Page 15 of Keegan's Promise

Horror wells up from the depths of my soul.

“You plan to go back.”

“It’s the only way to keep them from finding her.”

Yeah, no. Fuck that. She isn’t going anywhere. They’ve already taken her from me once. They locked her up, terrorized her with the threat of taking our baby from her, and God only knows what else. They aren’t getting their hands on her again, not now or ever.

They aren’t getting Lily, either. That will never happen.

I don’t care what it takes, I’ll keep them both safe the way I should have a year ago. Anyone who comes for either of them will have to go through me.

But I can’t protect them alone. I need help.

“Come on,” I murmur, holding out my hand to her.

She eyes me nervously before slipping her hand into mine. And just like back then, I feel that touch all over, lighting me up like a livewire. It brings me back to life in a way I haven’t been since I woke up without her that day.

I pull her up against my side, pressing my nose to her hair. She still smells the same…still smells like mine. Christ, I’ve missed her. Every goddamn day, I’ve missed her.

For weeks, I barely ate. I barely slept. I spent every spare moment combing the internet, looking for any trace of her. I hired a private investigator to help me find her. Anything I could do to bring her back to me.

I didn’t care that we barely knew each other. I didn’t even fucking care that she gave me a fake name. I was pissed and missing her, and I just wanted her back in my arms. I wanted to know she was safe.

And the whole fucking time, she wasn’t. She was a prisoner, sold to an MC by her uncle. She needed me, and I wasn’t there. I failed her. I failed our daughter. And she still named her Lily, like the tattoo I inked into her skin, as if she wanted her to have some connection to me and the day we made her. That hurts in a way nothing ever has. She kept me close and held onto me, even when she was in hell.

Does she even realize that I fell for her that day? That I’ve been so fucking in love with her that nothing else has mattered?

Probably not, I decide, staring at her. I don’t think she’s ever known love. She’s known fear, survival, and pain, but never love.

I need to be careful with her and go slow, teach her how to let herself be loved the way she deserves…the way she’s always deserved. But she isn’t leaving again. Hell will freeze over before I let those motherfuckers get near her or our daughter.

“You’re safe now, Landry,” I murmur against her crown. “You and Lily are safe now, sweetness.”

She trembles against me, but she doesn’t say anything. I’m not sure if she believes me or not. But she will.

Chapter Five

Landry

Keeganleadsmeoutof his booth with his hand wrapped firmly around mine, as if to keep me from disappearing on him. He cradles Lily with his other hand, keeping her tucked up against his chest.

“Elodie, I need you to cancel my appointments,” he says as soon as we step into the waiting room. “I’ve got some shit to take care of.”

The girl behind the counter, Elodie, is staring at him and Lily with wide eyes. I see the questions on the tip of her tongue. Before she can ask them, Lily whimpers.

Keegan immediately nuzzles her little head. “Daddy’s got you, baby girl.”

Elodie gasps, drawing his attention.

“Don’t ask,” Keegan growls at her. “Not right now.”

She stares at him for a long moment before nodding and then peeking over at me. I’m not sure how I missed it, but I think they’re related. Siblings, maybe. They have the same nose, same lips.

I want to step behind Keegan and hide from her probing gaze, but I don’t.

“You’re the one my brother has been obsessing over,” she murmurs eventually, her lips turning up at the corners.

I glance up at him, my eyes wide. Obsessing?

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