Page 140 of The Heart Breaker

“I’m sorry, but that isn’t how this works. You are not her legal guardian, Mr. Ellis. Until we can arrange emergency placement and open an investigation, we can’t leave a minor in your care without authorization.”

“She’s my sister.”

“I understand that.”

“No, you don’t.” My voice is rising now and I don’t care. “You don’t get it. She is not going back there.”

“She is not going back with her father this morning,” she says. “But we are taking her with us.”

“No. No, you’re not.”

The taller cop shifts forward and I move Sophie behind me without even thinking about it.

Marianne’s fingers tighten on the clipboard. “Mr. Ellis?—”

“She stays here,” I say again. “Ask whatever you want. Call whoever you need to call. But you’re not taking her out of this apartment.”

“Showing aggression is not helping your case.”

“Cole,” Sophie whispers, stepping out from behind me. “It’s okay. I’ll go.”

I almost tell all three of them to get the fuck out of my apartment. Almost slam the door in their faces. But then I look back at Sophie and I can’t let her stand in the middle of that. She doesn’t need more shouting or another argument to be stuck in the middle of.

My jaw aches from how hard I’m grinding it. I can feel it all the way up into my skull.

“She doesn’t go back to him,” I say, looking straight at the woman.

“She will not go back with her father this morning,” she says again. “You have my word.”

It’s not enough. Not even close. But I’m standing here with nothing to fight them with except anger, and anger has already screwed me once before.

Sophie’s eyes are wide, begging me not to make this worse, so I swallow down all the rage and turn to the woman, swallowing hard.

“I need a minute with her,” I say.

Marianne nods and steps back.

I turn to Sophie and look down at her, seeing every version of her at once. The little girl who used to climb into my bed when she was scared. The kid I was supposed to protect better than this. The sixteen-year-old standing in front of me now after running a thousand miles to get away from him, only to have them take her from me all over again.

I pull her into my arms and hold on tight, because fuck, I’m scared.

“I wanted to stay with you,” she says into my chest.

“I know,” I say, my voice rough. “Me too.”

I pull back just enough to cup her face and brush her hair off her cheeks. “Listen to me. I don’t know what’s happening or where they’re taking you, but you keep me updated every step of the way, you hear me? If you need anything, I don’t care what laws I have to break, I’ll get to you. Got it?”

Her eyes search mine. “You promise you won’t let him take me back?”

I put my hands on her shoulders and force myself to look steadier than I feel, even though it feels like something inside me is tearing open. “I promise I’ll do everything I can to fix this.”

She nods, like she’s trying really hard to believe me, and I pull her into me again. I help her finish packing her bag before I walk her to the door, my hand still on her shoulder the whole way because I can’t seem to make myself let go.

Right before she steps out, Sophie throws her arms around me. “I love you,” she whispers.

“Love you too, kid.” I close my eyes for a second and hold her tighter. “I promise I’m getting you away from him for good.”

She pulls back, and the look on her face just about destroys me.