Page 3

My eyes drifted back to Leah, tied to the fucking chair and mutilated. “Where was she?” I asked, my voice cracking as I looked back at Knight.
“Locked in the basement in a room. It looks like Leah stashed her there when she heard her attackers coming. We found shotgun shells all around the house. She put up a good fight.”
But it wasn’t enough. She fought until the end to protect her child—our child—and where the fuck was I? Better yet? Why didn’t she tell me I had a kid?
Because you didn’t want her, asshole.
I’d told her there would never be more between us. Hell, I’d practically screamed it in her face. I did everything I could to push her away, knowing it would never be safe to be with me.
“Jason,” Knight snapped, getting my attention. “You need to get together any shit you need and haul ass back to OPS.”
Because I had a daughter—one who was relying on me, who would count on me to be her sole caregiver now that the only parent she’d ever known was dead. I didn’t know a damn thing about being a dad or taking care of a little girl. Hell, having kids was never even on my radar. But I’d be damned if my baby girl wasn’t going to have the very best now that I knew about her.
I strode forward and gently plucked the little girl out of his arms, resting her against my chest. Careful not to let her see any of the gruesome sight behind me, I brushed my thumb against her tiny cheek and stared into her gorgeous eyes.
“I’m your daddy.”
She didn’t say anything, but her slow blink said it all. She was tired and confused. She wanted her mother. Her life was about to be ripped to shreds and there was nothing I could do to make that better for her except to love her. And I would damn well make sure that she had everything I could give her—everything Leah would want for her. I would make sure this little girl had everything in a father that Leah never had.
“I’ve already packed a bag for her,” Knight said, but you might want to go through her toys and dolls. Maybe grab some things of Leah’s for her to have when she’s older. We’ll take care of?—“
I cut him off with a glare. The last thing this little girl needed to hear was anything about her mother’s body. Everything in me wanted to go to Leah, to give her a proper burial and grieve for her, but the little girl in my arms made that impossible. I had to get her to safety. She was my number one priority.
Besides, this was what Leah would want. I had no doubt in my mind.
Without another word to Knight or Cash, I headed upstairs, trying desperately not to let my mind wander to the last time I was here. Though we’d only stayed a night, it was something that was burned in my memory. As soon as I hit the top step, I followed the hall to the second to last door. I doubted Leah would put her any farther away from her than that. And when I opened the door, I was proven right.
The princess bed accentuated the pink walls, and a sparkling tent, covered in a giant sheen of fabric filled with pillows and blankets, fell from the ceiling. I didn’t even know where to begin packing up her things. I needed to leave, but this was her home. How could I leave her things behind?
Lowering her to the floor, I held her by the waist so she would face me. “Sweetheart, we have to go to a new home. What do you want to take with you?”
“Momma,” she whispered.
“I know, baby girl.” I brushed her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. God, she was so fucking beautiful. “Do you have any stuffed animals you want to bring?”
She nodded, then hurried over to her bed, snatching a few of them in her tiny arms. When she came back to me, she dropped them on the floor and rushed back for more. I could see there wasn’t a lot she was willing to leave behind, so I walked over to her closet and searched for a bag big enough to fit everything she wanted. When I didn’t find anything, I went into Leah’s room and flicked on the light in her closet.
Her scent immediately washed over me and I had to grip the frame of the door to keep from crumbling into a mess on the floor. Closing my eyes, I reminded myself of what I had to do. When I opened my eyes, I found a bag at the back of the closet and was about to leave when I saw a fireproof box on the shelf. It most likely had all the documents I would need.
When I had everything, I headed back to my little girl’s room. She had acquired quite a pile, along with blankets as well. She looked up at me like she was unsure if I would allow her to bring all this. I got down on my knees and started stuffing it all into the bag. I didn’t care if I had to carry the damn things out to the car. I wouldn’t leave a single thing behind that she wanted.
When I was done, I went back to Leah’s room for another bag, this time avoiding any sentimental thoughts, and headed back to grab any more clothes that were left behind, along with all the books that Leah had by the bed. Those must be her favorites.
Boots on the stairs reminded me that time was of the essence. I had to get moving. When Knight appeared at the top, he took one look at my daughter and then the bags at my feet, then grabbed them and hauled them downstairs.
“Should we go see your momma’s room?” I asked, holding my hand out for her to take.
She instantly put her hand in mine, and my heart swelled in my chest. I had no fucking idea it would feel like this to have someone so small depending on me, but here I was, about to fucking cry my eyes out because she put her hand in mine.
“Is there anything you want?”
She looked around the room, her hand slipping from mine as she hurried over to a chair by the window. She grabbed a shawl and pulled on it, dragging it across the floor. I spotted a jewelry box on the dresser and grabbed the whole thing. There might be more stuff, but this was all I had time for. We could never come back here. Whatever happened, it had to be left in the past. That was the only way to keep my little girl safe.
I took her hand in mine and walked out of the house.
* * *
I shut the trunk just as Cash came around back. His eyes lingered on my little girl for a few seconds before he finally turned to me and spoke.