Page 97 of Mountain Daddy

Then he reaches out. His small hand touches my cheek. Warm. Soft. Trusting.

The gesture breaks something inside me. Something I didn't know could break.

“Where’s my mom?”

“We’re going to get her now,” I say, not wanting to lie.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

That's when he steps forward again. And suddenly his arms are around my neck. His face buried against my shoulder. His small body shaking with sobs.

I freeze. My arms hovering awkwardly. Unused to this. Unused to comfort.

Then, slowly, I let them close around him. Hold him against me. Feel his heartbeat fluttering like a trapped bird.

“I'm scared,” he whispers.

“I know.” I tighten my hold. Just enough to make him feel secure. “But I'm going to take care of you. Both of you.”

He pulls back slightly. Looks up at me with tear-stained cheeks.

There it is. Unmistakable.

My eyes staring back at me.

Not just the color—but the shape. The intensity. The way they cut through bullshit and straight to truth.

My son.

The realization hits again, but different this time. Not a math problem of timelines and possibilities.

Visceral. Bone-deep. Cellular recognition.

This is my flesh.

My blood.

Mine.

I brush a tear from his cheek with my thumb. “You're mine,” I whisper.

He doesn't understand what I mean. But he leans into my touch anyway. Trusting me without knowing why.

That's when I hear it. The wail of sirens in the distance. Growing louder.

Someone called the police. A neighbor, probably. Heard the gunshots.

I need to move. Need to get Chleo somewhere safe. Need to find Lilly.

I turn to Chleo. “We need to go, okay?”

He nods. Doesn’t fight me.

I stand, take his hand. Look back at Rosa, who is whimpering on the floor. “Don’t worry,” I whisper. “Help’s coming. The cops are on their way.”

She nods. Too exhausted and in pain to ask any questions.

---