Page 173 of Broken Daddy
Gwen frowned, ignoring him. “It’s the safest place for you right now. These guys who killed your father aren’t playing around and they could try to hurt you for going to the police. You’re the only witness to what happened. You’ll be safe on Sanctuary Ranch. It’s well-protected. If staying with Hayes is the issue, we can arrange for you to stay with someone else.”
“She’s staying with me,” Hayes said in a low voice. “No arguments.”
“If she doesn’t want to stay with you?” Gwen started to say.
“I do!” she interrupted.
She didn’t want anyone getting upset about this. Hayes was already being so good to her. Offering to open up his home to her was beyond generous. And she hated the thought of being an inconvenience or annoyance.
But she hated the idea of staying with someone else even more. Hayes knew her. He was already used to being around her. And he didn’t mind taking over when everything became too overwhelming.
Something, she was coming to realize, she really needed.
“I want to go back to Sanctuary Ranch, with you, if that’s all right,” she said to him.
“It’s more than all right, baby. It’s right where I want you.”
35
“Knock. Knock.”
Devi glanced up as Mac poked his head around the door.
She was lying in bed with the TV on but the sound down low. She wasn’t really watching it so much as zoning out. It had felt like she’d spent most of the day in this weird state.
She was exhausted and she hadn’t even done anything.
Hayes told her that she was in shock.
But why would she be in shock? Because Derick had been murdered?
That didn’t feel right. It felt more like her system was in overload and moving to protect her.
Because she really wasn’t certain that she could survive any more shocks right now.
“Mac,” she said. “Hi, what are you doing here?”
“I came to visit you, darlin’. That okay?”
“Of course.” She attempted a smile but it weirdly wouldn’t come. Maybe she was just too tired. “Have a seat.”
Mac waved his hand. “I can only stay a short time. I just wanted to check on you after hearing about Derick.”
Hayes stood. “I’m just going to use the bathroom. Stay with her.”
It was a demand rather than a question but Mac didn’t take offense.
“Course I will. She’s safe with me.” Mac puffed up. “How are you doing, darlin’?”
“I’ve been worse. I’ve been better too.”
“You know when you’re getting out of this place?”
“Hopefully tomorrow. About that . . . I’m really grateful to you for offering me a place to stay, but . . . I . . . well . . .”
“You’re going with Hayes, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. How did you guess?”
