Page 123 of Kylie

Her eyes narrowed. “You didn’t want for a damn thing growing up, Kylie. Don’t pretend you were abused. You have no idea what it means to be disappointed by someone.”

Fearful of what I might do if I had to listen to another word from this woman’s mouth, I turned to leave. I made it a few steps before Meredith called my name again.

“She doesn’t deserve this.”

I slowly turned to face her. “And I did?”

I wasn’t sure what I expected her to say, but the expression on her face was one that I would never forget. Given the option, there was no doubt in my mind that my mother would trade me for the daughter she didn’t even raise herself.

And that hurt almost as much as being chained to the floor and starved for two fucking months.

Travis

“I’m headin’ out early,” I told Gage when I stepped into his office.

He looked up from his computer, surprise and confusion etched on his handsome face. “Somethin’ wrong?”

“No. I just wanna check on Kylie.”

“She went to see Dr. Briggs today.”

“I know.” She had told me that morning that she wanted to talk to Dr. Briggs about the panic attack she’d had last night.

“You want me to come with you?”

I met my husband’s stare. “That’s up to you.” And it was. Yes, I was looking forward to some time alone with Kylie. We hadn’t had much since she came home, and I wanted to talk to her, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t welcome Gage’s presence.

“I’m gonna stay. I can catch a ride with someone, I’m sure.”

“I’ll take one of the cars,” I told him, referring to the small fleet we used to escort people to and from the airport when needed.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know. But I want to.” I walked over to him, leaned down, and kissed him. “We’ll see you when you get home.”

Gage nodded. It was obvious he had questions. I was grateful he didn’t voice them, because I had no answers. I didn’t know what I expected to talk to Kylie about, but something was telling me to go home and make the effort. Rarely did I ignore my instincts and I wasn’t going to start now.

Half an hour later, I was walking into the house.

“Kylie?”

“In the kitchen,” she called back.

I dropped my keys into the bowl by the door and followed the sound of her voice. I found her sitting on one of the stools at the island, a glass of water in front of her. She was clutching it as though it was keeping her upright.

“Hey.”

She lifted her head and forced a smile.

“What’s wrong? Somethin’ happen with Dr. Briggs?”

Kylie sighed, sitting up straight. She took a deep breath and let it out. “No. I ran into my mother in the park.”

I almost asked what she was doing in the park but held the words back. That wasn’t something I would’ve asked my wife before, and I was trying to remember that when I spoke to her. This woman had been imprisoned for long enough. The last thing she needed was for me to micromanage her every move. And I knew myself well enough that it was something I would do.

Granted, if it weren’t for the Sniper 1 Security agents keeping an eye on her, I probably would’ve caved.

Before I could ask how that went, Kylie started talking. I kept my attention on her as I leaned against the counter near the sink, not wanting to interrupt.