.”

“That’s great news! Ava do that?”

“Damn right, she did. Her and a new family law attorney she’s got me scheduled with. Supposed to be the best there is.”

“So that’s two points for the Boone report tonight.” I nod.

“Three on the other side of the board, though. That’s not how we like to end our day, is it, Cupcake?”

Lily does a little shake and grumbles, “I gotta pee.”

“There’s a bathroom right in here,” one of the nurses says.

As soon as we’ve got that all taken care of, Lily says, “My daddy all better?”

“Almost. I think all he needs is a hug from his favorite flower.”

The way his face softens when that giant of a man holds her is one of the most beautiful things I could ever witness. I bat a tear away when he looks at me and winks, then … “Could you look my future bride over, please?”

“Where are your injuries, miss?” one of the nurses asks.

“I really don’t think I have any?—”

Head buried in Beau’s neck, Lily says, “Mean cop pulled my Syd’s hair really hard and smacked her mouth like mean grandmothers do.”

Beau’s eyes turn murderous, and I can see him physically begin to shake.

More tears fall, and I wipe them away. “I … uh … I need to use the bathroom.”

I’m not sure how long I’m in the tiny little bathroom before Mom and Aunt Tessa walk in and wrap me up in their arms, which causes me to wince. When they both start to let go, I tell them, “I need this right now.”

After a few second, I hear Boone’s big booming laugh, and then he says, “Your Hart said what?”

“Come on, ya big pussy,” Lily says in a growly voice.

Boone again laughs that big, beautiful laugh, and so does Lily, and then I cry for reasons I am afraid to admit … even to myself.

Lying on the bed, I flinch with every cleansing swipe of antibiotic over the scrapes and scratches on my back.

“If I ever see that man again alone, I will not be held accountable for what I do to him,” Boone growls.

“Her arms are worse,” one of the nurses states.

“That’s not helping,” I hiss.

“No disrespect, but your man is hot when he’s pissed.”

I look over my shoulder at her, intent on telling her off but can’t.

I sigh. “You’re not wrong.”

“That sounds an awful lot like foreplay coming out of that pretty mouth over there,” comes from the next room.

“He does not tolerate pain meds well, does he?” The nurse laughs.

“Knock-knock,” comes from behind me, and I turn to see a hot blond with deep dimples and a killer smile. “Heard you dropped like a bitch after playing hero.”

“My girl is safe, and the bad guy’s been caught. I’ll play bitch after, no problem, man.” He laughs as the man, who I assume is Max Steel, and hugs him. “Roman call you?”

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