I squared my shoulders and stomped to let him in.
The man was impossible.
I flung the door open without a word and turned back to grab my small suitcase.
Before I could reach it, his arms wrapped around me from behind, hands settling low over my stomach.
“God, I missed being inside you,” he groaned, grinding against me, the weight of his duty belt pressing into my back.
Then he spun me around.
His smile vanished the moment he saw my face.
“What happened? What’s wrong?” he demanded, scanning me. “Are you hurt?”
My lips trembled at the rising panic in his voice.
I shook my head, vision blurring all over again. He sat on the bed, pulled me between his legs, and sat me down. Strong arms wrapped around me, holding tight as he gently rocked us.
“What happened, little mama?” he whispered. “Who do I need to shoot?”
I let my head fall to his shoulder and wiped my face with the back of my sleeve.
“My mom,” I whispered back. “Maybe not shoot. But maim… a little.”
He froze for a moment—but then kept swaying his thigh beneath me. The gentle motion soothed something frayed inside me. I didn’t care if it made me feel like a child. It was comforting—and, surprisingly, healing.
His family were close-knit. I’d watched Lucy, Kenneth, and Grammy at his birthday. There was warmth. Effortless affection. Everyone treated Caleb and Kade the same—like they belonged.
And I’d spent most of my life trying to earn that.
Approval.
Permission to just… exist.
“I was running away—from my family,” I murmured, sniffling. “I was speeding because I was late meeting the removal truck.”
He always smelled so damn good.
“You don’t need to explain, baby. I forgave you for speeding. That was the deal.”
My head snapped up and I glared at him.
He just chuckled and pressed my head back onto his shoulder.
I sighed and toyed with the pocket of his shirt.
“You don’t need to run anymore, little mama,” he said softly, rubbing his palm up and down my back. “I’ve got your back—always. Us against the world.”
Damn it. He started my tears up again.
I clung to him and nodded, the words sinking deeper than I wanted to admit.
He held me close, in silence, giving me the time I needed.
No words. No rushing. Just time to breathe.
It told me everything I needed to know about Kade Mercer.
