Page 110 of Petals and Strings
“Keep going,” I said, needing him to simply rip off the bandage. The urgency had me leaning forward, clinging just as tightly to the folder as I was my sanity.
“Lilly Donovan was sandwiched between her parents, who were at the center of it all. Tatum and Caspian Donovan both took bullets to keep their sweet little girl safe. Unfortunately, the omega lost her life, while father and daughter both were taken to Sorento General Hospital to be treated for their wounds.”
“No, she died there, Ares,” I said, my voice so loud it boomed on the walls. My steady alpha packmate didn’t even flinch as he stared at me.
“No, Caspian. She didn’t.” His voice was firm. “I’ve seen the reports. You both saved your little girl. The bullet that went through you, hit her, but it wasn’t fatal. You felt her blood, she was critical, but alive. You saved her with your body, Caspian. Your little girl is alivebecause of you.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Ares,” I said, still unable to wrap my mind around this. My brain was frantically trying to pull up the memories, but my panic and shock were so high it was impossible.
“Look,” he said, holding out the paper clipping and showing me the picture.
There she was.
“My Lilly,” I whispered in shock.
“Your Lilly,” he confirmed. “You signed over custody during intake, Caspian. It’s among the other papers. It never should have been there, but they clearly didn’t care about ethics at the time.”
“Ares. Please.”
He nodded once, moved to his desk and started dialing. It was on speaker, the ringing almost deafening as my entire being focused on that call.
“Hello?” Sarah’s voice was her usual chipper tone. “Is everything okay with Caspian?”
“Yes and no,” Ares said simply. “Sarah. He didn’t know about Lilly. He thought she was dead.”
The silence on the other side was followed by a clatter. It took a second before her flustered voice echoed out again.
“Excuse me? Are you fucking telling me that Theo told him she died?” Sarah hissed angrily. I could picture her pretty face screwed up in pure, unfiltered fury. My sister had a temper.
“He let him believe it,” Ares said. “I had no idea. I’ve tried to only read the necessary notes so I got unbiased info from the source. I only realized all the details in the past few weeks as I read through everything. He mentioned it this morning, but I had no clue he thought theybothdied.”
“Let me talk to him,” she demanded.
“He’s here, you’re on speaker.”
“Caspian, you listen to me now. I would never have allowed that had I known. They told me that it set you off, that mentioning Lilly or Tatum would set your treatment back,” she said, voice pleading for me to understand.
“She’s alive, Sarah? My baby is alive?” I asked, the words choking on a sob that I couldn't stop.
“She is, Cas. I’ve been taking good care of her for you,” she promised. Her voice was full of tears and pain. “We talk about you every fucking day. You and Tatum both. She’s been begging to talk to you. Can we visit now?”
Ares sighed, his voice strained. My gaze snapped to his in warning. If he thought they were keeping me from my little girl, they were fucking wrong.
I’d do anything to see her again.
“You can video call with her,” he warned. “But according to the state and your records, you are barred from visits. Listed as a danger to her mental health. I will fight it, but it may take a bit of time.”
“Fuck them. I’m her legal guardian. Hell, his, too. How can they deny it if I approve?” she fought, her voice rising and even more lethal now.
“Give me a week. Please. The less waves we make, the easier it will be to get him actually released,” Ares urged.
“This isn’t about what you’re doing here?” I asked, needing to know he wouldn’t put that before us.
“No,” he said, voice firm and eyes locked on me. “I won’t lie and say it doesn’t make things complicated, but my goal is to get you all out. Not just see her and be ripped apart again.”
I sighed, standing and pacing as I rubbed at my aching chest.
Lilly was alive.
