Page 63 of Break Me, Daddy

His explanation was cut off by the sound of shattering glass. Jerking his head around, he watched, seemingly in slow motion as every ounce of color drained from Cordelia’s cheeks.

Without even thinking, he was up out of his seat, reaching for her as she swayed dangerously. Cordelia jerked away, eyes wild as she stumbled backward.

“Don’t touch me!”

What the fuck was happening?

“Dee?” Worry rang out in Ivy’s tone as she rose slowly to her feet. “Dee, what’s wrong?”

“Ivy.” Her name was something between a gasp and a sob as Cordelia reached for her girl. “Ivy.”

“I’m right here. I’m right here, Dee. Baby. Breathe for me. Can you do that? One deep breath in, that’s all I need.” Ivy’s voice was calm, far steadier than Holden felt.

“Can’t.” Gripping Ivy’s arms, Cordelia shook her head, wild, jerky movements that sent her blonde ponytail flying. “Can’t breathe. Ivy.”

“Hey. Hey. I’m right here.” Placing one hand on Cordelia’s chest, Ivy grabbed one of Cordelia’s hands and placed it on her own, dragging in a deep breath as she kept her eyes locked on her woman’s. “Breathe with me, baby. In through your nose, like this.”

This time, Cordelia did as she was told, dragging in air, timing her breaths with Ivy’s while the rest of them watched on in stunned helplessness.

“Perfect. Okay, hold that breath, four, three, two, one. Now exhale, four, three, two, one.”

They went through four more breaths just like that, locked together with Ivy counting, before the color crept back into Cordelia’s cheeks. When her breathing finally evened out, losing that ragged, desperate quality, she turned to Holden. And he knew as long as he lived he’d never forget that haunted, hunted look in her eyes.

“You can’t let them find me, Holden. Whatever you fucking do, you can’t let them find me.”

Chapter23

Holden

Cordelia had taken Ivy’s place in the oversized armchair, with her girl snuggled on her lap. It was jarring, seeing the usually unflappable Cordelia so shaken, her color still not quite where it should be as Ivy forced tea down her throat.

Gently taking the cup from Ivy’s hand, Cordelia set it aside. “I’m all right, blossom. You can stop fretting.”

“Fretting?” Insult spiked Ivy’s voice, sharpening in a way that had everyone’s eyes widening in response. “I amnotfretting. I’m taking care of you. Which is myjob.”

“You’re right.” Running her hand over Ivy’s hair, whether to soothe herself or her girl, Holden wasn’t sure, Cordelia spoke in low, hushed tones. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m still a little shaken but I’m okay. I promise.”

“No, you’re not. We’re going home and you’re going straight to bed.”

Despite the heaviness of the moment, Cordelia’s lips twitched. “Someone has forgotten who gives the orders in this relationship.”

Color rose to Ivy’s cheeks and her fingers lifted to flit across the multi-colored flower at her throat. “Sorry. I’m just worried about you.”

“I know. And I love you for it. We can talk about your bossiness later,” Cordelia teased, giving Ivy’s hair a gentle tug before turning her attention back to Holden, her expression sobering once more. “I suppose you feel you need the whole story, now.”

“I don’t.” Though he’d have been lying if he’d said he wasn’t dying of curiosity. It was in his nature, and part of what made him so damn good at his job to want all the facts, especially when faced with a security threat. But getting into the gritty details, at least right now, wouldn’t help him protect her. “I know enough to put some extra guards in place, and we can talk about a private detail for you and Ivy when you’re feeling a bit better.”

Cordelia visibly relaxed, gratitude flashing in her green eyes. “I appreciate that. It’s… difficult for me to talk about.”

“Understood. I do need to know, do you have any reason to think they’re targeting you?”

“No.” Shaking her head, Cordelia blew out a long, shaky breath. “Now that the panic has passed, I feel pretty confident they don’t know I’m here. I’ve changed my hair, my name, pretty much everything about myself.”

“Would you feel comfortable coming into my office tomorrow and looking at some pictures? Seeing if you recognize anyone? If there’s anyone in this group you can tie back to any criminal behavior, we’ll have a better chance of getting the actual police involved.”

“I can do that, but I doubt I’ll recognize anyone. Odds are, this is an entirely different group than the people I grew up with. It would be like asking a Baptist from Oklahoma if they know anyone at a church in Alabama. Possible, but it would be a wild coincidence.”

“Fair enough. I’d like to cover all our bases, either way.”

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