Page 96 of Mountain Daddy

The Kozlov mark.

The man's eyes go dull.

Body slumps.

Dead.

Fuck. The Kozlovs have Lilly.

I put his things in my pocket. If I have to track her, I’ll need information. Information he’ll have on that phone of his.

I go inside. See Chleo sitting by her side, wide-eyed.

“I’ve got her, Chleo,” I tell him. “You okay?”

He nods, but I can see he’s trying to hold back tears. I’ll talk to him. But first, I check on Rosa.

Pulse steady.

Head wound.

Breathing.

She'll live.

Chleo stands beside me, watching me with quiet, intense eyes. The kid’s worried. I don’t blame him.

“Rosa.” I shake her gently. “Rosa, wake up.”

Her eyelids flutter. “What...?” She focuses on me, confusion giving way to recognition. “Nikolai? What happened?”

She tries to rise. I press Rosa back down. “Lie here. Don't move. You’re hurt.”

Then, I hear it. A small sob.

Chleo stands pressed against the couch. Eyes wide with terror. Tears streaking his cheeks. He's wearing dinosaur pajamas. He's the most precious thing I've ever seen.

“Chleo.” I kneel down, trying to make myself smaller. Less threatening. “Are you hurt?”

He shakes his head. His eyes dart to Rosa, then back to me.

“The bad man was going to take me away,” he whispers. “He said my mom sent him, but I knew he was lying.”

Smart kid. My kid.

“You're safe now,” I tell him. “I won't let anyone hurt you.”

His small body trembles. I stay where I am, not wanting to frighten him more.

But then he moves. A single step forward. Another. Until he's close enough to touch.

“You're the man from the bakery,” he says softly, his brain in shock. “The one who fixed our chair and helped with pictures.”

“That's right.”

“You’re mama’s friend?”

I nod.

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