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I’d fucking crawl if I had to.
Breathing heavily, I gripped the frame at the foot of the bed, working up the strength to move my feet again, but when the door to the bedroom suddenly swung open, and I saw him standing there—everything just simply gave way.
I sank to the floor.
My hand went to my heart, feeling it pound against my ribcage.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Hawk growled, stomping forward and hooking his hands under my arms, lifting me effortlessly from the floor. His arms snaked around my body, holding me steady while I found my footing again. “Get back into bed.”
“I need to find Kadey,” I hissed, challenging his stern frown. “She should’ve been back at sev—”
“Mama!” He turned us together, so I could see my girl’s bright smile as she stood in the doorway. “You feel better?” She inched inside, my forever sweet baby, so cautious and kindhearted when she knew I was hurting or sad. We were so connected that I knew she could sense my emotions. It was why I tried too hard to be strong and act like I was this hard nut to crack, so Kadey wouldn’t have to feel that rollercoaster of my pain and struggles.
I cleared my throat, continuing to hold tightly to Hawk so she didn’t see me hurting. “Yeah, bub,” I announced with confidence. “I’m still a little sore, but I feel much better.”
Kadey nodded sharply, satisfied with my answer.
I knew because she’d quickly tell me if she wasn’t.
“We’re playing Go Fiss,” she added brightly, reaching out and tugging on my hand.
“We?” I questioned, looking up at Hawk.
“Bissup and Cain like the candy.” Hawk chuckled under his breath at the way she obviously repeated how someone had described the name to her. “Come play?”
“Mom will come play in a minute, baby girl,” Hawk answered before I could even open my mouth. “I just need to speak with her for a second.” Kadey skipped out happily, like having this man in my room, his arms around me, telling my kid what to do was the most natural thing in the world to her. Had I slipped into some alternate universe?
Hawk continued to hold my wobbly body as he reached over and gave the door a push, sending it swinging closed.
“I’m confused,” I admitted instantly, my brow pinching.
“The old lady banged on the door this morning, so I got up and fed the kid. Now she’s fleecing my brothers for all their change.”
I scrubbed my hand over my face, trying to evict the sleepiness that had made itself at home inside me.
“You had some pretty strong painkillers last night. It’s gonna take a while for them to wear off completely. How’s the leg?”
I heard what he was saying, but one question hung on my mind. “You stayed here last night?”
His brow raised for a second. “Of course I did. What the fuck did you expect?”
“I thought…” I shook my head, not wanting to repeat how I thought he was just going to drop me and run. Like every other asshole in my life. “Never mind.”
I tried to pull back, but his arm tightened around me, and he hooked a finger under my chin, tilting my face up to meet his penetrating gaze. “Whoever you’re comparing me to, whatever the hell kind of man you think I am, I can assure you, I’m fucking not,” he asserted firmly.
He was right.
And I knew it.
He wouldn’t yell at me in front of our daughter. He wouldn’t tell me I was trash and kick me out of the house when I made a mistake. And he sure as hell wouldn’t force me to perform sexual favors when I found myself in a bad place and asked for help.
Those were the kind of men I’d had in my life.
He wasn’t those men.
“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling a surge of emotion clog my throat. “For looking after Kadey… and for looking after me.”
His hand curled around the side of my face, cupping my jaw. He dipped his head, tugging me forward at the same time.
