Page 62 of Silver Sanctuary
Eighteen
Embrie was her sister.
Not her daughter. The whole time, Lacy had been killing herself to make sureher sisterwas safe. Protected. Loved. Cared for.
Christ.
Nash kept his hand on Lacy’s back as he watched her mother walk out of the alley, head held high like she hadn’t just been trying to extort her daughter. Lacy’s hand grabbed at his shirt, her nails scratching his back as her breathing turned panicked.
“Baby, you need to breathe.”
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Nash.”
“We’re going to talk., but first, you need to take a deep breath. We’re not going anywhere until I know you’re not going to pass out on me.”
He could feel the fear radiating off of her with the way her body shook in his arms, but she still leaned into him, seeking safety from the storm that rolled into her life. He didn’t take that lightly. Nash pulled his cell out of his pocket and typedout a message with one hand as the other continued to run up and down Lacy’s back.
“I need to go check on Embrie. I need to make sure she’s okay.”
“Wait.” His hand held her in place while the other unlocked his phone’s screen. “Look, I sent a message to Gunner. He’s with Lily and Embrie. Mae and Hawk went to get lunch for everyone. We’ve got some time. Let’s go and figure out our next steps.”
“My flowers…”
“I handed your cash box to Stone before I came over here, and he’ll get the flowers inside. I’ve got it all covered.”
His hand slid over hers as they walked to the parking lot. Nash led her to his truck, opening the passenger side door and pausing, clearly waiting for her to get inside.
“Lace, breathe.” His hand rested on her cheeks as his thumb brushed away a tear.
“I don’t want to get in the truck. I’m sorry. I’m being selfish. I know I should just get in so you can tell me that everything is over between us, but I don’t want us to end.”
Christ. His heart cracked wide open. He should have fucking guessed this would be the moment she’d expect him to bail—to leave her with no support. No safety net. But it wasn’t happening. “Nothing is ending, baby. I just want to drive somewhere so we can talk and not be overheard. Someplace where I can hold you while you explain what just happened. Where we can decide the next steps together. But we can’t do that until you get in the truck.”
Lacy nodded, taking his hand as she slid into the cab. He grabbed the seatbelt, draping it carefully across her shoulder and lap before clicking the buckle into place. And once he was situated in the driver’s seat, his hand found its way over to her lap, where he rested his palm on her thigh. He might not be able to get the words out right then and there about just howmuch he’d fallen in love with her and Embrie, but he prayed his touch would be enough to give her peace in that moment.
She was silent on the ride out to the hidden fishing spot he’d found with Hawk last year. The two of them would drive out on Sunday mornings sometimes and just shoot the shit for a few hours, waiting for a fish or two to bite. It was beautiful, calm, and most importantly, secluded.
Once he parked, they walked a little ways around the lake, until he saw the familiar spot surrounded by trees. Lacy stood with her arms wrapped around herself, but her head was held high, even if she was shaking like a leaf.
“I don’t know where to start,” she confessed. He hated how worried she looked. He hated even more that he’d had to hear the truth of what she’d been hiding from a woman who was trying to take advantage of her. A woman who was supposed to love her. No wonder Lacy stepped up for Brie.
“Does Embrie know she’s not your daughter?” Fuck. His mind was still whirling around that revelation, but there was one clear thought in his head: Lacy had walked through hell for that little girl, and it didn’t change a single thing how he felt about them, or how badly he wanted to keep them safe.
“Yes, she knows. I’ve never lied to her. But she calls me ‘mom’ on her own. I’ve been the only parent she’s known her whole life.”
“That’s why you didn’t have pictures of being pregnant when I asked,” Nash whispered. The revelation seemed so obvious now.
She nodded. “I wouldn’t have had them anyway, I was too poor to own a phone with a decent camera, but yes. I’ve never been pregnant.”
“I guess that means she isn’t really named after your love of cheese?” The question was meant to lighten the mood, but Lacy’s face filled with more despair.
“I wish I had named her—wish I would havethought to change it when it was clear my mom wasn’t coming back. I would have given her a name we could find on personalized things. Keychains, mugs, backpacks… She’s always trying to find her name any time we come across those things. There was one day when I picked her up from her sitter, and she was just inconsolable, tears streaming down her beautiful little face as she gulped down air. It took forever to get her to open up. But when she did, my heart broke, Nash. A couple of the other kids spent hours that day teasing her about her name. I have no idea what the hell my mother was thinking when she named her, but I had to come up with something fast. My favorite cheese being the inspiration for her name was the only thing that popped into my mind—something silly to make her laugh.”
“You’re incredible. You know that, right?”
Lacy didn’t respond, and his hand tightened on her thigh, hoping she could feel the truth in his statement through that physical connection.
“How… I mean, how did you end up taking care of Embrie?”
