I nodded, but it was like my body didn’t know what to do with safety. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and I couldn’t stop crying. “Easy now.” Walker’s voice was softer, and he pressed my face into his chest, blocking out the lights, the people, the mess.“Just breathe for Daddy. That’s it. In…and out…I’m right here, princess, I’ve got you.”
I tried but it was hard. I was scared if I let go, I wouldn’t find my way back.
But Walker didn’t let go. Not for a second. He just kept his arms around me, his palm cupping the back of my head, thumb smoothing slow lines down my neck. It was almost embarrassing, how fast I calmed down when he touched me like that.
The car rocked and someone else got in the front. I heard the low murmur of voices. Didn’t care.
Walker just kept talking. “You’re safe. Nobody’s ever going to get to you. Not now.” His hands were steady, holding me together even when my body went loose and shaky.
By the time we pulled into the driveway, my face was wet, but I wasn’t crying anymore. Just…empty. Like someone had wrung all the fear out and I was just tired down to my bones. Walker didn’t put me down until we were inside. Didn’t even make me walk. He carried me through the front door, straight to the couch, and settled me in his lap with a blanket.
I heard the door. A man’s voice, low and urgent. Then Doc’s. He crouched in front of me, gentle hands checking for hurts, a little penlight in my eyes, but he didn’t ask annoying questions. Just worked.
Walker answered for me. “She tripped. Bounced off the curb. No head impact, no loss of consciousness. Blood sugar’s been steady.” He squeezed my hand. “I was on the phone with her when it happened.”
"I just tripped," I mumbled, mortified Doc was here.
Doc nodded like nothing surprised him. “Any pain, Lottie?”
“No.” My voice was pathetic, but Doc smiled.
“No dizziness?”
“No. I really just tripped. The car tipping the trash cans was just a shock.”
His eyes flicked to Walker. “Keep an eye on her for the next twenty-four hours.”
Walker’s grip tightened. “She’ll be watched every second.”
Doc patted my knee, packed up, and left me alone with Walker.
The man I recognized from the club came in with another snuggly blanket he draped over both of us, and a beaker and a straw. He hunkered down. “Hi Lottie, I’m Maddox. I’m sorry you got banged up, sweetheart.” Walker took the beaker from him.
“It’s water.” He also held out a pill bottle for Walker to see, and I blinked, trying to focus. The inside of my head felt fuzzy and small.
"Where were you heading?" Walker asked.
“Just the crosswalk,” I admitted. “Uncle Stephen was parked on the corner. He called saying he had a letter for me, and he’d tried to park outside the shop but he couldn’t. I just wanted to get it and come back.” My voice shook and I hated it.
Walker’s body went still behind me, like he was holding himself together through pure force of will. “You didn’t see the other car?”
I shook my head, miserable. “I saw his. I thought I was just…going to get the envelope. Then you called and I paused to answer and then it was just…noise. The car came out of nowhere.” The memories hit hard, each one making my stomach twist tighter. “I didn’t even look until it was too late. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be stupid.”
I could tell he was angry. I'd done the one thing he'd asked me not to.
Walker growled under his breath. “Shhh.” His hand trembled once on my shoulder, then steadied. “You listened when I told you to stop. You weren’t stupid. You’re never stupid.”
I almost started crying again, but Maddox reached in with the beaker. “Here, Lottie. Doctor’s orders. You need fluids.” He winked at me, but it was softer than I’d imagined from a guy so big.
I sipped, grateful for something to do that wasn’t falling apart.
Walker tucked the blanket tighter around me, his breath warm against my hair. “I should’ve gotten there faster.”
The words punched a hole in my chest, but I shook my head. “You did. There was so much noise, and then you were just…there.” I clung to his sleeve, needing to feel him solid under my fingers. “I wasn’t scared when you were holding me.”
He let out a shaky breath, and I realized his knuckles were white where he gripped the blanket.
Maddox glanced at Walker. “Gideon’s talking to the cops. You want to see her uncle?”
