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As we rode, she started to drift and soon dozed.
I didn’t, content to look at her and Crystal, to wonder what I had done to deserve them.
Knew that it was nothing.
Nothing I had ever done—nothing I would ever do—would make me worthy of them.
But that didn’t matter.
Because I had them now, and no matter what, I would protect them.
“Amethyst,” I whispered as we approached the safe house.
She jumped quickly, then smiled when she saw me, relief passing her face.
“I guess I was tired,” she said.
“I think we all are. Except this one,” I said with a smile.
Crystal was awake, starting to fuss, and I lifted her out of the car seat.
“You hungry, little girl?” I said, unable to stop myself from grinning.
Another spit bubble was her response, and I laughed a little, the tightness that had been in my chest loosening.
“I’ll change you first and then Mama will feed you,” I said.
I held her in my arms, then walked around the SUV to meet Amethyst.
“What’s this place?” she asked.
“Elias set up some alternative accommodations.”
“And the house?” she asked.
“It’s been compromised, and until we have a better handle on what’s happening…”
She nodded. “I understand.”
She did, didn’t even seem to be especially disappointed, but I felt the sting, nonetheless.
She’d loved that house.
It had become her home. And because of my failures, the peace she had found there, the memories of the beginning of our life together, the beginning of her daughter’s life, would be forever tainted.
“This way,” I said.
She followed behind me and reached over to pat Crystal, who cried as the elevator started to move.
We got off on the top floor and entered the apartment.
“He said we’d have everything we need here,” I responded.
Elias and I had texted but hadn’t set up a meeting in person. That would come, but I appreciated that he hadn’t pushed, probably understanding that I wanted some time with them.
I left the guards outside in the hallway and went deeper into the place, found the nursery that Elias, or more likely Kayla, had set up.
“Looks like they did get everything,” Amethyst said.
