Page 9 of Flawed Revenge

Would it ever truly sink in that he had a child?

After they saved Ariella’s life—and he couldn’t accept that Kate would have to lose her little girl—was it possible Kate would allow him to be part of it? Dr. Gardner was dead now, and if Mrs. Gardner was involved, they’d find and kill her, too. His anger was better controlled than it had been back then. Maybe if he explained everything to her, Kate would understand why he’d made the choices he had.

Shifting nervously, Kate’s gaze darted to her car and then back to him again, and he knew the answer. He wasn't the only one. Blade was, of course, listening in on every word exchanged between him and his girl, and while he naturally felt shame that his teammates now knew his greatest regret, he cared more about getting tested and saving his daughter’s life.

“Ariella is in the car?” he asked.

“I can't leave her with anyone, not with her being so sick. I don’t want to be away from her if the worst happens,” Kate admitted softly, and he couldn’t imagine the hell she’d been through.

He should have been there for her. Supporting both her and their child. Instead, he’d been throwing himself the world’s biggest pity party. He’d thrown away everything he should have been holding close and protecting.

“Can I meet her?” he asked. Whatever happened next had to happen at Kate’s speed and with her permission. Already, they’d messed up by treating her as a threat, although he had no way of guessing she would turn up there, he wasn't going to make another mistake.

Couldn’t afford to.

Not if he wanted a chance at keeping his girls in his life.

After hesitating long enough he was sure she was going to say no, Kate finally nodded. “Yeah. I’ll go wake her up. She … knows who you are, Leo. I told her you were in the military, and that’s why you can't be with her. That you love her, but your job prevents you from coming around. But she’s getting older, nine now, and she kind of knows I'm lying to her about that.”

That Kate would lie for him, not present him as the monster he’d been to her, and not reveal the horrible things he’d said about their baby before it was born, or what he’d ordered her to do, was more than he deserved. More than he ever could have hoped for.

“Thank you,” he said, wishing he could convey the weight behind those simple words.

Kate merely nodded, then closed the couple of steps to the car. “Hey, sweetie-pie,” she crooned softly as she opened the back door and leaned inside. A little blonde head was visible, resting on a pillow, and as Kate smoothed a hand down the long hair fanned out on the seat, the child stirred.

“Mom?”

“Right here, sweetie. How are you feeling?”

“My head hurts,” Ariella replied as she sat up.

“I’ll get you some of your medicine. While I do that, there’s someone here who wants to meet you.”

Ariella’s blue gaze shifted, and the mini version of Kate was suddenly looking right at him. Lion had no idea what to expect. If the child would be angry at him, if she’d yell and scream, or blame him for never being around. Or if she’d be scared of strangers, especially huge ones dressed all in black and holding weapons.

But the girl did none of that.

A wide smile broke out on her pale face. “Daddy!” she exclaimed, clambering to get past her mother and out of the car.

“Careful,” Kate cautioned as she moved and kept a steadying hand on the girl’s arm as she wobbled precariously. Ariella was small for her age, thin and pale. It was obvious that she was sick and had been for a while, and yet the child’s smile never dipped, and happiness and joy seemed to radiate from her.

Once she got her balance, Ariella quickly crossed to him, stopping right before him. She was still smiling, and in her hands she clutched a teddy bear. One he remembered, because he’d won it for Kate at the fair when she was seven and he was thirteen. At the time, he’d been annoyed that he had his little sister and her best friend trailing along after him, but the girls had been well behaved, they’d gone on every ride he wanted and had a great time. Kate had tried so hard to win that teddy, and when he’d spotted tears welling in her eyes, he’d been filled with a protectiveness he didn't understand and stepped in to get it for her.

When he’d handed it to her, the smile she gave him was brighter than the sun, and she’d thrown her arms around him, hugging him tight.

Now, a mini version of Kate stood before him. Wearing that same smile, that same look in her eyes that said he could do anything.

“Can I give you a hug, Dad?” Ariella asked.

Unable to speak, overwhelmed with emotions and regrets, Lion just nodded, and the next thing he knew, his arms were full of a nine-year-old, her thin arms wrapped around his neck, holding on with strength that belied her small size.

As his gaze moved from Kate, who was watching them with raw pain on her face, to his daughter, who pressed a kiss to his cheek, he was once again filled with a deep protectiveness that almost stole his breath. He would do anything for these two, literally anything, but the one thing they needed from him, he might not be able to offer.

What if he wasn't a match?

What if he was, but it didn't work, and Ariella died anyway?

What if he’d just gotten his girls back, only to watch his daughter die and Kate leave?