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So why don’t I believe them?
I’m careful to be slow and quiet when I open the door to Willow’s room. It’s late, well past bedtime. Willow should be sound asleep and I don’t want to wake her. I just…
I just want to check on her. Maybe that will help me sleep better.
Clara is curled up in the small bed next to Willow, lightly stroking her hair back from her brow. She looks up at me as I approach and offers a small smile.
“What are you doing here?” she whispers.
“Just checking in on my girls,” I whisper back. I kneel down next to the bed and tuck the blanket around Willow more. “How’s she doing?”
“She woke up and had a lot of questions, but she’s pretty worn out from all of it.” Clara reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “Thank you.”
I nod. “And how are you doing?”
Clara lets out a heavy sigh. She doesn’t answer for a long moment. “I’m… terrified, honestly. I know… I know we’re safe here. I don’t doubt that, or you, for a second.” She swallows hard. “But I’m so scared that if I blink, she’ll be gone. I can’t… I can’t stop reliving that moment when they told me he took her.”
I grit my teeth. I said heads will roll for this, and they will.
But that won’t undo the pain she’s feeling right now.
“I hate him.” Clara’s voice comes out a little louder, just above a whisper. “I hate him so much. But if he takes her—if he takesher and I can’t get her back…” She blinks back tears. “I’ll have no choice. I’ll have to go back to him.”
“Clara—”
“I’ll have to, Dem.” She squeezes my hand again, lacing her fingers with mine. “Not because I want to. I’d rather die than let him touch me again. But I can’t let Willow suffer him alone. I can’t let him use her like…”
At the thought of my courtyards standing silent—no little girl laughs, none of Clara’s soft singing as they skip rope or play games… My fucking heart goes to stone.
Fuck.What is wrong with me? Why do I care so fucking much?
I shouldn’t. I really shouldn’t.
I can’t afford to.
“I’m leaving for Fiji. Tomorrow.”
“Oh. Oh.” Clara sniffles and nods. “Okay.”
“So I’m gonna need you to pack a suitcase for you and Willow.”
She sits up. “What?”
Good question.I’m wondering the same thing.
This is supposed to be a work trip. And it will be. I’m going to spend the majority of my time running investigations, checking warehouse inventory reports, chasing down every possible lead. I don’t have time to entertain guests.
But I refuse to keep gambling with their safety. I won’t say this out loud, least of all to Clara, but the thought of coming back to an empty house is scaring the fuck out of me.
“I’m not going to let Martin get his hands on either of you.” Even though I try to keep my voice a whisper, this comes out in a low, possessive growl. “He’s never taking our kid again. Ever. And that starts with making sure you’re not around for him to try.”
I tug on her hand to help her up out of the small bed. Clara follows my lead, but not before quickly tucking Willow in and kissing her cheek.
She grabs a few things from the matching dresser and stuffs them into Willow’s backpack. A few outfits and sandals later, we’re hand-in-hand on the way to Clara’s room to get her things packed as well.
Once we’re inside and the door is locked behind us, she lets out a shaky laugh. “Fiji. Wow. I’ve never even left this state.”
I’m going to ignore how delighted that makes me feel. I like being the man who gets to show her the world.
