Page 110 of Cash

Maybe it was too soon for sleepovers. Hell, the only reason I’d said yes was because I knew Leo would lay down his life in protection of one of the kids. Someone outside of our circle—no fucking way would my girl be sleeping over.

I’d give Stella another hour to adjust. If she was still struggling, I’d suggest we let Cara have dinner with her friends but then go pick her up.

“I’m gonna go up and change.”

“Okay.”

Still rinsing the same dish. No eye contact.

Yeah, thirty minutes tops, then I’d make my suggestion.

I took the stairs two at a time happy that our time was limited before we were back to a one-story.

A few more weeks and we’d be in our new house, and my heart wouldn’t plummet every time Cara skipped down the stairs in her socks, or worse when she slid down them on her butt. Stella thought it was hilarious and encouraged this behavior by joining her.

All I could think about were the bones she could possibly break.

Being a dad was going to be the death of me.

Being a girl dad was going to put me in an early grave.

There had been a time in my life when I didn’t think I’d see my fortieth birthday and my body would be left to rot in the sand. Never had I thought that my death would be the result of a heart attack caused by a pint-sized menace who had me painting fingernails and braiding hair.

I passed Cara’s room, the third bedroom—counting the bedroom at the safehouse she’d used for a night— that she’d had since the day I pulled her out of the saferoom. I vowed her next move would be her last. Not that she complained. I’d found that children who were loved and given ample amounts of attention thrived. All Cara cared about were the people around her. I’d never seen a child with so much love to give. When she walked into a room it exploded out of her.

Like I did every time I entered mine and Stella bedroom, I ignored the ugly-as-fuck furniture and even uglier comforter that came with the house, and went straight into the closet.

I tossed my shirt in the direction of the hamper and decided a shower would wait until I could get Stella up here with me, and reached for a clean shirt.

Movement in my periphery caught my attention and my hand dropped to my sidearm.

“Too slow, Captain,” Stella crowed. “I would’ve already had you in my sights and gotten a shot off.”

Christ. Sometimes it was easy to forget who she used to be until she did something that reminded me she could easily sneak up on her prey and take them out.

“I think I’m safe. If you shot me who would⁠—”

“I love you.”

I sucked in a breath—the first one I’d ever taken into my lungs that felt clean.

“Say it again.”

“I love you.”

I exhaled—free and easy.

“Again.”

“I love you.”

Three words. Three times. And finally, fucking finally, I felt my heart sync to the perfect rhythm.

“No lip. No delay. Clothes off on the bed.”

Stella rushed to obey.

I quickly shucked my clothes, left them where they were, and walked out of the closet just as Stella was crawling onto the bed, ass on display.