Page 44 of Holden’s Resurrection

“No need,” Nix told him. “Genevieve already made arrangements. Her uncle’s house is available. The security there isn’t great but they won’t be walking into the scene of the crime, so to speak. And with the Towlers and that dickweed behind bars, I don’t think they’re in any danger. It’s yours for as long as you need it.”

He owed Genevieve huge.

“That’s perfect. Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me. Evie’s been running around with Bobby getting the kitchen stocked and making sure the place is set up. She even went to Charleigh’s and packed clothes for both of them. McKenna says Evie’s pulling out all the stops to make sure they’re comfortable.”

That wasn’t surprising—even though Charleigh wasn’t Genevieve’s favorite person, she was kind and thoughtful. Holden scratched a call to his friend onto his mental to-do list. A call that would include explaining some things to Evie, key points he’d left out of the story that he didn’t want her to know—but it was time to come clean.

“I’m sure I’ll see her at some point today.”

“Bet on it. She’s…feeling guilty for giving Charleigh the cold shoulder. Especially after Bobby talked to her at Christmas. I guess the last vestiges of her grudge wore off yesterday. She feels like shit.”

So it seemed Bobby had shared.

Fuck.

“She shouldn’t, but I’ll talk to her.”

“Right. See you in thirty.”

Holden disconnected and Faith looked up at him. “How’d you know that an everything bagel is Mom’s favorite?”

Because I’ve toasted them for her hundreds of times.

“Told you. I’ve known your mom a long time. I know she loves extra cheese on her pizza but she doesn’t like cheese on her hamburgers. She loves baked potatoes but hates potato salad and only likes fries from McDonald's. She’s not a fan of eating in the morning but she loves bagels and her favorite meal of the day is lunch.”

The little girl’s eyes widened and she asked, “What’s her favorite soda?”

“That’s a trick question, doll. Your mom doesn’t drink soda, she drinks iced tea with Sweet’N Low. But, she despises sweet tea. She says it’s too sweet.”

“Wow. That’s cool. You know, like, everything about her.”

“Pretty much.”

Holden heard Charleigh make a disgruntled sound but he kept his eyes on Faith. She was smiling up at him as if he’d brightened her world.

But his eyes stayed glued on that damn depression on her cheek.

17

How did I get here?

Not here in this hospital bed, but here—here. The here and now. The here where Faith was sitting on Holden’s lap listening to him tell her stories about when we were younger. The here where my daughter was hanging on his every word completely enthralled. The here where every muscle was tight and my skin prickled.

I’d thought I’d been pushed to my limits before. Just yesterday, I’d been hit over the head. When I’d woken up and learned my child was kidnapped, I thought I’d finally been shoved over the edge into a dark abyss of anger and fear and I’d be lost there forever. But then I found out Holden had gone after Faith, and there was a part of me that knew he’d find her, and I found the will to keep myself together.

But this?

The two of them together—smiling and joking and having a grand old time at my expense. This I couldn’t handle. This was too much for my peace of mind. This was everything I’d ever dreamed of and my worst nightmare all rolled into one.

He’s going to hurt her.

Faith would fall in love with him just like I had…and she would be crushed when he walked away.

I had to get out of here. I needed to get the two of them apart and explain to my kid that she shouldn’t get attached to the man who would charm her, make her feel like she was the most important thing in the world, make her believe she was beautiful and loved, only to tear it all away and leave her in shambles. Leave her wondering what she’d done wrong, where she’d failed, how she could’ve been so wrong to love him so much and believe they’d live happily ever after.

There was a tap on the door. It slowly opened and Micky poked her head in.