Maddox let out a low whistle. “Fucking hell. Walker, she’s safe. It’s over. He’s not coming anywhere near her again.”
I couldn’t even answer. My jaw was clenched so tightly I thought my teeth might snap. The burn in my chest was worse than before, because it was over. It was actually over.
Gideon’s voice dropped. “The cops have enough. They’ve got two witnesses, the traffic cam, and her uncle’s phone. She never has to see him again. She never has to talk to him, but she’s going to need a lawyer to sort out all the finances.”
God. I gripped the edge of the counter and breathed through it. This time, I let my chest unlock. Just a little. “I’ll tell her. Not tonight, but I’ll tell her tomorrow.” I eyed Gideon. “Any news on the other girl?”
He shook his head. “Xavier is taking this hard, and he doesn’t even know her.”
“Because it happened at Kingdom?” I guessed, but Gideon didn’t look convinced. “Xavier knows if there’s anything we can do, we will.”
Gideon’s mouth twisted. “Eric’s working on it.”
I turned to look at Lottie and remembered the sound of her laughter from earlier when Clare and Abby were telling her about the world’s largest sticker collection. She’d never be alone again. Not one goddamn second. I thought about her, about the way she’d been this morning. Trusting me to keep her safe. Trusting me not to disappear.
I didn’t deserve it. Not yet. But I’d earn it if it took the rest of my life.
Gideon’s phone buzzed, sharp in the silence. He checked the screen, then nodded once. “They’ve got the uncle in custody. Didn’t even put up a fight.”
I let out a long breath. Almost a laugh, but not quite. “He won’t get bail.”
“No,” Maddox said quietly. “Not with what they have on him. And even if he does, he’s not going to risk coming near you or her. He’ll know he’s being watched.”
It was over. There was nothing left to fear. I tried to let that sink in—to let the relief win out.
But instead there was just a weird, empty ache. The kind of ache that only went when I saw her laugh again.
Gideon watched me, his gaze steady. “You want us to keep security on the bakery?”
“Yes,” I said instantly. “For a while. But she’s not going anywhere yet. She deserves to feel safe in her own skin before the world gets a crack at her.”
“Done.” Maddox finished his coffee. “You want us to stick around or clear out?”
I glanced in the living room. Lottie and the other girls were still fast asleep, a tangle of limbs and pastel blankets, stickers all over their cheeks. I felt the breath leave my chest. “Not gonna let her wake up alone.”
Gideon nodded. “We’ll handle everything. Focus on her.” Each of the men gently woke their Littles up and left one by one.
Lottie blinked awake the second my hand brushed hers. “Daddy?”
“Right here.” I bent and kissed her hair. She melted under my touch.
She was always so easy for me. Even bruised and blinking hard at the sunlight, she never hesitated to tuck herself right into my side.
“Did I sleep too long?” Her voice was husky, so small.
I stroked her cheek. “You were perfect. Everybody has had such a good time.”
She nodded, already halfway to sleep again. She clutched Mr. Snuggles, not letting go, and the way her hand trembled in mine made something twist low in my gut.
It’s how I wanted to spend the rest of my life.
Chapter nineteen
Chapter Nineteen - one week later.
Lottie
I squealed with delight as the bell chimed over the shop door and Walker entered. Since the party, my life had been full of sunshine and pink sprinkles, but Walker made it even brighter just by stepping inside.
