Page 49 of Cash

It wasn’t until we were at the gate to the school that I became very aware I was out in the open and exposed with a child clinging to me.

“Cara, sweetheart, how long were you in your special room before you called me?” I asked as I stepped back into the woods for coverage.

Her little shoulders moved along with a mumbled, “I dunno. Where’s Lolo?”

Good fucking question.

“I don’t know yet.” I told her the truth because for some reason lying to her seemed as revolting as her little body wrapped around me like a shield. “Did she say anything when she took you to the room?”

With a shuddered inhale she shared, “She told me to do what we’d practiced and someone would come for me.”

Did Lore know they were in direct danger or was it paranoia?

Knowing her it was probably both.

“And what did you practice?”

“Getting into the special room really fast and how to use the phone and what to say. We practiced the address and how to use the potty and how to eat.”

I took that last comment about how to eat as Lore teaching her to ration the food in case she was in there alone.

“Anything else?”

“She told me to remember she loved me more than the stars in the sky and to be the strongest, bravest girl until the king came. I didn’t want her to leave.”

Until the king came.

A rush of mixed emotions hit me all at once. Lore herself wouldn’t respond to any of the messages I’d left. She’d gone as far as disconnecting my only form of communication with her. Yet she’d trust me with this unknown child’s safety.

What the fuck?

“Is Lolo your mom?”

Cara shook her head against my throat. “Lolo’s my God Mommy. My real mommy and daddy are in heaven.”

I let that knowledge sink in.

However, there was a total disconnect from the Lore I knew who was cold, distant, and bluntly told everyone who came remotely close to her not to trust her, to a woman who’d be close enough to someone they’d trust her with the duty of raising their child if something should happen to them.

I couldn’t even picture Stella offering that kind of friendship and closeness to someone.

The mere fact in my head the same woman was two very different people made her the least likely candidate to raise a child.

I shook that thought out of my head, remembering that Zane Lewis had two very distinct personalities—the ruthless Viper to his enemies and the loving, pushover husband and father.

Though apparently Lore-slash-Stella had a third personality I’d yet to meet, but clearly Cara had.

Lolo.

Before I could further contemplate who this woman might be, I heard twigs snapping. Easton came into view obviously not bothering to hide his approach, followed by Smith and Jonas. All three men’s arms were full of the contents of Lore’s saferoom.

“Got everything?” I asked as Easton passed.

“Yep. Good to go.”

I stood back, keeping cover the best I could while I watched my teammates negotiate the fence with their haul.

When it was my turn, I handed the pink backpack to Jonas and didn’t bother asking Cara if I could lift her over to one of the other guys.