Page 95 of Broken Daddy

The doctor nods, giving Chris a tight smile. “Pleasure. She’s all set, I believe, unless they need to take another statement from her. The nurse took photos before the evaluation, so I can have all of the materials and my notes sent over to you by the end of the night.”

Right—it’s, like, 10 p.m. or close to it.

Chris hands over a business card and thanks the doctor. Dr. Wong steps out, leaving our crazy little bunch alone in the room.

“Um…I’m going to put my pants back on,” I warn, slipping from the bed and grabbing my jeans. Chris politely turns his back, facing Nathan, asking his brother questions about the events.

“You checked the cameras before you left the house?”

Nate holds up his cell, taps an app. The footage shows up as a saved file.

“Got it all.”

“And they’re aware of the previous reports?”

“Yup.”

“Okay, good. Gen, they’ll probably want to talk to you again. Get a more detailed explanation so they can press charges.” He raises one well-manicured brow. “Youdowant to press charges?”

Chris and Nate chuckle the same laugh as I nod vigorously. “Yes. Please. Whatever you can do—and I’ll pay you, of course.”

Chris raises a hand. “Not at all. You’re practically family.” The statement is complicated, but I can’t quite tell why…is it just my own stomach tightening in knots, because Iwantsomething like a family with them? Or is it the blank look on Nate’s face, as if he’s staring at someone far-off again?

“Ms. Walker, if you’re all set, I’d like to escort you down to the station.”

The cop who leans into the room can’t be older than twenty-one or twenty-two, but I smile politely and grab my wallet and cell. The latter is cracked from bouncing across the gravel driveway.

“Of course.”

Before I can take a step farther, arms wrap around my thigh. I look down to find Eva latched on to me like a vice.

“Are you coming home tonight?” Her voice is pleading, an edge of fear to it.

Oh, darling. If only I could take away everything you experienced in the last few hours.

But now, Eva’s had a glimpse of what it sometimes means to be a successful woman in life. People might hunt you down, try to ruin you, lie, let jealousy overtake them.

“Yes. I probably won’t be too far behind you and your dad, okay?”

She nods and lets go reluctantly, corralled back into Nathan’s arms.

“I’ll see you at home?” I ask, trying to meet Nate’s eyes. But he doesn’t look directly at me, more like over my shoulder.

I swallow, turn, and follow the cop out into the hallway.

All the things I want to say are stuck in my throat.

I’m sorry for this mess.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Did you really mean it when you said I had a home here?

The last one makes my eyes water, and I blink away tears, not sure what’s coming over me right now. Fear, probably. But maybe, a little bit, Eva’s worry softened me up a bit. And Nathan’s palpable fury when he threw Erik against that tree.

What would it be like, having people like them in my life all the time? Every day, every minute?

I can’t even imagine.

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